The M+G+R Foundation
News Commentary (1)
December 31st, 2012
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Could Belgium bring down Scientology? (1)
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Could Belgium bring down Scientology? (1)
Scientologists may be facing their most daunting court case yet, and
all it took was for someone to stop calling them a
cult.
After a years long legal battle, federal prosecutors in Belgium now believe their investigation is
complete enough to charge the Church of Scientology and
its leaders as a criminal organization on charges of
extortion, fraud, privacy breaches, and the illegal practice of medicine.
"The decision follows years of investigation that was triggered by a complaint by the Labour Mediation Service in the Brussels Region. Labour mediators were unhappy with a number of labour contracts," reads the report from Flanders News.
"The matter ended up on the desk of examining magistrate Michel Claise, who ordered raids on Church of Scientology premises in 2008. During the raids police managed to seize a wealth of evidence," they add.
"The decision follows years of investigation that was triggered by a complaint by the Labour Mediation Service in the Brussels Region. Labour mediators were unhappy with a number of labour contracts," reads the report from Flanders News.
"The matter ended up on the desk of examining magistrate Michel Claise, who ordered raids on Church of Scientology premises in 2008. During the raids police managed to seize a wealth of evidence," they add.
miguel de Portugal comments: See News Report No. 2 and comments.
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(1) News Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Head Of Opus Dei reaffirms Prelature is not a cult. (1)
Bishop Javier Echevarria Rodriguez, head of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei,
countered what he called "unfair and ridiculous attacks"
against Opus Dei on Immaculate Heart Radio....
"Because of documentaries, the mainstream media, as well as books like The DiVince Code," he said, "far too many people have been seduced by the idea that we're Catholic Freemasons; a secret society manipulating the Church from within. But these are all lies."
"Because of documentaries, the mainstream media, as well as books like The DiVince Code," he said, "far too many people have been seduced by the idea that we're Catholic Freemasons; a secret society manipulating the Church from within. But these are all lies."
miguel de Portugal comments: There you have it!
Mr. Echevarria has opened the doors to justify massive raids on Opus Dei facilities and to be charged as a criminal organization. Sort of like a Passover on reverse.
Evidence (in English and Spanish) and enemies, on a worldwide scale, are certainly not lacking.
We tried to warn them but they thought that "they knew best". They are doomed, but their arrogance prevents them from seeing it and take defensive action.
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(1) News Report
December 30th, 2012 [Feast of the Holy
Family]
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
At Israel school, anyone can learn to be a prophet. (1)
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
At Israel school, anyone can learn to be a prophet. (1)
Instead of long beards and robes, they wear track suits and T-shirts. Their tablets are
electronic, not hewn of stone, and they hold smartphones, not staffs. They may not look the part,
but this ragtag group of Israelis is training to become the next generation of prophets.
For just 200 shekels, about $53, and in only 40 short classes, the Cain and Abel School for Prophets says it will certify anyone as a modern-day Jewish soothsayer. The school, which launched classes this month, has baffled critics, many of whom have dismissed it as a blasphemy or a fraud.
On a religious level, Jewish tradition recognizes a few dozen prophets from the biblical era - from the monumental figures of Abraham, Moses and Elijah to lesser known foretellers of doom and tormented questioners like Micah the Morashtite and Habakkuk.
Tradition says no one can be a prophet ever since the Romans destroyed the second temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 and the era of prophecy can only be revived with the arrival of the Messiah and the temple's rebuilding. As one Talmudic phrase puts it, the only prophets now are children and fools.
That (criticism) hasn't deterred the school's founder and sole teacher Shmuel Hapartzy, a follower of Chabad, a worldwide Orthodox Jewish outreach and worship movement that has come under fire because part of its membership crowned its late leader the Messiah. The Chabad movement in Israel has distanced itself from the school.
Anyone looking in the curriculum for "Parting the Sea 101" or "How to Predict the Future" or even "Principles of Proclaiming A Jeremiad" will be disappointed. Instead, students learn about the meaning of dreams, the classification of angels, the mysteries of the holy spirit. They learn how to discern a person's inner feelings from his or her external behavior and appearance.
For just 200 shekels, about $53, and in only 40 short classes, the Cain and Abel School for Prophets says it will certify anyone as a modern-day Jewish soothsayer. The school, which launched classes this month, has baffled critics, many of whom have dismissed it as a blasphemy or a fraud.
On a religious level, Jewish tradition recognizes a few dozen prophets from the biblical era - from the monumental figures of Abraham, Moses and Elijah to lesser known foretellers of doom and tormented questioners like Micah the Morashtite and Habakkuk.
Tradition says no one can be a prophet ever since the Romans destroyed the second temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 and the era of prophecy can only be revived with the arrival of the Messiah and the temple's rebuilding. As one Talmudic phrase puts it, the only prophets now are children and fools.
That (criticism) hasn't deterred the school's founder and sole teacher Shmuel Hapartzy, a follower of Chabad, a worldwide Orthodox Jewish outreach and worship movement that has come under fire because part of its membership crowned its late leader the Messiah. The Chabad movement in Israel has distanced itself from the school.
Anyone looking in the curriculum for "Parting the Sea 101" or "How to Predict the Future" or even "Principles of Proclaiming A Jeremiad" will be disappointed. Instead, students learn about the meaning of dreams, the classification of angels, the mysteries of the holy spirit. They learn how to discern a person's inner feelings from his or her external behavior and appearance.
miguel de Portugal comments: Faced with this, the only English expression - actually, it is an Amercicanism - that we could use here as a comment is: Whatever!
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(1) News Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Spanish mums strip off to save school bus line. (1)
A group of Spanish mothers has decided to bare all to
save their school bus line.
The action for a calendar is aimed at raising some 43,000 euros after regional authorities in Montserrat, near Valencia, decided to restrict local pick-ups as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
Stripping off has proved to be an effective fund-raiser for good causes in the past, so the mothers’ have high hopes their New Year calendar will soon see them and their kids back on public transport.
The action for a calendar is aimed at raising some 43,000 euros after regional authorities in Montserrat, near Valencia, decided to restrict local pick-ups as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
Stripping off has proved to be an effective fund-raiser for good causes in the past, so the mothers’ have high hopes their New Year calendar will soon see them and their kids back on public transport.
miguel de Portugal comments: It is agood thing that this is a "Catholic" country! Imagine what they would have done otherwise!
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(1) Euronews Reports
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
The menstruation taboo in India. (1)
Khushi thought it was cancer. Ankita thought she was injured. None of the girls knew why they were
suddenly bleeding,..... They cried and were terrified and then they asked their mothers.
And their mothers said, you are normal. You are
menstruating. You are a woman now.
But that is not all. The girls,.... were also told: when you menstruate, don't cook food because you will pollute it. Don't touch idols because you will defile them. Don't handle pickles because they will go rotten with your touch.
Pickles, I asked Ankita? Yes, madam, she told me,... My mother says it is so. Her mother believed it, and her mother before her. It must be true.
I read of another girl who said that her nail polish had spoiled because she had applied it during her period. She saw nothing weird about this.
I met Ankita and her peers in November, while accompanying a sanitation and hygiene carnival, the Great Wash Yatra, which has traveled a thousand miles across rural India.
The aim of the Yatra, organized by a nonprofit called WASH United, is to spread the right messages about health and hygiene - do not defecate in the open, wash your hands with soap after the toilet and before eating....
But that is not all. The girls,.... were also told: when you menstruate, don't cook food because you will pollute it. Don't touch idols because you will defile them. Don't handle pickles because they will go rotten with your touch.
Pickles, I asked Ankita? Yes, madam, she told me,... My mother says it is so. Her mother believed it, and her mother before her. It must be true.
I read of another girl who said that her nail polish had spoiled because she had applied it during her period. She saw nothing weird about this.
I met Ankita and her peers in November, while accompanying a sanitation and hygiene carnival, the Great Wash Yatra, which has traveled a thousand miles across rural India.
The aim of the Yatra, organized by a nonprofit called WASH United, is to spread the right messages about health and hygiene - do not defecate in the open, wash your hands with soap after the toilet and before eating....
miguel de Portugal comments: Well, now we know why they have the rulers they do. "Christian" England had an opportunity to civilize this people but, as usual in the history of "Christian" colonization - they just pillaged and plundered the country until they were booted out.
One thing is being "Christian", which means to hide behind the Holy Name of God to "Pillage and plunder thy neighbor" and another is being Christian, without quotation marks, as John Bosco proved possible for forty years in a most hostile environment - anticlerical Italy.
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(1) News Report
December 28th, 2012 [Memorial of the Holy Innocents]
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
India opens inquiry into Delhi bus gang rape.
There has been a fresh outbreak of violence in the Indian capital Delhi during protests over the
gang rape of young student.
The 23-year-old victim of the December 16 attack is still critically ill after being beaten, raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus.
Six people, including the bus driver, are being held in connection with the incident.
The 23-year-old victim of the December 16 attack is still critically ill after being beaten, raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus.
Six people, including the bus driver, are being held in connection with the incident.
miguel de Portugal comments: Any country wherein its capital city a woman is allowed to be gang raped for one hour on a public bus, is a country ruled by savages.
It is a disgrace that such rulers are accepted on an equal basis by most world leaders. May God deal with them in accordance to His Will.
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(1) Euronews Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Dentist who fired assistant for being ‘irresistible’ acted within the law. (1)
The Iowa state Supreme Court has upheld the decision that a dentist acted within the law when he
fired an assistant for being "irresistible". Melissa Nelson who had been working for Dr. James
Knight since 1999 was fired in January 2010 as she posed a threat to his marriage.
Melissa Nelson, says she saw Knight as a father figure and was shocked when he said that he couldn't be trusted around her.
Melissa Nelson, says she saw Knight as a father figure and was shocked when he said that he couldn't be trusted around her.
miguel de Portugal comments: Assuming that Dr. Knight provided some extra compensation for the lay-off of Ms. Nelson, since it was not her fault, we think that he acted in an admirable manner and is a man to be trusted.
If priests had acted in such manner, the damages caused by their sexual deviations would have been greatly reduced. It turns out that Dr. Knight is more of a man of God than those who live off the Gospel as the parasites that they are.
God does not lead us into temptation as the very wrong English translation of the Lord's Prayer claims. God helps us not fall prey to temptation as they arise, and the first step in the avoidance of sin is to remove whatever may trigger our miserable humanity into sinning.
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(1) Euronews Reports
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Mega ice meteor lands in Morocco. (1)
A Moroccan farmer got the shock of his life when a giant snowball fell to earth leaving a half
metre hole in his land.
The farmer from the Hrira region split the ice and put it in his fridge to prevent it melting. Local authorities then sent a team of scientists who confirmed that it was in fact a 'mega meteor' from space.
The farmer from the Hrira region split the ice and put it in his fridge to prevent it melting. Local authorities then sent a team of scientists who confirmed that it was in fact a 'mega meteor' from space.
miguel de Portugal comments: Are we witnessing the preview of the manifestation of Revelations 8 - a mixture of the first and second Trumpets? Or, their symbolic filfillment as we rush into the "Grand Finale" without much ado?
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(1) Euronews Reports
December 26th, 2012 [Memory of St. Stephen - First Martyr of Christianity]
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Idaho senator facing DUI had image as teetotaler.
(1)
miguel de Portugal comments: The typical behavior by these type of people; a type which, unfortunately, is quite common.
That "It took his colleagues... completely off guard"? Not surprised.
The world, right now, has the proverbial freight train approaching it at high speed, in a collision course, and they just can't see it. Why can't they? Because they live in denial as most of the people of the world do. Why most of the people of the world live in denial? Because, since they do not know what to do, they hope that "the approaching freight train may just go away"..... which will go away just as WW I, WW II "went away" and what we know as Noah's Flood did.
What fools! This is (or should we use the past tense - "was"?) their last hope for waking up in time.
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(1) News Report
When U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo sponsored a 2010 bill to cut taxes on small beer brewers, he said he did
so for pro-business, not pro-beer reasons.
A Mormon, the Idaho Republican told The Associated Press at the time that he abstains from alcohol, and he pledged to have a root beer to celebrate if the bill passed.
Crapo's arrest early Sunday in a Washington, D.C., suburb on suspicion of drunken driving suggests a private life that departed from his public persona as a teetotaling member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About a quarter of Idaho's population subscribes to the Mormon faith, which prohibits members from using alcohol, as well as coffee, tea and tobacco.
In a statement Sunday, Crapo took responsibility and pledged to ensure "this circumstance is never repeated."
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," said Crapo, 61. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me."
Word spread quickly that Crapo was arrested after authorities say he ran a red light and registered a 0.11 percent blood-alcohol level on a breath test in Alexandria, Va., where the legal limit is 0.08.
It took his colleagues in Idaho completely off-guard.
A Mormon, the Idaho Republican told The Associated Press at the time that he abstains from alcohol, and he pledged to have a root beer to celebrate if the bill passed.
Crapo's arrest early Sunday in a Washington, D.C., suburb on suspicion of drunken driving suggests a private life that departed from his public persona as a teetotaling member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About a quarter of Idaho's population subscribes to the Mormon faith, which prohibits members from using alcohol, as well as coffee, tea and tobacco.
In a statement Sunday, Crapo took responsibility and pledged to ensure "this circumstance is never repeated."
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," said Crapo, 61. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me."
Word spread quickly that Crapo was arrested after authorities say he ran a red light and registered a 0.11 percent blood-alcohol level on a breath test in Alexandria, Va., where the legal limit is 0.08.
It took his colleagues in Idaho completely off-guard.
miguel de Portugal comments: The typical behavior by these type of people; a type which, unfortunately, is quite common.
That "It took his colleagues... completely off guard"? Not surprised.
The world, right now, has the proverbial freight train approaching it at high speed, in a collision course, and they just can't see it. Why can't they? Because they live in denial as most of the people of the world do. Why most of the people of the world live in denial? Because, since they do not know what to do, they hope that "the approaching freight train may just go away"..... which will go away just as WW I, WW II "went away" and what we know as Noah's Flood did.
What fools! This is (or should we use the past tense - "was"?) their last hope for waking up in time.
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(1) News Report
December 24th, 2012 [Christmas Eve]
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
A Christmas Sky Show! (1)
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
A Christmas Sky Show! (1)
Just when you thought Christmas was over: At the end of the day on Dec. 25th, a pair of holiday
lights will pop out of the deepening twilight. Jupiter
and the Moon are having a Christmas conjunction.
It’s a beautiful apparition, visible all around the globe. Even city dwellers, who often miss astronomical events because of light pollution, can see the show. Separated by less than 2 degrees, the bright pair will beam right through urban lights.
It’s a beautiful apparition, visible all around the globe. Even city dwellers, who often miss astronomical events because of light pollution, can see the show. Separated by less than 2 degrees, the bright pair will beam right through urban lights.
December 22nd, 2012
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Violence is baked into popular culture. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: I rest my case.
As we have said more times than we could possibly remember, the only thing left to do is to pray. Unfortunately, only a very reduced group of individuals are taking this exhortation seriously.
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Violence is baked into popular culture. (1)
Well aware that the television audience may be particularly sensitive, the Showtime network aired
a disclaimer warning audiences of violent content in the season finales of its dramas "Homeland"
and "Dexter" last weekend. It was two days after a gunman killed 26 people in a Newtown, Conn.,
elementary school.
The political thriller "Homeland" that night featured the burial of a bullet-ridden body at sea and a car bomb that killed scores of people. "Dexter," about a serial killer, had a couple of murders.
Viewer sensitivity, it seems, was not an issue: Sunday's "Homeland" was the highest-rated episode in the two years the series has been on the air. "Dexter" was the top-rated episode of any series in Showtime history.
That's just one illustration of how violence and gunplay are baked into the popular culture of television, movies and video games.
"The Avengers," this year's top earner with a box office gross of $623 million, features an assassin with a bow and arrow and the destruction of New York City. No. 2 is "The Dark Night Rises" ($448 million), with considerable gun violence including the takeover of the New York Stock Exchange. "The Hunger Games" is No. 3 ($408 million), with an entire premise based on violence — a survivor's game involving youngsters.
The top-selling video game in November was "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," .... For players, "enemies swarm and you pop their heads and push forward,"
The second-ranked "Halo 4" is dark as well, and in the No. 3 "Assassin's Creed 3," a game where players get points based on how quickly and creatively they kill pursuers.
The political thriller "Homeland" that night featured the burial of a bullet-ridden body at sea and a car bomb that killed scores of people. "Dexter," about a serial killer, had a couple of murders.
Viewer sensitivity, it seems, was not an issue: Sunday's "Homeland" was the highest-rated episode in the two years the series has been on the air. "Dexter" was the top-rated episode of any series in Showtime history.
That's just one illustration of how violence and gunplay are baked into the popular culture of television, movies and video games.
"The Avengers," this year's top earner with a box office gross of $623 million, features an assassin with a bow and arrow and the destruction of New York City. No. 2 is "The Dark Night Rises" ($448 million), with considerable gun violence including the takeover of the New York Stock Exchange. "The Hunger Games" is No. 3 ($408 million), with an entire premise based on violence — a survivor's game involving youngsters.
The top-selling video game in November was "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," .... For players, "enemies swarm and you pop their heads and push forward,"
The second-ranked "Halo 4" is dark as well, and in the No. 3 "Assassin's Creed 3," a game where players get points based on how quickly and creatively they kill pursuers.
miguel de Portugal comments: I rest my case.
As we have said more times than we could possibly remember, the only thing left to do is to pray. Unfortunately, only a very reduced group of individuals are taking this exhortation seriously.
December 20th, 2012
Henceforth, postings on this page will become less frequent than they have been in the past.
Whenever we make a post on this forum, the date will appear at the bottom of the Divine Encouragement page.
Posts of Divine Encouragement will continue as usual.
Whenever we make a post on this forum, the date will appear at the bottom of the Divine Encouragement page.
Posts of Divine Encouragement will continue as usual.
December 18th, 2012
A news item reminder... (1)
On November 2008, White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, said:
"Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is
it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before."
Contributor's comments: We shall see what the Connecticut event yields.
(1) Wall Street Journal Reports
miguel de Portugal continues to
comment.... on the Connecticut shooting.
Seven minutes of advertisement in a 30 minute TV program slot generates enough money, through the
sale of the advertised product, to pay for the very steep price of a thirty minute nationwide
televised programing. Such is the high level of brainwashing
a total of seven minutes commercial spots can
achieve.
Now.... imagine what endless hours of playing violent video games and viewing movies full of hatred and violence can achieve in developing minds.
That is really what is at the root of the mass killing in Connecticut and anywhere in the world. Even if gun ownership were to be restricted - which it should be - other means of mass killing will be found and would be used.
The only real solution to this problem will not be implemented by man, ever! Hell will freeze over before the sales of violent video games are banned. It is a matter of money, and Mammon rules supreme.
Blessedly, Mammon's rule will soon end by the Hand of God.
What can we do?
Let us continue to pray.
Now.... imagine what endless hours of playing violent video games and viewing movies full of hatred and violence can achieve in developing minds.
That is really what is at the root of the mass killing in Connecticut and anywhere in the world. Even if gun ownership were to be restricted - which it should be - other means of mass killing will be found and would be used.
The only real solution to this problem will not be implemented by man, ever! Hell will freeze over before the sales of violent video games are banned. It is a matter of money, and Mammon rules supreme.
Blessedly, Mammon's rule will soon end by the Hand of God.
What can we do?
Let us continue to pray.
December 16th, 2012
[our highlights]
About the Connecticut shooting. (1)
The massacre of 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school elicited horror and
soul-searching around the world even as it raised more
basic questions about why the 20-year-old gunman was driven to such a crime and how he
chose his victims.
Police have shed no light on any motive, and investigators were trying to learn more about the suspect Adam Lanza.
Police have shed no light on any motive, and investigators were trying to learn more about the suspect Adam Lanza.
miguel de Portugal comments: Has anyone stopped to think how Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Mother, Mary, feel about what happened? Do people really know that They love each one of us with an intensity that we cannot even begin to comprehend?
If we are saddened and outraged, how must they feel after almost 200 years of trying to get us back on the right track. How many millions upon millions of US citizens have visited Marian Shrines around the world? If a substantial fraction of those religious travelers had obeyed what Mary has been clamoring for, do you really think that we would be seeing what we are seeing in the US? In the world?
The "Pious Set" frequently say and/or think: "Boy, those Jews/Muslims/Hindus/pagans are really going to get it when our Lord Jesus Christ returns."
Well, through the readers of these these pages, we want to communicate to the "Pious Set", wherever they may be, that this is what Jesus said:
But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be
beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to
whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.
[Luke 12:48]
Those who may be now in the state that I was prior to March 19, 1985, are going to get off easy; however, those who are aware of the Marian Apparitions and the urgent requests made (2) should get ready for a very shocking and unpleasant surprise - ".... unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required..."
Do not think that I am exempt from the above. The more God reveals to me - which is much and on a regular basis - the more I will be accountable for should I not use it and/or apply it as He Wills that I do. Divine Laws are applicable to all.
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(1) News Report
(2) Urgent Requests Made
December 15th, 2012
[our highlights]
The Army released suicide data for the month of November. (1)
[our highlights]
The Army released suicide data for the month of November. (1)
During November, among active-duty soldiers,
there were 12 potential suicides: one has been
confirmed as a suicide and 11 remain under investigation.
For October, the Army reported 20 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers; since the release of that report, one case has been removed for a total of 19 cases: nine have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under investigation.
For 2012, there have been 177 potential active-duty suicides: 113 have been confirmed as suicides and 64 remain under investigation.
Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
Not on active-duty suicide numbers for 2011: 118 (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve) confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
For October, the Army reported 20 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers; since the release of that report, one case has been removed for a total of 19 cases: nine have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under investigation.
For 2012, there have been 177 potential active-duty suicides: 113 have been confirmed as suicides and 64 remain under investigation.
Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
Not on active-duty suicide numbers for 2011: 118 (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve) confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
and
Suicide is a major, preventable public health
problem. In 2007, it was the tenth leading cause of
death in the U.S., accounting for 34,598 deaths. The overall rate was 11.3 suicide deaths
per 100,000 people. An estimated 11 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.
(2)
miguel de Portugal comments: Let us pray for our mostly forgotten and suffering brothers and sisters at either side of the veil.
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(1) Department of Defense Reports
(2) Source
News Report No. 2
If you are planning a trip - using ground or air transportation - you may want to become familiar with the latest "steal thy neighbors' carry-on" technique - The Booster Bag.
miguel de Portugal comments: Clever indeed, so stay alert!
miguel de Portugal comments: Let us pray for our mostly forgotten and suffering brothers and sisters at either side of the veil.
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(1) Department of Defense Reports
(2) Source
News Report No. 2
If you are planning a trip - using ground or air transportation - you may want to become familiar with the latest "steal thy neighbors' carry-on" technique - The Booster Bag.
miguel de Portugal comments: Clever indeed, so stay alert!
December 14th, 2012
[our highlights]
Ten arrested in theft of Web Data. (1)
[our highlights]
Ten arrested in theft of Web Data. (1)
International authorities, with some help from Facebook, have arrested
10 people accused of operating a network of infected
computers that stole personal information from millions of victims.
The Justice Department said Tuesday night that the F.B.I. and international agencies were helped in their investigations by Facebook, whose users were among those targeted by the malware, or malicious software, over the last several years.
The agencies arrested people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Croatia, Macedonia, New Zealand, Peru and the United States, the F.B.I. said.
The suspects used a chain of infected computers to form what was known as the Butterfly botnet, which spread a piece of malicious software called Yahos, officials said. In a statement, the Justice Department said variants of this kind of software had infected about 11 million computers and caused more than $850 million in losses.
The malware had hijacked some Facebook users' accounts and posted links on their friends' Facebook pages. A person who clicked on those links could download the software and infect his computer.
The Justice Department said Tuesday night that the F.B.I. and international agencies were helped in their investigations by Facebook, whose users were among those targeted by the malware, or malicious software, over the last several years.
The agencies arrested people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Croatia, Macedonia, New Zealand, Peru and the United States, the F.B.I. said.
The suspects used a chain of infected computers to form what was known as the Butterfly botnet, which spread a piece of malicious software called Yahos, officials said. In a statement, the Justice Department said variants of this kind of software had infected about 11 million computers and caused more than $850 million in losses.
The malware had hijacked some Facebook users' accounts and posted links on their friends' Facebook pages. A person who clicked on those links could download the software and infect his computer.
miguel de Portugal comments: We repeat once again: Our purpose is not to provoke fear and insecurity, but to foster and encourage much prudence while "Internetting" . All you have to do is click on the wrong link and your will be paying for that mistake for a long time.
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(1) New York Times Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
What is the Internet Generation most interested in? According to Google the world's attention wavered between the tragic and the silly in 2012.
Whitney Houston was the "top trending" search of the
year, according to Google Inc.'s year-end "zeitgeist" 12th annual report. People around the
globe searched en masse for news about Houston's accidental drowning in a bathtub....
Korean rapper PSY's "Gangnam Style" music video trotted into second spot, a testament to his self-deprecating giddy-up dance move. The video is approaching a billion views on YouTube.
Superstorm Sandy, the damaging storm that knocked out power and flooded parts of the East Coast in the midst of a U.S. presidential campaign, was third.
The next biggest trending searches globally were a pair of threes: the iPad 3 tablet from Apple Inc. and Diablo 3, a popular video game.
Korean rapper PSY's "Gangnam Style" music video trotted into second spot, a testament to his self-deprecating giddy-up dance move. The video is approaching a billion views on YouTube.
Superstorm Sandy, the damaging storm that knocked out power and flooded parts of the East Coast in the midst of a U.S. presidential campaign, was third.
The next biggest trending searches globally were a pair of threes: the iPad 3 tablet from Apple Inc. and Diablo 3, a popular video game.
miguel de Portugal comments: The future of the world would be in the hands of the Internet Generation were God not to step in and prevent our auto destruction.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 13th, 2012
miguel de Portugal comments: Now that essentially the world, excepting Russia, China and Iran, has approved and backs the Syrian opposition (1), anything is possible from Syria's actual government.
President al-Assad knows well the fates of the Presidents of Iraq, Libya and Egypt. He also knows that the UN Secretary General has pronounced himself regarding the fact that al-Assad must face the international tribunals for crimes against humanity.
Barring a direct intervention by God, al-Assad options seem to be: (a) exile in Russia, China or Iran - which would place Russia and China squarely against the rest of the world, with consequences; or (b) Go out in "Blaze of Glory" and take with him as many lives as he can.
_________________
(1) BBC Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Taliban popular where US fought biggest battle. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: That is the typical result of every war that we have "won" after World War II. It seems that we need to do some major housekeeping in the US Armed Forces leadership. Maybe then the Generals would spend more time doing their work right instead of e-mailing their girlfriends.
Even though our civil and military leadership were warned by President Eisenhower in his Farewell Address (2) they still fell into the trap.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) Farewell Address
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Interstate 77 reopens after W.Va. gas inferno. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: This is the third mega accidental (?) conflagration in the US in a month or so. Is there a pattern here?
_________________
(1) News Report
miguel de Portugal comments: Now that essentially the world, excepting Russia, China and Iran, has approved and backs the Syrian opposition (1), anything is possible from Syria's actual government.
President al-Assad knows well the fates of the Presidents of Iraq, Libya and Egypt. He also knows that the UN Secretary General has pronounced himself regarding the fact that al-Assad must face the international tribunals for crimes against humanity.
Barring a direct intervention by God, al-Assad options seem to be: (a) exile in Russia, China or Iran - which would place Russia and China squarely against the rest of the world, with consequences; or (b) Go out in "Blaze of Glory" and take with him as many lives as he can.
_________________
(1) BBC Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Taliban popular where US fought biggest battle. (1)
Nearly three years after U.S.-led forces launched the biggest operation of the war to clear
insurgents, foster economic growth and set a model for the rest of Afghanistan, angry residents of
Helmand province say they are too afraid to go out after dark because of marauding bands of
thieves.
And during the day, they say corrupt police and government officials bully them into paying bribes. After 11 years of war, many here long for a return of the Taliban. They say that under the Taliban, who routinely punished thieves by cutting off a hand, they were at least safe from crime and corruption.
"If you had a box of cash on your head, you could go to the farthest part of Marjah and no one would take it from you, even at night," said Maulvi Daoud, who runs a cubbyhole sized-shop in the town of Marjah. "Today you bring your motorcycle in front of your shop and it will be gone. Now the situation is that you go on the road and they are standing in police and army uniform with weapons and they can take your money."
And during the day, they say corrupt police and government officials bully them into paying bribes. After 11 years of war, many here long for a return of the Taliban. They say that under the Taliban, who routinely punished thieves by cutting off a hand, they were at least safe from crime and corruption.
"If you had a box of cash on your head, you could go to the farthest part of Marjah and no one would take it from you, even at night," said Maulvi Daoud, who runs a cubbyhole sized-shop in the town of Marjah. "Today you bring your motorcycle in front of your shop and it will be gone. Now the situation is that you go on the road and they are standing in police and army uniform with weapons and they can take your money."
miguel de Portugal comments: That is the typical result of every war that we have "won" after World War II. It seems that we need to do some major housekeeping in the US Armed Forces leadership. Maybe then the Generals would spend more time doing their work right instead of e-mailing their girlfriends.
Even though our civil and military leadership were warned by President Eisenhower in his Farewell Address (2) they still fell into the trap.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) Farewell Address
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Interstate 77 reopens after W.Va. gas inferno. (1)
Interstate 77 has reopened in both directions in West Virginia after crews worked through the
night to repair damage from a massive natural gas line
explosion and fire.
Tuesday's inferno destroyed four homes and damaged others. It melted guardrails and left a huge swath of the interstate in Sissonville impassible. Nobody was killed, but several people were treated for smoke inhalation. A roughly 800-foot section in both directions was baked by the heat.
Federal and state officials are investigating what caused the explosion.
Tuesday's inferno destroyed four homes and damaged others. It melted guardrails and left a huge swath of the interstate in Sissonville impassible. Nobody was killed, but several people were treated for smoke inhalation. A roughly 800-foot section in both directions was baked by the heat.
Federal and state officials are investigating what caused the explosion.
miguel de Portugal comments: This is the third mega accidental (?) conflagration in the US in a month or so. Is there a pattern here?
_________________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 4
[our highlights]
Big Asteroid tumbles harmlessly past Earth. (1)
_________________
(1) NASA Reports
[our highlights]
Big Asteroid tumbles harmlessly past Earth. (1)
This week, NASA's Goldstone radar is tracking a large asteroid as it passes by Earth, and
obtaining unusually clear images of the tumbling space rock.
"There is no danger of a collision with Earth," says Lance Benner of NASA's Near Earth Object Program. "At closest approach on Dec. 12th, asteroid 4179 Toutatis will be 7 million km away or 18 times farther than the Moon."
Asteroid Toutatis is well known to astronomers; it passes by Earth’s orbit every 4 years. Measuring 4.5 km in length, it is one of the largest known potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), and its orbit is inclined less than half-a-degree from Earth's.
"We already know that Toutatis will not hit Earth for hundreds of years," says Benner. "These new observations will allow us to predict the asteroid's trajectory even farther into the future."
"There is no danger of a collision with Earth," says Lance Benner of NASA's Near Earth Object Program. "At closest approach on Dec. 12th, asteroid 4179 Toutatis will be 7 million km away or 18 times farther than the Moon."
Asteroid Toutatis is well known to astronomers; it passes by Earth’s orbit every 4 years. Measuring 4.5 km in length, it is one of the largest known potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), and its orbit is inclined less than half-a-degree from Earth's.
"We already know that Toutatis will not hit Earth for hundreds of years," says Benner. "These new observations will allow us to predict the asteroid's trajectory even farther into the future."
_________________
(1) NASA Reports
News Report No. 5
[our highlights]
New Meteor Shower in December. (1)
If you're outdoors after sunset this week, be alert for meteors. Not only is the Geminid meteor shower active as Earth passes through a stream of debris from "rock comet" 3200 Phaethon, but also, say forecasters, a new meteor shower could make an appearance.
"The source of the new shower is Comet Wirtanen," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "Dust from this comet hitting Earth's atmosphere could produce as many as 30 meteors per hour."
Comet Wirtanen was discovered in 1948, just after World War II, and takes 5.4 years to orbit the sun. It reaches its closest point to the sun just outside Earth's orbit.
Although this comet has skirted Earth's orbit many times, Earth has not run into its debris streams before. 2012 could be different.
Computer models run by Russian forecaster Mikhail Maslov predict as many as four stream crossings between Dec. 10th and 14th.
"This time period also includes the peak of the strong annual Geminid meteor shower," notes Cooke.
_________________
(1) NASA Reports
[our highlights]
New Meteor Shower in December. (1)
If you're outdoors after sunset this week, be alert for meteors. Not only is the Geminid meteor shower active as Earth passes through a stream of debris from "rock comet" 3200 Phaethon, but also, say forecasters, a new meteor shower could make an appearance.
"The source of the new shower is Comet Wirtanen," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "Dust from this comet hitting Earth's atmosphere could produce as many as 30 meteors per hour."
Comet Wirtanen was discovered in 1948, just after World War II, and takes 5.4 years to orbit the sun. It reaches its closest point to the sun just outside Earth's orbit.
Although this comet has skirted Earth's orbit many times, Earth has not run into its debris streams before. 2012 could be different.
Computer models run by Russian forecaster Mikhail Maslov predict as many as four stream crossings between Dec. 10th and 14th.
"This time period also includes the peak of the strong annual Geminid meteor shower," notes Cooke.
_________________
(1) NASA Reports
December 12th, 2012 [Feast of Our Lady of
Guadalupe - Patroness of the
Americas]
[our highlights]
The rise of American power in the Curia. (1)
[our highlights]
The rise of American power in the Curia. (1)
The official announcement of the appointment of the
Bishop of Phoenix (Arizona) Thomas J. Olmsted, as Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life is expected any day now.
Olmsted's approach in the Congregation is expected to be far closer to the sensibilities of American bishops with regard to issue of the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious)'s rebellious stance towards Catholic bishops and the Holy See.
Olmsted's arrival will further strengthen the U.S.' growing influence within the Catholic Church's central government, the Assessor to the Secretariat of State, Peter Brian Wells, being the U.S.' foremost point of reference.
Meanwhile, Peter Brian Wells became a rising star. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he received his Presbyterian ordination on 12 July 1991.
Wells is essentially the number three man after Secretariat of State, Tarcisio Bertone and Substitute, Mgr. Angelo Becciu.
The number of Americans and English speaking figures who making headway in the Vatican is growing.
A part from those who have functional roles, such as Cardinal Burke, the Secretary for Divine Worship, the Englishman, Roche, Mgr. Di Noia and until yesterday, Tobin, there are numerous others who are members of Congregations, influence decisions and choices and generally carry weight in the Curia. The former Prefect of Faith, Levada, and cardinals Stafford, Law, O’Brien, Rigalli...
The strong presence of English speaking clerics is also a sign of their growing importance within the Secretariat of State...
Olmsted's approach in the Congregation is expected to be far closer to the sensibilities of American bishops with regard to issue of the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious)'s rebellious stance towards Catholic bishops and the Holy See.
Olmsted's arrival will further strengthen the U.S.' growing influence within the Catholic Church's central government, the Assessor to the Secretariat of State, Peter Brian Wells, being the U.S.' foremost point of reference.
Meanwhile, Peter Brian Wells became a rising star. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he received his Presbyterian ordination on 12 July 1991.
Wells is essentially the number three man after Secretariat of State, Tarcisio Bertone and Substitute, Mgr. Angelo Becciu.
The number of Americans and English speaking figures who making headway in the Vatican is growing.
A part from those who have functional roles, such as Cardinal Burke, the Secretary for Divine Worship, the Englishman, Roche, Mgr. Di Noia and until yesterday, Tobin, there are numerous others who are members of Congregations, influence decisions and choices and generally carry weight in the Curia. The former Prefect of Faith, Levada, and cardinals Stafford, Law, O’Brien, Rigalli...
The strong presence of English speaking clerics is also a sign of their growing importance within the Secretariat of State...
Contributor's comments: When I saw this story, the first thing I thought of was: this may show a closer tie between commercial/political Babylon (the US) and spiritual Babylon (the Vatican).
miguel de Portugal comments: The U.S. Roman Catholic Church is riddled with the Opus Dei "cancerous cells" and just like "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." [Luke 17:37], where there is money and worldwide political power, such "cells" will flourish.
Therefore, we should not be surprised at how they will end (2).
_________________
(1) Italian La Stampa Reports
(2) The Grand Finale of the Opus Dei
December 11th, 2012
[our highlights]
Billion-Dollar Flop: Air Force Stumbles on Software Plan. (1)
[our highlights]
Billion-Dollar Flop: Air Force Stumbles on Software Plan. (1)
In policy circles, problems that are practically impossible to solve, like global warming, are
formally termed "wicked."
For the United States Air Force, installing a new software system has certainly proved to be a wicked problem. Last month, it canceled a six-year-old modernization effort that had eaten up more than $1 billion. When the Air Force realized that it would cost another $1 billion just to achieve one-quarter of the capabilities originally planned - and that even then the system would not be fully ready before 2020 - it decided to decamp.
Silicon Valley sees its share of software projects that end unhappily. The most expensive failures, however, involve acquisitions of entire companies with software assets that turn out to be far less valuable than thought. Those can lead to stunning write-downs in the billions, as Hewlett-Packard has been forced to take recently.
But the Air Force's software was not some mystery package, nor was it written from scratch. It was commercial off-the-shelf software, or “COTS” (the military can’t seem to resist any chance to use an acronym).
For the United States Air Force, installing a new software system has certainly proved to be a wicked problem. Last month, it canceled a six-year-old modernization effort that had eaten up more than $1 billion. When the Air Force realized that it would cost another $1 billion just to achieve one-quarter of the capabilities originally planned - and that even then the system would not be fully ready before 2020 - it decided to decamp.
Silicon Valley sees its share of software projects that end unhappily. The most expensive failures, however, involve acquisitions of entire companies with software assets that turn out to be far less valuable than thought. Those can lead to stunning write-downs in the billions, as Hewlett-Packard has been forced to take recently.
But the Air Force's software was not some mystery package, nor was it written from scratch. It was commercial off-the-shelf software, or “COTS” (the military can’t seem to resist any chance to use an acronym).
miguel de Portugal comments: Considering that we are "tops" in comparison with most countries in the world, can you see now why the world economy is in the state it is in.
In the First World's falsified egalitarian system, the Peter Principle rules:
The Peter Principle is a belief that, in an organization where
promotion is based on achievement, success, and merit, that organization's members will eventually
be promoted beyond their level of ability. The principle is commonly phrased,
"employees tend to rise to
their level of incompetence."
Therefore, most leaders reach their level of incompetence and stay.... and stay....
Which brings us to a bit of "State gossip". Did you know that the German Iron Lady, Mrs. Merkel, bites her nails to an almost "stump"? We had an opportunity to see her hands close up and that is what we saw. A professional psychological profiler could have a field day with that information. For the "girl next door" this habit is not necessarily an issue to consider, but for an individual who occupies the position of power Mrs. Merkel does it is indeed of note.
_________________
(1) New York Times Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Files on accused Los Angeles priests could soon be public. (1)
Secret files kept for decades by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles on priests accused
of sexually abusing children could soon become public as a five-year legal battle over their
release reaches its endgame.
A judge will hear final objections Monday from accused priests and is also expected to begin hashing out a timeline for the release of thousands of pages of top-secret church documents on abusive clerics.
"There are explosive documents that are going to be coming out," said lead plaintiff attorney Ray Boucher, who has seen some of the material while reviewing it with archdiocese attorneys in preparation for the release.
"I don't think there's any question but that the information that will be forthcoming ... is beyond anything the public has seen so far."
A judge will hear final objections Monday from accused priests and is also expected to begin hashing out a timeline for the release of thousands of pages of top-secret church documents on abusive clerics.
"There are explosive documents that are going to be coming out," said lead plaintiff attorney Ray Boucher, who has seen some of the material while reviewing it with archdiocese attorneys in preparation for the release.
"I don't think there's any question but that the information that will be forthcoming ... is beyond anything the public has seen so far."
miguel de Portugal comments: We presume that the United States Bishop's Conference will hire the same group the German Bishops did (2) to make sure that all of their abusers are also declared psychologically normal. Although that sounds sarcastic, it is not. It seems that in today's climate anything goes as long as the "Good Name" of the Church is preserved.
However, believe it or not, that is not the real problem. The real problem is that most of the Faithful who are aware of all of this continue to "eat out of the hand" of the Vatican. No matter what they dish out. What a tragedy!
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) The German Solution
December 10th, 2012
[our highlights]
According to the German Catholic Church: "Most sex abuser priests are psychologically normal". (1) (2) (3)
[our highlights]
According to the German Catholic Church: "Most sex abuser priests are psychologically normal". (1) (2) (3)
A German Catholic Church study showed most priests found
guilty of sexually abusing minors were psychologically normal, according to survey results
presented on Friday.
Only 12 percent of those surveyed were diagnosed as paedophiles, said the report released by Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann, the church's spokesman on abuse cases.
Psychological tests commissioned by priests' dioceses around Germany found only five percent could be classified as ephebophiles - attracted to teenagers, it said.
"There are no significant differences to results found in the general population in Germany," said Dr Norbert Leygraf, one of the experts reviewing reports on predator priests found out in the past decade.
Only 12 percent of those surveyed were diagnosed as paedophiles, said the report released by Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann, the church's spokesman on abuse cases.
Psychological tests commissioned by priests' dioceses around Germany found only five percent could be classified as ephebophiles - attracted to teenagers, it said.
"There are no significant differences to results found in the general population in Germany," said Dr Norbert Leygraf, one of the experts reviewing reports on predator priests found out in the past decade.
miguel de Portugal comments: With all due respect to Germans, it logically follows that the German Catholic Church is saying that either: (a) Germany is populated by depraved males; or (b) Most German male perverts join the priesthood.
Sexually abusing children is a psychological aberration - no studies are needed to reach that conclusion.
_________________
(1) News Report No. 1
(2) News Report No. 2
(3) News Report No. 3
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Mercedes delivers new popemobile to Vatican. (1)
German automaker Daimler says it has delivered
Pope Benedict XVI his new popemobile - a customized Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV with special
security features.
The company says the new car was delivered Friday to the Vatican and people should be able to see the pope riding in it Saturday in Rome during a celebration at the Spanish Steps.
Compared with the previous vehicle, a modified M-Class from 2002, Mercedes has extended the dome significantly to give the pope more room and easier entry. Larger glass panels and better illumination also aim to make the pontiff more visible to crowds.
Daimler says the white-painted vehicle's central interior design feature is a "throne" embroidered with the pontiff's coat of arms.
The company says the new car was delivered Friday to the Vatican and people should be able to see the pope riding in it Saturday in Rome during a celebration at the Spanish Steps.
Compared with the previous vehicle, a modified M-Class from 2002, Mercedes has extended the dome significantly to give the pope more room and easier entry. Larger glass panels and better illumination also aim to make the pontiff more visible to crowds.
Daimler says the white-painted vehicle's central interior design feature is a "throne" embroidered with the pontiff's coat of arms.
miguel de Portugal comments: Given the earlier news report about how "normal" it is for German males in the priesthood to sexually abuse children, maybe the "pope mobile" should be renamed.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 9th, 2012
[our
highlights]
Most Expensive Military Programs. (1)
According to the Department of Defense, total spending on military programs through fiscal year 2013 is estimated to exceed $1.6 trillion. This figure is cited in the Selected Acquisition Report that the agency submitted to Congress in March.
The total program costs reflect both money that’s already been spent and money projected to be spent, in dollars unadjusted for inflation.
Listed below are the most expensive U.S. military programs currently under way.
Most Expensive Military Programs. (1)
According to the Department of Defense, total spending on military programs through fiscal year 2013 is estimated to exceed $1.6 trillion. This figure is cited in the Selected Acquisition Report that the agency submitted to Congress in March.
The total program costs reflect both money that’s already been spent and money projected to be spent, in dollars unadjusted for inflation.
Listed below are the most expensive U.S. military programs currently under way.
1. F-35 Lightning II - Total program cost: $331.9 billion
2. Ballistic Missile Defense System - Total program cost: $126.2 billion
3. DDG-51 Guided Missile Destroyer - Total program cost: $87.3 billion
4. Pratt & Whitney F135 - Total program cost: $63.8 billion
5. Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey - Total program cost: $53.5 billion
etc., etc.
2. Ballistic Missile Defense System - Total program cost: $126.2 billion
3. DDG-51 Guided Missile Destroyer - Total program cost: $87.3 billion
4. Pratt & Whitney F135 - Total program cost: $63.8 billion
5. Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey - Total program cost: $53.5 billion
etc., etc.
miguel de Portugal comments: When one considers that we have not won one single war since World War II it seems that we continue to pour good money after bad.
On the other hand, no pun intended, using the fingers of a hand we can pray rosary after rosary which, if offered with a sincere and faithful heart, can do what a "cuatrillion" of dollars spent in armament could never, ever!, do.
_________________
(1) Source
December 8th, 2012
[Feast
of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady]
[our
highlights]
Russia imposes tit-for-tat ban after Magnitski bill. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: As the saying goes (and applicable to both sides): Boys will be boys.
________________
(1) Euronews Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Cadet quits, cites overt religion at West Point. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: Obviously, Opusdeism (2) is well entrenched in West Point too.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) For example
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Pope gives top German assistant more power. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: There is no comment that we could make that would not violate the virtue of charity; therefore, No Comment.
_________________
(1) News Report
Russia imposes tit-for-tat ban after Magnitski bill. (1)
Russia has responded to America's passing a new law called the
Magnitski Act by hitting out at certain named
Americans, forbidding them from entering Russian soil. Moscow will ban any American who has
violated human rights, a direct response to the Act
which seeks to punish Russian officials linked to the death in custody of lawyer Sergei
Magnitski.
"We in Russia believe that this law is an anti-Russian one, because out of hundreds and thousands of cases when people died in jails the United States and the U.S. Congress choose one specific case and make a law out of it. It is clear this is all directed against Russia," insisted the Duma's, (Russia's parliament), International Affairs Committee Chairman Alexei Pushkov.
Moscow's human rights record is being scrutinised after several journalists, lawyers and opponents of the regime died suspiciously. "You know, I think this is all just games which politicians play. And probably there is some meaning behind it, but I think this is all just political games," said one Muscovite.
The US Congress passed the Magnitski bill late on Thursday targeting those implicated in his death, and any Russian official found guilty of human rights abuses. Their assets can also be frozen. The decision was slammed as an "absurd piece of theatre" by the Russian Foreign ministry.
"We in Russia believe that this law is an anti-Russian one, because out of hundreds and thousands of cases when people died in jails the United States and the U.S. Congress choose one specific case and make a law out of it. It is clear this is all directed against Russia," insisted the Duma's, (Russia's parliament), International Affairs Committee Chairman Alexei Pushkov.
Moscow's human rights record is being scrutinised after several journalists, lawyers and opponents of the regime died suspiciously. "You know, I think this is all just games which politicians play. And probably there is some meaning behind it, but I think this is all just political games," said one Muscovite.
The US Congress passed the Magnitski bill late on Thursday targeting those implicated in his death, and any Russian official found guilty of human rights abuses. Their assets can also be frozen. The decision was slammed as an "absurd piece of theatre" by the Russian Foreign ministry.
miguel de Portugal comments: As the saying goes (and applicable to both sides): Boys will be boys.
________________
(1) Euronews Reports
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Cadet quits, cites overt religion at West Point. (1)
A cadet quitting West Point less than six months before graduation says
he could no longer be part of a culture that promotes
prayers and religious activities and disrespects nonreligious cadets.
Blake Page announced his decision to quit the U.S. Military Academy this week in a much-discussed online post that echoed the sentiments of soldiers and airmen at other military installations.
"What can I do? What can I possibly do to initiate the change that I want to see and so many other people want to see?" Page said. "I realized that this is one way I can make that change happen."
Page criticized a culture where cadets stand silently for prayers, where nonreligious cadets were jokingly called "heathens" by instructors at basic training and where one officer told him he'd never be a leader until he filled the hole in his heart. In announcing his resignation this week on The Huffington Post, he denounced "criminals" in the military who violate the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution.
"I don't want to be a part of West Point knowing that the leadership here is OK with just shrugging off and shirking off respect and good order and discipline and obeying the law and defending the Constitution and doing their job," he told the AP.
Blake Page announced his decision to quit the U.S. Military Academy this week in a much-discussed online post that echoed the sentiments of soldiers and airmen at other military installations.
"What can I do? What can I possibly do to initiate the change that I want to see and so many other people want to see?" Page said. "I realized that this is one way I can make that change happen."
Page criticized a culture where cadets stand silently for prayers, where nonreligious cadets were jokingly called "heathens" by instructors at basic training and where one officer told him he'd never be a leader until he filled the hole in his heart. In announcing his resignation this week on The Huffington Post, he denounced "criminals" in the military who violate the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution.
"I don't want to be a part of West Point knowing that the leadership here is OK with just shrugging off and shirking off respect and good order and discipline and obeying the law and defending the Constitution and doing their job," he told the AP.
miguel de Portugal comments: Obviously, Opusdeism (2) is well entrenched in West Point too.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) For example
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Pope gives top German assistant more power. (1)
Pope Benedict on Friday promoted his German
priest-secretary to a job that significantly increases his influence and power in the
Vatican. Monsignor Georg Ganswein, who has been the closest person to Benedict since his
election in 2005, will be elevated to the rank of
archbishop in the new job, whose official title is Prefect of the Pontifical Household.
As prefect, Ganswein, 56, already one of the most recognizable and powerful figures in the papal court, will arrange all the pope's private and public audiences and his daily schedule. But because he is expected to keep his job as chief private secretary, he will have even more power in deciding who gets to see the German pope, who is now 85 and looking frailer.
Ganswein is expected to keep the new job for the remainder of the papacy. His predecessor held it for some 14 years. The pope has a second secretary, a Maltese monsignor, but he has considerably less power than Ganswein.
As prefect, Ganswein, 56, already one of the most recognizable and powerful figures in the papal court, will arrange all the pope's private and public audiences and his daily schedule. But because he is expected to keep his job as chief private secretary, he will have even more power in deciding who gets to see the German pope, who is now 85 and looking frailer.
Ganswein is expected to keep the new job for the remainder of the papacy. His predecessor held it for some 14 years. The pope has a second secretary, a Maltese monsignor, but he has considerably less power than Ganswein.
miguel de Portugal comments: There is no comment that we could make that would not violate the virtue of charity; therefore, No Comment.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 7th, 2012 [
First
Friday of the Month and 71st Anniversary of
the Attack to Pearl Harbor]
[our
highlights]
Europe's struggling economies are the most corrupt, new survey reveals. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: Reporting "from the ground" so to speak: The biggest problem in those countries has been their (corrupt) submerged economies. As the Masters of the European Union tighten the screws in these countries, using the bail out money as the justification, the people find themselves in worse financial situation every day.
The foreclosures in homes in Spain and Portugal run in the hundreds of thousands (combined population is about 65 million people). The difference here, from the system in the U.S., is that you and your family are thrown out on the street, regardless your condition, the bank takes over the property BUT you still owe the money which - if you happen to find a job in an economy with 25% plus unemployment - your salary will be garnished by the bank to pay for the house they already took away from you.
The result is that, what brought upon the crisis, the corrupt submerged economy, is growing by leaps and bounds as a means of sheer survival. Before, it may have been to get away with less taxes so that extra luxuries could be had. Now it is a matter of life and death. When you see an average housewife who has resorted to prostitution to feed her child, or a young man or woman do the same so that they can pay the spiraling cost of education, it is obvious that the leaders of said countries, under orders from the European Union Masters, are driving the population to eventually react as the French did when the French Revolution was triggered (2).
Tragically, it is all part of the schedule. (3)
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) A Replay of the French Revolution
(3) How to force a New World Order
Europe's struggling economies are the most corrupt, new survey reveals. (1)
The countries worst hit by Europe's debt crisis are also thought to be the most corrupt, according
to a new global survey. Spain, Portugal, Italy and
Greece all had the lowest scores in Transparency International’s annual Corruption
Perceptions Index.
The report's Director Edda Mueller said people living in countries hit hardest economically perceived the problem of corruption to be worse.
Greece was considered the most corrupt among EU and eurozone countries. Its global ranking fell 14 places from 80th in 2011 to 94 this year. Italy, Spain and Portugal, which are all mired in recession, also scored badly. The UK came 17th overall.
Worldwide, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were seen as the least corrupt nations, while Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were considered to be the most corrupt. The international index measures the perception of corruption in the public and not the financial sector.
The report's Director Edda Mueller said people living in countries hit hardest economically perceived the problem of corruption to be worse.
Greece was considered the most corrupt among EU and eurozone countries. Its global ranking fell 14 places from 80th in 2011 to 94 this year. Italy, Spain and Portugal, which are all mired in recession, also scored badly. The UK came 17th overall.
Worldwide, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were seen as the least corrupt nations, while Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were considered to be the most corrupt. The international index measures the perception of corruption in the public and not the financial sector.
miguel de Portugal comments: Reporting "from the ground" so to speak: The biggest problem in those countries has been their (corrupt) submerged economies. As the Masters of the European Union tighten the screws in these countries, using the bail out money as the justification, the people find themselves in worse financial situation every day.
The foreclosures in homes in Spain and Portugal run in the hundreds of thousands (combined population is about 65 million people). The difference here, from the system in the U.S., is that you and your family are thrown out on the street, regardless your condition, the bank takes over the property BUT you still owe the money which - if you happen to find a job in an economy with 25% plus unemployment - your salary will be garnished by the bank to pay for the house they already took away from you.
The result is that, what brought upon the crisis, the corrupt submerged economy, is growing by leaps and bounds as a means of sheer survival. Before, it may have been to get away with less taxes so that extra luxuries could be had. Now it is a matter of life and death. When you see an average housewife who has resorted to prostitution to feed her child, or a young man or woman do the same so that they can pay the spiraling cost of education, it is obvious that the leaders of said countries, under orders from the European Union Masters, are driving the population to eventually react as the French did when the French Revolution was triggered (2).
Tragically, it is all part of the schedule. (3)
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) A Replay of the French Revolution
(3) How to force a New World Order
December 6th, 2012
[our
highlights]
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Syria mixes chemical weapons for potential use in bombs, US source says. (1)
______________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Serbia's NATO ambassador leaps to death. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: Did he jump or was it an "assisted" jump? Did he know "too much" about what he shouldn't? Was what he knew too much for him to bear? We shall wait and see what is the official - and lame - cause for such drastic action.
_________________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Former Catholic brother arrested in New Zealand after Australian police file 252 sex charges. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: Please note the fact that:
They just do not want to learn, leaving God with no other option than summarily act once and for all.
Quoting from our January 2nd, 2012 post:
(1) News Report
News Report No. 1
[our highlights]
Syria mixes chemical weapons for potential use in bombs, US source says. (1)
Syrian forces have mixed chemical weapons and loaded
them into bombs in preparation for possible use on President Bashar Assad's own people, Fox
News confirms.
A senior U.S. official told Fox News that bombs were loaded with components of sarin gas, a deadly nerve gas. Syrian forces have 60 days to use these bombs until the chemical mixture expires and has to be destroyed.
A senior U.S. official told Fox News that bombs were loaded with components of sarin gas, a deadly nerve gas. Syrian forces have 60 days to use these bombs until the chemical mixture expires and has to be destroyed.
______________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Serbia's NATO ambassador leaps to death. (1)
Officials say Serbia's ambassador to NATO committed
suicide by leaping from a busy parking garage platform at Brussels Airport.
A Serbian government statement said Wednesday that the envoy, Branislav Milinkovic, 52, died instantly on Tuesday night.
A diplomat who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media said Milinkovic suddenly jumped from the 8- to 10-meter-high (26- to 33-foot-high) platform while waiting with the Serbian delegation for foreign ministry officials due to hold talks with NATO officials.
Serbia is not a member of the military alliance, but has a mission in the headquarters complex. Milinkovic, a former journalist, previously served as Serbia's ambassador to Austria. The death occurred during two days of meetings of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
A Serbian government statement said Wednesday that the envoy, Branislav Milinkovic, 52, died instantly on Tuesday night.
A diplomat who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media said Milinkovic suddenly jumped from the 8- to 10-meter-high (26- to 33-foot-high) platform while waiting with the Serbian delegation for foreign ministry officials due to hold talks with NATO officials.
Serbia is not a member of the military alliance, but has a mission in the headquarters complex. Milinkovic, a former journalist, previously served as Serbia's ambassador to Austria. The death occurred during two days of meetings of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
miguel de Portugal comments: Did he jump or was it an "assisted" jump? Did he know "too much" about what he shouldn't? Was what he knew too much for him to bear? We shall wait and see what is the official - and lame - cause for such drastic action.
_________________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Former Catholic brother arrested in New Zealand after Australian police file 252 sex charges. (1)
New Zealand police have arrested a former Catholic brother and convicted pedophile
after Australian authorities filed 252 new charges
against him.
Police say they arrested 65-year-old Bernard Kevin McGrath on Friday in Christchurch after he voluntarily returned to New Zealand from Sri Lanka. A judge on Monday released the former St. John of God brother on bail.
New South Wales police say they've investigated a large number of sexual assault claims by former students of the St. John order's Kendall Grange school for boys in the town of Morisset, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) north of Sydney.
McGrath previously served jail time in New Zealand after sexually abusing boys in Christchurch in the 1970s.
Police say they arrested 65-year-old Bernard Kevin McGrath on Friday in Christchurch after he voluntarily returned to New Zealand from Sri Lanka. A judge on Monday released the former St. John of God brother on bail.
New South Wales police say they've investigated a large number of sexual assault claims by former students of the St. John order's Kendall Grange school for boys in the town of Morisset, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) north of Sydney.
McGrath previously served jail time in New Zealand after sexually abusing boys in Christchurch in the 1970s.
miguel de Portugal comments: Please note the fact that:
(a) McGrath previously served jail time in New
Zealand after sexually abusing boys in Christchurch in
the 1970s.;
(b) Australian authorities filed 252 new charges against him ; and
(c) A judge on Monday released the former St. John of God brother on bail.
(b) Australian authorities filed 252 new charges against him ; and
(c) A judge on Monday released the former St. John of God brother on bail.
They just do not want to learn, leaving God with no other option than summarily act once and for all.
Quoting from our January 2nd, 2012 post:
Have you heard that..... God continues to allow
earthquakes upon earthquakes to rattle Christchurch in
New Zealand?
As we have said before: It is not that the people of Christchurch are worse than the rest of the
people of the world. It is because the city is named CHRISTCHURCH and He is announcing, and we are
echoing through our pages, what will come upon Christ's Church
(1) - that is, upon all of
Christianity.
___________________
_________________(1) News Report
December 5th, 2012
[our highlights]
Five European Nations Summon Envoys of Israel. (1)
Britain, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark summoned the
Israeli ambassadors to their countries on Monday to protest Israel’s plans for increased
settlement construction, an unusually sharp diplomatic step that reflected the growing
frustration abroad with Israel’s policies on the Palestinian issue.
After the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to upgrade the status of the Palestinians at the United Nations, Israel announced plans for 3,000 more housing units in contested areas of East Jerusalem and around the West Bank.
At the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, 138 nations voted in favor of upgrading the status of the Palestinians and 41 abstained. The nine that voted against it were Israel, the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Panama and Palau.
After the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to upgrade the status of the Palestinians at the United Nations, Israel announced plans for 3,000 more housing units in contested areas of East Jerusalem and around the West Bank.
At the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, 138 nations voted in favor of upgrading the status of the Palestinians and 41 abstained. The nine that voted against it were Israel, the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Panama and Palau.
miguel de Portugal comments: See comments in News Report No. 2
_________________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
The United Nations calls on Israel to open nuclear facilities. (1)
The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Israel to quickly
open its nuclear program for inspection and backing a high-level conference to ban nuclear weapons
from the Middle East which was just canceled.
The resolution, approved Monday by a vote of 174-6 with 6 abstentions, calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty "without further delay" and open its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Those voting "no" were Israel, the U.S., Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Resolutions adopted by the 193-member General Assembly are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion and carry moral and political weight.
Israel refuses to confirm or deny it has nuclear bombs though it is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal. It has refused to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, or NPT, along with three nuclear weapon states — India, Pakistan and North Korea.
The resolution, approved Monday by a vote of 174-6 with 6 abstentions, calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty "without further delay" and open its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Those voting "no" were Israel, the U.S., Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Resolutions adopted by the 193-member General Assembly are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion and carry moral and political weight.
Israel refuses to confirm or deny it has nuclear bombs though it is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal. It has refused to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, or NPT, along with three nuclear weapon states — India, Pakistan and North Korea.
miguel de Portugal comments: It seems that the State of Israel good fortunes are coming to an end. The moves reported on the above two stories are simply unheard of.
_________________
(1) News Report
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
NORAD to Conduct Air Defense Exercise in National Capital Region. (1)
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental
United States NORAD Region (CONR), announced on December 4th that they will conduct an air defense
exercise in the National Capital Region (NCR), between midnight and 2 a.m., beginning on December
4 and concluding early Thursday, December 6th.
Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations as well as to operationally test the NCR Visual Warning System and to certify newly assigned Command and Control personnel at JADOC. Participating in the exercise will be Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16 fighters and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations as well as to operationally test the NCR Visual Warning System and to certify newly assigned Command and Control personnel at JADOC. Participating in the exercise will be Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16 fighters and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
miguel de Portugal comments: It is interesting to note that the excercise will conclude on December 6th, just one day shy of the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 4th, 2012 [Feast of St. Barbara -
Patroness of the Artillery]
[our
highlights]
China surpasses US as top global trader. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: Quoting from the Sequence of Events originally published in 1992:
Think of what China was and where it was financially (2) twenty years ago when the above was first published worldwide via snail mail.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) Among the Twenty Largest Economies by Nominal GDP :
In 1990:
In 2010:
(Source)
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Japan prepares for Pyongyang rocket launch. (1)
while...China surpasses US as top global trader. (1)
Shin Cheol-soo no longer sees his future in the United States. The South Korean businessman
supplied components to American automakers for a decade. But this year, he uprooted his family
from Detroit and moved home to focus on selling to the new economic superpower: China.
In just five years, China has surpassed the United States as a trading partner for much of the world, including U.S. allies such as South Korea and Australia, according to an Associated Press analysis of trade data.
As recently as 2006, the U.S. was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, versus just 70 for China. By last year the two had clearly traded places: 124 countries for China, 76 for the U.S.
In just five years, China has surpassed the United States as a trading partner for much of the world, including U.S. allies such as South Korea and Australia, according to an Associated Press analysis of trade data.
As recently as 2006, the U.S. was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, versus just 70 for China. By last year the two had clearly traded places: 124 countries for China, 76 for the U.S.
miguel de Portugal comments: Quoting from the Sequence of Events originally published in 1992:
As a result of the errors spread by 19th and 20th Century
Russia, a nuclear attack is initiated against the United States of America and other nations of
the Western World. China will
play a major role. This will lead to a worldwide, brutal
conflagration. The war will be brief in duration, but of devastating magnitude.
Think of what China was and where it was financially (2) twenty years ago when the above was first published worldwide via snail mail.
_________________
(1) News Report
(2) Among the Twenty Largest Economies by Nominal GDP :
In 1990:
China ranked 11th
USA ranked 1st (with Japan 2nd, Germany 3rd and Soviet Union 7th)
USA ranked 1st (with Japan 2nd, Germany 3rd and Soviet Union 7th)
In 2010:
China ranked 2nd
USA ranked 1st (with Japan 3rd, Germany 4th and Russia 11th)
(Source)
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Japan prepares for Pyongyang rocket launch. (1)
Japan has begun deploying a surface-to-air missile defence system and placed its armed forces on
standby in response to North Korea’s decision to launch a long-range rocket, later this
month.
A Japanese naval vessel is en-route to Okinawa with an advanced Patriot defence system onboard.
North Korea said it will launch the rocket between December 10 and 22 to put a satellite into orbit. It is believed the North Korean rocket will pass over the Okinawa island chain.
A Japanese naval vessel is en-route to Okinawa with an advanced Patriot defence system onboard.
North Korea said it will launch the rocket between December 10 and 22 to put a satellite into orbit. It is believed the North Korean rocket will pass over the Okinawa island chain.
Syria moves chemical weapons and theWhite House warns of crossing 'red line'. (2)
The Syrian government began to move its chemical weapons
in recent days, senior U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News, prompting new warnings from
the Obama administration that using those weapons against the population would cross a "red
line."
One senior U.S. official told Fox News "there are concerns about possible preparations for use" of the weapons, though "we don't know yet if they plan to use them." The official added, "There are troubling signs of late."
The confirmation came as both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued new warnings to Syria.
"As the opposition makes strategic advances and grows in strength, the Assad regime has been unable to halt the opposition's progress through conventional means," Carney said Monday. "And we are concerned that an increasingly beleaguered regime -- having found its escalation of violence through conventional means inadequate -- might be considering the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people."
One senior U.S. official told Fox News "there are concerns about possible preparations for use" of the weapons, though "we don't know yet if they plan to use them." The official added, "There are troubling signs of late."
The confirmation came as both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued new warnings to Syria.
"As the opposition makes strategic advances and grows in strength, the Assad regime has been unable to halt the opposition's progress through conventional means," Carney said Monday. "And we are concerned that an increasingly beleaguered regime -- having found its escalation of violence through conventional means inadequate -- might be considering the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people."
miguel de Portugal comments: As the saying goes, "Stay tuned."
_________________
(1) Euronews Reports
(2) Fox News Reports
News Report No. 3
[our highlights]
Vatican unveils Pope's Twitter handle: @pontifex (1)
The secret's out. Pope Benedict's new handle on Twitter will be @pontifex, beating out other
contenders that had been considered to showcase the thoughts of one of the world's most visible
leaders.
The Vatican said on Monday that the pope will start tweeting on December 12.
"The handle is a good one. It means 'pope' and it also means 'bridge builder'," said Greg Burke, senior media advisor to the Vatican.
And, even though Benedict is not the kind of person who walks around with a Blackberry or iPad, Burke said "all the pope's tweets are the pope's words. Nobody is going to be putting words into his mouth."
The first papal tweets will be answers to questions sent to #askpontifex.
The Vatican said on Monday that the pope will start tweeting on December 12.
"The handle is a good one. It means 'pope' and it also means 'bridge builder'," said Greg Burke, senior media advisor to the Vatican.
And, even though Benedict is not the kind of person who walks around with a Blackberry or iPad, Burke said "all the pope's tweets are the pope's words. Nobody is going to be putting words into his mouth."
The first papal tweets will be answers to questions sent to #askpontifex.
miguel de Portugal comments: The Bridge to Hell has been inaugurated.
Let us continue to pray to minimize the level of deception of the Elect which will, in turn, minimize the level of their suffering required for their Eyes and Ears to be opened.
_________________
(1) Reuters Reports
December 3rd, 2012
[our highlights]
miguel de Portugal comments.... on the e-mail "Trash" handling by Google.
Today we accessed the page where Google explains the handling of the mail sent to "Trash". Following is an exact quote of what we read:
The "additional period of time" is not defined which means that "indefinitely" is within the declared time policy.
Again, that would not be a problem for anyone who has nothing to hide. However, said "Deleted" correspondence could be quoted out of context at anytime in the future. We do not think Google is unique in their handling of "Deleted" e-mail and other records associated with the user and the organization. This seems to be an industry standard.
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Jesus not political but prophetic, Pope says. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: It seems that Maledict got his bearings right this time. Jesus words and actions are indeed prophetic and "Violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist."
He has acknowledged the reality of many Popes (2a) (2b) and top Administrators of the "Holy" (3) Roman Catholic Church - most specially those who endorsed the Crusades - including the slaughtering of all Catholics in Constantinople - promoted the Inquisition - which today's apologists refer to as a mere "Level of Faith Polls" - the support of brutal dictatorial regimes throughout history as well as many "accidental" and "natural" deaths of those who happened to know too much, etc. etc.
Indeed, indeed, violence is a tool of the Antichrist. The "name of their game" is not get caught at it since people now are not as ignorant as they were during the last 1,600 years of adulterated Christianity.
_________________
(1) Catholic News Agency Reports
(2a) The Papacy In Historical Perspective - The Seldom Told History
(2b) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and they shall deceive many. [Mark 13:6]
(3) The Church "Holiness", its virginity, shall we say, was lost once it became the Imperial Church by decree of "Pope" Constantine.
miguel de Portugal comments.... on the e-mail "Trash" handling by Google.
Today we accessed the page where Google explains the handling of the mail sent to "Trash". Following is an exact quote of what we read:
Items in your Trash will remain there for approximately 30 days before it is automatically emptied
and permanently deleted *.
If you'd like to permanently delete something yourself:
Click your Trash label.
Check the box next to the message you'd like to permanently delete.
Click the Delete forever button.
How do I get something out of Trash?
You can retrieve something from Trash by clicking Trash, selecting the message in question, and clicking Inbox in the 'Move to' drop-down menu. Items that are permanently deleted can't be retrieved.
* Please be aware, residual copies of deleted messages and accounts may take up to 60 days to be deleted from our active servers and may remain in our backup systems for an additional period of time.
If you'd like to permanently delete something yourself:
Click your Trash label.
Check the box next to the message you'd like to permanently delete.
Click the Delete forever button.
How do I get something out of Trash?
You can retrieve something from Trash by clicking Trash, selecting the message in question, and clicking Inbox in the 'Move to' drop-down menu. Items that are permanently deleted can't be retrieved.
* Please be aware, residual copies of deleted messages and accounts may take up to 60 days to be deleted from our active servers and may remain in our backup systems for an additional period of time.
The "additional period of time" is not defined which means that "indefinitely" is within the declared time policy.
Again, that would not be a problem for anyone who has nothing to hide. However, said "Deleted" correspondence could be quoted out of context at anytime in the future. We do not think Google is unique in their handling of "Deleted" e-mail and other records associated with the user and the organization. This seems to be an industry standard.
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
Jesus not political but prophetic, Pope says. (1)
Jesus was a prophetic voice but not a violent political
revolutionary, Pope Benedict XVI said in Sunday comments on Christ's expulsion of the
animal sellers and money changers from the temple in Jerusalem.
"It is impossible to interpret Jesus as a violent person. Violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist. Violence never serves humanity, but dehumanizes," said the Pope in his March 11 Angelus address at the Vatican.
Though Jesus was not being political he was being prophetic, said the Pope. The prophets "in the name of God, often denounced abuses, and they did so sometimes with symbolic gestures."
"It is impossible to interpret Jesus as a violent person. Violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist. Violence never serves humanity, but dehumanizes," said the Pope in his March 11 Angelus address at the Vatican.
Though Jesus was not being political he was being prophetic, said the Pope. The prophets "in the name of God, often denounced abuses, and they did so sometimes with symbolic gestures."
miguel de Portugal comments: It seems that Maledict got his bearings right this time. Jesus words and actions are indeed prophetic and "Violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist."
He has acknowledged the reality of many Popes (2a) (2b) and top Administrators of the "Holy" (3) Roman Catholic Church - most specially those who endorsed the Crusades - including the slaughtering of all Catholics in Constantinople - promoted the Inquisition - which today's apologists refer to as a mere "Level of Faith Polls" - the support of brutal dictatorial regimes throughout history as well as many "accidental" and "natural" deaths of those who happened to know too much, etc. etc.
Indeed, indeed, violence is a tool of the Antichrist. The "name of their game" is not get caught at it since people now are not as ignorant as they were during the last 1,600 years of adulterated Christianity.
_________________
(1) Catholic News Agency Reports
(2a) The Papacy In Historical Perspective - The Seldom Told History
(2b) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and they shall deceive many. [Mark 13:6]
(3) The Church "Holiness", its virginity, shall we say, was lost once it became the Imperial Church by decree of "Pope" Constantine.
December 2nd, 2012 [First Sunday of Advent]
[our highlights]
Syria: Internet, phone service back in Damascus. (1)
miguel de Portugal comments: This is another reminder to not to count on modern communication systems in the upcoming crisis. Those in control - as well as hackers - hold that power in their hands.
This, of course, includes all financial transactions too.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 1st, 2012 [First Saturday of the Month]
[our highlights]
Syria: Internet, phone service back in Damascus. (1)
Syrian state media says Internet and telephone service
have been restored in Damascus following a two-day, nationwide communications blackout. It
wasn't clear whether service to the rest of the country was being restored.
The communications blackout began Thursday, raising fears of a burst of fighting outside the public eye.
The communications blackout began Thursday, raising fears of a burst of fighting outside the public eye.
miguel de Portugal comments: This is another reminder to not to count on modern communication systems in the upcoming crisis. Those in control - as well as hackers - hold that power in their hands.
This, of course, includes all financial transactions too.
_________________
(1) News Report
December 1st, 2012 [First Saturday of the Month]
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
2012 Mayan Apocalypse Rumors Have Dark Side, NASA Warns. (1)
NASA scientists took time on Wednesday (Nov. 28) to soothe 2012 doomsday fears, warning against the dark side of Mayan apocalypse rumors — frightened children and suicidal teens who truly fear the world may come to an end Dec. 21.
These fears are based on misinterpretations of the Mayan calendar. On the 21st, the date of the winter solstice, a calendar cycle called the 13th b'ak'tun comes to an end. Although Maya scholars agree that the ancient Maya would not have seen this day as apocalyptic, rumors have spread that a cosmic event may end life on Earth on that day.
Thus NASA's involvement. The space agency maintains a 2012 information page debunking popular Mayan apocalypse rumors, such as the idea that a rogue planet will hit Earth on Dec. 21, killing everyone. (In fact, astronomers are quite good at detecting near-Earth objects, and any wandering planet scheduled to collide with Earth in three weeks would be the brightest object in the sky behind the sun and moon by now.)
"There is no true issue here,"
David Morrison, an astrobiologist
at NASA Ames Research Center, said during a NASA event today (Nov. 28).
"This is just a manufactured fantasy."
miguel de Portugal comments: Just as we announced (2) quite some time ago. Of course, the question should be: Why did NASA wait until such late a date to work on this farce?
_________________
(1) 2012 Mayan apocalypse rumors have dark side, NASA warns
(2) About the Mayan Calendar Farce
News Report No. 2
[our highlights]
NYPD officer's kindness sparks online sensation. (1)
A tourist's snapshot of a New York City police officer giving new boots to a barefoot homeless man
in Times Square has created an online sensation.
Jennifer Foster, of Florence, Ariz., was visiting New York with her boyfriend on Nov. 14, when she came across the shoeless man asking for change in Times Square.
As she was about to approach him, she said the officer - identified as Larry DePrimo - came up to the man with a pair of all-weather boots and thermal socks on the frigid night. She recorded his generosity on her cellphone.
It was posted Tuesday night to the NYPD's official Facebook page and became an instant hit. More than 360,000 users "liked" it as of Thursday afternoon, and over 100,000 shared it. Thousands of people commented, including one person who praised him as "An officer AND a Gentleman."
DePrimo is assigned to the Sixth Precinct, encompassing Greenwich Village and the West Village, and lives on Long Island. He told Newsday that the homeless man "smiled from ear to ear" after getting the boots.
"It was like you gave him a million dollars," he added. He told The New York Times that he keeps the receipt for the boots in his vest to remind him "that sometimes people have it worse."
Jennifer Foster, of Florence, Ariz., was visiting New York with her boyfriend on Nov. 14, when she came across the shoeless man asking for change in Times Square.
As she was about to approach him, she said the officer - identified as Larry DePrimo - came up to the man with a pair of all-weather boots and thermal socks on the frigid night. She recorded his generosity on her cellphone.
It was posted Tuesday night to the NYPD's official Facebook page and became an instant hit. More than 360,000 users "liked" it as of Thursday afternoon, and over 100,000 shared it. Thousands of people commented, including one person who praised him as "An officer AND a Gentleman."
DePrimo is assigned to the Sixth Precinct, encompassing Greenwich Village and the West Village, and lives on Long Island. He told Newsday that the homeless man "smiled from ear to ear" after getting the boots.
"It was like you gave him a million dollars," he added. He told The New York Times that he keeps the receipt for the boots in his vest to remind him "that sometimes people have it worse."
Jesus Christ comments: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [Matthew 25: 34-40]
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