I've been working again on my western manuscript and enjoying it. The other night I pulled a hardback book off my bedroom shelf, I stockpile about two-months worth of nighttime reading up here. Most of it I've purchased at thrift stores and I'm always looking for westerns. I'd forgotten about this book, which needed some repair work, that happened to be a Hoppalong Cassidy story. I had thought Louie L'Amour was the creator of Hoppalong, but apparently he wasn't. I'm looking over this book's publishing date, for this 3rd Edition and find it had been published in 1911. I had in my hands a 103 year old book. I became very careful with it at this point. Oddly enough, I found numerous spelling errors, but the story is great so far. Made me wonder if my books might stick around that long- if I'm wrong about the time table on the Book of Revelations. Now don't get me wrong, I leave the time table to God and will be satisfied with whenever he decides to bring the End of Days about. I just finished watching the ten part mini-series of the Bible on Net Flex, it was all right. Had a few errors and left out some significant events, but they only had such time. I disliked the fact they had another surfer-looking Jesus. Just as they did in King of Kings with Jeffrey Hunter. I prefer to see someone who resembles that part of the world, maybe even a dark suntan for living in the desert country for 33 years. A black Sampson was cool and because of a low budget they had to shrink the numbers down, so the Jews leaving Egypt appeared to be 2-300 instead of a reported 2 million. I'd watch it again though, especially the time of when the disciples received the Holy Spirit in the upper room and began spreading the Lord's words.
We now have our tree up and thanks to Canaan, my oldest granddaughter, the house is decorated for Christmas. Unfortunately we lost several items due to spring rains, which brought mold. This was my fault. I had emptied the sheds to prepare them for another project and covered everything outside with tarps. But with the spring rains came the winds and we lost a ton of stored clothing, misc kitchen tools waiting donation and I felt terrible. Thankfully my wife was easy on me, I was only black and blue on one side of the body....no, not really. I think she called me stupid and then we were back on line trying to figure out what we could save.
Lets switch over to the news briefs for December 17th.
Arizona: Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pina County was informed by the Obama Administration to expect 5 million illegal immigrants under latest Executive Order, but was just recently notified by Homeland Security the figure would be closer to 20-million. Prior news was that illegals who had been in the US for five years would be given a driver's license, a work permit and all access to the state and federal social programs. But a recent memo from Homeland Security has changed to say that anyone in the country before Jan 2014 is entitled to the promised Deferred Action under the new Executive Order. Law Enforcement officers are not overjoyed at the prospect of the incline in numbers which will soon be helping to fill the Arizona prisons to maximum because of lack of employment in Arizona for non-educated immigrants. ( If Obama plans to bring these people into the US hoping for a massive wave of Hispanic voters grateful to the Democratic Party, he had better provide educational centers, with boarding to prepare these people for the working world.)
United States: Secretary of State John Kerry says, "No Problem", with thoughtful Palestinian bid. He says the US has no problem with Palestinians putting a draft resolution to the United Nations to boost their hopes for a Palestinian State. ( The Obama Administration may feel this way, but how about the Americans? Do they want to see Israel give up the land they gained in 1967, which now gives Israeli occupation of Jerusalem, though they share it with Muslims? A lot of people want Israel to give up land they fought and bled for, but no one seems to be asking the Muslim world to give up anything for a new Palestinian State. Plus, few people realize that Palestine Authority is a dictatorship, where their parliament has not set in power for sometime. Hamas, a terrorist organization that attacks Israel during a cease-fire, rules over Palestine. Of course Israel will not give this desired land back to the 1967 borders, to do so would endanger every Israeli for the war that is sure to come. For the United Nation to try to force them, would be counter to what the UN has stood for and if Obama Administration does not stand with Israel then Americans should, even if this lead to an American civil war to unseat the raving idiot in office. )
England: Britain News reports the most common name for a boy child in 2014 is "Mohammad". So, what does this tell you about the rise of Islam in Britain?
World: The YAHOO News search engine is now displaying the "Veterans News Now" (VNN), as a credible news source. This is a antisemitic website. This site traffic in Holocaust denials
and displays articles that blame Israel for the U.S. 9/11 attack in New York City.
Washington: Ecuador family donates over $100,000 to President Obama's Victory Fund. During this time members of the family had been banned from entering the United States due to being key figures in an Ecudor banking scandal. BUT then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over rules the ban and allows a family members to come to America, where afterward, President Obama refuses to extradite two of the brothers in the family back to Ecuador to face charges of theft and fraud. Accusation of favors being granted for donations abound the Nation's capitol, such as unqualified money supporters of Obama's Campaign being granted ambassadorships. But people in the administration and those receiving the favors deny donations were involved in any way to actions taken.
Iraq: Islamic State reportedly murdered 150 women and underage girls for refusing sexual acts by the fighters. They were then buried in a mass grave. This occurred in the City of Falluja. 10 children were left in the desert died of exposure.
Russia: Ruble hits new low of 80 to the US Dollar and 100 roubles to the Euro, in Moscow trade.
South Africa: Health Authorities have placed South Africa on high alert for a measles outbreak, as cases are being reported in 5 provinces.
Italy: H5N8 Bird Flu Strain reported in Northern Italy, from a turkey farm where now 130,000 turkeys, chicken and other birds must be culled.
Ukraine: Kiev was of full-scale hostilities may again erupt in eastern Ukraine due to "constant cease-fire violations", undermining the truce.
U.S.: New sanctions imposed on foreign persons and companies supporting Syrian Government, to include companies in United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
U.S.: President Obama is to sign new Russia Sanction Bill and provide additional assistance to Ukraine. President Putin of Russia has already state that additional sanctions could lead hostilities of some degree.
U.S.: Tens of thousands of Americans protesting and rioting across the US against police violence, which began in Ferguson, Missouri. Number of injuries is rising, while arrests are staying in the low numbers. But more and more terrorists and loonies popping up to kill people in their homes, coffee joints, in traffic, on the sidewalk and in schools.
U.S.: Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasion Affairs, has warned Russia against deploying nuclear weapons in the Crimea. She said such a move would be "extremely dangerous". She also warned the U.S. and its allies would respond if Russia opts to do so. ( A whole lot of saber rattling going on, maybe some cooler heads should be handling the nuclear weapons.)
Ebola: Currently, 18,464 cases of Ebola virus reported, of which 6,841 have led to death. 87 Ethiopian Health Care Workers have arrived in Liberia. Government officials will be overseeing a house to house search of home in Sierra Leone, which will include Freetown. Freetown accounts for more than half of the country's infections.
Earthquakes: (14) quakes around the globe of 4.0 or greater for last 24 hours. (3 including a 4.3) Alaska, (4) California, (2- 4.6/4.6) Philippines, (2- 5.2/5.6) Indonesia, (3-4.5/5.1/5.3) New Guinea, (2) Oklahoma, ( 1-4.2) New Zealand, (1-4.8) Nicaragua, (1- 4.7) Japan,
(1-4.7) Solomon Islands, (1-4.7) Fiji
U.S. The sale of 4 navy US warships to continue as promised to Taiwan with the first two Perry-Class Missile Frigates to be delivered in 2015 at a cost of $176 million. The US does not feel the sale will have any effect on U.S.-China relations. ( China does what it wants with out concern for us, but the US is already beginning to kow-tow to China. A weak administration has done this. We've accomplished little to impress them.)
Vatican: Pope Francis wants Vatican City to host the Olympics. St. Peter's Square to play host to such events as archery contests in a Rome bid for the international games. He has also just opened the Vatican's private farm to the public. (Still, his move to help bring about the prisoner exchange with Cuba and remove of the 50 year old sanctions has left a lot of American with mixed feelings. In Florida a lot of people are calling Obama a traitor, because in Cuba nothing has changed. The dictatorship is still in place and communism remains as the political party in power. Now the young Castro brother reigns and the jails are still full with people seeking freedom. Some may be asking- what has the Pope accomplished here?)
Europe: World's longest train ride travels from China to Spain, riding the rails through 8 countries over 20-days in an 8,000 mile journey. ( Some might call it the new version of the "Oriental Express". This venture has raised hopes of also a new "Silk Train" transport route.
U.S.: Tucked deep inside the 1,603 Federal Spending Bill is a measure that ends the Federal Government's prohibition on Medical Marijuana, which signals a major shift in drug policy. This brings a two decade battle to a close over medical use of marijuana to help patients in the current 32 states who currently allow it. Now the pharmacies will no longer have to fear federal officers interference.
Anchorage, Alaska: Even though the State of Alaska has recently passed the vote to legalize Marijuana and Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, with the most voters, some members of the Anchorage Assembly are trying to ban the use of marijuana even before the new state commission release their report on new guidelines to follow. It appears they do not even plan to put it out for a vote, but the assembly will decide. ( For me it isn't the Marijuana issue, its the power of a single body of 11-14 people making all the decisions for 200,000 people on such issues as this where the majority was already heard. There are many time, when such items need to be decided be general vote. With our technology we have now this is clearly not that much of a problem, but Congress would not want to lose their power. The President's new Immigration Executive Order should never have been allowed. All of us are effected by so many millions coming into our country. Our taxes will be raised to pay for their needs, while our own Americans who lie in shelters, under bridges and in tents spread across our parks and forests, will be neglected and we will watch them die. Yes, we are to help all people, but lets get our own people back on their feet. Obama is looking at votes for 2016, riding the Hispanic wave in hopes the grateful people will support the Democratic party. This is a misuse of his office and impeachment is in order. )