Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Ya'alon: Palestinians Only Want to Destroy the Jewish State
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Moshe Ya'alon

Flash 90

The Palestinians have never been interested in a "Two-State solution," Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon stated Tuesday - but only in hurting Israel. 

"Their goal is not to establish a Palestinian state along '67 borders, but to destroy the Jewish state," Ya'alon stated, in an interview on PBS. "That is the reason why they have never said the term 'two states for two peoples': they don't want to recognize that a Jewish state [exists]." 

"Two states for two peoples" has been a slogan of Israel's far left for decades, but has become more mainstream since the Oslo era.

Ya'alon also related to Israel's sovereignty in Judea and Samaria - where the Palestinian Authority (PA) has been clamoring to establish a "Palestinian state" - and said that it would lead to another "Hamas-stan," in his words. 

Ya'alon is currently making the rounds in the US, championing the necessity of Israel defending itself and maintaining its security amid a flurry of declarations by international bodies in support of a Palestinian statehood bid. 

Ya’alon made stronger statements to this effect during a meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, stressing that Israel will stop the rehabilitation process of Gaza if Hamas continues to build terror tunnels.

"We want the people of Gaza to live in dignity and prosperity, to rebuild their homes and return to normal life. But we're very concerned. Yesterday, Hamas officials stated they plan to renovate the tunnels, and that’s instead of renovating the homes of Gazans,” Ya’alon told Ban.

"If this is the case, we cannot allow rehabilitation materials to enter Gaza," he clarified. "We also will not agree that Hamas will arm itself again. We have an interest that the people of Gaza will improve their financial situation and their lives, but it must be clear that the money and the equipment do not go towards terrorism, which is why we are closely watching the developments.”

The international community has rallied behind Gaza, donating a record $5.4 billion dollars to its "rehabilitation" despite ample evidence that the aid money is being used to rebuild tunnels and rearm Hamas. 

Israeli politicians have stressed that the PA-Hamas unity pact indicates that neither are serious about restarting peace talks, and that funding Hamas in Gaza to attack Israel again is tantamount to declaring war on the idea of a diplomatic solution.

U.S. Military Urged to Follow Canada's Transgender Policy
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsCBC News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

There are many things that make Canada distinct from the United States but aside from the usual clichés — passion for hockey, maple syrup, and Timbits — there is perhaps a lesser known difference when it comes to our militaries.

The Canadian Forces has something the American military does not: a policy that allows transgender people to serve. In the U.S., Pentagon rules prohibit transgender members and if they're discovered, the military can discharge them.

At a conference on Monday in Washington, D.C., Canada was held up as a model for the U.S. to follow, along with other countries that allow transgender members including Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden and New Zealand.

Canadian Lt.-Cmdr. Nicole Lassaline spoke on a panel about Canada's policies, medical and otherwise, and best practices, and Cpl. Natalie Murray shared her personal experience as a transsexual woman who transitioned from male to female while in the air force.

"I love my job," Murray said in an interview. But despite Canada's more accommodating policy, it still hasn't been a smooth ride for her over the past decade.  

"It was rough to say the least," she said. Murray, who currently works at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island, began her transition in 2003 and was the eighth Canadian Forces member to do so.

She said she experienced harassment and that some of her coworkers, and superiors, tried to force her out of her job. Before Comox, Murray worked at CFB Bagotville, CFB North Bay, was deployed to Bosnia and also worked at CFB Trenton.

"They wanted to get rid of me as quickly as they could, either out of the military, out of the Canadian Forces as a whole or for that matter off the planet — which they came very close to doing," said Murray.

Murray echoed the sentiments of other panellists from Sweden, Australia and New Zealand who talked about the stress, depression and feelings of suicide that transgender people hiding their secret can experience.

Professional consequences for some

She also talked about the consequences she's faced professionally. "It didn't come without ramifications for my career. Twenty-seven years done, still this," she said, gesturing to the rank of corporal on the sleeve of her blue uniform. "Corporal for life. Everyone I've ever worked with has moved ahead."

Murray said she is now accepted by her peers in Comox and she tries to help others so they don't have to go through what she did.

The conference was organized by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Palm Center, a research institute affiliated with San Francisco State University.

Advocates are pushing for the Pentagon to drop the ban, but so far, there has been little movement on the issue.

U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel stated in May when asked in an interview that he's open to reviewing the ban. Some took that as a sign of hope that change was ahead, but no official review is underway at the Pentagon.  

In 2010, the policy that banned gay and lesbian military members from being open about their sexuality, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," was repealed.  But transgender members still have to work in secret. The Palm Center estimates there are at least 15,000 transgender personnel currently serving in the U.S. military.

There are no statistics for the Canadian Forces. Lassaline said it's a private issue and "not something that's publicized."

Allan Okros, a professor at the Canadian Forces College, spoke at a conference in Washington, D.C., on Monday about Canada's experience designing policies related to transgender members. (Meagan Fitzpatrick/CBC News)

Canada also used to ban gay and lesbian members from openly serving in the military. Policies related to sexual orientation and gender identity began to change between 1988 and 1992, partly because of a court challenge, according to Alan Okros, a professor at the Canadian Forces College who spoke at the conference.

Even though Canada has years of experience over the U.S. when it comes to designing inclusive policies, things don't always run smoothly, Okros and Murray both said.

US can learn from Canada

Some people have found great support in the chain of command and from their peers, said Okros, but others have not.

"Others have faced very clear discrimination and prejudice to the point where they left the unit, the occupation. They just cannot put up with serving with the people they were serving with before. It's a range," said Okros.

Okros, a retired Canadian Forces member who has done extensive work on diversity issues, said that the military's top leaders do generally set a tone that emphasizes respect and inclusivity. The challenges more often come up at the ground level, within individual units.

"Quite honestly, it's hit and miss," he said.

Canada isn't perfect, but the U.S. can learn some lessons when it is ready to follow its lead, Okros said.

"I think Canada does have some things to offer and to share in terms of how the U.S. could move forward," he said. "To my mind the real question for the U.S. military is not can they do it, it's just when."

Allyson Robinson, a transgender U.S. army veteran, was trained to fight enemies on the battlefield but now she's fighting the Pentagon's policy.

"The main problem with the U.S. policy is that it's woefully out of date," she said in an interview at the conference. "The obsoleteness of this policy is hurting people. It is hurting 15,000 transgender service members in this country and it's hurting the units they serve and therefore it's a readiness issue for us."

There is no stated rationale for the ban, said Robinson, a policy adviser at SPARTA, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military members and veterans.  

Canada and other allies are setting a positive example, she said. "Some of the most respected militaries in the world figured this out a long time ago, and I think that's a powerful argument here in Washington," she said.

Editors note....It is a sad day for Canada when we lead others in disregarding the pattern of God's Word.

The Real Cyborgs
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsThe Telegraph
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Ian Burkhart concentrated hard. A thick cable protruded from the crown of his shaven head. A sleeve sprouting wires enveloped his right arm. The 23 - year-old had been paralysed from the neck down since a diving accident four years ago. But, in June this year, in a crowded room in the Wexner Medical Centre at Ohio State University, Burkhart’s hand spasmed into life.

At first it opened slowly and shakily, as though uncertain who its owner was. But when Burkhart engaged his wrist muscles, its upward movement was sudden and decisive. You could hear the joints – unused for years - cracking. The scientists and medical staff gathered in the room burst into applause.

The technology that made this possible, Neurobridge, had successfully reconnected Burkhart’s brain with his body. It was probably the most advanced intertwining of man and machine that had so far been achieved.

But such milestones are coming thick and fast. Quietly, almost without anyone really noticing, we have entered the age of the cyborg, or cybernetic organism: a living thing both natural and artificial. Artificial retinas and cochlear implants (which connect directly to the brain through the auditory nerve system) restore sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Deep-brain implants, known as “brain pacemakers”, alleviate the symptoms of 30,000 Parkinson’s sufferers worldwide. The Wellcome Trust is now trialling a silicon chip that sits directly on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, stimulating them and warning of dangerous episodes.

Rob Spence replaced his right eye with a camera Michael Alberstat

A growing cadre of innovators is taking things further, using replacement organs, robotic prosthetics and implants not to restore bodily functions but to alter or enhance them. When he lost his right eye in a shotgun accident in 2005, the Canadian filmmaker Rob Spence replaced it with a wireless video camera that transmits what he’s seeing in real time to his computer. Last year, the electronic engineer Brian McEvoy, who is based in Minnesota, made himself a kind of internal satnav by fitting himself with a subdermal compass.

“This is the frontline of the Human Enhancement Revolution,” wrote the technology author and philosopher Patrick Lin last year. “We now know enough about biology, neuroscience, computing, robotics, and materials to hack the human body.”

The US military is pouring millions of dollars into projects such as Ekso Bionics’ Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), an ‘Iron Man’-style wearable exoskeleton that gives soldiers superhuman strength. Its Defense Advanced Research Projects Association (Darpa) is also working on thought-controlled killer robots, “thought helmets” to enable telepathic communication and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to give soldiers extra senses, such as night vision and the ability to “see” magnetic fields caused by landmines.

Ever since the earliest humans made stone tools, we have tried to extend our powers. The bicycle, the telescope and the gun all arose from this same impulse. Today, we carry smartphones – supercomputers, really - in our pockets, giving us infinite information and unlimited communication at our fingertips. Our relationship with technology is becoming increasingly intimate, as wearable devices such as Google Glass, Samsung Gear Fit (a smartwatch-cum-fitness tracker) and the Apple Watch show. And wearable is already becoming implantable.

In America, a dedicated amateur community — the “biohackers” or “grinders” — has been experimenting with implantable technology for several years. Amal Graafstra, a 38-year-old programmer and self-styled “adventure technologist”, has been inserting various types of radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips into the soft flesh between his thumbs and index fingers since 2005. The chips can be read by scanners that Graafstra has installed on the doors of his house, and also on his laptop, which gives him access with a swipe of his hand without the need for keys or passwords. He sells it to a growing crowd of “geeky, hacker-type software developers,” he tells me, direct from his website, Dangerous Things, having used crowdfunding to pay for the manufacturing (he raised almost five times his target amount).

An X-ray showing the chips implanted in Amal Graafstra's hands Amal Graafstra

Graafstra, a hyper-articulate teddy bear of a man, is unimpressed by wearable devices. “A wearable device is just one more thing to manage during the day. I don’t think people will want to deck themselves out with all that in the future,” he says, dismissing Samsung Gear Fit as “large, cumbersome and not exactly fashionable”. Instead, he envisages an implant that would monitor general health and scan for medical conditions, sending the information to the user’s smartphone or directly to a doctor. This would be always there, always on, and never in the way – and it could potentially save a lot of doctors' time and money as fewer checkups would be necessary and health conditions could be recognised before they became serious.

Graafstra defines biohackers as “DIY cyborgs who are upgrading their bodies with hardware without waiting for corporate development cycles or authorities to say it’s OK”. But, he concedes,“Samsung and Apple aren’t blind to what we’re doing. Somewhere in the bowels of these companies are people thinking about implantables.” He mentions Motorola’s experiments with the “password pill”, which sends signals to devices from the stomach. (The same company has filed a patent for an “electronic throat tattoo” which fixes a minuscule microphone on the skin so users can communicate with their devices via voice commands.)

“Biohackers are upgrading their bodies without waiting for anyone to say it’s OK”

As robotics and brain-computer interfaces continue to improve and, with them, the likelihood that advanced cybernetic enhancement becomes widely available, several worrying questions emerge. Will those with the resources to access enhancements become a cyborg super-class that is healthier, smarter and more employable than the unenhanced? Will the unenhanced feel pressured into joining their ranks or face falling behind? And who will regulate these enhancements? In the wrong hands, cyborg technology could quickly become the stuff of dystopian science fiction. It’s all too easy to imagine totalitarian regimes (or unscrupulous health insurers) scraping information from our new, connected body parts and using it for their own gain.

Kevin Warwick can justifiably claim to be the world’s first cyborg. In the 1990s, Reading University’s visiting professor of cybernetics started implanting RFID chips into himself. In 2002, he underwent pioneering surgery to have an array of electrodes attached to the nerve fibres in his arm. This was the first time a human nervous system had been connected to a computer. Warwick’s “neural interface” allowed him to move a robotic hand by moving his own and to control a customised wheelchair with his thoughts. It also enabled him to experience electronic stimuli coming the other way. In one experiment he was able to sense ultrasound, which is beyond normal human capability. “I was born human,”, Warwick has said, “ but I believe it’s something we have the power to change.”

Cheerleaders for a cyborg future, like Prof Warwick, call themselves “transhumanists”. Transhumanism aims to alter the human condition for the better by using technology (as well as genetic engineering, life extension science and synthetic biology) to make us more intelligent, healthier and live longer than has ever been possible – eventually transforming humanity so much it becomes “post-human”.

The Cybernetic human

1. Brain implants augment memory and provide access to the internet
2. Wearable exoskeleton boosts strength and endurance
3. Internet-connected spinal implant stimulates genitals for long-distance sex
4. Interchangeble limbs match capabilities to tasks
5. Access-control chips replace keys and passwords

One of the most prominent transhumanists is the inventor and philosopher Ray Kurzweil, currently director of engineering at Google, and populariser of the concept of the technological “singularity” – a point he puts at around 2045, when artificial intelligence will outstrip human intelligence for the first time. The predicted consequences of such a scenario vary wildly from the enslavement of humanity to a utopian world without war (or even, as a result of self-replicating nanotechnology, the transformation of the planet, or perhaps the entire universe, into something called “grey goo” – but that’s a whole other story).

Kurzweil, the award-winning creator of the flatbed scanner, also believes he has a shot at immortality and intends to resurrect the dead, including his own father. “We will transcend all of the limitations of our biology,” he has said. “That is what it means to be human – to extend who we are.”

“I was born human but I believe it’s something we have the power to change”

Many transhumanists, particularly in Silicon Valley, where belief in the singularity has assumed the character of an eschatological religion, think that fusing with technology is our only hope of surviving the consequences of this great change.

“We’re not physically more competent than other species but in our intellectual capabilities we have something of an edge,” Warwick tells me. “But quite soon machines are going to have an intellectual power that we’ll have difficulty dealing with.” The only way to keep up with them, he believes, is to artificially enhance our poor organic bodies and brains. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” he says.

Professor James Lovelock, the veteran scientist and environmentalist, is considerably less alarmed than Warwick. “Artificial intelligence is never going to be able to intuit or invent things – all it can do is follow logical instructions. Perhaps in the future when computing systems operate like our brains, then there really would be a fight, but that’s an awful long way off.”

Many would disagree, however. IBM, Hewlett Packard and HRL Laboratories have all received many millions of dollars from Darpa to develop exactly what Lovelock fears: so-called “cognitive” or “neuromorphic” computing systems designed to learn, associate and intuit just like a mammalian brain. IBM brought out its first prototype in 2012.

Warwick may have been the first to experiment with cybernetics but the honour of being the world’s first government-recognised cyborg goes to the artist Neil Harbisson. Born with the rare condition of achromatopsia, or total colour blindness, Harbisson developed the “eyeborg” — a colour sensor on a head-mounted antenna that connects to a microchip implanted in his skull. It converts colours into sounds (electronic sine waves) which he hears via bone conduction.

Harbisson’s severe bowl cut and hard-to-place accent (his mother is Catalan and his father Northern Irish) only heighten the impression that he might have been beamed down from another planet.

Over time he has learned to associate every part of the spectrum with a different pitch until these associations have become second nature. “It was when I started to dream in colour that I felt the software and my brain had united,” he said in TED talk in 2012.

Ten years ago, he won a battle with the British government to have the “eyeborg” recognized as a part of his body. It now appears in his passport photo.

He set up the Cyborg Foundation two years ago with his partner, Moon Ribas, a dancer and a fellow “cyborg activist” (she has a seismic sensor in her arm, which enables her to feel vibrations of varying intensity when an earthquake occurs anywhere in the world). She and Harbisson believe that everyone should have the right to become a cyborg. Like the biohackers, they propose that would-be cyborgs use open-source technology to design and make their own enhancements, rather than buying a finished product off the shelf.

“I'm worried about spam - I don't want adverts flashing through my brain.”

It is hard, however, to see the majority of people adopting a DIY philosophy like this when state-of-the-art options become available commercially. In computer gaming, headsets using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology are being developed so that users can control games with their thoughts. “For example,” explains Zach Lynch, organizer of the first “Neurogaming” conference in San Francisco last year, “players can smash boulders by concentrating or scare away demons with angry facial expressions.” A British gaming company, Foc.us, is using technology that was first developed by Darpa to train snipers, to boost playing performance. According to Lynch, its “transcranial direct current stimulation device literally zaps your head with a miniscule electric pulse [which you can’t feel] during training to help make your brain more susceptible to learning.”

Chad Bouton, the inventor of the Neurobridge technology at Batelle Innovations that is enabling Ian Burkhart to move his hand again, believes that invasive brain-computer interfaces could also one day cross over into the non-therapeutic field.

The quadriplegic Ian Burkhart picks up a spoon T.R. Massey

“Talking about this bionic age that we’re entering,” he says on the phone from Ohio, “you certainly can imagine brain implants that could augment your memory”. Or give you direct access to the internet . “You could think about a search you’d like to make and get the information streamed directly into your brain,” he says. “Maybe decades from now we’ll see something like that.”

Prof James Lovelock, who himself is fitted with a wi-fi controlled pacemaker, thinks these innovations come with dangers. He is chiefly “worried about the spam. If I had a cybernetic eye I wouldn’t want to wake up in the middle of the night with [an advert for] somebody’s used car flashing through my brain.”

Then there is the prospect of spying. Could insurance companies harvest biometric data from people’s enhancements, or paranoid governments use them to monitor their citizens? Amal Graafstra is adamant that his access-control chip is not at risk from such things, due to the close proximity (two inches or less) required to read it. “If the government was handing out these tags and requiring people to use them for banking, say, that would be pretty suspect”, he tells me. “But it doesn’t need to do that, because we have our phones on us all the time already” – a perfectly effective “tracking device,” as he puts it, should governments be interested in our movements.

Even assuming that cybernetic technology could be made safe from such dangers, opponents of transhumanism (sometimes termed “bioconservatives”) argue the medical principle, that technology should only restore human capabilities, not enhance them.

“The fascination with ‘enhancement’ is a way to convince healthy people that they are in need of treatment,” says Dr David Albert Jones, director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford. “It is a wasteful distraction when we are failing to meet the basic needs of people with real health problems.”

He’s not against what he terms “human-technology interfaces” but, he says, they “should be developed to address the needs of people with disabilities, not to create a market for the self-regarding and the worried-well.” Many medical professionals would agree.

Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli historian, worries about enhancements leading to unprecedented levels of inequality. “Medicine is moving towards trying to surpass the norm, to help [healthy] people live longer, to have stronger memories, to have better control of their emotions,” he said in a recent interview. “But upgrading like that is not an egalitarian project, it's an elitist project. No matter what norm you reach, there is always another upgrade which is possible." And the latest, most high-tech upgrades will always only be available to the rich.

But where does a case like Neil Harbisson’s fall? He couldn’t cure his colour blindness, so he developed an extra sense to make up for it. Is this restoration or augmentation? Where cyborg ethics are concerned, the lines are blurred.

“Once you have cyborg sex, you will never want to return to normal sex”

Rich Lee was also drawn to biohacking in order to overcome a disability. Lee, a 35-year-old salesman from Utah whose wet-shave-and-goatee look is more 1990s nu-metal than cybernetic citizen of the future, is losing his vision, and last year was certified blind in one eye. He’s best known for having a pair of magnets implanted into his traguses (the nubs of cartilage in front of the ear-hole). They work with a copper coil worn around his neck, that he hooks up to his iPod, to become internal headphones. But he can also attach other things to the coil, such as wi-fi and electromagnetic sensors, enabling him to sense things normally outside of human capability. By attaching it to an ultrasonic rangefinder, he hopes to learn how to echolocate, like a bat, so when he goes blind he will be still able to judge his distance from objects – essentially, to see in the dark.

One of Lee’s many other projects is a vibrating implant which is placed at the base of the penis, which he calls the Lovetron9000. “I have broken many prototypes and it is trickier than it looks, engineering-wise,” he says. In the next ten years, Lee thinks, it might be possible to take part in a “MMO Orgy [Massively Multiplayer Online Orgy]” – a group of people with spinal implants which stimulate the users’ genital nerves linked together over the internet. It’s still only an idea, but Lee sees great commercial promise in this area: “I’ve probably had the most emails from people wanting to get the spinal implant,” he says. “Once you have cyborg sex,” he predicts, “you will never want to return to normal sex.”

Cyborg sex may sound unappealing now, but attitudes change fast. “It can flip very quickly,” says Kevin Warwick. “Take something like laser eye surgery. About 15 years ago people were saying ‘Don’t go blasting my eyes out’ and now they’re saying ‘Don’t bother with contact lenses’.”

In a sense, cyborg technology is nothing new — pacemakers, for example, have been around for decades. But recent advances have opened up new possibilities, and people are embracing them. Real cyborgs already walk among us. Soon, we may have to decide whether we want to join them.

Editors note.... We are rerminded of the early days of man's time on this earth. It seems man has come full circle since his days in Eden. We read about those days in Genesis 3:22, "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

The Diplomatic Storm That is Coming This January
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Commentary

Changes in the makeup of the UN Security Council have made Israel's diplomatic stance worse and strengthened the Palestinians' position on the world stage.

During the weekend, five new members were elected to enter the UN Security Council on January 1, 2015, as non-permanent members for two years, while five current non-permanent members will evacuate their seats. Spain and New Zealand will replace Australia and Luxembourg. But the biggest surprise was Turkey losing a seat to Spain 60-132, in a blow to recently-elected-president Erdogan. 

Israeli diplomats said that following the changes in the council's makeup it is likely Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be quick to try his luck in asking the UN Security Council to grant Palestine full membership in the United Nations. So far, the Palestinians managed to obtain non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly, but recognition from the Security Council will make them an official member of the UN.

Unfortunately, an American veto for such a move is not something Israel can take for granted anymore. Diplomatic officials said Israel is taking into bracing for a bad scenario in which the Democrats lose their Senate majority in the midterm elections in two weeks time and will then be free of obligations, which might lead them to get back at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for all of the public clashes with the Democratic administration at the White House.

"A diplomatic storm is coming in January," a diplomatic source said.

Should the Palestinians petition for a full membership at the United Nations, this is how the member states are likely to vote:

The permanent states: United States - will object. Russia - will likely support, in order to embarrass the Americans and force them to veto. China - will likely support, in order to embarrass the Americans and force them to veto. Britain - has yet to decide, but after its parliament voted to recognize a Palestinian state in a symbolic move, it is likely the Brits will remain on the fence until the very last moment. France - has yet to decide.

The non-permanent states: Chile - leaning towards support. Lithuania - leaning towards objecting.
Jordan - will support the decision. Chad - will support the decision. Nigeria - on the fence.

The new non-permanent states: New Zealand - yet to decide  Spain - yet to decide 
Angola - yet to decide. Malaysia - will support the decision. Venezuela - will support the decision.

Israel's hope: American veto 

The council has 15 members, five of them permanent and ten of them are non-permanent. In order to pass a resolution, a nine vote majority is required. Even if the resolution passes, each of the permanent members has the right to veto the decision.

So far, Israel has had two lines of defense in the Security Council: The lack of majority for decisions favorable to the Palestinians and, more importantly, a guaranteed American veto. Before the change, the Palestinians seemingly only had seven states that supported their plight to join as a full member, so the American veto was not as crucial.

Now, the situation has changed. Following the election of the five new states, Israel has lost two friendly states that supported it - Australia and Rwanda. Instead, the new council makeup now includes Venezuela and Malaysia, two problematic states that could be counted automatically as those who would vote in favor of the Palestinian request.

Turkey's loss, however, brought a sigh of relief to Israel, as the situation would've been far worse had Ankara gotten a seat - not only would the Palestinians have the 9-state majority they needed, they'd have 10 'yes' votes guaranteed.

Israel's last line of defense is now the American veto, and it is counting on it. But the Americans would do anything to avoid having to use their veto power, and it's likely they will put pressure on other Security Council members not to support a unilateral Palestinian move.

The Americans will probably try to present alternatives such as the revival of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Europeans, on their part, will try to reach a compromise - not to accept the Palestinians as a member state, but rather set parameters for a permanent agreement that would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Such parameters would include Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, land swaps and declaring East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

Israeli diplomats are saying that Abbas now has tailwind that will likely push him to go for broke and make good on his threats: Not only turn to the UN Security Council to set a deadline for Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders by November 2016, but also turn to the International Criminals Court at the Hague.

In addition, these changes at the Security Council will not only play a part in the vote on accepting the Palestinians into the UN, but in other resolutions concerning Israel, like condemning settlement construction or military operations, calling for UN inquiry committees on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and more.

Rise of the Machines - will Computers With AI Become a Threat to Humanity?
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

How smart are today's computers?

They can tackle increasingly complex tasks with an almost human-like intelligence. Microsoft has developed an Xbox game console that can assess a player's mood by analyzing his or her facial expressions, and in 2011, IBM's Watson supercomputer won Jeopardy — a quiz show that often requires contestants to interpret humorous plays on words. These developments have brought us closer to the holy grail of computer science: artificial intelligence, or a machine that's capable of thinking for itself, rather than just respond to commands. 

But what happens if computers achieve "superintelligence" — massively outperforming humans not just in science and math but in artistic creativity and even social skills? Nick Bostrom, director of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford, believes we could be sleepwalking into a future in which computers are no longer obedient tools but a dominant species with no interest in the survival of the human race. "Once unsafe superintelligence is developed," Bostrom warned, "we can't put it back in the bottle."

When will AI become a reality?

There's a 50 percent chance that we'll create a computer with human-level intelligence by 2050 and a 90 percent chance we will do so by 2075, according to a survey of AI experts carried out by Bostrom. The key to AI could be the human brain: If a machine can emulate the brain's neural networks, it might be capable of its own sentient thought. With that in mind, tech giants like Google are trying to develop their own "brains" — stacks of coordinated servers running highly advanced software. 

Meanwhile, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has invested heavily in Vicarious, a San Francisco–based company that aims to replicate the neocortex, the part of the brain that governs vision and language and does math. Translate the neocortex into computer code, and "you have a computer that thinks like a person," said Vicarious co-founder Scott Phoenix. "Except it doesn't have to eat or sleep."

Why is that a threat?

No one knows what will happen when computers become smarter than their creators. Computer power has doubled every 18 months since 1956, and some AI experts believe that in the next century, computers will become smart enough to understand their own designs and improve upon them exponentially. The resulting intelligence gap between machines and people, Bostrom said, would be akin to the one between humans and insects. Computer superintelligence could be a boon for the human race, curing diseases like cancer and AIDS, solving problems that overwhelm humans, and performing work that would create new wealth and provide more leisure time. But superintelligence could also be a curse.

What could go wrong?

Computers are designed to solve problems as efficiently as possible. The difficulty occurs when imperfect humans are factored into their equations. "Suppose we have an AI whose only goal is to make as many paper clips as possible," Bostrom said. That thinking machine might rationally decide that wiping out humanity will help it achieve that goal — because humans are the only ones who could switch the machine off, thereby jeopardizing its paper-clip-making mission. 

In a hyperconnected world, superintelligent computers would have many ways to kill humans. They could knock out the internet-connected electricity grid, poison the water supply, cause havoc at nuclear power plants, or seize command of the military's remote-controlled drone aircraft or nuclear missiles. Inventor Elon Musk recently warned that "we need to be super careful with AI,'' calling it "potentially more dangerous than nukes.''

Is that bleak future inevitable?

Many computer scientists do not think so, and question whether AI is truly achievable. We're a long way from understanding the processes of our own incredibly complex brains — including the nature of consciousness itself — let alone applying that knowledge to produce a sentient, self-aware machine. 

And though today's most powerful computers can use sophisticated algorithms to win chess games and quiz shows, we're still far short of creating machines with a full set of human skills — ones that could "write poetry and have a conception of right and wrong," said Ramez Naam, a lecturer at the Silicon Valley–based Singularity University. That being said, technology is advancing at lightning speed, and some machines are already capable of making radical and spontaneous self-improvements. 

What safeguards are in place?

Not many thus far. Google, for one, has created an AI ethics review board that supposedly will ensure that new technologies are developed safely. Some computer scientists are calling for the machines to come pre-programmed with ethical guidelines — though developers then would face thorny decisions over what behavior is and isn't "moral." 

The fundamental problem, said Danny Hillis, a pioneering supercomputer designer, is that tech firms are designing ever-more intelligent computers without fully understanding — or even giving much thought to — the implications of their inventions. "We're at that point analogous to when single-celled organisms were turning into multicelled organisms," he said. "We're amoeba, and we can't figure out what the hell this thing is that we're creating."

When robots learn to lie

In 2009, Swiss researchers carried out a robotic experiment that produced some unexpected results. Hundreds of robots were placed in arenas and programmed to look for a "food source," in this case a light-colored ring. The robots were able to communicate with one another and were instructed to direct their fellow machines to the food by emitting a blue light. 

But as the experiment went on, researchers noticed that the machines were evolving to become more secretive and deceitful: When they found food, the robots stopped shining their lights and instead began hoarding the resources — even though nothing in their original programming commanded them to do so. The implication is that the machines learned "self-preservation," said Louis Del Monte, author of The Artificial Intelligence Revolution. "Whether or not they're conscious is a moot point."

Report: Israeli Officials Fear Obama will Try to Avoid Bringing Iran Nuclear Deal Before Congress
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsThe Jerusalem Post
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

'New York Times' reports that Obama administration would likely lose a congressional vote to terminate sanctions; Israeli officials reportedly think Congress would prevent a bad deal.

US President Barack Obama. . (photo credit:REUTERS)

U.S. President Barack Obama will seek to avoid bringing any deal made with Iran over its nuclear program before Congress for approval, The New York Times reported on Monday, adding that the development has raised concerns among some Israeli officials.

It remains uncertain if a deal will be reached to reduce sanctions on the Islamic Republic by the November 24 deadline, however Israel has expressed concern in recent days that the P5+1 group of world powers is on  the brink of signing a deal that would allow Tehran to remain a nuclear threshold state.

According to the Times, a Treasury Department report that has not been released to the public determined that Obama could suspend most sanctions against Iran without the approval of Congress. However, he would need congressional approval to terminate those sanctions.

The Times reported that Obama would be likely to lose a congressional vote to terminate sanctions, even if the Democrats retain the Senate in November's midterm elections.

“We wouldn’t seek congressional legislation in any comprehensive agreement for years,” the Times quoted a senior official as saying.

According to the report, some members of Congress fear Obama is trying to freeze them out of the decision-making process, a move that Israeli officials are concerned increases the chances for a bad deal.

The report came as the head of the UN atomic energy agency said on Monday that Iran has still not implemented all the nuclear transparency measures it had agreed to carry out by late August.

"In order to resolve all outstanding issues, it is very important that Iran implements, in a timely manner, all practical measures agreed under the Framework for Cooperation," Yukiya Amano said. That accord was reached with Tehran last year to help advance the long-running investigation.

Addressing a conference at IAEA headquarters on nuclear safeguards, he said the UN agency was not in a position "to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran."

PLA Building Fleet of 100 Large Transport Aircraft
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsWant China Times
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

China's Xian Y-20 large transportation aircraft. (Internet photo)

China is building a fleet of a hundred large transport aircraft that will be able to deploy troops all around the world, according to a Russian military expert.

In an article published Oct. 16 on the Russian Council website, Vasily Kashin, a China expert at the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow, says that the People's Liberation Army hopes to complete the project by 2020.

To reach that goal, China is in the process of acquiring Il-76 multi-purpose four-engine strategic airlifters and Il-78 four-engined aerial refueling tankers from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and is also developing its own Xian Y-20 large military transport aircraft.

According to Kashin, the quality of China's military technology has reached a new level, such that the PLA is now a modernized force capable of fighting a technically advanced war. The new generation PLA has a blue-water navy and maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans as well as a powerful strategic air force, he wrote.

The project is said to be part of a series of major programs designed to complete China's transformation into a modern military power. One of the programs aims to build an army that can win wars through superior information technology by 2050. To this end, the PLA set a goal back in 2000 for 60% of all new recruits to be university graduates, though by 2009 the number had barely passed 30%. To entice more qualified soldiers, the PLA has also introduced comprehensive insurance schemes and higher compensation that has seen monthly salaries more than double between 2006 and 2011 to around US$840 a month.

Beijing is also reportedly re-adjusting the structure of the Chinese armed forces, with the intention of gradually phasing out army and air force regiments and divisions. The PLA's ground force marks up about 1.6 million of the PLA's total 2.29 million personnel, though the army's influence has been falling in recent years as more attention is being paid to the navy and air force.

Combat training now focuses primarily on the use of computerized systems for joint operations, and a greater emphasis has been placed on precision weapons such as 122mm artillery and 155mm extended range guided munitions. Air force pilots are also increasing their training hours by an average of 200 hours a year and focusing on their abilities to make decisions without ground support.

Further, China has developed into a major arms dealer, the report said, engaging in technological cooperation with countries such as Pakistan. Chinese weapons and systems such as the 155mm PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer are also advanced enough to enter competitive markets such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and other Middle Eastern countries. Chinese anti-satellite weapons programs have also improved sufficiently to comparable to world leaders, the report added.

China is the second country in the world after the US to develop a warship equipped with a self-built multi-purpose weapons system. The Type 052D destroyer, currently undergoing sea trials, can launch various types of guided wapons such as anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine missiles, as well as cruise missiles against ground targets. China is also the only country in the world with two fifth-generation fighter projects in place, with both jets currently in the test-flight phase.

Additonally, the China is building five Type 094 ballistic missile submarines equipped with JL-2 intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The PLA has already deployed 35 DF-31A long-range road-mobile ICBMs and still has multiple warheads in development.

On the intelligence front, China is combining traditional electronic warfare with cyber warfare. The Fourth Department of the PLA's General Staff Headquarters Department has been tasked with four main goals: expand staff, improve technological progress, establish more centers, and train more information warfare experts. Telecommunications and electronic intelligence is controlled by the Third Department of the PLA's General Staff Headquarters Department, which has a total of about 130,000 staff.

China has already commissioned its first air craft carrier, the Liaoning, and is in the process of building two more. In the future, the PLA also intends to develop a carrier equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System capable of rivaling that of the US Navy.

Beijing has found it necessary to ramp up and modernize the PLA's capabilities due to ongoing tensions over territorial disputes, particularly with Japan in the East China Sea and the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea, the report said, as well as ongoing concerns stemming from America's return to Asia strategy. Though China has significantly bolstered its military capabilities, serious conflict has been avoided thus far despite an obvious push by Beijing to increase its presence in disputed regions, the report added.

Editors note....We are rerminded of the prophecy that tells us that an army of 200 million men will come from the kings of the east to engage in the battle of Armgeddon (Revelation 9:16 - 16:12). Many have wondered how such an army could be moved, perhaps we now have a glimpse into the answer.

Parents Outraged As U.S. Toys R Us Sells Crystal Meth Breaking Bad Dolls
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsThe VanCouver Sun
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Toy retailer Toys "R" Us has been criticized by parents for selling a range of drug dealer dolls in the U.S. based on the television series Breaking Bad.

One of the six-inch figures, which sell for $17.99, even portrays a dealer clutching a gun, with a detachable bag of cash and blue rocks of the drug crystal meth.

Others are dressed in Hazmat protective suits, with a description reading: "As [the] Breaking Bad action figure stares at you from inside his collector friendly clamshell package, he dares you to make your move."

Breaking Bad is based on the character of high school chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who goes into business with a former student, Jesse Pinkham, portrayed by Aaron Paul, producing and selling crystal meth in order to make money for his family before he dies from terminal cancer.

The series, which ended last year to many fans' distress, has won a slew of Emmys and other awards but is known for its violent scenes and high drama.

The dolls are sold as part of a deal with Sony Pictures Television, which distributes the show, in Toys "R" Us's "collectable" selection, and are aimed at adults and children older than 14.

However, parents took to the toy giant's Facebook page to say that they did not want their teenagers to be exposed to drug dealing even at the age of 15.

One wrote: "Nothing says toys for kids like an action figure with a bag of crystal meth. I can't wait for my 15 year to grow up like that."

Another added: "A new low . . . Breaking Bad toys? Come on! Pull them and be done with this nonsense and have just a morsel of common sense and decency."

Mother Susan Schrivjer, from Fort Myers, Florida, has now launched an online petition urging Toys "R" Us to remove the dolls from its shelves.

The petition says: "Toys "R" Us is well known around the world for their vast selection of toys for children of all ages. However their decision to sell a Breaking Bad doll, complete with a detachable sack of cash and a bag of meth, alongside children's toys is a dangerous deviation from their family friendly values.

"That's why I'm calling on Toys "R" Us to immediately stop selling theBreaking Bad doll collection in their stores and on their website."

The petition on the website Change.org, called "Remove Breaking Bad dolls from their shelves", has already received more than 2,300 signatures.

Schrivjer went on: "While the show may be compelling viewing for adults, its violent content and celebration of the drug trade make this collection unsuitable to be sold alongside Barbie dolls and Disney characters.

"Parents and grandparents around the world shop at Toys R Us, online and in stories, with their children and should not be forced to explain why a certain toy comes with a bag of highly dangerous and illegal drugs or why someone who sells those drugs deserves to be made into an action figure."

Toys R Us did not comment to The Telegraph. A spokesman told NBC News: "The product packaging clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up. The toys are located in the adult action figure area of our stores."

Obama Says Gay Marriage a Constitutional Right
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsFox News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

President Obama’s views on gay marriage continue to “evolve,” with the president now saying he views same-sex marriage as a constitutional right.

Let the Headlines Speak
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsFrom the internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Brutal female police enforce ISIS sharia vision on women of caliphate
Known as the Al-Khansa brigade, the group consists of about 60 armed women between the ages of 18 and 24 who patrol the Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold. Their job, which they are said to perform with cruel relish, is to arrest and beat women who commit such transgressions as allowing ankles or wrists to show or being seen without a male chaperone.  

Vladimir Putin Wanted To Invade Ukraine And Divide It With Poland, Official Claims
Vladimir Putin reportedly tried to hatch a plan to invade Ukraine and divide the country with Poland, a top Polish official claims. Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s parliamentary speaker, said the Russian president made the proposal during Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to Moscow in 2008.  

Michele Bachmann threatened by Islamic State, assigned security detail
Michele Bachmann was assigned a security detail by Capitol Police after an Islamic State online threat to her safety recently emerged, according to Politico.  

Iran president pledges support for Iraq
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will stand by its neighbor Iraq in its fight against the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group.  

Ebola crisis turns a corner as U.S. issues new treatment protocols
The United States issued stringent new protocols on Monday for health workers treating Ebola victims, directing medical teams to wear protective gear that leaves no skin or hair exposed to prevent medical workers from becoming infected.  

Mike Huckabee Asks Pastors Across the US to Send Sermons, Bibles to Houston Mayor
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said pastors from across the United States should send "thousands and thousands" of Bibles and sermons to the Houston mayor who demanded pastors turn over their sermons to the government due to their objection to an LGBT discrimination city ordinance.  

Ebola ‘czar’ to skip House hearing, aide says
“That the president chose a political operative rather than a health care expert to head up his administration’s response to an outbreak of a deadly disease says a lot – and nothing positive – about the White House’s line of thinking,”  

Islamist Attempts to Run Over Soldiers near Montreal
His Facebook page is a photo of the flag of the Islamic State (ISIS) with the caption: "there will be no surrender. Victory or martyrdom in the path of Allah."  

'Tremendously Important' 2,000 Year Old Find in Jerusalem
Researchers say the significance of the inscription stems from the fact that it specifically mentions the name and titles of Hadrian who was an extremely prominent emperor, as well as a clear date - a tangible confirmation of the historical account regarding the presence of the Tenth Legion in Jerusalem during the period between the two Jewish revolts against Roman rule.  

First Aramean registers in Israel
The first Israeli to register under the new Israeli Aramaean nationality is two-year-old Yaakov Halul, the son of Aramaic leaders in Northern Israel. The child’s parents, Sha’di and Oxana Halul, waited two years after their son's birth to register his nationality, so he could officially register as Aramaean, as opposed to Arab.  

Moderate Alaska earthquake felt in interior communities of state
The Alaska Earthquake Center says the 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 4:36 p.m. Monday. State seismologist Michael West says the quake was centered about 40 miles northwest of Fairbanks and was felt there and other communities, including Nenana and Salcha.  

Strong Earthquake Strikes Ecuador and Colombia
The magnitude-6.0 temblor struck the province of Carchi in northern Ecuador at 2:33 p.m. local time (3:33 p.m. EDT). The epicenter was near San Gabriel, a town of 33,000 near the Colombian border. Shaking was reported in Ecuador's capital, Quito, as well as farther away in its largest city, Guayaquil.  

Ebola Doctors at Breaking Point: 'This Constant Feeling That the Boat's Sinking'
“I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Lucey, a physician and professor from Georgetown University who is halfway through a five-week tour in Liberia with Medecins Sans Frontieres, the medical charity known in English as Doctors Without Borders. “The epidemic is still getting worse,” he said by phone between shifts.  

Jason Carter, Jimmy’s Grandson, Thinks Our Rights Come From the Government
Carter, in his own words, believes the government “doles out” our rights. No, this may surprise you. You may think that in our American system we have “unalienable rights” endowed by our Creator. But Carter thinks otherwise. In his own words, government doles out our rights to us.  

Christian Chapel Owners Were Reportedly Threatened With Jail Time and Fines For Refusing to Marry Gays — and Now They’re Fighting Back
Two ordained ministers have filed a federal lawsuit and are seeking a restraining order to prevent local officials from forcing them to marry same-sex couples, saying they have been threatened with fines and possible jail time over their refusal. ...Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal firm, claiming that city officials told them that they are required to conduct gay marriages under a nondiscrimination ordinance.  

Hurricane Gonzalo: Disruption as remnants of storm hit UK
Rain and high winds are causing travel disruption, as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK. Gusts of up to 70mph have been recorded in north Wales and the Isle of Wight, and a Met Office wind warning is in place for much of the UK. Some flights have been cancelled at Heathrow, but other airports are reporting no major problems.  

EU to uphold Russia sanctions
EU states decided to uphold sanctions on Russia and to better co-ordinate their response to the Ebola crisis at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday (20 October). Polish FM Grzegorz Schetyna told press “the ministers spoke with one voice on the need to keep the sanctions in place … that’s the conclusion we came to and I was encouraged to see that these were not just the voices of Central and Eastern European countries”.  

Four arrests over acid attacks against women in Iran
Iranian police have arrested four men suspected of involvement in multiple acid attacks against women last week. Reports suggest there have been at least four such attacks in Isfahan, Iran's third-largest city. Others place the figure as high as 11. Officials have not released details, but social media users say the women were targeted for not following Iran's strict dress code.  

Iran's Military Mastermind Says Both ISIS And The US Are 'Doomed To Failure' In Syria
The commander of Iran's powerful Qods Force, Qassem Suleimani, has said that both the Islamic State (IS) group and the United States are "doomed to failure" in Iraq and Syria.  

Polish ex-minister quoted saying Putin offered to divide Ukraine with Poland
Poland's parliamentary speaker, Radoslaw Sikorski, has been quoted as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to Poland's then leader in 2008 that they divide Ukraine between themselves.  

Parents outraged as Toys ‘R’ Us sells 'crystal meth' Breaking Bad dolls
The American toy shop Toys “R” Us has been criticised by parents for selling a range of drug dealer dolls based on the television series Breaking Bad. One of the six-inch figures, which sell for $17.99 (£11.16), even portrays a dealer clutching a gun, with a detachable bag of cash and blue rocks of the drug crystal meth.  

US air drops, Turkey boost Kurd battle against jihadists
Kurds battling jihadists for the Syrian border town of Kobane welcomed a first US airdrop of weapons Monday as neighbouring Turkey said it will help Iraqi Kurds to support the fight.  

New Evidence Suggests Hawaii Could Be Hit By A Massive Tsunami
The discovery of a massive debris pile in a giant sinkhole in the Hawaiian islands suggests that the region was hit by a mammoth tsunami about 500 years ago. It was larger than any in Hawaii's recorded history, so scientists are now worrying that a similar disaster could happen again.  

US Ordering 34 Million Green Cards for Illegal Plan
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published a draft solicitation for a contractor capable of producing 4 million cards a year for five years — and 9 million in the early stages — that would allow immigrants to live and work in the country, Breitbart reports.  

Israel - Hatred 'Has Scaled the Wall of High Culture'
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

From The Death of Klinghoffer

Reuters

There was such a large police presence and so many police barricades that anyone passing by would think that terrorists were at large.

There were no terrorists on Broadway—although terrorists would soon be mounting the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. The police were protecting the right of the Opera House to present the Palestine Liberation Organization and their cause as mythically majestic and eternally just.

Here’s what was also extraordinary: “The Suits”—men and women in positions of power, both politically, legally, and financially, felt compelled to take to the streets to be heard. Governors, Congressional Representatives, Mayors, Borough Presidents, financial advisors, were not presiding over a press conference in their grand offices. They were on the streets. I suspect this may have been the first time they have ever done so.

Peter Gelb had called the police to make sure that opera lover and former mayor—“America’s mayor” during 9/11—Rudy Guiliani, did no harm to the opera house. That convener extraordinaire, Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a partner in a major financial house, would not destroy the set. That Congressman Peter King and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney would not engage in any acts of petty vandalism. That attorney Ben Brafman, Borough President Melinda Katz, and Attorney General Michael Mukasy would not harass the opera board or the cast.

In essence, the large police presence was utterly ridiculous.

The tireless Helen Freedman of Americans for a Safe Israel and Charley Bernhaut, pulled out a really large rally which was still going strong two hours later when I made my way past many police barricades to the Opera House. I had vowed to see “The Death of Klinghoffer,” to see what kind of production the Met had mounted.

Aside from any existential and political concerns I may have, it is my opinion, and one shared by others tonight, that the opera is tedious, pretentious, boring, and slow. However, also in my opinion, the production (set, costume, lighting), was masterful and is therefore very dangerous. The opera itself is without drama, it is more like an endless, and painful recital of events remembered and of some events re-enacted.

The opening Chorus of Exiled Palestinians are choreographed like a Greek Chorus, in long veils and long dresses; they were positioned as indigenous, eternal, wraith-like mourners. The Chorus of Exiled Jews are shown as more recent, almost new, as transplanted as the plants they literally bring on stage to symbolize how Israelis made the deserts bloom. There was an Apartheid Wall/Security Fence in the background, one brought to us by “Zionists”.

The Chorus of Exiled Palestinians remain on board the hijacked ship, silent, moving reminders to the alleged crimes perpetrated against their people by the Israelis. This serves to soften the blow, the shock, of civilians being terrorized, convinced that the ship will be blown up at any moment or that they will be killed, one by one. This is precisely what the terrorists told them.

The House was packed, nearly every seat was taken. Gelb had offered tickets at unheard of prices beginning with $25.00. The advertising for the opera was intense and creative and included mounting a special website. The New York Times continued to promote the piece for weeks beforehand.

John Adams, the composer, has a real following and they were there: Very young men, much older men, carefully dressed men, sweet opera fans.

I sat with Dr. Charles Small, the founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anti-Semitism and Policy. I feared that people would disrupt—and I feared that they would not.

But disrupt they did. Loud, strong voices from many different locations repeatedly called out: “The murder of Klinghoffer will never be forgiven.” Security rushed to find the disrupters—but never did.

Some hostility from the audience arose: “We are not here to forgive his death,” the young, blonde woman sitting directly in front of me yelled.

The opera started ten minutes late. This is absolutely unheard of. The conductor was given a serious ovation before the opera began.

When Charles and I softly whispered to each other, the man seated directly behind us immediately and with great annoyance told us to “Shut up.” Charles turned around and stared him down.

As we know, the most lethal propaganda against Israel and America has captured the American campuses and the left and liberal media. Now, it has scaled the wall of High Culture.

The Metropolitan Opera House—a place I have loved—will never again be the same for me. No, I will not boycott it as some speakers have sworn to do, but in some sense, the Emperor is Naked.

The Opera House is tainted, polluted by contemporary politics. Gelb has taken a dangerous stand against America, against Israel, and against Jews by insisting on his First Amendment and artistic right to do so. No one has questioned these rights. I bumped into Gelb’s lawyer, Martin Garbus, with whom I go way back. Garbus was watching the rally, and we greeted each other in a very friendly fashion.

I left at the intermission. I was too angry and too sad to remain. And bored too.

I have no idea about whether further disruptions arose or not. I do know that this is a signal moment of a very long fight in the Culture Wars against America, Israel, and the Jews. People with credibility and some power stepped up tonight, well-groomed people who do not usually take to the streets did so.

God bless them.

Islamist Attempts to Run Over Soldiers Near Montreal
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Crime scene (illustration)

Thinkstock

Canadian police shot dead its first homegrown jihadist, international media reported late Monday night, after a 25 year-old man attacked soldiers without warning in a parking lot in his hometown.

Martin Couture-Rouleau, a resident of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 40 km (24 miles) from Montreal, attempted to run over two soldiers late Monday night.

Rouleau had allegedly called the police in the middle of the attack, according to the Le Paris newspaper, claiming it had been "in the name of Allah." 

A 4-km (2.4 mile) car chase ensued, ending when the assailant's car turned over into a ditch. Police were forced to shoot him dead after he ran at them with a knife. 

While Quebec police did not say whether the soldiers were in uniform, it has been confirmed that one was critically injured. He later died of his injuries. 

“The individual who struck the two [Canadian armed forces] members with his car is known to federal authorities, including the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team,” said a statement from the Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper’s office.

“Federal authorities have confirmed that there are clear indications that the individual had become radicalized.”

Neighbors told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Rouleau had converted to Islam last year, and had been gravitating toward Islamism ever since.

His Facebook page is a photo of the flag of the Islamic State (ISIS) with the caption: "there will be no surrender. Victory or martyrdom in the path of Allah." He ranted against local Muslim groups, claimed that Al Qaeda is not responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks, and called to stop US aid to Israel, as well. 

Roulleau apparently tried to join ISIS in Iraq, according to the Toronto Star, but was prevented from leaving Canada by Border officials. Border police had had his name listed as a potential Islamist and prevented him from leaving due to security concerns, officials said. 

The attack surfaces after a number of Westerners released an ISIS propaganda video threatening their countries of origin and calling on Islamists abroad to join the group in Iraq and Syria. 

Several weeks ago, the group also published guidelines for Muslims in Canada and elsewhere to carry out terror attacks abroad, "in any way possible," encouraging them to kill "non-believers" - specifically military personnel. 

But Ray Boisvert, a former assistant director for intelligence at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) spy agency, told the Guardian soon after the attack that Roulleau was probably a "lone wolf" - and that attacks like these may be difficult to prevent. 

“It reflects what’s going on in a very active threat environment. You have far too many targets and far too many active targets,” Boisvert said.

Monday's attack also follows a similarly bizarre incident in Oklahoma, where a man also ascribing to ISIS's beliefs beheaded a co-worker earlier this month.

US officials strenuously denied any link between Islamism and the murder, however - even after later reports indicated that the assailant had been "shouting Islamic phrases" during the attack.

City Threatens to Arrest Ministers Who Refuse to Perform Same - Sex Weddings
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

Two Christian ministers who own an Idaho wedding chapel were told they had to either perform same-sex weddings or face jail time and up to $1,000 in fines, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court.

Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Donald and Evelyn Knapp, two ordained ministers who own the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel in Coeur d’Alene.

“Right now they are at risk of being prosecuted,” attorney Jeremy Tedesco told me. “The threat of enforcement is more than just credible.”

The wedding chapel is registered as a “religious corporation” limited to performing “one-man-one-woman marriages as defined by the Holy Bible.”

However, the chapel is also a for-profit business and city officials said that means the owners must comply with the local nondiscrimination ordinance.

That ordinance, passed in 2013, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and it applies to housing, employment and public accommodation.

City Attorney Warren Wilson told The Spokesman-Review in May that the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel likely would be required to follow the ordinance.

“I would think that the Hitching Post would probably be considered a place of public accommodation that would be subject to the ordinance,” he said.

He also told television station KXLY that any wedding chapel that turns away a gay couple would in theory be a violation of the law “and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation.”

Wilson confirmed to Knapp in a telephone conversation that even ordained ministers would be required to perform same-sex weddings, the lawsuit alleges.

“Wilson also responded that Mr. Knapp was not exempt from the ordinance because the Hitching Post was a business and not a church,” the lawsuit states.

And if he refused to perform the ceremonies, Wilson reportedly told the minister that he could be fined up to $1,000 and serve up to 180 days in jail.

Now all of that was a moot point because until last week gay marriage was not legal in Idaho.

The Ninth Circuit issued an order on May 13 allowing same-sex marriages to commence in Idaho on Oct. 15. Two days later – the folks at the Hitching Post received a telephone call.

A man had called to inquire about a same-sex wedding ceremony. The Hitching Post declined – putting them in violation of the law.

City officials did not respond to my requests for an interview nor did they respond to requests from local news outlets.

“The government should not force ordained ministers to act contrary to their faith under threat of jail time and criminal fines,” Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jeremy Tedesco said. “The city is on seriously flawed legal ground, and our lawsuit intends to ensure that this couple’s freedom to adhere to their own faith as pastors is protected just as the First Amendment intended.”

Alliance Defending Freedom also filed a temporary restraining order to stop the city from enforcing the ordinance.

“The Knapps are in fear that if they exercise their First Amendment rights they will be cited, prosecuted and sent to jail,” Tedesco told me.

It’s hard to believe this could happen in the United States. But as the lawsuit states, the couple is in a “constant state of fear that they may have to go to jail, pay substantial fines, or both, resulting in them losing the business that God has called them to operate and which they have faithfully operated for 25 years.”

The lawsuit comes the same week that the city of Houston issued subpoenas demanding that five Christian pastors turn over sermons dealing with homosexuality and gender identity.

What in heaven’s name is happening to our country, folks? I was under the assumption that churches and pastors would not be impacted by same-sex marriage.

“The other side insisted this would never happen – that pastors would not have to perform same-sex marriages,” Tedesco told me. “The reality is – it’s already happening.”

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told me it’s “open season on Americans who refuse to bow to the government’s redefinition of marriage.”

“Americans are witnesses to the reality that redefining marriage is less about the marriage altar and more about fundamentally altering the freedoms of the other 98 percent of Americans,” Perkins said.

Why should evangelical Christian ministers be forced to perform and celebrate any marriage that conflicts with their beliefs?

“This is the brave new world of government sanctioned same-sex unions – where Americans are forced to celebrate these unions regardless of their religious beliefs,” Perkins told me.

As I write in my new book, “God Less America,” we are living in a day when those who support traditional marriage are coming under fierce attack.

The incidents in Houston and now in Coeur d’Alene are the just the latest examples of a disturbing trend in the culture war – direct attacks on clergy.

“Government officials are making clear they will use their government power to punish those who oppose the advances of homosexual activists,” Perkins said.

I’m afraid Mr. Perkins is absolutely right.

Whenever a city passes a nondiscrimination ordinance it seems like it’s open season on Christians.

Christian Mother of Five Death Sentence for Blasphemy Upheld By Pakistani Court
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Persecution

The death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman and mother of five children, was upheld by the Lahore High Court in Pakistan on Thursday. Bibi has been convicted of blasphemy for drinking from the same bowl of water as Muslims and making derogatory comments about the prophet Muhammad.

"The case against Asia Bibi is a great example of how Christians and other religious minorities are abused in Pakistan by fundamentalists wielding the controversial blasphemy laws. The blasphemy laws were originally written to protect against religious intolerance in Pakistan, but the law has warped into a tool used by extremists and others to settle personal scores and persecute Pakistan's vulnerable religious minorities," said International Christian Concern's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark.

"Sadly, the vast majority of blasphemy accusations brought against Christians and others are false. Unfortunately, pressure from Islamic radical groups and general discrimination against Christians in Pakistan has transformed trial courts and now appeals courts into little more than rubber stamps for blasphemy accusations brought against Christians, regardless of the evidence brought to bear in the case."

Bibi was sentenced in 2010 following an incident in 2009 where she was harvesting berries with a group of Muslim women in Sheikhupura. The Muslim women accused her of drinking from the same water bowl as them, which was considered unclean as she is a Christian. Following an argument, the women went to a local cleric and told him that Bibi had blasphemed against Islam.

BBC News noted that the sentencing sparked global condemnation from several human rights groups, who criticized Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws. ICC and other critics of these laws say that they are often used to settle personal scores and unfairly target minorities, especially Christians.

Bibi's appeal hearing was initially scheduled to take place on March 17, but was delayed and rescheduled, before finally taking place on Thursday. The Christian mother's lawyers have said that they will take the case to the country's Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, Christian mother Meriam Ibrahim was spared the death penalty and allowed to go free by the court in Sudan, after having initially been found guilty of refusing to identify as a Muslim and for marrying her Christian husband. Ibrahim's freedom was won in part thanks to a huge international campaign that petitioned for her release, which included pressure on Sudan from several American politicians, such as Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

'Tremendously Important' 2,000 Year Old Find in Jerusalem
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Prophecy

Inscription found

Yuli Schwartz, courtesy of the IAA

The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced a rare find of "tremendous historical significance," it announced Tuesday: a fragment of a stone engraved with an official Latin inscription dedicated to the Roman emperor Hadrian.

IAA researchers stated during the announcement that the stone fragment, found during a series of excavations north of Damacus Gate, may be among "the most important Latin inscriptions ever discovered in Jerusalem." 

Researchers say the significance of the inscription stems from the fact that it specifically mentions the name and titles of Hadrian who was an extremely prominent emperor, as well as a clear date - a tangible confirmation of the historical account regarding the presence of the Tenth Legion in Jerusalem during the period between the two Jewish revolts against Roman rule.

Dr. Rina Avner and Roie Greenwald, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, spoke to the press about the discovery.

“We found the inscription incorporated in secondary use around the opening of a deep cistern," they said, in a statement. "In antiquity, as today, it was customary to recycle building materials and the official inscription was evidently removed from its original location and integrated in a floor for the practical purpose of building the cistern."

"Furthermore, in order to fit it with the capstone, the bottom part of the inscription was sawed round," they added. 

The size and clarity of the letters make the discovery important, they said. The inscriptions, consisting of six lines of Latin text engraved on hard limestone, was read and translated by Avner Ecker and Hannah Cotton of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The English translation of the inscription reads, "To the Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, son of the deified Traianus Parthicus, grandson of the deified Nerva, high priest, invested with tribunician power for the 14th time, consul for the third time, father of the country (dedicated by) the 10th legion Fretensis Antoniniana."

“This inscription was dedicated by Legio X Fretensis to the emperor Hadrian in the year 129/130 CE," Ecker and Cotton concluded, adding that the find is the second half of a single inscription. 

The first was discovered nearby in the 19th century and was published by the pre-eminent French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau; it is currently on display at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Museum - also known as the the Faculty of Biblical Sciences and Archaeology of the Pontificia Universitas Antonianum - in Rome, Italy.

Only a small number of ancient official Latin inscriptions have been discovered in archaeological excavations throughout the country and in Jerusalem in particular.

Once the excavation findings are published the inscription will be conserved and put on display for the public.

'God's not Dead' Writers Spotlight Religious Liberty in Upcoming Movie
Oct 21st, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

"God's Not Dead" writers take on the controversial topic of religious liberty again in the upcoming movie "Do You Believe?" because they want Christians to know that they are in the middle of a culture war.

Pure Flix Entertainment writer Cary Solomon said he and fellow writer Chuck Konzelman decided to feature a religious speech lawsuit in "Do You Believe?" because Christians have been in the shadows for far too long.

"When we did 'God's Not Dead' and if you look at that and you look at this and anything else we do, I'm tired, I'm sure Christians are tired. I'm just tired of [how] we are always put in the shadows, we are persecuted down. In other words, we are put in these positions where we're not allowed to speak, we're not allowed to do this, we're not allowed to do that and ... we just felt that it's time to fire the shot heard round the world," said Solomon.

"God's Not Dead" took the world by surprise with its success at the box office. Pure Flix CEO and Managing Partner Michael Scott said the film earned $9 million in its first week in theaters and another $8 to 9 million in its second week.

The Arizona film studio hopes its next film "Do You Believe?" will have similar results.

"Do You Believe?" – due out spring 2015 – follows a group of characters struggling with various problems. The characters' stories intersect in a way that reveals the "redemptive power of the cross."

Rough cuts from the film show a particular scene where EMT worker Bobby Wilson, played by Liam Matthews, shares the story of the cross to a dying construction worker. Bobby's actions spark a legal case and put his livelihood in jeopardy.

"This character, the way it develops is that his union backs away from him because they don't want to be faced with the financial burden of the suit if it's successful and the city backs away from him. And then he's faced with a choice of if he apologizes for having done it and promises to never ever do it again, the consequences will [go] away and he won't do that," said Konzelman.

Solomon said the scene, much like the "God's Not Dead" movie, is a wake-up call for Christians. "You can't get along-go along. Those days are over in America. We're in a culture war now and now is a matter of you have to stand for what you believe and you cannot compromise with the Devil. If you compromise with the Devil, you are going to lose."

Though Bobby ultimately makes the right choice, the writers show his life deteriorate as a result of standing his ground. This decision leads to an honest portrayal of what it means to be an outspoken Christian.

Actor Ted McGinley said this is the kind of candor that draws him to Pure Flix. "It's a pleasure to do business with people who are so honest and upfront," he said. "The Love Boat" actor has starred in several Pure Flix films and will play a pastor re-examining his faith in "Do You Believe?"

McGinley praised the faith-based company for walking the walk and talking the talk in its movies and said more Christian films must be brutally honest in the way they address nagging cultural questions.

"In this genre ... you have to present the most honest, difficult questions to answer. You have to represent what ... the people on the outside don't embrace or don't understand and you have to do it brutally honest and that's, I think, the challenge is to allow the writers to create very difficult moments where it's almost hard to watch," said McGinley. "You can't be afraid to show the other side and to ask the difficult questions."

Filming for "Do You Believe?" began mid-September in Michigan. The cast includes Cybill Shepard, Lee Majors, and UFC Champion Mavrick Von Haug. Pure Flix hopes to finish filming by the end of the month.