Was up working late last night on Blake's War and up before 6 a.m. on studying my news services. Plan to spend my afternoon outside, working on the wood pile and getting our winter supply into the shed. Still need a lot more wood, but we are off to a good start.
I've been keeping a close eye on this Ebola Virus and it bothers me how the WHO is now beginning to get wrapped up in the fear and panic game. Is it an attempt to gain additional funding from wealthy countries? I mean right now we are receiving WHO reports that 8,914 cases, with 4,447 deaths, which is approximately 50% fatality rate and its held there for some time, but WHO is now reporting in big numbers this is a 70% fatality rate. Can't they read their own numbers? They're also predicting 10,000 new cases in November, just like they predicted a million cases by 2015. The numbers just don't jibe, but the fear factor works and the US uses it.
My pastor, I don't have permission to use his name so I won't until it get it, spent a good length of time in Africa as a missionary with his wife and son. They went through some scary experiences down there, not to mention driving in the crazy traffic. But this morning when he visited he put things in perspective for me. He reminded those of us awake and sitting in the living room, including my Great-Grandson Solomon, who loves my white beard I might say and removes several strands to add to his collection, that 10 people a day are eaten by crocodiles in Africa and 1 million Africans die every year from insect bites. True, Ebola is scary, the dying part is not pretty and I think we can keep the people coming back from the dead in the ghost story and rumor column. Right up there was African zombies walk the earth. But my final story for this blog might remind you of how evil still walks this planet of ours.
No, fear is a dangerous things and most thoughtful people will not become part of the panic. Still, the flock-thinkers, they will follow the loudest talker and as fear spreads the panic will lead us into a dangerous area of self-destruction.
NEWS BRIEFS:
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is due to be making a speech in Peru, following up on a Department of Defense Report concerning climate change posing "immediate risks" to U.S. National Security. While the Defense Department is dealing with the Islamic State and Ebola Crisis, DOD now has to worry about, "rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels and more extreme weather events that will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict," Hagel said. "They will likely lead to food and water shortages, pandemic disease, disputes over refugees and resources, and destruction by natural disasters in regions across the globe." Hagel then added to his report, "Our coastal installations are vulnerable to rising sea levels and increased flooding, while droughts, wildfires and more extreme temperatures could threaten many of our training activities." He also said, "Our supply chains could be impacted , and we need to ensure our critical equipment works under more extreme weather conditions."
China's military build-up shifts Balance of Power in Asia in Beijing's favor. Congressional report warns of U.S.- China conflict is rising. China's decades-long buildup of strategic and conventional military forces is shifting and increasing the risk of war, according to the forthcoming report by a Congressional China Commission. ( While they built-up, we tore down until our military is headed for pre-World War II numbers all too soon. With Putin moving his nuclear missiles in to the Crimea, our President wants to pull our nuclear deterrents out of Europe. Our missiles were looked upon as the only weapon to keep the Russian from overrunning NATO with their vast superior numbers of tank divisions. )
Not to alarm the Catholics worldwide, but the Islamic State has published their future plans in their magazine, "Dabiq", which involves their attack on Rome and taking of the Vatican. Islamic State envisions the ancient Italian City under the rule of a Muslim Caliph and hardline Sharia Law. Islamic State is calling for all Jihadist to attack every Christian, or as they term "Crusader", and Westerners, wherever they may be found. "Break the crosses of the Infidels."
Without even bothering to wait for a vote from the United Nations General Assembly, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon visited the Gaza Strip and met with key members of the Palestinian Unity Government. Moon stepped forward and said his organization, the United Nations, stands with the Palestinian People for their own State. ( Without a vote to back him up, he believe he overstepped himself and got his tongue caught under the heel of his shoe. The Secretary General is to act in a neutral state until a majority vote shows him the direction he is to follow. Not the other way around. Personally, I believe Palestine should have its own state and should take the offer of Egypt to use the land they have offered for it. I do not feel even one acre of Israel's countryside should be given up. Would we like to give up Texas to Mexico or Hawaii to China?)
China "URGED" foreign countries to stay our of Hong Kong affairs and "REFRAIN" from supporting Occupy Center activities there. China is now arresting mainland Occupy Center supporters, by the dozens ( most likely the hundreds or possibly even more). Masked thugs used to attack Occupy protestors and tear down barricades the protestors had put up. But Chinese Army in Hong Kong observed to be on a heightened degree of alert, but still not committed to deal with Occupy protesters.
In a very unusual move for China's Military Authority, they have announced the issuance of a document detailing (40) problems with current military exercises in a move to sharpen troop's fighting abilities. ( This move may be looked upon as a form of saber rattling in showing the US of how China is preparing and taking things very seriously. Possibly in hopes EU and US would perhaps back off on sanctions of China's new ally-Russia. But would China actually support a nuclear launch by Russia if Putin became unhinged?)
Stock markets in China closed down early on this last Monday, reversing a gaining trend in morning trend. Losses continued for 2nd day, retreating 25-points. China was also reporting Vietnam export turnover to China is expected to reach the set target of $15 billion US dollars. Still China and Russia move ahead on $25 billion high-speed railroad project for Moscow run to Kazan. This run is a distance of nearly 800 kilometers and only the first leg of a lengthy planned route through Russia and China.
Russia's Ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, vows that his country will react to America's plan for building a missile base in Romania. "Moscow will react with necessary steps."
Earthquakes: (18) quakes in 4.0 or worse. a 7.3 struck Nicaragua last night, with warnings of tsunamis. (4) mild ones over 2.5 struck Alaska- two of them showing around Mt. Chile- 4.8/5.2 (4) quakes in Oklahoma Redoubt
Based on report/statistics by International Monetary Fund (IMF), this October, China has finally found itself the largest and Number One Economy in the world. China has reportedly surpassed the United States for this position. However, some experts have different opinions on this issue.
Pakistan Taliban announced they have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State, adding their numbers to an already growing army of Muslim Militants.
China's Communist Party continues to carry-out its "Anti-Church Campaign", dismantling or simply running over Christian churches and jailing church leaders, as part of their major crackdown on Christianity. ( They fear what they cannot understand and want their people only looking to the Party for their needs, which they expect in time will form an allegiance.)
US Human Rights Reports show China's President Xi has tightened restrictions on civil society, rights advocates, journalists and religious organizations.
New Yorkers not all too happy to find out their iconic Waldorf Astoria, one of the most expensive hotels in the world, was recently purchased by a company inside Mainland China.
Syrian Kurdish refugees say, "We were robbed by our Arab neighbors", as they fled from the Islamic State militants. The ones they had trusted were reported to have pilfered their properties as Islamic State Jihadists invaded their homeland. Then the Turkish Air Force "mistakenly" bombed them as they fought to hold their town on Turkey's border.
United Nations confirms Islamic State had carried out the massacre of 5,000 Yazidi men and sexual enslavement of 7,000 Yazidi women.
I informed you last week I believe that the World Health Organization was after a new world tax on all tobacco products. Will, the behind door meeting happened, which was boycotted by the United States, even though America had some of the largest tobacco fields in the world and a lot to lose here. Vote of the proposal was quickly passed and it will now go before the General Assembly. This tax, to be used for UN needs in the health and food areas, could have a drastic effect on the market in the U.S., possibly leading more people into the marijuana usage. But taxation could increase the cost of a pack a cigarettes twice or three fold and few people can afford this on an everyday schedule and still have gas to get to work and food to eat. Unknown when the vote will be taken at the UN and how long before it will be implemented.
Last Story- In the Tanzanian Village of Murufiti, a witch doctor was able to get 23 villagers stirred up enough to attack 7 suspected witches with machetes. The 7 older women, 5 over 60 years of age and 2 over 40 years, were then burned alive at the stake- creating horrific scenes. All parties involved were then arrested and charged with murder. ( Yes, evil still walks our world, but in this case who are the evil ones. here? Witchcraft is still popular in Alaska through shamanism and witches covens- I've seen both. Stupid people messing with a darkness that is eating them alive and they've allowed total access to them, but few of them truly understand what they are playing with. Except the Shamans, a spiritual leader for Eskimo and Alaska Indians, For them I know too little about to speak of.
Time to go, got work outside calling to me. God Bless, BILL