Look before you lock -- July 31 (annual "Heatstroke Prevention Day")

KidsAndCars.org's Look Before You Lock safety education tips include: •Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to check to make sure no child - or pet - has been left behind. •Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat. Right before the child is placed in the seat, move the stuffed animal to the front passenger seat as a visual reminder that your child is in the back seat. •Put something you'll need on the floorboard in the back seat in front of your child's car seat (cellphone, handbag, employee ID, briefcase, left shoe, etc.). This ensures you open the back door of your vehicle to retrieve your belongings. •Make arrangements with your daycare provider or babysitter to call you within 10 minutes if your child does not arrive as expected. •Never leave children alone in or around cars, not even for a minute. Instead, use drive-thru services when available. •Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway, and keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children. •When a child is missing, call 911 and check the inside of vehicles and car trunks immediately. About KidsAndCars.org: Founded in 1996, KidsAndCars.org is the only national nonprofit child safety organization that is solely dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles. KidAndCars.org promotes awareness among parents, caregivers and the general public about the dangers to children, including backover and frontover incidents, and heat stroke from being inadvertently left in a vehicle. The organization works to prevent tragedies through data collection, education and public awareness, policy change, product redesign and survivor advocacy.

Happy 49th Birthday to J.K. Rowling (novelist)!

some of the details at her "IMDb Page" : J.K. Rowling was born in Yate, near Bristol, a few miles south of a town called Dursley ("Harry Potter"'s Muggle-family). Her father Peter Rowling was an engineer for Rolls Royce in Bristol at this time. Her mother, Anne, was half-French and half-Scottish. They met on a train as it left King's Cross Station in London. Born: Joanne Rowling on July 31, 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, UK. / / / / / / / / / / _ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746830/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Ebola Virus - discussion with CDC and WHO officials -- NPR call-in format - Thursday July 31, 2014

Further details and weblink connections at DRSHOW dot-org (The Diane Rehm Show): Since March the Ebola virus has killed nearly 700 people in four African countries, the worst outbreak in history. During the 10 a.m. segment we talk about understanding the nature of the virus and the fight to stop its spread. Guests (scheduled to appear): Dr. Anthony Fauci director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; Laurie Garrett Senior Fellow for Global Health, the Council on Foreign Relations; Tarik Jasarevic spokesperson, the World Health Organization; Dr. Daniel Lucey infectious disease and public health physician; adjunct professor of microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Threat to Iraq's multi-religious faith -- Islamic State bomb squad destroys Shrine of Jonah, seeks to destoydozens of other sites

from NYTIMES (30 July 2014): Correspondent Tim Arango: BAGHDAD — When the Sunni extremists ruling Mosul destroyed the shrine of a prophet whose story features in the traditions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — the most important of nearly two dozen marked for destruction by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in the first seven weeks of its reign — small groups of residents gathered to mourn. “We were crying when they detonated it,” said Abdulmalik Mustafa, a 32-year-old unemployed man who lives near the site, believed to be the tomb of the biblical prophet Jonah, which was razed last week. “We couldn’t believe that the history of Mosul has disappeared. I wanted to die.” Then rumors swirled that the next goal of the ISIS militants would be toppling the city’s ancient leaning minaret, which is older than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy and is pictured on Iraq’s 10,000-dinar bank note. Residents gathered at the minaret and, according to witnesses, confronted the group’s fighters. For now, the tower is still standing. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/world/middleeast/iraqi-anger-rises-as-militants-attack-mosuls-cultural-history.html?emc=edit_th_20140731&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=18242002&_r=0

Happy 209th Birthday, Alexis de Tocqueville!

from Information - mini-biography posted at Religion and Ethics Newsweekly dot-org: It’s the birthday (July 29, 1805 in Paris) of French social philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville who in the 1830s wrote Democracy in America including his observations on the “habits of the heart” or mores of the American people. The phrase became the title of sociologist of religion Robert Bellah’s important 1985 book Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life._____ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/

National Medalists for Humanities (U.S. winners): July 28 presentation for prior year - White House ceremony

from NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) dot-gov: WASHINGTON (July 28, 2014) — President Barack Obama presented the 2013 National Humanities Medals to nine individuals and one organization today for outstanding achievements in history, cultural studies, filmmaking, cultural commentary, and historic preservation. The medalists are: literary critic M.H. Abrams; historians David Brion Davis, Darlene Clark Hine, and Anne Firor Scott; East Asian scholar William Theodore de Bary; architect Johnpaul Jones; filmmaker Stanley Nelson; radio hosts Diane Rehm and Krista Tippett; and the historical organization the American Antiquarian Society. The National Humanities Medals were presented in conjunction with the National Medals of Arts at a White House ceremony. The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened our citizens’ engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities. The 2013 National Medals of Arts were presented at the same ceremony at the East Room. Among the recipients are musician Linda Ronstadt and writer Maxine Hong Kingston. After the ceremony, the medalists and their families and friends joined the President and First Lady Michelle Obama for a reception in their honor. This year, for the first time, the President bestowed a newly-designed National Humanities Medal on the ten recipients. The new National Humanities Medal, a polished bronze medallion depicting Lady Liberty, was designed by artist Paul Balan and selected by the National Endowment for the Humanities in a national medal design competition. http://www.neh.gov/news/press-release/2014-07-22

Eid holiday for Michigan Muslims -- bittersweet and sad

Detroit Free Press article posted Monday 7/28/2014 -- by reporter Niraj Warikoo -- Muslims across metro Detroit marked Eid on Monday, celebrating the holy day while also grieving for casualties in Middle East conflicts. “Eid is bittersweet,” said Zeinab Chami, of Dearborn. “It’s a beautiful day of gratitude to God, spirituality, and family, but it’s also the end of something wonderful. Eid is when we bid goodbye to Ramadan, which is like losing a friend.” “This year, it’s especially bittersweet because of all the strife in the Muslim world, especially in Gaza and Iraq,” Chami added. “This Eid will be particularly difficult to celebrate with our whole hearts.” Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, head of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, echoed her views, saying: “We are grateful celebrating the occasion here, but we are extremely sad because of the situation in Gaza, in Syria, in Iraq, and some other Muslim nations that have no Eid today and can’t celebrate it because of war and violence.” In his sermon Monday after Eid prayers, Elahi criticized both Israel and the Islamic State, formerly ISIS, a militant group in Iraq and Syria. “They have nothing to do with Islam,” Elahi said of the group. Eid marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, when Muslims believe that Islam’s holy book, the Qur'an, was revealed by God to Mohammed, the prophet of Islam. In his sermon Monday after Eid prayers, Elahi said that Eid is like a “thanksgiving day for us, a spiritual birthday as we celebrate our submission to our Lord, and solidarity with his people.” Elahi urged the congregation to continue six lessons from Ramadan: prayer, patience, charity, humility, respect, and responsibilities.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch (five Michigan Counties, also neighboring states): 1 - 9 p.m. Eastern Time

IN MICHIGAN THIS WATCH INCLUDES FIVE COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN BERRIEN; BRANCH; CASS; HILLSDALE; ST. JOSEPH;

One in 12 people worldwide has Hepatitis -- steps for Public Health - Global Medicine (Proclamation - July 28, 2014)

STATEMENT issued by Pres. Barack Obama -- White House Press Office -- www.whitehouse.gov/ -- Around the world, one in twelve people are living with viral hepatitis. In the United States, millions of Americans are infected with this life-threatening disease, with more than two-thirds unaware of their infection status. Viral hepatitis can persist undetected for many years before revealing any symptoms, leading to long-term liver damage and thousands of American deaths each year. As we mark World Hepatitis Day, we strengthen our resolve to defeat this silent epidemic. All forms of viral hepatitis pose serious health threats, but building public awareness can help prevent new cases and more effectively treat this disease. A safe and effective vaccine protects against hepatitis A and B. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, early detection and therapy can prevent liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer; reduce the risk of death; and potentially cure the infection. Though this disease can affect anyone, viral hepatitis impacts certain communities more than others. African Americans, American Indians, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, the baby boomer generation (those born between 1945 and 1965), and people living with HIV are all disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis. Incidence rates are also higher among people who inject drugs. We must ensure these hardest hit populations have information about screening, preventing, and treating viral hepatitis. And we must do more to address related health issues such as HIV and substance abuse. Through the Affordable Care Act, my Administration has made major strides in expanding access to viral hepatitis prevention, care, and treatment. New health plans must now cover hepatitis C routine screening for individuals at high-risk and one-time screening for adults born between 1945 and 1965. These preventive services will allow more Americans to know their status and seek treatment. Earlier this year, my Administration updated our Nation's first-ever comprehensive Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. Alongside Federal, private, and non-profit stakeholders across our country, we will continue to strengthen our Nation's response. Together, we can raise awareness, reduce the number of new cases, and save lives. Thanks to the tireless leadership of researchers and advocates, we are beginning to break the silence surrounding viral hepatitis. Today, we once again raise our voices, educate our at-risk communities, and support those living with this disease. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 28, 2014, as World Hepatitis Day. I encourage citizens, Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and communities across the Nation to join in activities that will increase awareness about hepatitis and what we can do to prevent it. / / / / / http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/25/presidential-proclamation-world-hepatitis-day-2014

Gaza residents receive end of Ramadan help and refuge to pray from Palestinian Christian Church (Saint Porphyrius)

Press Coverage posted from other sources at Yahoo! News: Amidst the bombs, blood, and deaths, the Gaza residents are observing the holy month of Ramadan by praying inside a Christian church. In a display of solidarity, Christians in Gaza City offered shelter to displaced Gazans in the Saint Porphyrius Church courtyard, News from Pakistan reported at its press agency posting. According to the website, the refugees from the war-ridden north Palestinian territory were greeted with "Marhaban" by the Christian community. "The Christians took us in. We thank them for that, for standing by our side," Mahmud Khalaf, a Gaza resident, told the website. Khalaf also told that the Christian community is very cordial and became their 'brothers.' "They let us pray. It's changed my view of Christians. I didn't really know any before, but they've become our brothers," the 27-year-old war refugee told. He also added that it was initially very difficult to pray to Allah inside a church, but they got accustomed to it as the Christians are helping them in prayers and their fasting. "The Christians aren't fasting, but they're deliberately avoiding eating in front of us during the day. They don't smoke or drink around us," Khalaf added. The church has sheltered more than 500 displaced war refugees and has offered them facilities to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan peacefully. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed since the launch of operation 'Protective Edge' in Gaza by Israel. The Hamas has fired more than 2,000 rockets at Israel during the same period killing 34 Israelis, including 32 soldiers, and a Thai worker.

Who watches ERETZ_NEHEDERET (Israel's version of the DAILY_SHOW_WITH_JON_STEWART)?

FROM "On the Media" program transcript (www.onthemedia.org/): The week of July 18 - 25 has been a violent, sad week. Sometimes the only way to wring anything positive out of it all is through the transformative power of comedy. Brooke talks with Sharon Taicher, a writer at Eretz Nehederet, a satire show watched by 1 out of 8 Israelis. follow this weblink: http://www.onthemedia.org/story/most-popular-israeli-satire-show/

Glossary titled "Use With Care" (discussed at ON_THE_MEDIA - NPR weekend show)

'Use With Care' handbook IPI glossary designed for journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict available here to download. The popularity of the handbook has been key for IPI´s decision to release the complete PDF of the handbook containing more than 75 alternative words and phrases. A print version of the handbook, which is designed to help journalists covering the region, has been distributed to nearly 100 journalists and researchers. http://www.freemedia.at/publications/other-publications/use-with-care.html

Moth biologists / collectors "Shine a Light" on these underappreciated insects (Rutgers Ecology & Evolution)

Posted for July 25, 2014 -- Line-up of segments for NPR's "Science Friday" call-in talk show: Think moths are nothing more than drab, little brown fliers stalking your wool sweaters? The folks behind National Moth Week, happening July 19 - 27, 2014, want to change that perception. Rutgers University moth expert Elena Tartaglia describes the diversity of moths and the role that they play in nature, and gives some tips on how to become a “moth-er.” Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer for "Science Friday" / / / / / Guest will be Elena Tartaglia, who is a Recent PhD. recipient, Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. FURTHER information beyond http://www.sciencefriday.com/ can be found at http://nationalmothweek.org/

One particular difference between Sunni and Shi'a Muslim days/nights of observance - July 23 and 10 days that end Ramadan

from Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education dot-org: July 23, 2014 Laylat al-Qadr (Islam) Meaning loosely "the night of power," this is identified as the night in which God first revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad. It is believed that this day holds more power in prayer than one-thousand months; thus many Muslims spend the whole day in prayer and reading the Qur'an. Sunni Muslims traditionally observe Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th day of Ramadan, while Shi'is believe the 23rd day to be the most important. Since the specific day of the revelation is uncertain, many Muslims spend the last 10 days of Ramadan focused on prayer. http://www.csee.org/resources/religious-calendar/july.html

World Council of Church Gen. Secretary "On Gaza" -- July 22 statement for resumption of peace talks

from Oikoumene dot-org: Statement on Gaza 22 July 2014 The World Council of Churches is deeply saddened and gravely concerned by the continued escalation of the military operations in Gaza, human devastation on every side, and the disproportionately high number of Palestinian civilian casualties, including women and children. As well as the Israeli strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, the Council condemns the indiscriminate firing of rockets against Israeli civilian targets by Hamas and the positioning of rocket launchers in close proximity to civilian populations. The Council appeals to all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. The indiscriminate and disproportionate killing of civilians in the context of an armed conflict is strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law. Hostilities must cease. Israel, Palestine and the surrounding region must be offered the hope of peace: a peace based in justice, a lasting peace that may lead toward reconciliation. The World Council of Churches calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, and for restrictions on the movement of persons and goods into and out of the Gaza Strip to be lifted so that urgent humanitarian needs can be dealt with. This latest resort to armed conflict – and the consequent intolerable suffering inflicted on families and communities – can do nothing to promote a just and sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians. On the contrary, it serves only to perpetuate the deadly cycle of violence, stoking the fires of mutual demonization and division, and further diminishing the vision of two peoples living side-by-side in peaceful co-existence. Peace in Israel and Palestine will come only through the restoration of compassion between human beings, through seeking together common paths towards justice and peace, and through a genuine commitment to creating the basis for future generations of Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace. Hence the WCC calls for the resumption of direct peace talks to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace based upon a two-state solution along internationally recognized borders. But today, as war continues to rage in Gaza, we pray that Israelis and Palestinians will re-discover the things that make for peace. The peoples of Palestine and Israel deserve to live in peace and dignity. Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit WCC general secretary http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/statements/gaza

Community Colleges (SW Michigan, LMC) agree to co-sponsor "Craft Beer" and Local Wine Fest event (July 25, 2014)

posted at NILES MI dot-com website: The First Annual Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce Craft Brew & Wine Fest will be held Friday, July 25, 2014 in downtown Niles. The event will be presented by Southwestern Michigan College, Flagship Sponsor (all sponsors listed below), and held from 3 pm to 9 pm in downtown Niles, Michigan with hundreds of craft brews and wines available. There will also be food vendors, live music, and opportunities to meet the breweries' representatives and learn about craft beer and wine. Food vendors include Olfactory Hue Bistro, Katharos Catering, and Prized Pig Barbecue. To purchase tickets for the Craft Brew & Wine Fest, click at online web connection. To purchase tickets in advance: Early bird tickets are $15 . To purchase tickets at the door, price is $25. Cost includes ten tasting tickets (beer tastes cost 1 ticket each, and wine tastes cost 2 tickets each). DESIGNATED DRIVERS: Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate. You will receive no taste tickets and no glass.

Astronauts from 1969 moon landing re-visits White House (45 years later)

from the e-newsletter "The Note" (ABC News): Legendary moonwalker Buzz Aldrin may have been "out of town" when the world celebrated Apollo 11's lunar landing, but he marked the anniversary yesterday (July 22, 2014) with a presidential handshake and a meeting in the Oval Office - the same spot from whence President Nixon made that famous interplanetary telephone call to the moon 45 years ago, notes ABC's ERIN DOOLEY. Obama met in the Oval Office with astronauts Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, and Carol Armstrong, the widow of Neil Armstrong, who died in 2012. Nixon called the date July 20, 1969 - the day Aldrin, 39, and Neil Armstrong, 38, stepped off the Apollo 11 lunar module and onto the moon - the "proudest day of our lives." Four months later - following a 21-day quarantine procedure designed to shield Earth from possible lunar pathogens and a 24-country "good will tour" meant to demonstrate the United States' willingness to share its lunar expertise - the Apollo 11 team (also Michael Collins, who orbited the moon) visited then-President Nixon at the White House. FURTHER DETAILS at USA TODAY story: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2014/07/22/obama-apollo-11-crew-visit/12990241/

Weather change following Cold Front -- 15-degree drop-off

from Weather Channel (National WEATHER Service)and area TV station's posted details : Today Wednesday July 23, 2014 (3 a.m. Eastern Time Zone) Light Rain Isolated T-Storms / / / / / Line of heavy rain bringing on lots of lightning is currently barreling south across Michiana. It did produce some quarter size hail near Granger and Edwardsburg at about 2 A.M. Rain should be gone before the morning ends... then we're in for a breezy and very cool day with temps barely rebounding in the 70s. / / / / / 74° will be the HIGH TEMPERATURE for Wednesday Light Rain Locations nearby are reporting thunderstorms.

Battle of Mackinac Island (200 years ago during War of 1812 - 14): August events in Upper Peninsula Michigan

from Michigan Live! (www.mlive.com/): The Battle of Mackinac Island was fought on Aug. 4, 1814, and the Americans attempted to re-take Fort Mackinac, which it lost to the British in July of 1812. "The British and Native Americans knew they were coming, and they held the high ground," Olson said. A farm was located on the site, and because it's at the nearest high point of the Island, it wasn't much of a fight. "The Americans were outnumbered, out flanked, and it didn't go well," he said. It wasn't until the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, that American soldiers took possession of Fort Mackinac -- three years after the post had been captured. Phil Porter, the director of Mackinac State Historic Parks, said that's the beautiful thing about Mackinac Island -- it's "rich" history. British Landing, he said, is where the British troops came in "under the cover of darkness" and took over Fort Mackinac. "That road that leads to the Fort," he said, "it was there then, and it's still there today." "That's the wonderful thing about about Mackinac is that it has this deep and rich physical history," he added. "It's not like you have to imagine it, it's right in front of you." War of 1812 Events List August 1: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) August 2: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 10:00 a.m., Bike Tour visiting War of 1812 historic sites, including battlefield ($5, must pre-register, limited) 5-8 p.m., Niagara cruise, re-enactment of first shots fired ($200, must pre-register, limited, call 906-847-3328) August 3: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 10:00 a.m., Bike Tour visiting War of 1812 historic sites, including battlefield ($5, must pre-register, limited) 11:00 a.m., concert, Tittabawassee Valley Fife and Drum, Marquette Park (free) 1:00 p.m., concert (group TBD), Marquette Park (free) 3:00 p.m., main concert, Great Lakes groups, Fort Mackinac (included in admission) August 4: 9 a.m.-noon, dockside visits aboard Niagara ($7 adults, $5 kids) 9:30 a.m.-noon, Fort Mackinac features 1812 theme (included with admission) 3:00 p.m., Battle ceremony and re-enactment, narrated, Wawashkamo Golf Course (free) More info: www.mackinacparks.com or call 906-847-3328 On the weekend of August 1-4, 2014, a series of events are planned to transport Island visitors to 1814, when a month-long American military expedition was sent to recapture Fort Mackinac. The events include: • Special 1812-era demonstrations and tours inside Fort Mackinac, bike tours of battle-related sites across Mackinac Island. Visitors can interact with an international group of re-enactors and living historians representing the forces who fought over Mackinac in 1814.

Happy 313th Birthday! -- Detroit Historical Museum -- founded by Antoine Cadillac

from Detroit Free Press article (Sunday, July 20, 2014): It’s the hip area code emblazoned on T-shirts, shouted in rap songs, and built into most every metro Detroiter’s telephone habits. This week, it’s on birthday cakes, too, as Detroit celebrates its 313th birthday with a full week of activities at the Detroit Historical Museum. And there are dozens of other events, including many free festivals, tours, and concerts. The 313 area code has “become a moniker for Detroit, central to our identity,” said Bob Sadler, marketing director for the Detroit Historical Museum. This week’s museum programs include extra cultural references to 313, but “we’ve always made the city’s birthday a special celebration, on and around July 24, that being the day in 1701 when Antoine Cadillac and his band of voyageurs decided to settle here,” Sadler said.

45 years ago -- This Day in History -- "The Eagle has Landed" -- NPR interviews

Article by Scott Neuman and photos posted at npr dot-org (Weekend Edition for 19 July 2014): Forty-five years ago today, in arguably the greatest technological feat of the 20th Century, two Americans stepped off the ladder of their small landing craft and walked on the surface of the moon. The first of them, Neil Armstrong, 38, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, pronounced his accomplishment "one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for mankind." The second, 39-year-old New Jersey native Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., described what he saw as "magnificent desolation." As the pair bounded across the lunar landscape, planting an American flag, setting up experiments, and collecting soil and rocks, astronaut Michael Collins remained in orbit preparing for the crucial "lunar orbit rendezvous" that would get them back home. The famous moon walk was captured on a crude television camera and beamed live to people back on Earth. "The whole world stopped to watch what was taking place," space historian Roger Launius, assistant director of collections and curatorial affairs at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, told Space.com. "I think it would not be an overstatement to say that." But, as Aldrin tells NPR in an interview on Weekend Edition Saturday, the Lunar Module Eagle came very close to running out of fuel on its descent. "When we got down to about 100 feet, a fuel quantity light came on" indicating 60 seconds of fuel remaining. "I was getting a little apprehensive," Aldrin says. "But of course, I didn't want to disturb my commander [Armstrong] to the left because he was looking out and manually controlling things. As the hovered just 10 feet above the surface, they crew in the Lunar Module had just 30 seconds left. "And we touched down. And soon as that happens, I see a light on the instrument panel. And I say 'contact light' - because Neil is looking out the window - and then engine stop," Aldrin says. "And Neil says 'Houston, Tranquility Base, the Eagle has landed.'" http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/07/20/333196066/45-years-ago-armstrong-took-his-one-small-step

World-record-setting Food Drive (1 p.m. Sunday July 21 - 24 hours to 1 p.m. Monday) - goal is 560,000 pounds

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair Food Drive Committee will be attempting a “Guinness Book of World Records” for largest single-day food drive. The world-record attempt will happen during the Fair Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. – Monday, July 21, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. The donation drop-off point will be near Gate 2 (the pick-up / drop off area). If everybody who comes to the Fair can donate generously, our community can break the existing record. The current record for the largest food drive by a non-charitable organization in 24 hours was set by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Food Drive, which collected 559,885 pounds of food in Durham, N.C., on March 5, 2011. All donations will benefit the Food Bank of Elkhart County, a program of Church Community Services that provides food for hungry families by supplying food to many local food pantries and hot meal sites. The Fair is also looking for help from other local organizations. Any individual or organization who would like to get involved with the Food Drive and world-record attempt for largest food drive, please contact Shelly Steury by email at shellysteury@msn.com.

Captive Nations Week (July 2014)

from the "Press office" at whitehouse dot-gov: During Captive Nations Week, we celebrate this progress and stand with all who still seek to throw off their oppressors and embrace a brighter day. In recent years, convulsions in the Middle East and North Africa have laid bare deep divisions within societies. Dictators have answered peaceful movements with brutality. Extremists have tried to hijack change, seeking to replace one form of tyranny with another. And around the world, authoritarian regimes continue to deprive men, women, and children of their most basic human rights. America extends our support to all peoples seeking to build true democracy, real prosperity, and lasting security. While the road to self-determination is long and treacherous, history proves it is passable. This week, as we carry forward that age-old struggle -- of liberty against oppression, of unity against intolerance -- let us once again demonstrate the enduring strength of our ideals. The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of July of each year as "Captive Nations Week." NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 20 through July 26, 2014, as Captive Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to reaffirm our deep ties to all governments and people committed to freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all.

What is "Brand USA"? House Bill (Summer 2014) 4450 -- Travel Promotion, Enhancement, Modernization

from The Honorable Fred Upton (6th Congressional District, Michigan, R): This week, my House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 4450, the “Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014,” to reauthorize Brand USA, which is dedicated to increasing inbound international travel to the United States. Launched in 2010 under the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), Brand USA is a non-profit, private-public partnership that assists in financing an international advertising campaign for the United States as a travel destination. Unlike other major travel destinations, the United States’ campaign effort is co-funded by international visitors and contributions from the private sector, not by the taxpayers. Under Brand USA, a $10 fee is assessed once every two years on visa-free international visitors who enter the United States under the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This federal contribution is capped at $100 million a year and requires a matching contribution from the U.S. tourism industry. Under current law, TPA and Brand USA will expire on September 30, 2015. H.R. 4450 seeks to extend these efforts through September 30, 2020. Extending Brand USA’s activities to market the United States as a world travel destination will help our local tourism sector continue to thrive and create jobs.

"Through the eyes of a child" (two-day Flower Show: Free to Public) -- Niles, MIchigan

from Niles Library dot-com announcement: “THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD” A Standard Flower Show Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. Free and open to the public Friday, July 18, 3:00- 6:00 P.M. and Saturday, July 19, 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. District III will present a Standard Flower Show July 18 and 19, 2014 at the Niles District Library in Niles, MI. This is the first Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., District III Flower Show and the committee with Co-chairmen Bobbie Quick and Lynn Dinvald want to make it a special and memorable event. It is an opportunity for all 39 clubs in District III to come together and participate. The Flower Show will be a gift from District III. Our gratitude and sincere thanks go to all the exhibitors, the flower show committee and to the Niles District Library, Laura Hollister, and Ann McComber for their continued support. Come and enjoy, this show is for you!

On this day in History (Isaac Watts born in 1674: Birthday sermon in 1698)

from Christianity dot-com (blog - website): In the annals of hymn writing, Isaac Watts shines as a leading luminary. In most Reformation countries, hymns were employed in worship but seldom in the English church before Watts was born. Anglicans sang the Psalms. Psalm singing, which had at first been a welcome innovation, become a dreary, unmelodious chanting. Each line was first read out by a clerk and then sung. Through Isaac Watts' influence, that changed. Watts was born in Southampton, England on this day July 17, 1674. He fell under conviction in 1688 and learned to trust Christ in a personal way a year later. No doubt his father's influence was felt here, for his father was twice imprisoned for refusing to bend to the Church of England beliefs. Later Isaac refused to take an all-expenses-paid education rather than conform himself to the Church of England. After attaining his education under more difficult circumstances, Watts became a preacher. He gave his first sermon on this day, his birthday, July 17, 1698, at Mark Lane in London. His qualities were such that the church soon named him its assistant pastor. Shortly afterward he became seriously ill and suffered such poor health the remainder of his life that he was often unable to carry out his church duties. A kindly friend, Sir Thomas Abney took him under his roof and there he lived thirty years. The church also showed much wisdom and charity in continuing to support him despite his fevers and neuralgia. A lady who fell in love with him from reading his hymns is said to have rejected him close up upon finding him small and far from handsome. Despite his lack of beauty, Watts wrote inspiring poems which were attractive to worshippers. Scarcely a hymnbook today in the English speaking nations is without one or more of his hymns. Psalm singing had fallen into a sad state and church leaders were seriously questioning what to do. Watts boldly called for a new kind of psalm, rewritten in light of the New Testament gospel. "We preach the gospel and pray in Christ's name, and then check [stifle] the aroused devotions of Christians by giving out a song of the old dispensation." Acting on his own word, he published a collection of Christianized psalms in 1719. Even before this, in 1707, he published his Hymns and Spiritual Songs. They include "Joy to the World." These, not his sermons, are his true gift to the church and inspired Charles Wesley's even more successful endeavors. Watts faced fierce opposition. Many church leaders were opposed to his efforts and some called his hymns "Watt's Whims." The common people, however, delighted in them. Eventually the Church of England revised its stand and began adding hymns to their worship. His most famous songs point to Christ: "When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride."

Synod Vote -- Church of England approves Women Bishops (July 14, 2014) -- Church of England dot-org

Posted 14 July 2014: The General Synod of the Church of England has today given its final approval for women to become bishops in the Church of England. The vote in the General Synod on the measure was carried by the required two-thirds majority in the three constituent parts of the Synod: the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity. The voting results were as follows: House of Bishops: Yes 37 No 2 Abstentions 1 House of Clergy: Yes 162 No 25 Abstentions 4 House of Laity: Yes 152 No 45 Abstentions 5 This means the first woman bishop could potentially be appointed by the end of the year. Today's vote comes 18 months after the proposal was last voted upon in November 2012 when the proposal failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority in the House of Laity. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: "Today is the completion of what was begun over 20 years with the ordination of women as priests. I am delighted with today's result. Today marks the start of a great adventure of seeking mutual flourishing while still, in some cases disagreeing. The challenge for us will be for the church to model good disagreement and to continue to demonstrate love for those who disagree on theological grounds. Very few institutions achieve this, but if we manage this we will be living our more fully the call of Jesus Christ to love one another. As delighted as I am for the outcome of this vote I am also mindful of those within the Church for whom the result will be difficult and a cause of sorrow. My aim, and I believe the aim of the whole church, should be to be able to offer a place of welcome and growth for all. Today is a time of blessing and gift from God and thus of generosity. It is not winner take all, but in love a time for the family to move on together." The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, said: "This is a momentous day. Generations of women have served the Lord faithfully in the Church of England for centuries. It is a moment of joy today: the office of Bishop is open to them. To those who ask "what took you so long?" my answer is that every decision has a cost and there will be those within our body who will be hurting as a result of this decision. Our answer to the hurting should not be "get over it" but rather "we will not let go until you have blessed us." We move slowly because we move together. But in moving together we achieve not only what is just but also model what is right. As the African Proverb says: "Whoever walks fast, travels alone. Whoever walks far, walks in the company of others."

Happy Birthday to the 38th President -- Gerald R. Ford (b. July 14, 1913 - d. Dec. 26, 2006)

Posted on TWITTER by the Honorable Fred Upton (6th District - Michigan): ‏@RepFredUpton · #GeraldFord was a model for all those called to public service. Happy 101st birthday, Mr. President.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch (Afternoon - 7 p.m. Eastern Time) -- July 14, 2014

from National Weather Service: Monday, July 14, 2014, 12:43 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 417 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 P.M. EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 17 COUNTIES IN NORTHERN INDIANA -- CASS IN ELKHART FULTON IN GRANT HUNTINGTON KOSCIUSKO LA PORTE LAGRANGE MARSHALL MIAMI NOBLE PULASKI ST. JOSEPH IN STARKE WABASH WHITE WHITLEY -- IN MICHIGAN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN -- BERRIEN; CASS; ST. JOSEPH MI.

Gun violence survivor (Cassidy Stay - Texas): Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times (J.K. Rowling novel)

from CBS Dallas, TX press coverage (Saturday July 12, 2014): Mourners released hundreds of balloons in Houston in honor of the family gunned down in their home in Spring, Texas on Wednesday. They also heard a message of encouragement from 15-year-old Cassidy Stay, the lone survivor of the shooting, who was released from the hospital Friday. “Thank you all for coming and showing your support for me and my family. Stay strong,” Stay said as she held her arm in the air with her fingers forming the “I love you” sign. Stay suffered a skull fracture and lost part of a finger trying to protect herself from the gun shots. She survived the shootings by playing dead after her ex-uncle broke into her family’s home and killed both of her parents and all four of her siblings. Saturday, she spoke for the first time since being released from the hospital, quoting Harry Potter. “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. I know that my mom, dad, Bryan, Emily, Becca, and Zack are in a much better place and that I will be able to see them again one day." . . .http://dfw.cbslocal.com/tag/harris-county/feed/

Pizza Hut to hold "Bake Sale" for World Food Program (July 16) -- Chocolate Chip Cookie baked like a pizza

Article with details in CHICAGO TRIBUNE dot-com (Monday July 14, 2014): Pizza Hut today is rolling out an eight-inch chocolate chip cookie that will be sliced like a pizza -- and delivered like one, if you like. The cookie, officially dubbed the "Ultimate Hershey's Chocolate Chip Cookie" is part of a partnership with Hershey Co. It will be $4.99 with a pizza, or $5.99 on its own. It's available for dine-in, pick-up or delivery. "Pizza Hut chefs are ecstatic," said Carrie Walsh, chief marketing officer, Pizza Hut. "Our fans are in for an amazing, and great-tasting, experience." The pizza cookie is an addition to the current dessert offering, Hershey's Chocolate Dunkers, which are made with pizza dough and topped with a touch of white chocolate and Hershey's milk chocolate To highlight the cookie's launch, Pizza Hut's 6,300 U.S. restaurants on Wednesday July 16, 2014 will host a "bake sale" selling the cookies, with 10 percent of each cookie sale going to the World Food Program, a humanitarian agency that fights hunger.

Commemoration of Vladimir of Kiev (patron Saint of Russia - Orthodox Church) - July 15 annually

from Orthodox Wiki (http://orthodoxwiki.org/ ): The holy and right-believing Vladimir, Baptizer of Kievan Russia (b. 958- d.1015) was the Grand Prince of Kiev when Orthodoxy was introduced into present day Russia and Ukraine. He is also the grandson of St. Olga, and the father of Sts. Boris and Gleb the Passion-Bearers (and the first saints of the Russian lands). He is commemorated by the Church on July 15. Life St. Vladimir was a devout pagan in his early life. He was a great conqueror who had many wives and erected many pagan statues in the lands that he ruled over. Upon finding out that other faiths existed beyond his own paganism, he decided to send his envoys out into the world to find out what was true faith on earth. His envoys met with Muslims, but felt that there was no joy among them, and that their faith was very mechanical. The envoys also met with Jews and Catholics, but were still unimpressed. Everything changed, however, when the envoys arrived in Constantinople. Upon attending Divine Liturgy in Hagia Sophia, the envoys said, "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth." Taking the word of his envoys, St. Vladimir had himself and his nation baptized into the Orthodox Church. Baptism of St Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev St. Vladimir changed completely after his baptism. He destroyed all the pagan statues that stood in Kievan Rus', and replaced them with churches. He also attempted to live in peace as much as possible with his neighbors and had only one wife.

Will the Church of England allow Women Bishops? (Synod vote July 14, 2014) -- Religious News Service posting

www.rns.com/ (Religious News press service article by Trevor Grundy): Canterbury, England-- Women's rights activists greeted with delight signs the Church of England is poised to relent and allow women to be consecrated as bishops. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will preside over a historic General Synod meeting at the University of York when a make-or-break vote on the subject is expected Monday (July 14, 2014). "I think we're there at long last," American-born Christina Rees, one of the church's leading women's rights campaigners, said in an interview Thursday (July 10, 2014). Supporters of female bishops are convinced the General Synod -- the Church of England's governing body -- will approve amended legislation that will allow for the appointment of women as bishops by November and the first consecrations sometime in 2015. Reports published in England say Welby is determined to drive through legislation to allow female bishops and is even prepared to dissolve the present General Synod so that a freshly elected Synod could vote on the measure before the end of 2014. Senior sources say that revised legislation has convinced those who voted against women as bishops in 2013 to change their minds. Passage of legislation allowing women bishops will end a 20-year dispute. Women were first allowed to be ordained as priests in 1994. http://ncronline.org/news/global/church-england-set-vote-women-bishops

First of three "supermoons" (July 12, 2014)

The moon has reached the crest of its full phase. The full moon crested this morning (July 12, 2014) at 6:25 a.m. CDT. (11:25 UTC). Saturday night’s moon will still look full, however, and it’ll be closest to Earth for this month. The moon’s perigee or closest point comes at 3:27 a.m. CDT (8:27 UTC) Sunday morning, July 13. For all of us, around the world, the moon on both Friday and Saturday night comes up in the east around the time of sunset and sits low in the west at dawn. Thus on July 12 we have the first full moon after the June 21 solstice. Around this time of year, in North America, buck deer start growing antlers, thunder storms rage and farmers struggle to pile up hay in their barns. Thus, according to folklore, we call this full moon the Buck Moon, Thunder Moon or Hay Moon. The July 2014 full moon is also the first of three full-moon supermoons in 2014. Previously, we had two supermoons in January – on January 1 and 30 – but they were new-moon supermoons. The full moons on July 12, August 10 and September 9 all enjoy the supermoon designation because the centers of these full moons and the center of Earth are less than 361,863 kilometers (224,851 miles) apart. The closest supermoon of the year comes with the August 10 full moon, presenting a moon that’s only 356,896 kilometers (221,765 miles) from Earth. Because it’s a supermoon, and relatively close to Earth, expect higher-than-usual tides in the days ahead. [from Earth Sky dot-org] - - - - - http://earthsky.org/tonight/july-12-supermoon-first-of-three-superrmoons

Medieval Plague -- diagnosed in lethal case outbreak in Denver, Colorado (CBS News reporting)

July 11 posting at CBS News dot-com: ______ A rare case of pneumonic plague has been diagnosed in a patient who is hospitalized in Colorado. Health officials say it is the first confirmed case in the state since 2004. Plague was also confirmed in the family dog, after the dog died unexpectedly. The plague -- the illness that killed millions of people across Europe in the Middle Ages -- is a bacterial infection spread by fleas from rodents. Pneumonic plague is caused by the same bacteria as bubonic plague but it attacks the lungs. It can be treated with antibiotics, but sometimes is still deadly. State health officials did not say whether the infected patient is a man or woman, but confirmed that the person has been hospitalized. Officials believe the patient and dog may have been exposed in eastern Adams County, northeast of Denver, Colorado. Officials are looking for people who may have had contact with the patient so they can be treated with antibiotics.

Why will the EMMY AWARDS be August 16 this year?

INSIDER TV and Entertainment news at Website "Collider" dot-com: _____ _____ _____ Though it’s not the first time this has happened, the 66th Annual Emmy Awards will air a bit earlier than usual. In order to avoid a conflict with NBC’s Sunday Night Football in September, the network will host the awards show August 16, 2014 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific Time Zone. NBC has done this twice before, in 2006 and in 2010. Each of the other three networks – CBS, ABC and Fox – have kept the broadcast squarely in September since 2002. Both the Emmy Awards and Sunday Night Football are major ratings draws, so it’s in NBC’s best interest to shift the broadcast a couple of weeks earlier to avoid competing against the network’s own programming. Read more at http://collider.com/2014-emmy-awards-august/#iEjqR165QmrkSqTK.99 also information available at EMMYS dot-com.

One Year Later -- Park Officials keep Mt. Baldy of Indiana Dunes Park closed indefinitely -- Woessner child only victim of mysterious "holes"

from National Park website: Despite the use of ground penetrating radar, and data gathering at two additional holes that have appeared since last July, scientists still don’t know the cause of the holes at Mt. Baldy in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Additional research will be conducted this summer and may last into the fall. To ensure the public’s safety, Mount Baldy, its parking lot, trail, and beach in front of the dune will remain closed to all vehicular and pedestrian access while the investigation continues. “Mount Baldy is one of the most visited sites in the national lakeshore, attracting thousands of visitors each year” said Acting Superintendent Garry Traynham, “but the continued development of these holes in the dune surface poses a serious risk to the public. Our first obligation must be to the welfare of our visitors who are here for an enjoyable outing.” Ground penetrating radar studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have identified a large number of anomalies below the dune’s surface, but analysis by scientists from the National Park Service, Indiana University and the Indiana Geological Survey have not yielded answers on how these holes form. One such hole nearly cost a 6-year old Illinois boy his life July 12, 2013 at the national lakeshore’s most popular sand dune. The two additional holes and a number of depressions have been found during the ongoing investigation and continued monitoring of the dune. Scientists report that the holes are short-lived, remaining open for less than 24 hours before collapsing and filling in naturally with surrounding sand. Scientists are now preparing for a more comprehensive investigation of the dune this summer. This study will include mapping of openings, depressions, and anomalous features, the use of multispectral Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) and coring to develop a better understanding of the overall internal architecture of the dune, and detailed GPR and coring of some of the anomalies identified in the EPA report. During the research work, the park’s resource managers will continue planting marram grass on portions of Mt. Baldy where the native dune grass used to grow. The extensive root system of the grass holds sand in place and may also help prevent holes from opening up on the dune’s surface.

Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan -- will advocate for missing Nigeria's girls kidnapped by Boco Haram

FROM Community dot-Malala dot-org: Malala and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai arrived today to Abuja, Nigeria, to spend her 17th birthday and Monday's Malala Day with those calling for the right of every girl to a safe, quality education. During her trip, she will meet with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian organizers of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Nigerian nonprofits working to educate and empower girls, and most importantly, some of the brave escaped schoolgirls themselves and some of the families of girls still held by Boko Haram. Said Malala: "This Malala Day, I have come to Nigeria, to honor the stories of these brave girls who have sacrificed so much to get an education and achieve their dreams. Whether the schoolgirls still held in captivity by Boko Haram, to the school children caught in the crossfire of escalating violence in Gaza and Israel, to the 66 million girls today who can't get the education that is their human right, my birthday wish this year is that we all raise our voices so that those without a voice can be heard. We can be stronger than fear, hatred, violence and poverty. The road to education, peace and equality is long, but we will succeed if we walk it together." Show your support at http://www.malala.org _________ _________ http://community.malala.org/malala-has-arrived-nigeria-for-625371487.html

Web Training and Online Continuing Education: "What is a Methodist?" (September 23, 2014) pre-registration required

What’s a Methodist? Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Time: 6:30 p.m., Central Time Presenter: Steve Manskar, Director of Wesleyan Leadership We will explore John Wesley’s definition of a Methodist found in his brief tract “Advice to the People Called Methodists”: “By Methodists I mean, a people who profess to pursue (in whatsoever measure they have attained) holiness of heart and life, inward and outward conformity in all things to the revealed will of God; who place religion in an uniform resemblance of the great object of it; in a steady imitation of Him they worship, in all his imitable perfections; more particularly, in justice, mercy, and truth, or universal love filling the heart, and governing the life.” This webinar is intended primarily for United Methodist laity and clergy leaders in the U.S.A. and will look at historic Methodist practices as a basis for future direction. Please contact Steve Manskar, Director of Wesleyan Leadership, smanskar@gbod.org with questions. REGISTER Categories: Wesleyan Leadership, Practicing the UM Way, Covenant Discipleship, Upcoming http://www.gbod.org/resources/whats-a-methodist

40th anniversary of Radio Variety show -- updated for the 21st century listeners

from PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION website: This week on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, we're celebrating the 40th Anniversary of our very first show at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a festival and a special three-hour live broadcast. We'll have a host of rock'n'roll, blues, folk, soul, and country musicians on hand, plus, a few big sing-alongs, the Old Regulars of the Powdermilk Biscuit Band, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, an extra-wide version of The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon. Join us in-person, on the radio, and online for a whole weekend of family fun, stories, and songs! http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2014/07/05/ _______________ A Prairie Home Companion on Twitter A Prairie Home Companion on Instagram A Prairie Home Companion on Tumblr

A day to pray for peaceful resolution and to fast

Two Texas pastors say their fellow United Methodists can do something in response to continuing rocket attacks and hostilities between HAMAS and the State of Israel. They are urging churchgoers to join with Jews and Muslims, who on July 15, 2014 plan to fast and pray for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. The two pastors in the Texas U.M. Annual Conference were inspired by a recent article in the Jewish Daily Forward by Sigal Samuel. The article reported that the grieving families of murdered Israeli-American teen Naftali Fraenkel and murdered Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir are drawing comfort from each other. “It was a fantastic story of these families transcending these things that we think cannot be transcended,” said the Rev. Ben Trammell, lead pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Richmond, a Houston suburb. “It resonated with me, with them making the effort to come together and talk about the grief they know.” The article also reported that another group of Palestinians had visited the Fraenkel family to offer condolences. During the visit, the Palestinians mentioned a joint Jewish-Muslim fast on July 15, 2014 to express a desire to end violence in the region. from TWITTER bit.ly/1mn4DR9

July 11 Anniversary -- Skylab (U.S. space station) debris rains down on Australia

from SKYLINE dot-org / rocket sum / : It was discovered that Skylab operational systems were working well, and NASA remained optimistic that the space station could be saved. But time was clearly running out. The effort to save Skylab ended abruptly in December, 1978. NASA had run into development problems with the Space Shuttle Main Engines, and it became clear that even the first Space Shuttle launch would not occur until well after the solar winds had increased atmospheric drag and forced the Skylab orbit to decay beyond hope of rescue. On December 15, 1978 NASA Administrator Robert Frosch informed President Jimmy Carter that Skylab could not be saved, and that NASA would attempt to guide the space station to a controlled re-entry as far away from populated areas as possible. Skylab, however, would refuse to die quietly. At 3:45 a.m. EDT on July 11, 1979 controllers at the NASA Johnson Space Center commanded Skylab to tumble, hoping the space station would break apart upon re-entry. It did not, however, break apart as expected, and at 12:37 p.m. EDT on July 11, 1979 Skylab rained debris near Perth, Australia._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ http://www.spaceline.org/rocketsum/shuttle-program.html

American Idol (Past Favorite Singer) - Mandisa -- appears at Notre Dame for "World Pulse Festival"

www.lesea.com/ -- (Festival runs over two days, July 11 - 12, 2014) at the Compton Ice Arena): Mandisa -- Ask people to describe Mandisa and you’ll hear words like talented, gracious, beautiful, strong, loving, and joyful, but the title of her new album offers an especially apt description of the artist Overcomer. However, Mandisa sees it as more than her song, but an anthem for all and she’s happy to launch the battle cry. “I’m in a new place and I want to proclaim some things to my listeners and one of them is that they are overcomers,” says Mandisa. “Whether or not you feel it, it’s a fact. We are overcomers!” Short Bio: _Jesus-follower; Contemporary Christian recording artist; Author; American Idol Season 5 finalist; Picture of health wrapped in a not-so-perfect tent... for now! Website:www.mandisaofficial.com/

National Sugar Cookie Day (July 10 annually)

Sugar Cookie Day is about unleashing your inner child and celebrating the simple sugary-goodness of this traditional treat. In the 1700s a group of German settlers arrived in Pennsylvania, and by combining sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and baking soda they created a simple yet delicious food, now known as the Sugar Cookie. Of course, the original recipe never fails to please, but these days it’s easy to give it a modern twist – adding sprinkles, chocolate chips and frosting is the easiest way to jazz it up. Sugar cookies are a great way to keep the kids entertained too; just give them the dough, cookie cutters, an assortment of toppings, and let their imaginations run wild! For the ultimate Sugar Cookie Day experience, you can organize a Cookie Exchange party with your friends and neighbours – just don’t forget to bring your sweet tooth!

Two Hundred Years ago this summer -- the historical novel breaks into the best-seller "game"

from PBS NewsHour Arts & Media (www.pbs.org/newshour): In July 1814, no one knew whose words they were reading exactly, but they read Waverley in such volume that the initial printing of 1,000 copies sold out in two days. Set during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the historical novel tells the story of a young English soldier, Edward Waverley, sent north to Scotland to fight with the Redcoat army. Love gets in the way, and Edward’s passion for the feisty Highlander Flora leads him to join the Jacobites’ fight. By November of 1814, Waverley was in its fourth printing and had become a runaway international success, all without the benefit of an author’s name on the title page. The author was widely believed to be Sir Walter Scott, at the time better known for his poetry — of the “Oh, what a tangled web we weave” variety. Waverley was something new for Scott. He’d started it years earlier, put it away in a drawer and forgotten about it until late 1813. Then, in a three-week burst of creativity, he finished the second and third volumes at his new home in the Scottish Borders, Abbotsford. The book was received with almost universal acclaim, and nearly every reviewer guessed it was written by Scott. Even some of his readers knew. MORE at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/historical-novel-celebrates-200-years-thanks-sir-walter-scott/

In memory of Paul Klebnikov (died 2004)

www.state.gov/ -- (July 9, 2014) -- Marking the 10th Anniversary of the Murder of American Journalist Paul Klebnikov Press Statement by John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ten years ago today, an American journalist was shot and killed as he left his Moscow office. Paul Klebnikov did more than write about politics and business in Russia. He was a voice of conscience in the fight against corruption. Paul’s senseless murder was a sickening punch in the gut. Ten years later, we remain deeply troubled that the mystery of who ordered the murder is still unsolved. We continue to call on Russia, as we have over the last decade, to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. It’s not lost on any of us that the unvarnished truth-telling and investigative journalism to which Klebnikov dedicated his life continues to be under attack in Russia. The space for independent voices in Russian media is rapidly shrinking. Today of all days, we honor the memory of Paul Klebnikov and the other journalists in Russia who have lost their lives. We call on the Russian government to protect journalists from attacks and to respect fundamental freedoms of expression.

Underground Railroad Days (Cass County, Michigan) - July 2014 -- events at Cassopolis and Vandalia

Weekend events sponsored by Cass County Underground Railroad Society -- www.urscc.org/ -- Locations at both Cassopolis and Vandalia, Michigan USA -- includes Historical re-enactors and Youth actors at Youth Center -- Opening night -- July 11, 2014: 7 p.m. at Sam Adams Middle School "A River to Cross" play by and produced by Dr. Von and Fran Washington; 8 p.m. the Youth Michigan History Day champions "The Kentucky Raid in 10 minutes"; Weekend events on Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13 -- Classic Car Show; Presenters on "Cass County and the Civil War"; "African American Pioneers in Cass County (Allen and Sanders families)"; "Growing up in the Bonine House (1934 - 1953); 11 a.m. Community Ecumenical Church service in the Park; "Cass County Underground Railroad Wax Museum"; "Antebellum Migration of Free Black Families into Southwest Michigan and Cass County." Go to www.urscc.org for more information; all activities free except for Soul Food Dinner concession and Arts & Crafts Booths.

Welcome to newest naturalized Americans (service members fighting in Afghanistan war) -- July 4, 2014

Capsule report at NBC NEWS dot-com: They came from Germany and Jamaica, Guatemala and Ghana. Twenty-five members of the armed forces and their spouses — representing 15 countries — were sworn in as the newest U.S. citizens during a Fourth of July naturalization ceremony at the White House. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, himself an immigrant from Cuba, delivered the oath of allegiance as President Barack Obama looked on. Obama reminded the newest Americans that they are what the nation was built on 238 years ago and praised the group of 25 for choosing to fight for their adopted homeland. “Many of you did something extraordinary. You signed up to serve in the United States military. You answered that call,” Obama said. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/25-service-members-sworn-newest-americans-white-house-ceremony-n148331

Calligraphy -- class taught by Ian the Green (David Roland) for Niles (MI) District Library (July 2014)

from Website (www.nileslibrary.com): David Roland is a student and teacher of medieval calligraphy. He began his path into historical calligraphy in 2005 in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a worldwide not-for-profit-educational organization. In the SCA he goes by the name Ian the Green. Ian has received awards and placed highly in several competitions, including several first places, not only for his calligraphy but also for his medieval ink making skills. He will be teaching a three-part series: July 10, 2014 @ 10:00 a.m. Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid of Calligraphy - How easy it really can be. The first class is split into two 45-minute sessions. In the first section we will explore the terminology as well as the tools and materials of a calligrapher. In the second 45- minute session we will dip our pens in ink and learn how to use and move our broad tipped pens on paper. If you have a calligraphy set, feel free to bring it. July 17 @ 10:00 a.m. Uncial Script Learn a medieval script of writing known as "Uncial." This script was developed around 300 A.D. and is still in use today. It is simple round script that can be very breathtaking. It is easier to learn than some other scripts because there are no capitals. If you have a calligraphy set, feel free to bring it. July 24 @ 10:00 a.m. Making Iron Gall Ink. Recipes for this ink have been found from 200 B.C., and it was in regular use into the middle of the 20th century. Knowing how to make your own ink was a fundamental skill for the medieval scribe. Bring clothes you don't mind getting stained.

Eldest of two current "First Daughters" -- Happy 16th Birthday to Malia Ann Obama (b. 1998)!

from official data article at "First Ladies dot-org": Marriage of FLOTUS (b. 17 January 1964 in Chicago, IL) to POTUS: At age 28 years old, Michelle (Robinson) married on 3 October, 1992 to Barack Obama, 31 years old, (born 4 August, 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii, lawyer and community organizer) at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois. Michelle Robinson first met Barack Obama when he came to work as a summer associate in June of 1989 at Sidley & Austin, where she was already working as an attorney. When he returned to Cambridge, Massachusetts to complete Harvard Law School (graduated 1990), they continue to correspond and date. They became engaged in 1991. Their first home was an apartment in the Hyde Park section of Chicago. Barack Obama taught at the University of Chicago law school and worked at a small civil rights law firm. Children: Two daughters; Malia Ann (born 4 July, 1998) and Natasha “Sasha" (born 7 June, 2001). Both girls are students at Sidwell Friends Private School in Washington, D.C. *Michelle Obama is the first First Lady to have given birth in the 21st century. . . http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=45

How long did the 13 colonies united take to gain INTERnational INDEPENDENT status among nations? (State Department dot-gov)

Online posted article on the effects diplomatically of the DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE: The Declaration of Independence, 1776 By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking their independence. By declaring themselves an independent nation, the American colonists were able to conclude an official alliance with the government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain. Throughout the 1760s and early 1770s, the North American colonists found themselves increasingly at odds with British imperial policies regarding taxation and frontier policy. When repeated protests failed to influence British policies, and instead resulted in the closing of the port of Boston and the declaration of martial law in Massachusetts, the colonial governments sent delegates to a Continental Congress to coordinate a colonial boycott of British goods. When fighting broke out between American colonists and British forces in Massachusetts, Continental Congress worked with local groups, originally intended to enforce the boycott, to coordinate resistance against the British. British officials throughout the colonies increasingly found their authority challenged by informal local governments, although loyalist sentiment remained strong in some areas. Despite these changes, colonial leaders hoped to reconcile with the British Government, and all but the most radical members of Congress were unwilling to declare independence. However, in late 1775, Benjamin Franklin, then a member of the Secret Committee of Correspondence, hinted to French agents and other European sympathizers that the colonies were increasingly leaning towards seeking independence. While perhaps true, Franklin also hoped to convince the French to supply the colonists with aid. Independence would be necessary, however, before French officials would consider the possibility of an alliance. Throughout the winter of 1775–1776, the members of Continental Congress increasingly viewed reconciliation with Britain as unlikely, and independence the only course of action available to them. When on December 22, 1775, the British Parliament prohibited trade with the colonies, Congress responded in April of 1776 by opening colonial ports—this was a major step towards severing ties with Britain. The colonists were aided by the January publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense, which advocated the colonies’ independence and was widely distributed throughout the colonies. By February of 1776, colonial leaders were discussing the possibility of forming foreign alliances and began to draft the Model Treaty that would serve as a basis for the 1778 alliance with France. Leaders for the cause of independence wanted to make certain that they had sufficient congressional support before they would bring the issue to the vote. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion in Congress to declare independence. Other members of Congress were amenable but thought some colonies not quite ready. However, Congress did form a committee to draft a declaration of independence and assigned this duty to Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams reviewed Jefferson’s draft. They preserved its original form, but struck passages likely to meet with controversy or skepticism, most notably passages blaming King George III> for the transatlantic slave trade and those blaming the British people rather than their government. The committee presented the final draft before Congress on June 28, and Congress adopted the final text of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The British Government did its best to dismiss the Declaration as a trivial document issued by disgruntled colonists. British officials commissioned propagandists to highlight the declaration’s flaws and rebut the colonists’ complaints. The Declaration divided British domestic opposition, as some American sympathizers thought the Declaration had gone too far, although in British-ruled Ireland it had many supporters. The Declaration’s most important diplomatic effect was to allow for recognition of the United States by friendly foreign governments. The Sultan of Morocco mentioned American ships in a consular document in 1777, but Congress had to wait until the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France for a formal recognition of U.S. independence. The Netherlands acknowledged U.S. independence in 1782. Although Spain joined the war against Great Britain in 1779, it did not recognize U.S. independence until the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Under the terms of the treaty, which ended the War of the American Revolution, Great Britain officially acknowledged the United States as a sovereign and independent nation. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/declaration

"Star Spangled Banner" (National Anthem) -- new version by John Williams, composer and orchestra director

story in DETROIT Free Press online (www.freep.com): American composer and conductor John Williams is debuting a new arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” featuring choirs, trumpets, an orchestra and cannons on the National Mall (Washington, D.C.) for the nation’s birthday. Usually a soloist performs the national anthem for the annual “Capitol Fourth” celebration in Washington. But this year, the acclaimed composer will lead the National Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the Joint Armed Forces Chorus and the Choral Arts Society of Washington in performing a special new arrangement. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. It was in September 1814 when Francis Scott Key was inspired by the sight of the flag over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry after a 25-hour British bombardment. “A Capitol Fourth” will be broadcast Friday, July 4, 2014 at 8 p.m. on PBS and NPR.

Mall Bookstore offers "Chocolate Celebration" tasty treat

from Barnes & Noble main web page (www.bn.com): National Chocolate Day Celebration! Special Event Join us as we celebrate the love of chocolate with National Chocolate Day! We will offer various samples from all our chocolate flavored treats in our Cafe today! Don't forget about our Godiva chocolate confections as well. Monday July 07, 2014 9:00 A.M. University Park Mall Barnes & Noble #2358, 6501 North Grape Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545, for further information dial (574)-247-0864

Researcher suggests punctuation on Declaration of Independence needs second look (July 2014)

as posted at Boston dot-com (Boston Times THIS DAY IN HISTORY): there may be a typo in the Declaration of Independence. Researcher Danielle Allen believes a mark, long believed to be a period, is not a period at all. And the difference changes one of the most important lines of the document, according to The New York Times. The period creates the impression that the list of self-evident truths ends with the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she says. But as intended by Thomas Jefferson, she argues, what comes next is just as important: the essential role of governments — “instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” — in securing those rights. “The logic of the sentence moves from the value of individual rights to the importance of government as a tool for protecting those rights,” Ms. Allen said. “You lose that connection when the period gets added.” The National Archives and Records Administration is investigating the claim, checking other copies of the declaration from 1776 and consulting with other experts, according to the Times.

Bishop Matthew Simpson (1811 - 1884) -- Illinois Methodist Church - preacher / lecturer

from "Mr. Lincoln and Friends" dot-org: President Lincoln worshiped at one of the Methodist churches in Washington, such as the Foundry Church, where Bishop Simpson preached in January 1863. "Secretary Edwin Stanton and his wife were in front, on chairs; President Lincoln in the altar," Simpson later wrote. "The President made by contribution a life member; collection $770."8 Mrs. Lincoln's cousin, Elizabeth Todd Grimsley later described him as "the beloved, sainted Bishop Matthew Simpson. She cited him and Archbishop John Hughes of New York City as exceptions to the "importunities, meddlesomeness, impatient censure, and arrogance of preachers, politicians, newspapers writers, and cranks." Rev. Bowman, who was chaplain of the Senate, recalled that he "had an opportunity to witness the kind feeling which the president evidently cherished for the bishop. Simpson delivered his wonderful lecture on 'Our Country' in one of our churches in Washington. Lincoln, without any mark of distinction, was in the great crowd of hearers. I happened to be near him, and could see his every movement. I never saw a hearer who gave more marked evidence of a personal interest in a speaker than the president gave that evening. He joined most heartily in the frequent, and sometimes prolonged, applause. At one time, as the bishop was speaking of the wonderful opportunity that our country affords to young men, he paused for a moment, and said, 'Why, it is commonly reported that a rail-splitter has been elected president of the United States!' This, of course, brought down the house, and I was particularly pleased to see with what almost boyish enthusiasm the president joined in the tremendous applause." Rev. Bowman said that at the close of the address, President Lincoln went to the pulpit to greet Bishop Simpson. "Taking the bishop warmly by the hand, he exclaimed, in a voice that could be heard all around, 'Bishop Simpson, that was a splendid lecture.' Then, in a low tone of voice, and with an expression of face which indicated a little surprise, a little curiosity, and a good deal of humor, he said, 'But you didn't strike the ile!' I did not see the point, but the bishop did. So he replied, 'Mr. President, I am surprised at myself to see that, while I have thought so much about the great resources of our country, I should have entirely overlooked our great oil interests. I shall not do so again.' The next time I heard the lecture the bishop struck 'the ile.'"_______________ http://mrlincolnandfriends.org/inside.asp?pageID=102&subjectID=10

Free Flag Cleaning (ahead of 4th of July)

Local Business (SW Michigan, Berrien County, MI ): CONCORD CUSTOM CLEANERS 920 E MAIN ST NILES, MI 49120-2641 Phone: 269-684-1115

Ava Zimmerman Memorial Blood Drive (held locally in Niles, Michigan) - July 2, 2014

Sponsor of the five-hour event to collect pint blood donations is the South Bend Medical Foundation (www.sbmf.org/) and Give Blood Now dot-com. Please join with other eligible donors for the seventh annual blood drive to remember with her surviving family the infant (Ava). Reservations can be arranged ahead of time at (574) - 204-4132 as well as at www.givebloodnow.com/ Host location is "Niles Inn" (910 S. 11th Street, Niles, MI 49120). Times on Wednesday July 2, 2014 are between 2 - 7 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone).

50th Anniversary of "Civil Rights Acts" (signed by LBJ) -- Presidential Proclamation

from WHITE HOUSE Press Office (www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office): 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT - - - - - - - Few achievements have defined our national identity as distinctly or as powerfully as the passage of the Civil Rights Act. It transformed our understanding of justice, equality, and democracy and advanced our long journey toward a more perfect Union. It helped bring an end to the Jim Crow era, banning discrimination in public places; prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; as well as providing a long-awaited enforcement mechanism for the integration of public schools. A half-century later, we celebrate this landmark achievement and renew our commitment to building a freer, fairer, greater society. Through the lens of history, the progress of the past five decades may seem inevitable. We may wish to remember our triumphs while erasing the pain and doubt that came before. Yet to do so would be a disservice to the giants who led us to the mountaintop, to unsung heroes who left footprints on our National Mall, to every American who bled and died on the battlefield of justice. In the face of bigotry, fear, and unyielding opposition from entrenched interests, their courage stirred our Nation's conscience. Their struggle helped convince a Texas Democrat who had previously voted against civil rights legislation to become its new champion. With skillful charm and ceaseless grit, President Lyndon B. Johnson shepherded the Civil Rights Act through the Congress -- and on July 2, 1964, he signed it into law. While laws alone cannot right every wrong, they possess an unmatched power to anchor lasting change. The Civil Rights Act threw open the door for legislation that strengthened voting rights and established fair housing standards for all Americans. Fifty years later, we know our country works best when we accept our obligations to one another, embrace the belief that our destiny is shared, and draw strength from the bonds that hold together the most diverse Nation on Earth. As we reflect on the Civil Rights Act and the burst of progress that followed, we also acknowledge that our journey is not complete. Today, let us resolve to restore the promise of opportunity, defend our fellow Americans' sacred right to vote, seek equality in our schools and workplaces, and fight injustice wherever it exists. Let us remember that victory never comes easily, but with iron wills and common purpose, those who love their country can change it. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 2, 2014, as the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate this accomplishment and advance civil rights in our time.

Oppportunity for Public Discussion and Peaceful Debate (Saturday July 5, 2 p.m.) -- Niles, MI District Library

The Coalition When: Saturday, July 5, 2014 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Niles District Library rotunda, 620 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120 Phone: (269) 683-8545 Description: Do you crave meaningful discourse? The Coalition is a just-formed group of local citizens that each want to listen and be heard on tough social issues. You've probably had topics come to mind that you wanted to be able to discuss in a meaningful, non-hostile way. Every Saturday at two they'll gather at the local library to do just that. Come be part of the conversation. http://www.nileslibrary.com/

Will this July 2014 holiday be appropriately observed on the 23rd or 27th? -- Interfaith Calendar

July 23 // 27 Laylat al Qader (Islam) Meaning loosely "the night of power," this is identified as the night in which Allah first revealed the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. It is believed that this day holds more power in prayer than one thousand months; thus many Muslims spend the whole day in prayer and reading the Qur'an. Sunni Muslims traditionally observe Laylat al Qader on the 27th day of Ramadan, while Shi'as believe the 23rd day to be the most important. Since the specific day of the revelation is uncertain, many Muslims spend the last 10 days of Ramadan focused on prayer.

Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other nose begins. . .(Burwell v. Hobby Lobby -- opinion of four Supreme Court Justices) - June 30, 2014

from SCOTUS blog summation (posted June 30, 2014): Justice Ginsburg begins to summarize her dissent. She is celebrating twenty years on the court, and even received a service pin at the Court’s annual employee-recognition ceremony earlier this month. (As did her secretary.) “Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, and I find in [RFRA] no design to permit the opt-outs in question,” Ginsburg says. “Reading the Act expansively, as the Court does, raises a host of ‘Me, too’ questions. Can an employer in business for profit opt out of coverage for blood transfusions, vaccinations, antidepressants, or medications derived from pigs, based on the sincerely held religious beliefs opposing those medical practices?” And what about the employer whose religious faith teaches that “it is sinful to employ a single woman without her father’s consent, or married women, without their husbands’ consent,” she continues. “Can those employers opt out of Title VII’s ban on gender discrimination in employment?” She quotes “a wise legal scholar” (Zechariah Chafee, as the written opinion notes) who “famously said of the First Amendment’s Free Speech guarantee: ‘Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other [person’s] nose begins.’ The dissenters believe the same is true of the Free Exercise Clause, and that Congress meant RFRA to be interpreted in line with that principle.” Ginsburg keeps rhetorically swinging for several minutes, though never hits the nose of Justice Alito, who maintains a respectful gaze. “In sum, today’s potentially sweeping decision minimizes the government’s compelling interest in uniform compliance with laws governing workplaces, in particular, the Affordable Care Act,” she says. “And it discounts the disadvantages religion-based opt outs impose on others, in particular, employees who do not share their employer’s religious beliefs.” “Our cosmopolitan nation is made up of people of almost every conceivable religious preference,” Ginsburg concludes. “In passing RFRA, Congress did not alter a tradition in which one person’s right to free exercise of her religion must be kept in harmony with the rights of her fellow citizens, and with the common good.” http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/06/a-view-from-the-court-justice-alito-has-his-day-in-finale/