Saturday, January 28, 2012

Behind the Door - Jim Arrabito




Uploaded by AM5743 on Jun 28, 2011

MEET THE ‘PREPPERS’ — THE AMERICANS STOCKPILING FOOD & WATER FOR A POSSIBLE COLLAPSE




Preppers Fear Calamity So They Stock Food, Weapons, Water & MoreThe world’s a scary place. Wars, famines, corrupt politicians, terrorism, imploding economies — the list goes on. There are plenty of issues worth fearing, which is why a subset of the nation is preparing for what they see as impending calamity.

These individuals, dubbed “preppers,” are stocking up on food, guns, water and other items that they may need should the economy erupt or a massive natural disaster strike. With so many possibilities for problematic occurrences, these individuals want to ensure that they can live beyond any tragically defining moments.

Most preppers are fearful of the prospects of no governmental structure — something that some see as a possibility amidst economic woes and political strife. Back in 2009, a Newsweek report described this phenomenon:

In the late 1990s, Y2K fears brought survivalism to the mainstream, only to usher it back out again when disaster didn’t strike. (Suddenly, unused survival gear began showing up in classifieds and on eBay.) A decade later, “preppers” are what you might call survivalism’s Third Wave: regular people with jobs and homes whose are increasingly fearful about the future…

Watch some preppers discuss their lifestyle, below:

Reuters published a report this weekend, highlighting some of the preppers out there who are stockpiling and awaiting what they see as the inevitable. To begin, there’s Patty Tegeler, a 57-year-old who lives in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.

“In an instant, anything can happen,” she said. “And I firmly believe that you have to be prepared.”

Tegeler’s home has essentially been prepared for whatever may come. She has a large generator, water tanks, portable heaters and enough freeze-dried food to lock herself inside and to keep nourished for two years.

Click here to find out more!

Wondering how she secured these items? There’s an entire market that caters to these individuals (most vendors operate on the internet). These companies sell many of the items that Tegeler has in her own home, as they teach skills or sell the products needed to ensure individual and family survival pending disaster.

The Reuters article even mentions Glenn Beck:

Conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck seems to preach preppers’ message when he tells listeners: “It’s never too late to prepare for the end of the world as we know it.”

Additionally, it goes on to further explain the movement:

“With our current dependence on things from the electric grid to the Internet, things that people have absolutely no control over, there is a feeling that a collapse scenario can easily emerge, with a belief that the end is coming, and it is all out of the individual’s control,” [Cathy Gutierrez, an expert on end-times beliefs at Sweet Briar College in Virginia] told Reuters.

While many would dub survivalist behaviors as silly or a waste of time, preppers separate themselves from the likes of Harold Camping and other leaders who have set dates for what they promise to be apocalyptic conclusions to societal existence. Preppers like Tegeler claim that their items won‘t go to waste regardless of whether there’s a collapse or not. For these individuals it’s all about being ready for anything that could unfold.

And there’s plenty of media outlets for these individuals to consume, as they share tips and communicate with one another. Blogs like lawyer Michael T. Snider’s “The Economic Collapse” focus upon the themes surrounding the economy’s potential bust.

“Most people have a gut feeling that something has gone terribly wrong, but that doesn’t mean that they understand what is happening,” Snider said. “A lot of Americans sense that a massive economic storm is coming and they want to be prepared for it.”

Then there’s James Wesley Rawles, a former Army intelligence officer, who is behind the “Survival Blog,” an online outlet that preppers regularly read.

“We could see a cascade of higher interest rates, margin calls, stock market collapses, bank runs, currency revaluations, mass street protests, and riots,” he said in an interview with Reuters. “The worst-case end result would be a Third World War, mass inflation, currency collapses, and long term power grid failures.”

Preppers Fear Calamity So They Stock Food, Weapons, Water & More

A screen shot from the American Preppers Network

Tom Martin launched “American Prepper’s Network” back in 2009 — a daily blog and support network that attracts thousands of individuals each week. The most recent post on the site’s blogreads:

Man-made disasters come in many forms. The most obvious would be spills and contamination caused by deteriorating materials, poor driving, train derailments, pipeline maintenance (or lack thereof), infrastructure collapse, policies that lead to coastal erosion, policies that contribute to widespread forest fires, sub-standard building codes, etc. There are other potential disasters that can be even more far-reaching. These include, but not limited to, monetary policies, tax codes, currency issues, stock market crashes, credit down grades, recession/depression, inflation/hyper-inflation (alaWeimar republic) and devaluation of a currency. Venezuela, Japan and others have experienced these events.

The list of possibilities is long and growing, but again, the prudent man attempts to prepare. For his family and his continued well-being.

This is only a small lens into the prepper movement, but this is nothing new. Throughout history, subsets of American society have remained ready and prepared for whatever may come. While critics may dub it an over reaction, preppers feel they’re simply being prudent.

For a glimpse into some others who are “prepping” for the future, be sure to watch GBTV’s “Independence USA” — a reality show featuring a family trying to live off the grid.

Below, watch a clip that provides a glimpse into the show:





Source

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Friday, January 27, 2012

The Advancing Papacy by Richard Bennett





Uploaded by BereanBeacon on Mar 17, 2008
Vatican Control Though Civil Law - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQCqamsAgUQ

Evangelicals and Catholic Together - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiJrhMxxJg

http://www.bereanbeacon.org
info@bereanbeacon.org

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The History of the Jesuits




Uploaded by TRUTHABOUTSUNDAY on Mar 6, 2011

For Educational Purposes Only

Many people have lost their lives to expose the wicked system of the Vatican and its cohorts called the Jesuits. Jim Arrabito gives information that details such despicable infiltration of our institutions of governance.
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Thursday, January 26, 2012

When honchos talk boom amid global bust



Business Birdie










Shaili Chopra
Thursday January 26, 2012, 05:04 PM


Davos, the buzzing networking Swiss village for the last week of January is back in focus. But will the snow clad promenade which witnesses the world's most influential once again fail to get the pulse of the world? Over the years it’s becoming clearer that many subjects discussed at the World Economic Forum along the corridors by the world’s best CEOs, are getting predictions wrong. And it’s not the economists alone.

From an India standpoint, this is starker than ever. At the previous Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2011, India celebrated the 5 year anniversary of the ‘India Everywhere’ campaign, making another pitch for vibrant India and the economic promise. Except that in the 12 months that followed, it was proved that India was ‘not quite there’ as it saw its GDP dip, corruption soar and gloom enveloped the country.

“Today we are trapped in individual goal chasing and a fractured resolve,” says Vineet Nayar of HCL Tech “The crying need of the hour therefore is to come together as a nation, pool all our resources together to create a unified vision, take decisive actions and most importantly collaborate across all stake holders to get the most important things done. Maybe we needed an external crisis to wake up the giant … that crisis is now right at our doorstep.”

But does WEF really reflect this reality? Anand Mahindra says, "I'm more comfortable with their being bullish, even if they often prove to be off the mark." Davos sees attendance from many of the people who make the world turn. Indian CEOs believes the feel good factor is more encouraging. "It would be a little scary if they were always pessimistic about the global economy," says Mahindra.

Lee Howell, MD of WEF believes more leaders come here for a sense of change and there "are keen to know of what can be the opportunities of the existing situation." But Soumitra Dutta, just appointed dean of Cornell doesn't entire agree, "The danger is Indian optimism should not turn into arrogance."


Sentiment vs Reality

History is testimony to the ironically timed discussions at Davos, which often would see just the opposite play out in the world economy in the following year. In 1999, there was plenty of bubbly flowing to celebrate the peak of Internet boom, one that was expected to be everlasting. Bill Gates who attended WEF that year was worth $101 billion and called the Centibillionaire. Most CEOs at the forum’s corridors were smug and upbeat but just within the12 months that followed, the Davos Man began shivering. The boom had gone bust. The same people talked about how Internet stocks were grossly overvalued.

2007 played up the rise of Asia in the forum’s key agenda but entirely ignored the underlying threats to the world economy, that it was slowing down and facing major risks including the American subprime and the over-heating in China. Exactly a month after a bullish Davos forum, the Shanghai Stock exchange tumbled 9%, the largest in the preceding ten years, triggering a world wide sell-off. What everyone forgot was the rise of Asia, particular China is closely linked to the US economy and so the economic muck began to float to the surface with 2007 triggering off the start of tough times. Why go far? Even as the subprime crisis held the US economy hostage, Davos had little premonition about it earlier in the year.

When CEOs gather from across the world, each is trying to pitch to investors and often that selling point is a tad inflated. Rahul Bajaj, who goes there every year says, “ We are going to have a different tone here and there. We have a different purpose of opening our mouth. We need to attract investment, we need to put our best foot forward.” But Azim Premji of Wipro takes this with a pinch of salt, admits the euphoria has seen a correction "I think hypes have come down. That's not a bad thing because if we over-hype ourselves, then there can be a little disappointment. Plus the growth has come down which is a dampener on the situation, there is no doubt about that."

Less India Star Power

Whether Davos gets it right or wrong, it’s definitely become a once-a-year stop for a quick networking binge. But overtime, CEOs have been faced with dilemmas about what they really gain from it. Bajaj quips, “I haven’t earned a penny from going there!” He is in his 35 year of visit and believes its “an expensive holiday for me. I love it” This year much of India’s star power has decided to stay back. Kumar Mangalam Birla has called off his visit while Anand Mahindra is skipping Davos for the Sundance Festive. The finance minister has yet again decided not to go. Also not attending this year are WEF favourite Nandan Nilekani, bankers like KV Kamath, Chandha Kochchar. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and later Kamal Nath have also decided to drop out. An economist at Davos wondered,"Could they be worried about the world seeking explanations to the mess over India's scams?"

Nayar of HCL Tech has in the past questioned the relevance of Davos in an article he wrote, "Do the issues being debated at Davos by the world's movers and shakers, in both public and private forums, result in significant change? In short, does the event create more light than heat?" That's question many introspect on but most return to the forum.

Davos is planning to move its 5 day business-avangza to another few days of January or yet another month. We don't know if its numerology for luck or just a desire to keep date with the Chinese who can only make it after their Chinese new year celebrations end in January, but hopefully whatever the case, it may mean better fortunes for forecast and getting the pulse right.




New questions, challenges confront Episcopal-turned-Catholic leader

FIRSTPERSON-STEENSON Jan-25-2012 With photos posted Jan. 23. xxxn




Father Jeffrey N. Steenson gives the homily during Mass Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore Jan. 22. (CNS/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Father Jeffrey N. Steenson is finding that there are a lot of new roads to travel and new questions to resolve since his Jan. 1 appointment as head of the Houston-based Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for former Anglicans who want to become Catholics.

The former Episcopal bishop of the Rio Grande, who was ordained a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M., in February 2009, was to be installed in his new post Feb. 12. Also in February, a class of about 40 former Episcopal priests will begin an intensive, Internet-based course of studies to become Catholic priests within the ordinariate.

Father Steenson and his wife, Debra, have three grown children and a grandson. Because he is married, he will not be ordained a bishop, but he will become a full voting member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He spoke to Catholic News Service during a busy day Jan. 22 at Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore, where he celebrated Mass, received a group of parishioners into the Catholic Church, performed a baptism and led an evensong service.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the ordinariate and yourself in the next months or years?

A: We have to create a set of norms to govern it -- I'm not a canon lawyer, but the canon lawyers call it particular law. None of that exists yet so that's what we've been working overtime on for the last month, just to try and create that. So there's the practical question of getting the legal and business structure set up, and I've noticed that there are so many questions about the ordinariate -- about what it is, what its mission is -- that it's easy for people to misunderstand or draw wrong conclusions. Like, the Episcopalians shouldn't think we're sheep stealing because we could never contact an Episcopalian directly. The Catholic Church wonders, "Will you fit in or will you just be a separate entity?" So we have to show that we're going to keep our patrimony, our identity intact but we're a fully functioning part of the Catholic Church and we have deep respect for the ecumenical protocols whenever there are these awkward situations coming up. So I would say this is very, very difficult. (Laughs) God is really going to have to watch over us in all this.

Q: Are there special challenges to governing a church jurisdiction that covers so large a geographical area?

A: I'm sure there are going to be many, and it's primarily going to be for the clergy to be able to build relationships with each other. We're going to be virtual in so many respects. We're going to really depend on technology to keep communication open. Our formation program for the clergy is going to be run via a really high-tech Internet system that will allow real-time, two-way communications, which I'm told has never been attempted before in any kind of a theological exercise. So that will be hard, and I'm concerned that a small group -- I mean, this church (Mount Calvary) is not going to have any problems -- but a small group that is out in the middle of nowhere doesn't feel isolated and forgotten. So we will have to work really hard on that.

Q: It seems to me that there would be something to learn from the Eastern Catholic jurisdictions in the United States on that. Have you been contacted with them about how they ...

A: I've talked to some of them. I've listened to many of the stories that have been told about their difficulties over the years. But in a way the Catholic Church today is in such a different place than it was in the early part of the 20th century. I've felt only a great sense of welcome from the Catholic bishops. And I hope -- I don't know how to put it, because I don't know enough about the history of Eastern Catholicism to be able to speak very knowledgably about it -- but I don't want to see us living too separated of an existence from the Latin rite. For good theological and historical reasons too because that's where we came from. Whereas the Eastern-rite Catholics, they have a ritual identity that goes way, way, way back. And for Anglicans, I mean we're specifically not a ritual church; we're not recognized as a separate rite but we're part of the regular Roman rite using our Anglican patrimony.

Q: Has the formation of the ordinariate given a new impetus or prompted a renewed interest in joining the Catholic Church among new groups of Episcopalians?

A: Oh yes, there has been. Probably maybe 30 extra priests have contacted us at some level. It's not an easy journey, even the ordinariate, because the priest really has to be willing to make the journey to the Catholic Church and not just escape from his own. So it requires commitment and a lot of prayer to think through and a lot of sacrifices have to be made. And it's very hard to start all over again. So I do expect that it will grow, but my goal has been that as we form these guys they will be able to stand equally with their Latin Catholic counterparts, that they'll be as well formed and be able to function in the priesthood at the same level.

Q: Why is the ordinariate needed when individual Episcopalians and even married Episcopal priests have been able to join the Catholic Church through other routes for years?

A: When the apostolic constitution was published, there was an explanation written by (Jesuit) Father (Gianfranco) Ghirlanda, who's the canon lawyer at the Gregorian University, that's kind of the official commentary on it. And he answered that question by saying that the reason for the ordinariate is to guarantee the existence of the liturgical identity and patrimony. So whereas in the pastoral provision for an individual converting, they just kind of merge into the local Catholic culture, we're expected to keep this patrimony, these traditions alive, because the pope said there is something precious about them that is worthy to be shared with the rest of the Catholic Church. So Father Ghirlanda said the ordinariate is to guarantee the freedom to keep this liturgy alive. I mean liturgy in the broadest sense of the word -- the music, all that constitutes the Anglican tradition.

Q: Why is the process different for groups of Anglicans than for individuals who want to become Catholic?

A: Of course if it is an individual layperson they go through RCIA in their own parish. If it is an individual clergy person or priest, they would go through the pastoral provision which is administered by Bishop Kevin Vann in Fort Worth. And that will continue. The pastoral provision basically uses the same program of priestly formation that exists for the seminaries, only it's kind of tailored to an individual, so it's whatever Father So and So needs in order to do it. The way that has worked up to now is that the faculty of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Seton Hall have provided the formation. They kind of evaluate where candidates are and tell them what they need. But for the ordinariate we'll be doing that on our own this spring and practically speaking the process is accelerated. ... It starts at the beginning of February and it goes into May, so it's basically one semester of intense work. Some people can't believe that that's possible, that you can make a priest that fast, but the Vatican has approved this process and asked for it to be expedited in this way because the assumption is that the clergymen coming in have already received pastoral, spiritual and human formation through their Anglican training, and we're just trying to address the differences in the intellectual formation, in the theology. So the formation program for the priests is essentially a comparative reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- where does it differ from the Anglican theological tradition -- and to address those differences.

Q: Some people have said it's not really fair, because married Catholic priests can't come back. How would you respond to that?

A: It's kind of easy actually. That would be to compare apples and oranges. When we became priests in the Anglican Church, we became priests in an ecclesial tradition that permitted married clergy. So the Holy See is simply recognizing that and allowing us ... it's an ancient principle from the early church. Whatever stage of life you are in when you come into the ministry, that's where you stay. So if a man came as a celibate, he would be required to maintain that discipline. If one came as a married man, he would be expected to be a good husband. And if he should ever be widowed, then he would embrace the discipline of celibacy. It's not a new rule, it's basically the old Eastern discipline about married clergy. So, I don't want it to sound critical, but for those Catholic priests who left to get married and then want to come back again, that's a whole totally different question for them. And I don't think it is comparable to what the ordinariate is about.

Q: As the only married member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, what do you hope to bring to the discussions at national bishops' meetings and in the committees to which you are appointed?

A: (Laughs) I can't even imagine. Well I was taught, in my days in the Episcopal House of Bishops, in those early days you were taught to be there, to be square and to keep your mouth shut. And I think I will have a lot to learn and I don't anticipate doing much talking. But a lot of relationship building, I think. I've been to two meetings of the bishops now and it's amazing to me that a business meeting is a business meeting, no matter what communion it's in. So some of it is pretty tedious. I think one of the differences I see, though, is that the unity that exists among the Catholic bishops is far greater than what I see among the Episcopal bishops. I was quite taken by that, you felt that there was just a greater consensus on important things. Plus the USCCB has (Cardinal-designate Timothy M.) Dolan -- I have never seen a man run a meeting so effectively as him. I'm astonished by how good he is. I've never seen anything like it, at any level.

Q: Are there any particular issues that you plan to bring to the attention of the bishops because of your unique role?

A: What we're going to need from the Catholic bishops is their cooperation and help with a lot of the practicalities, such as insurance, health insurance, all those things that we can't (do alone). It's impossible to actually go out and create a national health plan for the clergy. So in many of the practicalities, we hope that we can partner with the local dioceses. I also would like to see the men, the priests of the ordinariate, spend a lot of time with their counterparts in the Latin dioceses in terms of clergy meetings and gatherings, priests' conferences. My goal -- I don't know if it is going to be possible -- would be to see every priest in the ordinariate also have faculties in the local diocese. I know that is a grand goal to have. Because when Cardinal (William J.) Levada opened this up, that first press conference he had, ... he used the word "integration," not "absorption," because the idea is not to just be absorbed and lose your identity but to deeply integrate with the local diocese and so I would guess in terms of my relationships with the bishops, it's going to be aimed in that direction. And I want the men, my priests to have, one of the great joys of the priesthood is the fellowship with other priests. One of the surpassing joys of the priesthood is the life you get to share with other priests. And I don't want them to miss out on that.

Q: Have you had an opportunity to meet the Holy Father? Will you be participating in the "ad limina" visits to Rome by the U.S. bishops this year?

A: Sometime in the next five years I am going to do one. I have met the Holy Father but not as Pope Benedict. I met him as Cardinal Ratzinger in 1993 and I actually read a paper for him on this subject, receiving Anglicans. So I haven't met him since then. Since I've been a Catholic, I went to many papal things during that year. I met Cardinal (Tarcisio) Bertone, that was my principal high contact, and Cardinal Levada of course, but I haven't met the Holy Father as Holy Father. I can't wait.

Q: If you had the opportunity, what would you say to the Holy Father?

A: Thank you, first of all. This wouldn't have happened without him. This was not an idea that developed in one of the dicasteries of the Curia. This came right from the top and he had to convince a lot of people. So I feel that Pope Benedict put himself out on the line on this, and I want to be sure we don't let the Holy Father's words fall to the ground. I want him to be proud of us and see that we are making a fruitful contribution to the church.

And the other thing I'd like to do if I could see him is to thank him for his Christology book that he wrote. It's sort of a life-changer for me -- "Jesus of Nazareth" 1 and 2. I'm a utility infielder at the seminary, in other words they throw me classes to teach when no one else can do it and last year I was given Christology. So the seminarians and I just read Pope Benedict, and it was an astonishing experience to do that. I think we all walked away from that experience in something of an awe for Benedict as a theologian. I'd like to thank him for that too. As a theologian I would say that in "Jesus of Nazareth" part 2, his chapter on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is probably the most extraordinary piece of theology of our time. It's astonishingly adventuresome. I mean, he opens up doors that, I don't know, it just took my breath away. That's probably more than your readers would be interested in, but I would vote that chapter on Gethsemane as one of the most amazing pieces of theology done in our time.

Q: Two of your sons have special needs.

A: Yes, our two boys have Asperger's syndrome. They're adults now. One of them lives with us; he's employed by Walgreens, which has a phenomenal program for disabled adults. I'm amazed at Walgreens. That's Eric. And our other son, John, lives in Seattle, on his own, and he's a software engineer for Amazon.com. And we hold him up in prayer, more than once a day, to have our little boy out there on his own. ... We moved him out in July, so about half a year now. He loves his work there. He talks about Uncle Jeff, you know, the head of Amazon. He's been a very good employer. And then our daughter Kristina, she's a pediatric doctor in Traverse City, Mich., with her husband and our grandson, Peter. We're very proud of him.

None of our children has come into the Catholic Church yet. All of them are very, very interested and I think the boys will come in relatively soon. ... Our children are all very strong Christians. Eric I think belongs to every young adult group in Houston, from Catholic to Baptist. He gets his social outreach through that; he's welcomed by Christian groups.

Q: In light of the March for Life tomorrow, I know there are a lot of challenges with special-needs kids but also a lot of gifts that you get from them. I was wondering if you could talk about that a little bit.

A: I remember when we got the diagnosis on Eric that he was autistic. It was obviously a pretty life-changing experience for us. And it was a Catholic nun, my first patristics teacher, she just appeared on the doorstep in Oxford -- Sister Agnes Cunningham, her name is, an amazing woman, she's the first woman president of the Catholic Theological Society of America -- and we were so down in the dumps about it and she walked in the door and said how God had chosen us for something special. And it was a total 180-degree attitude readjustment moment for us. And for parents that have special-needs kids, it's obviously very painful and difficult, but God never asks us to do something without giving us even more blessings. I just think if people offer up these challenges to God, they'll be astonished at what comes back.

END

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His Wisdom is a Blessing


Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.


Proverbs 3: 31-35.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Southampton supervisors, farmers oppose Sunday hunting

Photo (Courtesy) http://thepocomokepubliceye.blogspot.com/2010/11/virginia-deer-hunting-season.html


Published 9:46am
Wednesday, January 25, 2012

COURTLAND—Virginia Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm advocacy group, continues to oppose Sunday hunting, as do some members of the Southampton County Farm Bureau as well as the Southampton County Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors on Monday voted 7-0 on a resolution to oppose hunting seven days a week. Supervisor Bruce Phillips on Tuesday delivered the resolution to lawmakers in Richmond. Also on the board of directors for the Southampton County Farm Bureau, Phillips opposes Sunday hunting.

“I think that both on a religious basis, and we have too many country churches,” Phillips said. “We don’t want dogs running through the yard and people shooting. It’s a day of rest, and we are a Christian community.”

He also favors giving those who don’t hunt a day in the woods without gunfire.

The state Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee last week voted 11-4 to allow Sunday hunting on private lands with landowners’ permission. The full Senate will vote soon on the bill, and similar House of Delegates bills also will be heard in subcommittee.

Sen. Harry Blevins, a Republican from Chesapeake, who represents portions of Franklin and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, serves on the agriculture committee. He favored lifting the ban.

Larry Fowler, vice president of Southampton County Farm Bureau, is also opposed to Sunday hunting.

“I come from the old school,” said Fowler, a chemical salesman from Newsoms who serves the agricultural community and is a member of Newsoms Hunt Club. “I think that one, you don’t want people shooting when (others are) in church, or near a cemetery. Sunday is a time to worship and a quiet time.”

Chris Simms, another director for the Southampton County Farm Bureau, agrees.

“I’m a big hunter myself and I grew up hunting,” said Simms, a Sedley-area farmer. “Sunday was a day of rest, not just from the church standpoint, but also from the standpoint that’s a day for me to go into the woods and not have to worry about anyone else taking a shot.”

Virginia is one of 11 states that prohibit hunting on Sundays.

“Virginia Farm Bureau Federation opposes hunting on Sunday,” said Wilmer Stoneman, associate director of governmental relations.

“People are trying to couch this as a private property issue, but if it is, then you should be able to hunt and fish on private property 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, not just on Sundays.”

For decades, Farm Bureau members in Virginia have discussed and voted in favor of opposing Sunday hunting, Stoneman said. In policy discussions among elected representatives of the organization, members cited faith-based beliefs as well as the ability of horse owners and riders and landowners to use the outdoors one day a week without worrying about hunters.



Source

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No Sunday rest for parents of toddlers



Oh God. It's Sunday. Again.

They call it the day of rest. Except there is no rest. No peace, no quiet, no respite. Not when your small child has the attention span of a squirrel.

It's: Num num I like this fruit leather- STAIRS! Chucking bits of Lego down them! Hey let's go in the basement! Let's touch this AMAZING LIGHT SWITCH! What do you mean, NO? Waaaaaa .... but wait, look, it's a DOG! With EARS! Let's pull them and- BOOK! Light switch again! ON! OFF! ON! Milk! Can we go in the pantry? Can I touch the coffee grounds? Oh WOW OINTMENT! Let's bite the tube! And throw it into that big white bowl of water! Splashing, ha ha, WATCH ME FLUSH! Open the closet door, close it! Open it! And-iPhone-dishwasher-buttons-hate-when-you-wipe-my-nose-I-want-up- SPICES!

Three minutes gone, just like that.

W.C. Fields said, "I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sun-day." Well, Claude, every week I spend a year in parenthood, and it's always on a Sunday.

Saturdays are doable, manageable, even entertaining. This fine northern city bursts with scheduled activities for little ones: music classes, sing-and-sign-frolics, swimming lessons. Kiddie-friendly eateries itch for your business, and let's not forget the sensory overload of farmers markets.

But things grind to a halt on Sundays. Library events dwindle, most notably in the city centre. Coveted swim lesson spots get snapped up by parents who are more organized or more desperate (or both). Farmers markets vamoose. Cafe Tiramisu is shut. You surf the Internet for mom-and-baby yoga classes, for story-times, even the ones in Urdu, for some-thing ANYTHING to take up the day.

Sure, there are winter festivals. But what if it's -30 C? No playground, no tobogganing. Ikea? Again? You end up knocking around the house, frantically arranging last-minute playdates, trying to keep your offspring safe from harm and, ideally, not whining. You are reduced to jester status: Look, it's Win-nie the Pooh! Look, it's a man walking by the front window! Look, it's a bottle of vitamins with a child-resistant lid that we can rattle!

The tumbleweed blows and bumps its way down Main Street. (Look, it's a tumbleweed!)

On the so-called day of rest in this predominantly Christian society, older humans can find ways to occupy them-selves. One-year-olds do not excel at self-amusement. They can't bury their noses in novels. They're happy with the car keys but they can't be sent off to Superstore to stock up for the week. And, oddly enough, they're just not that committed to organizing the basement. (Disorganizing it, definitely.)

You gripe, then berate yourself for griping. Because really, you have everything. Health and home and family. A beautiful, healthy, curious, active child.

Tick, tick, tick goes the clock. 7: 20 a.m.

"I know what will solve the problem," people tell you. "A sibling."

Working parents get spoiled with the day-care arrangement. Which ought to be so, given the hefty price tag. Being at work is luxury - a place where tears, moans of boredom and demands to be carried around are (somewhat) rarer, where there's a much lower risk of injuries on the slide (unless you work at Google), where no one (of late) is painting the floor with a milk bottle.

Day-care kids get spoiled, too. They love daycare. Daycare is to toddlers what bright and shiny objects are to magpies. Their joy on arrival is borderline insulting. How can a parent offer such entertainment on weekends?

Perhaps my toddler is more work than yours. Perhaps you know about a bunch of incredible things do with a one-year-old on Sunday in Edmonton.

Hang on. Sunday. I've got a plan for this weekend. A place we're always welcome, where we can climb and drool and squeal to our hearts' content. Good morning, my little love! Guess what? We're going to church!

ewithey@edmontonjournal.com



Source
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On the "March to Death"


Satan is busily at work in our crowded cities. His work is to be seen in the confusion, the strife and discord between labor and capital, and the hypocrisy that has come into the churches. That men may not take time to meditate, Satan leads them into a round of gayety and pleasure-seeking, of eating and drinking. He fills them with ambition to make an exhibition that will exalt self. Step by step, the world is reaching the conditions that existed in the days of Noah. Every conceivable crime is committed. The lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, the display of selfishness, the misuse of power, the cruelty, and the force used to cause men to unite with confederacies and unions--binding themselves up in bundles for the burning of the great fires of the last days--all these are the working of Satanic agencies. This round of crime and folly men call "life." ...

The world, who act as though there were no God, absorbed in selfish pursuits, will soon experience sudden destruction, and shall not escape. Many continue in the careless gratification of self until they become so disgusted with life that they kill themselves. Dancing and carousing, drinking and smoking, indulging their animal passions, they go as an ox to the slaughter. Satan is working with all his art and enchantments to keep men marching blindly onward until the Lord arises out of His place to punish the inhabitants of earth for their iniquities, when the earth shall disclose her blood and no more cover her slain. The whole world appears to be in the march to death.-- Manuscript 139, 1903.


Evangelism, p.25.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Keep your personal stuff private

AP
Tempted to complain about your significant other on social media? Think twice.


Published Wednesday January 18, 2012


By Pamela E. Spencer
The Kansas City Star



"Guess she's better than me. ... plus my cat just died and I'm eating dinner alone, again."

You've seen these status messages before and you think one thing: "Ugh. Too much information."


Please remember, social media is not a diary.

We concede, the rise of social media in our lives in recent years has brought about plenty of good. You can congratulate distant friends on their life accomplishments and milestones in seconds. You can't knock that.

But social media has also brought about a swell of oversharing or what we like to call "bleeding on Twitter (or Facebook)". Unless you've spent the last five years avoiding the Internet, you know what we're saying.

You see the status messages every day, the passive-aggressive updates that no one is supposed to understand but everyone does to some degree because the three previous updates supply you with viable context clues.

Many of us are guilty of this to some degree. It's easy to forget that the thoughts you share on a social network are available to hundreds of your "friends" or followers to dissect. It's a lot easier to type our feelings than verbalize them.

But here's the best advice we can possibly give in relation to social networks and dating: Anytime you want to overshare in regard to your dating life, pretend that you have three "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" lifelines. It's best that you phone a friend. The 50/50 might get you out of trouble, but avoid it, too. Never ask the audience. Nothing good can come of it. And you know what? Your friends don't want to hear it. It's uncomfortable.

Here are five sample status updates you should not share on Facebook in relation to your relationships, romantic or otherwise:

1. "Just went from 'married' to 'single.' Guess I wasn't the best husband. Hope to learn from my mistakes."

What are you thinking about? This is not the type of thing you announce on social media. What are we supposed to say? Are we supposed to "like" this? What comments are you looking for? We hope you remember that all your friends/followers — including co-workers — will be gossiping about you immediately. Maybe even approaching you to see if you're OK. You're purposely begging for attention, aren't you?

2. "Not sure why we stopping being close. Missing you and crying."

Pathetic. If you really want to get your message across to one person (and you really shouldn't have to beg), just send a text or make a phone call.

3. "Cheaters never win. That's why I just smashed his flat screen."

Psycho! The first thing everyone will think: Sorry you got cheated on, but the fallout is between you and your significant other.

4. "Wife and I just had a fight about her communicating with her college boyfriend. I say it's not cool. Am I right?"

Discussing your relationship issues with your most trusted confidants is OK. But I doubt you have hundreds of confidants. If you're having issues and you need to vent, talk to a good friend. But keep the details away from the masses.

5. 'In a relationship.' 'Single.' 'In an open relationship.'

If you're changing you relationship status every other week, it says something about you. You're probably unstable, or at least that's what most of your Facebook friends think. Unless you're engaged, it would probably be best to just leave it off.

Private things should stay private. Get a journal, call a friend or go to therapy, but please stay away from the Internet. Your social network will thank you.


Source

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National Geographic TV : Shows : Doomsday Preppers



About the Show

Doomsday Preppers explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies, preppers will go to whatever lengths they can to make sure they are prepared for any of life’s uncertainties. And with our expert’s assessment, they will find out their chances of survival if their worst fears become a reality.










Source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/

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Fuggedaboutit! NY named rudest US city





In-your-face drivers, unsmiling pedestrians and more than eight million people in a rush: New York has been named America's rudest city.

The January issue of Travel and Leisure magazine gave the Big Apple the honor, saying readers voted America's most populous city at the head of a list of 20.

Following up were Miami in second place, Washington, DC, and three-time champ and road-rage capital Los Angeles.

Smaller, slower-paced southern cities like New Orleans and Charleston made the top five of a list of friendly cities.

"People in New York are constantly in a rush," the magazine quoted etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley, author of What Manners Most blog, as saying.

"Certainly, they don't linger on corners smiling, waving, and waiting to help people. But once you've stopped a New Yorker and asked them for directions, they're usually more than helpful."


Source

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IMF slashes world growth forecast

Posted: 24 January 2012 2333 hrs

This file photo shows the logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the organization's headquarters in Washington DC. (AFP/File - Saul Loeb)



This file photo shows the logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the organization's headquarters in Washington DC. (AFP/File - Saul Loeb)





WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecast for world economic growth, saying the stall in the troubled eurozone was threatening a global recovery.

With risks to the world growth and financial systems rising from the contraction across much of Europe, the IMF called on governments not mired in fiscal emergencies to avoid overly chopping spending that could exacerbate the situation.

In an update of its September economic forecasts, the IMF cut its 2012 forecast to 3.3 percent, from the prior 4.0 percent estimate, and said the 17-nation eurozone would contract by 0.5 percent this year.

It said global growth could pick up to 3.9 percent in 2013, but only if market panic over eurozone fragility is avoided. If markets grow more skittish, that could force up interest rates for even more governments and force them to cut spending.

"The global recovery is threatened by intensifying strains in the euro area and fragilities elsewhere," the global crisis lender said.

"Financial conditions have deteriorated, growth prospects have dimmed, and downside risks have escalated."

The lowered forecast "is largely because the euro-area economy is now expected to go into a mild recession in 2012 as a result of the rise in sovereign yields, the effects of bank deleveraging on the real economy, and the impact of additional fiscal consolidation," it said.

"Growth in emerging and developing economies is also expected to slow because of the worsening external environment and a weakening of internal demand," it added.

The Fund has been warning for weeks that global growth was weakening due to the European crisis.

On Monday in Berlin, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde pressed European leaders to build a stronger backstop to prevent the problems in the continent's weakest economies - Greece, Spain and Portugal - from pulling down others.

"We need a larger firewall," she said. "Without it, countries like Italy and Spain that are fundamentally able to repay their debts could be forced into a solvency crisis by abnormal financing costs."

In the new forecast, the Fund warned against overly sharp budget-balancing by those countries that can afford to move slowly to reduce their deficits.

Otherwise, they will just create more drag on the global economy.

Countries "with very low interest rates or other factors that create adequate fiscal space, including some in the euro area, should reconsider the pace of near-term fiscal consolidation," it said.

The recommendation was pointed at Europe's largest economies Germany, France and Britain, all of which it said would continue to grow this year, albeit at a weak pace.

Germany's economy was seen growing 0.3 percent, France's 0.2 percent, and Britain's 0.6 percent.

The United States, the world's largest economy, was projected to grow 1.8 percent in 2012.

- AFP/al