Question on upcoming World Premiere of bio-pic of White House "Butler"

posted at http://live.washingtonpost.com/ "Reliable Source" feature reporters and investigators: Will Oprah be a "plus" for opening of movie on White House "The Butler"? Has Washington DC hosted a world premiere of the new Lee Daniels movie? Is Ms. Winfrey the publicity media main figure? Thanks. _________________________ – July 31, 2013 10:15 A.M. _A_.Amy Argetsinger "The Butler" -- or as it is to be officially known, "Lee Daniels's The Butler," because of a complicated copyright dispute -- is set to open Aug. 16. It hasn't premiered anywhere yet: While you would assume there would be some splashy D.C. opening, we haven't gotten word of one yet, which is a little surprising. Wouldn't be suprised if the White House has a screening of its own, though. . . . Oprah will likely be a big part of the publicity campaign, but the movie is stocked with all kinds of big names for exactly that purpose. ‘The Butler’: A labor of love becomes an unlikely A-list production, 10/18/12

Vandalism at National Cathedral (Washington, DC) - web update

from www.nationalcathedral dot-org _________________________________ For the first time since the 2011 earthquake, Washington National Cathedral sustained unexpected and heartbreaking damage on Monday, July 29,2013 when a vandal splattered green paint in two historic chapels. July 30 Update In Bethlehem Chapel, the console, casework, and pipes of the 1953 Aeolian-Skinner organ (last restored in 1992) were splattered with green paint. Similar vandalism also occurred to the carved wood reredos (altarpiece) in Children's Chapel, a much-loved space constructed to the scale of a six-year–old child. The alleged vandal has been arrested, and artisans from Gold Leaf Studios are already working on clean-up and restoration. Donations are sought at the website feedback function.

Third Archaeological Lecture: Fort St. Joseph series (Niles Library host) July 31, 7 p.m.

from University of Western Michigan dot-edu website for Fort St. Joseph project: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 7:00 p.m. (Niles District Library Community Room, Niles, MI)___________ “The Other ‘Kitchen Debate:’ Changing Foodways Among the Michiana Potawatomi in the early-1800s”___________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan. Dr. Secunda will discuss the southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana Native Americans’ resistance against the government’s attempt to remove them to the west and the historical and archaeological evidence related to it. Lecture is free to the public.

Should viewers watch and re-watch Disaster Footage? Wake Forest University prof. has answer (Here and Now dot-org)

from http://hereandnow.wbur.org/ ____________________________________________________ The train derailment in Spain is the latest in a series of disasters this year that have been caught on video and been played over and over again in the media. There was the meteorite that hit Russia this year, the recent Asiana Airlines crash landing in San Francisco, and the oil train explosion in Quebec also this summer. What kind of psychological effect does that repeated exposure to tragic disaster imagery have on us? Suddenly we’re part of an international community of mourners, and I think that feels satisfying to us. –Eric Wilson“I think it does quite a few things to us,” Eric Wilson, author of “Everyone Loves A Good Train Wreck: Why We Can’t Look Away” told WBUR's Here & Now. “Too much can actually be traumatic for someone watching. Also, watching these videos too much can lead to a numbness.” Trying to get media outlets not to show the videos is not the answer, Wilson said. “It’s up to the viewers to choose how often we watch these videos and ultimately figure out why we’re watching these videos. It we’re doing it for a cheap thrill, obviously we should question ourselves. If in the midst of watching these videos we’re thinking more deeply about suffering and the meaning of death then perhaps meditating on these videos isn’t such a bad thing,” he said. When there is a major disaster, people may feel compelled to watch the videos as a way of connecting to what’s happening. “In a world where we often feel isolated, where we often feel trapped in front of our own computer screen, trapped in our own rooms having virtual experiences not real contact, suddenly we’re part of an international community of mourners, and I think that feels satisfying to us,” Wilson said. “We are all at the same time mourning this tragedy in Spain.” While some people may be desensitized by disaster videos, others may have the opposite experience. Here & Now co-host Jeremy Hobson grew up in Tornado Alley, and a tornado even hit his hometown once when he was a kid. But he was never afraid of tornadoes. “I was always fascinated by tornadoes,” Hobson said. “I wanted to see them up close — until the age of YouTube videos, where we see up close what happens when a tornado hits … So now, after seeing so many of these videos up-close and what a tornado really does, I don’t want to see one. I don’t want to be anywhere near one.”

July 27 - a National Veterans Day -- Korean War 60th Anniversary (Proclamation)

White House dot-gov Proclamations - - ________________________________________ Today, America pauses to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War -- a conflict that defined a generation and decided the fate of a nation. We remember the troops who hit the beaches when Communist forces were pressing south; who pushed back, and fought their way north through hard mountains and bitter cold. We remember ordinary men and women who showed extraordinary courage through 3 long years of war, fighting far from home to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met. Most of all, we remember those brave Americans who gave until they had nothing left to give. No monument will ever be worthy of their service, and no memorial will fully heal the ache of their sacrifice. But as a grateful Nation, we must honor them -- not just with words, but with deeds. We must uphold our sacred obligation to all who serve -- giving our troops the resources they need, keeping faith with our veterans and their families, and never giving up the search for our missing and our prisoners of war. Our fallen laid down their lives so we could live ours. It is our task to live up to the example they set, and make America a country worthy of their sacrifice. This anniversary marks the end of a war. But it also commemorates the beginning of a long and prosperous peace. In six decades, the Republic of Korea has become one of the world's largest economies and one of America's closest allies. Together, we have built a partnership that remains a bedrock of stability throughout the Pacific. That legacy belongs to the service members who fought for freedom 60 years ago, and the men and women who preserve it today. So as we mark this milestone, let us offer a special salute to our Korean War veterans. Let us renew the sacred trust we share with all who have served. And let us reaffirm that no matter what the future holds, America will always honor its promise to serve our veterans as well as they served us -- now and forever. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2013, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our distinguished Korean War veterans. ____________________________________________ www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/

Korean War Armistice: July 27 -- 60th anniversary in 2013

from Korean War 60 dot-com / anniversary on 27 July 2013 60th Anniversary War Commission (DoD -- Department of Defense, Federal Government): 1. To thank and honor Veterans of the Korean War, including members of the Armed Forces who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States. 2. To thank and honor the families of Veterans of the Korean War for their sacrifices and contributions, especially families who lost a loved one in the Korean War. 3. To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Korean War and the contributions of Federal agencies and governmental organizations that served with, or in support of the Armed Forces. 4. To pay tribute to the sacrifices and contributions made on the home front by people of the United States during the Korean War. 5. To provide the people of the United States with a clear understanding and appreciation of the lessons and history of the Korean War. 6. To highlight advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Korean War. 7. To recognize contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Korean War. Why is this important? The Korean War was the first test of the United Nations’ resolve to stand against tyranny in all its forms. Twenty-one nations banded together with the United States and South Korea in a remarkable display of solidarity to turn back naked aggression and stem the tide of communism. The Armistice signed in 1953 that remains in effect today reminds us that we must remain vigilant against the forces of tyranny and oppression. The Korean War also saw the advent of aeronautical, medical and societal change: Helicopters were introduced to transport casualties to field hospitals; jets became the new “standard” for aircraft. . . http://koreanwar60.com/sites/default/files/2013-press-pdf/kw60backgrounder.pdf

July 15, 1984 (Third Sunday): A great day for Ice Cream [Presidential Proclamation]

Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food. Over eight hundred and eighty-seven million gallons of ice cream were consumed in the United States in 1983. The ice cream industry generates approximately $3.5 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. Indeed, nearly ten percent of all the milk produced by the United States dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, thereby contributing substantially to the economic well-being of the Nation's dairy industry. The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 298, has designated July 1984 as "National Ice Cream Month," and July 15, 1984, as "National Ice Cream Day," and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of these events. Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 1984 as National Ice Cream Month and July 15, 1984, as National Ice Cream Day.

Who are the five PATRONS of the World Youth Day -- held for 2013 in Rio, Brazil

Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Aparecida Protector of the Church and families Biography In the year 1717, three fishermen, in their way to launch their nets to fish in the waters of the Paraíba River, found the image of Our Lady. Due to the many miracles and increased devotion She was proclaimed patron saint of Brazil in 1930 and years later it was erected in her honor, a great basilica which hosts millions of pilgrims every year. WYD invokes as the Protector of the Church and families! in her honor Prayer Mother of God and my Lady, don't cease in praying for my family. Today, I dedicate to you! Amen. Saint Sebastian Soldier and martyr of faith! Biography Sebastian preferred the fidelity to Christ before any civil or military honor and, therefore, was expelled from the army and died on the persecution of Diocletioan on 300. We can see highlighted in the life of the saint his courage and his love to the Lord Jesus. The WYD invoke him as a soldier and martyr of Faith! Prayer May your intercession me the grace to obey God more than man and to be a soldier of Christ. Amen. Saint Anthony from Santana Galvão Herald of peace and love! Biography Born in Guaratinguetá in 1739. Family with great resources and possibilities, renounced everything and entered into the Franciscan order. Diffusor of peace and love with words and deeds, became the model of delivery. His miracles began while he was still alive, distributing pills made with his own hands, which generated great healings. We invoke as a herald of peace and love! Prayer Pray that, with your example, I will be a promoter of peace and love in all the moments of my life. Amen. Saint Therese of Lisieux Patroness of the Missions! Biography St Therese of Jesus was born in France in 1873. At 15 she went into a Carmelite monastery, where she lived with humility and simplicity her total trust in God. She was proclaimed Patroness of the Missions in 1927, by her deep desire to be a missionay and by her willingness to give everything for the good of others. The WDY invokes her as the Missions Patroness! Prayer Grant me your missionary spirit to bring Jesus to all the villages! Amen. Blessed John Paul II Friend to the youth! Biography Pope John Paul II, the Great, was the creator of the World Youth Day, in 1984. Considered as the Pope of the Youth, he worked in the dialogue with them, and he invited them to recognize their place and mission inside the Church. His pontificate was durable and he helped to guide the Christians, based on the inspirations of Vatican II. He fought until the last moment of his life sharing with us his happiness to give himself to Christ and to our Lady, the Virgin Mary. We invoke him as the friend of the youth! Prayer Grant me, through your intercession, the grace to win the hearts of true friends like you were to young people! Amen. http://www.rio2013.com/en/world-youth-day/patrons-and-intercessors

Novelist - Screenwriter Cormac McCarthy is 80 today -- July 20, 2013

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media - Garrison Keillor) July 20 is the birthday of novelist and screenwriter Cormac McCarthy (1933). He was born Charles McCarthy Jr. in Providence, Rhode Island. He's best known as the author of the "Border Trilogy" — All the Pretty Horses (1992), The Crossing (1994), and Cities of the Plain (1998). In The New York Times Magazine, Richard B. Woodward, called him, "A man's novelist whose apocalyptic vision rarely focuses on women, McCarthy doesn't write about sex, love or domestic issues." His novel The Road (2006) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. His latest screenplay, The Counselor, about a lawyer who finds himself in over his head when he gets entangled in drug trafficking, is set to be released this November. Ridley Scott is directing the film.

150th Anniversary of Mass. 54th attack on Ft. Wagner, Charleston, SC

from web promotional site -- http://batterywagner150th.com/ The Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Battery Wagner will be commemorated during July 2013, sponsored by the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. Events will include several lectures, open to the public, on the events leading to the Federal attacks on Morris Island, the first attack on Battery Wagner on July 10, and the second attack on July 18. Further information will be released on these programs as details become available. On the evening of July 18, the Trust will sponsor a dinner theatre event commemorating the July 18 Battle of Battery Wagner.

Community response to "Archaeology" lecture at local Library (Niles, Michigan)

from another Google Blog -- fortstjosepharchaeology.blogspot.com/ The guest lecture that we had tonight was by Keith Widder and it was called “Beyond Pontiac’s Shadow A Fresh look at “The War Called Pontiac’s”.” The turnout for this lecture was outstanding. We ended up filling the whole basement of the Niles District library lecture room and have now been promoted to a bigger room that is located on the main floor. It is nice to see how many people come out to support a great cause and learn about interesting topics. This lecture focused on why Fort Michilimackinac and its surrounding area were not affected that greatly by Native American conflicts. This was because of the alliance that the British had with the Native Americans in the area. What I found quite interesting throughout this lecture was how Native Americans would protect some of the British men because they considered them friends. POSTED (Wed. July 17, 2013) -- Western Michigan University students at Archaeology "Dig"

Pontiac's War: Author on forthcoming book - Library Lecture (July 17, 2013)

from Niles DAILY STAR online (www.leaderpub.com/ ) Author Ken Widder will discuss his book, “Beyond Pontiac’s Shadow: Michilimackinac and the Anglo-Indian War of 1763” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St., Niles, Michigan 49120. The lecture is the first in a series of four that will be presented in conjunction with the Western Michigan University Archaeological Summer Field School Program, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The hour-long presentation will focus on the early alliances between the British and Native Americans and how these prevented the attack at Michilimackinac on the British from becoming more violent. The author will review the events leading up to the Potawatomi capture of Fort St. Joseph, when supporters of the Ottawa leader Pontiac attacked Fort St. Joseph in an attempt to remove the English from the area and to encourage the return of the French. The attack took place eight days before the surprise attack at Michilimackinac. There is no admission fee, and the program will be presented in the community room on the lower level.

Abraham Lincoln in Song -- CONCERT - July 20, 7:30 p.m. St. Joseph, Michigan (Berrien County)

publicized at Box Factory For the Arts dot-org (Concert series): Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. _______________ "Abraham Lincoln in Song" with Chris Vallilo__________ TICKETS: $10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12 Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln’s 1st Inauguration Vallillo's one-man show tells Lincoln’s story “On February the 12th, 1809, Abraham Lincoln came into this world in a dirt-floored log cabin on the big south fork of Nolan’s Creek in Kentucky” says folk singer Chris Vallillo as he launches into the combination of narrative, storytelling and music that is his one man show Abraham Lincoln in Song. Vallillo, a former archaeologist turned musician and folklorist, created the show using period music Lincoln was directly associated with to tell the story of Lincoln’s life and times. He will be performing the show on Saturday, July 20th at 7:30 PM. With Abraham Lincoln in Song, Vallillo combines Lincoln’s own words and stories with contemporary folk music and period folk songs to shed light on one of our nation’s most beloved historical figures -- not only as a remarkable leader, but as a man who knew and loved this very music himself. Skillfully presenting both well known and obscure songs from Lincoln’s time, Vallillo tells Lincoln’s story -- from his birth 200 years ago on the Big South Fork of Nolan’s Creek in Kentucky through his death in 1865 at the hand of John Wilkes Booth. From an old jew’s-harp tune Lincoln used to play, to political songs like Lincoln and Liberty, Vallillo’s show uses the music to tell the tale in a way that words alone can’t match. Extensively researched and historically accurate, both the live show and compact disc recording of Abraham Lincoln in Song have been endorsed by the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the Commissions of Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. When released last year, the CD of music from the show hit #10 on the Billboard Charts. The hour and 15 minutes show was created under the auspices of the Illinois Humanities Council for the bicentennial celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in February 2009 and has received the endorsement of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial commission. ALIS is an extensively researched, historically accurate show that weaves narrative, Lincoln’s own words and stories, and period music into a celebration of the life and times of one of our nation’s favorite sons. Vallillo himself is a performer with an affinity for American roots music and a gift for translating historic topics into modern day understanding without losing the bedrock from which they surface. A former archaeologist turned folksinger/songwriter, he is a skilled six-string and bottleneck slide guitarist whose love of the past evolved into a love for old music. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum’s Phil Funkenbusch notes, “With Abraham Lincoln in Song, Chris Vallillo takes the audience on a musical journey, making history come alive with his excellent blending of music and storytelling. He grabbed hold of the museum visitors here, establishing excellent rapport with the audience with this thoughtful, humorous and moving show." Vallillo has performed Abraham Lincoln in Song at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, The Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site, President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington DC and theaters, museums and historic sites around the country to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. Chris Vallillo is a nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter and folk musician who makes the people and places of “unmetropolitan” America come to life in song. Having spent the last 30 years in the rural Midwest, he has a natural affinity for American roots music. Performing on six-string and bottleneck slide guitars and harmonica, Vallillo weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs and narratives into a compelling and entertaining portrait of the history and lifestyles of the Midwest. Dirty Linen magazine described the music as, “vivid, original story songs” delivered with an “eye for detail and a sense of history” while Folk Wax Magazine Editor, Arthur Wood said “Vallillo's guitar playing flows like warm honey and is a true aural delight.” For Chris, a good song is as much a work of art as any painting or sculpture. His music has a timeless quality about it, with one foot in the past and one foot in the future. Perhaps the archaeology degree Vallillo earned at Beloit College (BA Anthropology, 1976) helped him see the important little details of life which imbue his songs with a sense of history. His prairie poet style has been compared to Edgar Lee Masters and Vachel Lindsay and you can hear the strains of the Carter Family and Jimmy Rogers reflected in his writing. It’s roots based original and contemporary folk with the rich acoustic textures of bottleneck slide, finger style and flatpicked guitars that echo the influences of Mississippi John Hurt, Norman Blake, Doc Watson and John Fahey. A recipient of a 1986 Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award for music composition, Chris was also a nominee for the Illinois Arts Council's 1987 Governor's Award for Individual Artist. In 1987 he conducted the Schuyler Arts Folk Music Project to document the last of the pre-radio generation. These recordings were accepted into the American Folklife Collection at the Library of Congress. From 1990 through 1998 he served as the performing host and co-producer of the nationally distributed, award-winning public radio performance series Rural Route 3 where he performed next to (and with) a virtual who’s who of contemporary and traditional folk musicians. His most recent project, a one man show titled Abraham Lincoln in Song, received the endorsement of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the accompanying CD of music reached #10 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart in March of 2008. He recently completed his second term as the Illinois State Scholar for the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit on roots music New Harmonies and is completing a new instrumental bottleneck slide guitar CD titled The Last Day of Winter. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directions to the Concert hall at -- WWW.BOXFACTORYFORTHEARTS.org

Documentary (2012) on incident during Gerald Ford's FB career at U of Michigan (1934 specific game versus Georgia Tech)

Black and Blue: The Story of Gerald Ford, Willis Ward and the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech Football Game (2012) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Brian Kruger documentary is 80 minutes in length and was shown on Michigan statewide Public Television stations in honor of the 38th President's centennial (July 14, 2013): Storyline In 1934, Georgia Tech came up to Ann Arbor to play the University of Michigan Football team. They had one demand - U of M must bench its only black player, Willis Ward. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290155/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_7 Production Company Stunt3 Multimedia -- this feature film documentary was released Feb. 13, 2012 in the USA (Black History Month)

Events commemorating Gerald Ford Centennial (July 14, 2013) - Grand Rapids Museum, Michigan

from "News Observer" online report and Associated Press (July 14 posting) Two ceremonies in Grand Rapids and a public television documentary broadcast Sunday (7/14/2013) marked the centennial of President Gerald Ford's birth. Ford, born July 14, 1913, represented western Michigan in the U.S. House before Republican President Richard Nixon named him as vice president in 1974 to replace Spiro Agnew. Ford became president with Nixon's own resignation that year but lost the race for a full term in 1976 to Democrat Jimmy Carter. A presidential wreath-laying ceremony was held Sunday afternoon at Ford's tomb. It was followed by the unveiling of a scale model of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the lobby of the Ford Presidential Museum. The $12.8 billion aircraft carrier is under construction and is scheduled to enter the U.S. fleet in 2016.Among those who spoke at the observance was Capt. John Meier, the aircraft carrier's first commanding officer. Under construction since 2009, the 1,110-foot ship will carry 75 planes and a crew of 4,660. Ford's daughter Susan Ford Bales also spoke. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/14/3029044/sunday-events-honor-president.html#storylink=cpy

Born in Concord, Massachusetts - Henry David Thoreau on this Date in History

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media: Garrison Keillor program): July 12 is the birthday of the man who said: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." That's Henry David Thoreau, born David Henry Thoreau in Concord, Massachusetts (1817). He grew up exploring the woods and fields of Massachusetts, encouraged by his mother to learn as much as he could from nature. He went to Harvard, but he didn't like it very much — he refused a diploma since it cost five dollars. He worked for a while in his father's pencil factory, and as a public school teacher, and he became close friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1841, the Emersons invited Thoreau to live with them and work as a handyman and gardener, and he helped take care of their children, taking them on nature walks and telling them stories. Thoreau stayed with the Emersons for two years. During that time, he worked on his writing, and through Emerson, became friends with many of the Transcendentalists. In 1844, Emerson bought land on the shore of Walden Pond. Walden Pond was a pristine, 61-acre pond, surrounded by woods, and Emerson agreed to let his friend live on the land and build a cabin there. People often assume that Thoreau went out into the wilderness to write his famous treatise on nature, but in fact, he was living less than two miles from the village of Concord. He had regular dinners with friends, continued to do odd jobs for the Emersons, and had frequent visitors. The book he was so committed to writing at Walden Pond was called A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, about a trip he had taken with his brother. He finished it and published it himself, but it was a flop — selling fewer than 300 copies. But during the two years he was at Walden Pond, he also kept a journal, and after he left, he put it together as a manuscript. In 1854, he published Walden, or Life in the Woods, which has become a beloved classic.

Malala Day: Pakistani 16-year-old to address United Nations on birthday (July 12, 2013)

from BBC Coverage -- www.bbc.co.uk/ __________ The United Nations has declared Friday 'Malala Day' Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai is to address the United Nations as part of her campaign to ensure free compulsory education for every child. She will mark her 16th birthday by delivering a speech later on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York City, NY. Malala was shot in the head on a school bus by Taliban gunmen because of her campaign for girls' rights. It will be her first public speech since last October's incident in Pakistan's north-western Swat Valley. After the shooting Malala was flown from Pakistan to the UK for treatment, and now lives in Birmingham. The teenager has been credited with bringing the issue of women's education to global attention. In her speech she will call on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every child has the right to go to school. "Let us pick up our books and pens," Malala is expected to say. "They are our most powerful weapons. "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first." About 57 million people around the world still do not have access to education, and a quarter of young women have not completed primary school. The schoolgirl, who set up the Malala Fund following the attack, will also present a petition of more than three million signatures to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanding education for all. The event, described as Malala Day by the UN, has been organised by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, now the UN Special Envoy for Global Education. He said: "Getting every girl and boy into school by 2015 is achievable. "It is only impossible if people say it's impossible. Malala says it is possible - and young people all over the world think it is possible." Aid agencies say that female access to education in Pakistan is a particular problem. They say that the country ranks among the lowest in terms of girls' education enrolment, literacy and government spending.

Soul Food project (July 13 - 14): benefits Underground Railroad non-profit (Vandalia, MI)

article by Rachel Breden for LEADER Publications of Cass & Berrien Counties, Michigan: http://leaderpub.com _____________________________________________________________________ The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County is hosting the Underground Railroad Days this weekend and with it comes some soulful food. The Vandalia Church of God will hold the first Soul Food Dinner at the village hall in Vandalia to raise money for the church’s building fund. On the menu are fried chicken, barbeque rib tips, pinto and great northern beans, greens, sweet potatoes and corn bread. Cost for the dinner is $10 and tickets can be bought in advance or at the event. It is offered Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Soul Food Dinner organizer Denise Bufkin said, “It has been really exciting to see the community gathering to help with the building fund. Calvin Community Church is helping to prepare meals, First Baptist is helping out, members from Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church are helping to pass out tickets and parents of members are helping out in abundance. For the other churches to come in as one body in Christ has been really exciting.” Bufkin said the money raised for the building fund will be used for general work on the building and grounds, painting and replacement doors. “We are trying to beautify the neighborhood a little,” Bufkin said. “We will also use the money to buy food for the food pantry we would like to start.” The church will resume holding free meals for the community on the third Saturday of every month beginning in October and may use additional funds raised from the dinner to buy food for the meals. Vandalia Church of God is also hosting the community church service on Sunday at 11 a.m. in Milo Barnes Park in Vandalia. Pastor Rayvon Bufkin of Vandalia Church of God and Pastor Michael Anderson of First Baptist Church in Vandalia will bring the message. Money raised from the service will go to the Underground Railroad project.

Underground Railroad Days (July 13 - 14): Cass County Michigan at Vandalia sites

more information at group's dot-org website as far as schedule and plays - lectures: The Village of Vandalia, MI and the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC) will sponsor the fourth annual Underground Railroad Days Saturday July 13, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday July 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Vandalia. The two-day celebration will feature guided tours of UGRR sites, information booths and displays, tours of the Bonine House, home of UGRR stationmaster and abolitionist James E. Bonine; as well as presentations on various aspects of the UGRR in Cass County (Southwest Michigan). The Village of Vandalia hosts a classic car show on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., local arts and crafts vendors, a Community Church Service on Sunday morning 11 a.m.; and new this year a "Soul Food Dinner" (a combined effort of Baptist, Quaker, Community Protestant Christians) in the Village Hall on both days. from Pure Michigan! web posting www.urscc.org/

Painful, Humiliating, Degrading Process - Forced Feeding at Guantanamo for 45 of the 106 detainees on "Hunger Strike"

from Christian Science Monitor coverage (July 8, 2013): By Reporter Warren Richey, Staff writer A federal judge declined Monday to order the US government to stop force-feeding Guantánamo detainees engaged in a long-running hunger strike . . .US District Judge Gladys Kessler said in a four-page order that she lacked jurisdiction to grant relief for the detainees in the case. In an unusual move for a federal judge, she then identified someone who did have clear authority to resolve the issue – President Obama. The order was issued after a group of four detainees had asked Judge Kessler and a second judge to intervene to prevent the continued force-feeding of hunger strikers at Guantánamo – including during the Islamic month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours. US officials say that 106 of the 166 detainees at Guantánamo are engaged in a hunger strike, and that 45 of them are being force-fed through the use of a tube inserted through the nose and into the stomach. Lawyers for the detainees said the procedure is intentionally painful and inhumane and want the procedure halted altogether. Government lawyers counter that they will not allow prisoners to starve themselves to death, adding that officials at the detention camp would refrain from conducting any forced feeding sessions during the day throughout Ramadan. In her brief order, Judge Kessler addressed the case of Jihad Dhiab, a Syrian national who has been held at Guantánamo without charge for 11 years. He was eligible for release in 2009, but the release has never been carried out. The judge said Mr. Dhiab’s lawyers had presented “what appears to be a consensus that force-feeding prisoners violates Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which prohibits torture or cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.” Kessler noted that the American Medical Association, the World Medical Association, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights had all issued statements condemning forced feeding. The judge rejected the contention by government lawyers that the detainees were receiving timely and compassionate health care comparable to that provided to US military service members. “It is perfectly clear from the statements of detainees, as well as the statements from the organizations just cited, that force-feeding is a painful, humiliating, and degrading process,” the judge wrote. Kessler had earlier concluded in a 2009 case that the federal courts did not have jurisdiction to take up cases challenging the conditions of confinement at the Guantánamo detention camp. That restriction was part of laws passed by Congress that sought to limit the legal options open to the detainees. “Even though this Court is obligated to dismiss the Application for lack of jurisdiction, and therefore lacks any authority to rule on Petitioner’s request, there is an individual who does have the authority to address the issue,” she said. The judge quoted a May 23 speech by President Obama. “Look at the current situation, where we are force-feeding detainees who are holding a hunger strike… Is that who we are? Is that something that our founders foresaw? Is that the America we want to leave to our children? Our sense of justice is stronger than that.” Kessler said that as president and commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, Obama had the “authority – and power – to directly address the issue of force-feeding of the detainees at Guantánamo Bay.” Three other detainees presented a similar motion to US District Judge Rosemary Collyer. She had not yet issued a decision by late Monday, according to court records.

Ramadan 2013 begins Tuesday July 9 -- sundown -- month of fasting

from Online Information posted at TimeandDate dot-com website: Ramadan is a month of fasting for many Muslims in the United States. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. It is a time of self-examination and increased religious devotion. People of Islamic faith are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an during Ramadan. Some Muslims recite the entire Qur'an by the end of Ramadan through special prayers known as Tarawih, which are held in mosques every night of the month, during which a section of the Qur'an is recited. Ramadan is also a month for acts of charity. Some Islamic centers and organizations actively take part in charity events and activities such as giving basic necessities, including food and clothing, to the homeless or donating school equipment to schools. Some schools for students of Islamic faith may hold special events to welcome Ramadan. Some school authorities may issue requests on or prior to Ramadan, asking staff members at all schools within a district to help Muslim students perform their fasting ritual. Public life Many Islamic businesses and organizations may amend opening hours to suit prayer times during Ramadan in the United States. There may also be some congestion around mosques during prayer times, such as in the evenings. Background Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which consists of 12 months and lasts for about 354 days. The word “Ramadan” is derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of food and drink. It is considered to be the most holy and blessed month. Fighting is not allowed during this period. The month of Ramadan traditionally begins with a new moon sighting, marking the start of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims (except children, the sick and the elderly) abstain from food, drink, and certain other activities during daylight hours in Ramadan. This is considered as the holiest season in the Islamic year and commemorates the time when the Qu’ran (Islamic holy book) is said to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. This occurred on Laylat Al-Qadr, one of the last 10 nights of the month. Ramadan ends when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted again, marking the new lunar month’s start. Eid-al-Fitr is the Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.

Is it ethical to "force-feed" a Muslim prisoner during his time of annual fasting?

from Politico dot-com -- reporter Tal Kopan - posted news article (July 3, 2013) The U.S. Government will continue to force feed hunger striking detainees at Guantanamo Bay during Ramadan, the Justice Department says in a court filing, although it plans to not administer the feedings during the daytime. The filing was in response to petitions filed in U.S. District Court in Washington by four hunger-striking Guantanamo detainees, three of whom have been approved for "enteral feeding," or being fed by a tube. The group asked judges for injunctions to stop the force feeding and any administration of drugs without detainees' consent, urging that the matter be decided quickly with Ramadan beginning at sunset July 8. In response, Justice officials wrote Wednesday that feeding will not occur between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, and that extra accommodations have been made to ensure the large number of hunger strikes could all be fed in accordance with the observance of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast in the daylight hours. Officials also denied that any of the four detainees petioning the court were given the anti-nausea drug Reglan, which can cause adverse side effects, as the detainees claimed in their filing. Acting Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery and other officials wrote to the court that the force feeding was "essential nutritional and medical care," and that all procedures were humane and in accordance with applicable standards. Many human rights groups have called on the U.S. to stop the feedings.

Who is the 14th Dalai Lama? - Writer's Almanac Recognition of his 78th Birthday

from Minnesota Public Radio - American Public Media (Garrison Keillor web postings): July 16, 2013 marks the 78th birthday of the Dalai Lama born in Taktser, Tibet (1935). When the 13th Dalai Lama died in 1933, monks from the city of Lhasa set out to find a child who would prove to be the reincarnation of the Buddhist leader. They eventually found him in the village of Taktser, in a three-year-old boy named Lhamo, whom they took back to Lhasa and installed as the 14th Dalai Lama. Since 1960, the Dalai Lama has lived in India and worked to bring a nonviolent resolution to the conflict in Tibet. He received the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

Vatican announces 2013 canonization of 20th Century popes: John XXIII and John Paul II (5 July 2013)

Further details announced in Christian Science Monitor breaking news story -- www.csmonitor.com/ Pope John Paul II has cleared the final obstacle before being made a saint, awaiting just the final approval from Pope Francis and a date for the ceremony that could come as soon as Dec. 8, a Vatican official and news reports. The ANSA news agency reported that a commission of cardinals and bishops met Tuesday July 2, 2013 to consider John Paul's case and signed off on it. A Vatican official confirmed that the decision had been taken some time back and that Tuesday's meeting was essentially a formality. One possible canonization date is Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a major feast day for the Catholic Church. This year 2013 the feast coincidentally falls on a Sunday, which is when canonizations usually occur. By canonizing John Paul II along with John XXIII, the Vatican could be seeking to assuage concerns about John Paul's fast-track sainthood case by tying it together with the 50-year wait John XXIII has had to endure. Many Poles have been awaiting the final steps of John Paul's progress, which has been pushed for by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Polish pope's longtime private secretary. "We should be very happy if it is confirmed," Dziwisz's spokesman, the Rev. Robert Necek told Polish TVN24 television. "This is the next and the last step towards canonization. It will be presented to Pope Francis and the pope will take the appropriate decision." During John Paul's 2005 funeral Mass, chants of "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood Now!" erupted in St. Peter's Square. Heeding the calls, then-Pope Benedict XVI waived the typical five-year waiting period and allowed an investigation into John Paul's life to begin immediately. The investigation determined that the beloved Polish-born pope lived a virtuous life, the first step in the sainthood process. Subsequently, the Vatican determined that a French nun who prayed for his intercession was miraculously cured of Parkinson's disease. A second miracle is needed for canonization. The Vatican hasn't yet divulged any details about that. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0702/Vatican-approves-second-miracle-clears-Pope-John-Paul-II-for-sainthood/(page)/3

Fort St. Joseph (Niles, Michigan - Berrien County) boulder -- 1913 marker - to be re-dedicated July 2013

from Coverage in NILES DAILY STAR (Leader Publications): Getting a seven-ton boulder to Fort and Bond Streets in Niles, Michigan to commemorate Fort St. Joseph was quite a production, so it’s fitting there will be quite a production from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday to commemorate its 100th anniversary at the south city limits. Fort St. Joseph Historical Association and Support the Fort Inc. are going all out July 6, 2013 to recall the 12-by-10-by 11-foot stone’s dedication on July 4, 1913, which included a two-mile parade through town. Everyone who owned an automobile drove in the 1913 parade. The dedication of the Fort St. Joseph site and unveiling of the huge rock drew national attention. Chicago newspapers described the floats as outstanding. The big rock came from the Peter Malone farm about a mile south of Niles, Michigan (Niles Twp.). In 1910, the historical society organized to mark the fort site and led community efforts to find a suitable marker, raising $1,050. A highlight of the 1913 event was an address by Judge Orville Coolidge, author and editor of A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County, published in 1906. In it, he related the almost 100-year history of Fort St. Joseph. His speech will be re-enacted by Niles Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Weigel portraying Judge Coolidge, who told the large gathering in 1913 that had these people failed, the "Fort of the Four Banners," so rich in romantic history, might have passed entirely from the memory of man. Dr. Michael Nassaney, of Western Michigan University and director of the Fort St. Joseph archaeology project, will provide a more contemporary perspective on the fort’s history, informed by digs of the past 15 years. . . [ full story by John Eby at this web location : http://leaderpub.com/2013/07/02/fort-boulder-rededicated-july-6/ ]

88th New York Volunteer Infantry received absolution (in quantum possum) -- Gettysburg July 2, 1865

from WEB Article Irish American Civil War website (dot-com): Major St. Clair Mulholland, who commanded the 116th Pennsylvania and was present at Gettysburg, describes what happened: ‘Father Corby stood on a large rock in front of the brigade. Addressing the men, he explained what he was about to do, saying that each one could receive the benefit of the absolution by making a sincere Act of Contrition and firmly resolving to embrace the first opportunity of confessing his sins, urging them to do their duty, and reminding them of the high and sacred nature of their trust as soldiers and the noble object for which they fought. The brigade was standing at ‘Order arms!’ As he closed his address, every man, Catholic and non-Catholic, fell on his knees with his head bowed down. Then, stretching his right hand toward the brigade, Father Corby pronounced the words of absolution…the scene was more than impressive, it was awe inspiring. Near by stood a brilliant throng of officers who had gathered to witness this very unusual occurence, and while there was profound silence in the ranks of the Second Corps, yet over to the left, out by the peach orchard and Little Round Top, where Weed and Vincent and Hazlitt were dying, the roar of the battle rose and swelled and re-echoed through the woods, making music more sublime than ever sounded through cathedral aisle. The act seemed to be in harmony with the surroundings. I do not think there was a man in the brigade who did not offer-up a heart-felt prayer. For some, it was their last; they knelt there in their grave clothes. In less than half an hour many of them were numbered with the dead of July 2. Who can doubt their prayers were good? What was wanting in the eloquence of the priest to move them to repentence was supplied in the incidents of the fight. That heart would be incorrigible, indeed, that the scream of a Whitworth bolt, adding to Father Corby’s touching appeal, would not move to contrition.’ [as Brigade Chaplain -- Fr. Corby would later write in his autobiography: MEMOIRS OF CHAPLAIN LIFE ] http://irishamericancivilwar.com/2010/07/02/father-corbys-gettysburg-absolution/ also in SOUTH BEND (Indiana) TRIBUNE front-page article -- 150th anniversary of Gettysburg Second day of Battle including photo of NOTRE DAME's Rev. William Corby Statue A statue of the Rev. William Corby, depicted giving general absolution to troops at the Battle of Gettsyburg, stands in front of Corby Hall at the University of Notre Dame. It was erected in 1911, and is identical to a statue at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/keynews/community/article_6ba6799c-e293-11e2-a366-0019bb30f31a.html

Fourth Generation Fruit Peddler. Vegan. Health Nut. Broccoli Lover. -- Party for 110th Birthday (Berrien County, Michigan) - Ethan Shelton

from Great-Grandson Nick Shelton's Blog -- www.sheltonfarms dot-com _____________________________________ Ethan Shelton’s 110th Birthday Party Ethan Shelton is celebrating his 110th Birthday! We hope you can join us on Sunday, July 7th, 2013 to celebrate this amazing man’s 110th birthday! Ethan’s birthday is actually July 10th, but in keeping with tradition, we are having a party in his honor on the closest Sunday. Please note that we have a CHANGE IN LOCATION from previous years. This year, the party will be in the Family Life Center at Berrien Center Bible Church, located just North of the blinker light in Berrien Center, Michigan at 8830 M-140, Zip = 49102. The “Open House” party will kick off at 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. A picnic buffet will be offered from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm. No presents please, but cards and notes are always read and greatly appreciated. We hope you can join us as we celebrate this incredible achievement. Please help spread the word to family and close friends and neighbors. If you have questions, you can reach Joe Shelton or me (Nick) by emailing info@sheltonfarms.com. http://sheltonfarms.com/ethan-sheltons-110th-birthday-party

Influential figure in World Religion & Human Rights -- Compassion day 2013 is his 78th Birthday

from "Brief Biography" -- www. dalailama dot-com/ (as postetd June 2013) His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the very young age of two, the child who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time, was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are believed to be enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity. Education in Tibet His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. The curriculum consisted of five major and five minor subjects. The major subjects were logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy which was further divided into a further five categories: Prajnaparimita, the perfection of wisdom; Madhyamika, the philosophy of the middle Way; Vinaya, the canon of monastic discipline; Abidharma, metaphysics; and Pramana, logic and epistemology. The five minor subjects were poetry, music and drama, astrology, composition and phrasing, and synonyms. At 23, His Holiness sat for his final examination in Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honors and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree, equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy. Leadership Responsibilities In 1950 His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power after China's invasion of Tibet in 1949/50. In 1954, he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping and Chou Enlai. But finally, in 1959, with the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, His Holiness was forced to escape into exile. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala, northern India. Since the Chinese invasion, the Central Tibetan Administration led by His Holiness appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet. The General Assembly adopted three resolutions on Tibet in 1959, 1961 and 1965. Democratization Process In 1963, His Holiness presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet that was followed by a number of reforms to democratize the Tibetan administrative set-up. The new democratic constitution promulgated as a result of this reform was named "The Charter of Tibetans in Exile". The charter enshrines freedom of speech, belief, assembly and movement. It also provides detailed guidelines on the functioning of the Tibetan Administration with respect to those living in exile. In 1992, the Central Tibetan Administration issued guidelines for the constitution of a future, free Tibet. The guidelines outlined that when Tibet became free the immediate task would be to set up an interim government whose first responsibility will be to elect a constitutional assembly to frame and adopt Tibet's democratic constitution. His Holiness also stated that he hoped that Tibet, comprising of the three traditional provinces of U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham, would be federal and democratic. In May 1990, the reforms called for by His Holiness saw the realization of a truly democratic administration in exile for the Tibetan community. The Tibetan Cabinet (Kashag), which till then had been appointed by His Holiness, was dissolved along with the Tenth Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies (Tibetan parliament in exile). In the same year, exile Tibetans on the Indian sub-continent and in more than 33 other countries elected 46 members to the expanded Eleventh Tibetan Assembly on a one-man one-vote basis. The Assembly, in its turn, elected the new members of the cabinet. In September 2001, a further major step in democratization was taken when the Tibetan electorate directly elected the Kalon Tripa, the senior-most minister of the Cabinet. The Kalon Tripa in turn appointed his own cabinet who had to be approved by the Tibetan Assembly. In Tibet's long history, this was the first time that the people elected the political leadership of Tibet.

Drew Gilpin Faust / Adam Goodheart / other commentators on Civil War (July 2 Radio call-in show) - D.Rehm Show

from Diane Rehm Show -- www.drshow.org/ -- check your local NPR affiliate for air time/scheduling Tuesday, July 2, 2013 - 11:06 a.m. 11:06 a.m. (ET) 150 Years After The Battle Of Gettysburg 150 Years After The Battle Of Gettysburg Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flood the 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park and surrounding town this week to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Diane and her guests discuss the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg and how it's remembered. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flood the 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park and surrounding town this week to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The events of July 1-3, 1863, produced more than 50,000 casualties, with an estimated 7,500 soldiers killed. Many historians consider Gettysburg a major turning point of the Civil War after Northern forces turned away a Confederate advance. And in the decades following the conflict, the battleground became a symbol of reconciliation. Diane and her guests discuss the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg and how it's remembered. Guests Drew Gilpin Faust president of Harvard University, historian and author of This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War. Eleanor Harvey senior curator at Smithsonian American Art Museum. Adam Goodheart director of Washington College’s C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and author of 1861: The Civil War Awakening. Ta-Nehisi Coates senior editor at The Atlantic and author of the essay, "Why Do So Few Blacks Study the Civil War?" Scott Hartwig supervisory historian at Gettysburg National Military Park. http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-07-02/150-years-after-battle-gettysburg