Month: August 2013

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News/Politics 8-17-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, you decide.

Here’s a few from me to start things off.

First up, Egypt.

From FoxNews  “The Egyptian defense minister has ordered the repair and reconstruction of  all churches that suffered damage in the country’s violent demonstrations since  the Egyptian military removed President Mohamed Morsi from power last month.

Defense minister Col. Gen. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi intends to fix the damage to  Coptic churches at Rabaa Adaweya and Nahda squares, according to a report by the  Mid-East Christian News.

Dozens of churches were attacked and burned in riots after thousands of  demonstrators took to the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities to demand  the end of what they call military rule, following the removal of Morsi on July  3. Many of Morsi’s supporters have voiced criticism at Egypt’s Christian  minority for largely supporting the military’s decision to oust him from  office.

“The Egyptian defense minister ordered the engineering department of the  armed forces to swiftly repair all the affected churches, in recognition of the  historical and national role played by our Coptic brothers,” read a statement  that aired on Egyptian television.”

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Next up, It’s Alive! and yes, that means they’re violating the federal ban.

From JudicialWatch  “A spinoff of the scandal-ridden community organizer group ACORN received more than $200,000 in federal housing grants despite a ban on money going to ACORN affiliates, watchdog organization Judicial Watch announced Thursday.

ACORN, which officially folded in 2009 after a string of scandals, rebranded into more than 100 spinoff groups, including Affordable Housing Centers of America — also now defunct — and Mission of Peace, an affordable housing nonprofit.

In February, the Department of Housing and Urban Development transferred $201,222.07 from AHCOA to Mission of Peace “specifically to pay for the activities of former AHCOA affiliates,” according to a memo obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act request.”

“Because of the ban, the award to Mission of Peace appears to be a violation of federal law, according to Judicial Watch. MOP is one of numerous ACORN affiliates operating under new names, Judicial Watch spokeswoman Jill Farrell told the Washington Examiner.”

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And then another story of the Obama admin disobeying and disregarding federal law.

From NationalJournal  “About 400,000 “Dreamers” have been allowed to stay in the United States in the year since the Obama administration began accepting applications for young illegal immigrants to defer deportation proceedings and receive work permits, according to data compiled by the Brookings Institution and released on the anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The numbers show that out of more than a half-million applicants for deferred action, more than three-quarters were accepted and just 1 percent denied. The applications were concentrated in states that already have large immigrant communities, such as California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida. On the East Coast, the applications were from a more diverse set of countries while in the West, Midwest, and South the vast majority of applicants were from Mexico.”

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Our Daily Thread 8-16-13

Good Morning!

It’s Friday! 🙂

On this day in 1812 Detroit fell to Indian and British troops in the War of 1812.

In 1858 a telegraphed message from Britain’s Queen Victoria to President Buchanan was transmitted over the recently laid trans-Atlantic cable.

In 1861 President Lincoln prohibited the Union states from trading with the states of the Confederacy.

In 1954 Sports Illustrated was published for the first time.

And in 1960 Cyprus was granted independence by Britain.

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Quote of the Day

“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.“

Groucho Marx

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Not many birthdays today, but we do have some notable events.

This band’s first single was released today in 1966. It was this song.

And sadly this man died today in 1977 at the age of 42. And this was the first song I learned to play on the guitar.

And this one is because I like it. 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

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Prayer Requests 8-16-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 4

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

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News/Politics 8-16-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up, the turmoil in Egypt continues.

From TheNYTimes  “Gathering Thursday morning around a mosque used as a morgue for hundreds killed the day before, many Islamists waited confidently for a surge of sympathetic support from the broader public. But it failed to materialize.”

“With their leaders jailed or silent, Islamists reeled in shock at the worst mass killing in Egypt’s modern history. By Thursday night, health officials had counted 638 dead and nearly 4,000 injured, but the final toll was expected to rise further.       

A tense quiet settled over Cairo as the city braced for new protests by the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, after Friday Prayer. The new government authorized the police to respond with lethal force if they felt endangered.”

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Next up, told ya. And this is on top of the $375,000 already handed to PP in DC. It’s now already over a million dollars, and it’ll be nationwide, and even more money before their done rewarding their favorite donors in the abortion industry. Not to mention all the money they’ll make when health coverage is forced to pay for abortions thru ObamaCare.

From TheDailyCaller  “Three Planned Parenthood affiliates will be receiving a total of more than  $655, 000 grants from the federal government to serve as Obamacare “navigators”  to help people enroll in the health-care exchanges.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $67 million  in grants to 105 “Navigator grant applicants”  Thursday.

Iowa’s Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Montana’s Intermountain Planned  Parenthood, Inc. DBA Planned Parenthood and New Hampshire’s Planned Parenthood  of Northern New England are included in that list.”

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And remember when Obama assured us the NSA wasn’t spying on American citizens? Yeah, the good old days, like a month ago.

From TheWaPo  “The National Security Agency has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times each year since Congress granted the agency broad new powers in 2008, according to an internal audit and other top-secret documents.

Most of the infractions involve unauthorized surveillance of Americans or foreign intelligence targets in the United States, both of which are restricted by statute and executive order. They range from significant violations of law to typographical errors that resulted in unintended interception of U.S. e-mails and telephone calls.

The documents, provided earlier this summer to The Washington Post by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, include a level of detail and analysis that is not routinely shared with Congress or the special court that oversees surveillance. In one of the documents, agency personnel are instructed to remove details and substitute more generic language in reports to the Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.”

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Now that the Obama admin has forced the DoD to embrace homosexuals in the military, the consequences for believers daring to oppose it are beginning. This will continue. They want to purge all resistance to their agenda.

From FoxNews  “A 19-year veteran of the Air Force said he was relieved of his duties after he disagreed with his openly gay commander when she wanted to severely punish an instructor who had expressed religious objections to homosexuality.”

““I was relieved of my position because I don’t agree with my commander’s position on gay marriage,” Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk told Fox News. “We’ve been told that if you publicly say that homosexuality is wrong, you are in violation of Air Force policy.”

““Are we going to have a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy for Christians so we don’t get harassed for our beliefs?” attorney Hiram Sasser asked Fox News. “Here’s a guy who wants to have his religious liberty and serve in the military. He shouldn’t have to believe in gay marriage in order to serve.”

“In one of our first meetings, she was talking about her promotion and she mentioned something about a benediction,” Monk told Fox News. “She said she wanted a chaplain but objected to one particular chaplain that she called a bigot because he preached that homosexuality is a sin.”

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Meanwhile his hypocrisy on the whole gay marriage issue is being pointed out. And it’s about time someone pointed out the 800lb. Islamic gorilla in the room, and how it handles the issue. When will he get around to mentioning and condemning their horrible treatment of homosexuals?

From NationalReview  “Forbidden,” he curtly pronounced. “Those involved in the act should be punished. In fact, sodomites should be killed in the worst manner possible.”

“Cynically mounting his high horse last week in the cozy confines of Jay Leno’s late-night TV comedy program — a venue popular with his ill-informed admirers, one where hypocrisy won’t be noticed, much less challenged — the president declaimed, “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate or are harmful to them.”

This was his purported human-rights rationale for canceling a summit meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who in June signed an anti-gay law banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.” Obama told Leno that “making sure people are treated fairly and justly” is a “precept that’s not unique to America” and “should apply everywhere.”

Does the president truly mean what he said? Or was he just pandering to dreamy millennials and the Hollywood glitterati, who are too uninformed or in the tank to mark the chasm between his righteous finger-wagging at Putin and his kowtowing to Islamic leaders? The answers depend on whether he finally condemns sharia’s oppressive and often brutal strictures against homosexuality, which are zealously enforced in most Muslim countries.”

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Here’s an update on the story from a month or so ago about Obama not knowing when to keep his mouth shut. His opining has affected the cases of 2 service members charged with sexual assault. His “undue command influence” has restricted the level of punishment they now face. Nice job Barry. 🙄

And shouldn’t a constitutional law professor have known this?

From USAToday  “A military judge says two service members cannot be punitively discharged — even if found guilty — because of “unlawful command influence”  reflected in comments by President Obama.

Citing court documents, Stars and Stripes reports that “Navy Judge Cmdr. Marcus Fulton ruled during pretrial hearings in two sexual assault cases — U.S. v. Johnson and U.S. v. Fuentes — that comments made by Obama as commander in chief would unduly influence any potential sentencing.”

Attorneys for the defendants cited these May 7 comments by Obama on sexual assault in the military:”

“”The judge’s pretrial ruling means that if either defendant is found guilty, whether by a jury or a military judge, they cannot receive a bad conduct discharge or a dishonorable discharge. Sailors found guilty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s Article 120, which covers several sexual crimes including assault and rape, generally receive punitive discharges.”

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This one? I knew it. And they said I was crazy. 🙂

From TheAtlanticWire  “Newly declassified documents, obtained by George Washington University’s National Security Archive, appear to for the first time acknowledge the existence of Area 51. Hundreds of pages describe the genesis of the Nevada site that was home to the government’s spy plane program for decades. The documents do not, however, mention aliens.”

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And lastly, cat fight! 🙄

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Our Daily Thread 8-15-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1057 Macbeth, the King of Scotland, was killed by the son of King Duncan.

In 1911 the product Crisco was introduced by Procter & Gamble Company.

In 1914 the Panama Canal was officially opened to commercial traffic as an American ship sailed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

In 1935 Will Rogers and Wiley Post were killed in an airplane crash in near Point Barrow, AK.

In 1947 India became independent from Britain and was divided into the countries of India and Pakistan.

In 1961 East German workers began construction of the Berlin Wall.

And in 1997 the U.S. Justice Department decided not to prosecute FBI officials in connection with the deadly 1992 Ruby Ridge siege in Idaho.

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Quotes of the Day

“Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who’s going to know?” 😯

“It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate — you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.” 😯

Julia Child

In both cases, I hope they were washed first. 🙂

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Today is Jamie Slocum’s birthday.

Next up, some John Cooper, of Skillet, for no apparent reason.

And then one with the rest of the band. If you’re not awake yet, you will be after this. 🙂

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QoD

What ministry have you participated in that you most enjoyed being a part of?

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Prayer Requests 8-15-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 3

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

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News/Politics 8-15-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

The fight for control of Egypt continues to be a bloody affair.

From TheWallStJournal  “Egypt’s military regime, aided by snipers and bulldozers, swept the streets of Islamist protesters—setting off a day of violence that left more than 278 people dead, the government fractured and ties with its international partners in tatters.

Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers stormed police stations, burned down churches and battled with government supporters in several neighborhoods, after police sweeps left scores of protesters dead at two Cairo squares. The raid ended more than a month of sit-ins by thousands of Brotherhood supporters—sometimes joined by families, and daring the government to disperse them—who demanded the reinstatement of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.”

“Egypt’s interim president declared a monthlong, national state of emergency—raising Egyptians’ fears of extended conflict, further crackdowns and the prospect that the military regime they struggled to overthrow in 2011 was reasserting control.

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Once again the Obama admin finds a way to repay campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood. And this is just in DC. There’ll be plenty more for the abortion leader in other cities and states. Which will of course enable the contributions to pro-abortion politicians to continue. A vicious cycle indeed. Just like they planned it.

From TheWashingtonExaminer  “Washington, D.C.’s health insurance exchange has awarded a $375,000 grant to abortion provider Planned Parenthood to help enroll participants in Obamacare, the exchange announced on Tuesday.

As part of its effort to boost enrollment in the exchange created by President Obama’s health care law, the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange doled out $6.4 million to 35 DC-based groups. Those groups include local churches as well as health care and community organizations.

One of the largest awards went to Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington D.C.”

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Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife have been sentenced. Seems light to me, and why on earth are they rewarding his criminal behavior by not making him repay the 3/4 of a million dollars he embezzled?

From WGNTV  “A federal judge sentenced former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to 30  months, or 2-and-a-half years, in prison for misuse of campaign funds.

His wife, former Chicago alderman Sandi Jackson, was sentenced to 12 months  for tax fraud. Judge Amy Berman Jackson also ordered her to  pay $22,000 in restitution, which is the amount she spent from her campaign  as alderman.”

“The judge also ruled that Jackson does not have to pay restitution to his former  campaign because it is now defunct.”

“In February, the 48-year-old pleaded guilty to using $750,000 of his  campaign money for personal expenses—in many cases, on extravagant items such as  a Rolex watch and Michael Jackson memorabilia. He resigned from Congress in  November after 17 years in office.”

So 2 and a half years, out in half that for good behavior, and you make 3/4 of a mil on the deal. Who says crime doesn’t pay?

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The persecution of George Zimmerman and his family continues. This is completely politically motivated, and once again, the prosecution is caught lying. If you only look at one link today, check out this one, and how the prosecution misrepresents the facts.

From PJMedia  “The affidavit for the perjury charge, written and submitted by special prosecutor investigator T.C. O’Steen, is — like the affidavit submitted for the murder charge — devoid of probable cause.

In fact, it does not establish a single specific statement made by Shellie Zimmerman and explain why that specific statement was false, why it was material, how it was a matter of objective fact, or why Shellie believed it to be false as she uttered it.

Of all of the elements of the offense that must be established and proved, the state established only that Shellie was under oath and testified in a judicial proceeding.

Not only does the affidavit fail to fulfill the elements of the offense, by omission it actually lies to and misleads the court. In this case, there is no doubt that Judge Lester was biased against George, but it is most likely that the affidavit was approved because judges are generally not used to dealing with prosecutors willing to lie to them. Receiving an affidavit for a felony charge, they tend to rubber stamp it, not considering that a prosecutor, an officer of the court, would mislead them. In this case, that’s exactly what happened.”

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The pandering to homosexuals in the military by the Obama admin continues. The irony here is the claim that “they just want the same rights and treatment as everyone else” while they’re getting special rights others don’t have.

From CNSNews  “The U.S. Defense Department announced on Wednesday that  it will make “spousal and family benefits” available no later than Sept.  3, 2013, regardless of sexual orientation, for all service members who  can provide a valid marriage certificate.

And what about same-sex military couples who live in a state where same-sex marriage is not allowed? No problem.

“We  recognize that same-sex military couples who are not stationed in a  jurisdiction that permits same-sex marriage would have to travel to  another jurisdiction to marry. That is why the department will implement  policies to allow military personnel in such a relationship  non-chargeable leave for the purpose of travelling to a jurisdiction  where such a marriage may occur,” the DOD news release said.”

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And remember folks, there’s no evidence that shows workers hours are being cut because of ObamaCare. The White House said so.

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Our Daily Thread 8-14-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1848 the Oregon Territory is organized by an act of Congress.

In 1893 France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration.

In 1935 the Social Security Act passed, creating a government pension system for the retired.

In 1945 Japan accepts the Allied terms of surrender during World War II.

And on this day in 1959 we had the founding and first official meeting of the American Football League.

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Quote of the Day

“It is a known fact that the sheep that give us steel wool have no natural enemies.”     🙂

Gary Larson

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Ben Cissell of Audio Adrenaline has a birthday today.

It’s also Connie Smith’s birthday.

And it’s also Sarah Brightman’s.

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Who has a QoD for us?

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Prayer Requests 8-14-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

And it’s Wednesday, so please remember to pray for Gambia. 🙂

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.