Reading between the lines, and thinking outside the box . . .
Spain's Socialist leader is set to meet the Pope's representative today amid a storm of controversy over the Roman Catholic Church's calls to oust him from power. Zapatero plans to tell the Papal Nuncio that the Church must respect the elected Government and refrain from campaigning for the opposition before the March 9 general election.
Spanish bishops waded into the election campaign 2 weeks ago when they effectively directed Spaniards to vote against the Government and in favour of the conservative Popular Party.
Be your Valentine? Hell no!...
Teachers are all too often silent about the origin of the customs they are forced to teach in today's schools! If they were to speak out, many would lose their jobs! Isn't it time we examined why we encourage our children to celebrate St. Valentine's Day - when it is never mentioned in the Bible as a practice of the New Testament Church?
Centuries before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated February 15 and the evening of February 14 as an idolatrous and sensuous festival in honor of Lupercus, the "hunter of wolves." The Romans called the festival the "Lupercalia."
The custom of exchanging valentines and all the other traditions in honor of Lupercus - the deified hero-hunter of Rome- was also linked anciently with the pagan practice of teen-agers "going steady." It usually led to fornication. Today, the custom of "going steady" is thought very modern. It isn't. It is merely a rebirth of an old custom "handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia."
And what about hearts? The pagan Romans acquired the symbol of the heart from the Babylonians. In the Babylonian tongue the word for heart was "bal" (Strong's #1168). The heart - bal - was merely a symbol of Nimrod - the Baal! or Lord of the Babylonians!
When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire there was some talk in church circles of discarding this pagan free-for-all. But the Roman citizens wouldn't hear of it!
So it was agreed that the holiday would continue as it was, except for the more grossly sensual observances. It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a "Christian" custom.
The German government and the Church of Scientology have never been friends. Now a court has ruled that Scientologists are doing enough in Germany to warrant ongoing surveillance by the government, which fears an organized plan to undermine German rule of law.
Evidence against the Church of Scientology in this case included brochures called "The Way to Happiness," part of a worldwide project called "Operation Planetary Calm," which aims to spread Scientology's principles around the world.
The Higher Administrative Court said: "There are concrete indications that Scientology's activities are to implement Scientology's program in Germany and to expand more and more Scientology's principles in government, economy and society."
Boosting the number of German troops in Afghanistan and shifting them to the violent south makes no strategic sense and would stretch military equipment to the limit, the main association for German soldiers said.
"We are clearly reaching capacity limits, but not in terms of training or the number of available soldiers. We have problems, bottlenecks, with helicopters, with televisor links. We are light years behind the equipment of our allies."
[Europress] [Russopress]
France has formally ratified the Lisbon Treaty, with its publication in the country's official journal. It is the 5th country to approve the reform treaty and the 1st of the EU's founder members to do so.
The European Commission called Wednesday for the creation of a European border patrol as it published plans to strengthen frontiers by requiring travelers to submit their fingerprints before entering European Union countries.
Under the proposals, all non-Europeans would have to submit biometric data to enter the EU even if they come from countries, such as the US and Canada, from which visa-free travel is currently permitted.
The plans are sensitive in Europe where many governments regard the policing of frontiers as a fundamental aspect of national sovereignty.
Often seen as remote and technocratic by its own citizens, the EU is set to have a face next year when it gets its first president. Who will be "Mr. Europe," and what will the job involve? There are no easy answers.
Almost 5 years on from "Operation Iraqi Freedom," the neocon dreams of imperial conquest have hit the buffers. But now, the empire builders realize they urgently need European support.
With its own military forces overstretched and its economy heading into recession, the US desperately needs the EU to fall into line, and for European troops to be sent – in their thousands – to die on the front line.
As welcome as recent developments in France and Poland are to the neocons, what the serial warmongers require most is to have control of the EU itself. Which is where Tony Blair comes in. The appointment of Blair as President of the European Council, with extended powers in the sphere of defense and trade would be the culmination of the neocon dream: to fully neuter Europe as alternative source of global power.
While the election of Sarkozy has already neutered France, traditionally the main European source of opposition to Pax Americana; the appointment of Blair as EU President would be the final piece of the jigsaw.
POTUS, as they call the president of the United States, has a new rival. For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the next American president can expect to meet an equal -- the first person to occupy the new post of president of the European Union.
One likely candidate is that old friend of the United States, former British Premier Tony Blair. He has the overt backing of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and will have the support of the next Italian premier if as expected Silvio Berlusconi returns to power in Italy's election. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has yet to make her views known, but she would not block a pro-Blair consensus.
Many Europeans are wary of leaders from big countries like Britain, France or Germany and are more comfortable with able men from small nations.
(And: Brown backs Blair for EU job)
US and NATO efforts in the Balkans haven't received a lot of attention lately. That could change, though, if reports of Kosovo's impending independence are accurate. The 1,400 U.S. soldiers in the Balkan nation are watching the situation carefully.
President Putin, playing down recent hawkish statements from Moscow, said on Thursday Russia was not interested in a return to the Cold War.
"To suppose that we aspire to return to the times of the Cold War is just too bold a supposition. We are not interested in this. Our main tasks are internal development, the solution of social and economic problems of the country."
So who is lying?!...
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday evening assured Shas Chairman Eli Yishai that no secret talks on the division of Jerusalem were being held by anyone, referring to reports earlier Wednesday that secret talks were underway on core issues, including a plan to divide the capital.
"Foreign Minister Livni and I are supervising the negotiations together. There have so far been no agreements on the fate of Jerusalem."
German press
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks in Berlin this week at which they discussed how best to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions. But when it comes to a number of other issues, these allies are still having trouble seeing eye to eye. Commentators writing in Germany's main newspapers Wednesday agreed Germany still has a lot to learn about Israel.
The chief of Hezbollah threatened to retaliate against Israeli targets after accusing the Jewish state of killing the militant Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. "You have killed Hajj Imad outside the natural battlefield. You have crossed the borders. With this murder, its timing, location and method — Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."
President Bush, stepping up pressure on Syria, ordered new sanctions Wednesday to punish officials in Damascus for alleged efforts to undermine stability in Iraq and meddle in Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy.
Bush, in an executive order, said he was expanding penalties against senior government officials in Syria and their associates deemed to be responsible for — or to have benefited from — public corruption.
A leading opposition politician accused President Musharraf of planning to rig next week's elections, describing it as a move that could trigger uncontrollable unrest and tear Pakistan apart.
Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also told AP that US support for Musharraf was deepening anti-American sentiment in Pakistan and that only democratic rule could end rising Islamic militancy.
US Navy warships off of Somalia's northeastern coast fired at least 3 missiles at locations inside the coastal town of Eyl, local sources reported Tuesday.
The US warships have surrounded Russian vessel Svitzer Korsakov, which was captured by suspected pirates on Feb. 4. There are a total of 6 foreigners abroad the ship and the hijackers have not demanded a ransom payment.
A US Navy spokesman declined to comment on reports that the warships fired off their guns, but only confirmed that the warships were "monitoring" the hijacked vessel.
An army of young warriors is being secretly armed and reinforced in remote areas of Kenya's Rift Valley, preparing for war if the country's knife-edge peace talks fail. Elders have organised thousands of men from the pro-opposition Kalenjin tribe into militia units.
"If the peace talks collapse, there will be war. We are waiting the results of Mr Annan's talks, but if they do not go well, we will make sure there is not one Kikuyu left in the Rift Valley."
President Ahmadinejad will make an unprecedented two-day trip to Baghdad from March 2 to hold talks with the Iraqi Prime Minister and other top officials. The visit, intended to foster relations between the former foes, will mark the first trip to Iraq by a leader of the Islamic Republic since its creation in 1979.
At the same time, Tehran postponed the 4th in a series of landmark talks with Washington in Baghdad on security issues in Iraq. No reason was given.
Iran will launch a commodities exchange for oil, petrochemicals and natural gas on February 27, the oil minister said on Wednesday. He said earlier the Oil Bourse will be located on the Persian Gulf island of Kish and that all financial settlements will be made in Iran's national currency, the rial.
French oil company Total pledged to stay in Iran and Venezuela, but said it was still too dangerous to invest in Iraq. Total has been at odds with Washington for years about its investments in Iran and faces growing domestic pressure as President Sarkozy hardens France's stance against Tehran's nuclear activities.
French President Sarkozy said on Wednesday he would refuse to greet any world leader who refused to recognise Israel -- a remark apparently ruling out any face-to-face meetings with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
Paranoid Propaganda...
Iran still possesses the capacity to produce nuclear weapons even though it may have stopped its atomic arms development program, a senior US intelligence official said Wednesday. The deputy US director of national intelligence for analysis, told a Congressional hearing that the Islamic republic "continues to develop" capabilities that could be swiftly adopted for production of nuclear weapons.
How will you know when the order is given to launch an attack on Iran – or some target yet to be imagined? And how will you know that the government propaganda they're feeding you via the Old Media is unmitigated BS?
Since 9/11, and seemingly without the notice of most Americans, the federal government has assumed the authority to institute martial law, arrest a wide swath of dissidents (citizen and noncitizen alike), and detain people without legal or constitutional recourse in the event of "an emergency influx of immigrants in the US, or to support the rapid development of new programs."
Beginning in 1999, the government has entered into a series of single-bid contracts with Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to build detention camps at undisclosed locations within the US.
The government has also contracted with several companies to build thousands of railcars, some reportedly equipped with shackles, ostensibly to transport detainees.
According to diplomat and author Peter Dale Scott, the KBR contract is part of a Homeland Security plan titled ENDGAME, which sets as its goal the removal of "all removable aliens" and "potential terrorists."
What a terrible election this is! I keep reading about the huge turnout in various primaries, and I'm dumbfounded. How on earth could anyone be enthused about this slate of candidates? Am I missing something?
For a plethora of reasons, I consider both John McCain and Hillary Clinton to be totally unsuited to occupy the office of the presidency. So, as if to mock my concerns, the black-hearted gods that rule American politics have seen to it that these are precisely the 2 candidates who may well win their respective nominations (with Barack Obama as the possible spoiler for Hillary).
John McCain is on my verboten list for a simple reason: he's crazy. Not satisfied with only two quagmires, he has darkly warned that there will be yet "more wars." And alongside his warmongering, he has an explosive temper and a fanatical look in his eyes that should unsettle even the most militaristic of voters.
It looks like our next president [?] will be a deranged militarist, a shrill neo-Marxist, or a sloganeering lightweight steeped in cultish adulation. And all the while, the USS Titanic churns ever closer to its rendezvous with the icebergs.
(Blog: McCain doesn't get it)
The archbishop of San Antonio said he was "surprised" to hear that a local Catholic university will be the spot for a campaign rally for Hilary Clinton, whose records he says are not consistent with Church teaching.
"Catholic institutions are obliged to teach and promote Catholic values in all instances. This is especially important when people look to our Catholic universities and colleges to provide leadership and clarity to the often complicated and conflicting political discourse.
"It is clear that the records of Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates for president on important life issues are not consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church. It is not my intention to tell people for whom to vote. However, I encourage Catholics to understand the teachings of the Church on the broad spectrum of public issues that are of great concern today."
The Illinois senator has the instincts of an agitator and seeks to give the crowds what he senses they want. His populist primary rhetoric is only one face of Obama. There is another, and it is turned firmly towards the very corporate interests he publicly criticizes, which have poured tens of millions of dollars into his campaign.
Given these big business ties, Obama's campaign rhetoric about confronting poverty and social inequality involve a level of cynicism and demagogy that is truly staggering. His incessant promises of change are not tied to any radical economic program that fundamentally challenges the profit interests of the giant corporations and Wall Street.
The US is launching a diplomatic offensive to meet the growing threat to its energy security from powerful and increasingly wealthy producers who are flexing their new geopolitical muscles.
Faced with oil-related challenges on a number of fronts, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that she will appoint a special envoy for energy issues to deal with countries that use their oil and gas for political means.
Her action underscores the growing concern about security of energy supplies in the US, and the shrinking pool of reserves available to multinational corporations as producing countries put their resources in the hands of national oil companies.
Just 2 weeks after saying he hoped oil prices would "stabilize" at under $100 a barrel, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez this week threatened to send them soaring to $200 a barrel in response to his growing dispute with Exxon.
"They will never rob us again, those bandits of ExxonMobil, they are imperialist bandits, white collar criminals, corruptors of governments, over-throwers of governments, who supported the invasion and bombing of Iraq and continue supporting the genocide in Iraq."
(And: Oil above $93)
Defaults in the US housing market are spreading from sub-prime to the much larger stock of top-grade housing debt, threatening to set off a wave of even bigger losses for banks and investment funds.
The Mortgage Bankers Association says default rates on all outstanding home loans in the US have reached 7.3pc, the highest level since modern records began in the 1970s.
Arrears on "prime" mortgages have reached a record 4pc, confounding expectations that middle-class Americans with good credit records would be able to weather the storm.
If prime default rates rise on their current trajectory, they could ultimately cause huge financial damage.
(Cartoon: Remember the "Shop till you drop?")
Swiss banking giant UBS plunged to its first-ever full-year net loss today after losing $18 billion in the US subprime mortgage crisis. In the 4th quarter alone, UBS lost $13.7 billion. UBS said it expected 2008 to be "another difficult year" given plunging stock market values and growing fears of a recession in the US.
Germany has agreed on a $2.19 billion rescue package for subprime-hit bank IKB, the 3rd bail-out for the ailing institution. The massive cash injection marks the first time the German government has stepped in directly to prop up a casualty of the subprime loan crisis.
Finance Minister Steinbrueck warned against allowing IKB to go bankrupt. A collapse would have "threatened a huge loss of trust in Germany's financial reputation," adding that it would trigger a guarantee mechanism that would spread the bank failure across the entire financial sector. "The potential fallout from an IKB insolvency is incalculable."
Another state-owned group, BayernLB, also confirmed Wednesday that it had a hole in its accounts totalling nearly $3 billion.
In his controversial new book, Nick Davies argues that shadowy intelligence agencies are pumping out black propaganda to manipulate public opinion – and that the media simply swallow it wholesale.
For the first time in human history, there is a concerted strategy to manipulate global perception. And the mass media are operating as its compliant assistants, failing both to resist it and to expose it.
The sheer ease with which this machinery has been able to do its work reflects a creeping structural weakness which now afflicts the production of our news. I've spent the last 2 years researching a book about falsehood, distortion and propaganda in the global media.
So, who exactly is producing fiction for the media? Some of this comes from freelance political agitators. But clearly a great deal of this carries the fingerprints of officialdom. The Pentagon has now designated "information operations" as its 5th "core competency" alongside land, sea, air and special forces.
In the wake of an attempt by Palestinians to burn down Joseph's Tomb, Palestinian Authority President Abbas' Fatah faction issued a statement denying it will help restore the shrine, referring to both the shrine and the biblical patriarch as "Muslim."
"Pay no attention to the rumors that we will work with Israel to restore the burial site of the holy Muslim Joseph. We are going to guard this holy Muslim site."
Tonight's sky chart – looking westward – is nearly the same as last night's chart. But there is one noticeable difference: the moon is in a different position with respect to the stars. The moon takes 27.3 days – nearly 4 weeks – to orbit the Earth with respect to the stars.
(Wiki: The time between 2 full moons (or between successive occurrences of the same phase) is about 29.53 days on average. This synodic month is longer than the time it takes the Moon to make one orbit about the Earth with respect to the fixed stars (the sidereal month), which is about 27.32 days.)
[WAR: This sidereal month is a key to understanding the Biblical calendar. And just as the sidereal month is shorter than the synodic, the sidereal year is 20 minutes shorter than the tropical year. The year starts when the crescent Moon is in a particular area of the heavens -- with no relationship whatseover to the vernal equinox, or barley growing in the ground. And a 13th month is automatically added when necessary -- no elaborate calculations or opinions of men needed, just need to look up and observe.
Even in Psalm 19, David is giving us the definition of a geocentric/sidereal viewpoint: the time it takes the Sun to go from one end/edge of the heavens (Milky Way) to the other end/edge. Astronomers know what he's referring to, and "Even the stork in the sky knows its appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of YAHWEH." (Jer 8:7)
And consider these 2 other translations: "...only for my people the divine appointment passes unobserved." (Knox); "They all return at God's appointed time each year; but not my people!" (Taylor)]
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