Saturday, January 10, 2015

In the news, Saturday, December 27, 2014


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DEC 26      INDEX      DEC 28
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unfinished
Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Breitbart

US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THREATENS GOP ON IMMIGRATION, SPENDING

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)
from Forum for Middle East Understanding
(FFMU) (Shoebat.com)  [Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Muslims Are Calling To Revive An Ancient Horrifying Execution Method Against U.S. Led Coalition Pilots
If you think ISIS’s killing methods are bad, one video in Arabic done by a Muslim lady dressed in a Hijab argues that such methods as “beheading” and “shooting” are just too humane and will not work to stop the U.S. led coalition air raids which she complained that this is persecution against her living in Syria. To eliminate the attacks she suggested to reinstitute the Khazouk, an Ottoman method of execution which is a spike driven through the victim’s rectum.

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from The Heritage Foundation

Attorney: Government Accountability Board’s John Doe Justifications Don’t Hold Up to Law
We told somebody something, and that’s good enough. That’s effectively the line of defense from the state Government Accountability Board in the wake of stunning documents released Friday that allege the GAB was an out-of-control agency hell-bent on pursuing a partisan John Doe investigation into dozens of conservative groups and the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker.

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from RT (Russia Today)
(Russian government-supported propaganda channel)

Pakistan angered at 'hellhole' depiction in 'Homeland' – report
The Emmy-winning ‘Homeland’ series portrays Pakistan as an ugly, ignorant, terror-plagued “hellhole,” the country’s officials have complained to the New York Post, stressing “nothing is further from the truth.”

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from The Spokesman-Review

Snow brings crashes, icy roads
Cars are sliding off roads and down hills today as the region deals with its first significant snow fall of the season. There was an inch of snow outside the National Weather Service office on the west plains at noon today, said meteorologist Steven Van Horn, and the snow will continue to fall through this evening. By the end of the day Spokane should have about three inches of snow while North Idaho could see up to six inches.

Snow in forecast today, followed by blast of cold
The first significant snowstorm of the season was forecast across the Inland Northwest today and Sunday, to be followed by a new shot of arctic cold.

Firefighter’s BADAxx needs funding for production
Spokane firefighter Scott McCann worked in his personal shop for two years to create the BADAxx, designed as the life-saving Swiss Army knife of fire axes. McCann is looking to Kickstarter to help fund the first version of the ax, which he believes will save firefighters’ lives.

Conservationists, lumber industry team up to save logging town
Logs are piled high in the yard of the Malheur Lumber Co. mill in this small town in northeastern Oregon, ready to be sawed into lumber. John Day, a town of 1,700, nearly died two years ago. Its lifeblood, the sawmill, was about to close. So few logs were coming off the nearby Malheur National Forest, the mill’s owners decided it was time to shut down. But the mill and the town’s economy were rescued by a detente between the timber industry and environmentalists – foes since the battles over logging that erupted in the Pacific Northwest three decades ago. The sides uncovered a shared goal: thinning overgrown forests to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Crew kidded, but goats recycle Christmas trees
Friday marked the first day the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District in Nevada began using a unique – not to mention environmentally sustainable – method of recycling the symbol of Christmas. Pine needles and all.

Police visit baby they helped deliver on Philadelphia subway

Thousands attend wake for NYC officer

NATO is top threat, newly signed Russian doctrine says

Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels exchange prisoners
Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia rebels exchanged nearly 370 prisoners Friday, a major step toward easing hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Pregnant woman taken off life support in Ireland
A brain-dead pregnant woman was taken off life support Friday after a court ruled that her 18-week-old fetus was doomed to die – a case that exposed fear and confusion among doctors over how to apply Ireland’s strict ban on abortion in an age of medical innovation.

North Korea blames U.S. for Internet hacking

Colorado runner-up for regular pot users, study finds
The study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found about 1 out of 8 Colorado residents older than 12 had used marijuana in the past month, the Denver Post reported. Only Rhode Island topped Colorado in the percentage of residents who reported using pot as often.

In brief: Israeli high court orders West Bank settlement demolished
Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to demolish the West Bank settlement of Amona within two years and relocate its 300 Jewish residents, moving to end a years-long legal battle.
Police question IRA veteran after wife is found stabbed
Detectives interrogated a prominent Irish Republican Army veteran Friday on suspicion of stabbing his wife several times on Christmas Eve, an attack condemned by the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party.

State Supreme Court grants new trial in DUI case
The case hinged on WSP Trooper Chris Stone’s use of only the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, where a driver is asked to track a pen or finger with his or her eyes, to determine Quaale was drunk. Five Supreme Court justices said that evidence alone was not enough for Stone to offer an expert opinion that Quaale was driving while intoxicated, but four of their colleagues and Spokane County prosecutors said that distinction sets a dangerous precedent.

Lawsuit alleges assault during arrest by police
A Spokane man arrested on domestic violence charges that were later dismissed is suing the Spokane Police Department, claiming five officers assaulted him and violated his constitutional rights. But reports from responding officers indicate Lucas T. Cassidy, 35, was uncooperative and resisted arrest when police attempted to take him into custody.

In brief: Suspected 911 caller faces threat charges
Andrew W. Wattles, 22, who reportedly told witnesses he’d made several fake calls to 911 because he was bored, was in court Friday after being arrested Christmas Eve on a charge stemming from a July 25 bomb threat. He was freed without bond Friday pending further proceedings.
Woman dies after Highway 95 crash
Patricia McCoy, 64, of Priest River, Idaho, was turning onto the highway from Dufort Road near Sagle in her 1991 Nissan Sentra at 2:30 p.m. when it collided with an SUV. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dog rescued after stranded on cliff
A yellow Labrador that got spooked on a Christmas Day hike in the Columbia Gorge, snapping her leash and plunging 150 feet down a cliff, was rescued in the dark by a climber who rappelled to a narrow ledge where the dog was trapped.
Riders soon allowed to reserve ferry spot
SEATTLE – Starting Jan. 5, riders will be able to reserve a spot on the San Juan ferry sailing from Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Orcas Island.

Poultry producers worry bird flu will impact trade
Commercial poultry producers say they’re concerned the outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu virus found in Washington and Oregon will hurt exports by prompting some nations to impose trade barriers.

101,000 buy health coverage in state’s open enrollment
Between renewals and new customers, 101,000 Washington residents have bought health insurance through the Washington exchange so far this open enrollment period.

Faith and Values: God’s love is experienced through interactions with others
Editor’s note: This is one of Paul Graves’ occasional letters to his grandchildren.



The Internal Revenue Service has sued former Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer and a slate of other former and current executives, seeking to compel them to testify in an investigation into the company’s tax practices.


Missouri became the first state Friday to have an average statewide gas price fall below $2 per gallon since 2009, while Oklahoma’s average was expected to drop below that threshold sometime over the weekend, according to AAA.
After five-day rally, ruble slips 4 percent
MOSCOW – The Russian currency has ended its five-day rally and declined 4 percent as the markets remain jittery over the outlook of the Russian economy.
Stimulus plan in works to fight Japan recession
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning about 3.5 trillion yen ($29 billion) in fresh stimulus, including subsidies and job-creating programs, to help pull the world’s third-largest economy out of recession.

After FedEx and UPS failed to deliver some presents in time for Christmas last year, the two package carriers improved their performance this holiday season.

Online video games still disrupted
Sony’s PlayStation network remained offline Friday on the second day of an outage that began roiling the online world just as eager video game players were unwrapping new consoles on Christmas morning. Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, which also went down Thursday, was back online Friday although the company reported problems with some functions in the afternoon.

New rules set for ‘boarding’ psychiatric patients
Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services said it complied with a Friday deadline set by the state Supreme Court to stop “warehousing” mentally ill people in emergency rooms and hospitals just because certified treatment facilities are already full.

Shawn Vestal: Washington’s mental health services a disservice

Froma Harrop: Tax cuts don’t produce a magic kingdom

Michael Gerson: Movie a reminder to make room for genius

Outside view: It’s time to build on strengthening economy

Other voices: Immigration fix should address vacant tech jobs in U.S.

Gary Ferguson: Fear of nature outweighs its risks

Ask Dr. K: Body, systems coordinate to create balance

Jazz clarinetist Buddy DeFranco dies at 91
(17 Feb 1923 - 24 Dec 2014)

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from Yahoo News

Posted by at No comments:

Thoughts for February 2015


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back      Index      next
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  1.  "I am convinced that the moment is coming when, with its message of eternal, universal values, it [the Christian church in Russia] will come to the aid of our society. For in these words: "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," lie those very moral principles that will enable us to survive even the most critical situations." ~ Boris Yeltsin, "Against the Grain: An Autobiography" (1990)

  2.  "Remember also that the smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights, cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." ~ Ayn Rand: Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal (1966)

  3.  "Dates are convenient hooks on which we can hang our memories of events. But history is all about people - people like you and me who did things to change the world." ~ Joan Lowery Nixon

  4.  "Time is the most precious gift in our possession, for it is the most irrevocable. This is what makes it so disturbing to look back upon the time which we have lost. Time lost is time when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering. Time lost is time not filled, time left empty." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  5.  "Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than freedom to stagnate, to live without dreams, to have no greater aim than a second car and another television set." ~ Adlai Stevenson: "Putting First Things First", Foreign Affairs (January 1960)

  6.  "The WWII generation shares so many common values: duty, honor, country, personal responsibility and the marriage vow " For better or for worse--it was the last generation in which, broadly speaking, marriage was a commitment and divorce was not an option" ~ Tom Brokaw

  7.  "The Little House books are stories of long ago. The way we live and your schools are much different now, so many changes have made living and learning easier. But the real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder: Letter to children (February 1947)

  8.  "To surrender the city to you is beyond my authority or anyone else's who lives in it, for all of us, after taking the mutual decision, shall die out of free will without sparing our lives." ~ Constantine XI Palaiologos, Last Byzantine Emperor: Reply to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II's offer to spare the emperor's life in exchange for the surrender of Constantinople in 1453.

  9.  "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom." ~ Thomas Paine: Common Sense (1776)

10.  "Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary." ~ Boris Pasternak

11.  "Don't give up. There are too many nay-sayers out there who will try to discourage you. Don't listen to them. The only one who can make you give up is yourself. ~ Sidney Sheldon

12.  "The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere." ~ Abraham Lincoln

13.  "It's not that your most important work is meaningless; it's that your most trivial movements are also significant." ~ David Jeremiah

14.  "Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." ~ Frederick Douglass (1886)

15.  "Every law is an evil, for every law is an infraction of liberty: And I repeat that government has but a choice of evils: In making this choice, what ought to be the object of the legislator? He ought to assure himself of two things; 1st, that in every case, the incidents which he tries to prevent are really evils; and 2ndly, that if evils, they are greater than those which he employs to prevent them." ~ Jeremy Bentham (1830)

16.  "A foreign policy aimed at the achievement of total security is the one thing I can think of that is entirely capable of bringing this country to a point where it will have no security at all. And a ruthless, reckless insistence on attempting to stamp out everything that could conceivably constitute a reflection of improper foreign influence in our national life, regardless of the actual damage it is doing to the cost of eliminating it, in terms of other American values, is the one thing I can think of that should reduce us all to a point where the very independence we are seeking to defend would be meaningless, for we would be doing things to ourselves as vicious and tyrannical as any that might be brought to us from outside." ~ George F. Kennan: Radcliffe Commencement Address (16 June 1954), published as "The Illusion of Total Security" in The Atlantic Monthly, # 194 (August 1954)

17.  "As for courage and will - we cannot measure how much of each lies within us, we can only trust there will be sufficient to carry through trials which may lie ahead." ~ Andre Norton

18.  "The highest point a man can obtain is not Knowledge, or Virtue, or Goodness, or Victory, but something even greater, more heroic and more despairing: Sacred Awe!" ~ Nikos Kazantzakis: Zorba the Greek (1946)

19.  "To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His laws, surely all this must be a pleasing and acceptable mode of worship to the Most High, to whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge." ~ Nicolaus Copernicus

20.  "No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit." ~ Ansel Adams

21.  "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust." ~ John Rawls

22.  "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right,
And the choice goes by forever ’twixt that darkness and that light.

"Hast thou chosen, O my people, on whose party thou shalt stand,
Ere the Doom from its worn sandals shakes the dust against our land?
Though the cause of Evil prosper, yet ’tis Truth alone is strong,
And, albeit she wander outcast now, I see around her throng
Troops of beautiful, tall angels, to enshield her from all wrong."

~ James Russell Lowell: The Present Crisis, lines 21-30

23.  "It is obvious that all civil government, as far as it can be denominated free, is the creature of the people. It originates with them. It is conducted under their direction, and has in view nothing but their happiness. All its different forms are no more than so many different modes in which they chuse to direct their affairs, and to secure the quiet enjoyment of their rights. In every free state every man is his own Legislator. All taxes are free-gifts for public services. All laws are particular provisions or regulations established by common consent for gaining protection and safety. And all magistrates are trustees or deputies for carrying these regulations into execution." ~ Richard Price

24.  "The mind petrifies if a circle be drawn around it, and it can hardly be denied that dogma draws a circle round the mind." ~ George Moore

25.  "The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year." ~ John Foster Dulles

26.  "Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be governed by it, and can only please by its resemblance." ~ Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1711)

27.  "In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government." ~ Hugo Black: Concurring in New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971)

28.  "Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock." ~ Ben Hecht


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Friday, January 2, 2015

In the news, Friday, December 26, 2014


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DEC 25      INDEX      DEC 27
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 Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.


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from Americas Freedom Fighters
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

[WATCH!] OBAMA COMPARES HIMSELF WITH JESUS CHRIST!

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
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from Dc Gazette
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from East Oregonian

Pendleton man faces charge in Christmas Eve shooting
Pendleton police sort out two shooting that happen just minutes apart on verge of Christmas.

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from The Heritage Foundation
from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

A Look Into The 'Double Lives' Of America's Homeless College Students

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from Money Talks News
The most racially divisive President in modern history makes an assertion that strains credulity.

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from Northwest Watchdog

COUNTDOWN! Good Guys of 2014
Today we begin our countdown of  the 17 Good Guys of 2014. They are motivated citizens, regulators and politicians who fought to make government a little smaller and less onerous and who lifted the ever-growing burden on taxpayers. #17 Brandon Presley; #16 Greendale Village Board of Trustees; #15 The Confidential Source.

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from The Spokesman-Review

Snow, bitter cold on the way
It may not have been a white Christmas for many in the Inland Northwest, but Mother Nature is poised to rectify that this weekend, forecasters say.

Xbox Live back online after Lizard Squad hack
PlayStation network still down
A group calling itself Lizard Squad claimed responsibility on Twitter for causing the disruption by overwhelming the companies’ servers with a flood of Internet traffic.

Gas prices hit 5-year low
The national average gas price was at $2.32 per gallon Friday, the lowest since May 2009. Missouri’s average on Friday morning was $1.98.

Changing demographics open 2016 possibilities for both parties

2004 tsunami took toll on kids
The morning of Dec. 26, 2004, a monster earthquake shook the Indian Ocean floor, triggering giant waves that surged more than 2 1/2 miles inland on Indonesia’s Sumatra island. All told, more than 230,000 people in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and several other countries perished that day, half of them younger than 18, according to some estimates.

Separatist violence kills scores in village in India
Attacks late Tuesday in Assam state’s Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts – the worst in months in the ethnically mixed region – were carried out by a faction of an indigenous Bodo tribe, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for decades. The rebels have been targeting other communities they consider outsiders – Adivasis, whose ancestors migrated to Assam more than 100 years ago to work on tea plantations – as well as Muslims, accusing them and the federal government of exploiting the region’s wealth while neglecting the locals.

Obama’s personal chef to leave position
Sam Kass has been a fixture at the executive mansion, serving up nutrition policy alongside meals for Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha. He was not only their personal chef but senior adviser for nutrition policy, giving him a seat at the table where administration officials hashed out everything from updated food labels to new requirements for healthier school lunches.

Washington crosses Delaware with better weather
Re-enactors playing Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River in the 62nd re-enactment of his daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river – the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War – between Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.

Girl, 13, says her father gave her to Boko Haram
A 13-year-old says her father gave her to Boko Haram extremists and that she was arrested after refusing to explode a suicide bomb in Kano, Nigeria’s second largest city in the north.

In brief: Bush remains in hospital despite ‘terrific’ day
Despite having “another terrific day,” former President George H.W. Bush would spend a third night in a Texas hospital, his office announced on Christmas.
Jordan warns IS against harming pilot
The Jordanian parliament issued a stern warning Thursday as relatives pleaded with Islamic State militants holding a Jordanian pilot captive.
Man dies after border confrontation
A 40-year-old U.S. citizen died after a border inspector shot him with a stun gun at the nation’s busiest crossing, authorities said Thursday.
Transit officials help deliver baby on train
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority said two transit officers jumped into action to help a mother deliver a baby on a subway train. The delivery happened as the train was approaching a stop in Philadelphia Thursday evening.

On Christmas Day, Obama marks end of Afghan combat
President Barack Obama marked the end of more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan by paying tribute to America’s military, telling troops on Christmas Day that their sacrifices have allowed for a more peaceful, prosperous world to emerge out of the ashes of 9/11.

Nine dead after militant attack on African Union base
Gunmen attacked the African Union’s main base in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Thursday, leading to an exchange of gunfire between militants and soldiers that killed at least nine people, including three soldiers. Three militants were captured during the Christmas Day lunch hour attack on the African Union Mission to Somalia’s Halane base camp.

Pope’s Christmas address strikes somber notes
A somber Pope Francis steeped his Christmas message to the world Thursday in sadness for those with little cause for joy – abused children, refugees, hostages and others suffering from violence in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere.

In brief: Washington state’s minimum wage to rise to nation’s highest
Washington state’s minimum wage will rise to $9.47 an hour, the highest in the nation, on Jan. 1. The minimum wage in neighboring Oregon will rise to $9.25, the second-highest in the nation.
American released from East Timor jail
A U.S. traveler detained for months in East Timor has been released from prison. Stacey Addison, 41, of Portland, was arrested in September shortly after crossing the border into the Southeast Asia nation.

One dead in Christmas-morning blaze
A woman died in a Christmas-morning fire that destroyed a mobile home in the Sans Souci West park at 3231 W. Boone Ave. in West Central Spokane.

Pasco murder suspect arrested
Kenyatta K. Bridges, 25, a suspect in the shooting death of Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., 22, on Dec. 3 in Pasco, was arrested in Spokane on Thursday.

Public services in oil towns struggle to keep pace with boom
Relief could be on the horizon for strapped public services in the Northern Plains’ booming oil patch, as elected leaders in Montana and North Dakota move to steer more money into the region during the states’ upcoming legislative sessions.

‘Interview’ streaming a test for film industry
Simultaneous theater, online release could usher in new video-on-demand era

Business briefs: Citigroup to sell Japan retail branches to SMBC
Citigroup has agreed to sell its retail banking business in Japan to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., one of three Japanese mega-banks.
Saudi Arabia to tap reserves for budget
Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has endorsed a budget for 2015 that projects a slight increase in spending and a significant drop in revenues due to sliding oil prices, resulting in a $39 billion deficit.
Washington company to open cannery in U.S. territory
Tri Marine International, based in Bellevue, Washington, is making a $70 million investment in a tuna cannery in the U.S. territory of American Samoa.

Putin scraps ministers’ holidays
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday scrapped New Year’s holidays for government ministers because of the unfolding economic crisis.

Shawn Vestal: McMorris Rodgers ethics allegation deserves investigation

Amy Goodman: Senator has power to release torture report

Editorial: Obama should act on shipping slowdown

Obituary: Schorzman, Lee West
(d. 23 Dec 2014, age 81)  Odessa, Lind

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from Tea Party Crusaders
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]


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from The Washington Post (DC)
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from Yahoo News

US-led coalition hits IS jihadists with 31 air strikes
The US-led coalition pounded the Islamic State jihadist group with 31 air strikes Friday, including more than a dozen in the flashpoint Syrian town of Kobane, the Pentagon said.

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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Thursday, December 25, 2014


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DEC 24      INDEX      DEC 26
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from Americas Freedom Fighters
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

DESTRUCTION OF THE USA! – EXPECT “DEATH SQUADS” AS CIVIL WAR ERUPTS IN AMERICA!

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)
RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, HIGH, non-profit organization

The Market’s Gift: Low Clothing Prices
Clothing, which lives in a market mostly free of government subsidies and manipulations, breaks the mold of generally rising prices. Clothing has emerged as a great outlier in the general price trend. We pay less for clothing today than we did 25 years ago. It’s worth understanding why.


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from Forum for Middle East Understanding
(FFMU) (Shoebat.com)  [Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Jesus Is Seen Appearing All Over The World

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from The Heritage Foundation

The Billionaire Who’s Making Deals With Andrew Cuomo
It’s easy to see why Barbara Walters named billionaire Elon Musk one of 2014’s most fascinating people.

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from Open Culture

Ayn Rand Helped the FBI Identify It’s A Wonderful Life as Communist Propaganda
If you wanted to know what life was really like in the Cold War Soviet Union, you might take the word of an émigré Russian writer.

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from The Spokesman-Review

Jesus stolen from Capitol nativity scene - again
State officials say baby Jesus is missing from the nativity scene outside the Washington state Capitol.

Woman dies in overnight mobile home park fire
A woman died in an overnight fire that destroyed a mobile home in the Sans Souci West park at 3231 W. Boone Ave. in West Central Spokane around 4 a.m. Thursday.

‘The Interview’ released digitally, in select theaters

Silent night: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Exactly 100 years ago, amid the mud and the blood of World War I, a gentle event unfolded.

Foes hobnob in trench
This story appeared in The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 3, 1915

War Christmas, Carols at Night
This story appeared in The Spokesman-Review on Jan. 3, 1915

Pope celebrates with Mass, phone call to refugees
Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve with a late-night Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a phone call to some Iraqi refugees forced to flee their homes by Muslim militants.

Pope wishes Christmas hope and peace for Mideast
A somber Pope Francis steeped his Christmas message to the world Thursday in sadness for those with little cause for joy — abused children, refugees, hostages and others suffering from violence in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere.

Christmas Eve celebrated in Bethlehem
Several thousand Christian pilgrims on Wednesday flocked to the biblical town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations at the traditional birthplace of Jesus, lifting spirits after a year of conflict and failed peace efforts.

Wind, rain pose hurdles for Christmas Eve travelers
Christmas Eve shaped up to be windy, wet and warm instead of white across much of the country, creating headaches for travelers in the Great Lakes, the Northeast and a storm-battered swath of the South.

In brief: CDC tech monitored for possible Ebola exposure
A laboratory technician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was being monitored Wednesday for possible accidental exposure to the Ebola virus that came during an experiment, officials said.
George H.W. Bush remains in hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush will remain overnight Wednesday in a Houston hospital where he was taken after experiencing shortness of breath, a family spokesman said.
Company recalls caramel apples
A Missouri firm is recalling its Happy Apple brand caramel apples because of the potential that they could be contaminated with listeria. The recall comes after at least three deaths and at least 29 illnesses in 10 states have been linked to an outbreak of the deadly bacteria.
Israeli military strikes Gaza, kills militant
Israeli forces on Wednesday struck targets in the Gaza Strip, killing a Hamas militant, after its troops came under attack by Palestinian snipers while patrolling the Israeli side of the border, the military said.
Pakistan to set up courts for terror cases
Pakistan’s prime minister announced today the country will set up special trial courts under the supervision of military officers to prosecute terrorism cases in the wake of the Taliban school massacre.
D.C.’s panda cub is OK after staying in tree
The National Zoo in Washington is reassuring fans of the panda cub Bao Bao that she’s doing fine after spending the night in a tree.

Officer kills armed teenager in suburb near Ferguson
The mayor of the St. Louis suburb of Berkeley urged calm Wednesday after a white police officer killed a black 18-year-old who police said pointed a gun at him, reigniting tensions that have lingered since the death of Michael Brown in neighboring Ferguson.

Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State extremists
Islamic State militants captured a Jordanian pilot after his warplane crashed in Syria while carrying out airstrikes Wednesday, making him the first foreign military member to fall into the extremists’ hands since an international coalition launched its bombing campaign against the group months ago.

Spokane’s MAC considering return to not-for-profit
After another “flat” budget proposal from the state, leaders at Spokane’s Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture say it’s time for the institution to cut most formal ties with Olympia. The museum currently receives most of its annual $2.6 million operating budget from the state.

Spokane street musicians add festive flair for downtown shoppers

A Western Montana man convicted of killing a 17-year-old German exchange student who was trespassing in his garage will remain in jail until sentencing Feb. 12.

In brief: Spokane police recover disabled man’s iPad
Two people called the Spokane Police Department Tuesday to identify Kevin J. Dopkins, 30, as the suspect in the theft of an iPad from a developmentally disabled man in a Walgreens parking lot.
New judge appointed in Spokane
Jay Inslee has appointed Raymond Clary as a judge in Spokane County Superior Court to replace retiring Judge Tari Eitzen.
Insurance applicants get extension
People who tried to complete their Washington Health Benefit Exchange application before the Tuesday deadline but were unable because of a technical error have been given a 60-day reprieve.
Man stabbed while eating cereal
A man told Spokane police he was stabbed twice as he was eating a bowl of cereal in an apartment in the 9700 block of North Morton Court late Tuesday.

Concern grows tunnel drill sits idle under Pioneer Square
Bertha arrived with great fanfare in July 2013, designed to bore a 2-mile tunnel beneath Seattle’s downtown and allow this graceful city to tear down a clunky, 1950s-era double-decker highway that separates skyscrapers from scenic Puget Sound. The massive machine broke down a year ago and has barely moved since. Efforts to fix her have been peppered with problems, the latest of which are the talk of the slightly scruffy historic core. Parts of Pioneer Square have sunk. Walls have split. Concerns have grown.

In brief: Idaho fly-in housing development wants jury trial
Bonner County officials and the developers of an upscale, fly-in housing development are asking for a jury trial after mediation and arbitration failed.
Court releases real estate mogul
The ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes after onetime billionaire and Yellowstone Club founder Tim Blixseth, 64, was jailed last week for not giving U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon a full accounting of a 2011 hotel property sale for $13.8 million.

Small businesses expanding, reflecting growing economy

Mortgage rates edge up slightly
Average U.S. mortgage rates rose slightly this week but the benchmark 30-year low remained very close to the 19-month low hit last week.

Wal-Mart testing exchange of gift cards
Starting today, Wal-Mart is letting customers exchange gift cards from more than 200 retailers, airlines and restaurants for a Wal-Mart card. The cards don’t expire and can be used in stores and online.

In brief: Applications for jobless aid at seven-week low
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has reached its lowest level in seven weeks, a sign that the U.S. economy and job market are steadily improving.
Air bag maker Takata revamps management
Takata Corp., the Japanese maker of air bags at the center of massive recalls in the U.S. and elsewhere, says its president Stefan Stocker is moving aside to give way to the chairman to take over.
Chief of e-commerce at Sears has resigned
Sears Holdings e-commerce chief Imran Jooma has resigned, creating a vacancy in a key position as the struggling retailer banks on technology to turn around its flagging fortunes.

Russia’s central bank offers companies help with foreign debts
With inflation showing clear signs of picking up, Russia’s central bank said Wednesday it will look to help companies with their foreign debts – a move it hopes will ease the pressure on the national currency.

Dana Milbank: U.S. shouldn’t threaten hostages’ parents

Christmas Day, more than any other, signifies dignity of all
The 1941 Christmas message from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Ask Dr. K: Fibroids need varied treatment

Spokane couple enjoy their baby girl only two years after health scare

Cocker made others’ songs his own

Randy Mann: Mild winter still expected in Pacific Northwest

Pat Munts: Tradition of Christmas tree has roots in solstice rituals

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from The Wall Street Journal

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God
The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?

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In the news, Wednesday, December 24, 2014


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DEC 23      INDEX      DEC 25
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unfinished
Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
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from The Daily Beast

No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony
The FBI and the President may claim that the Hermit Kingdom is to blame for the most high-profile network breach in forever. But almost all signs point in another direction.

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from The Guardian (UK)

Rush Limbaugh: Idris Elba can't be Bond because he's black
Ian Fleming conceived character as white and Scottish, says right-wing commentator, adding: ‘I know it’s racist to point this out’

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from The Spokesman-Review

MAC museum looks to become nonprofit
After another “flat” budget proposal from the state, leaders at Spokane’s Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture say it’s time for the institution to cut most formal ties with Olympia.

Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions dropping
Greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state dropped by about 4.6 percent between 2010 and 2011, led by reductions in emissions from the electricity sector, a new state report shows.

Spokane police recover stolen iPad
Spokane police say they’ve recovered an iPad stolen from a developmentally disabled man Tuesday morning and have a suspect in custody.

‘Interview’ to open in limited release on Christmas Day
“The Interview” was put back into theaters Tuesday when Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a limited Christmas Day theatrical release for the comedy that provoked an international incident with North Korea and outrage over its canceled release.

‘The Interview’ comes to YouTube, Google
“The Interview” is available for rental on a variety of digital platforms including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and a separate Sony website beginning Wednesday.

U.S. economic surge lifts Dow past 18,000
A surge in U.S. economic growth lifted stocks Tuesday to record highs and showed that the United States is putting distance between itself and struggling economies around the world.

Weather could hit holiday travelers
A wintry mix of Gulf Coast thunderstorms expected to travel north, predicted snowfall in the Great Lakes and blustery conditions in the nation’s midsection threatened Tuesday to snag holiday travel plans nationwide.

All ski resorts open in Inland Northwest
With today’s scheduled opening of the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, all of the Inland Northwest’s ski areas are now operating for the season.

Low-tech warning came too late for slain N.Y. cops
After Ismaaiyl Brinsley shot his ex-girlfriend and posted an online death threat against police, investigators in Maryland used modern cellphone tracking technology to follow his journey to New York City in real time. But when it came to giving the New York Police Department specifics about Brinsley, the means were markedly low-tech: a phone call and a wanted flier sent by fax.

Feds want to modify blood donor ban for gay men
Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation’s lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified.

In brief: Freed by Cuba, Gross gets $3.2M
A former subcontractor freed last week after five years in a Cuban jail will receive $3.2 million from the federal government as part of a settlement with the Maryland-based company that employed him at the time of his arrest.
George H.W. Bush taken to hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush has been taken to a Houston hospital after experiencing a shortness of breath.
Sheriff’s lawsuit rejected by judge
A federal judge has rejected an Arizona sheriff’s lawsuit seeking to halt President Barack Obama’s plan to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation.

Democrat groups collect most cash
For as often as Democrats attack the conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch for their heavy spending on politics, it’s actually the liberal-minded who shelled out the most cash on the just completed midterm elections.At least, that is, among those groups that must disclose what they raise and spend. Among the top 100 individual donors to political groups, more than half gave primarily to Democrats or their allies. Among groups that funneled more than $100,000 to allies, the top of the list tilted overwhelmingly toward Democrats – a group favoring the GOP doesn’t appear on the list until No. 14.

Kurds fight to liberate town
Over the past week, Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters have descended Mount Sinjar, battling to liberate the town of Sinjar, a tiny desert community in northern Iraq that Islamic State group extremists overran in August, killing and enslaving hundreds of its residents.

Ukraine parliament vote to end nonaligned status is step toward NATO
The Ukrainian parliament voted Tuesday to end the nation’s nonaligned status in the face of Russian aggression, angering Moscow and potentially opening the way to NATO membership in years to come.

Japan parliament re-elects Shinzo Abe as prime minister
Japan’s parliament re-elected Shinzo Abe today to serve another term as prime minister after his party won a snap election earlier this month.

Lava flow stalls short of stores
Officials had been worried that the lava would hit Pahoa Marketplace on or around Christmas, but civil defense administrator Darryl Oliveira said Tuesday that the lava’s leading edge had stopped about 700 yards from the shopping center, which has a supermarket, gas station and other stores.

Valley bank manager admits stealing money
A former Spokane Valley bank manager pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling more than $92,000 from the Banner Bank branch she oversaw by pilfering cash from the till and writing phony checks.

Suspect in would-be pot shop arson back in jail
One man implicated in an alleged Spokane Valley arson targeting a would-be pot shop is back behind bars, and the other faces additional charges of illegally manufacturing hash oil.

In brief: Sterk new schools security director
Spokane Public Schools has hired former Spokane County sheriff Mark Sterk as the new safety, security and transportation director. He replaces Jason Conley, who left in November to take a position as executive officer of Spokane’s Parks and Recreation department.
Thief steals iPad from disabled man
A developmentally disabled man’s specialty iPad was stolen in the parking lot of Walgreens at 2800 S. Grand Blvd. around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to Spokane police.
Dish subscribers lose Fox channels
Fox News and Fox Business Channel remain blacked out for Dish network subscribers as the two companies continue contract negotiations.
Ice cream recall hits Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream said it is voluntarily recalling nearly a year’s worth of ice cream and related products because of possible listeria contamination.

Seattle to begin warning those who don’t recycle
Fail to recycle in Seattle and you can get a ticket from the garbage collector. The city said it will start enforcing new recycling requirements on Jan. 1 with warnings tags. Careless residents will start seeing fines July 1 on their bills – $1 per violation, $50 for a commercial or apartment building.

92,500 beat health insurance deadline
Although 92,500 Washington individuals and families had already taken care of their health insurance business before Tuesday’s deadline to sign up for coverage that goes into effect on Jan. 1, only 70,000 out of 130,000 had renewed the insurance they bought in 2014, the exchange reported.

Consumer sentiment at highest level since 2007
The University of Michigan said Tuesday that its index of consumer sentiment has jumped to 93.6 from 88.8 in November. December’s reading is the highest since January 2007, nearly a year before the recession officially began.

Court: Argentina must disclose records to U.S. creditors
Argentina and various banks must reveal information about the nation’s assets to U.S. bondholders who are owed about $1.5 billion, a federal appeals court said Tuesday, though the panel cautioned a judge that a sovereign state is entitled to grace and civility and some records may be off limits.

Oil price nosedive a shocker
For the first half of 2014 the oil market looked just as it had the year before – and the two years before that. Oil was over $100 a barrel and drivers in the U.S. were paying around $3.50 a gallon for gasoline. Then, despite intense turmoil in the Middle East and an improving economy in the U.S., the price of oil went into a nosedive. In the second half of 2014, it dropped by half, to depths not seen since May 2009, when the U.S. was in the Great Recession. By December, some drivers even saw a price at the pump that started with a $1.

Drones taking off as hot holiday gifts
Drones – flying devices that often carry cameras and can be navigated remotely by smartphones or controllers – have taken off as popular gifts, as novices have become just as interested in the devices as serious hobbyists.

Spending up
U.S. consumer spending rose at the fastest pace in three months in November, while income posted the best gain in five months – both encouraging signs for economic growth.

County’s jobless rate increased in November
Spokane County’s unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent in November from 6.7 percent in October, the state Employment Security Department reported. Washington’s preliminary jobless rate last month was 6.2 percent statewide, up from 6 percent in October.
Injunction issued over medical pot delivery
A judge has ordered a smartphone application that facilitates the delivery of medical marijuana to stop its activities in Los Angeles and to remove all reference to marijuana delivery within city limits.
FDA OKs diabetes drug for weight loss
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a Novo Nordisk diabetes drug as a treatment for obesity. It’s the first injectable drug approved for weight loss.
4,000 tech patents sold for $900 million
A group led by Apple and Microsoft has sold about 4,000 technology patents to patent management company RPX Corp. for $900 million.

Disney wins fight over superheroes
A Colorado company lost its latest fight against Disney over the rights to Marvel’s iconic comic book characters Tuesday when a federal appeals court ruled it could not claim ownership to certain superheroes such as Spider-Man and Iron Man.

IRS leaders accused of tax scandal cover-up
A House Republican investigation faults senior IRS officials in the mistreatment of conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status, but could find no link to the White House, according to a report released Tuesday.

Editorial: High court elections should stay nonpartisan

Carl Hiaasen: Cuba change just common sense

Time isn’t on fruit cake’s side, but taste sure is
Amelia Ermish’s fruitcake

Fruitcake recipe a crowd-pleaser for 50 years
Nana’s Fruitcake

Sold as a baby, Cd’A woman finally locates family
In a search that spanned most of her life, Heather Livergood has found where she came from. And this Christmas she has the gift of family, including two brothers she never knew. The Coeur d’Alene woman was sold as a newborn for $100 – one of possibly dozens of babies whose fates were orchestrated by Gertrude Pitkanen, a notorious Montana abortionist and midwife who arranged black market adoptions.

Facebook policy challenger dies at 114
A 114-year-old woman who challenged Facebook after the social media site wouldn’t let her list her real age has died in Minnesota. Anna Stoehr, one of the nation’s oldest residents, died Sunday in her sleep after several days in hospice care. She drew national attention this year after KARE-TV reported about her attempt to create a Facebook account. The social media site wouldn’t let her enter a birth year before 1905, so she listed her age as 99 – but she wrote a letter to the company saying, “I’m still here.” In response, Facebook sent her a bouquet of 114 flowers for her most recent birthday.

Former Police Chief Terry Mangan dies
Former Spokane Police Chief Terry Mangan has died following a long illness. Mangan, 76, served as chief from 1987 until 1998 and was the first person selected to Spokane’s top cop job from outside the department. He died Monday at a hospital near Washington, D.C.

Obituary: Kelly, Merle Vern
(1 Oct 1927 - 21 Dec 2014)  Tekoa, Spokane

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from The Washington Post (DC)
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