Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Today in History: Wednesday, December 31, 2014

AP Highlight in History: 
On Dec. 31, 1879, Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent light in Menlo Park, N.J.
On this date in:
1857Britain's Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of Canada.
1862President Abraham Lincoln signed an act admitting West Virginia to the Union.
1951The Marshall Plan expired after distributing more than $12 billion in foreign aid.
1974Private U.S. citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the first time in more than 40 years.
1985Rock singer Rick Nelson, 45, and six other people were killed when fire broke out aboard a DC-3 that was taking the group to a New Year's Eve performance in Dallas.
1993Entertainer Barbra Streisand performed her first paid concert in 22 years, singing to a sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
1997Michael Kennedy, 39-year-old son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain in Colorado.
2006The death toll for Americans killed in the Iraq war reached 3,000.
 
Video
Highlights of This Day in History
Today's Birthdays:
Actor Ben Kingsley turns 71 years old today.
AP Photo/Peter Kramer
NameProfessionAge
Andy SummersRock musician (The Police)72
Taylor HackfordDirector, producer70
Diane Von FurstenbergFashion designer68
Burton CummingsRock musician (The Guess Who)67
Tim MathesonActor ("Animal House," "The West Wing")67
Bebe NeuwirthActress ("Cheers")56
Val KilmerActor55
Paul WesterbergRock singer (The Replacements)55
Actor Anthony Hopkins turns 77 years old today.
AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

SUGAR IS KILLING US!





Your Body Can Only Handle a Limited Amount of Sugar

The main problem with sugar, and processed fructose in particular, is the fact that your liver has a very limited capacity to metabolize it. According to Dr. Lustig, you can safely metabolize about six teaspoons of added sugar per day. But the average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day.
All that excess sugar is metabolized into body fat, and leads to all of the chronic metabolic diseases we struggle with, including but not limited to:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Dementia
  • Cancer

Tips for Reducing Your Added Sugar Intake

As mentioned in the featured video, the easiest way to dramatically cut down on your sugar and fructose consumption is to switch to a diet of whole, unprocessed foods, as most of the added sugar you end up with comes from processed fare; not from adding a teaspoon of sugar to your tea or coffee. But there are other ways to cut down well. This includes:
  • Cutting back on the amount of sugar you personally add to your food and drink
  • Using Stevia or Luo Han instead of sugar and/or artificial sweeteners. You can learn more about the best and worst of sugar substitutes in my previous article, “Sugar Substitutes—What’s Safe and What’s Not
  • Using fresh fruit in lieu of canned fruit or sugar for meals or recipes calling for a bit of sweetness
  • Using spices instead of sugar to add flavor to your meal

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood

On Patrol With Indonesia's Notorious Sharia Police


Sharia Showdown: Meet the controversial Indonesian police chief responsible for enforcing Sharia law.

NEWSBUSTED

NewsBusted 11/18/14


NewsBusted 11/21/14


NewsBusted 12/02/14


NewsBusted 12/05/14


NewsBusted 12/09/14


NewsBusted 12/12/14


NewsBusted 12/16/14


NewsBusted 12/19/14

Today in History: Tuesday, December 30, 2014


AP Highlight in History: 
On Dec. 30, 1922, Vladimir Lenin proclaimed the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
 
AP Photo
On this date in:
1813The British burned Buffalo, N.Y., during the War of 1812.
1865Author Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India.
AP Photo
1903About 600 people died when fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago.
1911Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China.
AP Photo
1928Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates in McComb, Miss.
1940California's first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, was officially opened.
1972The United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.
1978Ohio State University fired Woody Hayes as its football coach, one day after Hayes punched a Clemson University player during a game.
1993Israel and the Vatican agreed to recognize one another.
2003The federal government announced it would ban the sale of ephedra, an herbal stimulant linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes.
2006Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was hanged.
2010Top-ranked Connecticut's record 90-game winning streak in women's basketball ended with a 71-59 loss to No. 9 Stanford.
 
Video
Highlights of This Day in History
Today's Birthdays:
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James turns 30 years old today.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
NameProfessionAge
Joseph BolognaActor80
Russ TamblynActor80
Jack RileyActor ("The Bob Newhart Show")79
Sandy KoufaxBaseball Hall of Famer79
Noel Paul StookeyFolk singer (Peter, Paul and Mary)77
James BurrowsTV director ("Taxi," "Cheers," "Will and Grace")74
Michael NesmithRock singer, musician (The Monkees)72
Patti SmithRock musician68
Jeff LynneRock singer, musician (ELO)67
Matt LauerTV host ("Today")57
Tracey UllmanActress, comedian55
Sean HannityTV host53
Tiger WoodsGolfer39
Laila AliBoxer, TV personality37
Lucy PunchActress ("Ben and Kate")37
Tyrese GibsonR&B singer, actor36
Eliza DushkuActress34
TV host Meredith Vieira turns 61 years old today.
AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

George Washington’s Vision of the 3 perils facing America

washington-prayer

In the National Tribune, 1880, an article appeared giving an account of the “Vision of Washington” at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. The account was told by a gentleman named Anthony Sherman, who joined the main forces from Saratoga in 1778 in New Jersey just before the Battle of Monmouth.

The story has been published several times. A copy of the account is in the Library of Congress. I do not vouch for the authenticity of the vision, since I was not there, but just present it for review and reflection.

Washington had gone to the thicket to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought them safely through the darkest days of tribulation.

“George Washington’s Vision “ - shortened version:

Angelic visitor
Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female (possibly representing America). A mysterious angelic (male) voice spoke from beyond her.
My tongue had become useless, as though it had become paralyzed.
Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as if it had become filled with sensations, and luminous.

The first peril: Revolutionary War
“Son of the Republic,” said the same mysterious voice, “look and learn.” At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe.

Immediately a cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.

The second peril: The Civil War
A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows in sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.”

I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them.

Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, “Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn.” At this the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill omen-ed specter approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other.

As I continued looking I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word “Union,” bearing the American flag which he placed between the divided nation, and said, “Remember ye are brethren.”

Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons became friends once more, and united around the National Standard.

The third Peril: Foreign nations attack the USA
“And again I heard the mysterious voice saying “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: From each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. Throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America.

Our country was enveloped in this volume of cloud, and Isaw these vast armies devastate the whole county and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of sword, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn”

When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew along and fearful blast. “Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and brokeinto fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America.

At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word Union, and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were will nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.

Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious!

Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: “While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.” And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word “Union,” he placed it upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said, “Amen.”

Conclusion
The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, “Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and the Union.”

With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.

So there is still hope, according to this vision, for America, if it will live for God, and be faithful, and it will eventually be victorious, with God’s help, after being overcome in the third peril (attack by foreign nations).

Monday, December 29, 2014

Today in History: Monday, December 29, 2014


AP Highlight in History: 
On Dec. 29, 1989, playwright Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia by the country's Federal Assembly, becoming the first non-Communist to hold the post in more than four decades.
 
AP Photo/Diether Endlicher
On this date in:
1170Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in England.
1808Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, was born in Raleigh, N.C.
AP Photo
1845Texas was admitted to the union as the 28th state.
1851The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston.
1890U.S. troops killed as many as 400 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, S.D.
1916Gregory Rasputin, the monk who had wielded powerful influence over the Russian court, was murdered by a group of noblemen.
1940Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London during World War II.
1996War-weary guerrilla and government leaders in Guatemala signed an accord ending 36 years of civil conflict.
1998Khmer Rouge leaders apologized for the 1970s genocide in Cambodia that claimed 1 million lives.
1999The Nasdaq composite index closed above 4,000 for the first time, ending the day at 4,041.46.
2007The New England Patriots became the first NFL team in 35 years to finish the regular season undefeated when they beat the New York Giants 38-35 to go 16-0.
 
Video
Highlights of This Day in History
Today's Birthdays:
Actress Patricia Clarkson turns 55 years old today.
AP Photo/Dan Steinberg
NameProfessionAge
Inga SwensonActress ("Benson")82
Tom JarrielBroadcast journalist80
Mary Tyler MooreActress78
Marianne FaithfullRock singer68
Ted DansonActor ("Cheers")67
Paula PoundstoneComedian55
Sean PaytonFootball coach51
Andy WachowskiDirector ("Matrix" films)47
Jude LawActor42
Mekhi PhiferActor ("ER")40
Diego LunaActor35
Actor Jon Voight turns 76 years old today.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello