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Post by ninathedog on Jan 15, 2010 23:18:47 GMT 4
Palestinians find ancient coin hoard in GazaHamas' ministry of antiquities announces discovery of 1,300 antique silver coins, remains of walls, arches believed to have been built in 320 BC
AFP
Published: 01.14.10, 14:54 / Israel TravelThe Hamas-run ministry of tourism and antiquities in Gaza on Monday announced the discovery of ancient artifacts near the Egyptian border town of Rafah. "The most important of the findings are 1,300 antique silver coins, both large and small," said Mohammed al-Agha, tourism and antiquities minister in the Islamist-run government. He said archaeologists had also uncovered a black basalt grinder, a coin with a cross etched on it, and the remains of walls and arches believed to have been built in 320 BC. They also discovered a "mysterious" underground compartment with a blocked entrance that appeared to be a tomb, Agha said. The Palestinian Authority has been carrying out archaeological excavations since the 1990s, but this was the first major find to be announced by the Hamas-run government. The Islamist movement seized control of the impoverished coastal territory in June 2007 when it drove out forces loyal to the Western-backed Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. The archaeological dig, still under way, is close to where a vast network of smuggling tunnels provides a vital economic lifeline amid strict Israeli and Egyptian closures imposed after the takeover. www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3833053,00.html
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 15, 2010 23:27:33 GMT 4
A couple of "old" news reports from several days ago that I just found lurking on my desktop: Israeli firm blasted for letting would-be plane bomber slip through By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel News, Icts
Last update - 15:10 10/01/2010The Israeli firm ICTS International (not to be confused with ICTS Europe, which is a different company), and two of its subsidiaries are at the crux of an international investigation in recent days, as experts try to pinpoint the reasons for the security failure that enabled Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board Northwest flight 253 and attempt to set alight explosives hidden in his underwear. A Haaretz investigation has learned that the security officers and their supervisor should have suspected the passenger, even without having early intelligence available to them. At this time, ICTS and the Dutch security firm G4S are hurling recriminations at each other, as are the authorities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Federal Aviation Authority and U.S. intelligence officials. The failure was a twin flop: An intelligence failure, which U.S. President Barack Obama has already stated, in the poor handling of information that arrived at the State Department and probably also the CIA from both the father of the would-be bomber and the British security service; and a failure within the security system, including that of the Israeli firm ICTS. The ICTS daughter company, I-SEC, has another daughter company - called PI (Pro-Check International). The firms provide security services to airports: consultation, instruction, training, inspection and supervision. Two decades ago, ICTS adopted the system used in Israel, namely of profiling and assessing the degree to which a passenger is a potential threat on the basis of a number indicators (including age, name, origin and behavior during questioning). At the same time, a decade ago, the company developed a technological system called APS (Advanced Passenger Screening). This system is based on a computerized algorithm, and is fed passenger information from the airline company. The system was offered to the Israel Airports Authority and the Shin Bet in the past, but rejected. According to the company's Web site, most of the large airlines in the United States use the system. However - in real time - the system of ICTS failed. Even if U.S. intelligence failed and the name of the Nigerian passenger was not pinpointed as a suspect for the airline, he should have stirred the suspicion of the security officers. His age, name, illogical travel route, high-priced ticket purchased at the last minute, his boarding without luggage (only a carry on) and many other signs should have been sufficient to alert the security officers and warrant further examination of the suspect. However, the security supervisor representing I-SEC and PI allowed him to get on the flight. ICTS was established in 1982 by former members of the Shin Bet and El Al security. Menachem Atzmon, who has been chairman of the board of directors since 2004, holds the controlling shares in the firm. The ICTS headquarters are in the Netherlands and the company is traded in the New York Stock Exchange. Some senior managers are Israeli, including the joint managing director Ran Langer. Another important figure is Doron Zicher, general manager of I-SEC. Zicher has been in charge of operations in the Netherlands for more than two decades and has served as adviser to the Dutch Justice Ministry, which is responsible for setting guidelines for airport security. The company prides itself on employing 1,300 persons and providing security services to airports in 11 countries including France, Britain, Spain, Hungary, Romania and Russia. www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1141434.html................. Israeli officials irate after Mitchell commentsPublished (updated) 11/01/2010 10:14 Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israeli officials on Sunday asserted they were "doing just fine" in response to US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell's comments a day earlier that the US was prepared to withhold loan guarantees to pressure Israel into making compromises with the Palestinians. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said "We don't need to use these guarantees ... But several months ago we agreed with the American treasury on guarantees for 2010 and 2011, and there were no conditions," according to the Israeli daily Haaretz. Gideon Sa’ar, Israel's education minister, further retorted: "The American administration knows that those who are holding up the negotiations are the Palestinians. Israel made many concessions while the Palestinians didn't do a thing." He added, "Israel's economy is pretty strong, and the threat wouldn't be appropriate." Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement placing the responsibility for the negotiations' impasse on the Palestinian Authority. "Everyone realizes that the Palestinian Authority refuses to renew peace talks, while Israel took significant steps to advance the process," the statement said. Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat announced on Saturday that the PA rejected the US call to renew in talks, reiterating that the Palestinian side maintains its preconditions, including a total halt to settlement expansion across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The international community widely condemned Netanyahu’s 10 month settlement freeze in the West Bank for excluding construction in the occupied parts of Jerusalem. Additionally, the moratorium was met with escalating settlement construction, evictions and demolitions in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. It was announced on Friday that the US and Jordan would urge Palestinians and Israel to discuss Jerusalem and borders – issues that have been relegated to final-status talks in previous negotiations. Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Abbas declared eight preconditions which must be met by Israel in order to bring the Palestinian side back to the negotiating table, including a total settlement freeze and Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders. "Resolving borders resolves settlements, resolving Jerusalem resolves settlements. I think we need to lift our sights and instead of looking down at the trees, we need to look at the forest," said Clinton after meeting Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh at the State Department. Peace talks were brought to an abrupt standstill in December 2008 as Israel began its assault on the Gaza Strip. Mitchell is due to tour Europe, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories this month, and it is anticipated that with him he will bring written guarantees to both Palestinian and Israeli officials. www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=253205 |
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Post by enki on Jan 18, 2010 8:14:23 GMT 4
Zecharia Featured in The New York Times The New York Times devoted a page to a 'profile' article on Zecharia Sitchin in its Sunday, January 10th edition. Headlined "Origin of the Species From an Alien View", the article, written by Times staff reporter Corey Kilgannon, combines tidbits about Zecharia's daily life with information on his research, writings, and his conclusions regarding the planet Nibiru, the Anunnaki, and their involvement in Mankind's origins and civilizations. The article is accompanied by color photographs taken by staff photographer Chester Huggins. The text of the article, with a videoclip taken during the interviews, can be seen on the newspaper website.  |
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 19, 2010 0:43:18 GMT 4
Spanish MP's photo used for Osama Bin Laden poster
Page last updated at 21:20 GMT, Saturday, 16 January 2010
BBC.com A photo of Bin Laden from 1998 (left) was digitally altered using
elements from an image of Gaspar Llamazares (right)A Spanish politician has said he was shocked to find out the FBI had used his photo for
a digitally-altered image showing how Osama Bin Laden might look.Gaspar Llamazares said he would no longer feel safe travelling to the US after his hair and parts of his face appeared on a most-wanted poster. He said the use of a real person for the mocked-up image was "shameless". The FBI admitted a forensic artist had obtained certain facial features "from a photograph he found on the internet". The digitally-altered photos of the al-Qaeda leader, showing how he might look now, aged 52, were published on the state department's Rewards for Justice website on Friday. Officials said they had adapted a 1998 file image to take account of a decade's worth of ageing, and possible changes to facial hair. 'Unintentional and inadvertent'Mr Llamazares, 52, the former leader of the United Left coalition in parliament, said he could not believe it when he was first told about the similarity between himself and the new photo-fit of Bin Laden. He said he soon realised that his forehead, hair and jaw-line had been "cut and pasted" from an old campaign photograph. Bin Laden's safety is not threatened by this but mine certainly is
—Gaspar Llamazares "I was surprised and angered because it's the most shameless use of a real person to make up the image of a terrorist," he told a news conference. "It's almost like out of a comedy if it didn't deal with matters as serious as Bin Laden and citizens' security." The FBI claimed to have used "cutting edge" technology, but Mr Llamazares said it showed the "low level" of US intelligence services and could cause problems if he was wrongly identified as the Saudi. "Bin Laden's safety is not threatened by this but mine certainly is," he said, adding that he was considering taking legal action. Later, an FBI spokesman told the BBC that it was "aware of the similarities in hairline features of the age-progressed photograph of Osama Bin Laden, posted on the web yesterday, and that of an existing photograph of a Spanish public official". "When producing age-progressed photographs, forensic artists typically select features from a database of stock reference photographs to create the new image." "After a preliminary review, it appears that in this instance the forensic artist was unable to find suitable features among the reference photographs and obtained those features, in part, from a photograph he found on the internet." "The forensic artist was not aware of the identity of the individual depicted in the photograph. The similarities between the photos were unintentional and inadvertent." news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8463657.stm
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 19, 2010 1:27:01 GMT 4
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Post by emeraldsun on Jan 19, 2010 20:35:35 GMT 4
A new Wings report is out. Enjoy  Over the many years that I have been writing energy alerts, and now WINGS posts, there have been but a handful of significant shifts that have occurred. The ascension process was designed to move us, expand us, and raise the consciousness of the planet through ourselves, one step at a time, in order to alleviate as much discomfort as possible. In this way, for the most part, it has been a slow and steady process. None-the-less, at specific times, more dramatic and pivotal shifts have also occurred, but these shifts were far and few between. In the beginning stages and years of the first phase of ascension, when things were moving ahead as was planned, the shifts could always be seen, and most certainly, they created the intended outcomes as well. After “the plan” stalled and basically failed to some degree, these intended shifts rarely, if ever, created the desired and intended outcomes. The energies would begin, but never seem to take hold. Like an engine sputtering, starting, and then dying, the vehicle could never gain its forward movement. Now that we have experienced the separation of the worlds, and are now existing in a parallel reality for awhile (until the intended process creates all our desired changes…and it will), the intended outcomes will indeed occur this time, as we are now starting over in a reality that will most certainly be the soup that creates all our desires and dreams. All this said, the new beginning energy that occurred on January 15th was the most dramatic I have seen and experienced for many years. It was quite phenomenal indeed. The solstice of December 2009 began the grounding in process. So then, we found ourselves grounding, staying down and well into the earth, exercising, walking or hiking, and even eating more with some weight gain. We were also reconnecting to our true and authentic selves and creating our very new foundations in all arenas. All in divine and perfect order. Leading up to January 15th, in which there occurred a new moon, a solar eclipse, and when Mercury resumed its forward movement, some manifestations occurred as well. Crying for no particular reason, or at least feeling like it (because of the Haiti heart opening…see below), feelings of a severe lack of self-confidence, feeling acutely vulnerable and fragile, feeling a loss of support or lack of anything in our spaces, feelings of wanting to be alone, or that being around others was irritating, massive and frequent hot flashes, being cold with an inability to get warm, panic, anxiety and depression, and sleepless nights along with daytime fatigue were but a few of the many symptoms of the impending shift. During the day of January 15th, the energy was beginning its shift, and this created movement which commonly manifests as feeling jittery and rattled for no apparent reason. During our sleep time on the night of January 15th, a massive release occurred. This created some interesting and revealing dreams for many. What happened, was that we were now ready for our move forward…for our new directions to finally take hold, and for a massive and intense release of the past. This release and final decision making at our soul levels was greatly experienced through our dreams, or at our higher levels. Up until then, we may have felt boxed in…as if we could not move forward in any way for a variety of reasons distinct to each of us, as if we were being suffocated or even feeling like there was great pressure around us. Trying to take even one step forward, resulted in hitting or running into someone or something that seemed to block our way. We may have felt squeezed into a box that seemed to get smaller and smaller. Manifesting or being in alignment with most anything (except creating new foundations and grounding), may have seemed futile at best. We were being surrounded by the old in many ways, as our release was well on the horizon, but had not quite yet arrived. Now it has. Like a slingshot into the new, our tethers have been broken and we can now move into a very, very new space. We are free and clear now. The road is open and ready for our footsteps, and the old is no longer holding us down. In addition, we will now become much more clear about what it is that we wish to create now. We may have had pieces in the past, or even actually known for awhile, and then things became foggy. The fog will now begin to lift and manifesting will become easier. The new energies have been trying to reach us for awhile now. Like a television streaming that continually stops and then starts up again, or a dvd movie that stops in a freeze frame and then resumes, we are getting the new and higher energies, but in slow and steady pieces, bit by bit, one piece at a time. We will be operating differently now as well. These higher vibrating energies we are now residing in, are creating some new and wonderful ways of being and manifesting that are far beyond what we have known in the past. As I have mentioned a few times in recent WINGS posts, I have been experimenting with them, and what they are creating and how they work, is nothing short of awesome. In this way, our framework will be different as well, as it needs to be in alignment and in harmony with these new and exciting energies of a much higher dimension. So then, our old structure will greatly change, as it is doing so now, and the new structure is only something I can describe as other worldly and beyond words, and does it feel good! A brief note on Haiti: The massive earthquake that occurred in Haiti this week created a monumental heart opening for the planet. The pain, suffering, and tragic loss it created opened our hearts and shifted the planet, pushing it into the heart space that it will be now operating from. These beautiful and giving souls who agreed at their soul levels to be a part of this experience, have served this planet in ways unseen for a very long time. As it was time at many of their soul levels to depart, they agreed to depart in a way that would serve the planet and take it to its new and higher level. Haiti will become a very sacred space, as it already has, and this event will be remembered for a very long time. It was a part of our very new beginning, and a part that will change the vibration and direction of our new world as well. These brave, unbelievably loving and precious souls, have given to this planet more than we could ever know. They have assisted in shifting the planet into its very new way of being that involves coming from the heart, and the honor and reverence I feel for them and the many other souls involved, goes beyond words. With much love and gratitude, Karen link here: www.emergingearthangels.com/2010/wings1.16.2010.html
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 19, 2010 23:56:16 GMT 4
A new Wings report is out. Enjoy Over the many years that I have been writing energy alerts, and now WINGS posts, there have been but a handful of significant shifts that have occurred. The ascension process was designed to move us, expand us, and raise the consciousness of the planet through ourselves, one step at a time, in order to alleviate as much discomfort as possible. In this way, for the most part, it has been a slow and steady process. None-the-less, at specific times, more dramatic and pivotal shifts have also occurred, but these shifts were far and few between... >>edited for length link here: www.emergingearthangels.com/2010/wings1.16.2010.html Thanks, emeraldsun. This is encouraging....and I do need some encouragement! love, Jen. |
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 19, 2010 23:59:56 GMT 4
Israel accused of silencing political protestBy BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press Writer – 33 mins agoJERUSALEM – Israel is arresting a growing number of prominent opponents to its policies toward the Palestinians, say critics who are accusing the government of trying to crush legitimate dissent. In the most high-profile case yet, Jerusalem police detained the leader of a leading Israeli human rights group during a vigil against the eviction of Palestinian families whose homes were taken by Jewish settlers. Since the summer, dozens of Palestinian and Israeli activists have been picked up, including those organizing weekly protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier as well as others advocating international boycotts of Israeli goods. Some of the Palestinians were released without charge only after weeks and months of questioning. The arrests come at a time of shifting tactics in the protests against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and annexation of east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. Israel captured both from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. The violence of the second Palestinian uprising, with mass marches and violent attacks, has given way to carefully calibrated protests and legal action in which Israeli and Palestinian activists now often work together.The main protest efforts are Friday demonstrations against the West Bank barrier in the Palestinian villages of Bilin and Naalin and vigils in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah, where Palestinians have been evicted. There appears to be an increased police crackdown on the protests with greater numbers of activists being arrested. In the West Bank, troops fire tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds — even midnight arrest raids — to disperse anti-barrier protesters. Israel says the protests are illegal, and the harsh tactics are a response to stone-throwing and violent rioting. In east Jerusalem, police have arrested some 70 demonstrators during marches in recent months, according to Israeli rights groups. At Friday's protest, police arrested 17 Israelis, including Hagai Elad, head of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. They were released 36 hours later by a Jerusalem court, which found the gathering to be illegal, but the arrests unnecessary. Elad said the arrests represent a "dramatic increase in attempts to silence dissent" that he believes began during last year's offensive in Gaza, when Israel arrested hundreds of anti-war protesters, mostly Arab citizens of Israel. Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld dismissed allegations of an arrest campaign and said recent protests in east Jerusalem did not have the required permits. "There's no campaign whatsoever," he said. "When there's a right wing or left wing, or Jewish or non-Jewish or Christian or Muslim demonstration ... they have to be fully coordinated with the police." The residents of Bilin have marched every Friday since 2005 toward the barrier that separates villagers from 60 percent of their land. Last year, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu dropped by for a visit. Nearby Naalin started similar marches two years ago. Israel says the barrier seeks to keep out Palestinian attackers, including suicide bombers. Palestinians call it a land grab because parts of it jut far into the West Bank. The Bilin marchers, joined by Israeli sympathizers and international activists, chant and wave Palestinian flags. Some youths throw stones at Israeli soldiers. A Bilin man and five in Naalin have been killed and hundreds wounded over the years by soldiers. Israeli troops also have been injured, including one who lost an eye. Since June, Israel has arrested almost three dozen villagers, mostly during night raids on the village, organizers say. More than 100 have been arrested in Naalin, including 16 in the past month. Schoolteacher Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, a leader of the Bilin protests, has been held since last month on charges of incitement and weapons possession — the latter stemming from spent Israeli tear gas canisters, stun grenades and other munitions he collected to show visitors. Two high-profile Palestinian activists were recently released without being charged. Jamal Juma, coordinator of the Stop The Wall campaign, was held for 17 days. Mohammed Othman, who encourages a boycott against Israel, was released after nearly four months. Othman, who was arrested upon his return from an advocacy trip to Norway, said he was interrogated almost daily. "The questions focused on the boycott movement, 'How do you work on this and who are your contacts?'" said Othman, 33. Interrogators searched his computer, his cell phone and e-mail accounts, he said. He had to pay a $2,700 bond. Othman said he would continue with his activism. "I don't do anything illegal," he said. "All my work was out in the open." news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_arresting_activists
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Post by ninathedog on Jan 21, 2010 2:49:19 GMT 4
US editor for Palestinian agency 'expelled from Israel'Page last updated at 15:58 GMT, Wednesday, 20 January 2010
BBC.com
 Jared Malsin (Picture provided by Maan) —
Maan said Malsin sounded 'shaken and confused' as he leftA US journalist with a Palestinian news agency has been expelled after Israel refused him entry and detained him for a week, the agency says.But Israel's Interior Ministry says Jared Malsin made his own choice to leave, including dropping his legal bid to reverse the entry denial. Maan, the news agency, has raised concerns that Mr Malsin's decision may have been made "under duress". Israel denies claims that the entry denial was linked to Mr Malsin's work. Mr Malsin, the English language editor at the West Bank-based agency, had been detained since he returned from a holiday in Prague eight days ago. The Israeli Interior Ministry says he was denied entry for failing to co-operate under questioning. Maan earlier said the decision could "only be explained as a retaliatory measure for his reporting on Palestine". On Tuesday Maan said it had won a legal bid to secure a hearing on the case. It said its lawyer had filed a request to allow Mr Malsin to leave Israel, rather than stay in detention at the airport, while his appeal was heard. But soon afterwards, Maan said its lawyer was shocked to hear the court had received a notification, signed by Mr Malsin, asking for his appeal to be withdrawn. It said it was "deeply concerned" there was no lawyer present when Mr Malsin apparently signed the document, and it was "inexplicable" that he would knowingly drop the legal challenge. "Without jumping to conclusions, Maan wants to be sure these events did not take place under duress," the agency said. Mr Malsin has been unable to comment while in transit, but a colleague said he sounded "shaken and confused" when he called briefly on Wednesday to say he was due to be flown to New York. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said Mr Malsin had waited in detention in the airport until a court hearing could be secured. "He apparently did not like this and chose to leave the country," she said. Incorrect visaWhen Mr Malsin was initially detained, Israeli security officials said security concerns had arisen when he was questioned. An official report on the questioning, which Maan said it had received during legal proceedings, accused Mr Malsin of failing to arrange the correct visa, but did not give details. It said he was suspected of "exploiting the fact that he is Jewish to gain a visa".This was apparently on the basis that, when seeking a visa extension previously, he had told Interior Ministry officials he was exploring the option of emigrating to Israel but had written articles critical of the country. By law Jews from around the world are eligible to emigrate to Israel. The report also said Mr Malsin had refused to give the name of the friend he said he lived with in the West Bank.Press freedom advocates have condemned the Israeli decision to refuse him entry. The International Federation of Journalists said it was an "intolerable violation of press freedom" and "appeared to be a reprisal measure for the journalist's independent reporting". Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said last week that allegations that the decision was because of Mr Malsin's journalism were "simply absurd". Foreign nationals working or volunteering with Palestinian organisations in the West Bank often complain of difficulty obtaining visas. Many are present on three-month tourist visas, which do not provide permission to work and may not be extended. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8470706.stm
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 4:53:23 GMT 4
Bible references on rifle sights used in Afghanistan to be removed[/size] From Times Online January 22, 2010 www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article6997881.ece A defence contractor will voluntarily stop stamping references to Bible verses on combat rifle sights made for the US military. In a statement released yesterday, Trijicon said that it is also providing free modification kits to remove the references from the telescopic sights already in use. The Marine Corps has purchased more than 200,000 Trijicon sights and the Army has bought about 100,000. The British Army is also using them in Afghanistan. The references to Bible passages raised concerns that they break a government rule that bans proselytising by American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. A spokesman for US Central Command said initially that the Trijicon sights did not violate the ban and compared the references on the sights to the "In God We Trust" inscription printed on US currency. Related Links On Thursday, however, General David Petraeus, Central Command’s chief officer, called the references “disturbing". “This is a serious concern to me and the other commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he told an audience at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The inscriptions are not obvious and appear in raised lettering at the end of the stock number. Trijicon’s rifle sights use tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, to create light and help shooters hit what they’re aiming for. Markings on the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, which is standard issue to US special operations troops, include “JN8:12”, a reference to John 8:12: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,'" according to the King James Bible. The Trijicon Reflex sight is stamped with 2COR4:6, a reference to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” the King James version reads. Photos posted on a Defence Department website show Iraqi forces training with rifles equipped with the inscribed sights. The company began putting Bible references on sites nearly 30 years ago under Trijicon’s founder, Glyn Bindon, who was killed in an aircraft crash in 2003. His son Stephen, Trijicon’s president, has continued the tradition. “Trijicon has proudly served the US military for more than two decades, and our decision to offer to voluntarily remove these references is both prudent and appropriate,” Stephen Bindon said in the statement. The company is also making the same offer to military in other countries that have purchased Trijicon’s rifle sights. A US Army official said that the service was unaware of the coded biblical references until several days ago. “It is not the policy of the Army or the Department of Defence to put religious references of any kind on its equipment,” Lieutenant-Colonel Jimmie Cummings said. Prior to the Trijicon’s statement, the Marine Corps said it planned to meet with the company to discuss future procurements of rifle sights.
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 4:57:17 GMT 4
Benn unveils plan to boost UK food and 'grow your own'[/size] BBC news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8440863.stm2010-01-07  Plans to boost food production in Britain and reduce its impact on the environment have been unveiled. The government's 20-year food strategy includes making land available for people to grow their own food and more healthy cooking courses. Minister Hilary Benn said shoppers had led the push for free-range eggs and could do the same for sustainable food. The Tories said ministers "belatedly" recognised the need for food security after a decade of declining production. Environment Secretary Mr Benn unveiled the government's Food 2030 plan at the Oxford Farming Conference and said a rising population and climate change meant food could not be taken for granted. Smaller portions The document includes proposals for a "healthy food code of conduct" to help people choose what food to buy - ideas include clearer labelling, smaller portions for "energy dense" or high salt foods, reducing fat and sugar in foods and nutrition information on restaurant menus. The government also wants less food waste, more food bought in season to reduce environmental impact and to encourage people to buy sustainably-farmed food. A decade ago, only 16% of eggs produced in the UK were free range. In the last 10 years that's more than doubled to just under 40% Hilary Benn Tory plan to 'curb' supermarkets It says it will pilot healthy cooking classes for "at risk" families as part of efforts to tackle obesity and will help local landowners and community groups work together to make land available temporarily, to grow food. It would also look into a community "land bank" to act as a broker between land-holders and community groups who want somewhere to grow food. Mr Benn said the expansion of fair trade and free-range food illustrated how shoppers could drive trends in food production - and he hoped they could do the same for sustainable, locally-grown products. "A decade ago, only 16% of eggs produced in the UK were free range. In the last 10 years that's more than doubled to just under 40%. Waitrose, M&S and the Co-op now sell only free range or organic eggs," he said. "And with the UK 80% self-sufficient in free-range eggs this is a great example of how our farmers have responded to what consumers want, to the benefit of both." More expensive Mr Benn told the BBC that 20 years ago British families spent about 20% of their income on food, now it had dropped to "just under 11%" - although families on low incomes still spent about 15-16% on food. Asked whether it would mean food becoming more expensive, he said everyone was responsible for what they ate and the government was just giving people information to make their own choices. Food stall The government wants to increase British food production The National Farmers' Union said the government's plans were a "useful blueprint", but said the government needed to achieve "the right balance" between productivity and sustainability. NFU president Peter Kendall said: "Farmers and growers are already demonstrating that they can produce more food while impacting less. What we now need are policies that underpin and enhance a productive agriculture sector." The Conservatives unveiled their own plans for a supermarket ombudsman at the same conference - to settle disputes between retailers and suppliers. 'Rock bottom prices' Shadow environment spokesman Nick Herbert told the BBC: "We welcome the fact that the government has belatedly recognised the importance of food security, but they presided over a decade of declining British production, and we're importing more and more food from overseas. He accused them of "turning their back on proposals like honest food labelling, a supermarket ombudsman, animal health measures". It's clear that the government's model for sustainable farming isn't working Tim Farron Lib Dems For the Lib Dems, Tim Farron said English farmers had been "badly hit by rock bottom farm gate prices which have slashed incomes" and an independent regulator was needed to deal with "over-powerful supermarkets". "There's no point in having a strategy for 2030 if farming is dead by 2020," he said. "It's clear that the government's model for sustainable farming isn't working. What farmers need right now is a fair price for their produce." Plaid Cymru said they had been campaigning for a supermarket ombudsman, better labelling, more local food and more local land to let people grow food for some time. The Welsh party's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said: "The plans outlined by the London parties show that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. "But I am afraid that today only emphasises how far behind us they are in developing meaningful and sustainable policies to support the industry." Email Article
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 5:09:17 GMT 4
Ancient cat goddess temple found in Egypt
Temple thought to belong to wife of king who ruled in 3rd century B.C.[/size] www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34935739/ns/technology_and_science-science/ This undated photo released Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, by Egypt's supreme council of antiquities shows the ancient cat-goddess Bastet found amongst the temple's ruins in the Kom el-Dekkah area of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. Egypt says its archaeologists have unearthed a Ptolemic temple dating back more than 2,000 years and which may have been dedicated to the ancient cat-goddess CAIRO - Egypt said Tuesday that its archaeologists have unearthed a Ptolemaic-era temple dating back more than 2,000 years, that may have been dedicated to the ancient cat goddess, Bastet. The Supreme Council of Antiquities said the temple's ruins were discovered in the heart of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the seat of the dynasty founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C., that ended with the suicide of Cleopatra 300 years later. The statement said the temple was thought to belong to Queen Berenice, wife of King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B.C. Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here Mohammed Abdel-Maqsood, the Egyptian archaeologist who led the excavation team, said the discovery may be the first trace of the long-sought location of Alexandria's royal quarter. The large number of statues depicting Bastet found in the ruins, he said, indicated that this may be the first Ptolemaic temple discovered in Alexandria to be dedicated to the cat goddess. That also suggests that the worship of the cat-goddess continued in Egypt during the later, more Greek-influenced, Ptolemaic period, he said. Statues of other ancient Egyptian deities also present, he added. Zahi Hawas, Egypt's chief archaeologist, said the temple may have been used in later times as a quarry and that this was evidenced by the large number of missing stone blocks. Modern Alexandria was built squarely on top of the ruins of the classical-era city and many of the great temples, palaces and libraries of that time remain undiscovered. The temple was found in the Kom el-Dekkah neighborhood near the city's main train station and is also the site of a Roman-era amphitheater and well preserved mosaics.
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 5:16:58 GMT 4
Bible Possibly Written Centuries Earlier, Text Suggests[/size] LiveScience www.livescience.com/history/earliest-hebrew-text-100115.html2010-01-16  The ancient text shown in this drawing was discovered on a shard of pottery in Israel, and turned out to be the earliest known example of Hebrew writing. Credit: University of Haifa Scientists have discovered the earliest known Hebrew writing — an inscription dating from the 10th century B.C., during the period of King David's reign. The breakthrough could mean that portions of the Bible were written centuries earlier than previously thought. (The Bible's Old Testament is thought to have been first written down in an ancient form of Hebrew.) Until now, many scholars have held that the Hebrew Bible originated in the 6th century B.C., because Hebrew writing was thought to stretch back no further. But the newly deciphered Hebrew text is about four centuries older, scientists announced this month. "It indicates that the Kingdom of Israel already existed in the 10th century BCE and that at least some of the biblical texts were written hundreds of years before the dates presented in current research," said Gershon Galil, a professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Haifa in Israel, who deciphered the ancient text. BCE stands for "before common era," and is equivalent to B.C., or before Christ. The writing was discovered more than a year ago on a pottery shard dug up during excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, near Israel's Elah valley. The excavations were carried out by archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At first, scientists could not tell if the writing was Hebrew or some other local language. Finally, Galil was able to decipher the text. He identified words particular to the Hebrew language and content specific to Hebrew culture to prove that the writing was, in fact, Hebrew. "It uses verbs that were characteristic of Hebrew, such as asah ('did') and avad ('worked'), which were rarely used in other regional languages," Galil said. "Particular words that appear in the text, such as almanah ('widow') are specific to Hebrew and are written differently in other local languages." The ancient text is written in ink on a trapezoid-shaped piece of pottery about 6 inches by 6.5 inches (15 cm by 16.5 cm). It appears to be a social statement about how people should treat slaves, widows and orphans. In English, it reads (by numbered line): 1' you shall not do [it], but worship the [Lord]. 2' Judge the sla[ve] and the wid[ow] / Judge the orph[an] 3' [and] the stranger. [Pl]ead for the infant / plead for the po[or and] 4' the widow. Rehabilitate [the poor] at the hands of the king. 5' Protect the po[or and] the slave / [supp]ort the stranger. The content, which has some missing letters, is similar to some Biblical scriptures, such as Isaiah 1:17, Psalms 72:3, and Exodus 23:3, but does not appear to be copied from any Biblical text.
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 5:22:46 GMT 4
Fish Oils May Slow Genetic Aging in Heart Patients
New Research Suggests Omega-3s May Slow Aging on Genetic Level; Some Heart Doctors Skeptical[/size] By JOHN McKENZIE ABC News Medical Correspondent abcnews.go.com/WN/Wellness/fish-oils-omega-slow-genetic-aging-heart-patients/story?id=9606251Jan. 19, 2010 Heart disease patients have long been encouraged to eat more fish or take fish oil supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids. The reason? People who do, tend to live longer. Share Researchers have discovered a clue to slowing down the aging process. Now, some say a study out this evening in the Journal of the American Medical Association might explain why. Specifically, the researchers behind the study report that for heart disease patients, omega-3 fatty acids may protect against death and illness by slowing biological aging. However, the findings were met with skepticism from some cardiac experts who said the study had serious limitations. In the study, Dr. Ramin Farzaneh-Far of the University of California San Francisco and colleagues followed more than 600 men with heart disease and found those taking the most omega-3 appeared "biologically younger" -- that is, the ends of their chromosomes, called telomeres, looked longer and healthier. Related Have You Had Your Omega-3 Today? Natural-Born Healers? Top 10 Products Is IQ and Baby Formula Study a Ploy? "Patients with the highest levels of omega-3 fish oils were found to display the slowest decrease in telomere length, whereas those with the lowest levels of omega-3 fish oils in the blood had the fastest rate of telomere shortening," Farzaneh-Far said. "This suggests that these patients were aging faster than those with higher fish oil levels." Some doctors agreed that the findings seem interesting. "Telomeres do help the body repair damage," said Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who was not involved with the study. "The longer they are, the more the damage repair that can occur." "It's a risk-free way of potentially extending lifespan and reducing disability," said Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer of the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Yet some cardiologists were quick to point out that the results are preliminary, and need to be replicated before physicians can use them in practice. Since the study was observational and couldn't prove cause-and-effect, "we don't really know whether ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in this 'benefit,'" said Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic. "It remains entirely possible that individuals who consume more fish also have other favorable healthy habits. ... The relationship between telomere shortening and cardiovascular health is not well established." This concern was echoed in a statement by a spokeswoman for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, who told ABC News that while the study "shows a possible association between omega-3 fatty acids and telomere length," it "does not show causation."
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Post by nodstar on Jan 22, 2010 6:05:06 GMT 4
Bisphenol A (plastics) link to heart disease confirmed[/size] Nature 2010-01-14 www.nature.com/news/2010/100113/full/news.2010.7.htmlSecond study supports an association between the chemical and cardiovascular problems. Scientists have once again found that people with higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine are more likely to have heart disease than those with lower urinary BPA levels. Used to make some plastic drinks bottles and the inner coatings of food cans, BPA can mimic the effects of estrogen and has been associated with a number of conditions in animal studies, including low sperm count, prostate cancer and fetal developmental problems. In 2008, researchers first linked BPA to diabetes and heart disease in humans1, but industry lobby groups such as the American Chemistry Council in Arlington, Virginia, have vigorously disputed those findings. Now, the same researchers are back with a second report in PLoS ONE2, which uses an independent data set to come up with broadly similar, if weaker, results. "It's only the second data set from a big population to be released," says lead author David Melzer of the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Exeter, UK. "It shows that our first paper wasn't a statistical blip." Divided opinion Melzer and his co-authors analysed data from the 2005–06 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1,493 adults, who provided urine samples and completed questionnaires about their health. Higher concentrations of BPA in the subjects' urine were associated with cardiovascular disease, but not with diabetes or high levels of liver enzymes, which indicate liver damage. However, BPA concentrations were 30% lower in this survey than in the 2003–04 survey used in the team's previous study, although when the two samples were pooled, diabetes and liver-enzyme associations remained statistically significant. Based on the data, a 60-year-old man with the lowest levels of BPA in the survey had about a 7.2% chance of developing cardiovascular disease whereas a similar subject with levels three times higher faced about a 10.2% risk. The results add to a limited number of human studies on the effects of BPA, but are unlikely to bring together the two sides of the highly charged debate on the chemical's safety. Toxicologist Frederick vom Saal of the University of Missouri in Columbia, a long-time critic of the regulations governing the use of BPA, says that identifying such an association from epidemiological data is alarming. "The important issue is there have got to be 100 plus factors involved in any one of these diseases, and you are looking at one chemical, one time in a spot urine collection, and it's popping up as a significant variable," he says, "That's impressive because that's something you can do something about." But Steven Hentges of the American Chemical Council says that the fact that some of the team's original results were not independently supported raises more questions than it answers. "The weight of scientific evidence continues to support the view that BPA is not a health concern," he says. "If you think that this study raises a hypothesis – fair enough – but the fact that they have not been able to replicate most of what they reported before is very telling." Missing mechanism Indeed, other scientists agree that what is still missing from the research is a demonstration of the mechanism of action. "Association studies show something really is going on, but getting to a definite mechanism of cause and effect is what we can add with animal studies," says Scott Belcher of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, who has begun a series of studies on mice and rats funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Scientists have long known that estrogen has the potential to affect heart function through the oestrogen beta receptor, and Belcher is looking at how BPA affects calcium levels, which control heart contractions. His early results show that BPA, like oestrogen, causes an irregular heartbeat in female rats, which could increase the risk of a heart attack. Belcher is planning further studies in rodents to look directly at the risks of heart attack, obesity and changes in the cardiovascular system. The policy on BPA in the United States seems to be caught in a loop. The Food and Drug Administration has delayed a promised 'update' on its position that the chemical is safe. "We'll be making an announcement soon," says agency spokeswoman Meghan Scott, although she was unable to be more specific about the timing of the announcement.
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