Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

We’ll be Uploading Our Entire Minds to Computers By 2045 and Our Bodies will be Replaced By Machines
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsMailonline
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, also claims that the biological parts of our body will be replaced with mechanical parts and this could happen as early as 2100.

Kurweil made the claims during his conference speech at the Global Futures 2045 International Congress in New York at the weekend.

The conference was created by Russian multimillionaire Dmitry Itskov and featured visonary talks about how the world will look by 2045.

Kurzweil said: ‘Based on conservative estimates of the amount of computation you need to functionally simulate a human brain, we’ll be able to expand the scope of our intelligence a billion-fold.’

He referred to Moore’s Law that states the power of computing doubles, on average, every two years quoting the developments from genetic sequencing and 3D printing. 

In Kurweil’s book, The Singularity Is Near, he plots this development and journey towards singularity in a graph.

This singularity is also referred to as digital immortality because brains and a person’s intelligence will be digitally stored forever, even after they die. 

He also added that this will be possible through neural engineering and referenced the recent strides made towards modeling the brain and technologies which can replace biological functions. 

Examples of such technology given by LiveScience include the cochlear implant – an implant that is attached to the brain’s cochlear nerve and electronically stimulates it to restore hearing to someone who is deaf. 

Other examples include technology that can restore motor skills after the nervous system is damaged.

Editors Note.....This is just another sign that man's day is coming to an end.

The IDF Ends a Big War Exercise Against Syrian or Hizballah Attack
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

All IDF ground, sea and air units, including tanks forces, took part in the almost secret exercise from Sunday to Thursday. It was synchronized with the US-Jordan Eager Lion maneuver now its second week. IDF tactics simulated a massive Syrian missile attack, including chemical arms, on Tel Aviv, while the joint US-Jordanian practice was based on a similar attack on Amman.

The Elusive H7N9 Virus: Chinese Researchers Predict Future Pandemic
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily Newsscience 2.0
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Since February 2013, China experienced an outbreak of the novel H7N9 avian flu, causing 131 cases of infection, and a death toll of 39. This particular H7N9 strain is considered to be one of the most worrisome pathogens since the H5N1 pandemic in 1997; a reputation based on the virus’ ability to spread easily across species and to infect humans. According to the May 23, 2013 Science paper published by the Joint Influenza Research Centre (State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shantou PR, China), Drs. Y. Guan and Y. Shu reported that H7N9 infects the upper respiratory tract of ferrets and pigs, and spreads via direct contact, suggesting that the rapid surge of H7N9 infections are likely caused by human’s direct contact with infected birds.

The source of the H7N9 virus is quite elusive, mainly because birds carrying the H7N9 virus appear to be unharmed by the infection. This is quite unlike the H5N1 outbreak in 1997, where H5N1-infected birds can succumb to the infection, and that the presence of dead ducks and poultry often indicates the presence of the H5N1 virus.

The Elusive Origin of H7N9
To solve the puzzle of H7N9’s origin, a group of scientists lead by Dr. Kwok Yung Yuen (University of Hong Kong) discovered that H7N9 virus was derived from two origins of ducks, a study the was published in the June 1, 2013 issue of the Lancet. The conclusion was based on the sequencing the hemagglutinin (H7) and neuraminidase (N9) viral genes in human patients that were infected with H7N9 (throat swabs, Zhejiang, China), and extensive analysis to determine whether similar H7 and N9 sequences can be found in duck and poultry samples from the Asian wet markets. Using this approach, Yuen reported that the H7 sequence found in domestic ducks in Zhejiang, and the N9 sequence found in wild ducks in Korea, were the closest match to the respective H7 and N9 protein sequences in H7N9-infected patients in Zhejiang. Yuen further highlighted that in contrast to the H7 proteins from domestic ducks, the H7 proteins in H7N9-infected patients carry several amino-acid mutations including the Gln226Leu, Gly186Val substitutions (associated with their ability to infect humans) and PB2 Asp701Asn mutation (associated with mammalian adaptation).

Further extrapolating the origin of H7N9 from an influenza sequence database (Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database), Dr. George Gao at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Beijing) demonstrated that the H7 gene is likely to have evolved from wild migratory ducks in Asia. Gao further found the H7N9 virus also shares internal genes that are similar to what is found in two lineages of H9N2 poultry influenza virus. In his report published in the June 1, 2013 issue of the Lancet, Gao further concluded that the H7N9 in humans is an evolutionary product that is likely created by multiple gene reassortment events between influenza viruses from at least four different migratory ducks and poultry lineages. According to Gao, H7N9 virus transmission and mutations in birds, and potentially in intermediate animals, should be watched closely to minimize the chances of a future pandemic.

Study: 70 Percent of Americans on Prescription Drugs
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsCBS
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Mayo Clinic researchers report that antibiotics, antidepressants and painkiller opioids are the most common prescriptions given to Americans. Twenty percent of U.S. patients were also found to be on five or more prescription medications.

The study is uncovering valuable information to the researchers about U.S. prescription practices.

“Often when people talk about health conditions they’re talking about chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes,” Dr. St. Sauver stated in a Mayo Clinic press release. “However, the second most common prescription was for antidepressants — that suggests mental health is a huge issue and is something we should focus on. And the third most common drugs were opioids, which is a bit concerning considering their addicting nature.”

Saudis Start Deporting Pro - Hizballah Lebanese and Shiites
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;Today's Headlines

Saudi ambassador to Beirut Ali Awad Assiri said Thursday that Lebanese citizens who support Hizballah will be deported over the group’s role in the Syrian civil war, including “those who financially support this party.” He held Hizballah fully responsible for the decision by the Gulf Arab countries to expel Lebanese citizens. On June 12, DEBKAfile reported that Kuwait had sent thousands of Lebanese nationals out of the country.

N.J. School Board Bans Hearing - Impaired Girl from using Sign Language
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsABC News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

New Jersey school officials have threatened a 12-year-old hearing-impaired girl to stop using sign language to communicate on the schoolbus or face a 3-day suspension, the girl’s parents told ABC News.

Danica Lesko and her parents say sign language is the only way to for her to effectively communicate after losing her hearing in an accident in November. Officials at Stonybrook School and district officials in Branchburg, N.J., say signing is a safety hazard, ABC News reported.

The March 30 letter sent home from Danica’s principal said she was “doing sign language after being told it wasn’t allowed on the bus.”

In a statement released through the school district’s attorney, David Rubin, the Branchburg Board of Education insisted it did not violate anyone’s rights and is only trying to protect other students, ABC News reported.

Editors Note.....Another indication that our society is going mad.

Let the Headlines Speak
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Lapid: Bennett wrong, Israel must pursue a 2-state solution
Speaking in an interview with Channel 2, Lapid said, "I think Bennett is wrong. Israel has to continue to pursue peace based on a two-state solution...we must try again and again and never give up."  

Magnitude 5.7 quake hits northeast of Santiago, Chile
A 5.7-magnitude quake struck near Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, causing buildings to sway in the capital but no reports of damage. The quake hit 68 miles (110 km) north-northeast of Santiago at a depth of almost 62 miles (100 km), the USGS said.  

Outbreak of deadly piglet virus spreads to 13 states
The virus now has spread to 13 states - with more than 100 positive cases to date - since it was first diagnosed in the United States last month, said Montserrat Torremorell, the Allen D. Leman Chair in Swine Health and Productivity at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. While the virus has not tended to kill older pigs, mortality among very young pigs infected in U.S. farms is commonly 50 percent, and can be as high at 100 percent, say veterinarians and scientists who are studying the outbreak.  

Vatican to announce John Paul II ‘miracle’ despite his manifest heresy at Assisi which is an outrage to the millions of catholic Martyrs.
The Vatican has secretly attributed a mystery miracle to the late John Paul II, clearing the way for him to be declared a saint despite the fact he prayed with non Christians including witch doctors at Assisi. under catholic cannon law(which was disregarded after Vatican 2 ) he would have been along with the bishops and every single priest who accompanied him in this outrage been excommunicated his office of pope would to have shielded him as he is the guardian of the catholic faith only as long as he does not fall into manifest heresy or apostasy , in the case of Assisi both.  

Hot Mic: NSA Director Caught Telling FBI Deputy 'Tell Your Boss I Owe Him Another Friggin' Beer'
After testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence a hot mic caught NSA chief General Keith Alexander discussing victory beer with the FBI Deputy Director.  

Israeli PM: EU should join US push on peace talks
Israel's prime minister says the European Union should join U.S. attempts to restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Benjamin Netanyahu also reiterated Israel's position that talks should resume immediately and without preconditions, which is also the U.S. stance. He spoke Thursday at a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.  

Brazil demonstrators promise biggest protests yet
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators -- angry about political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the 2014 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament -- are expected on the streets of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Niteroi, Belo Horizonte, Sao Sebastiao and other cities. Organizers vowed to repeat what they did Wednesday, disrupting FIFA Confederations Cup matches held in Brazil as a World Cup prelude.  

Russian Cyberspace Head Calls For Internet Kill Switch
The head of Russia’s cyberspace policy today called for global governments to react to the NSA spy scandal by creating a United Nations-style body that would have regulatory control over the Internet – including a web kill switch. ...Information Society Development Commission head Ruslan Gattarov called for a newly created group to control the world wide web, “So that everyone, not only the US, has access to the master switch.”  

Facebook, Microsoft disclose FISA requests, sort of
For the six months ended December 31, 2012, Microsoft received between 6000 and 7000 criminal and national security warrants, subpoenas and orders affecting between 31,000 and 32,000 consumer accounts from U.S. governmental entities, the company said in a blog post. For its part, Facebook said that it had received 9,000 requests of the same nature during the same period.  

How PRISM Sends Your Private Data Overseas
Government officials quickly made clear that the online-activity-monitoring program revealed by Snowden, called PRISM, targeted only foreign nationals. United States "persons" — citizens and residents protected by the Fourth Amendment — were said to not be part of its scope. Yet PRISM data was shared with Britain's communications intelligence service, GCHQ, and possibly with a Dutch intelligence service. In fact, the United States and several other countries all regularly see each others' communications intelligence.  

Protesters Demand an Audit of the IRS
“My committee … has been trying to get answers from the IRS for more than two years. We’re just starting to get answers,” said Rep. Dave Camp (R., Mich.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “I’m here today to commit to you we will get the answers. It will take time, but we will get the facts and we will follow them wherever they lead. We will get the truth, and we will hold those responsible accountable.”  

TWA Flight 800 crash not due to gas tank explosion, former investigators say
The producers of an upcoming documentary on TWA Flight 800—which exploded and crashed into the waters off Long Island, N.Y., on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 people on board—claim to have proof that a missile caused the Paris-bound flight to crash. And six former investigators who took part in the film say there was a cover-up and want the case reopened.  

New MERS virus spreads easily, deadlier than SARS
A new virus responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness in the Middle East may be more deadly than SARS, according to a team of infectious-disease specialists who recently investigated cases in Saudi Arabia. Of 23 confirmed cases in April, 15 people died — an “extremely high” fatality rate of 65 percent, according to Johns Hopkins senior epidemiologist...  

Obama: Catholic Schools 'Encourage Division'
Obama wasn't kidding in March of 2012 when he told then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that he would have "more flexibility" after the election. We got a chilling look at what Obama meant by that during a speech in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit when he declared religious schools divisive:  

Afghans reject Taliban talks moves
Afghan officials have said the removal of the flag and nameplate from the Taliban's Qatar office is not enough. Afghan peace negotiators say the office is meant only for peace talks and they are unhappy with Taliban statements.  

'Dead Zones' Predicted for Gulf, Chesapeake Bay
Scientists in Michigan and Louisiana are predicting a big summer "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico unless a tropical storm hits the area shortly before or during the annual measurement. In the Chesapeake Bay, scientists expect a smaller-than-average area where there's too little oxygen to support fish, shellfish and other aquatic life.  

Baked Alaska: Unusual heat wave hits 49th state
A heat wave hitting Alaska may not rival the blazing heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but to residents of the 49th state, the days of hot weather feel like a stifling oven - or a tropical paradise. With temperatures topping 80 degrees in Anchorage, and higher in other parts of the state, people have been sweltering in a place where few homes have air conditioning.  

Study: 70 Percent Of Americans On Prescription Drugs
Researchers find that nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug, and more than half receive at least two prescriptions.  

Lebanese president urges Hezbollah to pull out of Syria
President Michel Suleiman has called on the Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah movement to pull its guerrillas out of Syria, saying any further involvement in its neighbor's civil war would fuel instability in Lebanon. Hezbollah militants spearheaded the recapture of the strategic border town of Qusair two weeks ago by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which now appear to be preparing for an offensive in the northern city of Aleppo. 

Israel to be First in World With F - 35 Fighter Jets
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsINN - Chana Ya'ar
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Lockheed Martin Aircraft Industries has announced that Israel will be the first nation to receive its F-35 stealth fighter jets, the most expensive weapon in U.S. history.

The company’s vice president, Steve O’Bryan, made the announcement Tuesday at the Paris Air Show.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation aircraft capable of evading radar and integrated air defense systems.

There has been great competition for purchase of the aircraft, with South Korea, Canada and other nations in the potential customer lineup.

But an article published Wednesday in Britain’s The Globe and Mail newspaper has raised the specter of cyber espionage in connection with theft of the design data for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Chinese military hackers have targeted U.S. government and big business programs repeatedly over the past several years, a major security issue that has only recently come under serious scrutiny by the White House. And China is among those nations currently developing its own fifth generation fighter jets. Russia is another.

If in fact hackers managed to penetrate Lockheed Martin’s tight security net and stole the sensitive design data for the new F-35 stealth fighter jet, rival firms will have a major advantage over the U.S. in the market, Pentagon defense acquisitions chief Frank Kendall told a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

"I’m not at all confident that our unclassified information is [as] well-protected," he told the lawmakers. "A lot of that is being stolen right now and it’s a major problem for us."

Health Officials: Arab 'Traffic' Puts Israel At Risk for Mers
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsINN - David Lev
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Israeli health officials said they were keeping a close eye on the potential spread of a new virus that has been spreading throughout the Middle East, and were ready with plans to present an epidemic in Israel. The existence of the new disease, MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – has been known to scientists for some weeks, but its existence was publicized Thursday in the New York Times.

Similar to SARS, MERS spreads quickly, but is more deadly than SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. SARS has been since 2003, but there is no specific vaccine for it, and scientists said that that was likely to be true for MERS as well.

Doctors have been observing the symptoms associated with MERS in a growing number of patients for the past year, but only in the past month or so has it become clear that a specific virus was responsible. Nearly all the cases so far have been seen in Saudi Arabia, with several others seen in Gulf countries, Tunisia, and Jordan. In addition, the disease has been seen in Arab populations in Italy, Britain, and France

Many of the cases have been spread in hospitals, but doctors are not sure what the mechanism for spreading – suh as sneezing, physical contact, etc. - is. What frightens researchers is the extremely high fatality rate; out of sixty established cases, 38 people died, for a fatality rate of 65%. At its worst in 2003, the fatality rate for SARS was about 8%.

Israeli health officials said that they were increasing their vigilance at hospitals, and were preparing to isolate patients who displayed the symptoms. The officials said that due to the ongoing traffic of Arabs between Israel and Jordan, and from their to the rest of the Arab world, Israel was at a “significant risk” of experiencing an outbreak.

FBI Director Robert Mueller Admits Spy Drones Being used in Skies Over America
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsABC News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The long-standing director of the FBI has admitted the agency is using drones for surveillance in American skies.

FBI director Robert Mueller, who took over as the director of the FBI just a week before the September 11 attacks, made the acknowledgment in response to questions from US senators asking about the government’s increasing use of unmanned aircraft.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked Mr Mueller if the agency was using drones “for surveillance on US soil”.

Mr Mueller said drones were being used, but said their use was in “a very, very minimal way and very seldom”.

“Our footprint is very small,” he said.

“We have very few and of limited use and we’re exploring not only the use but also the necessary guidelines for that use.”

The FBI later released a statement saying unmanned aircraft were used only to watch stationary subjects and to avoid serious risks to law enforcement agents, saying each use was approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Court Awards Damages to Hebron Mother Over False Arrest
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily NewsINN - Chana Ya'ar
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court has awarded thousands of shekels in damages to a Hevron mother after her false arrest by police.

On Thursday, the court ordered Jerusalem police to pay Anat Cohen a total of NIS 9,000 in damages, a sum which included her legal fees.

Cohen was taken into custody by Jerusalem police because she was waving a sign at her son’s IDF military swearing-in ceremony at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The sign read, "Remember, son, you swore to defeat the enemy – not evacuate Jews."

Cohen was eventually released from the precinct, 4.5 hours later, without having been interrogated.

The fine to be paid by police included NIS 4,500 for the 4.5 hours of detention, NIS 2,000 for the false arrest and duress she endured, and NIS 2,500 for her legal fees.

Arrests in the highly sensitive holy area are common. An eyewitness report confirmed earlier this week that Temple Mount police arrested four Jewish minors on the claim they "bowed" on the site.

However, Rabbi Avraham Isaacs, who was present at the time, said he never saw the four Jewish youths bow, even once, and that they had adhered to security regulations requiring Jews to tour the site in groups.

"They stayed together and were ambushed on the Mount by an Arab mob shouting ‘Allahu Akbar,’, whom they attempted to avoid while the escorting police officer rushed them to move on," Isaacs related.

Attorney Aviad Visoly denounced the arrest, arguing that the young men should not have been arrested even if they did bow. Jews are allowed to bow on the Temple Mount, he said, and doing so is "a Torah command and an elementary civil right."

The attorney added that arresting minors for bowing on the Temple Mount is a serious crime called "wrongful arrest."

On Wednesday, a group of Jewish pilgrims visiting the Temple Mount confiscated a soccer ball from a group of youths playing on the site of what was once the Holy Temple and "House of Prayer for All Nations" built by the Biblical King Solomon.

Although the pilgrims handed the ball to a police officer, he promptly handed it back to the youths, telling the Jews there was "no provision" for stopping soccer games or other sports activities on the site – even though Israel’s Supreme Court has banned sports on the holy site.

Boston Public Schools will Distribute Condoms in All High Schools
Jun 20th, 2013
Daily Newscnsnews.com
Categories: Today's Headlines;Moral Decline

The Boston Public School Committee voted 5-0 Wednesday night to adopt a "wellness policy" that includes making condoms available in high schools. "This is already the practice in 19 BPS high schools," the committee noted. "The new policy will expand it to all 32."

The new policy says all students should have access to "key resources and services that are developmentally appropriate and support sexual and reproductive health in a safe and supportive environment."

Students who want condoms may get them,  along with "appropriate health education and counseling services." Condoms will be supplied by community health service partners, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) or, when neither community health service partners nor BPHC staff are available, from appropriate school staff.

"Schools will adhere to Massachusetts state confidentiality laws," the policy says. "Boston Public Schools encourages communication and involvement with family regarding health services, and parents and legal guardians may exempt their children from receiving condoms by notifying the school when they complete the family information forms at the beginning of the school year."

The new policy take effect this fall.

The six-page policy specifically mentions "social health, emotional health, mental health, behavioral health, physical health, suicide prevention, safe inclusive climates for LGBTQ students, violence prevention, including intimate partner violence, sexual harassment & assault prevention, bullying & cyber bullying prevention, emergency preparedness, school safety, substance use, and pregnant & parenting students."  

Each school will establish a Wellness Council, to monitor school health policies -- including nutrition and exercise. The councils also will "identify inclusive practices and opportunities to celebrate diverse cultures and identities."