Monday, March 17, 2008

THE FUNGUS THAT CONQUERED EUROPE


The Fungus That Conquered Europe


By JOHN READER
Published: March 17, 2008

London

THE feast of Ireland’s patron saint has always been an occasion for saluting the beautiful land “where the praties grow,” but it’s also a time to look again at the disaster that established around the world the Irish communities that today celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: the Great Potato Famine of 1845-6. In its wake, the Irish left the old country, with more than half a million settling in United States. The famine and the migrations changed Irish and American history, of course, but they drastically changed Britain too.

Americans may think of the disease that destroyed Ireland’s potato crops, late blight, as a European phenomenon, but its devastations actually started with them. The origin of the fungal organism responsible, Phytophthora infestans, has been traced to a valley in the highlands of central Mexico, and the first recorded instances of the disease are in the United States, with the sudden and mysterious destruction of potato crops around Philadelphia and New York in early 1843. Within months, winds spread the rapidly reproducing airborne spores of the disease, and by 1845 it had destroyed potato crops from Illinois east to Nova Scotia, and from Virginia north to Ontario.

It then crossed the Atlantic with a shipment of seed potatoes ordered by Belgian farmers. They had been hoping that fresh stock would improve their yields. Unhappily, it brought the seeds of devastation.

The warm damp spring of 1845 enabled late blight to become an epidemic. By mid-July, the disease had spread throughout Belgium and into the Netherlands. It went on to infect an area from northern Spain to the southern tips of Norway and Sweden, and east to Northern Italy. It moved inexorably through the British Isles and reached Connemara, on Ireland’s west coast, in mid-October. The ruin of Europe’s potato crops was complete.

Nothing like it had been known before. Neither the Vandal hordes nor the bubonic plague had penetrated Europe so deeply and so fast. The failure of the crop was a disaster for every farmer, market gardener and family in Europe that relied on potatoes. Few were unaffected; in Ireland, a population that in 250 years had grown from one million to more than eight million, solely because of the potato’s unrivaled quality as a staple food, was threatened with starvation.

The first intimations of Ireland’s looming calamity reached the British government in August 1845. Although Britain was responsible for the social and economic iniquities which had made Ireland so susceptible, the government of the day deserves some credit for its efforts to avert mass starvation. There were political as well as logistical difficulties.

The Conservative prime minister, Sir Robert Peel, without seeking the approval of either cabinet or Parliament, authorized the banker Sir Thomas Baring to secretly buy £100,000 of American maize for shipment to Ireland. But before any official relief program could proceed there was a political obstacle to overcome: Britain’s Corn Laws, which imposed exorbitant duties on imported grain to ensure that it could never be cheaper than home-grown produce.

To Peel it was obvious that the Corn Laws would have to go, but his electorate of large landowners was vehemently opposed to their abolition. The Duke of Wellington, leader of the House of Lords, complained that Ireland’s “rotten potatoes have done it all — they put Peel in his damned fright.” Peel drew heavily on the news from Ireland as he urged Parliament to vote for abolition:

“Are you to hesitate in averting famine which may come, because it possibly may not come? Are you to look to and depend upon chance in such an extremity? Or, good God! are you to sit in cabinet, and consider and calculate how much diarrhea, and bloody flux, and dysentery, a people can bear before it becomes necessary for you to provide them with food?”

The bill abolishing the Corn Laws was passed in May 1846 in the House of Commons, with two-thirds of Peel’s party voting against it and the entire opposition voting in favor. A month later, Peel was out of office.

As it turned out, far from Britain being flooded with cheap wheat, within weeks of the abolition the price of grain had reached heights rarely seen before. Speculation was rife, with dealers buying grain futures at two and three times the price of a few months before, draining the country’s gold reserves and eventually threatening the stability of the Bank of England itself.

Then, as fate would have it, the summer of 1847 brought news that Ireland’s potato crop, though small, was doing well. The grain harvests also promised to be exceptionally good. Prices tumbled just as the grain bought months before at inflated rates began arriving in the ports.

Dealers who had gambled on high prices now found themselves unable to recoup their investments. Twenty major grain trading companies were brought down in September with total liabilities approaching £10 million. An additional 99 trading and related firms collapsed in October as the crisis spread, bringing down 11 country banks and three of the biggest in Liverpool.

The London banks, though, survived and went on to prosperity, for Ireland’s famine, by ending the Corn Laws, prompted the beginning of the free trade that established the success of Britain’s industrial economy. Still, the banking crisis had such an impact on the British mind-set that it is the benchmark against which commentators compare subsequent banking problems.

Not since the 1840s have we seen anything like this, they declared as the Bank of England stepped in last year to save the Northern Rock bank from a collapse caused by the subprime mortgage debacle — another American-born infection. At least our potatoes are safe.

John Reader is the author, most recently, of the forthcoming “Propitious Esculent: The Potato in World History.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/opinion/17reader.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

WHAT ARE THE REAL ORIGINS OF EASTER?



What Are the Real Origins of Easter?


Millions assume that Easter, one of the world's major religious holidays, is found in the Bible. But is it?
Have you ever looked into Easter's origins and customs and compared them with the Bible?
by Jerold Aust
Easter is one of the most popular religious celebrations in the world. But is it biblical? The word Easter appears
only once in the King James Version of the Bible (and not at all in most others). In the one place it does appear,
the King James translators mistranslated the Greek word for Passover as "Easter."

Notice it in Acts 12:4: "And when he [King Herod Agrippa I] had apprehended him [the apostle Peter], he put him in
prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to
the people."

The Greek word translated Easter here is pascha, properly translated everywhere else in the Bible as "Passover."
Referring to this mistranslation, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says that "perhaps there never was a
more unhappy, not to say absurd, translation than that in our text."

Think about theses facts for a minute. Easter is such a major religious holiday. Yet nowhere in the Bible—not in
the book of Acts, which covers several decades of the history of the early Church, nor in any of the epistles of the
New Testament, written over a span of 30 to 40 years after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection—do we find the
apostles or early Christians celebrating anything like Easter.

The Gospels themselves appear to have been written from about a decade after Christ's death and resurrection
to perhaps as much as 60 years later (in the case of John's Gospel). Yet nowhere do we find a hint of anything
remotely resembling an Easter celebration.

If Easter doesn't come from the Bible, and wasn't practiced by the apostles and early Church, where did it come
from?

Easter's surprising origins

Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, in its entry "Easter," states:

"The term ‘Easter' is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess,
the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch [Passover] held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a
continuation of the Jewish feast . . . From this Pasch the pagan festival of ‘Easter' was quite distinct and was
introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity" (W.E.
Vine, 1985, emphasis added throughout).

That's a lot of information packed into one paragraph. Notice what the author, W.E. Vine—a trained classical
scholar, theologian, expert in ancient languages and author of several classic Bible helps—tells us:

Easter isn't a Christian or directly biblical term, but comes from a form of the name Astarte, a Chaldean
(Babylonian) goddess known as "the queen of heaven." (She is mentioned by that title in the Bible in Jeremiah 7:
18 and 44:17-19, 25 and referred to in 1 Kings 11:5, 33 and 2 Kings 23:13 by the Hebrew form of her name,
Ashtoreth. So "Easter" is found in the Bible—as part of the pagan religion God condemns!)

Further, early Christians, even after the times of the apostles, continued to observe a variation of the biblical
Passover feast (it differed because Jesus introduced new symbolism, as the Bible notes in Matthew 26:26-28 and
1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

Moreover, Easter was very different from the Old Testament Passover or the Passover of the New Testament as
understood and practiced by the early Church based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

And again, Easter was a pagan festival, originating in the worship of other gods, and was introduced much later
into an apostate Christianity in a deliberate attempt to make such festivals acceptable.

Easter symbols predate Christ

How does The Catholic Encyclopedia define Easter? "Easter: The English term, according to the [eighth-century
monk] Bede, relates to Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring, which deity, however, is
otherwise unknown . . ." (1909, Vol. 5, p. 224). Eostre is the ancient European name for the same goddess
worshipped by the Babylonians as Astarte or Ishtar, goddess of fertility, whose major
celebration was in the spring of the year.

The subtopic "Easter Eggs" tells us that "the custom [of Easter eggs] may have its origin in paganism, for a great
many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter" (ibid., p. 227).

The subtopic "Easter Rabbit" states that "the rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility"
(ibid.).

Author Greg Dues, in his book Catholic Customs and Traditions, elaborates on the symbolism of eggs in ancient
pre-Christian cultures: "The egg has become a popular Easter symbol. Creation myths of many ancient peoples
center in a cosmogenic egg from which the universe is born.

"In ancient Egypt and Persia friends exchanged decorated eggs at the spring equinox, the beginning of their New
Year. These eggs were a symbol of fertility for them because the coming forth of a live creature from an egg was
so surprising to people of ancient times. Christians of the Near East adopted this tradition, and the Easter egg
became a religious symbol. It represented the tomb from which Jesus came forth to new life" (1992, p. 101).

The same author also explains that, like eggs, rabbits became associated with Easter because they were powerful
symbols of fertility: "Little children are usually told that the Easter eggs are brought by the Easter Bunny. Rabbits
are part of pre-Christian fertility symbolism because of their reputation to reproduce rapidly" (p. 102).

What these sources tell us is that human beings replaced the symbolism of the biblical Passover and Feast of
Unleavened Bread with Easter eggs and Easter rabbits, pagan symbols of fertility. These symbols demean the
truth of Christ's death and resurrection.

Notice what The Encyclopaedia Britannica says about this transition: "There is no indication of the observance
of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers . . . The first Christians
continued to observe the Jewish festivals, though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those
festivals foreshadowed . . .

"The Gentile Christians, on the other hand, unfettered by Jewish traditions, identified the first day of the week
[Sunday] with the Resurrection, and kept the preceding Friday as the commemoration of the crucifixion,
irrespective of the day of the month" (11th edition, p. 828, "Easter").

Easter, a pagan festival with its pagan fertility symbols, replaced the God-ordained festivals that Jesus Christ, the
apostles and the early Church observed. But this didn't happen immediately. Not until A.D. 325—almost three
centuries after Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected—was the matter settled. Regrettably, it wasn't settled
on the basis of biblical truth, but on the basis of anti-Semitism and raw ecclesiastical and imperial power.

As The Encyclopaedia Britannica further explains: "A final settlement of the dispute [over whether and when to
keep Easter or Passover] was one among the other reasons which led [the Roman emperor] Constantine to
summon the council of Nicaea in 325 . . . The decision of the council was unanimous that Easter was to be kept on
Sunday, and on the same Sunday throughout the world, and ‘that none should hereafter follow the blindness of
the Jews'" (ibid., pp. 828-829).

Those who did choose to "follow the blindness of the Jews"—that is, who continued to keep the biblical festivals
kept by Jesus Christ and the apostles rather than the newly "Christianized" pagan Easter festival—were
systematically persecuted by the powerful church-state alliance of Constantine 's Roman Empire .

With the power of the empire behind it, Easter soon became entrenched as one of traditional Christianity's most
popular sacred celebrations.

Christianity compromised by paganism

British historian Sir James Frazer notes how Easter symbolism and rites, along with other pagan customs and
celebrations, entered into the established Roman church:

"Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian with the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to
be accidental. They mark the compromise which the Church in the hour of its triumph was compelled to make with
its vanquished yet still dangerous rivals [the empire's competing pagan religions].

"The inflexible Protestantism of the primitive missionaries, with their fiery denunciation of heathendom, had been
exchanged for the supple policy, the easy tolerance, the comprehensive charity of shrewd ecclesiastics, who
clearly perceived that if Christianity was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles
of its Founder, by widening a little the narrow gate which leads to salvation" ( The Golden Bough, 1993, p. 361).

In short, to broaden the appeal of the new religion of Christianity in those early centuries, the powerful Roman
religious authorities, with the backing of the Roman Empire, simply co-opted the rites and practices of pagan
religions, relabeled them as "Christian" and created a new brand of Christianity with customs and teachings far
removed from the Church Jesus founded.

The authentic Christianity of the Bible largely disappeared, forced underground by persecution because its
followers refused to compromise.

Easter does not accurately represent Jesus Christ's suffering, death and resurrection, though it appears to do so
to those who blindly accept religious tradition. In fact, it distorts the truth of the matter. Easter correctly belongs to
the Babylonian goddess it is named after—Astarte, also known as Ashtoreth or Ishtar, whose worship is directly
and explicitly condemned in the Bible.

The ancient religious practices and fertility symbols associated with her cult existed long before Christ, and
regrettably they have largely replaced and obscured the truth of His death and resurrection.

When confronted with these facts about Easter, many professing Christians might raise this question to justify its
continuance: With hundreds of millions of well-meaning Christians observing Easter, doesn't this please Jesus
Christ? Yet He has already answered this question in Matthew 15:9: "In vain they worship Me, teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men." How will you choose to worship Him—in spirit and in truth, or in fraud and in
fable?

Source: http://exposingdeceptions.org/easter.html

THE TESTIMONIES SLIGHTED



The Testimonies Slighted
(EXCERPT: Page 74-84.)

Many are lifting up the soul unto vanity. No sooner does a person imagine that he possesses any talent which might be of use in the cause of God than he overestimates the gift and is inclined to think too highly of himself, as though he were a pillar of the church. The work which he might do with acceptance he leaves for someone else with less ability than he considers himself to possess. He thinks and talks of a higher station. He must let his light shine before men; but instead of grace, meekness, lowliness of mind, kindness, gentleness, and love shining in his life, self, important self, appears everywhere.
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{5T 74.3}

The spirit of Christ should so control our character and conduct that our influence may ever bless, encourage, and edify. Our thoughts, our words, our acts, should testify that we are born of God and that the peace of Christ rules in our hearts. In this way we throw around us the gracious radiance of which the Saviour speaks when He enjoins upon us to let our light shine forth to men. Thus we are leaving a bright track heaven ward. In this way all who are connected with Christ may become more effectual preachers of righteousness than by the most able pulpit effort without this heavenly unction. Those light bearers shed forth the purest radiance that are the least conscious of their own brightness, as those flowers diffuse the sweetest fragrance that make the least display. {5T 75.1}

Our people are making very dangerous mistakes. We cannot praise and flatter any man without doing him a great wrong; those who do this will meet with serious disappointment. They trust too fully to finite man and not enough to God, who never errs. The eager desire to urge men into public notice is an evidence of backsliding from God and of friendship with the world. It is the spirit which characterizes the present day. It shows that men have not the mind of Jesus; spiritual blindness and poverty of soul have come upon them. Often persons of inferior minds look away from Jesus to a merely human standard, by which they are not made conscious of their own littleness, and hence have an undue estimate of their own capabilities and endowments. There is among us as a people an idolatry of human instrumentalities and mere human talent, and these even of a superficial character. We must die to self and cherish humble, childlike faith. God's people have departed from their simplicity. They have not made God their strength, and they are weak and faint, spiritually. {5T 75.2}

I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did
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ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with unbelievers has provoked the Lord's displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe.
{5T 75.3}

I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies has been steadily increasing as the people backslide from God. It is all through our ranks, all over the field. But few know what our churches are to experience. I saw that at present we are under divine forbearance, but no one can say how long this will continue. No one knows how great the mercy that has been exercised toward us. But few are heartily devoted to God. There are only a few who, like the stars in a tempestuous night, shine here and there among the clouds. {5T 76.1}

Many who complacently listen to the truths from God's word are dead spiritually, while they profess to live. For years they have come and gone in our congregations, but they seem only less and less sensible of the value of revealed truth. They do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. They have no relish for spiritual or divine things. They assent to the truth, but are not sanctified through it. Neither the word of God nor the testimonies of His Spirit make any lasting impression upon them. Just according to the light, the privileges, and opportunities which they have slighted will be their condemnation. Many who preach the truth to others are themselves cherishing iniquity. The entreaties of the Spirit of God, like divine melody, the promises of His word so rich and abundant, its threatenings against idolatry and disobedience--all are powerless to melt the world-hardened heart. {5T 76.2}

Many of our people are lukewarm. They occupy the position
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of Meroz, neither for nor against, neither cold nor hot. They hear the words of Christ, but do them not. If they remain in this state, He will reject them with abhorrence. Many of those who have had great light, great opportunities, and every spiritual advantage praise Christ and the world with the same breath. They bow themselves before God and mammon. They make merry with the children of the world, and yet claim to be blessed with the children of God. They wish to have Christ as their Saviour, but will not bear the cross and wear His yoke. May the Lord have mercy upon you; for if you go on in this way, nothing but evil can be prophesied concerning you.
{5T 76.3}

The patience of God has an object, but you are defeating it. He is allowing a state of things to come that you would fain see counteracted by and by, but it will be too late. God commanded Elijah to anoint the cruel and deceitful Hazael king over Syria, that he might be a scourge to idolatrous Israel. Who knows whether God will not give you up to the deceptions you love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard-bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry, "Peace, peace," when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper as I write. It may be that erelong all prophesyings among us will be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb their carnal slumbers. {5T 77.1}

When God shall work His strange work on the earth, when holy hands bear the ark no longer, woe will be upon the people. Oh, that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! Oh, that our
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people may, as did Nineveh, repent with all their might and believe with all their heart, that God may turn away His fierce anger from them.
{5T 77.2}

I am filled with pain and anguish as I see parents conforming to the world and allowing their children to meet the worldly standard at such a time as this. I am filled with horror as the condition of families professing present truth is opened before me. The profligacy of youth and even children is almost incredible. Parents do not know that secret vice is destroying and defacing the image of God in their children. The sins which characterized the Sodomites exist among them. The parents are responsible; for they have not educated their children to love and obey God. They have not restrained them nor diligently taught them the way of the Lord. They have allowed them to go out and to come in when they chose, and to associate with worldlings. These worldly influences which counteract parental teaching and authority are to be found largely in so-called good society. By their dress, looks, amusements, they surround themselves with an atmosphere which is opposed to Christ. {5T 78.1}

Our only safety is to stand as God's peculiar people. We must not yield one inch to the customs and fashions of this degenerate age, but stand in moral independence, making no compromise with its corrupt and idolatrous practices. {5T 78.2}

It will require courage and independence to rise above the religious standard of the Christian world. They do not follow the Saviour's example of self-denial; they make no sacrifice; they are constantly seeking to evade the cross which Christ declares to be the token of discipleship. {5T 78.3}

What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, "Peace, peace;" and the workers of iniquity are not alarmed. The Lord's hand is not shortened
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that He cannot save, nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; but it is our sins that have separated us from God. The church is corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls.
{5T 78.4}

If all of those who come together for meetings of edification and prayer could be regarded as true worshipers, then might we hope, though much would still remain to be done for us. But it is in vain to deceive ourselves. Things are far from being what the appearance would indicate. From a distant view much may appear beautiful which, upon close examination, will be found full of deformities. The prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy--a spirit of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but in reality of the blindest presumption. There is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit. There is a spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed wisdom of God. {5T 79.1}

There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit. Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind. {5T 79.2}

God has shown me that these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge to our people. They are wise above what is written. This unbelief of the very truths of God's word because human judgment cannot comprehend the mysteries of His work is found in every district, in all ranks of society. It is taught in most of our schools and comes into the lessons of the nurseries. Thousands who profess to be Christians give heed to lying spirits. Everywhere the spirit of darkness in the garb of religion will confront you. {5T 79.3}

If all that appears to be divine life were such in reality; if
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all who profess to present the truth to the world were preaching for the truth and not against it, and if they were men of God guided by His Spirit,--then might we see something cheering amid the prevailing moral darkness. But the spirit of antichrist is prevailing to such an extent as never before. Well may we exclaim: "Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin. Yet we do not despair. We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.
{5T 79.4}

The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed
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to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.
{5T 80.1}

The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness. {5T 81.1}

When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David--willing to do and dare. The deeper the night for God's people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful;
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but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners."
{5T 81.2}

The seeds of truth that are being sown by missionary efforts will then spring up and blossom and bear fruit. Souls will receive the truth who will endure tribulation and praise God that they may suffer for Jesus. "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." When the overflowing scourge shall pass through the earth, when the fan is purging Jehovah's floor, God will be the help of His people. The trophies of Satan may be exalted on high, but the faith of the pure and holy will not be daunted. {5T 82.1}

Elijah took Elisha from the plow and threw upon him his mantle of consecration. The call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position; had these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have honored them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated from God, yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them. {5T 82.2}

Many have exalted science and lost sight of the God of science. This was not the case with the church in the purest times. {5T 82.3}

God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals. {5T 82.4}

There are few really consecrated men among us, few who have fought and conquered in the battle with self. Real conversion is a decided change of feelings and motives; it is a
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virtual taking leave of worldly connections, a hastening from their spiritual atmosphere, a withdrawing from the controlling power of their thoughts, opinions, and influences. The separation causes pain and bitterness to both parties. It is the variance which Christ declares that He came to bring. But the converted will feel a continual longing desire that their friends shall forsake all for Christ, knowing that, unless they do, there will be a final and eternal separation. The true Christian cannot, while with unbelieving friends, be light and trifling. The value of the souls for whom Christ died is too great.
{5T 82.5}

He "that forsaketh not all that he hath," says Jesus, "cannot be My disciple." Whatever shall divert the affections from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. Its golden chain binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. These are Satan's snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be broken; the flesh must be crucified with the affections and lusts. We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's people unless we are such entirely. Every weight, every besetting sin, must be laid aside. God's watchmen will not cry, "Peace, peace," when God has not spoken peace. The voice of the faithful watchmen will be heard: "Go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." {5T 83.1}

The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found wanting.
84
The light has been shining clear and definite upon her pathway, and the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are unimproved, if her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light has become darkness, she is indeed found wanting. The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed.
-
{5T 83.2}

Testimonies to the Churches /Volume 5, Ellen G. White, pp.74-84.

GLORY IN 'HIS' WISDOM



Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (King James Version)

Sunday, March 16, 2008

FED ACTS SUNDAY TO PREVENT RUN MONDAY

THE FED
Fed acts Sunday to prevent global bank run Monday
The extraordinary weekend moves came as J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM:
JPM
Sponsored by:
JPM
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sealed a deal to buy Bear Stearns Cos. (BSC:
BSC
Sponsored by:
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for just $2 a share backed by up to $30 billion borrowed from the Fed. The Fed board gave its approval to that unique funding arrangement, which guarantees JP Morgan against losses from buying Bear. See full story.
The Fed board also approved the creation of a special lending facility through the New York Fed that would be available to members of its primary dealers list, which includes both commercial banks and investment banks. Investment banks, such as Bear Stearns, have not been allowed to borrow directly from the Fed.
JP Morgan has access to the discount window through its Chase Bank subsidiary, but Bear Stearns does not have direct access.
Events have unfolded at warp speed over the past week. On Tuesday, the Fed announced a new lending program for primary dealers in the bond markets, but that program won't go into effect for two more weeks. On Friday, the Fed allowed Bear Stearns to borrow money via JP Morgan in a desperate bid to save the firm, which has been pummeled by losses on exotic securities backed by subprime mortgages.
The Federal Open Market Committee meets on Tuesday. Analysts expect the FOMC to cut the target for the federal funds rate by as much as a full percentage point to 2%. Another cut in the discount rate is also likely.
The new lending program would operate for at least six months, and would offer loans for as long as 90 days, rather than 30 days under the regular discount window. Loans from the new program would be backed by a "broad range of investment-grade debt securities," the Fed said. The interest rate would be the same as the discount rate.
"The Federal Reserve, in close consultation with the Treasury, is working to promote liquid, well-functioning financial markets, which are essential for economic growth," said Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, in a statement. "These steps will provide financial institutions with greater assurance of access to funds."
Robert Brusca, chief economist at FAO Economics, said the new lending facility created a general way to help other dealers.
"The Fed has more information now that it has seen what Bear Stearns had on its books," Brusca said in an interview.
President Bush will meet with Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Chris Cox on Monday at 2 p.m. Eastenr.
Earlier on Sunday, Paulson went on television to project an image of confidence in the U.S. financial market. He said Washington would do what it takes to foster stability on Wall Street. See full story.
Dean Baker, the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, criticized the Fed's "real turn to secrecy" in the new auction facilities.
The Fed does not reveal the names of firms that borrow funds in the auctions. The purpose was to get around the "stigma" of banks that didn't want to borrow at the discount window because of the questions it would raise about its balance sheet.
But, in an interview, Baker said "now is not the time to shut the doors and keep everything in the dark."
Baker said he sensed a whiff of panic at the Fed and in the Treasury Department.
"The main thing is that they [Fed and Treasury] are really really scared. Telling us that everything is great is an insult to intelligence. They should own up to it and talk seriously to people," Baker said.
Peter Morici, a professor of economics at University of Maryland, criticized the Fed for not imposing meaningful conditions on the financial institutions that it is providing cash.
As a result, banks continue to impose onerous conditions on their innocent customers, he said.
"Today's moves by the Federal Reserve are the desperate acts of failing men," he said.
Below is a list of primary dealers who will be able to borrow directly from the Fed's new program announced Sunday:
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc.
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Countrywide Securities Corporation
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Daiwa Securities America Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
J. P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
UBS Securities LLC. End of Story
Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of MarketWatch.
Greg Robb is a senior reporter for MarketWatch in Washington.

DOLLAR FALLS BELLOW 97 YEN ... SINCE '95

Greenback falls below 97 yen for first time since '95
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. dollar fell below 97 yen in early Tokyo trading Monday, its lowest level in 12 1/2 years, after the Federal Reserve lowered the discount rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.25%.
The dollar was changing hands at 97.06 yen at 10:49 a.m. in Tokyo, rebounding from its session low of 96.59 yen, its weakest level against the Japanese currency since Aug. 1995. The dollar fetched 99.14 yen in late New York trading Friday, and 100.27 yen in late Tokyo trading Friday.
"The market's gone crazy, there's no liquidity," said Haruya Ida, an economist with Thomson Financial in Tokyo.
Gold futures also extended gains against the dollar, with the front-month bullion contract touching a record $1,025.20 an ounce in electronic trading before easing back to $1.024.4 an ounce, a gain of $24.90 from its close on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Japan's Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga expressed concern over the rapid appreciation of the yen, indicating the government was growing increasingly worried about the impact the stronger currency would have on the Japanese economy.
"I feel that recent movements in foreign exchange rates are excessive, and I'm concerned about it," news wires cited Nukaga as saying during a press conference Monday.
Analysts said the yen's rapid rise could spur the Bank of Japan into action in the foreign currency markets.
"The possibility of intervention has moved up and that might put a little bit of support back into the dollar yen market," Ida said. "But the way things are going we could see the 95-yen level very soon."
Acting to prevent a run on major global financial firms, the Federal Reserve cut its discount rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.25% and offered to lend money to a longer list of firms than ever before. See full story.



The extraordinary weekend moves came as J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM: 36.54,-1.57-4.12%) sealed a deal to buy Bear Stearns Cos. (BSC: 30.00, -27.00, -47.4%) for just $2 a share backed by up to $30 billion borrowed from the Fed. The Fed board gave its approval to that unique funding arrangement, which guarantees JP Morgan against losses from buying Bear. See full story. End of Story

Chris Oliver is MarketWatch's Asia bureau chief, based in Hong Kong.


Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/greenback-falls-below-97-yen/story.aspx?guid=%7B85A5A686%2D2B3F%2D4E2F%2DB752%2D4AEC40B592F2%7D&referer=sphere_related_content&referer=sphere_related_content

SPITZER DESTROYED - THREAT OF 911 PROBE

March Wednesday 12 2008 (12h44) :
New York Governor ‘Destroyed’ Over Threat To Probe 9/11 Attacks On US

New York Governor ‘Destroyed’ Over Threat To Probe 9/11 Attacks On US

March 11, 2008

By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers

Reports consuming the US propaganda media organs and political elite today are centering upon the charges leveled against the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer[pictured top left], and who is said to have paid for the services of a high priced prostitute.


FSB reports circulating in the Kremlin today, however, point to a much more sinister effort behind the toppling of Governor Spitzer as he had just begun a new probe into Larry Silverstein, the owner of the World Trade Center brought down in the September 11, 2001 attacks upon the US, and the Bush Families Carlyle Group.

The focus of Governor Spitzer’s investigation, these reports state, revolve around the growing crisis embroiling the Carlyle Group as it nears total collapse and is facing insolvency due to Larry Silverstone’s withdrawal of over $14 billion from the embattled groups coffers, and which could see the loss to New York States already troubled massive pension fund of over $10 billion.

Governor Spitzer has long battled with the former comptroller for New York States Pension Fund, Alan G. Hevesi, who holds duel Israeli-American citizenship, and prompted a US Federal Probe that charged Comptroller Hevesi of using the over $100 billion of funds entrusted to him for the personal benefit of his friends and family, and to which Mr. Hevesi pled guilty for and paid a $5,000 fine.

Prior to his taking office as New York States Governor, these reports continue, Mr. Spitzer, as a prosecutor, had long targeted the United States Banking System for their vast theft of money from the American people, and had won billions in judgments against Bear Stearns, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Salomon Smith Barney and UBS Warburg.

It is more than interesting to note, too, that these are the exact same International Banking Giants who are now reeling under the Global assault against them, with Bear Stearns becoming the latest victim, and as we can read as reported by Britain’s Independent News Service:

“Panic swept the credit markets on reports of an insolvency crunch at both the US investment bank Bear Stearns and the mortgage giant Fannie Mae, triggering a dramatic surge in default insurance and rumours of yet another emergency rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.”

As Governor Spitzer becomes yet another victim to vast power of the West’s war, political and media elite assault against him, and by their introduction of sex charges against him, as they have done to so many of their adversaries in order to destroy their credibility, the truest warnings of these events to the American people will no doubt be lost, again.

And, with the most dangerous of these warnings coming from the World’s richest man, Warren Buffet, and as we can read as reported by the Market Watch News Service in their article titled “Buffett and Gross warn: $516 trillion bubble is a disaster waiting to happen”, and which says:

“In short, despite Buffett’s clear warnings, a massive new derivatives bubble is driving the domestic and global economies, a bubble that continues growing today parallel with the subprime-credit meltdown triggering a bear-recession.

Data on the five-fold growth of derivatives to $516 trillion in five years comes from the most recent survey by the Bank of International Settlements, the world’s clearinghouse for central banks in Basel, Switzerland. The BIS is like the cashier’s window at a racetrack or casino, where you’d place a bet or cash in chips, except on a massive scale: BIS is where the U.S. settles trade imbalances with Saudi Arabia for all that oil we guzzle and gives China IOUs for the tainted drugs and lead-based toys we buy.”

There used to be a time when warnings were prudent to be given to the American people so that they could, in some small measure, protect themselves, but, and sadly, those times are now gone as these people have nearly completed their descent into the abyss of total slavery to their masters with virtually no knowledge of the horrific future that lies before them.

http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1077.htm

By : Sorcha Faal,
March Wednesday 12 2008

Source: http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/new-york-governor-destroyed-over-threat-to-probe-911-attacks-on-us/

CARLYLE GP. DOOMED TO FOLLOW ENRON...

Carlyle Group Doomed To Follow Enron: Is Hedge Fund Collapse Just Tip Of the 9/11 Put Options Scandal & 1700's Pirate Treasure?

It may take a village to raise a village idiot, but it takes trillions to run and maintain a global network of shadow governments. They are in the "shadows" because they consist of a silent network of interconnected global economic families. The elected governments don't run nations...the bureaucrats who are responsible for "enforcing" law and policy or failing to enforce them, run governments.

The problem is...we often have a misconception that the Shadow Government is just an American phenomenon, when in fact, virtually every nation on earth is run and controlled by the exact same group of "Shadow Interests". Their only vulnerability comes from the fact that their enterprise needs trillions of dollars to operate and maintain their control over Government , Education and Media.

The Massive Global Operation is itself a clandestine enterprise. The cash to accomplish their goals must remain off the books and radar screens. They control governments by bankrupting them, just as the US government is functionally bankrupt.

The exact same Catholic/Church of England/Netherlands/Vatican globalists continue to own and control the same pools of wealth they created 500 years ago. Gold doesn't "melt"! As the result of "Liberated-Market" Free-Booting Pirates, a massive "pool of wealth"...provided the "economic bricks" that has now kept their Kings, Gods and families in power for nearly 500 years.

The "Free Market" is a meme...it should be called the "Serf Market" with all the common "Working Serfs" putting money back into the companies owned by the exact same feudal Families, Dynasties and Blood Lines as 500 years ago. It's not a free market my friends, it's not even Capitalism...Globalism is "Economic Feudalism"! and we are all in the final throes of "Feudalization". First step, destroy US Manufacturing and outsource top end jobs. Addict the Middle Class to credit..destroy your home...and take away your Pension Fund and "Voila"....you a god damn Feudal SLAVE! America becomes "the Queen's bitch"!

In reality, the families that control the Global Markets today, are virtually the same who owned the "lands of Europe" and enslaved tens of millions of commoners. Please keep in mind, that in 1380, the largest land owner in Europe...who held title to nearly 90% of the "arable" land in Europe and Russia...was the "Catholic Church".

In fact, the entire "religion" or "sect" of Protestantism was created as a "Protest" against the Church's "global" acquisition of real estate and gold created through the fiction that believers can "buy" their way out of "Pergatory" (see Meme on the false doctrine of Dante) by giving all their assets to the Church, at death.

In fact, managing the stupidly massive wealth became so burdensome for the Church...it had to create it's own investment arm...called the "Vatican", on February 11th, 1929. It was created when the Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini returned rights of "Sovereignty" and political power to the Catholic Church and Vatican City was created.

(I wonder what the Church had to pay for that?) The City that never "sins"...created by one of Europe's worst dictators?

On October 29, 1929, 160 days after the government of Vatican City was created, Wall Street crashed. Was Wall Street "stripped" of profits to create a massive "War Chest" for the creation of the Vatican as the newest "Government on earth">

It just a fascinating cooincidence that Vatican City is built on the ancient Temple of Cybele, the Earth Goddess. The Bible frequently refers to her as the Great Whore of Babylon. Her SACRED symbol and special attendant is a "castrated Bull" (Did the flegling Vatican City castrate the Great Bull of Wall Street in l929?)! Is "The Great Whore" up to her old tricks?

TOday's Market topsy turvy is 31 days after the Brithday of the Vatican.

Basically, Wall Street was invented as a "Pirate" substitute, to launder funds, and allow wealthy private families to legally steal or "repatriate" massive fortunes from each other...on a daily basis.

When Wall Street was founded, there was no such thing as "illegal" assets...sales of slaves, lead-fillers in food as a preservative and Chinese Opium from Dr. Morgan's investments..provided the Queen with massive wealth. (and EVERYBODY...wanted a piece of the action!) Let's all remember that Wall Street was created by London...long before the American revolution.

In fact, Queen Victoria was quite comfortable allowing her East India Company to "hook" nearly 100,000,000 Chinese men and women and children on Opium all in the name of "Our God" and "Her Country". Eventually, tens of millions died...under Victoria's "jaundiced" watch. If a single Royal family could invest in human misery and death...maybe, just maybe...Americans should take a lesson as to the forces and powers now alligned against us all.

Basically, Wall Street was conceived as a vast criminal enterprise. When Edison (RCA-General Electric ) first invented the electric "ticker tape" the "telegraph", invented by Samuel F B Morse (UK citizen, Westinghouse) allowed "Wall Street" to skirt the laws of commercial misrepresentation and fraud. How?

It seems the "ticker tape" was being "wired" through telegraph lines. The "Morgan family partners" would use "morse code" to hide the real "position" and value of stocks...while using "open code" to communicate false stock movement and prices to "elicit" investors.

Under all US and State law, "Fraud" could only be prosecuted if the "culprit" actually made a "Verbal Misrepresentation". In 1840, data transferred by telegraph was NOT considered a verbal representation.

The "economic wars" in the Caribbean and Asia, created a massive stores of "pre-hedge" value, that was impregnable, despite the fact it was stolen. When converted from value to cash and stacked in bundles it was larger than the Great Wall of China.

The sources of funds from Government-backed, "quasi-legitimate" piracy is still with us today. Many analysts fail to recognize that every organized "elected" government on earth is under attack by the Globalists-Illuminati/V-people, not just the U.S.

Today, the only thing that makes Wall Street look respectable is NBC and CBS and ABC. The media. Rockefeller literally owns Wall Street...it's very handy he controls the media during the rise of Wall Street's respectability.

It may take a village to raise it's own village idiot, it takes trillions to maintain the facade of legitmacy by the clandestine powers to recruit and "bend the will" of the "public face" of our elected officials. We should all keep in elected officials don't run the nation...unelected career bureaucrats do. Where does the money come from? Ask Enron!

Several years ago, I began disclosing a background of "memes" regarding the "myth of Carlyle Group takeover of US nuclear, biological and chemical weapons operations.

In addition, Enron was the primary distributor of a massive "wall of pirate cash"...which is virtually and literally the same height, width and depth of the Great Wall of China. We'll call it the Great Endless Wall Of Psuedo Bucks!

Enron's legacy is that trying to distribute the "cash" is not worth the effort. As a result, Wall-Mart-Street smart-guys created a way to "invest the value" rather than the "asset" itself..and avoid "money-laundering" rules. In addition to the fact that "stolen Gold and Silver" supports the economies of all major nations...we must all accept the fact that the United States Senate has managed to legalize almost every form of vice, except for prostitution and drugs.

Money-laundering in the US is an important part of our capital structure. As "tax collection" dwindles..funds have to come from somewhere to support the infrastructure of government. Regrettably, the "underwriters" for the great "Pirate Funds", refuse to invest it in US infrastructure.

It's frustrating to realize that "foreign governments' are in control of whether the America people "upgrade" their infrastructure, roads and bridges. I often wonder how much "foreign capital" comes from commercial operations\ that are legal in the country of origin that would be "illegal" if undertaken in the US.

Enron basically made "millions" yet distributed hundreds of millions...if not billions to politicians. and parties around the world...and that's just the official version. The first hint, which zorro revealed publicly on memes, Enron was incorporating "assets" worth tens of billions of dollars that they simply did not own. They only pretended to be solvent.

Eventually, some hedge funds appear to have "tapped" deep into the heart of the Great Endless Wall of Pirate Bucks...that just appears out of thin air to create massive fortunes.

It was "Pirate Bucks" that Enron used but couldn't account for.

Sarbanes-Oxley was supposed to stop the influx by creating enforceable accountability through accounting standards. It really didn't work. As global corporations continued to find "novel ways" of legitimizing accounting to legally cover the movement of "Dr. Morgan Funny Money".

I have no idea how any of this works. But, investing in "debt" seems to be an excellent method of avoiding accountability for sourcing of funds. In other words, it appears that the rules pertaining to the creation of the "cash" or "value" that Hedge Funds were accessing to invest may have inadvertently have enabled the Global Dark Powers to circulate the shadow "value" of "Pirate Cash" while leaving the "asset in place overseas".

It seems to me that investing in any and all forms of "debt" is just one "mil" away from illegal gambling. It's investment in the creation and maintenance of "shadow value". That means, if the "hedge asset" is "underwritten" by "Shadow Value Creators"...then the "availability" of "Shadow Funds" to "bail out" the enterprise that distributes the cash, has the power to "increase values"..as in the Real Estate Market.

In other words, as long as "investment dollars" are available, REGARDLESS OF SOURCES, whether legal or illegal, the value of Psuedo Cash can be mainstreamed..without ever moving a single "buck" or a single "bar of gold".

Because the "Pirate Bucks" were almost untraceable by elected governments, they were extremely hard to "regulate". In fact, the entire "structure of Political and Campaign contributions laws" is just a "rubric" to allow the tapping and laundering of Pirate Bucks, in every nation on earth.

I find it unfortunate that the RepubliKHANS have chosen to put the blame on their own Treasurer. Did he steal $1,000,000? I seriously doubt it. Did $1,000,000 vanish...? Yes! And the party is desperate to cover up their patented mage money vanishing machine. Even people & careers get vanished as well.

As I write this, I am listening to Bernanke defraud the World.

Carlyle Group's Capital Fund is apparently dead. It's going to need a "bailout" just like Bear Stearns. Many other Hedge funds will follow. It has little to do with the Residential Real Estate Market. That's just the cover story. Somebody's going to have to turn "State's Witness". Are Hedge Funds just Investment "Enrons"? Only the future will tell!

It takes a village of idiots to raise a village idiot..the same is true of the hedge fund...it takes trillions to run shadow governments in every nation on earth!

If Carlyle Group is getting bailed out is the end far behind? There's not much money to be made "laundering Uranium".

I see dread people!

zorro

I'm watching CNBC! I see fear in the eyes of the consultants and a few of the commentators! Something massive is about to happen.


Source: http://www.memes.org/carlyle-group-doomed-follow-enron-hedge-fund-collapse-just-tip-9-11-put-options-scandal-0

SHOULD BLUE LAWS BE REPEALED?

Should the blue laws be repealed? Probably, but ... 03/14/2008

james lileks columnist

Here's an excerpt from this article:

As much as I enjoy Sunday trips to Target with the other 6 million Minnesotans, I'd trade them all for another chance to watch Grandpa doze in the late afternoon light, knowing that I wasn't missing anything in the world because nothing was happening. Nothing ever happened on Sundays. That would drive me nuts when I got older, and grew impatient for the chance to drive around parking lots with pals and complain about the vast inadequacies of life.

Now that I am older still, a day in which nothing happens seems like a wonderful idea. As long as it's not Saturday.

jlileks@startribune.com • 612-673-7858

Source: http://www.startribune.com/local/16662191.html

NOT TO PREACH THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL?


There is a passage in my Bible that instruct me to preach the Everlasting Gospel everywhere. It's found in Revelation 14:6,7. It reads as follows:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.



There is another instance in the New Testament that mentions the spreading of the Gospel:

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14.

There is yet another mention in the book of Matthew, where the Lord Jesus sends His disciples to preach The Gospel of the Kingdom.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.


Matthew 10:5-8.


Until the present time I have found no greater obstruction to the execution of the Lord's instruction than the obstacles imposed by the countries that are either Islamic or Totalitarian Communist. These believe that they can control its citizen's consciences by impeding them to hear the 'real' truth. They either claim that religion is the opiate of the people, or that Allah is one, and Muhammad is his prophet; Great, but, you can not as a nation feed these philosophies as a matter of fact, or as a government accepted dogma. Nations are primarily borders between a culture and it's surroundings; It is never the owner of its constituents minds! A person's relationship with his Creator is not the domain of temporal authorities. The mind and body belong to the Creator. Therefore, a nation or regime can suggest what that government believes; but, to force its citizens to accept wholly its beliefs, is totally wrong, and arbitrary. I know for a fact that these statements mean nothing to the Despots, Tyrants, Sheiks, Mullahs, Ayatollahs, Prime-Ministers, and Emperors of these Totalitarian Nations where the regime's beliefs are the laws of the land. But, I hope and pray to God (YWHV), in Jesus' name, that some of their citizens may be reached by my solemn appeal to repent and come to the feet of the true redeemer of humanity: Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. It doesn't matter where you are from His sovereignty transcends all national boundaries. He is the Savior of all humanity. Not just western civilization. But, Asian, Pacific, Middle Eastern, African, Arab, Persian, Pashtun, Tamil, Sikh, Mongolian, Laplander, Maori, Inca, Maya, etc. He promote no culture; His kingdom is not of this world. He is coming very soon. He will reward all that have been faithful. Come to Jesus while there is still time. The end of all tyranny is near, dear saints.


Arsenio.


**************************************



Here's a recent list of some of Despotic Nations

(who impede the spreading of the Gospel):


2008 World Watch List Top Ten


1. North Korea
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Iran
4. Maldives
5. Bhutan
6. Yemen
7. Afghanistan
8. Laos
9. Uzbekistan
10. China


http://www.christiantoday.com/article/open.doors.announces.top.10.worst.places.to.live.as.a.christian/16673.htm

P.S. Remember this while you enjoy your pagan olympic games.Trading partner Number 1!

CRANE COLLAPSES: MANHATTAN'S EAST SIDE

Crane Collapses on Manhattan’s East Side, Killing 4

Chang W. Lee/New York Times
A construction accident on the East Side of Manhattan killed four and injured a dozen others.


By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
Published: March 16, 2008

A crane towering over a high-rise construction site on the East Side of Manhattan collapsed in a roar of rending steel Saturday afternoon, raining death and destruction across a city block as it slashed down on an apartment building, broke into sections, crushed a town house and cut away a tenement facade.

At least four people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured, and damage was expected to run into the millions of dollars in what the authorities called one of the city’s worst accidents — a calamity that turned a neighborhood near the United Nations into a zone of panic, pulverized buildings, wailing sirens, evacuations, searches in the rubble and covered bodies in the streets.

Many residents of the neighborhood around the site of the collapse — 51st Street between Second and First Avenues — said they had been worried for months about the possibility of a collapse, calling the crane, looming higher each week, a menace, particularly because so many residential buildings were being put up in the area with remarkable speed: several floors a week at times.

Christopher Bianchi, 40, of Manhattan, owner of Crave Ceviche Bar on Second Avenue, said he saw three bodies on stretchers in the street. “Their heads were covered,” he said. “One of the police was giving last rites.”

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg arrived at the scene hours later, surrounded by an army of police officers, firefighters, city officials and reporters. “It’s a sad day,” he said, as the lights of scores of emergency vehicles revolved and flashed. “Our thoughts go out to those who were killed, and we pray that those who were injured will recover.”

As people were evacuated from a half-dozen buildings and rescue workers using dogs, listening devices and thermal imaging cameras searched the rubble for victims — taking care to cause no further collapses — the mayor said the four known dead were believed to be construction workers on or near the crane. The injured included at least three civilians taken to hospitals in critical condition.

One man was pulled from the debris nearly four hours after the collapse.

The dead, all believed to be members of Local 15 of the Operating Engineers Union, were identified as Brad Cohen, Aaron Stephens, Anthony Mazza and Wayne Binder.

The cause of the accident on a sunny, windless day was unclear and under investigation by city, state and federal agencies. But Stephen Kaplan, an owner of the Reliance Construction Group working at the site, told The Associated Press that a piece of steel had fallen and sheared off one of the girders holding the crane to the building.

A construction worker on the 15th floor, Ismael Garcia, said he saw something fall and strike one or more of the girder ties, weakening or breaking the connections. “Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a piece falling,” he said, and then the crane pulled away.

The collapse occurred, the mayor said, as workers attempted to jack up the crane, raising its height to enable work to continue above the 19th floor of a planned 43-story building. Builders had city permission to raise the crane, and the crane had been inspected on Friday, with no violations found.

The collapse occurred at 2:22 p.m. as the crane, about 22 stories tall and attached by girders to the apartment tower under construction at 303 East 51st Street, east of Second Avenue, broke away from its anchors and toppled south, across the block between 51st and 50th Streets, as workers at the site and people in high-rises for blocks around looked on, stupefied.

Witnesses told of a rising, thundering roar and clouds of smoke and dust as the crane — a vertical latticed boom for its base, topped by a cab and jib, the swinging arm that lifts building materials — fell across 51st Street and onto a 19-story apartment building at No. 300, demolishing a penthouse and shaking the building with the force of an earthquake.

Mike Shatzkin, a resident of the 17th floor, said he was talking on the phone when it hit. “All of a sudden, I felt a very violent shake, and stuff fell off the walls, and my wife said a bomb went off.” After discovering that their building had been struck by the crane from across the street, he said, “We worried about this crane every day.”

The upper reaches of the crane — including the cab and the extended swinging arm — broke away from the boom, which was left leaning against the facade, and hurtled southward across the block toward 50th Street, tumbling in the air, some witnesses said.

The crane’s blue cab and white jib, itself a latticework of steel, made a direct hit on a four-story town house at 305 East 50th Street, a modern stucco structure with apartments upstairs and a bar called Fubar on the ground floor. The building, on the north side of 50th Street, was demolished.

The bar was not open, and the owner, John P. LaGreco, who had been the proprietor for a decade, said that Juan Perez, 38, a Queens resident and the father of three children, was in Fubar at the time, preparing to open about 4 p.m.

Mayor Bloomberg said one or two people were in the building at the time. The fire commissioner, Nicholas Scoppetta, said that a man, apparently referring to Mr. Perez, was taken alive out of the collapsed town house shortly before 6 p.m. He said there had also been reports of a woman in the building, and search efforts continued late into Saturday night.

In addition to the collapsed town house, the toppling crane jib sheared away the side of a six-story gray tenement building at 301 East 50th, just to the west, exposing tiers of apartments and haunting images of shattered homes: a pink suitcase dangling from the sixth floor, a mattress, a rack of shoes, broken bookshelves.

Debris also damaged buildings on the south side of 50th Street, and bricks demolished parked cars — a dark blue BMW flattened, a Mini Cooper battered with debris.

In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, stunned people rushed into the streets from restaurants and shops, from apartment buildings in the surrounding blocks, many of them unaware of what had happened and fearing the worst.

Within minutes, an armada of fire engines, police cars, ambulances and other emergency vehicles converged on the scene. Water from broken mains was gushing into the street, and an odor of gas was in the air. City and Consolidated Edison workers quickly moved in to cap the leaks and prevent explosions. Throughout the afternoon and evening, traffic was blocked off for blocks around the site.

Some residents of the area saw or heard the collapse from their apartments. Bruce Silberblatt, a retired building contractor who lives at 860 United Nations Plaza, said: “I heard this big double bang. Bang! Then, bang! The first bang must have been the crane hitting the first building, then the second must have been everything else going into the street.”

Scores of evacuated residents from at least a half-dozen damaged or imperiled buildings were offered shelter at the High School of Art and Design, at 228 East 57th Street, the mayor said.

A Fire Department spokesman said that 13 people were injured and taken to area hospitals. Three had critical injuries and two were listed in serious condition, while the rest, including five firefighters, had minor injuries. Four other people were treated at the scene, the spokesman said.

Mayor Bloomberg identified the site’s principal developer as James P. Kennelly, a former firefighter, and the construction company as RCG, an apparent acronym for Reliance Construction Group. He said the crane owner was the New York Crane & Equipment Corporation. The manufacturer, he said, was an Australian company known as Favco, which makes a tower crane with an eight-ton lifting capacity.

“There are no words to describe the level of devastation we feel today as a result of this tragic event,” Mr. Kennelly said in a statement. While the mayor and other city officials said that there had been a relatively small number of violations issued against the construction site in the more than two years since work began, many residents questioned the safety record at the building site.

“We had been very unhappy with the way he was doing his work,” said Mr. Silberblatt, a member of the Turtle Bay Association, a civic group. He cited debris in the streets, a lack of a sidewalk bridge, and other faults.

According to records from the New York City Department of Buildings, the agency has issued 14 violations against contractors doing work at the site, 10 of them against RCG. The citations were issued between Jan. 17, 2006, and Feb. 8 of this year. The violations included failure to safeguard the public and property and failure to provide roof protection on adjacent property.

A Buildings Department spokeswoman, Kate Lindquist, said that of the 14 violations, 13 remained “open” — meaning that a court date is pending or the company did not appear at a scheduled court hearing and the violations are in default status.

Ms. Lindquist said that Buildings Department inspectors performed an inspection of the site Saturday morning in preparation for predicted high winds. Upon inspection, she said, a partial stop-work order was issued to halt all concrete operations at the site. The order was issued because inspectors found material stored too close to the building’s edge on several floors. The order did not apply to the extending of the crane, which was under way at the time of the accident, she said.

The last major crane collapse at a construction site in New York occurred in September 1999, when a 383-foot crane fell at 24th Street and the Avenue of the Americas, crushing a carpenter and injuring three other people.


Reporting for these articles was contributed by Al Baker, Sushil Cheema, John Eligon, Jason Grant, Christine Hauser, Serge F. Kovaleski, Colin Moynihan, Anthony Ramirez, Warren St. John and Tanzina Vega.