Syrian Priest / Hermit killed in cross-fire of Rebel attack (June 23, 2013)

Online news posted by Cindy Wooden (CNS) at National Catholic Reporter dot-org website: A 49-year-old Syrian priest and hermit was killed Sunday, apparently when a group of rebels attacked the Franciscan Convent of St. Anthony in Ghassanieh, a village in the north near the Turkish border. Franciscan Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, told Vatican Radio on Monday (June 24, 2013) that Fr. Francois Murad was not a Franciscan, but had taken refuge in the convent when it became clear he was not safe at the Syriac Catholic hermitage he was building nearby. Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo of Hassake-Nisibi told Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, that Murad "sent me several messages which showed he was aware of living in a dangerous situation and was willing to offer his life for peace in Syria and the world." Pizzaballa told Vatican Radio that Ghassanieh -- "like other Christian villages -- has been almost completely destroyed and is almost totally abandoned." He said he believes the only people left in Ghassanieh "are the rebels with their families, rebels who are not from Syria and who are extremists." "The only thing we can do, other than pray for Father Francois and all the victims, is pray that this folly ends soon and that no more weapons are sent to Syria because that would only prolong this absurd civil war," Pizzaballa said. The Franciscan leader said Syria is a "battleground, and not just between Syrian forces, but also for other Arab countries and the international community. The ones paying the price are the poor, the small and the least, including the Christians." http://ncronline.org/news/global/syrian-priest-killed-during-rebel-attack-franciscan-convent

Moon's relationship to Planet Earth (Space dot-com posting)

excerpt from longer posting at www.space.com/ (Space and NASA News) Orbit/Earth Relationship Tidal effects The moon's gravity pulls at the Earth, causing predictable rises and falls in sea levels known as tides. To a much smaller extent, tides also occur in lakes, the atmosphere, and within the Earth's crust. High tides are when water bulges upward, and low tides are when water drops down. High tide results on the side of the Earth nearest the moon due to gravity, and it also happens on the side farthest from the moon due to the inertia of water. Low tides occur between these two humps. The pull of the moon is also slowing the Earth's rotation, an effect known as tidal braking that increases the length of our day by 2.3 milliseconds per century. The energy that Earth loses is picked up by the moon, increasing its distance from the Earth, which means the moon gets farther away by 3.8 centimeters annually. The moon's gravitational pull might have been key to making Earth a livable planet by moderating the degree of wobble in Earth's axial tilt, which led to a relatively stable climate over billions of years where life could flourish. Eclipses During eclipses, the moon, Earth and sun are in a straight line, or nearly so. A lunar eclipse takes place when Earth gets directly or almost directly between the sun and the moon, and Earth's shadow falls on the moon. A lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets directly or nearly directly between the sun and Earth, and the moon's shadow falls on us. A solar eclipse can occur only during a new moon.

On "Seminary Ridge" -- new museum opens Monday -- Faith and the Civil War era (1861 - 1865)

on campus of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, PA July 1, 2013: GRAND OPENING! 150 years to the day after the Battle of Gettysburg began. Special events, a ribbon cutting ceremony and more surprises are planned. The new Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum opens July 1, 2013, and will feature 20,000 square feet of interactive exhibit galleries and educational programming to interpret three major areas of emphasis—none of which are the focus of any other museum in Gettysburg: 1. the pivotal first day of the Battle of Gettysburg on Seminary Ridge; 2. the care of the wounded and human suffering within Schmucker Hall during its use as a Civil War field hospital; 3. the moral, civic, and spiritual debates of the Civil War era. http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/about/

July 1 -- Annual holiday -- Canada Day (federal holiday)

according to "Free Dictionary" dot-com definition: __________________________________________________ observed in Canada in commemoration of the formation of the Dominion in 1867. On that date 146 years ago, Canada became the first colony of the British empire to receive dominion status

July 1 - 3 Living History Anniversary Observance (Gettysburg National Park) - Civil War

from NPS dot-gov // gett/plan your visit July 1-4 National Park Service Ranger Programs for 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg During the days of the battle anniversary, with July 4 focusing on the battle's aftermath, the park will offer the following interpretive program opportunities, free of charge: Living History Camps - Two full battalions of Union and Confederate infantrymen accompanied by artillery and other supporting units will present demonstrations and programs near the Pennsylvania Memorial and at Pitzer's Woods throughout the day to illustrate the life of the Union and Confederate soldier and demonstrate the tactics used by both armies in the Battle of Gettysburg. (PLEASE NOTE living history events are July 1-3 only.)* http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/150th-anniversary-events-2013.htm

36 Mile Tractor Drive (Hartford, MI Club - Cass County Fairgrounds)

Event held in 2013 on June 29 -- 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time for Registration; 10 a.m. begins the drive (a fundraiser towards Alzheimer's patient G.P.S. bracelets. Contact Hartford Tractor Club (269 - 580-1250) for details -- this event begins at Cass County (Michigan) Fairgrounds in Cassopolis, MI. Lunch Provided for freewill donation.

Band Students (Niles Community Schools) -- Fundraiser Saturday June 22, 9 a.m., Ring Lardner

Details (Final specific ones in Press Release): The Niles Michigan Community Schools Band Department will be holding a "rummage sale" Fundraiser from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday June 22, 2013. That one-day event will be held in the Ring Lardner Middle School Cafeteria, 801 N. 17th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120 (Telephone 269 - 683-6610). A "bag sale" (one price for items bagged up together) will run from 3 - 4 p.m. that same day.

Sustainable Agriculture (two farms and one vineyard - winery) Berrien County, Michigan USA - June 22, 2013

posted at Chikamingopenlands dot-org (Chikaming Open Lands) -- Berrien County Agri-tour 2013 _________________ Chikaming Open Lands is pleased to present a Berrien County Agri-tour on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. We will tour Middlebrook Farm, raising lowline grass-fed Angus beef; Granor Farm, growing organic vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits; and Old Shore Vineyards, a boutique winery producing single estate, premium quality wines in very limited quantities. Learn how these farmers produce top-quality food and wine with an eye to saving the land that sustains all of us. We'll begin and end at Old Shore Vineyards in Buchanan, Michigan, where there will be an optional wine tasting after the tour. A shuttle bus between tour stops is provided. Cost is $30 per person, or $100 for a group of four. Space is limited, so please reserve early! To reserve your spot, please call (269) 469-2330, or email Jen Drackley at jdrackley@chikamingopenlands.org.

June 30 -- 150th Anniversary Service at battlefield of Civil War: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

from National Park Service dot-gov = Gettysburg National Military Park "Gettysburg: A New Birth of Freedom" Commemorative Ceremony June 30, 2013 Musical prelude: 7:30 p.m. Ceremony: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Procession to the Soldiers' National Cemetery Luminaries in the Soldiers' National Cemetery from 9:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Where: The main stage on the lawn near Meade's Headquarters, at Gettysburg National Military Park. What: This evening event will take place on an outdoor stage near Meade's Headquarters on the Gettysburg battlefield and will include music, a keynote address, and "Voices of History," a dramatic reading of eyewitness accounts written by soldiers and citizens swept into the events of the battle and its tragic aftermath. Keynote speaker will be historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Country music artist Trace Adkins will sing the National Anthem accompanied by the United States Military Academy Orchestra. The ceremony will end with a procession to the Soldiers' National Cemetery to see luminaries marking each of the more than 3,500 graves of soldiers killed in the battle of Gettysburg. The ceremony is sponsored by Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation and is free of charge. Parking: At the National Park Service Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike. Additional parking is available at satellite parking areas with a free shuttle to the event site running throughout the day. http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/150th-anniversary-events-2013.htm

Born on this date in 1623 -- Scientist / Philosopher Blaise Pascal

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media: Garrison Keillor) June 19 is the birthday of mathematician, physicist, and theologian Blaise Pascal, born in Clermont-Ferrand, France (1623). A child prodigy, by the time he was 19 he had already perfected the first mechanical calculator for sale to the public. In the field of physics, he discovered that air has weight, and he conducted experiments to prove that vacuums could exist, which led him to formulate the hydraulic principle that "pressure exerted on a fluid in a closed vessel is transmitted unchanged throughout the fluid." This principle is used today in devices such as syringes, hydraulic presses, automobile brakes, and aircraft controls. In mathematics, he founded the theory of probabilities and developed an early form of integral calculus. He spent much of his life in conflict between science and religion, and was one of the first philosophers to seriously question the existence of God. But in 1654, he experienced a revelation, the account of which he carried sewn into his coat lining until his death. He came to the conclusion that there was no science to prove God exists; instead, humans must rely on their faith. He produced two great works of religious philosophy, Les Provinciales (Provincial Letters, 1657) and Pensées (Thoughts, 1658). Blaise Pascal, who said, "The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."

The difference between Summer Solstice (June 21 - 1 a.m.) and Midsummer (June 24)

from article for 2013 dates -- www.almanac.com/ (Old Farmer's Almanac) ______________________________________________________________________ Summer begins with the solstice at 1:04 A.M. (Eastern time) on June 21, 2013. Although Midsummer Day, June 24, occurs only a few days after the solstice, to the farmer it was the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting, and therefore an occasion for celebration. Midsummer Eve bonfires and dancing around the Midsummer pole are old customs still observed around the world today. Midsummer Lore Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day are considered sacred to lovers. On Midsummer Eve, pick seven different wildflowers, then walk home silently and backward. Place the flowers under your pillow and dream of your future husband. Salt thrown in the bonfire wards off bad luck. Carry a torch on Midsummer Eve to dispel evil.

World Refugee Day -- State Department, Washington, D.C. - June 20, 2013 agenda

from www.state.gov (Federal website for State Department, dot-gov): On June 20, 2013, Secretary of State John F. Kerry will host a special event in recognition of World Refugee Day, highlighting the challenges refugees face around the world and honoring their bravery and resilience in working to overcome them. The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State. The program will include remarks by Secretary of State Kerry, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres via video link from Za’atri Camp, Jordan.

Lost French Ship (Archaeologists search lake for wreckage) - the GRIFFIN

article archived in M Live -- www.mlive.com/ Michigan Live! http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/06/diving_into_the_search_for_los.html#incart_river_default ON LAKE MICHIGAN NEAR POVERTY ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — In a remote part of northern Lake Michigan, divers have started looking at an underwater pit, hoping to find the resting place of the Griffin, a ship commanded by the 17th century French explorer La Salle. The origin of the search, which began Saturday, can be traced back to 2001, when expedition leader Steve Libert discovered a timber slab wedged in the lakebed. U.S. and French archaeologists examined sediment removed from a hole dug near that slab and found a 15-inch slab of blackened wood that might have been a human-fashioned "cultural artifact," although more analysis will be required to determine whether it was part of a vessel, project manager Ken Vrana said. Libert, who has spent about three decades searching for the Griffin (also known by its French equivalent Le Griffon), said he hoped that by Sunday, the excavation would reach what sonar readings indicate is a distinct shape beneath several feet of sediment. The object is over 40 feet long and about 18 feet wide — dimensions similar to those the Griffin is believed to have had, Vrana said. But he said it was too early to declare the site a shipwreck, let alone the object of their quest. "Soon we will find out whether our assumption is correct or not," Vrana said aboard the Proud Maid, a 45-foot commercial fishing boat that ferried journalists and crew members to the search area near Poverty Island in Michigan waters north of the entrance to Green Bay. "We've got to get those test pits dug and hit (the) structure, because anything else is pure speculation." After meeting with team members Saturday night, he told reporters that "within a couple of days we should know" whether a ship graveyard lies beneath the surface. Although Libert and his associates have dived at the site numerous times and conducted several surveys with remote sensing equipment, they hadn't conducted archaeological excavations until receiving a permit from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources this month after years of legal squabbles. The agency claims ownership over all Great Lakes shipwrecks in the state's waters, although it acknowledges France would have rights to the Griffin because it was sailing under the authority of King Louis XIV. Taking part in Saturday's dive were Michel L'Hour, director of the Department of Underwater Archaeological Research in the French Ministry of Culture and a noted authority on shipwrecks, and associate Olivia Hulot. The U.S. leaders said they hoped the visitors, with their knowledge of design and construction features of French ships from the 17th and 18th century, could help confirm whether the Griffin had been found. "The Griffin is very important to the early history of America," L'Hour said in an interview before taking his first look at the site. "If this is the Griffin, it will teach us many things." Rene Robert Cavelier de la Salle ordered the Griffin built near Niagara Falls in 1679 to support his quest for what was widely — but erroneously — believed to be a passageway to China and Japan. It was the first European-style vessel to traverse the upper Great Lakes, crossing Lake Erie and venturing northward to Lake Huron, then across Lake Michigan to the eastern shore of modern-day Wisconsin. La Salle ordered the ship to return for more supplies and to deliver a load of furs, while he continued his journey by canoe. The Griffin was never heard from again. There are various theories about its fate, but none that have been proven. Libert, who spent years studying the writings of La Salle and a companion, believes it sank in a fierce storm only a few miles after setting sail.

June 21, 2013 - 1:04 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone) - Summer Solstice

from Old Farmer's Almanac -- www.almanac.com/ The Summer Solstice ____________________________ Each year, the timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This occurs annually on June 20 or June 21 in North America, depending on your time zone. The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice).

Bloomsday (June 16 annually) - James Joyce's ULYSSES

What is Bloomsday? Bloomsday is a commemoration and celebration of the life of Irish writer James Joyce during which the events of his novel Ulysses (which is set on 16 June 1904) are relived. It is observed annually on 16 June in Dublin and elsewhere. Joyce chose the date as it was the date of his first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle; they walked to the Dublin suburb of Ringsend. The name is derived from Leopold Bloom, the Ulyssean protagonist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomsday New York City has several events on Bloomsday including formal readings at Symphony Space and informal readings and music at the downtown Ulysses' Folk House pub. The Syracuse James Joyce Club holds an annual Bloomsday celebration at Johnston's BallyBay Pub in Syracuse, New York, at which large portions of the book are either read aloud, or presented as dramatizations by costumed performers. The club awards scholarships and other prizes to students who have written essays on Joyce or fiction pertaining to his work. The city is home to Syracuse University, whose press has published or reprinted several volumes of Joyce studies. There was a marathon reading of Joyce's Ulysses on June 15, 2013, at Casey's Pub in the Historic Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan.

Aquatic Invasive Species Week (June 2013) - Michigan State legislator - esp. Asian Carp

from NILES MICHIGAN Daily Star (http://leaderpub.com/ The Michigan Senate on Wednesday (June 12, 2013)adopted a resolution declaring June 8-16 as Aquatic Invasive Species Week, said Sen. John Proos, who co-sponsored the measure. “The most important step in protecting the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species is to engage the public about the real threat these species pose to the health of the lakes and our entire state economy,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “At a time when families and tourists are beginning to get out and enjoy Michigan waters, this awareness week is an opportunity for everyone to stand up against the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.” Senate Resolution 71 states that more than 180 nonindigenous aquatic invasive species have been introduced to the Great Lakes, many of which are displacing native species; disrupting habitats; and degrading natural, managed and agricultural landscapes — resulting in millions of dollars for control efforts each year. “Stopping the invasion of aquatic invasive species like Asian carp and eliminating other species already here are both critical to maintaining our way of life,” Proos said. “These are battles we cannot afford to lose because the impact could be environmental and economic catastrophes.” SR 71 encourages residents to increase their understanding and awareness of aquatic invasive species and their ecological and economic impacts, and to take preventative measures to help stop the spread and introduction of the species in Michigan. “As a member of a local fishing club and a competitor in many local competitions, the threat of invasive species — especially Asian carp and zebra mussels — is always on my mind. These species have the potential to devastate our ecosystems, fishing industry and the livelihoods of many Michigan families,” said Dan Posey of the Four Flags Bassmasters Club in Niles. “Safety is also an issue raised by invasive carp, since boat traffic causes these fish to leap out of the water. At up to 100 pounds, Asian carp can be dangerous and have a real potential for injuring boaters, and that should be a serious concern to us all.”

June 16 Proclamation -- Father's Day in U.S.A. (2013)

www.whitehouse.gov/ Each day, men from every walk of life pour themselves into the hard, proud, rewarding work of raising our sons and daughters. And each June, families all across our country pause to say thanks and let fathers know how much they mean to us -- not just as partners or providers, but also as loving parents who never stop striving to give their kids the best life has to offer. We see that sense of commitment throughout our communities. We see it in our schools, where dads attend assemblies and parent-teacher conferences, and help out with homework. We see it on our playing fields and in our congregations, where fathers instill the life lessons that set our kids on a path to success. We see it in parents working a second job or taking on an extra shift, putting a little away so their children can go to college. And we see it in mentors and tutors and foster dads, taking on the duties of fatherhood for young people in need. That work is rarely easy. But we know it adds up, building character in our children and instilling in them qualities to last a lifetime: love and hope, courage and discipline, trust in themselves and others. As fathers, teaching those values is our first task. Yet too often, boys and girls are growing up without the support of their fathers. We know our country can do better. So as men in every corner of America keep stepping up and being present in the lives of our children, my Administration will keep striving to support them. Today, we rededicate ourselves to that important work. And as sons and daughters, let us show our lasting gratitude to the men who have shaped us, who lift our sights, and who enrich our lives with a father's love, day after day. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 16, 2013, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Goldfinch sighting - mid-June, Southwest Michigan

information about this beautiful small songbird from Birdweb dot-org -- http://birdweb.org/birdweb American Goldfinches can generally be found in brushy and weedy habitats at the edges of fields, rivers, and hedgerows, especially when thistle is present. Suburban gardens, poplar plantations, orchards, and other brushy areas with scattered deciduous trees are commonly used. Behavior Flocks are common outside of the breeding season, and American Goldfinches often flock with redpolls and Pine Siskins. They are active foragers, and climb about nimbly when foraging, often hanging from seed-heads and other objects. Like many finches, American Goldfinches have an undulating flight. They often give call notes on the upward strokes Diet Small seeds, especially thistle, make up the majority of the American Goldfinch's diet. In the summer, they eat some insects, especially aphids, but seeds dominate their diet. [the male bird was eating from the Sunflower Seed feeder - 6/15/2013 at 11 a.m. on a temperate morning ]

World Blood Donor Day -- American Red Cross incentive offer (June 14)

from e-notification -- subject line "Giving Has No Season" (June 13, 2013) June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, a time for us to thank generous blood and platelet donors everywhere and invite others to join the cause! The American Red Cross, Nexcare and celebrity spokesperson Soleil Moon Frye are teaming up to raise awareness of the need for blood donors as part of the "Giving Has No Season" campaign. Pledge your support of blood donation on the Nexcare Brand Facebook page between now and June 30, and you’ll receive a free sample of Nexcare "give" bandages with a seasonal theme and will be automatically entered for a chance to win a "Getaway Any Season" trip for two to a luxury Four Seasons Hotel & Resort. And for every friend you invite to pledge, you receive an additional entry (up to 10 total). * The need for blood is constant. Help spread the word. Pledge your support and ask others to give. www.redcross.org/

On this date in history : June 8, 1949 was publication of George Orwell's _1984_ novel

from George Orwell Novels dot-com -- historical data on the original publication Nineteen Eighty-Four was published by Secker & Warburg on 8 June 1949. It was published five days later by Harcourt, Brace and Company in New York. Secker & Warburg printed 26,575 copies for the first edition; a second impression, of 5,570 copies, was issued in March 1950, and a third impression, of 5,150 copies, in August 1950. A second edition, entirely reset, was ordered in December 1950. Harcourt, Brace ordered 20,000 copies for its initial print run, and two further impressions, of 10,000 copies each, were issued on 1 July and 7 September 1949; fourth and fifth impressions, of 4,100 and 5,000 copies, were issued on 3 February and in June 1950. A Book-of-the-Month Club edition was issued in the United States in July 1949, and by March 1952 had sold 190,000 copies. Warburg gives figures for later printings and initial reactions to the book in All Authors Are Equal. The novel was very widely reviewed. Bernard Crick summarises initial reactions and devotes a long section of his annotated Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) to ‘The Contemporary Reaction’. On 31 July 1949, The New York Times Book Review stated that some sixty reviews, coast-to-coast, were ‘Overwhelmingly (90 per cent) admiring, with cries of terror rising above the applause. . . . Few paid more than passing attention to the novel as fiction. . . . The emphasis was on the political ‘prophecy’ involved. . . . Even the ordinarily breezy New Yorker was so shaken that it found itself endorsing something awesome called Orwell’s “moral centrality.”‘ L[ouis] A[deane] in Freedom (11 June 1949) began by suggesting: ‘If it is true that satire admits an element of hope, then this novel is not satirical: it is a grim and convincing attack on the centralised State and on modern warfare, and its power is due to the complete pessimism with which every page is stamped’; he concluded: ‘Only an honest man could have written this book, and it is desolating that in our world such honesty should lead to such despair. Out of his despair, Orwell has made a protest more complete and more sustained than any other writer of his generation, and for this he deserves our praise and gratitude.’

Is fugitive Edward Snowden a "Leaker" or a "Whistle-blower"?

Today (Wednesday June 12, 2013) there is a 10 - 11 a.m. Eastern discussion on the NPR Diane Rehm Show (guests & call-in dialogue - chat): Whistle-blowers who expose crime, corruption and abuse of power have protections under the law. Understanding when revealing top secret information is an act of heroism or a crime. Guests Jesselyn Radack national security & human rights director, Government Accountability Project Matthew Cooper editor, National Journal Daily. Scott Fredericksen managing partner at the law firm Foley & Lardner, and a former federal prosecutor and independent counsel. http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-06-12/leakers-versus-whistle-blowers

Hummingbird sighting (Wednesday 7:30 a.m.)

Here in Berrien County, Michigan (part of the Mid-West) -- at our front yard hanging feeders MICHIGAN species: Broad-billed, Green Violet-ear, Ruby-throated, Rufous, White-eared http://www.hummingbird-guide.com/species-of-hummingbirds-mid-west.html The website (Hummingbird - Guide dot-com) welcomes stories of all hummingbird sightings both rare and common. We would love to hear from you! If you have a hummingbird sighting that you’d like to share, please use the Migration Sighting form. We’d love to hear from you. The Mid-West consists of these states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin. This region is home to vast stretches of grasslands called plains along with many streams and lakes as in the state of Minnesota. Known as "The Breadbasket", crops and vegetation are plentiful making it a good climate for hummingbird flowers which support a wide variety of species of hummingbirds in the Mid-West.

On this date in history 143 years ago -- June 9, 1870

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media, Garrison Keillor): It was on June 9, 1870 that the novelist Charles Dickens died; he had a stroke and fell off his chair at the dinner table. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Dickens asked to be buried "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," so even though he was buried in Westminster Abbey, it was a secret funeral, early in the morning, with only 12 mourners. But the grave was left open for a week and thousands of people, all types of people, came to throw in flowers for the man whose tomb is inscribed with the words "He was a sympathiser to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world."

35 years ago today -- Revelation makes change in Mormon view of Black LDS standing of elders

from Religion News. com June 8, 1978, was a sacred, momentous event — a revelation — that catapulted Mormonism into a new era of global growth. On that day, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ended its ban on blacks in its priesthood, opening ordination to “all worthy male members,” including those of African descent. “For me,” former church President Gordon B. Hinckley said on the day’s 10th anniversary, “it felt as if a conduit opened between the heavenly throne and the kneeling, pleading prophet of God who was joined by his brethren.” In the 35 years since the announcement, Mormonism has spread exponentially in areas formerly off-limits, especially Africa. There now are nearly 400,000 Mormons in Africa, two missionary training centers, three working temples (South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria), with two more planned (Democratic Republic of the Congo and another in South Africa). Brazil, with its heritage of mixed races, has been especially fertile territory, with 1.2 million Mormons. In Europe, many of those willing to listen to Mormon missionaries are African immigrants. And the church is growing steadily in urban America, home to millions of African-Americans. For most white Mormons, the historical controversy is over. “It’s behind us,” Hinckley told “60 Minutes” in 1995. But the ban still haunts many African-American members. They frequently have to explain themselves and their beliefs to non-Mormons, other black converts, even themselves. They occasionally hear racist comments from fellow believers, such as “black skin is cursed” or “when you become more righteous, your skin will grow lighter.” Some report being called the “N-word.” Such racist remarks exist in every faith and group, of course, but some Latter-day Saints see the persistence as troubling. “Thirty-five years after the end of a racial restriction that had so burdened the church,” said Armand Mauss, a pre-eminent Mormon sociologist, “the old racist folklore that came with it has still not been formally repudiated” by top church leaders. Most Mormons did not challenge the ban on black males in the priesthood, but they did want to know why God would institute such a policy. Various explanations, many culled from American culture at the time, emerged. Some LDS leaders, including then-apostle Bruce R. McConkie, taught that black skin was “the curse of Cain,” an allusion to the biblical figure who killed his brother Abel. Others added the notion that blacks were “less valiant” in Mormon theology’s “premortal existence.” The official position is that only God knows the reason for the 125-year ban, and only a revelation from God could end it. The blacks-as-cursed belief continues to be circulated at the grass-roots level and supported in publications such as McConkie’s “The Mortal Messiah” and former LDS prophet Joseph Fielding Smith’s “Doctrines of Salvation.” www.religionnews.com/ (June 7, 2013)

Lecture (6/12/2013): Affordable health Care Act -- Free lecture hosted at Three Oaks Vickers Theatre, MI

from League of Women Voters website (Berrien County and Cass County) Health Care Reform: What We Know and Don't Know. - - - The speaker on Wed. June 12 at 7 p.m. is Diane Hackbarth, RN, PhD and University of Loyola (Chicago, IL) professor and an accomplished public health educator, researcher, and program evaluator for more than 30 years. Dr. Hackbarth will discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as "Obamacare") - what did we do before Obamacare, why we need to do it differently, and what is going to happen as Obamacare is implemented - - what changes, what stays the same? This meeting is open to the public and there is no charge. at the Vickers Theatre 6 N. Elm Street Three Oaks, MI 49128 http://lwvbcc.org/calendar.html

Art (various Media) Exhibit for 2013 -- Free to Public - Niles Art Association June 13 Open House

Annual event of the Niles, Michigan (Berrien County) association of artists (diverse media - techniques) May 2013 May 1 - July 1, 2013 Special Art Exhibit at Lake Michigan College (main concourse for the paintings and sculpture and photographic displays) at Bertrand Crossing 1905 Foundation Drive (telephone 269 - 695-1391) - Reception (free to public) - Thursday evening June 13, 2013 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Suspicion-less scanning of arrested Americans' DNA is a p-a-n-o-p-t-i-c-o-n (Jeremy Bentham)?

from Blog by Ronald Collins posted at SCOTUS blog dot-com -- June 5, 2013 -- 11 a.m. “Panopticon”? – Keep your eyes on the word! Perhaps the construction of such a genetic panopticon is wise. Those are Justice Antonin Scalia’s words, taken from Monday’s eye-opening dissent in Maryland v. King. The Court, by a vote of five to four, upheld a Maryland law that authorizes the collection of DNA from individuals arrested for “serious” offenses. In his dissent, Justice Scalia (joined by Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan) took strong exception to the majority’s approval of a suspicionless search without any justifying motive. But what of the word “panopticon”? Pano what? Well, let us start with how to say the word – pan•op•ti•con. All right, that helps. Now, what of its etymology? Pan comes from the Greek, referring to “all.” And optic also comes from the Greek (optikos), referring to the faculty of sight. Put them together and you have: seeing all or viewing everything. And now for the Oxford English Dictionary definition: “a combined telescope and microscope.” Under such a lens, the government (Justice Scalia warns us) could view all traces of our genetic tracks. Jeremy Bentham, via Wikimedia Commons There is yet more to the word study to which Justice Scalia (ever the master of words) invites our attention. There is the historical use of the word (which should not be confused with historical intent!). Back in 1791, Jeremy Bentham published a work entitled A Plan of Management for a Panopticon Penitentiary House. The basic idea of this Argus-inspired plan was to design a prison by which a guard could watch all inmates at all times with limited reciprocal vision by the prisoners. If that were the case, then the number of watchmen could be reduced. Better still, the guard’s work shift could also be reduced because, here again, the inmates might not always know if they were or were not being watched. Efficient? Sure. Pure Bentham! But as fate had it, for economic, bureaucratic and political reasons his panopticon prison never materialized in his lifetime. http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/06/panopticon-keep-your-eyes-on-the-word/#more-164488

Every Day in June 2013 is a "Food Holiday": www.food.com

June 1 Candy Month June 2 Rocky Road Day June 3 Egg Day June 4 Cheese Day June 5 Gingerbread Day June 6 Applesauce Cake Day June 7 Donut Day June 8 Soul Food Month June 9 Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day June 10 Iced Tea Month June 11 Corn on the Cob Day June 12 Peanut Butter Cookie Day June 13 Kitchen Klutzes of America Day June 14 Strawberry Shortcake Day June 15 Lobster Day June 16 Fudge Day June 17 Apple Strudel Day June 18 Cherry Tart Day June 19 Martini Day June 20 Ice Cream Soda Day June 21 Peaches & Cream Day June 22 Onion Rings Day June 23 Pink Day June 24 Pralines Day June 25 Strawberry Parfait Day June 26 Chocolate Pudding Day June 27 "Happy Birthday to You" Day June 28 Tapioca Day June 29 Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month June 30 Turkey Lovers Month ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.food.com/food-holidays/donut-day-0607

A French "twist / croissant" on Deep-fried Doughnut: Cronut (Good Morning America coverage):

www.abcnews.com/ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2013/05/meet-the-cronut-croissant-donut-hybrid-takes-pastry-world-by-storm/ _______________________________ Meet the cronut, the half-croissant and half-donut hybrid, which is taking New York and the pastry world by storm. “It has the shape of a donut. The dough is very similar to croissant dough,” pastry chef Domnique Ansel said of his newest creation. “Back in France, we all eat croissants. [A] donut was something I didn’t really know before coming here to the states.” The cronut, from the kitchen of Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City, is made up of layers of croissant dough that are deep fried and filled with vanilla cream. Its insides are flaky and light and its shell is crispy and warm. “You want the outside to be golden brown and crisp,” Ansel told ABC News while demoing his method to making the new popular pastry. Then, the crisp creations are rolled in rose sugar and finished with a rose glaze. This month flavor is vanilla cream with rose frosting and candied rose petals, but Ansel says it will change to keep things fresh. Ansel, a 2013 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef, admits that putting his French twist on the American classic wasn’t an easy task. “We [tried] about 10 different recipes and the first ones were a total disaster,” he explained with a laugh. “If you just used regular dough, the butter will melt, the layers will slide off and you won’t have anything that’s nice.” Ultimately, Ansel found the winning formula, and now, his hybrid is selling like hotcakes…or well, like cronuts. Since they debuted nine days ago, New Yorkers have been lining up outside his bakery every morning to taste the popular pastry, which sells for $5 each. The bakery has reportedly sold out of cronuts within an hour of opening.

Salvation Army seeking household items & usable clothes (Pick-up Drive June 17 - Monday)

further information at www.saturck.org/ -- for Family Thrift Stores at Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Alpine, Northview, Kentwood, Holland, Plainwell, Portage Michigan locations. Place your boxes and bags where they are clearly visible from the street by 8 a.m. on pick-up day June 17. Attach pre-mailed card or a sheet of Bright Yellow paper marked "Salvation Army" to your donation. Call 1 - (888) - 868-9305 if you have questions

Hospital Blood Drive (Wed. June 19: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Michigan Blood Organization (1036 Fuller NE - Grand Rapids, MI 49501) The LAKELAND Community Hospital (Niles) -- at 31 N. Saint Joseph Avenue, Niles, MI 49120 Schedule an appointment by calling 1 - 866 - MIBLOOD; for 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Hospital's Community Rooms / Lower level on June 19, 2013. Further details at www.miblood.org/

Friday Nights at Dusk (Niles Riverfront Park) - June 7 - Aug. 9, 2013 schedule

from LEADER PUB dot-com / / / Ten Friday nights of free movies in Riverfront Park and a bounce house return at dusk this week beginning with Madagascar 3. All movies are intended for children of all ages. Bring portable chairs or a blanket to sit or lie on the grass near the playground in the park behind Wonderland Cinema on Front Street. All movies begin at dusk, or around 9:30 p.m. Movies are free. A bounce house will open around 7 p.m. Children can get a wristband for $3 for the bounce house. Below is a schedule for the Friday summer movies: June 7 — Madagascar 3, sponsored by Tom Rasler AAA June 14 — The Avengers, sponsored by the N-B YMCA June 21 — Casablanca (1942 Best Picture) June 28 — Frankenweenie, sponsored by Lake Michigan College July 5 — E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial July 12 — The Hunger Games (2011), sponsored by Pizza Transit July 19 — Hoosiers July 26 — Wreck-It Ralph, sponsored by Colburn Agencies Aug. 2 — The Lion King, sponsored by Allied Solutions Aug. 9 — The Lorax, sponsored by Colorful Stitches, Scott Wilson, Bussero Bottoms

Unlike his predecessors since Urban VIII in 1623 -- Summer Plans for Francis (Pope elected 2013)

from Nat. Catholic Reporter online Unlike many of his predecessors since the early 1600s, Pope Francis has decided not to spend the summer months at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome, though he will observe a reduced schedule in July and August. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters Thursday that Pope Francis has decided that for the summer, he will be "based at the Domus Sanctae Marthae," the Vatican guesthouse where he has lived since his election in March. However, Pope Francis will travel to Castel Gandolfo, 15 miles south of Rome, July 14 to lead the midday recitation of the Angelus with townspeople and pilgrims. Lombardi did not say why Pope Francis decided not to go move to Castel Gandolfo for the summer, though he noted when Francis was the archbishop of Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio did not go away for his summer holidays. As for other details of the pope's summer schedule, Lombardi said Pope Francis does not plan to hold any private or special audiences between July 8 and Sept. 1. Also, his early morning Masses with Vatican employees and a short homily will be suspended during that period. 10,000 strong and growing: Follow @NCRonline on Twitter .. However, Pope Francis will travel to Brazil July 22-29 for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. During the month of July, Lombardi said, the pope will not hold his weekly general audiences on Wednesdays. The weekly appointment with the faithful will resume Aug. 7 at the Vatican. Asked about the summer plans of retired Pope Benedict XVI, Lombardi said he had no firm information, but thought the retired pope wanted to remain at the Vatican in the old Mater Ecclesiae monastery, which was remodeled for his use. After stepping down Feb. 28, Pope Benedict spent two months at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo while work was being done on the Vatican monastery. In the summer of 2012, he spent almost a full three months in Castel Gandolfo, which is known for having cooler, fresher air than Rome. Castel Gandolfo has a population of almost 9,000; while its position on Lake Albano ensures summertime visitors, the loss of pilgrims coming to see the pope at least on the Sundays of July and August is likely to have a noticeable economic impact. The summertime papal escape to Castel Gandolfo is a tradition going back to Pope Urban VIII. While he was still Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, he would spend summers at the villa. Once he was elected pope in 1623, he decided it was time for the pontiffs to have a permanent summer residence there. According to Saverio Petrillo, director of the villa, about half the popes since then have followed Pope Urban's lead. www.ncronline.org/

June is "Great Outdoors Month" -- White House online proclamation (6/1/2013)

from www. whitehouse. gov/ (Press Office for President Barack Obama)________________________________________________________________________ The United States is blessed with a wealth of natural diversity that remains at the heart of who we are as a people. From breathtaking seascapes to the limitless stretch of the Great Plains, our natural surroundings animate the American spirit, fuel discovery and innovation, and offer unparalleled opportunities for recreation and learning. During Great Outdoors Month, we celebrate the land entrusted to us by our forebears and resolve to pass it on safely to future generations. We owe our heritage to the work of visionary citizens who believed that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. It is up to all of us to carry that legacy forward in the 21st century -- which is why I was proud to launch the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to bring innovative strategies to today's conservation challenges. Alongside leaders in government and the private sector, we are taking action to expand outdoor opportunities in urban areas, promote outdoor recreation, protect our landscapes, and connect the next generation to our natural treasures. And by tapping into the wisdom of concerned citizens from every corner of our country, we are finding new solutions that respond to the priorities of the American people. At a time when too many of our young people find themselves in sedentary routines, we need to do more to help all Americans reconnect with the outdoors. To lead the way, First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Outside! initiative encourages families to get out and enjoy our beautiful country, whether at a National Park or just outside their doorstep. And through the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, young men and women will get hands-on experience restoring our public lands and protecting our cultural heritage. Fortunately, we do not have to choose between good environmental stewardship and economic progress because they go hand-in-hand. Smart, sustainable policies can create jobs, increase tourism, and lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth. For example, our National Travel and Tourism Strategy aims to bring more people to all of our national attractions, including our public lands and waters, and the five new National Monuments I was proud to designate earlier this year. Our natural spaces are also laboratories for scientists, inventors, and creators -- Americans who sustain a tradition of innovation that makes our country the most dynamic economy on earth. For centuries, America's great outdoors have given definition to our national character and inspired us toward bold new horizons. This month, let us reflect on those timeless gifts, and let us vow to renew them in the years to come. 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 June 2013 as Great Outdoors Month. I urge all Americans to explore the great outdoors and to uphold our Nation's legacy of conserving our lands and waters for future generations.

After the "Dakota - U.S. War of 1862" -- the Native Americans will mark 150th Anniversary -- E. Davenport, Iowa

from Visit - Quad-Cities dot-com 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the year that Dakota Native Americans from Minnesota were exiled from their homelands during the Dakota-U.S. War of 1862 and sent to Davenport, Iowa's Camp McClellan. Over 100 died while they were imprisoned at Camp McClellan. The prisoners were finally released in 1866 and sent to a reservation in Nebraska. Little is remembered about this prison in local Quad Cities history. However, with the anniversary, there is renewed interest in putting together artifacts and memories about this hard time. The public is invited to a Camp McClellan Dakota Winnebago Prisoner Memorial to honor these prisoners on June 7-9, 2013. There are free programs and performances throughout the weekend in the Village of East Davenport, located at River Drive and Mound Street, Davenport, Iowa. On Friday, June 7th, there is an opening reception at the East Village Theatre, 2113 E. 11th Street, Davenport, Iowa. At 7:30 p.m., Sara Childers gives a presentation on Camp McClellan and the prison, followed by Native American musical entertainment. Saturday, June 8th begins with an early morning Memorial Walk from the Mississippi River up McClellan Boulevard to the prison location at 6:30 a.m., followed by a spiritual service. 8:00am Breakfast at Lindsey Park, Village of East Davenport 9:00am Opening remarks 9:30am Lindsay Park - Educational Tents and Children’s Native American Storytelling East Village Theater - Presentation on Camp McClellan Prison 11:00am Dakota Prisoner Letters Presentation by Clifford Canku & Mike Simon 12:00pm Kate Beane, Dakota Educator, Speaking on her family’s history in 1862 and their legacy 12:30pm Dakota Hymnal Singers 1:00pm Lunch 2:00pm Sarah Weston – Dakota History 2:30 pm Linda Wagoner - Winnebago History in the War of 1862 and at the Prison Camp 4:00pm Future preservation planning and educational outreach of the history at Camp McClellan 5:00pm Dakota & Winnebago-HoChunk Descendants - In their own words 6:00pm Dinner at Lindsay Park 7:00pm Talking and healing circle 7:30pm Round dancing and musical entertainment On Sunday, June 9th, the days begins with a Spiritual Service by Dakota and multi-cultural faiths at 9:00 a.m., followed by breakfast at Lindsay Park. At 11:00 a.m., there is a presentation about the history of the Dakota Unity Horse Ride and a ride planned from Davenport to Mendota, Minn., in September. At 12 noon, Preston Duncan and Sara Childers give a presentation about the Native American involvement in the War of 1812. The memorial weekend closes at 1:30 p.m. with remarks, prayers, and one last round dance. For more information, contact Sara Childers at 605-268-2232 or visit their Facebook page.