Top Stories
Proposed UN Treaty Said to Usurp Parent’s Rights. Action
Urged.
Today is a big vote in the Senate that could have a big
impact on the rights of the parents of kids with disabilities. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has allowed
the vote to come to the floor on a United Nations treaty on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. If it’s
approved, it would override state and federal law when it comes to parent’s
rights – essentially allowing the UN to set policy in America. CitizenLink and the Home School Legal Defense
Association are both urging believers to contact their Senators and ask them to
vote no. It needs a 2/3 majority to pass.
Suicide Bombers Strike in Afghanistan
Two suicide bombers died after blowing themselves up at US
base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Sunday. Several other bombers were killed in a gun
battle that followed with coalition forces, and some US soldiers were wounded
in the fighting. It’s the same base
where nine people were killed back in February.
The Taliban is notorious for dressing up in Afghani police uniforms to
gain access to the area around the base.
Israeli PM Says UN Palestine Vote is “Meaningless”
Israel is maintaining that the United Nations vote last week
to recognize Palestine as a non-member state will NOT bring peace, and may make
it even harder. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu called the vote “meaningless” this week, and said no UN
decision can break the 4,000 year old bond that the people of Israel have with the land of Israel.
Fiscal Cliff “Negotiations” Continue with House Proposal the
Latest Move
House Republicans put the ball back in President Obama’s
court yesterday, sending off their latest plan to try to avoid the fiscal
cliff. This plan agrees to 800 billion
dollars in new taxes, which is about half of what the president asked for and
does NOT raise the actual tax rate on the top 2-percent. It took all of about two hours for it to be
rejected.
2009 Ft.
Hood Shooting Update
Another twist in the case of the shootings at Fort Hood
back in 2009. A judge in the case of
Major Nidal Hassan had ordered him to be forcibly shaved, because he was
technically still in the Army and that is protocol. However the US Court of Appeals for the Armed
Forces has now removed that judge, and the case has been put on hold until
another judge is appointed. The Appeals Court
contends that it is the job of his command, and not the judge, to make sure
Hassan follows the rules and shaves his beard.
A Study on Studies
A new study on studies shows we don’t believe them. Conflicting reports on things like how good
egg yolks are for you and whether Omega-3 supplements help have left most of us
skeptical about all the claims. One of
the big reasons? Bias. Sample size, number of participants, and even
who funds these studies can all play a big role in the results, but Bill Hanage
with the Harvard School of Public Health says they don’t always gets reported.
Royals Expecting
A new prince or princess is on the way. Prince William and Princess Kate, or more
properly the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
have officially announced they’re expecting their first child. Kate is hospitalized with a pretty nasty case
of morning sickness, but the doctors seem to indicate she just needs rest. She’s also using that time for baby planning.
Philippines
Typhoon Brings Landslide Risks
A big typhoon is wreaking havoc in the Philippines today, as more than
41-thousand people have moved out of their homes, which are vulnerable to
landslides. Still no word on any
casualties, but this is the strongest typhoon to hit the area this year. It’s weakened since making landfall, but as
of this morning was still packing winds of 99 miles per hour.
Football is Tops in America
A new survey shows that football is America’s sport to follow. That may not come as a great shock, but the
surprising part is that women are more likely than men to say that. The report from Rasmussen shows baseball is second,
basketball is third. Regardless of which
sport they watch, almost 60-percent of us say we feel very happy when our team
wins. Most of us Detroit Lions fans
still don’t know what that feels like.
Church Around the World
More Christians Targeted in Sudan Attacks
Three more Christians have been killed as the fighting in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains
continues. A church and two relief
agency buildings were also destroyed in the latest attacks by the Sudanese
military. Area pastors are asking for
prayer as the government continues to target churches. Thousands of people have taken refuge in
caves there.
Faith
Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays
A new national survey shows Merry Christmas trounces Happy
Holidays, at least in terms of what Americans like to see when they go into
stores. 68-percent of us say we like it
when stores let workers say “Merry Christmas”, or put that on their signs in
the stores. 23-percent say we prefer
“Happy Holidays.”
Family & Relationships
Does Marital Status Affect Wireless Device Use?
“Single or married” may be as simple as “smartphone or
tablet.” A new survey suggests that
married couples are more likely to own a tablet, while smartphones are more
popular with single folks. Almost half
of singles in the survey have a smartphone, although there’s a good possibility
age plays a factor too.
Finances & Economy
Can Money Make You Happy?
If only I made a little bit more money, then I’d be happy. Maybe you’ve fallen into that trap
before. How much is enough to make you
happy? www.CareerBliss.com graded folks in
different income brackets on a five-point scale and found those making between
30-40 thousand dollars per year were just as happy as those making from 90-100
thousand dollars. The highest level on
the happiness meter is when your income reaches between 400-450 thousand
dollars per year. After that, it begins
to tumble again.
Health
Study Links Bone Loss to Steroid Use
Steroid injections for back pain have gotten a lot more
attention since the meningitis outbreak this fall. Now a small study shows that they may affect
your bones too. The study done in Family
Life Nation, at Henry
Ford Hospital
in Metro Detroit, shows older women who get those steroid injections may be at
risk for bone loss in their hips.
Generally speaking, the injections can help pain if there’s some nerve
damage in the back, but doctors are now telling patients to be careful they
don’t overuse them.
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