We Need to Talk

Image via Wikipedia

Dear friends,

If you are a US-American, this is a must-read for you. Other readers are welcome.

This is a critical time for all of us. I am sure you know by now of the spurious efforts Obama is doing to transform this nation. If we ignore any more of what he does, we will not have the same guarantees the US Constitution guarantees us.

You might have heard of viewpoints one after another, about the Healthscare bill. Truly, if we all examine the Constitution, we can in fact see evidence of that. One loophole after the next, the administration tries to find ways to circumvent this great law, handed down to us. Are the forefathers they really radicals? Did they really carry through what would guarantee to us the freedom that we enjoy? Of course, they did! From what these few radicals stood against, knowing it was wrong, knowing what is right, G_d granted us this freedom. Much as a mother would nurture her children to self-sufficiency, these people convened to create the “Magna Carta” of the basics freedoms we have today. Does the reader fancy fame and success? Look elsewhere. We thrive only on G_d’s truth and G_d’s justice to all humanity. You the reader are to decide if six-star-General, President George Washington et al are radicals.

What we see from the recent doings of the White House is egoism, and we must curb it or stop it. Since we see every wrong about this bill – ever since its creation from within SEIU – we saw one revision after another. Perchance this also happens were it to originate in the House.

Please also realize the financial hole we are in Whether or not Obama is at fault, the fact still reveals to us a negative balance for business (small and large), individuals, et al. President Obama: the author will still pray for your success as President, as long as your efforts are furtive.

Were we to see no change in something that is wrong, what would it be? To help us, the author suggests that we start with Obama: We see his insistence of pushing the matter; with confirmation that the bill contains a slough of taxes, we see them as hidden taxation. This may be unconstitutional in itself. Going back to Obama’s rodomontade* approach to the motioning for and be in favor of the bill, it would appear that he is yet doing something else behind We the People’s back while. What is it he does? He redistributes the wealth. Whether we call it Marxism or capitalism, it mounts to corruption. From where does the man obtain the money?

We see now the guarantee to freedom of speech to close, thanks to someone that thinks that we cannot express ourselves freely. Examine the newspapers, if you still have any, for subscribing to listen to radio and watching television— all free, up to a point until the government shuts down any stations that do not payment of a year’s worth to the czar in charge of public communications. The Second Amendment gives these media the /right to free speech. No one should pay for this!

In our recent past, we saw how the czar of school safety tried to step in and tell schools about abnormal sex, such as homosexuality. This is plain egoist. All of these things are the result of egoism. You should agree, even to some extent, that this is true.

Not only is it imperative to stop this Healthscare bill, it is important that we protest against the type of government knocking on the doors of Democracy and basic freedoms our Constitution holds for us, the Amendments, Federalism, and the Democratic Process. Say no to this egoism, and stand up for We the People’s (our) rights!

Some may ask, “Is it a mistake to vote for Obama?” Obama will tell us that because we asked for a change in America, his would have America up and rolling in five days. The Cache-22 is plain, is it any wonder it will not happen.

People wanted a change, but what they did not ask for is a leader that would resort to capitalism/Marxism. The people wanted something different from what Bush et al would provide, not Oligarchy.

The author urges you, a US-American, to contact yo0ur congress persons and tell them your views about this bill that is on the verge of passing. Whichever way it goes, your decision lies with you eternally. Please do what you feel is righteous and creates peace, harmony, and good.

While writing this on New Year’s, it would be appropriate to wish everyone a meaningful year. May there be an increase of light into your souls; and may there be more love and especially peace — peace within us, between our States, and Peace with others in the world.

Wishes to you for peace and blessings,

R. L. Talbot

* to boast or speak in a pretentious, self-important, or self-indulgent way

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Obama looking for love in wrong places (tech.bl0x.info)
• A Year of Mixed Results for Obama (usnews.com)

Jewish Fasts, Major and Minor

Image via Wikipedia

The following is a brief description of the Jewish fasts that occur in the yearly cycle. Each description lists a few reasons why Jews fast on these days. Please carefully note that the fasts do not occur on the same Gregorian calendar date; they do occur on the same Hebrew dates, with few exceptions to the rule per fast.

The Fasts Described: Why Jews Observe Them

As with any public fast, begins at the crack of dawn and lasts until slightly before sundown. Click chabad.org to find the times for the fast. One of the four fasts is major: the Ninth of Av; the others are minor.

The fast of Gedaliah, which occurs on the third day of Tishri, a day after the completion of the New year festival. It was when Gedaliah, the son of A’hikam, was slain. After the Holy Temple was destroyed, King nebu’hadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor over the Land of Israel. Because Gedaliah was assassinated, all Jews were exiled, and thousands of them were killed. Then, the last ray of hope was dimmed (Ganzfried, S., Rabbi and Goldin, H., LL.B., 1963).

The Tenth of Teves is a fast because Nebu’hadnezzar, the wicked king of Babylon laid siege to the city of Jerusalem, which marked the beginning of the end of Jerusalem and the Temple (Ganzfried, S., Rabbi and Goldin, H., LL.B., 1963).

The fast of Esther is observed a day before Purim. Of course, Purim is the happiest day of the year. The book of Esther explains the fast.

On the 17th of Tammuz, five events occurred: (a) The tablets on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, were broken by Moses when he descended from Mount Sinai, as it told in the Holy Scriptures (Exodus 32:19). (b) The regular daily sacrifices were abolished. (c) The Romans made a breach in the walls of Jerusalem during the siege of the Second Temple. Although during the siege of the First Temple, the Babylonians breached the wall on the ninth of Tammuz, as it was written (Jeremiah 52:6): In the fourth month in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city . . . then a breach in the city was made on the seventeenth, and the destruction of the Second Temple is regarded as the more serious disaster. In the Jerusalem Talmud, it is stated that even at the destruction of the First Temple, the breach in the wall of Jerusalem was made on the seventeenth, but that on account of the troublesome times, they mistook the date. (d) The wicked Apostomos burned a scroll of the law. (e) Through the wickedness of some Jews, an idol was placed in the Temple of G_d, and this caused the destruction of the Temple and our exile (Ganzfried, S., Rabbi and Goldin, H., LL.B., 1963).

The Ninth of Av commemorates the following four events: (a) The spies sent by Moses to explore Canaan returned, and all Israel, believing the evil report, wept in vain on the 9th, whereupon G_d decreed that they should not enter the Promised Land, and this day was singled out by G_d, as a day of weeping for many generations to come. (b) The First as well as the Second Temple was destroyed. (c) The large city of Bethar, in which myriads of Jews lived, was conquered by the Roman legions (during the Bar Kokhba revolt). (d) The site of the Temple was ploughed over by the Roman Procurator T. Annius Rufus, and the prophecy was thus fulfilled (Jeremiah 26:18) (Ganzfried, S., Rabbi and Goldin, H., LL.B., 1963).

When any of these fasts occurs on the Sabbath, it is postponed until afterwards; if the Tenth Day of Teves occurs on Friday, the fast is on that day.

The Prophets have enacted a law to fast on those days when tragic events occurred. The object of the fasts are to stir our hearts to repentance, and to serve as a reminder of our own evil deeds as well of those of our ancestors, which caused them as well as us, all these troubles. By remembering these events, we will improve our ways (Ganzfried, S., Rabbi and Goldin, H., LL.B., 1963).

Additions to the Prayers

The prayers said include the normal morning prayers, with the following additions: Seli’hos and Avinu Malkeinu. During the blessing for ge’ulah in the repetition of the Shemoneh Esreh, the reader recites “Aneinu” and repeats Avinu Malkeinu (Artscroll Mesorah Series, 2003).

In addition to the prayers for the afternoon, again, Avinu Malkeinu, is recited; the reader, during the repetition of the Shemoneh Esreh, recites Aneinu. Further the congregant recited Aneinu during the the Kabalas Tefilah blessing and repeats Avinu Malkeinu. Foremost of importance is the reading of a scroll of the Torah in the presence of a minimum of 10 qualified people (Artscroll Mesorah Series, 2003).

Please note especially that not all fasts are alike, meaning that not all prayers are the same

Artscroll Mesorah Series. (2003). Siddur Yitzchak Yair. Brookly, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd.

Ganzfried, S., Rabbi & Goldin, H., LL.B. (1963). Code of Jewish Law. Vol 3, Ch. 121: Public Fast Days [Annotated revised edition]. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company.

The point of this article is to highlight a recent fast: the Tenth of Teves, which coincided with 27 December 2009.

The author hopes that his friends and family had a heartfelt and meaningful fast.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Archaeologists Find Early Menorah Depiction (usnews.com)
• The law (workstudyprayer.blogspot.com)

A Parody to an Xmas Story’s End

Image by EssjayNZ via Flickr

Let us all be happy, and let us all share visions of peace. The parody is not so full of spice, but it may have a bit of flavor — one need only try: “C’mon, you can do this!”

“Happy 25th to all; and to all a good first.”

This may be at best in the spirit of of greetings not referring to religious sentiment.

“What’s the connection?”

If we read the story to our children on the 24th, it may dawn on us what it is. The twist, “a good first” in place of “a good night,” a wish that all may have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010.

You didn’t forget the warm milk and cookies last night, did you?

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Louis Armstrong, “The Night Before Christmas” (popdose.com)
• Family Traditions: Christmas Eve (geekwithkids.com)
• Twas The Night Before Christmas In Cowboys Land (bleacherreport.com)

Florida Youth Lives

Image via Wikipedia

Possibly because 15-year-old Michael Brewer reported to police about his father’s bicycle stolen, or because he owed one of the boys money for a video game, other teens doused him with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire. (Associated Press, 24 December 2009).

In addition, AP reports:

Valerie Brewer, whose son Michael was discharged from Jackson Memorial Hospital’s burn center Tuesday, praised the teen’s determination and spirit at a press conference. Brewer’s son was the target of a gruesome attack on Oct. 12 that left him with burns on about 65 percent of his body.

“I’m just ecstatic,” she told reporters. “He’s just so incredible. His strength, his determination, his will to survive. … He’s just incredible.”

On his first night out the hospital, Brewer lounged around on the couch and watched a movie on television with his family, his mother said. He enjoyed the night air and requested a pizza for dinner.

“He had a very relaxing night,” Valerie Brewer said. “He’s in very high spirits today. Being out of the hospital and being in a homey environment is incredibly uplifting, and he’s really looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.”

. . .

Prosecutors have charged Denver Colorado Jarvis, Jesus Mendez and Matthew Bent as adults with second-degree attempted murder, committed on 12 October 2009,  in connection to the attack.

Brewer won’t be moving back into his old home in Deerfield Beach, his mother said. The families of the teens who are accused of the attack live nearby, she said, and her son no longer feels safe in his former neighborhood. She didn’t disclose where he is currently staying during his recovery.

Michael’s mother tells reporters that the boy’s recovery is going to be a lifelong process.

“The real reason for that is because of Michael’s stamina, his endurance and basically his desire to improve,” [Dr. Louis] Pizano said. “Michael’s worked with us very, very hard. He spends a lot of time with therapists. He just, he does what we ask him to do. It’s very painful and it’s hard for an adult to accomplish what he’s done. We have to give him a lot of credit and a lot of credit to the family.”

Associated Press. (24 December 2009). Fox News: Florida teen set on fire too fearful to return home after hospital release. U.S. Home. Retrieved 24 December 2009, from http://www.foxnews.com/

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Mom of boy set afire: ‘His courage is incredible’ (msnbc.msn.com)
• Mom of teen set on fire describes ‘nightmare’ (msnbc.msn.com)
• Mother of Fla. Teen Set on Fire Says Son Is Strong (abcnews.go.com)

See the Science Highlights of 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Appearing in the Science and Environment Section of BBC News are the highlights of what science researched/unveiled in 2009.

Enter to see these for yourself at BBC News’ Science and Environment, Science news highlights of 2009 (link opens in new window).

BBC News. 23 December 2009. Science news highlights of 2009, Science and Environment. Retrieved 23 December 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Balloon-Boy Parents will Serve Sentences, Serve Community

Courtesy of www.chron.com

The Heene parents will serve beginning on 11 January 2010 with stipulation that they also do not receive or accept any financial benefit from the case. In addition, the couple must render payment of $42,000 for the emergency/rescue operation and services (BBC News, 23 December 2009).

BBC News further reports:

Mayumi Heene will begin her sentence after her husband’s to ensure their children are still cared for.

She will be allowed to report to jail on two days a week, return home at night, and serve the sentence through jail-supervised community service.

The judge also ruled that her husband must serve 100 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to the community and public service agencies which helped search for his son.

BBC News. (23 December 2009). US balloon boy parent are given jail sentences. Americas. Retrieved 23 December 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Brazil Stepfather Admits Attempt to Kill Boy by Inserting Sewing Needles

Roberto Carlos Magalhaes admits that he tried to kill the two year-old child with the needles as a revenge he took on his wife. (BBC News, 21 December 2009).

In addition, BBC reports:

Roberto Carlos Magalhaes, 30, made his confession in a telephone interview from jail with Globo Television.

The boy is recovering after surgery to remove the needles, which came perilously close to his heart.

Mr Magalhaes said he got the boy drunk on wine before inserting the needles, up to three times in a month.

“It was a crazy idea. I mixed wine with water and had him drink it. He drank it and passed out, then I inserted the needles,” he told Globo’s Fantastico programme.

“It was to get back at the boy’s mother. I thought the needles would work their way through his body and kill the boy. It was a way to kill without anyone discovering.”

BBC News (21 December 2009) reveals more about the case:

X-rays revealed some 30 needles lodged throughout the child’s body.

Four needles were removed by surgery on Friday, and doctors are planning more operations to extract needles from the boy’s abdomen, intestines and bladder.

Brazilian police said last week the stepfather had confessed to sticking the needles into the toddler with the help of another man and a woman.

Police said Mr Magalhaes, a bricklayer, told them his mistress had urged him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife.

The boy’s mother had taken him to hospital in the north-eastern state of Bahia, suffering from stomach pains and vomiting.

The boy’s mother suspected black magic, as she found suspicious objects around the house.

Admittedly, the truth does hurt the boy, the mother, the family, and others. The righteous should be praying for the health of the little lad. The author added this boy’s soul to his “Speedy-Recovery” Prayer list and hopes others will follow suit. “Those who do follow this lead, ‘G_d bless you’,” says the author.

BBC News, (21 December 2009)., Brazil stepfather ‘tried to kill’ needle boy. Americas. Retrieved 21 December 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Brazil man says needles were meant to kill stepson (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Brazilian man says needles meant to kill stepson (cbc.ca)
• Urgent op for Brazil needle boy (news.bbc.co.uk)

European Winter Claims More than 80

Image via Wikipedia

Over three days of snow with subzero temperatures claimed more than eighty. At least 42 Poland froze still to deaths, 27 claimed in the Ukraine. Austria, Finland, and German together report 13 deaths in auto-related fatalities when temperatures fell to –32 degree Celsius (-27 Fahrenheit). The statistical figures are from BBC News (21 December 2009).

BBC News further states:

Eurostar said it would run a “restricted” service on Tuesday after a three-day shutdown stranded some 75,000 people.

Only passengers originally due to travel Saturday or Sunday would be eligible, and the remaining backlog would be cleared over the next few days.

Meanwhile Eurotunnel – which carries vehicles under the Channel between England and France – said its terminal at Folkestone was at “saturation point” and closed its shuttle car service to new arrivals.

In Poland, police appealed for people to help if they came across homeless or drunk people lying outside, as temperatures dropped towards -20C in some areas.

Most of the 42 people who froze to death in the country over the weekend were homeless, police said.

Meanwhile, one restaurant owner offered tens of thousands of homeless people a hot meal in Krakow’s main square.

“The food is not the only important thing,” restaurateur Janusz Kosciuszko was quoted as telling Euronews.

“What is also important is that these people know that someone is thinking about them.”

Cold-related deaths were also reported in France, where two homeless people died.

Treacherous travel conditions also caused havoc for rail services.

Fifty people were injured when a train hit a buffer in the Croatian city of Zagreb, while 36 were injured when a passenger train derailed in Paris.

Parts of the continent saw 20in (50cm) of snow over the weekend.

Domestic rail services across the UK have been severely delayed, with buses replacing trains in many areas.

On Monday evening, British Airways cancelled all its domestic and European flights from the main London airport, Heathrow.

Passengers were offered replacement coach travel. Other airports in the country were closed completely.

The AA, one of the UK’s largest motoring and vehicle recovery organizations, said it had attended more than 20,000 breakdowns by 2030 GMT.

Normally it would expect to deal with about 10,000 vehicles for the whole of a Monday in December.

In France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, airport operators struggled to clear runways amid thick snowfall, with major disruption to flight patterns.

In France, a second wave of snowstorms hit the country’s north on Sunday with Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport warning as many as one in five flights was likely to be cancelled on Monday.

Germany’s third largest airport – in Dusseldorf – was also closed because of Sunday’s heavy snow.

In Belgium, the three biggest airports – Brussels, Charleroi and Liege – were completely shut. Severe delays and cancellations were reported at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

Moscow said it was deploying 9,000 snow ploughs to clear the city’s streets.

The most welcoming news besides all that go bonkers (namely, the winter storm, ailing economies, people in distraught waiting take their trips to various destinations) is temperatures will go up later in the week. That is according to BBC News (21 December 2009).

BBC News. (21 December 2009). More than 80 dead in European weather. Europe. Retrieved 21 December 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dozens die in European cold snap (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Snow forces cancellation of Eurostar rail service (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Misery continues as Britons try to get home for Christmas (telegraph.co.uk)

Deadly Storm on US East Coast

Image via Wikipedia

Since issue of a prior report of the storm, BBC News reports three dead; in a later report the figure upped to five fatalities. Washington and Baltimore ground all flights because of one foot of snow that touched down – with more on the way, the projected amount 22 inches (55.88 cm)  by Saturday night. (BBC News, 19 December 2009)

A blizzard warning has been issued by the US National Weather Service with wind gusts of up to 40 mph (64km/h) forecast (BBC News, 19 December 2009).

Some areas declared a snow emergency, warning people to stay at home. Preparations are under way for the worst storm since 2003 (BBC News, 19 December 2009).

BBC New further reports:

The 16in which fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington was the most ever recorded on a single December day.

The storm system is moving north toward New York and Boston.

Parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts could see more than 16 in. by Sunday night while as many as 10in may land on New York City, forecasters said.

Reagan airport was shut down for the night, most flights from Baltimore were cancelled and there were long delays for passengers using Philadelphia and New York.

Roads have been badly affected, too, with one transport official calling it a very serious storm.As Washington’s Union Station filled with travellers, some of them sprawled out on the floor, the passenger train service Amtrak said delays between Washington and Boston were averaging between 30 and 60 minutes.

At least two trains to Boston apparently departed more than four hours late.

BBC News. (19 December 2009). US east coast engulfed by deadly snowstorm. Americas. Retrieved 19 December 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Winter Arrives, Blanketing East Coast in Snow (nytimes.com)
• Winter storm churns toward Northeast (cnn.com)
• Eastern US braced for snowstorm (news.bbc.co.uk)

Al-Qaeda Cocaine Sting: Three Arrests in the US

Image via Wikipedia

The US believes the three suspects from Africa, members of Al-Qaeda, are plotting to traffic the drug for funding terrorism (BBC News, 19 December 2009).

BBC further reports:

They were arrested this week in an operation involving informants posing as Colombian leftist rebels.

The suspects allegedly offered al-Qaeda protection for moving cocaine from West Africa through the Sahara to Spain.

They arrived in the US on Friday and were ordered to be held without bail after a brief court appearance. They did not enter pleas to charges of narco[tics]-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, US officials said.

Washington has long been concerned about close ties between militants and the heroin trade in Afghanistan but the African case appears to show an expansion of both al-Qaeda’s global operations and the US response, The Associated Press news agency reports.

BBC News. (19 December 2009). US arrests three Africans in ‘Al-Qaeda cocaine sting’. U.S. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Copyright © R. L. Talbot and dov2, 2009 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R. L. Talbot and dov2 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Related articles by Zemanta

• US in ‘al-Qaeda cocaine sting’ (news.bbc.co.uk)
• U.S. Charges 3 in Drug Case With Helping Al Qaeda (nytimes.com)
• Ghanaians linked to drugs, terrorism flown to U.S. for trial (cnn.com)
• Charges Link Drug Trade, al Qaeda (online.wsj.com)