1. The U.S. Intelligence had, by the Summer of 1940, cracked the Japanese communication code used by their diplomatic corps. From then on, the U.S. had free access to all information to and from Tokyo handled by the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

However, at times the messages accumulated for as much as a week before being decoded and, after being decoded, it took additional time before they would reach the appropriate "desks" in the D.C. maze.

2. The only surveillance the U.S. kept in the Pacific was on the south because that was the area normally used by the Japanese. [Naturally, the Japanese hit from the north].

3. The U.S. war planes were not inside their specially designed refuges because General Short was afraid of sabotage by the local Japanese residents, thus kept them in the open.

4. The huge Japanese squadron, 353 aircraft, was picked up by the radar of Kahuku Point at 7:15 A.M. (less than one hour before the attack). The squadron was assumed to be a group of (only) twelve (!) B-17s that were expected from the mainland. 

5. On the day of the attack, five hours AFTER the last raid, a telegraph dispatcher delivered, via bicycle, a telegram to the General Headquarters of Admiral Kimmel. It was a copy, for Admiral Kimmel's information, of a message from General Marshall to General Short.

This telegram, transmitted via commercial systems, was intended to warn the military command of Hawaii that, having the Japanese presented an ultimatum on December 7th at 7:30 A.M. (Hawaii time), it would-be a good idea "to be on guard".

______


Published for November 29th, 2010

[1] The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. [2] And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. [3] And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. [4] And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. [5] O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

[11] And that knowing the season; that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.

[37] And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [38] For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, [39] And they knew not till the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. ..... [42] Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come. [43] But know this ye, that if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. [44] Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. 

 Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt  first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple  of God, shewing himself as if he were God.  Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  [2 Thess. 2: 3-5]

The families of scores of nuclear power station workers whose hearts, lungs and other organs were secretly stored and tested over a period of almost 40 years were let down by the authorities, a report said yesterday.

Relatives were seldom told that their loved ones’ organs were to be removed, and as a result families buried or cremated incomplete bodies. In many cases the truth that their organs had been illegally removed and then destroyed in the testing process emerged only many years later.

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
 
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:  “‘Come out of her, my people,’so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,  never to be found again.

First step      -  Something happened that caused Babylon the Great to fall since the angel is announcing it as something that already has happened; then
Second step -  The angel tells the Elect to abandon it as not to suffer its fate.
Third step    -   Babylon is completely destroyed - never to be found again.

(a) The fall of the Financial World (which, by the way, continues to tumble into the abyss), the capital of which is New York, is the First Step; then
(b) While the Third Step is being prepared, the Elect - for a variety of reasons, many of which may not be their awareness of the future of Babylon - relocate out of it; so that
(c) The Third Step, the fulfillment of what symbolically took place in 9-11, will take place.

Twenty and thirty plus years old men and women are abandoning the faith.

Some striking mile markers appear on the road through young adulthood: leaving for college, getting the first job and apartment, starting a career, getting married—and, for many people today, walking away from the Christian faith.

A few years ago, shortly after college, I was in my studio apartment with a friend and fellow pastor's kid. After some small talk over dinner, he announced, "I'm not a Christian anymore. I don't know what happened. I just left it."

An image flashed into my mind from the last time I had seen him. It was at a Promise Keepers rally. I remembered watching him worship, eyes pinched shut with one slender arm skyward.

Five researchers examined how instability in government order, ranging from economic turmoil to impending elections, affects individual psychological functioning. They based their findings on an analysis of historical trends and past research, as well as four experiments they designed.

The study highlights the psychological importance of personal control of one's destiny in providing security. When someone feels personal matters are out of control, an external force -- either government or God -- can ensure things are under control. The order provided by a higher power or karma is thought to be common to almost all religions.

The paper claims belief in God and government serve overlapping functions as providers of structured, nonrandom, orderly worlds. The researchers also write that government and God may be substitutable.

Nun gibt Joseph Ratzinger seinen Kurswechsel vor. Die Zeit des absoluten Neins zu den Präservativen ist auch für ihn vorbei: "Es mag begründete Einzelfälle geben, etwa wenn ein Prostituierter ein Kondom verwendet, wo dies ein erster Schritt zur Moralisierung sein kann, ein erstes Stück Verantwortung", so argumentiert der Pontifex im Gespräch mit dem Publizisten Peter Seewald. Weil dessen Buch erst am Mittwoch erscheint, sind es Auszüge daraus, die Furore machen.

Die Passage zur Prostitution könnte mehr als explosiv sein, auch weil sich Benedikt hier ganz offen auf männliche Prostituierte und damit auf ein weiteres Tabu-Thema zu beziehen scheint: Den Homo-Sex, den es nach Ansicht der katholischen Kirche gar nicht geben dürfte.

Now, Joseph Ratzinger before his change of course. The time of absolute no to the condom is also for him by: "There may be justified individual cases, such as when a prostitute used a condom, where this can be a first step towards the moralization, a first part of the responsibility," the pontiff argued in conversation with the journalist Peter Seewald. Because the book is published only on Wednesday, there are parts of it, cause the sensation.
... 

The passage into prostitution could be more than explosive, also because Benedict quite openly on male prostitutes and thus belong to another subject seems taboo: the gay sex that it might not even exist according to the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has opened the door on the previously taboo subject of condoms as a way to fight HIV, saying male prostitutes who use condoms may be beginning to act responsibly. It's a stunning comment for a pontiff who has blamed condoms for making the AIDS crisis worse.

The pope made the comments in an interview with a German journalist published as a book titled "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times," which is being released Tuesday. The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano ran excerpts on Saturday.

Church teaching has long opposed condoms because they are a form of artificial contraception, although the Vatican has never released an explicit policy about condoms and HIV. The Vatican has been harshly criticized for its position.

Benedict said that condoms are not a moral solution to stopping AIDS. But he said in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, their use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection."

The English translation of the original German specified "male prostitute." The Italian translation in L'Osservatore Romano, however, used the feminine "prostitute." The reason for the discrepancy wasn't immediately clear.

We also find interesting the fact that the right and ultra right press in Spain gave this apparently earth-shaking news a "just in passing" mention, while the socialist press made it front page news.

[3]  And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth. [4]  These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb:

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer

 Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King (Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor)

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart.

Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Grant, O Lord, to your People assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever.

Amen.

Astronomers have discovered an alien planet in our midst. (2)

The newly found planet is believed to have come from outside the Milky Way galaxy -- the remnant of another, fading galaxy that was consumed by our own. It's stuck on a 16-day orbit around a fading red giant star about 2,000 light-years from Earth.

The planet, dubbed HIP-13044b, is believed to be about 1.25 times larger than Jupiter, in our own solar system. It was spotted by a sophisticated, 4-meter mirrored telescope operated by astronomers at the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
 
It's the first planet ever detected inside the Milky Way that's believed to be foreign-born. About 500 other planets have already been discovered that are believed to originate from outside our solar system but inside our galaxy.

"For the first time, astronomers have detected a planetary system in a stellar stream of extragalactic origin. This cosmic merger has brought an extragalactic planet within our reach."

We culled an initial suspect list of more than 100 names to 75, and then asked seven Forbes editors to rank them in all four categories. Those ranks were averaged to produce the final list. Obviously our rankings are not intended to be definitive; they are meant to spark a conversation--even an argument or two.

They certainly produced some surprises. The editors picked Hu Jintao, president of the People's Republic of China, as the world's most powerful man, ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama (No. 2). Julian Assange (No. 68), the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, snuck onto the list in last place, while many traditional media types, including Mark Thompson, the director-general of the BBC, fell off altogether. In a clear sign of the times, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (No. 40) ranked 10 spots higher than Bill Keller (No. 50, the executive editor of The New York Times.

Power can be used for good or for ill, and three criminals made the list this year: al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden (No. 57); Joaquín Guzmán (No. 60), the billionaire drug trafficker who heads Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel; and Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar (No. 63), who runs a vast criminal enterprise in India and who is thought to have had a hand in the 2008 terror attacks that killed 174 people in Mumbai. These rankings are not meant to justify or glorify these odious men. They simply reflect reality.

"It wasn't so long ago that capitalism was under attack. We're grateful that cooler heads prevailed. Though many of us are still feeling economic pain and some bad actors remain unpunished, the economic system that lets honest people reap the rewards of risk taking and hard work remains strong. Ratifying that system is what we do at Forbes."

 

But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister: And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. [Matthew 20:25-28]

1. Net domestic profits earned by US Corporations since the fourth quarter of 2008: $609,000,000,000.

2. Net decrease since 2008 in the amount that these companies spent on wages and benefits: $171,000,000,000.

3. Number of Americans awarded Social Security Retirement benefits in 2009: 2,740,000.

4. Percentage of those who opted to apply at reduced benefits: 73%

5. Percentage of Americans who say they do not know a Moslem: 62%

6. Number of delayed notice search warrants granted by federal judges last year under the Patriot Act: 1,150.

7. Number of delayed notice search warrants that were related to terrorism: 6; the rest were for drug offenses.

8. Chances that an American believes that Jesus Christ will return by 2050; 2 in 5.

9. Percentage change since 2008 in the number of Jewish Americans that call themselves Republican: +77%

10.  Percentage improvement in reading scores in the public school fourth graders since No Child Left Behind: +1%

There are different theories about what was behind the sighting of those fireballs. A NASA spacecraft got a closer look at one of the possible sources today.

The spacecraft flew past Hartley 2 -- taking closeup pictures after the comet made one of its closest passes by Earth this week.

But one expert is skeptical of reports that any fireballs came from Hartley -- which is roughly 1.2 kilometres wide and spews deadly cyanide gas.

Scientist Peter Brown says his meteor group at the University of Western Ontario tracked one of two fireballs while the other was tracked by NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.

The Heat Was On: Atmospheric CO₂ Triggered a Global Warming Event 40 Million Years Ago (3)

The discovery adds to evidence that the controversial Shroud of Turin did not wrap the body of Christ, researchers say.

What's more, the remains of the man wrapped in the shroud are said to hold DNA evidence of leprosy—the earliest known case of the disease.

"In all of the approximately 1,000 tombs from the first century A.D. which have been excavated around Jerusalem, not one fragment of a shroud had been found" until now, said archaeologist Shimon Gibson, who excavated the site for the Israel Antiquities Authority.

(a) We are not necessarily endorsing the conclusions of the referred to sites (1) (2). However, that most of the Crop Circles are real, that we cannot explain them scientifically and that they have a purpose - we have no doubt; and
(b) The appearance of the Shroud of Turin look alike face does not change our position regarding the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin.

(a) How did the twelve Apostles react to the persecutions they faced, the abuses they were subjected to and to their violent deaths (with the exception of John the Evangelist who died peacefully in Ephesus)?

(b) How did the persecuted and martyred Christians, up to the time Christianity went Imperial, (1) handle their tormentors?

Remember - Christianity had become such a force in the entire Roman Empire that it became the adhesive Constantine utilized to cement his crumbling Empire. Then, we should ask the next question:

(c) Who was really stronger - the Christians who lived the teachings of Jesus Christ - specifically the Beatitudes (2) - or the sword and spike bearing Romans?

10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.”

2 And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “‘Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’

 So sure as God has given you a work to do, satan will try to hinder you.

 He may present other things more promising. He may allure you by worldly prospects, he may assault you with slander, torment you with false accusations, set you to work defending your character, employ pious persons to lie about you, editors to assail you, and excellent men to slander you.

You may have Pilate and Herod, Ananias and Caiaphas all combined against you, and Judas standing by you ready to sell you for thirty pieces of silver; and you may wonder why all those things come upon you.

 Can you not see that the whole thing is brought about through the craft of the devil to draw you off from your work and hinder your obedience to God?

 Keep about your work!

Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone the devil's dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits.

Do your work!

Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, let corporations resolve, let editors publish, let the devil do his worst; but see to it that nothing hinders you from fulfilling the work God has given you.

He has not sent you to make money. He has not commanded you to get rich. He has never bidden you to defend your character, He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood which satan and his servants may start to peddle. If you do these things, you will do nothing else; you will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord.

Keep about your work. Let your aim be as steady as a star. Let the world brawl and bubble.

You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends and despised and rejected of men, but see to it, with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being, until at last you can say: