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Truthout Daily Digest | Saturday, 31 January 2015

So many articles in this issue of Truthout that I wish I could share the full article! I am disappointed though, that so few journalists are questioning the propaganda push for vaccination. I would like to see carefully researched articles on the problems and the benefits of vaccination programs, including ideas on how we can improve them.

Instead of mocking and deriding the anti-vaccine movement, why not consider that real problems exist and how to address them?

I’ve always noticed propaganda but only recently has it seemed so obscenely pervasive-and so completely accepted. It bothers me more when liberals do the knee-jerk unquestioning mindless attitude thing. Maybe because I see liberals as intellectual and feel they should know better? Perhaps it’s just embarrassing because most of my views do fall in the liberal spectrum (though not all).

On the opposite side-where is the Republican party outrage at the egregious violations of private property rights being perpetrated by the Keystone XL pipeline project?!?

My Republican father would be disgusted by the “The Corporations Are Always Right Party” they seem to have become. I’m pretty sure that is NOT the view of most real conservatives though the propaganda has pushed a lot of otherwise intelligent conservatives to justify the absurd.
Blessings,
ohnwentsya

Crises at Pacifica Radio

Michael Corcoran, Truthout: Pacifica Radio, the iconic progressive radio network, is currently dealing with several major crises, including an audit from the California Attorney General’s Office, layoffs, divisive infighting and dwindling fundraising and listenership.

Read the Article

The United States’ Hidden Hand in the Creation of Israel

L. Michael Hager, Truthout: Alison Weir’s new book, Against Our Better Judgment, exposes little-known facts about Zionist manipulation of US policy makers in the creation of Israel in 1948. It helps explain how the United States became entangled in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the side of Israel.

Read the Review

Dispatch From Sundance: “How to Change the World”

Tom Roston, Moyers & Company: A ragged band of Canadians took a fishing boat into the frigid waters of the North Pacific Ocean in 1971 to try to stop a nuclear weapons test on the island of Amchitka. With that action, they started the environmental group Greenpeace and, in addition to saving many a whale, revolutionized political activism and advocacy journalism.

Read the Interview

The Death Penalty: Chaotic Tedium

Susanne Dumbleton, Truthout: Georgia is set to execute a man with an IQ of 70. Oklahoma is scheduled to execute a man whose guilt is questionable. California continues to fill up its death row and now has 749 residents. Who is served by this gruesome chaos?

Read the Article

Texas Town at Center of Latest Earthquake Swarm Questions Fracking Impact

Julie Dermansky, DeSmogBlog: The town of Irving, Texas, experienced 12 earthquakes during a 48-hour period in January. Residents are concerned nearby fracking operations are the cause.

Read the Article

Young Navajos Stage 200-Mile Journey for Existence

Lyla Johnston, Idle No More: At dawn on January 6, 2015, a group of young Diné (Navajo) women and their supporters gathered at sunrise near the fire department at the base of Dzil Na’oodilii (Huerfano Mountain). From there the group embarked on a 200-mile trek through eastern New Mexico, as a tribute to the 150th anniversary of the tragic “Long Walk.”

Read the Article

You’ve Heard of Hip-Hop, but What About Krip-Hop?

Making Contact, National Radio Project: “Krip-hop” is the name for the international movement of disabled artists, poets, musicians and MCs.

Listen to the Radio Program

Mourners for Black Queer and Trans Lives Attacked by Castro Bar

QTPOC Liberation, The Feminist Wire: Bar patrons in San Francisco’s Castro District assaulted queer and trans people of color who had taken to the streets to challenge mainstream gay communities to combat anti-Black racism.

Read the Article

Pentagon Finally Identifies the Remains of a POW Lost Since 1942

Megan McCloskey, ProPublica: Long buried alongside hundreds of unknown US soldiers in the Philippines, the remains of Pvt. Arthur “Bud” Kelder are being returned home after a lawsuit by his family.

Read the Article

Progressive Policies Are Popular – So Why Should Democrats Be Afraid of Them?

Keane Bhatt, FAIR: Polls found large percentages of the public support policies like increasing the minimum wage, requiring paid sick leave and offering free community college. So why are Democrats so hesitant to support them?

Read the Article

BuzzFlash

The Buzzflash commentary for Truthout will return soon.

Measles Outbreak Grows to 107 Cases, Latest in Marin County

Read the Article at the Los Angeles Times

A Strained Alliance: Obama-Netanyahu Rift Grew Over Years

Read the Article at The New York Times

Ukraine, Rebels Gather for Peace Talks as Fighting Rages in East

Read the Article at Al Jazeera America

Going to a Public College Isn’t as Affordable as It Used to Be

Read the Article at The Washington Post

The Worst Trade Deal You’ve Never Heard of

Read the Article at The Huffington Post

Evangelicals’ Racist “Purity” Culture: What’s Really Behind Huckabee’s Beyoncé Slur

Read the Article at Salon

Native Communities Feel the Heat of Climate Change in the Southwest

Read the Article at MintPress News


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Imbolc 2015: Facts, Dates, Traditions And Rituals To Know

Years ago this was always the most neglected of pagan holidays-at least it appeared that way to me in the local community. It’s nice to see an article like this in a general interest publication like HuffPo. I’m a bit isolated from actual interaction with humans so I may be missing a lot, but it seems like society is becoming more open and accepting of difference.

I love seeing all the interfaith initiatives, and so many people speaking out in respect of traditions other than their own. Tolerance, like compromise, is one of the fundamental necessities of a functional society.

Even though the evidence of ending and collapse is all around us now, Imbolc’s meaning is more relevant this year than ever before in my lifetime. The seeds of the new world are sprouting everywhere.

From the community coming together effectively to stop the ebola outbreak in Liberia, to the new Women’s mosque opening in California, to the incredible rise of activism and awareness in the children and youth today; the signs are everywhere.

Have a Blessed Imbolc and a beautiful Spring ( Autumn for those on the Southern side-I’ve always wondered, are the cross quarter holidays celebrated differently in the South? As in, since this holiday is in summer there is it celebrated as Lughnasa for the harvest? It has always seemed odd to me trying to celebrate “winter” holidays in the subtropical region. I imagine how much more odd it would be to have Spring celebrations in the end of summer or harvest festivals in Spring!)
Blessings,
ohnwentsya

Imbolc 2015: Facts, Dates, Traditions And Rituals To Know

HuffPost Religion Editors
The Huffington Post Posted: 02/02/15 09:33 AM ET Updated: 02/02/15 09:59 AM ET

For many in the U.S., the only ‘religious’ event this time of year is the Super Bowl. But for many pagans and Wiccans, February 2 marks the important holiday, Imbolc, and their attention may be focused somewhere other than the television screen.

wiccan1. Imbolc is one of fourmajor pagan sabbats, or holidays, along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. In between these sabbats, pagans celebrate the seasonal solstices and equinoxes.

pagan pray2. Imbolc ispronounced “IM-bulk” or “EM-bowlk.”

mist3. Imbolc falls on the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Although it isattributed to the ancient Celts, ancient Egyptians, Babylonians and indigenous groups are also believed to have celebrated an equivalent holiday.

groundhog day4. Nowadays Imbolc may be related toCandlemas and Groundhog Day, and indeed there is evidence from early Irish lore surroundingweather divination this time of year.

pagan fertility5. Also called Brigid’s Day, Imbolc honors the Celtic goddess of fire, fertility, midwifery and the young. Many Pagans will pay tribute to Brigid by arranging an altar and ‘invoking’ the goddess through prayer.

ewe nursing6. The term ‘Imbolc’derives from Old Irishand means “in the belly,” or alternately “ewe’s milk.” The interpretation lends significance to the holiday as a celebration of fertility, reproduction and the young — all overseen by the goddess Brigid.

bonfire7. Imbolc observes thewaning of winter and approach of spring. Pagans often use fire and other forms of light to encourage the lengthening of day. Seed and bud imagery may be used, as well, to promote the growth of new life ensured by springtime.

poppyseed cake8. As with many pagan holidays, food and music are essential. Dishes for Imbolc tend to incorporate seeds, dairy and other spring-evoking foods.

brigid cross9. Celebrants oftenprepare talismans to use during Imbolc ceremonies and then keep in their homes. These include a Brideog — a small straw doll dressed in white cloth — and a Brigid’s Cross, also often woven from straw.

open window10. Imbolc is a time forspring cleaning. Some clean their homes, take ritual baths and de-clutter their lives in other ways. This is believed to create space for the goddess to come into people’s live and for new seeds to take root in the coming spring.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6594060


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Don’t miss your blessings and signs from the universe

Thank you, Pam!

Pam Grout

“Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth – the universe looks suspiciously like a fix. It’s as if a super-intellect has monkeyed with physics.—Paul Davies

Carol Burnett, who won countless Emmys and Golden Globes during her 12-year tenure on CBS, used to pull on her earlobe during her variety show. It was a sign to her children, who were watching at home, that she loved them.

The universe, for those of us paying attention, is every bit as generous. It’s constantly sending us signs, constantly letting us know that, “Hey, it’s going to be okay. You’re all right. Life is here for your enjoyment.”

Pope Francis says that whenever he’s troubled or needing comfort, he sees a white rose. That’s his personal sign, directly from the Big Guy. My friend Annola is sent a crane—the bird, not the construction rig.

Blessings and signs such as these never end…

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The Oracle Report | Monday, February 2, 2015

MONKEY PANTS FROM WISE OWL SIERRA

MONKEY PANTS FROM WISE OWL SIERRA

“Outposts” – Aquarius Lunar Cycle: January 20 – February 17, 2015

OracleReport.com

“The Black Moon Transit of Virgo: November 27, 2014 – August 25, 2015”

OracleReport.com

Monday, February 2, 2015

Gibbous Moon Phase: trust in a higher power and order

Moon in Cancer/Leo (12:41 pm ET/5:41 pm UT)

Ruling Wisdom Goddess: Matangi (Goddess of Soft Breezes)

Skill: soften up

Positive Imprint: determination and drive, deep realizations, the transformation of situations, pausing, archetypes, seeing beyond appearances, sounding a call, faith

Negative Imprint: irritable, instability, deception, undermining others, bogged down, demanding attention

Sabian Symbol for the Lunar Month: “an old adobe mission” (projecting projects and ideas into the future, spiritual retreat)

Today, wise owls will view detours, do-overs, misfires, false starts, and obstacles as an opportunity. This is something of a test for us today. Instead of succumbing to frustration, we “clue in” when things start going sideways and let the soft breeze of Matangi take over. She will untangle the situation for us, showing or teaching us something in the process.

The primary catalysts for the disruption are Mercury retrograde. But the energetic of the Sun today at the Sabian symbol of “a train entering a tunnel” directs us to keep going no matter what.

This can happen with actual detours on your travels today, electronic malfunctions, miscommunications, accidents, things that cause things to come to a standstill, alarms, and unexpected events.

When these kinds of things happen, take a deep breath of Matangi’s energy. Matangi means soft breeze in Maori. Relax yourself and let some air into the situation. Don’t turn around; keep going. There’s a reward for doing so.

I know this for a fact already today because Mercury retrograde caused me to have to venture out for wi-fi. Keep going if you face obstacles today. It will be worth it.

Note: I will not be posting a report tomorrow, but I will return on Wednesday.

Thank you for supporting the Oracle Report. Blessings to all!

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Permission to repost is granted provided credit is given towww.oraclereport.com.

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