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Montreal has not progressed far enough when it comes to reducing barriers for individuals with reduced mobility, as compared with other large cities in North America, and access to buses is a case in point.
When a group of volunteers started the Festival des Couleurs de Rigaud in 1997, the goal was simple: showcase the town's best attraction, Mont Rigaud, at a time of year when the changing colours of the tress had it looking its best. The festival was eventually taken over by a new group of volunteers after a few […]
A national park in San Francisco and former hospitals in New York and Lyon, France, will be held up as examples for Montreal at a symposium on converting old hospitals to new uses. With the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) due to open next spring on its new Glen campus and the downtown Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) to follow in 2016, it is urgent to determine what will become of soon-to-be-vacant sites like the Royal Victoria Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu, said Dinu Bumbaru, policy director of Heritage Montreal, which is organizing the event.
Voluntourists help restore old artworks, then feast on delicious local food and wine
While driving along Quebec's scenic motor routes, one famous life lesson springs to mind: it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. How true this feels when motoring through the province's lush fields and valleys. Whether you're clutching tickets to a music festival or looking forward to touring an ecological museum on the other side of the province, it's wise to keep in mind another old adage—stop and smell the roses.
St-Gérard school in Villeray is one step closer to being rebuilt and reopened, as school board officials have agreed to preserve parts of the façade as long as the rest can be demolished. Closed for more than two and a half years after toxic mould was detected inside the walls of the elementary school, parents in the neighbourhood have been lobbying for a new building ever since.
It's the go-to website for travellers seeking clean and cheap accommodation in major urban centres, but Airbnb is still in legal limbo in Quebec after years of controversy and at least six months of formal consultations.
New York State Police Department investigators found no mechanical defect in the Quebec tour bus that crashed after veering off the highway in upper New York state, killing 14-year-old Chelssy Mercier.
A 14-year-old Quebec girl was killed when the charter bus she was on veered off Interstate 87 in North Hudson, N.Y. and overturned Friday morning.
Spend a day learning about Quebec wines and ciders and enjoying a guided tour and tastings, either Saturday or Sunday until Nov. 2.
The Sûreté du Québec found two missing French tourists in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean on Monday morning.
The town's reconstruction plan is being promoted as a blueprint for a more prosperous future, while others say it shuns the residents and merchants who lost their homes and livelihoods in the disaster
When the doors to the Canadiens' dressing room open during tours at the Bell Centre, fans can't step inside, but they do get a glimpse of the inner sanctum.
When Robert Prowse was 14, he spent his hard-earned paper-route profits on an ornate grand piano. Decades later, the prized rosewood piano is the centrepiece of Prowse's new lodging establishment in Cornwall, Ont.
Of the hundreds of commercial maple syrup operations in Quebec, none is as famous as the Sucrerie de la Montagne.
The chic, contemporary hotel on the Huron-Wendat territory outside of Quebec City has gone back to its roots.
We were looking for a winter trip that would feel like a touristy getaway without having to fly.
The Eastern Townships has been on a roll with the right kind of storm: lots of snow, and no rain, sleet or ice.
Novotel New York Times Square has been totally rebuilt into a boutique-style getaway.
Sûreté du Québec agent Benoit Bédard said he had never seen Lac-Mégantic so busy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Your guide to the good life, delivered to your in-box.
Once you submit your email, you will then select which e-newsletters you want.
We don't like spam either, so we'll keep your e-mail address to ourselves.
Whether you're exploring greater Minnesota, or enjoying time in the cities, make sure to stop by these fun places to stay or play! Read more.Edit ModuleShow Tags
North by Northfield
Cows, colleges, contentment—and plenty of charm.
2014 Restaurants of the Year
A Stamp of Style
Red Stamp founder Erin Newkirk brings flair to business.
Cook Like Britt Krekelberg of Badger Hill Brewing
Learn how to make a recipe for Chocolate Stout Crunch Cookies from Badger Hill Brewing.
Life in the Fast Lane?
Getting a driver's license used to be a crucial rite of passage. Today? Not so much.
Who's the Fairest?
The mirror reflects a different reality depending on your geography.
Quinton's Picks December 2014
Senior editor Quinton Skinner picks the top arts and entertainment events for the month of December.
Cabin Fever – Rustic Gifts
As the holidays approach, the north woods is a perennial source of home-design inspiration. This season, translate the style to your holiday gift giving with a modern, luxe twist. These rustic gifts are sure to charm everyone on your list–even Ebenezer.


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Hybrid ReRAM+NAND SSD claims 11x performance boost
A research group at Chuo University in Japan has developed a prototype SSD that uses a combination of 1GB ReRAM and 256GB NAND to deliver up to 11 times faster writing performance compared to current NAND-only SSDs. The new prototype works in a similar way to a hybrid SSD+HDD drive, but where the ReRAM is used to handle small write and overwrite operations and frequent read operations. The group is led by Ken Takeuchi, a professor at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering at Chuo University.
One significant problem with NAND is that in order to overwrite a small amount of data, such as a 4KB block, an entire NAND cell must be updated, which may be 16KB in size. If no spare area is available, an even longer erase operation must be carried out before this cell can be written back. For example, four random 4KB blocks of written data could result in 64KB of NAND being overwritten. Not only does small write operations result in slower performance, but also significant write amplification where several times more physical storage space is overwritten than the amount of data being sent to the SSD.
With the ReRAM prototype, small writes are stored in ReRAM and only when enough data to fill a NAND block is written does this get transferred to NAND. Like volatile RAM, ReRAM can also be rewritten without a tedious erase cycle, so if data is overwritten before it gets transferred to NAND, this also saves another NAND write operation and the time involved. The prototype also uses an algorithm to store frequently accessed data in the ReRAM due to the much reduced latency of reading from ReRAM compared to NAND.
Based on testing their prototype controller with an emulator, they found that write performance improved by 11 times, power consumption reduced by 93% and the estimated NAND life increased by 6.9%. As most write operations generally involve small amounts of data being written, they also estimate that data ends up being written in the ReRAM 30 times more frequently than in the NAND flash memory.
So far it is unclear how long they are away from bringing this to the market, let alone the premium over NAND-only SSDs, but it appears to be targeted at the enterprise market, especially database servers that constantly write small amounts of data.
Tech-On has a detailed technical article including diagrams of this prototype.
There are 2 comments
- Wombler
- Administrator & Reviewer
- Posted on: 16 Jun 12 13:32
Regardless of cost I'm sure some organisations would be extremely interested in such a massive leap forward in speed.
- DukeNukem
- MyCE Resident Commenter
- Posted on: 18 Jun 12 18:13
*cough* holographic storage *cough*
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Splinter Cell Conviction Demo Rumor Debunked, Wallpaper And Other Free Crap When You Buy AC 2
Remember that supposed Splinter Cell Conviction promo code that was to be included inside the box of Assassin's Creed 2? According to game site CVG, and an Ubisoft spokesperson "The leaflet included in the Assassin's Creed 2 boxes in the US does not relate to a Splinter Cell Conviction demo download. The leaflet is a US initiative and will not be available in other territories." In other words, it's a promo to get fans of the Splinter Cell series like you and me to download wallpapers to our computer's desktop and what Ubisoft probably hopes is a conversation going with our best buds to help promote the game.
Christen Costa
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Tamoxifen Citrate, Trazodone Hydrochloride for a 49-year old woman
This is a personalized study for a 49 year old female patient who has Breast Cancer, Insomnia. The study is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 52 female patients aged 49 (±5) who take the same drugs from FDA and social media.
What are the drugs
Tamoxifen citrate (latest outcomes from 9,118 users) has active ingredients of tamoxifen citrate. It is often used in breast cancer.
Trazodone hydrochloride (latest outcomes from 6,602 users) has active ingredients of trazodone hydrochloride. It is often used in insomnia.
What are the conditions
Breast cancer (latest reports from 198,095 patients) can be treated by Arimidex, Tamoxifen Citrate, Femara, Aromasin, Letrozole, Herceptin.
Insomnia (sleeplessness) (latest reports from 758,586 patients) can be treated by Ambien, Trazodone Hydrochloride, Lunesta, Zolpidem Tartrate, Ambien Cr, Zopiclone.
On Nov, 25, 2014: 52 females aged 49 (±5) who take Tamoxifen Citrate, Trazodone Hydrochloride are studied
Information of the patient in this study:
Age: 49
Gender: female
Conditions: Breast Cancer, Insomnia
Drugs taking:
- Tamoxifen Citrate - EQ 20MG BASE (tamoxifen citrate): used for 5 - 10 years
- Trazodone Hydrochloride - 100MG (trazodone hydrochloride): used for 5 - 10 years
eHealthMe real world results:
Drug effectiveness over time :
|< 1 month
|1 - 6 months
|6 - 12 months
|1 - 2 years
|2 - 5 years
|5 - 10 years
|10+ years
|not specified
|Tamoxifen Citrate is effective
|Trazodone Hydrochloride is effective
(1 of 1 people)
(0 of 1 people)
Most common drug interactions over time * :
|< 1 month
|1 - 6 months
|6 - 12 months
|1 - 2 years
|2 - 5 years
|5 - 10 years
|10+ years
|not specified
|Osteoarthritis Aggravated (worse joint disease caused by cartilage loss in a joint)
|Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
|Uterine Polyp Nos
|Weight Decreased
|Cervical Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck)
|Uterine Fibroids (benign growths of the muscle inside the uterus)
|Osteoarthritis (a joint disease caused by cartilage loss in a joint)
|Throat Tightness
|Endometrial Hyperplasia (enlargement of uterus wall)
|Pain In Extremity
|Yawning (simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath)
|Tinnitus (a ringing in the ears)
|Nausea (feeling of having an urge to vomit)
|Fatigue (feeling of tiredness)
|Impaired Healing
|Joint Pain
|Osteopenia (a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal)
|Dry Mouth
|Headache (pain in head)
|Anaemia (lack of blood)
|Back Pain
* Some reports may have incomplete information.
How to use the study: print a copy of the study and bring it to your health teams to ensure drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood.
You can also:
- Check your drugs or symptoms
- Subscribe the study: get notified of updates
- Post a comment: or see what other people said about the study
- Join a related mobile support group
You are not alone! Join a related mobile support group:
- support group for people who have Breast Cancer
- support group for people who have Insomnia
- support group for people who take Tamoxifen Citrate
- support group for people who take Trazodone Hydrochloride
Recent conversations of related support groups:
- Support group for people who have Insomnia
My insomnia was provoked by a 'medicine cocktail', prescribed medications that were contraindicated. I just had a rough experience with Serotonin Syndrome, grateful to be alive.
Can you answer these questions (Ask a question):
- Is it my thyroid or am i mentally ill? diagnosed w/ hashimoto's thyroiditis but untreated - chronic pain unmanaged also
(Asked by a 54 year old woman who has Spondylosis, Autoimmune Disorder, Asthma Late Onset, Migraine, Degenerative Joint Disease, Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Facet Joint Syndrome, Sacroiliitis, Diverticulosis, PTSD, IBS, Traumatic Brain Injury, Pelvic Congestion, Fibromyalgia, Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and takes Albuterol Sulfate, Trazodone Hydrochloride, Maxalt, Oxycodone And Acetaminophen, Oxycontin, Alvesco, Levothyroxine Thyroid)
I moved to OR from HI and brought all my records, signed releases, and had many diagnoses, all but the thyroid, was being treated and long-term. I also took Oxycontin & Oxycodone for severe chronic pain from bilateral SI joint fusion (right screw protrudes & leg also becomes numb and weak with acti ...
- What affect does taking these medicines together have
(Asked by a 51 year old woman who has Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Depression, and takes Metformin Hydrochloride, Trazodone Hydrochloride - 50MG, Simvastatin)
I have diabetes but not high blood pressure
- Has anyone on tamoxifen experienced numbness in hands and feet, and acne or rash on face!
(Asked by a 51 year old woman who has Bilateral Mastectomy, and takes Tamoxifen Citrate)
I am a 51 year old premenopausal woman. Breakouts began about a month after starting medication. Had clear skin most of my life. Numbness in feet and hands started about 3 months in. There have been no other changes in my lifestyle or health.
More questions for: Breast Cancer, Insomnia
You may be interested at these reviews (Write a review):
- Doxylamine succinate and severe restless legs and insomnia
(Posted by a 53 year old woman who has Insomnia, Severe Restless Legs, and takes Doxylamine Succinate)
Could not sleep so took 2 doxylamine gel tablets. Got very sleepy but could not actually fall asleep. So I ended up, over the next few hours, taking 3 more. More sleepiness and more restless legs, and still couldn't sleep At All. Up the entire night but couldn't really do anything cause I was so ...
- Victoza and breast cancer
(Posted by a 44 year old woman who has Breast Cancer, and takes Victoza)
I took victoza for about 1 year. I have no history of breast cancer 9 my family.
- Lorazepam nearly killed me during cancer treatment
(Posted by a 66 year old woman who has Insomnia, Bowel Movement Irregularity, Withdrawal Syndrome, and takes Wellbutrin Sr, Prozac, Lorazepam)
Day 31 of cold turkey and I want to die. It is a roller coaster from body tics and sweats to rage and crying in one day. I felt so good the 4h day of c/t. It was like before my cancer diagnosis. My bowels are better off Lorazepam. I threw up during bowel movements from the pain. Off Lorazepam first ...
- Zolpidem er side effects
(Posted by a 60 year old woman who has Bipolar Ii Disorder, Sleeping Difficulty, and takes Zolpidem Tartrate)
I was in this medicaion for 2 weeks.I had severe headache,muscular backache and a rash in one side of my body.I didn't had problems falling asleep but I had problems staying asllep.I will switch to Lunesta 3mg.
- Lipitor and panic attack insomnia
(Posted by a 55 year old man who has Anxiety, Panic Attack, Insomnia, and takes Lipitor)
My doctor put me on generic lipitor my triglycerides were slightly high 158 vs 150 goal and cholesterol not bad 128/28 although my ratio is bad. After less than a week on the medicine I woke up at 3 am wide awake and unable to calm down. I had anxiety issues several years go but have been off t ...
More reviews for: Breast Cancer, Insomnia
Related drug interaction studies:
Drug effectiveness in real world:
- Tamoxifen Citrate for Breast Cancer reported by 126 people (updated 2 hours ago)
- Trazodone Hydrochloride for Insomnia reported by 789 people (updated 4 hours ago)
Complete drug side effects:
Tamoxifen Citrate side effects reported by 8,702 people (updated 3 weeks ago)
Trazodone Hydrochloride side effects reported by 4,861 people (updated 2 weeks ago)
Tamoxifen Citrate side effects reported by 8,702 people (updated 3 weeks ago)
Trazodone Hydrochloride side effects reported by 4,861 people (updated 2 weeks ago)
Alternative drugs:
- Breast Cancer (20 drugs in 531 reports) (updated 2 days ago)
- Insomnia (100 drugs in 6,926 reports) (updated 4 hours ago)
Recent related drug studies (Check your drugs):
- A study of side effects of Trazodone Hydrochloride for a patient with Insomnia. The patient has Edema Of Lower Extremities, Neck Pain, Mania Aggravated (a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood), Hallucinations, Mixed (sensations that appear real but are created by your mind -mixed)
Comments: I am a 61 year old female, who, after taking DESYREL / TRAZADONE 100mg per day, for 19 days, (Oct 25-Nov 13, 2014), developed a complete psychosis and was institutionalized for 4 days. I had awoken at 1am, Friday November 14, 2014 and was acting and feeling very strange, upon which my husband wisely ...
- A study of drug interactions between Trazodone Hydrochloride, Xanax, Ativan, Synthroid, Effexor Xr, Seroquel, Lamictal Xr, Buspar for a patient with Chronic Insomnia, Anxiety And Stress, Hypothyroidism, Bipolar I Disorder, Insomnia Related To Another Mental Condition, Anxiety Disorder. The patient has Elevated Cholesterol, Elevated Blood Sugar
Comments: In the past 3 months I've had numerous medication changes. I never had problems with blood pressure, cholesterol or sugar. I go for blood tests every three months to see if my Synthroid needs to be adjusted and the lab does a battery of other tests also. Last year my blood sugar was 84 and choleste ...
- A study of drug interactions between Folic Acid, Lamictal, Sulfasalazine, Klonopin, Effexor Xr, Wellbutrin Xl, Remicade, Trazodone Hydrochloride for a patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Depression, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Potential Crohn's Disease, Anxiety Disorder, Chronic Insomnia.
Comments: Ever since I started Remicade, I am responding differently to my sleep aid medications. Trazodone is still effective at helping me fall asleep, but I sleep for a VERY long time, 12+ hours, and it is extremely difficult to wake up. Lunesta, which has always been effective for me, does not work ...
- A study of side effects of Trazodone Hydrochloride for a patient with Sleeplessness. The patient has Diarrhoea, Anxiety, Heart Pounding Or Racing (feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing)
Comments: I was put on metropol for racing heart and a slight increase in blood pressure. We tried Ativan to help sleeplessness/and in case this was caused by anxiety/stress. Because of its addictiveness, we switched to trazodone for last two nights. Trazodone was only very slightly effective at helping me sl ...
- A study of drug interactions between Oxycontin, Norco, Valium, Desyrel for a patient with Pain, Pain Management, Muscle Relaxant Therapy, Sleep Disorder Due To General Medical Condition, Insomnia Type. The patient has Spleen Pain, Headache
Comments: I receive cortisone injections. I always thought the discomfort in my side left upper adbdomen was due to old duodinal ulcers. After the last medro / lidocaine mixture injection to shoulder, it seriously aggravated the area and never went away this time. Usually I get a bit of tenderness and fever b ...
More related studies for: Breast Cancer, Insomnia
Common symptoms:Women of age 50-59 with Breast Cancer:
- Diarrhea (1,619 reports)
- Fever (1,215 reports)
- Nausea (1,080 reports)
- Breathing difficulty (1,061 reports)
- Agranulocytosis (926 reports)
- Fatigue (859 reports)
- Nausea and vomiting (853 reports)
- Rashes (853 reports)
- Joint pain (851 reports)
- Anaemia (848 reports)
NOTE: The study is based on active ingredients. Other drugs that have the same active ingredients are also considered.
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only, and has not been supported by scientific studies or clinical trials unless otherwise stated. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
You may report adverse side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.


text:
Fonts can be installed in several folders in OS X, but we recommend that you do the following:
- Close any open applications. Newly installed fonts may not appear in your menu if you ignore this step.
- Drag and drop the unzipped fonts into the Fonts folder in your user's Library folder found here:
- Note: As of OS Lion, the library folder is hidden from users unless you hold down the Alt/Option key while clicking on the "Go" menu in Finder.
Optional for Mac OS X 10.3 or higher:
- Double click the font file and fontbook will open a preview of the font.
- Click "install font" at the bottom of the preview.


text:
John Wilson Haulage, Wirral
Updated more than 6 months ago | Claim This Business| Report Incorrect Data
Be the first to write a review for John Wilson Haulage!
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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
It's good enough to move the story along, but no more than that. It has a good heart, exemplified by its inspiring heroine. If only…
It's good enough to move the story along, but no more than that. It has a good heart, exemplified by its inspiring heroine. If only…
Some of the images sit there unmoving for too long, but that very same stasis also helps create and enforce the underlying tension, the tormented…
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
Patrice Leconte's "Monsieur Hire" is a tragedy about loneliness and erotomania, told about two solitary people who have nothing else in common. It involves a…
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A report on films that screened at the 2014 San Diego Asian Film Festival.
A report on "Song of the Sea" and "Over Your Dead Body" at the 2014 AFI Fest.
A report on films that screened at the 2014 San Diego Asian Film Festival.
A report on "Song of the Sea" and "Over Your Dead Body" at the 2014 AFI Fest.
A piece on two new Shirley Clarke restorations, "Portrait of Jason" and "Ornette: Made in America".
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The best compliment I can pay "Ladder 49" is to say that it left me feeling thoughtful and sad. I was surprised it had such an effect. I walked in expecting an action picture with heroic firemen charging into burning buildings for last-minute rescues. "Ladder 49" has the heroes and the fires and the rescues, but it's not really about them. It's about character, and about the kind of man who risks his life for a living. And it's about work, about what kind of a job it is to be a fireman.
The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Jack Morrison, a fireman assigned to search and rescue. John Travolta plays Kennedy, his chief. The other guys at the firehouse include Tommy (Morris Chestnut), Don (Kevin Daniels), Lenny (Robert Patrick) and Frank (Kevin Chapman).
We see them in action before we really meet them. A warehouse is on fire, and people are trapped on the 12th floor. There's grain dust in the building that could explode at any moment. Jack and his team charge into the building, and Jack finds a survivor on the 12th floor -- which is too high for the cherry-pickers or ladders to reach. "Stick with me. I'll take care of you," he tells the guy, and lowers him out a window on a rope until firemen below can grab him, calm his panic and return him safe to earth.
The grain dust blows. Jack falls through a hole in the center of the building and lands a few floors below, stunned, half-buried by debris. Eventually he regains consciousness, and is able to radio Travolta, who coordinates the rescue effort. It is clear that there's a limited window of opportunity to save Jack before the building kills him.
The movie flashes back to Jack's first day as a rookie in the fire department, and we understand what the structure will be: His present danger will be intercut with the story of his life as a fireman. So far everything in "Ladder 49" has been basic and predictable, by the numbers, although the special effects and stunt work inside the burning building were convincing. But as the movie explores Jack's life, it shows an attention and sensitivity that elevates the flashbacks from the usual biographical stops along the way.
Yes, he's the victim of practical jokes. Yes, he does a lot of after-hours drinking with his firehouse buddies, chugging beer competitively. Yes, he and a buddy pick up two girls in the supermarket, and the one named Linda (Jacinda Barrett) becomes his wife. And they have kids. And some of his friends have bad things happen to them during fires. And he volunteers for search and rescue. And Linda worries about him, and dreads the day a red fire chief's car may pull up in front of her house to deliver a man with dreadful news.
As I list these scenes, you may think you can guess what they contain and how they play, but you would be wrong. The director, Jay Russell, working from Lewis Colick's screenplay, brings a particular humanity to the scenes; I am reminded of how his movie "My Dog Skip" transcended the basic elements of a boy and his dog. The marriage of Jack and Linda is not a movie marriage, but a convincing one with troubles and problems and love that endures. Linda is not one more of those tiresome wives in action movies, who appear only to complain that the hero should spend more time with his family. She is Jack's partner in their family, and a source of his pride and courage at work. And Jack's relationship with Chief Kennedy (Travolta) is complex, too, because Kennedy worries about him and is not at all sure he should allow him to volunteer for search and rescue.
After Jack has lost one friend and another has been badly burned, Kennedy offers him a transfer to a safe job downtown. Jack stays where he is, not because he is a fearless hero, but because it is his job, and he is faithful to it. There is the sense that the men of Ladder 49 go into danger and take risks largely out of loyalty to their comrades. Soldiers in battle, it is said, fight not so much for the flag or for a cause as for their buddies, to not let them down. Russell allows small details to accumulate into the subtle but crucial fact that the camaraderie of the firehouse is what motivates these men above all.
The effort to rescue Jack is desperate but skilled. Diagrams are used to figure out where he must be inside the building. He gives them clues based on what he can see. Kennedy asks if he can get to a brick wall, knock a hole in it, and crawl through it to a room they think they can reach. He thinks he can.
The movie is not about a dying man whose life passes before his eyes, but about a man who saved a life and put himself in danger, and how he got to that place in his life, and what his life and family mean to him. Because it is attentive to these human elements, "Ladder 49" draws from the action scenes instead of depending on them. Phoenix, Travolta, Barrett and the others are given characters with dimension, so that what happens depends on their decisions, not on the plot. As I said, I was surprisingly affected by the film. After I left the screening, I walked a while by the river, and sat and thought, and was happy not to have anything that had to be done right away.
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Authors: Desimini, Lisa
Title: Dot the Firedog
Publisher: New York : Blue Sky Press, 2001
Characteristics: 1 v. (unpaged) :,col. ill. ;,27 cm
Summary: Dot the dalmatian that lives at a firehouse accompanies the firefighters when they rush to a burning house.
Statement of Responsibility: Lisa Desimini
Subject Headings: Dogs Fiction Dalmatian dog Fiction Fire fighters Fiction
Topical Term: Dogs
Dalmatian dog
Fire fighters
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SYNOPSIS: When a father and son become stranded in the wild, they must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives. REVIEW: This will require some soul-searching on the part of yours truly, but the creature feature may be my favorite horror sub genre. Regardless of story or characterizations surrounding it, I'm a sucker for a good monster. On the other hand, there at times stands the rarity which places its beastie, … Continue reading


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The Paleo Transition episode 0007
in Health
Terry Shanahan discusses trends in the development of the Paleo Diet and the Cross Fit community. How these trends are affecting those who are transitioning to a Paleo Diet.
The Paleo Transition episode 0003
in Health
Terry Shanahan discusses Paleolithic nutrition and how to transition to a Paleo diet.
The Paleo Transition episode 0002
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In this episode of the The Paleo Transition Terry Shanahan discusses the challenges he sees people struggle with as they attempt to transition to a Palelo Diet. Also disucussed is how long the average person takes to make full transition to the Paleo diet. Finally, the best "first steps" in a trasition are discussed.
The Paleo Transition episode 0005
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Terry Shanahan answers questions regarding the transition fo the Paleo Diet.
The Paleo Transition episode 0004
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Terry Shanahan discusses food sensitivities and testing for them. Food allergies, performance, and health on the Paleo diet are also discussed.
The Paleo Transition episode 0008
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In this episode of The Paleo Transition Terry Shanahan discusses the specialized dietary supplement called Protandim. This is the first of a two part series. We had technical difficulties starting at minute 25:00 so listen to this episode up until then and then tune in to episode 0009 to hear the rest of the conversation.
The Paleo Transition episode 0001
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Nutritional consultant and Paleo Diet expert Terry Shanahan discusses how Paleolithic Nutrition gets phenomenal results for people. In particular, Terry discusses the current trends in Paleo Nutrition and how some have been so successful at changing their lives with this diet and lifestyle.
The Paleo Transition episode 0009
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Terry Shanahan continues to discuss the story behind the amazing supplement called Protandim. We pick up where we left on in the last episode where we had technical difficulties towards the end. Listen to episode 0008 first so that you have the first part of the conversation in mind before you listen to this episode.
The Paleo Transition episode 0006
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Terry Shanahan interviews Bill Esch about kettle bell. Bill is the current US record holder and chamption in US Kettle Bell sport competition. They will discuss how to implement Kettle Bell training into your workout and different elements of functional training.
#163: Artificial Sweeteners, Henna, and Mediterranean Paleo Cooking
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1. What's new for you from Diane & Liz [3:02]
2. Shout Out: Cindy Sexton [9.43]
3. This week in the Paleosphere: Artificial sweeteners and gut bacteria [11:26]
4. Guest Interview: Caitlin and Nabil of Mediterranean Paleo Cooking [16:03]
Introducing Caitlin [17:04]
Introducing Nabil [18:38]
The idea for the book [20:15]
Modifications of the recipes [24:33]
"Home cook" friendly recipes [33:15]
Mediterranean is not vegetarian [36:30]
Family style dinners [41:17]
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8. Juli's favorite recipe [41:32]
9. Juli's advice for newbie food bloggers [43:20]
10. Rapid fire questions for Juli [52:03]
#166: The Cod Liver Oil Debate, "Paleoing Harder" and Paleo in College
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Help with eating at college [28:00]
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Vol hoops player D'Montre Edwards has been selected as a nominee for the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Team, as announced Tuesday by the NABC and Allstate Insurance Company.
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Prophecy News Watch - Week In Review/Nov 3- Nov 7
Keeping You Informed of World Events From A Biblical Perspective
Prophetic Trends & Headline News
1. Where is the United States in Bible Prophecy?
15 Signs That We Live During A Time Of Rampant Government Paranoia
How does it feel to live under a government that is getting even more paranoid with each passing day? Yes, we live in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable, but that is no excuse for how ultra-paranoid the federal government has become.
Today, every single one of us is viewed as a "potential threat" by the government. As a result, the government feels the need to intercept our emails, record our phone calls and track our expenditures. But they aren't just spying on individuals. The government keeps tabs on thousands of organizations all over the planet, it spies on our enemies and our allies, and it even spies on itself.
The American people are told that the emerging Big Brother police state is for our safety, but the truth is that it isn't there to protect us. It is there to protect them. Our government has become kind of like a crazy rich uncle that is constantly spying on everyone else in the family because he believes that they are "out to get him". The following are 15 signs that we live during a time of rampant government paranoia…
#1 Former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson says that the federal government was so concerned about her reporting on Benghazi, Fast and Furious and other Obama scandals that they hacked her computer, monitored every keystroke and even planted classified material in an apparent attempt to potentially frame her.
#2 The United States has become the nation of the "permanent emergency". In fact, there has been at least one "state of emergency" in effect in this country since 1979.
#3 In America today, almost everyone is considered to be a criminal. At this point, nearly one out of every three Americans has a file in the FBI's master criminal database.
#4 Most people don't realize this, but the FBI also systematically records talk radio programs. The FBI says that it is looking for "potential evidence".
#5 In Wisconsin, 24 armed police officers are an armored military vehicle were recently sent to collect a civil judgment from a 75-year-old retiree. It is being reported that officials feared that he might be "argumentative".
#6 According to guidelines that were recently made public, purchasing Amtrak train tickets with cash is considered to be "suspicious activity" and needs to be reported to the authorities.
#7 The IRS can now seize your bank accounts on suspicion alone. If you are successful fighting the IRS in court, you might get your money back years later.
#8 Thousands of Americans have their mail spied on by the U.S. Postal Service. If you are on "the list", all of your mail and packages are shown to a supervisor before they are delivered to you.
#9 Most people don't realize that the U.S. border is now considered to be a "Constitution-free zone" where officials can freely grab your computer and copy your hard drive.
#10 The feds have apparently become extremely concerned about what all of us are saying on the Internet. In fact, they have even been caught manipulating discussions on Reddit and editing Wikipedia.
#11 The U.S. government has become so paranoid that it even spies on our European allies. Needless to say, our allies over in Europe are quite upset about this but we continue to do it.
#12 To the government, each citizen is a "potential threat", and this justifies the militarization of our entire society. The following is an excerpt from an excellent commentary by John Whitehead…
Just take a stroll through your city's downtown. Spend an afternoon in your local mall. Get in your car and drive to your parents' house. Catch the next flight to that business conference. While you're doing so, pay careful attention to how you and your fellow citizens are treated by government officials—the ones whose salaries you are paying.
You might walk past a police officer outfitted in tactical gear, holding an assault rifle, or drive past a police cruiser scanning license plates. There might be a surveillance camera on the street corner tracking your movements. At the airport, you may be put through your paces by government agents who will want to either pat you down or run scans of your body. And each time you make a call or send a text message, your communications will most likely be logged and filed. When you return home, you might find that government agents have been questioning your neighbors about you, as part of a "census" questionnaire. After you retire to sleep, you might find yourself awakened by a SWAT team crashing through your door (you'll later discover they were at the wrong address), and if you make the mistake of reaching for your eyeglasses, you might find yourself shot by a cop who felt threatened.
Is this the behavior of a government that respects you? One that looks upon you as having inviolate rights? One that regards you as its employer, its master, its purpose for being?
I don't think so. While this hyper-militarization of the government is being sold to the public as a means of preventing terrorism and maintaining national security, it is little more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. In fact, as I document in my book A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, what we are dealing with is a police state disguised as a benevolent democracy, a run-away government hyped up on its own power and afraid of its citizenry, whose policies are dictated more by paranoia than need.
#13 As our police departments have become militarized, SWAT team deployments have gone through the roof. As I wrote about recently, there were only about 3,000 SWAT raids in the United States back in 1980. But today, there are more than 80,000 SWAT raids per year in this country.
#14 The federal government is so paranoid that it is actually spying on itself. The "Insider Threat Program" encourages federal employees to closely watch one another and to report any hint of suspicious activity…
The federal effort, called the Insider Threat Program, was launched in October 2011, and it certainly hasn't diminished since Edward Snowden disclosed details of the National Security Agency's domestic spying. As McClatchy reporters Marisa Taylor and Jonathan S. Landay have described, federal employees and contractors are encouraged to keep an eye on allegedly suspicious indicators in their co-workers' lives, from financial troubles to divorce. A brochure produced by the Defense Security Service, titled "INSIDER THREATS: Combating the ENEMY within your organization," sums up the spirit of the program: "It is better to have reported overzealously than never to have reported at all."
#15 Last, but certainly not least, there is the matter of the NSA constantly spying on all of us. The NSA is monitoring and recording billions of our phone calls and emails, and most Americans don't seem to care. But they should care. I like how an article in the New York Post described what is happening to our society…
Through a combination of fear, cowardice, political opportunism and bureaucratic metastasis, the erstwhile land of the free has been transformed into a nation of closely watched subjects — a country of 300 million potential criminals, whose daily activities need constant monitoring.
Once the most secret of organizations, the NSA has become even more famous than the CIA, the public face of Big Brother himself. At its headquarters on Savage Road in Fort Meade, Md., its omnivorous Black Widow supercomputer hoovers up data both foreign and domestic, while its new $2 billion data center near Bluffdale, Utah — the highly classified Intelligence Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative Data Center — houses, well, just about everything. As James Bamford wrote in Wired magazine two years ago, as the center was being completed:
"Flowing through its servers and routers and stored in near-bottomless databases will be all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private e-mails, cellphone calls, and Google searches, as well as all sorts of personal data trails — parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital 'pocket litter.' "
Does The Military Have A Problem With Jesus?
A colonel's column was removed from an Air National Guard newsletter because the writer violated military policy by including references to Jesus Christ and God, an Ohio National Guard spokesman said.
Col. Florencio Marquinez, the medical group commander of the 180th Fighter Wing, wrote an essay in the September edition of the "Stinger." It was titled, "A Spiritual Journey as a Commander."
He wrote about how his mother's faith in Jesus Christ influenced his life and he referenced a Bible verse from the New Testament, "With God all things are possible."
"So no matter how stressful your life can be with juggling family issues, relationships, career advancement, work, school, or any burden that life throws your way, cast it upon the Lord and He will sustain you," the colonel wrote.
It wasn't too longer after the newsletter was posted online before someone filed a complaint – lamenting that the colonel's words had caused great angst and offense.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation's Mikey Weinstein reached out to Air Force officials at the Pentagon, the Air National Guard is governed by Air Force rules, as well as the 180th Fighter Wing demanding they remove what he called "that odious and offending proselytizing commentary."
Before you could say God bless America, the military ordered the colonel's remarks stricken from the newsletter. Ohio National Guard spokesman James Sims told me the column was a clear violation of military policy.
"It's very clear what you can and cannot say in an Air Force publication," Sims said. "Once it was brought to our attention and we compared it with the regulation, we found it was in violation of the regulation."
So what rules did Col. Marquinez violate by referencing the Almighty? I want to quote from the official statement provided by the Ohio National Guard:
"The article violated AFI 1-1, Sections 2.11 and 2.12.1, and the Revised Interim Guidelines Concerning Free Exercise of Religion in the Air Force guidance, and finally, 'The Air Force Military Commander and the Law' book."
A bit much, don't you think? All that for mentioning that "With God all things are possible."
I'm surprised the Air Force didn't convene a court martial. For the record, Sims told me that to his knowledge the colonel was not reprimanded for writing about Jesus – just censored.
But the Air Force wasn't content with just removing the colonel's column. No sir. They had to publically shame and humiliate this officer and gentleman.
As Sims noted in his statement, after the article was removed from the newsletter, it was "followed up with a base-wide email, with updated link for the Singer, stating: 'The 180th FW Public Affairs office has removed the article 'A Spiritual Journey as a Commander' from The Stinger, Volume 52, Issue 09, September 2014 due to sensitivities."
I've included a link to the colonel's "offensive" column. Please note the "sensitive" nature.
Here's one of the sections that violated the "godless" standards of the Air Force.
"I would not be the man I am today if it wasn't for my mother leading our whole family to Jesus Christ," Col. Marquinez wrote. "Her creed to us five children growing up is God first in your life, then comes family and third work."
The Air Force regulations that were allegedly violated regard "government neutrality regarding religion."
"Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual's free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion," the regulation states. "For example, they must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion."
Think of it as a sort-of religious version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
As you might imagine, the Air Force's censorship rubbed religious liberty advocates the wrong way.
"Not only did you publicly humiliate him by your actions, but you have sent a chilling message to other members of the Air Force, that they need to keep their faith to themselves or else rise the judgment of the command," wrote Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty executive director Ron Crews in a letter to the wing commander.
"Your actions violated his rights under the First Amendment – both his free exercise of religion and his free speech," Crews added.
Chaplain Alliance is calling on the Air Force to reverse its censorship and repost the colonel's column.
"The Ohio National Guard is not free to censor the protected speech of one of its members based on the content that speech," he said.
As Crews pointed out in his letter, just last year a Moody Air Force Base publication posted a column entitled, "Atheist Ponders Spiritual Fitness."
So if the Air Force can make an accommodation for atheists, why can't they make one for Christians?
2. Israel - God's Timepiece
Why The Temple Mount Matters
Psalm 122:6 instructs us to "Pray that Jerusalem has peace." Well, now would definitely be a good time to pray, because Jerusalem is currently at a boiling point. And it's largely over what might be the most contested piece of real estate in history: the Temple Mount.
The Temple Mount is in the Old City of Jerusalem. It's approximately 37 acres, and it's the holiest site in Judaism. According to Jewish tradition, the site is where Abraham almost sacrificed his son. It's also where Solomon constructed the first Jewish temple, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
The Second Temple was consecrated in 516 B.C., and was reconstructed on a grander scale by Herod the Great in 20 B.C. The Temple Mount underwent massive expansion at this time.
The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70 during the Siege of Jerusalem.
The Temple Mount is currently home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Chain, all Islamic structures built in the late 7th century. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered to be the third holiest site in Islam (after Mecca and Medina.) Muslims believe that Mohammed was carried from Mecca to Al-Aqsa during his Night Journey. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine built where many Muslims believe Mohammed ascended into heaven and met all the prophets who had preceded him. The Dome of the Chain is a much smaller structure used for prayer.
When Israel first gained control of the site in 1967, all faiths were welcome, but after control was passed to an Islamic trust administration (due to international pressure), everything changed.
The Dome of the Rock
Under current rules, the Temple Mount is freely accessible to Muslims at most times from any of ten gates. Jews and tourists are required to use a separate gate, and prayers from Jews are not allowed at the site. Jews are also restricted to visiting during certain hours. (It should be pointed out that some rabbis believe that Jews should not visit the Temple Mount at all, because the Holy of Holies stood near the center of the site.)
In recent weeks, more Jews have been visiting the Temple Mount for the Jewish holidays. This has angered many Palestinians, who see this as a sign that Jews are trying to take back the holy site. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas has added fuel to the fire by saying that Jews should be barred from the Temple Mount "by any means." He also referred to Jews as a "a herd of cattle."
The Al-Aqsa Mosque
Early in October, during Sukkot (the Festival of Booths), some young Palestinians started a riot against Jews, other non-Muslim visitors, and police. They threw rocks, firebombs, metal pipes, and other objects. Police chased them into the Al-Aqsa mosque, where the rioters barricaded themselves. This allowed visitors to continue touring the Temple Mount for the remainder of the designated time window. Nine Palestinians were eventually arrested.
Last week, Jewish activist Rabbi Yehuda Glick was shot three times in Jerusalem by a gunman on a motorcycle. The suspected shooter, a Palestinian linked to the Islamic Jihad terror group, was shot dead by police when they attempted to arrest him and came under fire. Rabbi Glick has long advocated for Jewish prayer rights at the Temple Mount.
After the shooting, Israeli police closed off the Temple Mount to all visitors for the first time in years. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the action "a declaration of war."
The site reopened last Friday (October 31) to everyone except men under 50, presumably to avoid potential conflict around the noon prayer.
Many Jews and Christians believe that there will be a Third Temple rebuilt on the Temple Mount site at some point in the future. But there is much disagreement about who will do the building and how it will take place. And the current religious structures on the site present no small obstacle to any rebuilding plans.
Some Orthodox Jewish groups want to rebuild the temple and reinstate the practice of animal sacrifice. One such group, the Temple Institute, has been preparing ritual objects and has even been searching for a red heifer for temple purification that meets the requirements found in Numbers 19.
Some Christians read and watch news about Jerusalem and the Temple Mount with much interest, because they interpret these events as possible signs of the end times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, for example, predicts the rise of an antichrist figure who will "sit in God's temple, displaying himself to show that he is God." This will precede the return of Christ, and one could logically conclude that for such a figure to enter the temple, it has to be rebuilt first.
How everything falls into place to allow this to happen is anyone's guess.
For now, we simply watch the headlines as we pray for peace.
Suicide Terrorism Returns To Jerusalem, With A Difference
Jerusalemites who lived through the Second Intifada remember those years, from 2000 to 2003, all too well. Simply being out on the streets was a gamble.
Almost every month, sometimes every week, suicide bombings hit the city, and destroyed any sense of security here. Jerusalem was worst hit, but it was not unique: The suicide bombers targeted almost every Israeli city.
The attacks of recent weeks have marked the return of the suicide terrorists. There are differences this time. These are not attackers wearing belts laden with explosives or driving cars carrying bombs. They are "merely" using their cars and tractors as weapons. And they are overwhelmingly concentrated in Jerusalem.
Another difference is that the suicide bombings of the Second Intifada were orchestrated in large part by a Hamas terror infrastructure. This time, it appears that general instructions from the Hamas leadership, without an organized military infrastructure, are sufficient to prompt a wave of attacks, and again to destroy Jerusalemites' sense of security.
Israel's security forces tried often during the Second Intifada to put together a profile of the "typical" suicide bomber, the better to thwart the attacks. And they couldn't. Sometimes the bombers were young males. Sometimes they were youths. Sometimes they were married women, sometimes divorcees, sometimes widows. In short, there was no typical bomber. The notion that suicide bombings were overwhelmingly the work of young, single, impoverished men was disproved time and again.
The same is true now, as well. It is hard to point to common denominators among the perpetrators of the recent attacks, including the attempted assassination last Wednesday night of Yehudah Glick, except, that is, that they identify with Islamist organizations, especially Hamas.
Wednesday's terrorist on Route One in Jerusalem, Ibrahim al-Akary, was a 48-year-old father of five, from a family closely identified with Hamas. Not your "typical" terrorist. Last Wednesday's would-be assassin Mu'taz Hijazi was much younger, as were the perpetrators of the two previous attacks in which Jerusalem pedestrians were targeted by suicide drivers, in August and October.
What is common to the 2014 terrorists and those from the Second Intifada is that they set out expecting that they will not return; their motivation to kill Israelis prevails over their desire to live.
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch may well be right to say that this is not a new intifada. Indeed, it does not resemble the widespread uprising of the First Intifada (from 1987-1993), and nor does it mirror the Second Intifada. But it cannot be denied that a new phenomenon is bloodying Jerusalem, which may require a new name. Perhaps not an Intifada. Perhaps not an "uprising," or an "explosion of violence." But, rather, a name that reflects the combination of suicide attackers driving cars and tractors, and relatively low-level street riots. At present, the riots in Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem are drawing dozens, sometimes hundreds, but not the masses that confronted Israeli security forces in Gaza and the West Bank in the early days of the two intifadas.
This new mix refuses to disappear. Weeks pass, and the violence in Jerusalem continues. Sometimes it ebbs for a few days, but then it returns.
Israel's decision-makers tend, almost instinctively, to point the finger of blame at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and to assert that he is responsible for this violence. It is evidently more convenient for them to play down both the significant support among East Jerusalemites for the violence and Hamas's central responsibility for it — ideologically if not always practically.
It is Hamas that is encouraging the terrorist attacks and the riots. And that means the Israeli government needs to deal with those who are responsible — that is, the Hamas leadership in Gaza. But nobody in Israel — or in Hamas's Gaza leadership for that matter — wants another escalation of violence there.
In the absence of any substantive diplomatic process with Abbas, it is hard to imagine that the new form of Jerusalem violence is going to end anytime soon. Whether or not it is a third intifada, it shows every sign of continuing to batter Jerusalem.
4. The Gog/Magog War
Russia Increasing Peace Role In The Mideast
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently taken a position publicly known to be uncharacteristic of him - open and direct criticism of Israel's handling of the Palestinian cause. Although it's true that Russia typically and routinely votes against Israel at the United Nations, Putin himself is hardly known to express vocal resentment towards Israel in public. This development is therefore being seen by diplomatic sources and analysts as an indication that Russia henceforth intends to more actively advance and promote Palestinian issues at the United Nations. The end result should naturally result in a strengthening of Russia's hand or "active presence" in the Middle East peace process effort.
This analysis, based on the wider Arab-Israeli conflict was carried in a recent edition of the Jerusalem Post. The article further reported that, in a recent speech in Moscow, the Russian president was quoted stating that: "The humiliation and the oppression that the Palestinian people are going through are a source of danger and destabilization, and every step must be taken to eliminate the humiliation and oppression". Putin reportedly also spoke out against settlement construction and said that the settlement enterprise constitutes "a cause increasing tension in the Middle East."
These positions are thought to be uncharacteristic of Putin in at least two ways. Firstly, Putin's comments align to US President Barack Obama's stated position on Israeli settlement projects – which in itself is unusual in the sense that Putin rarely supports US diplomatic approaches – in public. Secondly, Putin has so far been thought to support Israel and has even forged good diplomatic and economic ties with the Jewish nation.
Some recent cases in point evidencing the mutual working relationship between the two nations were that Israel refrained from protesting the widely condemned annexation of Crimea that started in March of 2014, much to the chagrin of the US. It is also known additionally that Russia has a keen interest in the vast gas and oil reserves recently discovered in Israel, and has been discussing proposals of mutual benefit with Israel.
Putin's comments were undoubtedly welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose initiative to win a UN Security Council vote (for its resolution to force Israel to withdraw from the West Bank on a timetable)has been buoyed. The intended goal is to finally facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israel, on the other hand has predictably not been encouraged by these developments. Adding cause to their concerns is the apparent growing comradeship between Russia and Iran, as reportedly evidenced during talks on Tehran's nuclear program with the P5+1 group of world powers.
What isn't so clear is what exactly has prompted the further hardlining of positions by Russia towards Israel. A hint may be found in Putin's resolve, which is clear in the choice of the words "…and every step must be taken to eliminate the humiliation and oppression (of the Palestinians)", not to mention his virtually unprecedented reference to Israeli settlements as "a cause increasing tension in the Middle East." His words "every step must be taken" certainly do not suggest an aversion to military action as a potential step.
What is the significance of all this? Could it be that Russia is positioning herself to spearhead a military invasion of Israel, under the convenient and popular guise of protecting the Palestinian cause and helping to enforce a Middle East peace agreement? Could the real reason for such a Russia-led attack be instead an attempt to forcefully "plunder and loot" Israel's vast and much valued gas and oil reserves, not to mention gaining control of a highly strategic geographical location for military and expansionist purposes?
From a Bible prophecy perspective, we know that in these last days, there will be a Russia-led alliance that will wage war against Israel. We also know that God will actually provoke such a war by putting "hooks" in the "jaws" of "Gog" – widely believed by Bible prophecy scholars to represent present-day Russia (Ezekiel 38:3-4, 10-12). Iran (Persia) is also mentioned in Ezekiel's scenario as a key partner in the anti-Israeli military alliance. Reading today's news and current affairs, it's easy to see how the cozy relationship between Moscow and Tehran would facilitate such developments.
"On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people (Israel) —all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." (Ezekiel 38:10-12).
The reference to "rich in livestock and goods" suggests the lure of financial/economic gain or a "great spoil" (see also Ezekiel 38:13). This may partially represent a dominant control over vast natural and mineral reserves. Such a catch would grant tremendous economic advantage for Russia – such as in the natural gas market in Europe and beyond, already well exemplified by the control and reach of Russian gas giant Gazprom.
The outcome of this war will be that God will directly intervene and cause the anti-Israel alliance to fight each other. In addition, God will enforce their crushing defeat using the elements of nature and direct interventions to destroy that alliance: "…And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 38:18-23).
6. The Rise of Islam
Caliphate In Europe: Sweden Cedes Control Of Muslim Areas
The perils of multiculturalism and open borders have reached critical mass in Sweden. There are Muslim enclaves where postal, fire and other essential services — even police officers themselves —require police protection.
A police report released last month identifies 55 of these "no-go zones" in Sweden. These zones are similar to others that have popped up in Europe in recent years. They formed as large Muslim populations emigrating to politically correct and tolerant European states refuse to assimilate and set up virtual states within a state where the authorities fear to tread.
Soeren Kern of the Hudson Institute has documented the proliferation of these zones. They are de facto Muslim micro-states under Shariah law that reject Western values, society and legal systems. In these districts non-Muslims are expected to conform to the dictates of fundamentalist Islam or face violent consequences.
"A more precise name for these zones," says Middle Eastern expert Daniel Pipes, "would be Dar al-Islam — the House of Islam or the place where Islam rules."
Muslim immigration to Sweden has been fostered by an open-border asylum policy. In the 1990s, the country welcomed 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in the Balkans.
Sweden has also been a haven for refugees from Iraq, and a recent estimate put the number of Iraqi refugees living there at 125,000. Since September 2012, asylum-seekers from the Arab world are emigrating to Sweden at the rate of some 1,250 per week, writes Kern.
According to a report in the Daily Caller, Swedish police officers in May pursued a suspect into one of these zones in the southern city of Landskrona. Their car was rammed, the officers forced out. They were quickly surrounded by roughly 50 "thugs" and called for backup while holding back the threatening mob with drawn weapons.
Other officers who responded were forced to stop a half mile away, just outside the zone. The police commander didn't press the issue fearing an escalation. Only with the help of a few residents whom the cornered police knew were the officers allowed to exit the restricted area.
Swedish police have not seriously tried to contest the zones since the 2013 Stockholm ghetto riots in which hundreds of cars and buildings were burned. The police report that there are now vehicle checkpoints operated by Muslim gangs on the borders of these zones. Instead of confrontation, Swedish authorities occasionally send special "dialogue officers" in a sort of Muslim outreach program.
A new curriculum at the Swedish Police Academy beginning next year will include course on cultural sensitivity designed to achieve "greater understanding of the intercultural perspective."
Needless to say, there will be no profiling in Sweden.
Nor will there be any profiling in the U.S., despite a not-too-dissimilar influx of Muslim immigrants to whom assimilation has its limits. In the Minneapolis neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside there is "Little Mogadishu," home to America's largest concentration of Somali immigrants. This neighborhood has become a bountiful recruiting ground for Islamic terrorists.
CBS News has reported that as many as 40 young men from Minnesota have joined Islamic fighters in Iraq and Syria. Among them was an American named Douglas MacArthur McCain, who died fighting for the Islamic State in Syria.
Fox affiliate KMSP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul has reported the case of Abdirahmaan Muhumed. Before going to Syria to fight and die for IS, he worked at Delta Global Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. His job was to clean aircraft, and he had a security clearance that gave him unfettered access to the tarmac and passenger jets.
There are no mini-caliphates in the U.S. quite yet. But perhaps we should keep the Swedish experience in mind as we remember the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
7. Increase in Knowledge/New Technologies
Millions Of Voiceprints Being Collected By Governments, Corporations
Over the telephone, in jail and online, a new digital bounty is being harvested: the human voice.
Businesses and governments around the world increasingly are turning to voice biometrics, or voiceprints, to pay pensions, collect taxes, track criminals and replace passwords.
"We sometimes call it the invisible biometric," said Mike Goldgof, an executive at Madrid-based AGNITiO, one of about 10 leading companies in the field.
Those companies have helped enter more than 65 million voiceprints into corporate and government databases, according to Associated Press interviews with dozens of industry representatives and records requests in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.
"There's a misconception that the technology we have today is only in the domain of the intelligence services, or the domain of 'Star Trek,'" said Paul Burmester, of London-based ValidSoft, a voice biometric vendor. "The technology is here today, well-proven and commonly available."
And in high demand.
Dan Miller, an analyst with Opus Research in San Francisco, estimates that the industry's revenue will roughly double from just under $400 million last year to between $730 million and $900 million next year.
Barclays PLC recently experimented with voiceprinting as an identification for its wealthiest clients. It was so successful that Barclays is rolling it out to the rest of its 12 million retail banking customers.
"The general feeling is that voice biometrics will be the de facto standard in the next two or three years," said Iain Hanlon, a Barclays executive.
Vendors say the timbre of a person's voice is unique in a way similar to the loops and whorls at the tips of someone's fingers.
Their technology measures the characteristics of a person's speech as air is expelled from the lungs, across the vocal folds of the larynx, up the pharynx, over the tongue, and out through the lips, nose, and teeth. Typical speaker recognition software compares those characteristics with data held on a server. If two voiceprints are similar enough, the system declares them a match.
The Vanguard Group Inc., a Pennsylvania-based mutual fund manager, is among the technology's many financial users. Tens of thousands of customers log in to their accounts by speaking the phrase: "At Vanguard, my voice is my password" into the phone.
"We've done a lot of testing, and looked at siblings, even twins," said executive John Buhl, whose voice was a bit hoarse during a telephone interview. "Even people with colds, like I have today, we looked at that."
The single largest implementation identified by the AP is in Turkey, where mobile phone company Turkcell has taken the voice biometric data of some 10 million customers using technology provided by market leader Nuance Communications Inc. But government agencies are catching up.
In the U.S., law enforcement officials use the technology to monitor inmates and track offenders who have been paroled.
In New Zealand, the Internal Revenue Department celebrated its 1 millionth voiceprint, leading the revenue minister to boast that his country had "the highest level of voice biometric enrollments per capita in the world."
In South Africa, roughly 7 million voiceprints have been collected by the country's Social Security Agency, in part to verify that those claiming pensions are still alive.
Activists worry that the popularity of voiceprinting has a downside.
"It's more mass surveillance," said Sadhbh McCarthy, an Irish privacy researcher. "The next thing you know, that will be given to border guards, and you'll need to speak into a microphone when you get back from vacation."
'First Card Of Its Kind' Uses Biometric Payment Technology
It's about to get a lot more difficult for someone else to use your credit card.
MasterCard and the biometric payment company Zwipe announced plans Friday to develop a payment card that allows you to make purchases by waving it over a payment terminal while placing your unique thumbprint on the card's biometric sensor.
But the two companies were quick to address privacy concerns: "Cardholder fingerprint data is stored directly on the card, not in an external database," a statement Friday read.
Ajay Bhalla, president of enterprise security solutions at MasterCard, spoke further to the issue.
"Our challenge is to ensure the technology offers robust security, simplicity of use and convenience for the customer. Zwipe's first trial is a significant milestone and its results are very encouraging," Bhalla said.
Once a customer activates their fingerprint, it's then used as a PIN replacement, allowing them to make purchases of any amount. And because the card will tap into the power from payment terminals, it won't require a battery, Gizmodo reported.
Slated for release in 2015, MasterCard and Zwipe said this is the first card of its kind to use biometric data together with contact-less application.
Founder and CEO of Zwipe Kim Humborstad said feedback from the product's pilot phase has been "very positive."
8. Christian Worldview/Issues
Red Cross Dismisses Volunteer For Biblical Views On Marriage
A pensioner has had his "opportunity to volunteer" withdrawn by the British Red Cross because he spoke out against the redefinition of marriage.
Earlier this year, Bryan Barkley, 71, held up signs outside Wakefield Cathedral reading "No Same Sex Marriage" and "No Redefinition of Marriage." He did so on the day that the first same-sex marriages took place in England.
'Incompatible Views"
But he has since been told that his views on marriage are "incompatible" with the "fundamental principles and values" of the Red Cross and that his opportunity to volunteer was being withdrawn "permanently and with immediate effect."
Barkley, who has volunteered with the Red Cross for nearly 20 years, worked in the international family tracing service, helping to locate and reunite families in the UK with relatives in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and had been involved in 84 cases.
He joined the Red Cross after retiring from his job as a civil engineer. Earlier in the summer he attended a Buckingham Palace garden party with the charity.
'Freedom of Expression Being Stifled'
Responding to his dismissal, Barkley asked:
"What have I done wrong? I passionately believe that the institution of marriage is between a man and a woman and is the cornerstone of our society. Why is it wrong to say so in public?
"Freedom of expression is being stifled in this country.
"I have nothing against homosexuals. But I don't believe Parliament was representing the views of the people when it changed the definition of marriage."
Barkley, who is being supported by the Coalition for Marriage, is appealing the Red Cross' decision.
"Discrimination Against a Common Viewpoint'
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, which is a member of the Coalition for Marriage, commented:
"The Red Cross does not seem to be able to extend its founding principles of impartiality and neutrality to Bryan Barkley. It has discriminated against him for holding common views on the natural family. Such discrimination will not serve the Red Cross well."
Faith Schools Could Face Closure If They Don't Promote Gay Rights
British faith schools are to be forced to teach equality and respect for gay rights or face closure, in a move backed by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. The orders come following 40 snap inspections of faith schools, including Christian and Jewish schools, in the wake of the Trojan Horse plot in Birmingham in which radical Islamists were found to have infiltrated between four and eight schools to promote hard-line Salafist Islam.
Reports on the 40 snap inspections are due later this month. Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools, is expected to conclude from the reports that any school not preparing students for life in modern Britain, by which he means embracing alternative lifestyles and other cultures, will be subject to no-notice inspections, downgrades, and even possible closures.
They will face the same penalties if they are deemed to be in breach of the Equalities Act, which mandates respect for gay and transgender people, and of other religions and races, despite the Act containing an exemption for school curricula.
His stance has the backing of Morgan, who told the Sunday Times today that it is "crucial" that Jewish and Christian schools "actively promote" British values, including tolerance for other lifestyles and cultures. "These values — democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs — are not new. The requirement to 'actively promote' them is designed to reinforce the importance this government attaches to these values," she said.
However, Ofsted inspectors have come under fire in recent weeks for being overzealous in their desire to root out any behaviour which doesn't adhere to their standards, including by asking inappropriate questions during their snap inspections designed to probe whether pupils held tolerant views towards gays and members of other religions.
"They made us feel threatened about our religion. They asked 'Do you have friends from other religions?' They asked this many times until we answered what they wanted us to say," one year eleven pupil at a Jewish orthodox school has reported.
Another pupil at the same school, a girl in year nine, said she was made to feel "uncomfortable and upset" after inspectors told her that a "woman might choose to live with another woman and a man could choose to live with a man, it's up to them".
Fears that the new guidelines designed to curb extremist Islam could have a stifling effect on Christian and Jewish schools appear to have been well-founded, as St Benedict's, a Roman Catholic school in Suffolk which achieved A level results in the top 1 percent nationally, has been told that it is not doing enough to conform to British values by not doing enough to tackle radicalisation.
In another example, Trinity Christian School in Reading, which recently underwent a routine inspection required in order for it to expand its age range, was told by inspectors that it did not meet the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of its young pupils. Yet just one year ago, before the new regulations came in, it was rated 'good' and 'outstanding' for the 'spiritual, moral, social and cultural development' requirement, with last year's report attesting that pupils were "well prepared for life in modern, multicultural, democratic British society through the teaching of the Christian principle to 'love thy neighbour".
Its failure to meet the new standards led to its application to expand being denied, and the school is now threatened with closure unless it actively promotes other faiths as part of its curriculum. Its governing board has written to Morgan asking for the new rules to be scrapped.
According to the Christian Institute, which is supporting the school, "The [report] made clear that the new standards, which engage the principles of the Equality Act, require changes to the school's curriculum. This conflicts with section 89 of the Equality Act which excludes the content of the curriculum from equality law".
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Morgan said "Schools should broaden horizons not close minds . . . and should encourage pupils to respect other people even if they do not agree with them. I should have thought this is a principle with which the vast majority of people would agree. All schools of whatever type have a duty to protect young people and to ensure they leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain."
Yet Trinity Christian School appears to adhere to this standard. On its website, under the heading 'What is a Christian education?' it states "God gave us our minds and we encourage our pupils to think for themselves and not accept uncritically everything they hear or read."
Simon Calvert, the Christian Institute's Deputy Director said "Christian schools like Trinity have a reputation for high standards and well-rounded pupils and they should have the freedom to continue doing what they've always done.
"Parents clearly want such schools to thrive, and the Department for Education should too.
"At the beginning of the summer we warned that if the Government brought in these regulations then they would be enforcing political correctness in schools. We also said there would be hostility to the religious, and ethical, viewpoints of religious schools.
"The DfE said it would never happen, but since then we've been finding case after case where that's exactly what's going on."
New Poll Finds Evangelicals' Favorite Heresies
Most American evangelicals hold views condemned as heretical by some of the most important councils of the early church.
A survey released today by LifeWay Research for Ligonier Ministries "reveals a significant level of theological confusion," said Stephen Nichols, Ligonier's chief academic officer. Many evangelicals do not have orthodox views about either God or humans, especially on questions of salvation and the Holy Spirit, he said.
Evangelicals did score high on several points. Nearly all believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead (96%), and that salvation is found through Jesus alone (92%). Strong majorities said that God is sovereign over all people (89%) and that the Bible is the Word of God (88%).
And in some cases the problem seems to be uncertainty rather than heresy. For example, only 6 percent of evangelicals think the Book of Mormon is a revelation from God, but an additional 18 percent aren't sure and think it might be.
Jesus, Almost as Good as His Father?
Almost all evangelicals say they believe in the Trinity (96%) and that Jesus is fully human and fully divine (88%).
But nearly a quarter (22%) said God the Father is more divine than Jesus, and 9 percent weren't sure. Further, 16 percent say Jesus was the first creature created by God, while 11 percent were unsure.
No doubt, phrases like "only begotten Son" (John 3:16) and "firstborn of all creation" (Col. 1:15) have led others in history to hold these views, too. In the fourth century, a priest from Libya named Arius (c.250–336) announced, "If the Father begat the Son, then he who was begotten had a beginning. … There was a time when the Son was not." The idea, known as Arianism, gained wide appeal, even among clergy. But it did not go unopposed. Theologians Alexander and Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt, argued that Arius denied Christ's true divinity. Christ is not of similar substance to God, they explained, but of the same substance.
Believing the debate could split the Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine convened the first ecumenical church council in Nicaea in A.D. 325. The council, comprising over 300 bishops, rejected Arianism as heresy and maintained that Jesus shares the same eternal substance with the Father. Orthodoxy struggled to gain popular approval, however, and several heresies revolving around Jesus continued to spread. At the second ecumenical council in Constantinople in 381, church leaders reiterated their condemnation of Arianism and enlarged the Nicene Creed to describe Jesus as "the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made."
In other words, the Son is not a created being, nor can he be less divine than the Father.
The Holy Spirit: May the Force Be with You?
But if evangelicals sometime misunderstand doctrines about Jesus, the third member of the Trinity has it much worse. More than half (51%) said the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being. Seven percent weren't sure, while only 42 percent affirmed that the Spirit is a person.
And 9 percent said the Holy Spirit is less divine than God the Father and Jesus. The same percentage answered "not sure."
Like Arianism, confusion over the nature and identity of the Spirit dates to the early church. During the latter half of the fourth century, sects like Semi-Arians and Pneumatomachi (Greek for "Spirit fighters") believed "in the Holy Spirit"—as the First Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) taught—but said the Spirit was of a different essence from the Father and the Son. Some said the Spirit was a creature, and others understood the Spirit to be a force or power, not a person of the Trinity.
At Constantinople, 150 bishops assembled to discuss these heresies, among other issues, and affirmed that "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have a single Godhead and power and substance, a dignity deserving the same honor and a co-eternal sovereignty, in three most perfect hypostases, or three perfect persons." Affirming the full divinity and personhood of the Holy Spirit, the church ruled out Semi-Arianism and Pneumatomachianism.
Salvation: Who Makes the First Move?
Human nature and salvation were other areas of confusion for respondents. Two out of three (68%) said that a person obtains peace with God by seeking God first, and then God responds with grace. A similar percentage (67%) said people have the ability to turn to God on the own initiative. Yet half (54%) also think salvation begins with God acting first. So which is it?
In the fifth century, a British monk named Pelagius reportedly argued that people can choose God by the strength of their own will. Adam's sin, he taught, did not sabotage human freedom, so we still have the ability to choose and follow God by the strength of our will.
His school of thought, known as Pelagianism, was denounced at the Council of Carthage in 418 and later at the Council of Ephesus in 431. A variation, known as Semipelagianism, cropped up shortly thereafter, affirming original sin but teaching that humans take the initiative in salvation. The Council of Orange in 529 rejected Semipelagianism as heretical, maintaining that faith is a gift of God's grace and does not originate in ourselves.
More than half of survey participants (55%) said people have to contribute to their own salvation. This, however, is a debated issue. Some Christians—such as Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and certain Protestants—believe humans cooperate with God's grace in salvation. Others believe our efforts can contribute nothing, though a response to God's grace is a necessary element of conversion. Nevertheless, historic Christian teaching in all branches maintains that whatever role humans play is ultimately inspired by the work of God's Spirit. The Council of Orange put it this way:
If anyone says that God has mercy upon us when, apart from his grace, we believe, will, desire, strive, labor, pray, watch, study, seek, ask, or knock, but does not confess that it is by the infusion and inspiration of the Holy Spirit within us that we have the faith, the will, or the strength to do all these things as we ought; or if anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).
A Historic Problem with Historical Solutions
Ligonier's Nichols said that while the survey results are disappointing, they're not unique to our time or culture, or irreversible. "The church in every age has faced theological confusion and heresy. In this survey we see a wake-up call to the church. We cannot assume the next generation—or even this present one—will catch an orthodox theology merely by being in the church," he said.
John Stackhouse, professor of theology and culture at Regent College in Vancouver, agrees. "We continue to hold adult Christian education in low regard," he said. "A sermon on Sunday morning and a conversational Bible study during the week won't get the job done of informing and transforming people's minds along the lines of orthodox Christian belief."
The Lifeway survey also found that 9 in 10 evangelicals believe the local church does not have authority to say a person is not a Christian.
But Stackhouse said he's not sure that stronger efforts by churches to instruct their congregants would raise the numbers. The survey, he noted, was of self-described evangelicals, and many of those with unorthodox beliefs may not be regular church attenders. "We continue to have a severe public relations problem regarding the term evangelical," he said.
(Lifeway Research says the survey used was a balanced online panel in February and March. Of the survey's initial 3,000 responses, this report looked at the 557 who came from Protestants who described themselves as evangelical—which would be about 19 percent of the American population.)
Timothy Larsen, professor of Christian thought at Wheaton College, is similarly cautious. He said the same survey questions should be asked over time in order to determine what sort of trend exists. "What matters is not what self-identified evangelicals know or believe, but whether they are being discipled over time into mature believers," he said. "If the answers are not getting better with more Christian discipleship, that would be alarming."
Larsen was encouraged, however, by several statistics. He said he would have guessed fewer than 96 percent would have affirmed belief in the Trinity. Howard Snyder—a former professor at United Theological Seminary, Asbury Seminary, and Tyndale Seminary—expressed similar optimism at the survey's high number on that point, though he said the survey reveals the need for clearer teaching on what belief in the Trinity means. "Western Christianity, not just evangelicals, have viewed the Trinity as 'a mathematical problem to be solved,' not as a central revelation of the personal and tri-personal nature of God," said Snyder. For him, the doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract concept but a fundamental Christian truth that informs us about the God we worship, who we are as humans, and all creation.
Snyder isn't alone. Beth Felker Jones, professor of theology at Wheaton College, said, "Orthodoxy is life-giving, and God's people need access to it." Participants who gave unorthdox answers are not heretics, but probably lacked quality resources, she said. "Church leaders need to be able to teach the truth of the faith clearly and accurately, and we need to be able to show people why this matters for our lives."
For Nichols, one way forward in understanding God and ourselves is to consult the historic church. "While slightly over half see value in church history, [nearly] 70 percent have no place for creeds in their personal discipleship," he said. For Nichols, the church's knowledge of its past will determine its future. Knowing heresies and how they were overcome, he says, will help the church stay on the right track theologically.