Japanese Prime Minister -- visit includes presentation of 3,000 Dogwood Trees to the Japanese People (April 30, 2012)

from OBAMA Food-o-rama (www.obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/ )

President Obama will welcome Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan to the White House today for a bilateral summit, the first visit by a Japanese leader since 2009.  The day will include an 11:40 a.m. bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, followed by a closed-press luncheon in the Old Family Dining Room at 12:45 p.m.

Noda will be honored with a dinner this evening hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which will include the presentation of a special gift marking the US-Japan friendship. Noda, 54, is the fourth Japanese Prime Minister to hold office since President Obama was elected in 2009, and his visit is an effort to re-affirm US-Japan relations.

"The President looks forward to holding discussions with the Prime Minister on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, economic and trade issues, and deepening bilateral cooperation," the White House said.

In the afternoon, the President and Prime Minister will hold a joint press conference in the Rose Garden at 2:00 p.m.

Secretary Clinton will host her dinner for Prime Minister Noda at 7:00 p.m. at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC, where she will announce a gift of 3,000 specially grown Dogwood trees for Japan. It comes as Washington has just marked the centennial of Japan's gift of 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees. In March, First Lady Michelle Obama participated in a cherry blossom tree planting ceremony on the National Mall to mark the centennial.
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/04/president-obama-welcomes-japanese-prime.html

At Ohio private univeristy (Friday April 27), Romney tells students, "Borrow $37,000 per year from parents" -- Otterbein

from Dayton (OHIO) Daily News coverage -- April 27 -- posted online

Romney said earlier this week he supported the lower interest rate, a shift from comments made in Youngstown that the government should not pay for college nor forgive student debt.

During his Friday visit, Romney asked Otterbein University students at a roundtable discussion if they were informed of the debt that can come with a college education. Romney said he spoke with a student loan provider who questioned a student borrower about whether the major was worth $150,000 in loans. Several students said they relied on a mix of loans, income from jobs and help from their parents to pay the $37,000 cost for tuition, room and board per year at Otterbein.

Romney quoted a study released this week that said 53.6 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders younger than 25 last year were jobless or underemployed.

Community College changes mascot from "Indians" to "Red Hawk" (2012 action)

posted on Tuesday April 24, 2012 at school main web page (http://www.lakemichigancollege.edu/news )

On Tuesday during the April Board of Trustees meeting, Lake Michigan College officials unveiled a new official mascot for the College’s athletic program. The Red Hawk replaces Indians, which according to College archives, had been the mascot since the College’s inception in 1946.
The change comes as LMC student leaders were interested in building school spirit through more active use of the College’s Indian mascot. Before moving forward, the students and College administration felt it was important to discuss the plan of increased mascot visibility with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, given that the last time the College and Pokagon Band reviewed the topic was 1989.
In October, student representatives, College administrators, and the Pokagon Tribal Council met. Students expressed their wishes while asking for input from the Council members. The Council members offered their opinions on how various Native American mascots affected them personally throughout the years. In the end, the Council stated that any decision about the use of the mascot was entirely up to the College and the students.
According to Jason Wesaw, government manager of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, the Council members were impressed with the way the students approached the issue.
Following the meeting with the Pokagon Tribal Council, College officials and students discussed the various options, and came to the conclusion that the most appropriate course of action was to change the mascot.
A mascot selection committee of students, faculty, and staff was appointed to review alternatives. Among the early suggestions was the red-tail hawk, which is depicted on the flag that represents the Pokagon nation. Out of that, the Red Hawk emerged. The Red Hawk continues the College’s connection with the Pokagon Band, and is a symbol connected to nature, as is the College’s name. It also represents intelligence, strength, and speed, all of which are important in the success of student athletes.
“We are proud to make this change. With the new mascot, the College maintains its historic connection with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, while presenting a new symbol of excellence in athletics,” stated Lake Michigan College President Dr. Robert Harrison. “We thank the Tribal Council for their openness in the process.”
Harrison went on to add that the process was more than about selecting a new symbol to represent the College’s athletic program. It was a learning experience for students.
“They discovered the value of seeking other opinions and taking that input into consideration when making decisions,” stated Harrison. “I hope it’s an experience that will stay with them throughout their lives.”
The Red Hawk will go into use at the conclusion of 2012 softball and baseball seasons. It will be used to represent the athletics teams, in campus student life events, and on College apparel. The current wave icon coupled with the Lake Michigan College name will continue to be used as the primary logo of the College.

On this date in history (April 27) - Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Founding day of Nation of Israel in 1948)

from RELIGION & ETHICS Newsweekly (sponsored by Lilly Foundation - - PBS news/features):

April 27

Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Judaism)
Yom Ha’Atzmaut is the national independence day of Israel, commencing in 1948. Many celebrate the holiday with picnics, singing and dancing, and Hallel, a Jewish prayer, is often recited.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/multifaith-calendar/

Nobel Laureate - novelist - TONI MORRISON -- Medal of Freedom 2012 -- April 26 announcement

from USA TODAY article-announcement

Toni Morrison
One of our nation's most celebrated novelists, Morrison is renowned for works such as Song of Solomon, Jazz, and Beloved, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988. When she became the first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1993, Morrison's citation captured her as an author "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality." She created the Princeton Atelier at Princeton University to convene artists and students. Morrison continues to write today.

President Obama has announced 13 new recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including former secretary of State Madeleine Albright, singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, astronaut John Glenn, former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens and writer Toni Morrison.
"These extraordinary honorees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation," Obama said. "They've challenged us, they've inspired us, and they've made the world a better place. I look forward to recognizing them with this award."
The ceremony will be later this year.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/04/obama-announces-13-medal-of-freedom-recipients/1

World Book Night -- Anna Quindlen, honorary chairwoman (U.S., U.K.,Ireland, Germany) - April 23, 2012

from USA TODAY coverage (online edition)

World Book Night celebrates reading with paperback handouts

By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY

All are celebrating World Book Night. It's not quite the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras, but across the United States, 25,000 volunteers will distribute a total of 500,000 free paperback books Monday, April 23, 2012.

Modeled on a British program that began last year, World Book Night is "like an intellectual Halloween, only better," says novelist and essayist Anna Quindlen, the program's honorary chairwoman. "We're giving out books, not just Mars bars."

World Book Night is a bit of a misnomer. It's being celebrated only in the USA, Britain, Ireland and Germany, and some of the events in 5,800 American communities take place this afternoon. (In parts of Europe on Monday, it's also World Book Day, aimed at kids.)

Sponsored by a coalition of publishers, booksellers and librarians, World Book Night originally planned to find 50,000 volunteers to give away 1 million books in the USA. That was cut in half because of logistics and shipping costs, says Carl Lennertz, its director. "But a half-million is still great." (For those keeping score, the Brits, with about one-fifth the U.S. population, are giving away 1 million books.)

Polyglot performances - Shakespeare Festival, London - April 23, 2012 -- BBC coverage

A festival that will see Shakespeare's 37 plays performed in 37 languages, from Swahili to sign language, has got under way.

Globe To Globe is just one element of the World Shakespeare Festival, which was launched on Monday, the anniversary of the playwright's birth.
It is part of the London 2012 festival , which ties in with the Summer 2012 Olympic Games.
As well as the multi-lingual plays, there will be dozens of Shakespeare productions across the UK.
Globe To Globe will feature King Lear performed in Belarusian, Hamlet in Lithuanian and Othello re-interpreted through hip-hop.

 

The polyglot performances are taking place at the Globe Theatre, the replica of Shakespeare's original theatre.
Globe To Globe artistic director Tom Bird said it was not difficult to follow the stories even if you did not speak the languages being spoken by the actors.
"What I've found from travelling around the world is that you get an incredible sense of what's going on in a show, even from the way people move on the stage and the things people wear," he said.
"What's surprised me more than anything is the way people have taken Shakespeare to their hearts all around the world.
"People don't think of him as an English poet, they think of him as part of the world culture."
BBC posted article -- online website

April 28 - Eastside Connections Magnet School (Niles, MI Public School elementary)

Eastside Arts Show: April 28th, 2012

Eastside School, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Create an Ice Cream Sundae, 

Make a Book,

See Your Child's Artwork and More!

News about Sculptor's visit to Eastside Connections:

A professional artist was teaching students at Eastside Connections School in Niles how to create class sculptures April 9 - 19.
Laura Boyce, of the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph, visited Eastside as part of Berrien Regional Educational Service Agency’s Arts Partners Program, which supports fine arts education in area schools.
Advising principal to Eastside, Robin Hadrick, said the program fits into the school’s vision of giving students a fine arts experience that goes beyond the average curriculum.
“This experience may be something like they’d get at the high school level, but we are bringing it down to the elementary level,” Hadrick said.
The class sculptures will be featured in an art showcase at the end of the school year.
Students will also take part in a tour of Krasl Art Center sculptures in May as part of the Arts Partners Program.
“It should give the students an in-depth experience on how it would be to create a piece of art that would get sold or end up in a museum,” Hadrick said. “It goes beyond just pinning up artwork on a refrigerator.”

http://www.nilesstar.com/2012/03/18/artist-visiting-eastside/

Death of William Shakespeare -- also April 23 marked as his Birthday

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media, Minnesota Public Radio, Garrison Keillor):

Today (April 23) we celebrate the birthday of William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England (1564). We don't know his birthday for sure, but he was baptized on April 26th, and since infants were usually baptized about three days after their birth, his birthday is celebrated today.
We know almost nothing about Shakespeare's life. His father was a successful glover and farmer, and the family was comfortable. Shakespeare probably went to the local school, King's New School, where he would have studied Latin, classic literature, and history. The next record of Shakespeare finds him at the age of 18 applying for a marriage license with 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. The records show that the marriage was rushed, and six months into it, Anne gave birth to a daughter named Susanna. Two years later, Anne had twins, Judith and Hamnet.
No one knows exactly when or why Shakespeare left Stratford for London. There are rumors that he was in trouble for poaching deer from the estate of a local squire, and escaped to London to avoid prosecution. Others think he ran away from an unhappy marriage -- when he died, he left Anne only his "second-best bed." Still others think he was simply an ambitious young man and that London was the center of theater. In any case, by 1592, a fellow playwright named Robert Greene published a book that described Shakespeare as "an upstart Crow, beautified by our feathers, that with his Tyger's hart wrapped in a Player's hyde, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blanke verse as the best of you."
Greene's warnings about Shakespeare didn't dampen his success. Two years later, Shakespeare was writing his plays exclusively for a theater troupe called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was owned by a group of actors, including Shakespeare. The troupe performed most of his plays at the Globe Theatre, and he acted in many of them himself. We don't know what roles he played, although he is often said to have played the Ghost in Hamlet. But we do know that unlike some playwrights, Shakespeare remained an actor throughout his life.
The Globe Theatre was closed down in 1642 by the Puritans, and demolished two years later, so no one knows for sure what the Globe looked like. But through excavation, sketches, descriptions, and contracts, much of it has been pieced together. We know it had 20 sides and a diameter of 100 feet, and could seat about 3,000 people. The open section of the theater, in front of the stage, had no seats and no roof. For a cheap ticket, people could stand in this open section and watch the plays -- these people were called "groundlings." They were free to drink, eat, shout at the actors, and generally do whatever they wanted. Along the outside were three levels of roofed seating for patrons who could afford a chair.
In Shakespeare's time, plays were not published for readers. If they were written down in one place, it was usually as a "prompt-book," an official copy for actors. When plays were reproduced, it was often without the consent of the writer. Twenty-two of Shakespeare's plays were published during his lifetime, but they are very different than the versions that were published just after Shakespeare's death, with the support of his theater troupe -- those new versions became the standard texts. No one knows how much of any of these versions was reconstructed from stage notes or from the memories of people who had seen the play performed.
Shakespeare wrote poems, including his famous sonnets, and 38 plays. He died on this day in 1616 at the age of 52.

Healthy Kids Day - April 28, 2012 - Niles-Buchanan YMCA

Saturday, April 28, 2012 - Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA initiative

1 - 4 p.m. the  Y M C A ( 905 N. Front St., Niles, MI 49120 )

Free and open to the public: inflatables, games, open swim, face painting, T-shirts, snacks, lots of resources for parents!

During that time -- $1 joiner fees

Children must be accompanied by an adult.
www.nb-ymca.org/

Earth Day -- New Orleans and Gulf Coast (excerpt) -- do people care?

Parts of a much longer article -- www.nola.com/t-p/ by Jonathan Tilove of Times-Picayune

Forty-two years since Earth Day was founded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Democrat, to harness Americans’ dawning environmental consciousness — and two years since Louisiana and the Gulf suffered through arguably the worst environmental disaster in the nation’s history — environmentalism has never been a more polarizing, partisan issue.

The organized environmental movement is largely viewed as a project of the left. It is mostly Democratic politicians who sound environmental themes. If you want to hear a thundering denunciation of the heedless, profit-squeezing negligence of BP and other oil companies, try Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey, the ranking Democrat on Natural Resources.

But for most Republicans, as epitomized by the Louisiana delegation, environmentalism is a kind of bugaboo, climate science is suspect at best, alternative energy is mostly pie-in-the-sky craving the a la mode of a federal subsidy, and electric cars are a joke. The EPA — the agency founded by Richard Nixon the same year Senator Nelson created Earth Day — is a symbol of tyranny and anti-competitive interference, and the Gulf oil spill  was, in the end, a more lasting economic disaster than an environmental one.
. . .
The rub comes, said Don Boesch, a New Orleans native and environmental scientist who served on the Spill Commission, if the rest of the nation, being called on to help restore the Gulf, views the indigenous political leaders as feckless stewards.

“I’d like to amend Congressman Landry’s sign to read, ‘Safe Drilling = More Jobs,’” Boesch said.
The good news this Earth Day, and this second anniversary of the BP spill, according to Mark Davis, executive director of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy, is that there is much greater political consensus about the urgency of coastal issues than ever before, and far more serious efforts under way to grapple with them.

“The true legacy of Earth Day is not symbolized by the political discussions,” Davis said. “You have to look past the political speeches that one tends to hear today and what you hear on whatever brand of talk radio you listen to. There’s a huge amount of work going on that I don’t think anybody would have contemplated 42 years ago. I don’t think there’s any going back. After all, nature bats last.”
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/04/earth_day_points_up_divide_bet.html

Pop singer - songwriter Neil Diamond marries his manager -- Saturday April 21, 2012

from PEOPLE Magazine release to Press Agency REUTERS -- 3 p.m. Sunday April 22, 2012:

Neil Diamond has married his manager Katie McNeil in front of family and close friends in Los Angeles, People magazine said on Sunday.
The 71-year-old singer songwriter, who has written and performed dozens of hits including "Sweet Caroline," wed McNeil on Saturday, several months before he kicks of another tour in the United States on June 1.
It is the third marriage for Diamond and first for McNeil, 42.

Obama sits on "Rosa Parks Bus" (Ford Museum, Detroit, MI) -- April 18, 2012

from ABCNEWS dot-go, dot-com (online posting of W.H. Photo and brief article):

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

At a campaign fundraiser earlier today at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, President Obama had a chance to sit and reflect inside the old Montgomery, Ala., bus on which Rosa Parks made history.
“I just sat in there for a moment and pondered the courage and tenacity that is part of our very recent history but is also part of that long line of folks who sometimes are nameless, oftentimes didn’t make the history books, but who constantly insisted on their dignity, their share of the American dream,” Obama told donors at a subsequent event in suburban Detroit, according to a print pool reporter on scene.

The personal moment for Obama at the Ford Museum was not captured by White House press corps photographers, who were kept on the sidelines of the event.

April 21 - 22 Lyrid Meteor Shower (2012 observation) - from LYRA Constellation

posted at Space dot-com website

The 2012 Lyrid meteor shower peaks overnight between late Saturday, April 21, and early Sunday, April 22. The meteors will appear to radiate outward from the constellation Lyra and the best time to see them will be between midnight and sunrise on Sunday morning.

The Lyrids occur each year in mid-April when the Earth passes through a stream of dust left over from the comet Thatcher, a long-period object that orbits the sun once every 415 years.

http://www.space.com/15364-lyrid-meteor-shower-2012-skywatching-archive.html

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) - April 23, 2012 - Presidential statement

publicized early in OBAMA Food-o-rama blog (www.obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/ )

On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, I join people of all faiths across the United States, in Israel and around the world in paying tribute to all who suffered in the Shoah—a horrific crime without parallel in human history. We honor the memory of six million innocent men, women and children who were sent to their deaths simply because of their Jewish faith. We stand in awe of those who fought back, in the ghettos and in the camps, against overwhelming odds. And in the year of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Raoul Wallenberg, we are humbled by the rescuers who refused to be bystanders to evil.

On this day, and all days, we must do more than remember. We must resolve that “never again” is more than an empty slogan. As individuals, we must guard against indifference in our hearts and recognize ourselves in our fellow human beings. As societies, we must stand against ignorance and anti-Semitism, including those who try to deny the Holocaust. As nations, we must do everything we can to prevent and end atrocities in our time. This is the work I will advance when I join survivors and their families at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Monday. This must be the work of us all, as nations and peoples who cherish the dignity of every human being.

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/04/statement-by-president-obama-on-yom.html

Rick Snyder (Michigan GOVERNOR) tours Afghanistan (April 18 - 20, 2012)

from MI Live website (www.milive.org/ )

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/04/gov_rick_snyder_says_hes_in_af.html

Gov. Rick Snyder says he's in Afghanistan to say “thank you” to American troops and talk to members of the military about what the state can do to help them find jobs once their service to the country is complete. He spoke to reports on a conference call from base near Kabul after visiting with National Guard members from Michigan in Germany and Kuwait. “This has been a tremendous experience,” Snyder said. “This is a fabulous opportunity to say 'thank you' to the troops in person. There's great pride. These men and women are making a great sacrifice, putting their lives at risk and service us wonderfully.”
Snyder said the Department of Defense periodically offers governors the opportunity to see operations overseas, and he is with Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard. The governors started on Monday by visiting servicemen recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Before flying to Germany to visit another military hospital and Kuwait, where he spent time with the 1462nd Transportation Company, Michigan Army National Guard based in Howell
He said there are about 1,300 Michigan residents deployed with the Army and Air Force National Guard in Kuwait and Afghanistan. Snyder said he's met with everyone from generals to riflemen, and is impressed by the high morale.
He said Michiganders have asked about what's going on back home – especially sports.
“There's a lot of hockey discussion,” he said. “They want to see the Red Wings pull it out, and they're excited about the Tigers. I even had someone talk 'Yooper' to me.”
Snyder said he's concerned about the unemployment rate for veterans, and is working with the military to help soldiers start looking for jobs before they return home. He said there could be a part of the state's Mitalent.org jobs website that could be designated for people looking to use skills they've acquired while serving. Snyder said he's also looking for opportunities for Michigan businesses to work with the military and with efforts overseas.
The governors plan to tour several more places in Afghanistan today and Thursday before returning on Friday.

Charles Dickens Bicentennial Lecture -- "Victorian Prostitution" (Bishopsgate Institute, London) April 26

from DICKENS 2012 dot-org/

Dickens and Victorian Prostitution - Talk

Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH
Thursday, 26th April 2012

Dickens consistently challenged the orthodoxy that prostitutes were to be regarded as ‘no longer women’. This talk explores Dickens’s portrayal of prostitutes in his novels, in particular Nancy in Oliver Twist and Martha in David Copperfield, both of whom are offered a new life, and a new identity, by enlightened benefactors.
Dr Jane Jordanis a Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Kingston University and co-founder of the Victorian Popular Fiction Association. Her books include a biography of the Victorian social reformer, Josephine Butler, who, like Dickens, opened a Home for Fallen Women.
Time:7:30 p.m. local time
Tickets: £8, concs £6. For booking details and further information please visit http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/

"Inspire a Generation" Slogan (London 2012 Olympic Games) replaces "Citius, Altius, Fortius"

from TELEGRAPH (London Newspaper online article):

The slogan will reinforce the London organising committee for the Olympic Games's promise made seven years ago when it first won the bid to encourage more young people into sport.

It will be front and centre of the messaging that will be beamed around the world in the lead-up to and during the London Olympic and Paralaympic Games, which start in 100 days on July 27.

Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic preparations organisers have had young people at the heart of their planning: from involving Britain's young talent at the city election in Singapore in 2005 to the selection of their funky, if not controversial logo, and bright colourful branding.

But the "Inspire a Generation" slogan is not just confined to the UK, as Locog has been keen to use the Games to promote and encourage social change throughout 20 countries involving 12 million people under its International Inspiration programme.  

Locog chairman Lord Coe said the measurement of success at the London Olympics will be the extent to which young people are inspired to take up sport and achieve personal bests in other areas of their lives.
The slogan was officially unveiled at a special ceremony at Kew Gardens by Locog chief executive Paul Deighton and Coe to mark the 100 days to go countdown.
"I am delighted to announce the motto 'Inspire a Generation'," said Coe.
"It is everything we have been saying since we have started this extraordinary journey, not just since we got across the finish line in Singapore.
"It is the heartbeat, the very DNA of this organisation and a rallying cry for the athletes to come to the UK to perform at their very best and inspire the world."
Coe said it was vital that organisers put athletes at the centre of the preparations and made sure they were allowed to perform to the best of their abilities.
He added: "We have an obligation to get these Games right for our competitors.
"I say to my team that every time you see a young competitor, Olympic or Paralympian, taking their place in a venue that they will have devoted half their lives to getting there.
"We can never allow them to be a victim of our shortcomings."
Beijing's choice four years ago was "One World, One Dream", Athens 2004 had "In The True Spirit Of The Games", while Sydney 2000's slogan was "Share The Spirit".
The modern Olympic slogan is "Citius, Altius, Fortius", which translates from the original Latin as Faster, Higher, Stronger. .  .
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9210790/London-2012-Olympics-Inspire-a-Generation-unveiled-as-official-slogan-for-Games.html

My Brother's Keeper: 2012 Yad Vashem Memorial (April 18 in Jerusalem)

from www1.yadvashem.org/ announcement:

The official Opening Ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 20:00, in Warsaw Ghetto Square, Yad Vashem, Mount of Remembrance, Jerusalem.
Israel’s President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak. Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council will kindle the Memorial Torch. Joseph Melamed will speak on behalf of the survivors.
During the ceremony, Holocaust survivors will light six torches. First torch: Bat-Sheva Dagan second torch: Anatoly Rubin; third torch: Eliezer Lev-Zion, fourth torch: Chasia Vardi, fifth torch: Yehuda Widawski; sixth torch: Artemis Miron. During the ceremony, short videos of the torchlighters’ testimonies will be shown (produced and directed by Shlomo Hazan).
The traditional memorial service will take place during the ceremony. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yonah Metzger will recite Psalms. The Rishon Lezion Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar will recite Kaddish. El Ma’aleh Rahamim, a Jewish prayer for the souls of the martyrs, will be recited by IDF Chief Cantor Lt. Col. Shai Abramson.

Easter Cross (April 8, 2012) - Flowering with Congregational multi-colors (St. John's UCC, Niles, Michigan) - Sunday display

Easter (Sunday April 8) -- coverage by Niles Daily Star reporter (Nilesstar dot-com )

St. John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore St., Niles, renewed an old tradition on Easter with a flowering cross.

Flowering cross renews an Easter tradition at St. John’s United Church of Christ.

Many years ago, the cross was made of wood and covered with moss. Flowered were gathered by church members from the yards of those who lived in the Dickereel neighborhood.
This year, church member Matt Bair made a cross from wood and then covered it in chicken wire. It stands 7 feet tall. Palms from the Palm Sunday service were used to outline the cross. Church members were encouraged to bring flowers from their yards or purchase flowers that had significant meaning to them.
As they entered the church, they placed their flowers on the cross. There was an abundance of flowers and many vibrant colors.
Daffodils of many varieties, tulips, jack-in-the-pulpit, violets, lilacs, dogwood, lilies and a variety of other flowers were brought to cover the cross.
At the end of the service, the cross was taken outside to the top of the steps as a reminder and symbol to all who pass the church of the new life, renewal and the abundance of the bounty provided for all.

Since April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech Campus to mark anniversary with Class Attendance

WashingtonPost online article coverage (April 16, 2012):

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Each anniversary since the April 2007, massacre on the Virginia Tech campus, classes have been suspended for the day in memory of the 32 students and faculty killed in the rampage by a lone gunman who then killed himself.
On Monday, the fifth anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the 28,000 students on campus will head to class to honor the 32.

Provost Mark McNamee, who chaired a committee that planned memorial events in the years after the shooting, says the return to classes reflects the lives of those slain.
The day will be remembered in other ways on the Blacksburg campus, in Washington and by alumni across the country.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has issued a proclamation recognizing April 16 as Virginia Tech Remembrance Day.

Dickens' novel: OLIVER TWIST is a "City Read" for London in April 2012

found at DICKENS 2012 website :

Cityread in London

London, UK
April 2012

London Libraries will be celebrating Dickens’s bicentenary with a city-wide read of Oliver Twist.  We’re inviting London’s residents, visitors and students to find out more about the book, its author, and London’s history in a month-long programme of events in libraries, cinemas, museums and other venues, and online.
This will be London’s first ever pan-London community reading festival, with all 33 of the capital’s library services hosting a programme of more than 300 events during April 2012, including book groups, children’s events, local studies walks, author readings, film showings and more.

http://www.dickens2012.org/first-city-read-london-uk

Rescinding SAFETY law - requirement -- Governor & Lawmakers repeal "Michigan Helmet Law" (April 13, 2012)

Local newspaper (Niles Star dot-com) explains both sides of this controversy -- is it just a "he said" / "non-helmet user said" story?  -- This apparently takes place before Niles Motorcycle Festival Homecoming -- called "Burn Run" (mid-July every year):

Niles Township firefighter Doug Myers believes motorcycle riders should be able to choose whether or not to wear a helmet.
That’s why he is happy Gov. Rick Snyder signed off on a bill repealing Michigan’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law Friday April 13, 2012.
“I will always wear my helmet. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Indiana, Michigan or wherever,” Myers said. “But I do believe in our freedoms. If someone doesn’t wear a helmet, that should be up to them.”
Myers is the president of the Niles Burn Run, an annual summer motorcycle charity event benefitting children who are victims of fire.
Myers believes the repeal of the mandatory helmet law will help the Burn Run, scheduled for July 14-15.
“Every year we have people hand us back brochures and say they’d love to come, but I don’t wear a helmet,” Myers said. “Obviously that will increase the money we see come in along with the people.”
Not everyone is happy with Snyder’s decision.
Pete Kuhnmuench, executive director of the Insurance Institute of Michigan, released a statement Friday denouncing the bill.
“It is disappointing that a law that saved lives and reduced injuries in the Great Lakes states has been repealed,” he said in the release.
Kuhnmuench pointed to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing in the three years after Florida’s repeal of its mandatory helmet law there was an 81 percent increase in fatalities.
Not everyone can ride without a helmet in Michigan.
Riders that choose to go without must be at least 21 years old, and pass a motorcycle safety course or have their motorcycle endorsement for at least two years.
Helmetless motorcyclists are also required to purchase additional insurance covering themselves and any passenger not wearing a helmet.
Michigan joins nearby states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin that have repealed or amended helmet-use laws to give riders a choice.

Centennial Anniversary of 1912 -- sinking of RMS Titanic -- North Atlantic Ocean

as summarized in "Writer's Almanac" (Garrison Keillor, American Public Media):

Today (April 14 and overnight) is the anniversary when on this night 100 years ago that the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on its way from Southampton, England, to New York City. The ship, on its maiden voyage and carrying more than 2,000 people, was designed with watertight compartments to withstand a head-on or side-impact collision. Instead, it scraped along the side of an iceberg for 10 seconds trying to avoid it, tearing open numerous separate compartments. The accident happened at 11:40 p.m.; less than an hour before, a nearby ship attempted to radio the Titanic to beware of ice ahead. The ship's wireless operator on duty, overwhelmed with his job of relaying personal messages to passengers, replied, "Shut up, shut up, I'm busy ..."

Used Library Book Sale -- Niles Friends of the District Library, Niles, MICHIGAN 49120

Saturday April 14 -- in honor of "Library Week" -- the Niles (Berrien County, Michigan) District Library will sell used and discarded books and library materials in the Basement.

A quite affordable 10 cents per book (hardback and paperback) is offered -- see the stock still available (Fiction and Non-fiction; classics and certain contemporary titles).

Some related materials that is library discards will also be sold -- Come and See!

620 East Main Street -- phone for further information (Saturday 10 a.m. opening)
(269) -   683-8545

Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson (b. 1743)! -- state holiday in Virginia

from Writer's Almanac (Garrison Keillor, American Public Media):

April 13 is the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, born in Albemarle County in Virginia in 1743, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, as well as countless pieces of legislation, reports, notes, letters, essays, and even books on farming and gardening. He was also famously well-read and a great lover of books; his personal library was the largest private collection in the United States -- 6,487 volumes on history, philosophy, and fine arts -- when he sold it to Congress after the British burned down the Library of Congress. (The lost library was less than half the size of Jefferson's.)

Zumbathon -- April 14, 2012 -- 10 p.m. Benefit at Niles YMCA Gym

Zumbathon -- make every move count (Latin Dance/Exercise music mix)

Saturday April 14, 2012
Benefit for the Raleigh Franco family (that pre-k child age 4 years, 10 months died March 9, 2012)

10 p.m. - Midnight (price for entrance $10 at the YMCA Door ) Join the sponsors for a fun evening of Zumba, Prizes, and Refreshments.  DJ M I A  will be in the house mixing the hottest Zumba Tracks.

All proceeds will benefit the Franco and Kirkendoll families to offset and alleviate the financial strain of this tragic loss. -- Phone Lacey at (574) - 850-0301 // Marcy (269) - 470-6228 // Lindsey (269) - 470-0774.

Niles-Buchanan YMCA - Front Street, Niles, Michigan 49120

April 11 Tsunami Watch (Indonesia) - 7 a.m. Eastern US Time

Initial earthquake was 8.6 Richter Scale off Aceh province (the provincial capital is Banda Aceh)

Aftershock was 8.2 -- 

A tsunami watch was issued for countries across the Indian Ocean after a large earthquake hit waters off Indonesia on Wednesday

The U.S. Geological Survey said the strong temblor that followed was centered 10 miles beneath the ocean around 380 miles from Banda Aceh.

Obamas at Easter 11 a.m. service (St. John's Episcopal, across LaFayette Square)

AS posted at Obama Food-o-rama blogspot dot-com

On a glorious and sunny Easter morning, the First Family walked from the White House and across Lafayette Square to attend the Festival Holy Eucharist at St. John's Episcopal Church, located at 16th and K Streets. Led by President Obama, they arrived at 11:03 AM for the 11:00 AM service, and there was a big crowd of fellow worshippers gathered at the front of the historic yellow and white church, waiting to get through Secret Service screening at a side entrance.

"Happy Easter, everybody," the President told his press pool as he strolled past.

Holding hands with daughter Malia during the short walk from the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama's Easter dress was a bright magenta shift with a black print of cherubs and flowers, designed by Thakoon (Thai-American designer Thakoon Panichgul), topped with a black bolero sweater. Mrs. Obama has worn the dress before, including during her first trip to France with the President in 2009. He was clad in a dark suit and a blue tie, and held daughter Sasha's hand as she walked.

The First Family entered on the opposite side of the church from the waiting congregants, on the H Street side that faces the White House. They have previously worshiped at St. John's, which is known as "The Church of the Presidents" because every Chief Executive has visited since 1816. The First Family attended a service at St. John's for their first Easter in the White House in 2009, and last attended a service on March 18th, 2012.  The Obamas have infrequently attended services at Washington, DC's many churches, and have not joined one congregation, preferring to worship in private. St. John's Rector is Rev. Luis Leon.

The Festival Holy Eucharist the First Family attended featured a choral performance that included a Brass and Timpani section. After a sermon on the Resurrection--which included comments on the Yankees and Somalia from the Rector--they took communion with the rest of the congregation. As the First Couple returned to their seats, they smiled and greeted other worshipers around their pew. St. John's reserves Pew 54 as the President's Pew for the use of the Chief Executive when attending services. . .
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/04/first-family-attends-easter-service-at.html

Hundreds of Asparagus Pickers needed (Oceana & Berrien Counties, MI) - April 2012

from M Live dot-com (Grand Rapids Press online articles):

Looking for a temporary job? Michigan asparagus growers need hundreds of workers for the spring harvest

Published: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 8:00 AM

By Melissa Anders | manders@mlive.com MLive.com

Muskegon Chronicle file photoHundreds of workers are needed to harvest Michigan's asparagus crop.

HART, MI — Michigan’s asparagus farmers are looking to hire hundreds of workers to harvest this year’s crop.
There are about 230 immediate job openings, with more expected in the coming weeks, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Job seekers can find out more at an asparagus industry job fair scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday at St. Joseph Parish Hall, 2349 W. Jackson Rd. in Hart.
Hart is located in Oceana County, known as the asparagus capital of the nation.
The fair is hosted by the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board and State of Michigan Workforce Development Agency.
“This year growers are in danger of losing their crop and the benefits it brings unless they can hire enough workers to harvest it,” Belen Ledezma, the agency’s director of Migrant, Immigrant and Seasonal Worker Services, said in a statement. “Our job fair will give people an opportunity to see what it takes to do the job and earn some extra springtime cash.”
Growers had to mow off more than a million pounds of asparagus last year because they lacked enough workers to harvest it, according to John Bakker, president of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Asparagus season typically runs from mid-April through June. Workers are paid based on the amount they pick. Skilled harvesters can earn more than $10 an hour, but all workers are guaranteed at least the minimum wage of $7.40 per hour.
It’s physically demanding labor — workers ride special carts through the field and harvest the asparagus by hand.

Michigan produces up to 25 million pounds of asparagus annually. Most is grown in Oceana County as well as the area between South Haven and Benton Harbor, according to the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.

http://www.mlive.com/jobs/index.ssf/2012/04/need_a_temporary_job_michigan_asparagus.html#incart_river_default

Greetings in 66 languages: Ubi et Orbi (Pope's Easter Message to the World): 2012 press story

from Associated Press (Google dot-com): 

Pope marks Easter with call for Syria violence end

By DIAA HADID, Associated Press –

Benedict moved to the basilica's central balcony to read his Easter message "to the entire world," as he put it, delivering a ringing appeal for peace in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, and in Africa, citing coup-struck Mali and Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims alike have been hit by terrorist attacks.
"May the risen Christ grant hope to the Middle East and enable all the ethnic, cultural and religious groups in that region to work together to advance the common good and respect for human rights," the pope said.
"Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community," Benedict said, making Syria the first of several strife-torn countries he mentioned in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (Latin for "to the city and to the world") Easter speech.
The Syrian government on Sunday appeared to be backing out of a cease-fire deal aimed at ending the country's crisis, saying that it will not withdraw its troops from cities without written guarantees from armed groups that they also will lay down their weapons. U.N. estimates put the number of dead in that conflict at some 9,000 since it began in March 2011.
Benedict also lamented that many Syrians who have fled the conflict are enduring "dreadful sufferings" and prayed that they would receive welcome and assistance.
Underlining the pope's concern for the Middle East, the Holy See said Sunday the pope would make a three-day pilgrimage to Lebanon in September, celebrating Mass in Beirut and encouraging bishops and other churchmen in the Middle East.
Christians throughout the world on Easter celebrate their belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifix, and the day symbolizes hope. Benedict said that Christ is "hope and comfort in a particular way for those Christian communities suffering most for their faith on account of discrimination and persecution."
Sectarian violence in Iraq, often aimed at Christians, has prompted an exodus over the last years of many from the sizable Christian community there.
Benedict also prayed that God sustain the Christian community in Africa, where the Catholic church has been enjoying vibrant growth in recent years.
"To Nigeria, which in recent times has experienced savage terrorist attacks, may the joy of Easter grant the strength needed to take up anew the building of a society which is peaceful and respectful of the religious freedom of its citizens," he said. Terrorism has hit both the Muslim and Christian community in Nigeria.
He prayed that Mali, wracked by a recent coup, would see "peace and stability."
To the delight of the cheering crowd below, Benedict recited Easter wishes in 66 languages. He had special greetings for the people of the Netherlands, expressing gratitude for some 42,000 potted plants and floral arrangements, including sprays of Japanese cherry blossoms, roses and orchids, that brightened the square and balcony on a sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy and breezy morning.
Benedict sat in an armchair while reading the message but stood at the end, when he gave his Easter blessing.

Resurrection - Suddenly there was a great earthquake (Matthew chapter 28, verses)

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the LORD, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee: there you will see him.'  This is my message for you."

So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings"  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me."

translation of first paragraph of Chapter 28: New Revised Standard Version -- verses 1 - 10.

LiNK (Liberty in North Korea) brings documentary film to IUSB (April 9, 2012)

Announcement posted at IUSB (Indiana University at South Bend) website [dot-edu] :

LiNK (Liberty in North Korea), a Los Angeles-based NGO, is visiting IU South Bend to screen their new documentary The People’s Crisis about the North Korean humanitarian and refugee crisis.

 LiNK will be hosting a discussion and Q&A session following the screening.

LiNK GLOGBAL seeks to redefine the North Korea Crisis through creative storytelling and pursue an end to the human right crisis through educational and grassroots activities. LiNK also provides protection and aid to North Korean refugees hiding in China and, utilizing a modern-day underground railroad through Southeast Asia, rescues refugees and helps them to reach freedom.

Location: Wiekamp Auditorium, DW 1001 (ground level)
Date/Time: Monday, April 9, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Contact: Cory Gilmartin, SGA President, cory.gilmartin@gmail.com // Yosuke Nirei, assistant professor of History, ynirei@iusb.edu
This event is sponsored by the Campus Theme/Student Government Association/History Club

April 7 -- second Seder / eve of Easter -- President's message 2012

from "Weekly Address" (online & radio):

For millions of Americans, this weekend is a time to celebrate redemption at God’s hand.  Tonight, Jews will gather for a second Seder, where they will retell the story of the Exodus.  And tomorrow, my family will join Christians around the world as we thank God for the all-important gift of grace through the resurrection of His son, and experience the wonder of Easter morning.
These holidays have their roots in miracles that took place thousands of years ago.  They connect us to our past and give us strength as we face the future.  And they remind us of the common thread of humanity that connects us all.
For me, and for countless other Christians, Easter weekend is a time to reflect and rejoice.  Yesterday, many of us took a few quiet moments to try and fathom the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for all of us.
Tomorrow, we will celebrate the resurrection of a savior who died so that we might live.
And throughout these sacred days, we recommit ourselves to following His example.  We rededicate our time on Earth to selflessness, and to loving our neighbors.  We remind ourselves that no matter who we are, or how much we achieve, we each stand humbled before an almighty God.
Christ’s triumph over death holds special meaning for Christians.  But all of us, no matter how or whether we believe, can identify with elements of His story.  The triumph of hope over despair.  Of faith over doubt.
The notion that there is something out there that is bigger than ourselves.
These beliefs help unite Americans of all faiths and backgrounds.  They shape our values and guide our work.  They put our lives in perspective.

So to all Christians celebrating the Resurrection with us, Michelle and I want to wish you a blessed and Happy Easter.  And to all Americans, I hope you have a weekend filled with joy and reflection, focused on the things that matter most.  God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide (Berrien Springs - Andrews University program "House of Prayer") April 11

announced at Pioneer Memorial Church announcement page:

Wednesday, April 11, 7 p.m. —Youth Chapel, campus of Andrews University

In partnership with Andrews University’s Summit for Social Consciousness this Wednesday evening, House of Prayer will focus on the survivors of the Rwandan genocide a few years ago. In fact the pastor will be interviewing two of those survivors. What is the responsibility of the Christian community to the survivors of that tragic chapter in Rwandan and human history? How can we effectively pray for them and for their nation? What about the millions globally who continue to suffer for their faith? Join the House of Prayer this Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a memorable prayer experience.

http://www.pmchurch.org/article/6/announcements

World Health Day (April 7 annually) - 2012 theme & definitions

from WHO (World Health Organization) website:

World Health Day - 7 April

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.
World Health Day is a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being.
www.who.int/world-health-day/en/

Good health adds life to years: Global brief for World Health Day 2012

http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/whd2012_global_brief/en/index.html

"The Voice" (NBC Reality / Competition): Question raised (WASH. POST discussion)

My question submitted FRIDAY April 6, 2012

The Voice -- show's live singing / performing

I am part of the new viewers for this NBC Reality-competition show on Mondays - Tuesdays but am wondering if it gets better during the "Live" part of the season -- there is some genuine sense of the Judge sacrificing some singers at the show culmination -- is it more of a winner than the tired format of "American Idol" that headlines Ryan Seabiscuit who is eager to run more of the TV universe of reality and infotainment?

• April 06, 2012 10:40 AM

A.

Lisa de Moraes :

I find "The Voice" really compelling during "blind" auditions but it loses me after that when they go to the in-team sing offs, which seem to be more "scream offs" than singing. And I can't take seriously any judge wearing a bedazzled plate on her head...

http://live.washingtonpost.com/lisa-de-moraes-040612.html

Barack Obama - Christian observance of Easter & thanksgiving for Grace

as noted in OBAMA Food-o-rama

The White House today released an Easter Message from President Obama, who will host his fourth annual Passover Seder this evening at 6:30 PM in the Old Family Dining Room. 

"This Sunday, Michelle and I will join Christians across the country and around the world to celebrate Easter and give thanks for the all-important gift of grace," President Obama said.

"Easter is a time to reflect on both Christ’s suffering and ultimate triumph, as the anguish of the cross continues to give way to the victory of resurrection.  So to all those celebrating with us, we extend our warmest Easter greetings and best wishes in the days ahead."

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/04/president-obamas-easter-message.html

One Year Anniversary of Earthquake - Tsunami - Fukushima Nuclear Plant disaster (Japan Missionary blog article) -

posted at http://globalministries.org/

Jeffrey Mensendiek serves the Council on Cooperative Mission where he is assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai as director of youth activities.

This was a memorial day for the devastating earthquake of a year ago. We gathered at 2:30 pm at Shichigo for a short ceremony lead by Rev. Takada.  He read from Psalm 23, and explained that the church around the world stands with the people of Shichigo as they strive for a new life in this village.  People from the Tenrikyo (a Buddhist Temple) were there to offer noodles to all of the attendees. We have been working with the Tenrikyo people ever since last summer, and they are very supportive of our efforts in Shichigo.

Many people were in attendance. Many former volunteers returned for this very special day. It was like a reunion. The prefab by the bus stop in the village had been renovated to serve as our new base of operations. The prefab represents an invitation from the local residents of Shichigo that we may walk together with them toward a new future. The moderator of the Kyodan (the UCCJ) presented a special gift to the residents of Shichigo. Gratitude was in the hearts of all present. One year after the terrible earthquake and tsunami, God has led us to new bonds of friendship and trust.

Later that night we gathered at the Emmaus Center for evening worship. I was in charge of the service. Normally we only have 20 to 25 people attending, however, on that night there were 75 in attendance, the room was packed. I spoke from 1 Peter 2:22-25 about "the capacity to suffer for others." This whole year has been a combination of joy and pain. As we enter into the lives of those who survived the tsunami, we are left speechless. We are reduced to silence. We are made aware of our powerlessness. Yet, facing the suffering and pain of others, and experiencing the silence of the human soul, we find new hope by opening ourselves to a God who suffered on the cross for others. The call to expand our capacity to suffer for others, leads us to be stewards of love. Compassion means the ability to suffer with others, knowing that one's presence can bring hope out of despair. Suffering for others leads to silence, and prayerful silence leads to hope (Psalm 62). The work of the church is to take on the suffering for others, so that God's love will be made real in and through us.  A soloist sang "Listen Lord", an Iona Community hymn, which nearly brought me to tears.  A team from a Methodist church in Texas sang "How Great Thou Art" to lift our spirits.  Singing together was a good way to experience our connectedness to one another. God has been leading us on a pilgrimage. Today (March 11, 2012) was a huge milestone along that journey.

http://globalministries.org/news/eap/japan-missionaries.html

Happy Birthday, Sacajawea! (trusted guide of Lewis & Clark expedition, 1800s)

from Writer's Almanac (Garrison Keillor, American Public Media):

April 6 is the birthday of the Shoshone woman Sacajawea, born in Idaho (sometime around 1789). She was kidnapped at age 10 by the Hidatsa tribe, sold into slavery, and bought by a French-Canadian trapper who made her one of his two wives.

When Lewis and Clark hired the trapper to guide them to the Pacific, Sacajawea -- a teenager with her two-month-old baby on her back -- was part of the package. She accompanied the party to the Pacific Ocean and back, acting as their interpreter. She could speak half a dozen Indian languages, she told them which plants were edible, and, William Clark said, tribes were inclined to believe that their party was friendly when they saw Sacajawea because a war party would never travel with a woman, especially one with a baby.
When the trip was over, Sacajawea's husband got $500 and 320 acres of land. She died on December 1812, of a "fever," at the age of 23. Clark legally adopted her two children -- the boy who had been a baby on the expedition, Jean Baptiste, and an infant daughter, Lisette.

[more information about her at MANATAKA American Indian Council:

http://www.manataka.org/page80.html

Local Easter Egg Hunts -- 11 a.m. for kids ages 3 - 8 and dogs all ages (Sat. 4/7/2012)

The City of Buchanan, Michigan is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids and dogs at 11 a.m. April 7, 2012 at The Common.  Age groups are 3 and under; 4 to 5; 6 to 7; and 8 and above.  All groups start together and prizes for each group will be awarded.  The Easter Bunny will also be on hand.
The Dog Easter Egg Hunt will start at 11:30 a.m. at The Common.

Bingu wa Mutharika (Malawi's President) -- died April 4 -- heart attack

from www. globalpost dot-com (online article)

     Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika  is dead after suffering a heart attack, according to reports.  The 78-year-old was rushed to a hospital in Lilongwe, the capital, on Thursday after collapsing at a meeting, but was dead on arrival (according to REUTERS, international press agency). A brief statement read on state radio and TV late Thursday said Mutharika would be traveling to South Africa to receive treatment, but gave no mention of what was wrong. BBC sources  also say Mutharika is dead, his body was taken to South Africa while the government decides who should take over. Ministers have reportedly been in emergency meetings all night.
     Malawi's government has yet to make an official announcement about Mutharika. Independent newspapers have criticized the government's handling of the situation, with the Nyasa Times periodical is saying that that senior officials agreed to fly the president to South Africa in an attempt to buy time.  Hospital and government officials in Johannesburg have refused to comment on Mutharika.
     Under Malawi's constitution, the vice president – currently Joyce Banda – must take over if the president is too ill to serve.  This represents a "huge shake-up" in Malawian politics since Mutharika expelled Banda from his party in 2010 after they dramatically fell out. (sources in BBC and Nyasa Times reports).  Banda, after news broke that Mutharika was in hospital, asked Malawians to pray for the president.  "When I first heard the state president had been taken ill, I quickly wished him quick recovery," she said.
Mutharika's brother Peter, the country's foreign minister, is usually deputized in the president's absense.
Malawi, a peaceful southern African nation praised for its democratic system since shedding the dictatorship of Hastings Kamazu Banda in 1994, had under Mutharika slid backwards towards authoritarianism.  Mutharika had been president of Malawi since 2004.  He faced violent protests  against his rule last year, in which at least 18 demonstrators died.

Prayer Breakfast (Remarks by Barack Obama) - April 4, 2012

from http://www.whitehouse/ dot-gov as well as www.obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/

Welcome to the White House. It is a pleasure to be with all of you this morning.

In less than a week, this house will be overrun by thousands of kids at the Easter Egg Roll. (Laughter.) So I wanted to get together with you for a little prayer and reflection -- some calm before the storm. (Laughter.)

It is wonderful to see so many good friends here today. To all the faith leaders from all across the country -- from churches and congregations large and small; from different denominations and different backgrounds -- thank you for coming to our third annual Easter prayer breakfast. And I’m grateful that you’re here.

I’m even more grateful for the work that you do every day of the year -- the compassion and the kindness that so many of you express through your various ministries. I know that some of you have joined with our Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. I’ve seen firsthand some of the outstanding work that you are doing in your respective communities, and it’s an incredible expression of your faith. And I know that all of us who have an opportunity to work with you draw inspiration from the work that you do.

Finally, I want to just express appreciation for your prayers. Every time I travel around the country, somebody is going around saying, we’re praying for you. (Laughter.) We got a prayer circle going. Don’t worry, keep the faith. We’re praying. (Laughter.) Michelle gets the same stuff. And that means a lot to us. It especially means a lot to us when we hear from folks who we know probably didn’t vote for me -- (laughter) -- and yet, expressing extraordinary sincerity about their prayers. And it’s a reminder not only of what binds us together as a nation, but also what binds us together as children of God.

Now, I have to be careful, I am not going to stand up here and give a sermon. It’s always a bad idea to give a sermon in front of professionals. (Laughter.) But in a few short days, all of us will experience the wonder of Easter morning. And we will know, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “Christ Jesus...and Him crucified.”

It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the triumph of the resurrection, and to give thanks for the all-important gift of grace. And for me, and I’m sure for some of you, it’s also a chance to remember the tremendous sacrifice that led up to that day, and all that Christ endured -- not just as a Son of God, but as a human being.

For like us, Jesus knew doubt. Like us, Jesus knew fear. In the garden of Gethsemane, with attackers closing in around him, Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” He fell to his knees, pleading with His Father, saying, “If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” And yet, in the end, He confronted His fear with words of humble surrender, saying, “If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

So it is only because Jesus conquered His own anguish, conquered His fear, that we’re able to celebrate the resurrection. It’s only because He endured unimaginable pain that wracked His body and bore the sins of the world that He burdened -- that burdened His soul that we are able to proclaim, “He is Risen!”

So the struggle to fathom that unfathomable sacrifice makes Easter all the more meaningful to all of us. It helps us to provide an eternal perspective to whatever temporal challenges we face. It puts in perspective our small problems relative to the big problems He was dealing with. And it gives us courage and it gives us hope.

We all have experiences that shake our faith. There are times where we have questions for God’s plan relative to us -- (laughter) -- but that’s precisely when we should remember Christ’s own doubts and eventually his own triumph. Jesus told us as much in the book of John, when He said, “In this world you will have trouble.” I heard an amen. (Laughter.) Let me repeat. “In this world, you will have trouble.”

AUDIENCE: Amen!

THE PRESIDENT: “But take heart!” (Laughter.) “I have overcome the world.” (Applause.) We are here today to celebrate that glorious overcoming, the sacrifice of a risen savior who died so that we might live. And I hope that our time together this morning will strengthen us individually, as believers, and as a nation.

Happy 84th Birthday to Maya Angelou (poet - writer - visionary - professor)

as noted in Writer's Almanac (Garrison Keillor, American Public Media) --

April 4 is the birthday of Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri (1928). She was a dancer and actor, lived in the early 60s in Ghana as part of an African-American expat community, got involved in the civil rights movement, and wrote about it in her six-volume autobiography starting in 1970 with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
her personal website is www. mayaangelou . com/

"On the Pulse of the Morning" (Jan. 20, 1993 inaugural poem delivered at Washington, D.C.) -- YouTube video =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDtw62Ah2zY

Landmine Awareness Day

from Building Peace dot-org /

April 4, 2012 is the International Day for Landmine Awareness. The day is sponsored by the United Nations and has been observed every year since 2006.

Landmines are explosive weapons placed under or on the ground, designed to activate when someone steps on or passes over them. Once they are planted in the ground, they are hard to find and they are very dangerous to anyone in the area. The presence of landmines continues to be one of the most persistent problems that countries face in the aftermath of war.

A U.S. Army Sargeant removes the fuse on a landmine in Iraq to make it non-functional while clearing a mine field.

Long after the fighting has ended, landmines remain in the ground and cause injuries and death, mainly to ordinary people trying to rebuild their lives. The countries worst affected by landmines often lack the resources needed to de-mine their land after conflict to ensure that it is safe for farming, new construction, and development. Every 30 minutes around the world, a person is killed or injured from a landmine; many of the victims are children.

Global efforts to address the problem of landmines have made a big difference in recent years. Now, more landmines are being removed than are being put in the ground, and new programs are available to support landmine survivors and to educate others about the risks.

United States Institute of Peace -- www.usip.org/

What is "Autism Speaks"? -- organization for Light It Up Blue (April 2 annually)

from www.lightitupblue.org/

Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $173 million to research and developing innovative resources for families.

The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks' Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism Speaks celebrates through its Light It Up Blue initiative.

Also, Autism Speaks award-winning "Learn the Signs" campaign with the Ad Council has received over $316 million in donated media. Autism Speaks' family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit, a Grandparent's Guide to Autism, and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 29 states thus far, with legislation continuing to advance in more states.

Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 85 cities across North America.