American Red Cross announces Blood Drive -- near ZIP 49120

Further information at --- www.redcross.org/ Sponsored by Niles Churches (bimonthly schedule) June 14,2013 from 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 13 S. Fourth Street; Niles, MI 49120 Please call 800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment

When is Juneteenth? -- hearkens back to post-Civil War event

from Religion & Ethics Newsweekly (www.pbs.org/ ) Multi-faith Calendar June 19, 2013 Juneteenth Originally commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, it is now celebrated throughout the U.S. to honor African- American freedom and achievement.

3 p.m. May 27, 2013 (National Moment of Remembrance) - Memorial Day Monday

from White House dot-gov proclamations posting -- May 27, 2013 Since our Nation's earliest days, America has been blessed with an unbroken chain of patriots who have served our country with honor and distinction. From Concord to the Korengal, generations of brave warriors have fought for freedom across sand and snow, over mud and mountains, into lonely deserts and through crowded streets. Today, we pay tribute to those patriots who never came back -- who fought for a home to which they never returned, and died for a country whose gratitude they will always have. Scripture teaches us that "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." On Memorial Day, we remember those we have lost not only for what they fought for, but who they were: proud Americans, often far too young, guided by deep and abiding love for their families, for each other, and for this country. Our debt to them is one we can never fully repay. But we can honor their sacrifice and strive to be a Nation equal to their example. On this and every day, we must meet our obligations to families of the fallen; we must uphold our sacred trust with our veterans, our service members, and their loved ones. Above all, we can honor those we have lost by living up to the ideals they died defending. It is our charge to preserve liberty, to advance justice, and to sow the seeds of peace. With courage and devotion worthy of the heroes we remember today, let us rededicate ourselves to those unending tasks, and prove once more that America's best days are still ahead. Let us pray the souls of those who died in war rest in eternal peace, and let us keep them and their families close in our hearts, now and forever. In honor of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/24/presidential-proclamation-prayer-peace-memorial-day-2013

U.S. Navy retrieves 130-year-old Torpedo (the diver in use was a dolphin)

from NPR (National Public Radio "Weekend Sunday Edition" - Morning news show): A dolphin being trained by the Navy to find underwater mines recently made a surprising discovery: a 130-year-old brass torpedo, lying dormant at the bottom of the ocean. Weekend Edition Host Rachel Martin talks with Chris Harris, chief of operations for the Navy's Marine Mammal Program, about the find. www.npr.org/

Saturday June 15 "Pet Parade" (canine, feline, exotics included) - 11 a.m.

from www.threeoaksflagday.com/ Pet Parade Saturday June 15, 2013 10:30 a.m. check-in, 11:00 a.m. Parade Carver Park, Three Oaks, Michigan __________________________________________________ One of the cutest, heartwarming events you have ever seen! Canine, Bovine, Feline and any other house pet is acceptable for this eclectic pet parade. Judges are instructed to be open minded and have special consideration for rescued animals… all of the participants are awarded recognition and ribbons, no one goes home empty handed. After the judging the participants are invited to parade their pets through the park in a grand parade finale! Costumes for pets are not encouraged, but good grooming is. Confirmation is secondary to the pet’s personality, condition of coats, discipline and special tricks are all-important in this unusual pet parade and competition. Parents of younger children are urged to attend the event with their small children and their pets. ___________________________________________________ To enter into the pet parade please join us at Carver Park on Saturday. Sign in starts at 10:30 a.m. and the parade will start at 11:00 a.m.! We look forward to seeing you and your wonderful pets this year! http://www.threeoaksflagday.com/pet-parade.html

Buddha Day (May 25) - commemorating the historical Gautama Buddha

from Multifaith Calendar (Religions and Ethics Newsweekly, PBS weekly series) May 25 (Saturday) Buddha Day (Buddhist) Also known as Vesak or Visakha Puja, it marks the occasion of the birth, spiritual awakening and death of the historical Buddha. ____________________________________________________ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/multifaith-calendar/

"The Butterfly Effect" - who was the Mathematician / Meteorologist behind this theory of Weather and Global Connectedness?

from THE WRITER's ALMANAC (American Public Media, Garrison Keillor): May 23 is the birthday of Edward Norton Lorenz, born in West Hartford, Connecticut, in 1917. He started out as a mathematician, but turned to meteorology during World War II. In an attempt to explain why it's so difficult to make a long-range weather forecast, he spawned chaos theory, one of the 20th century's most revolutionary scientific ideas. Chaos theory is sometimes known as "the butterfly effect," a term coined by Lorenz in an attempt to explain how small actions in a dynamic system like the atmosphere could trigger vast and unexpected changes. He discovered the effect in the early 1960s while entering values into a computer weather prediction program; instead of entering the number to the full six decimal places, he rounded it to three to save time, and the resulting weather pattern was completely different. He first framed it as the effect a seagull's wing has on the formation of a hurricane, but he changed it to the more poetic butterfly in his 1972 presentation, "Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?" Though the term dates back to 1972, the concept actually predates Lorenz's discovery. Science fiction writers had been playing around with the idea for several years in their time-travel stories: Usually the hero goes back in time and makes some seemingly insignificant choice that ends up changing the course of history.

Tornado preparedness (Red Cross blog tips)

Posted May 21, 2013 -- www.redcross.org/

Although severe tornadoes are more common in the Plains states, tornadoes have been reported in every state. Everyone should know the tornado danger signs, such as dark, often greenish clouds, a wall cloud, cloud of debris, large hail, funnel cloud or a loud, roaring noise. A tornado watch is issued when a tornado is possible in or near a specific area. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted and that people should immediately seek shelter.

SAFETY STEPS The Red Cross urges everyone to pick a safe room in their household where loved ones and pets can gather, such as a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Mobile homes are not safe during tornados. If someone is in a mobile home, they should get to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately—do not wait until the tornado is visible. People should also:

Know their community’s warning system.

Prepare for strong winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.

Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.

If someone is caught outdoors, they should seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If that’s not possible, they should take the following steps:

Get into a vehicle immediately, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If flying debris occurs while driving, pull over and park. They can stay in the car with the seat belt on with their head down below the windows, covering their head with their hands and a blanket if possible.

If it is possible to safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, another option is to exit the car and lie in the low area, covering their head with their hands.

Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

May 22 - way to observe Saturn and the Moon in evening sky (SPACE dot-com directions)

posted May 21, 2013 (Tuesday):
article by Joe Rao (Hayden Planetarium, NY City):

Just wait until it gets sufficiently dark — say about one hour after sunset. Look about one-third of the way up from the horizon to the point directly overhead (called the zenith) and you'll see the moon. Most people will think it's a "full" moon, but that won't happen until late Friday night. The moon actually will be 94-percent illuminated.

Then look off to the left of the moon and a bit above it for a bright, non-twinkling star shining with a whitish-yellow glow. That will be Saturn.

Of course, from our Earthly vantage point, we know that the moon is much closer to us than Saturn. In fact, it's 3,673 times closer to be precise. On Wednesday, the moon will be 225,400 miles (363,000 km) away compared to 828 million miles (1.33 billion km) to Saturn. As such, the moon appears to move much more quickly against the background stars compared to Saturn. During the course of one hour, the moon moves to the east by roughly its own apparent diameter (about one-half degree).

That's why during the overnight hours of Wednesday night to Thursday morning, the moon's position relative to Saturn will noticeably change. By 1:30 a.m. local daylight time — if you're still awake — look toward the southwest sky for the moon and Saturn. The direction you'll need to face by then will have changed thanks to the rotation of the Earth.

But notice also that the moon's position relative to Saturn has changed; now Saturn is not to the moon's left, but soaring almost directly above it. That's because the moon will have moved about 2 degrees — four moon widths — to the east of Saturn over that four-hour time frame.

http://www.space.com/21249-saturn-moon-stargazing-guide.html

New Tech sponored "Health Fair" (May 23, 3 - 7 p.m.) Niles High School old gym

from http://nilesschools.schoolwires.net/

NNT will host a Health Fair on Thursday, May 23^rd in the small Gym. Screenings for physical and mental health, Zumba, and much more will be offered. A special time from 1:30 – 2:30 pm has been set aside just for NHS students. The fair is open to the general public from 3:00 - 7:00 pm. For additional information, please contact Jamie Foster at NNT (269) 683-6031.

Niles New Tech (a new technique teaching model High School within a High School, MI)

1441 Eagle Street, Niles, Michigan 49120

http://nilesschools.schoolwires.net/21142012291593307/site/default.asp

Spring Fling - Meet Southwestern Medical Clinic staff and new pediatrician

part of Lakeland Health Care (Berrien County, Michigan)

May 19, Noon - 3 p.m. The Clinic is cooking up an afternoon of FREE food and activities intended to get families moving, springing into action, and having fun.  Learn about Bike and Fire safety; make memories in the photo booth; play games; sign up for school physicals.

Phone 269 - 687-0200 for further details about the free grilled sandwiches and the prizes you can enter our drawing to win.

http://www.swmc.org/swmc-latests-news/155-spring-into-action

Mission Statement

SWMC, by God's grace and following the example of Jesus Christ, strives to be a distinctive role model and leader in the integration of medical care, Christian witness and missions.
Learn more about Southwestern Medical Clinic

Whitsunday - centuries-old traditions (some of pagan origin)

from www.almanac.com/

This Sunday (May 19) is Whitsunday or Pentecost—which falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. For Christians, this became the traditional time for baptisms. Whit, a corruption of white, refers to the white baptismal garments worn on this day.

This is also a time of spring festivals throughout Europe, with echoes of pagan spring rites such as Morris dancing and dressing a young boy in greenery (Jack-in-the-Green) and marching him through the village. Festivities often continue throughout the week (known as Whitsuntide), and in many places, Whitmonday is a public holiday.

Sunday the 19th is also St. Dunstan Day. Traditional weather lore has it that St. Dunstan was a great brewer who sold himself to the devil on the condition that the devil would blight the apple trees to stop the production of cider, Dunstan’s rival drink. This is said to be the cause of the wintry blast that usually comes at about this time.

Calendar for May 19, 2013 -- published online

May 18, 1980, 8:32 a.m. - Mount St. Helens eruption, killing 57 people and countless animals

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

At 8:32 a.m. May 18 — a Sunday — in 1980, an earthquake struck Mount St. Helens, causing a massive eruption of molten lava that killed 57 people and countless animals.

The region had experienced earthquakes for two months prior to the eruption, and the volcano had been venting steam. Concerned scientists pressured authorities to close Mount St. Helens to the public, a move that likely saved thousands of lives. The force of the earthquake caused the entire north face of the volcano to slide away, and that caused an explosion of rock and lava so powerful that it overtook the avalanche that was simultaneously occurring on the north face.
The erupting lava rose to 80,000 feet and ash drifted into 11 U.S. states. The heat caused nearby glaciers to melt, which formed large mudslides that spread as far as 50 miles from the volcano.

Pope Francis calls for financial and ethical reforms (May 16 speech to Diplomats): excerpt comments - challenges

www.irishtimes.com/
reported by Paddy Agnew (16 May 2013):

In one of his most outspoken comments since his election two months ago, Pope Francis has called for worldwide “financial reform along ethical lines” which would curb the “tyranny” of “markets and financial speculation”.

Addressing new Vatican ambassadors from Krygyzstan, Botswana, Luxemburg and Antigua and Barbuda yesterday, the pope suggested that modern man had a pathological relationship with money in that he accepted its power “over ourselves and society”.

“The financial crisis which we are experiencing makes us forget that its ultimate origin is to be found in a profound human crisis . . . We have created new idols. The worship of the Golden Calf of old (Exodus 32) has found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly human goal.”

Just three days after his election in March, in an audience with the world’s media, Francis had spoken of his wish that the Catholic Church be a “church of the poor, a church for the poor”.

He took up that theme again, arguing that the majority of world’s population lived in “situations of insecurity” in which a “minority” get richer whilst the “majority” get poorer.

“This imbalance results from ideologies which uphold the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation, and thus deny the right of control to states, which are themselves charged with providing for the common good”

Francis suggested that today’s world had seen the instigation of a “throw-away culture” in which “human beings themselves are nowadays considered as consumer goods”.

Arguing that credit distanced people from their real buying power and that debt moved countries away from their “real economy”, the pope added: “There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders . . . Money has to serve, not to rule.”

Calling for a “return to person-centred ethics in the world of finance and economics”, he urged those in power to be “truly at the service of the common good of their peoples”. In this context, he said the pope had the duty, in Christ’s name, to remind the rich to help the poor, to respect them and to promote them.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/pope-francis-calls-for-ethical-financial-and-economic-reform-1.1396450

Happy 53rd Birthday -- Singer - Political Activist Bono (Paul David Hewitt of Dublin, Ireland)

from Internet Movie DataBase web biography (www.imdb.com/ ) --

Mini Biography

Born Paul David Hewitt in Dublin, Ireland on May 10, 1960 Bono has been the lead singer of the rock band U2 since 1976. U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Lauded by fans and critics as an outstanding performer and songwriter, Bono has also been praised by world leaders as an accomplished activist due to his powers of persuasion and knowledge of the issues. He travels extensively to give speeches and lobby politicians. Bono's career as a socially conscious musician has been shaped by childhood experiences in Ireland as well as volunteer work in Africa and South America.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095104/bio

[He will appear as the sole guest interviewee tonight -- May 16, 2013 -- on the CHARLIE ROSE SHOW (PBS -- live at 11 p.m. Eastern Time) ]

May 17 is Endangered Species Day -- great way to observe that (Stop Extinction dot-org)

from "Ten Easy Things you can do at home to protect endangered species" :

Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other open spaceThese protected lands provide habitat to many native wildlife, birds, fish and plants. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the places where they live.  Get involved by volunteering at your local nature center or wildlife refuge.
Go wildlife or bird watching in nearby parks. Wildlife related recreation creates millions of jobs and supports local businesses.
To find a wildlife refuge near you, visit www.fws.gov/refuges/
To find a park near you, visit www.nps.gov
To find a zoo near you, visit www.aza.org
Make your home wildlife friendlySecure garbage in shelters or cans with locking lids, feed pets indoors and lock pet doors at night to avoid attracting wild animals into your home.
Reduce your use of water in your home and garden so that animals that live in or near water can have a better chance of survival.
Disinfect bird baths often to avoid disease transmission.
Place decals on windows to deter bird collisions. Millions of birds die every year because of collisions with windows. You can help reduce the number of collisions simply by placing decals on the windows in your home and office.
http://www.stopextinction.org/10athome.html

Bike the Bend: Sunday May 19, 2013 6:30 - 11:30 a.m.

As part of Michiana "Bike to Work Week" -- Fourth annual Bike the Bend ride along 35 miles of streets in South Bend and Mishawaka, IN closed to motorists so that bicyclists of all ages and skill levels can enjoy riding without traffic.  The Route stretches from the St. Joseph River from Mishawaka to South Bend.  Registration can be made in advance or on the day of the event at several locations -- see online information at www.bikethebend.com/
All riders must wear helmets and obey safety rules.

To Be or Not To Be: Architecture Students' Presentation (May 15, 5 p.m.)

Architecture students of Notre Dame Professor Lucien Steil will give a public presentation at the Center for History, 808 W. Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana from 5 to 7 p.m. at the auditorium.  The event is free and open to the public.
For semester course credit, the group researched College towns and analyzed them as models for contemporary and sustainable design.  They will present their findings and discuss assets and shortcomings of the South Bend vicinity related to Transportation, Housing, Safety, and Diversity.
"To be or not to be a college town: That is the Question."  The group will also offer recommendations for the future.

Fort St. Joseph, Niles, Michigan -- Local History Day 2013 lecture - Archaeology: Free to Public

from NILES DISTRICT LIBRARY : Information Department

Local History Day 2013 Celebrating Ft. Saint Joseph

Niles, Michigan- June 1, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

@10 a.m.: Fifteen Years of Archaeological Investigations at Fort St. Joseph

presented by Dr. Michael Nassaney, professor of Anthropology at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

When our 1998 survey encountered French and English artifacts along the banks of the St. Joseph River, no one knew that the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project would become an award-winning program with an international reputation attracting over 15,000 people to see remains of an 18th century trading post. Come see and hear what archaeology has revealed at one of the oldest European settlements in the western Great Lakes region.

also Programs to follow on "Pontiac's War" // "Niles in Photographs": Registration is free in advance.

www.nileslibrary.com/   for more information and weblink

Anniversary of Skylab (May 1973) -- its famous crashing to earth / burial at Western Australia (coast)

www.space.com Commemorates the May 14, 1973 launch of the U.S. Space Station:

NASA will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of Skylab, America's first space station, on Tuesday (May 14), but you might be surprised where this icon of U.S. human spaceflight ended up.

After hosting rotating astronaut crews from 1973-1974, the Skylab space station eventually fell back to Earth in pieces that landed in Australia. Now, decades later, many of those pieces are on display at Australian museums, offering a fascinating glimpse into America's first stab at living in space.  From May 1973 to February 1974, Skylab saw a trio of three-man crews take up residence aboard the outpost, before it was abandoned with the plan of possibly using the space shuttle (then under development) to reactivate the laboratory. But with no way to reboost Skylab to a higher orbit to keep it aloft, and delays in getting the shuttle off the ground , the space station re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the southern Indian Ocean in 1979, with pieces landing inland along the south coast of Western Australia. . .the spacecraft entered several minutes earlier than predicted, slightly off course.

Several large chunks and dozens of smaller pieces of Skylab survived the fiery plunge through the atmosphere and impacted the ground in the Australian outback over a large swath centered around the community of Balladonia on the Nullarbor Plain. The largest pieces included the oxygen tanks designed to keep the crew alive during their stays.

If you visit Skylab

If you are visiting Western Australia, the Esperance Municipal Museum is located on James Street, between the waterfront Esplanade and Dempster Street. There is a $4 admission fee. Allow 30 minutes if your goal is to see Skylab only.

Another of the large oxygen tanks that survived Skylab's fall to Earth is on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney also a portion of a titanium sphere in its collection, but it is not believed to be on display right now.

http://www.space.com/21122-skylab-space-station-remains-museum.html

International Day of Global Biodiversity - May 22, 2013 - Ecosystems and Climate Change

What impact does climate change have on ecosystems and species? Are we threatened?  How does biodiversity influence climate change? What can we do, how can we get involved?

These are some of the questions the 2013 Global Biodiversity Days shall look at and discuss.

Since 2001, The German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) and the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD)  and GEO Magazine have been partnering to organize and cover national action days for Global B-days (biological diversity) in various countries around the globe.

Encouraged by these successful experiences, 2013 will continue with a scaling-up of the initiative with thematic days and media coverage in selected countries on all continents. The focus will be on the interdependence of climate change and biodiversity as well as its implications for human well-being.

http://www.biodiversity-day.info/

Happy Birthday to "Flash" and "Ivory" -- (17-year-old white Bengal Tigers) - Saturday 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

On Saturday May 11, 2013 the Potawatomi Zoo will have a birthday party that includes presents and birthday treats for the guests of honor - - the Amur and Bengal tigers of the South Bend, IN Zoo.  Both breeds are endangered species.  Visitors are encouraged to bring birthday cards for the tigers.  Website details at www.potatatomizoo.org/ and phone inquiries at (574) - 235-9800.

Plant Sale and Awareness Tent - Combat Human Trafficking - Sat. May 11, 10 a.m. Berrien Springs

A fundraiser titled "Planting Hope" -- aimed at raising awareness and supporting efforts to combat human trafficking -- takes place Saturday May 11, 2013 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at a rural Berrien Springs winery (Lemon Crreek) on 533 E. Lemon Creek Road.  Free -- no pre-registration required.

The one-day learning event and plant sale is sponsored by Lemon Creek Winery, Stonehouse Nursery and Accent Earth.  Several local vendors will set up to display and sell merchandise; representatives of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force will operate an Awareness Tent (more details at http:// plantinghopeinmichigan dot-org ).

Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the task force, a non-profit organization comprised of 90 organizations and officials throughout the Great Lakes State.  Among the goals of the MHTTF are:
Prevent trafficking / Prosecute perpetrators / Rescue and Restore Victims.

Pennies for Patients (County Cancer Services) - Thursday May 9

from NILES STAR online article

The Berrien County Cancer Service is asking residents to save their pennies for the 24th annual Pennies for Patients Day celebration Thursday May 9, 2013.
The Niles Masonic Temple, in downtown Niles, Michigan will be opening its lobby area for BCCS to host a collection reception from noon to 2 p.m. Please use the entrance on Third Street.
In conjunction, the BCCS is conducting a Wheatback Penny auction. One Wheatback Penny collection weighing approximately 15 pounds will be auctioned. Bidding begins at $75. Bids are accepted by phone at (269) 429-3281 or by email at staff@bccancerservice.org.
BCCS is a nonprofit providing skilled in-home nursing care free of charge for people in Berrien County Michigan who have a cancer diagnosis.
http://leaderpub.com/2013/05/07/pennies-for-patients-in-niles-thursday/

Stamp Out Hunger: Letter Carriers to collect canned goods May 11

from National Letter Carriers' website (www.nalc.org  )

The 21st annual drive is Saturday, May 11, and more than 1,400 NALC branches in just about every city, state and territory will have letter carriers, family members and thousands of volunteers out and about to help collect, sort and distribute the cans, boxes and jars of non-perishable food items left in bags next to customers’ mailboxes.

The NALC’s effort is the nation’s largest one-day food-collection drive.

“Since food pantries and other service organizations are pretty much tapped out by the time our drive rolls around,” Rolando said, “this infusion of food comes at just the right time.”

In fact, the second Saturday in May was specifically chosen for the annual event.

Pantry shelves filled up through winter-holiday generosity are often bare or nearly so by late spring—a sad reflection of the reality that widespread hunger in America is a tough problem to solve.

Also, school meal programs typically do not continue operation during summer months.

http://www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive/

Ascension Day (40th day since Easter - March 31 this year)

May 9, 2013

(Western Calendar)

Ascension Day (Christian) :
Celebrated 40 days after Easter/Pascha, it commemorates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.

Profile in Courage - 2013 Winner and Presenter C. Kennedy - May 5

from AP coverage (5/6/2013):

Caroline Kennedy, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, presented the award to Gabby Giffords of Arizona.
Kennedy took a moment to salute the first responders and the citizens of Boston, Massachusetts. Referring to the Boston Marathon bombings last month (Monday April 15, 2013), Kennedy said, “All Americans have been inspired by the countless acts of selfless bravery and compassion we saw during the violence that struck this city on Patriots Day.”
In presenting the award to the former Arizona congresswoman, Kennedy said, “Gabby Giffords has turned a personal nightmare into a movement for political change.”
Earlier Sunday (May 5), Giffords and her husband retired astronaut Mark Kelly spent time visiting victims of the marathon bombings at Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Boston.
“For victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, we extend our deepest sympathies to all of you who have endured violence and loss,” Kelly said.  “Courage means doing everything we can to prevent other parents from having to endure that loss."
Alluding to her disappointment in Congress’ failure to pass gun control legislation last week, Giffords called for courage from lawmakers.  “I believe we all have courage inside,” she said. “I just wish there was more courage in Congress.” 
“It’s been a hard two years for me,” Giffords said, “but I want to make the world a better place more than ever.”
Kelly also praised his wife.  “There are people who make things happen. There are people who watch things happen. And there are people who wonder what just happened,” Kelly said. “Gabby Giffords is a person who makes things happen.”
Kennedy cited Giffords’ strength to carry on a difficult fight.  “Our family is still suffering from the heartbreak caused by gun violence,” Kennedy said. “No one should have to lose a husband, a wife, a father, a child, to senseless murder.  “But as our nominee has shown, out of that pain and tragedy, we must find the strength to carry on, to give meaning to our lives, and to build a more just and peaceful world.”

PHOTO of Giffords and more paragraphs of story/article =
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/giffords-given-profile-in-courage-award-90947.html#ixzz2SW2PjYde

National Day of Prayer (May 2) - First Thursday -- Part of President's Proclamation

On this day, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers all those affected by recent events, such as the Boston Marathon bombings, the Newtown, Connecticut shootings, and the explosion in West, Texas. Let us pray for the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who put themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow Americans. Let us also pray for the safety of our brave men and women in uniform and their families who serve and sacrifice for our country. Let us come together to pray for peace and goodwill today and in the days ahead as we work to meet the great challenges of our time.

The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a "National Day of Prayer."

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 May 2, 2013, as a National Day of Prayer. I join the citizens of our Nation in giving thanks, in accordance with our own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and in asking for God's continued guidance, mercy, and protection.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/01/presidential-proclamation-national-day-prayer-2013

4:30 p.m. Sunday May 5 -- Live Webcast of JFK "Profile in Courage" award to Gabby Giffords

2013 Profile in Courage Award May 5, 2013 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Caroline Kennedy, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, presents this year's Profile in Courage Award to Congresswoman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords in recognition of the political, personal, and physical courage she has demonstrated in her fearless public advocacy for policy reforms aimed at reducing gun violence.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/webcast.aspx

Cinco de Mayo -- Sunday, May 5, 2013

Anniversary Holiday of the Victory of the Mexican Army over the invading French forces

Machiavelli as "Father of Political Theory" (History dot-com "take" on Philosopher / bureaucrat)

History.com This Day in History

On this day in 1469, the Italian philosopher and writer Niccolo Machiavelli is born. A lifelong patriot and diehard proponent of a unified Italy, Machiavelli became one of the fathers of modern political theory.
Machiavelli entered the political service of his native Florence by the time he was 29. As defense secretary, he distinguished himself by executing policies that strengthened Florence politically. He soon found himself assigned diplomatic missions for his principality, through which he met such luminaries as Louis XII of France, Pope Julius II, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, and perhaps most importantly for Machiavelli, a prince of the Papal States named Cesare Borgia. The shrewd and cunning Borgia later inspired the title character in Machiavelli's famous and influential political treatise The Prince (1532).
Machiavelli's political life took a downward turn after 1512, when he fell out of favor with the powerful Medici family. He was accused of conspiracy, imprisoned, tortured and temporarily exiled. It was an attempt to regain a political post and the Medici family's good favor that Machiavelli penned The Prince, which was to become his most well-known work.
Though released in book form posthumously in 1532, The Prince was first published as a pamphlet in 1513. In it, Machiavelli outlined his vision of an ideal leader: an amoral, calculating tyrant for whom the end justifies the means. The Prince not only failed to win the Medici family's favor, it also alienated him from the Florentine people. Machiavelli was never truly welcomed back into politics, and when the Florentine Republic was reestablished in 1527, Machiavelli was an object of great suspicion. He died later that year, embittered and shut out from the Florentine society to which he had devoted his life.
Though Machiavelli has long been associated with the practice of diabolical expediency in the realm of politics that was made famous in The Prince, his actual views were not so extreme. In fact, in such longer and more detailed writings as Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy (1517) and History of Florence (1525), he shows himself to be a more principled political moralist. Still, even today, the term "Machiavellian" is used to describe an action undertaken for gain without regard for right or wrong.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/niccolo-machiavelli-born

United Nations sponsors "World Press Freedom Day" (May 3, 2013 theme): Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media

www.un.org/

Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media

World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to:

• celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
• assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
• defend the media from attacks on their independence;
• pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/

Old English Poetry and 70 contemporary poet-translators (7:30 May 2 evening) - Hammes Bookstore

ND Events -- Greg Delanty headlien -- www.nd.edu/

"Exchanging Words: Renewing Old English Poetry" is an evening of poetry based on Greg Delanty and Michael Matto's recent volume The Word Exchange: Translating Anglo-Saxon Poetry (W.W. Norton, 2011). This volume brings together original Old English poetry (composed ca. 500-1100 CE) along with unique verse translations from over seventy contemporary poets, including Seamus Heaney, Eavon Boland, Edwin Morgan, and Greg Delanty himself.

 The event will be held May 2, 2013 at 7:30 pm in the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore and will feature Professor Delanty reading verse translations from the volume along with Notre Dame graduate students reading the original Old English poems.  A rare opportunity to hear Old English poetry read aloud in public, along with engaging modern versions intended to make this ancient poetry accessible to a wider audience.

http://english.nd.edu/events/2013/03/21/15992-greg-delanty-renewing-old-english-poetry/