MARK BURNETT: “THE BIBLE” MINI-SERIES

Mark Burnett has produced many things in his career including “Survivor”, “The Apprentice”, “Shark Tank”, and “The Voice”, but his upcoming project is in a whole different realm of reality TV. The History Channel will air the 10 hour mini-series he produced with his wife Roma Downey called “The Bible.” Downey also takes a starring role in the mini-series as Mary, the mother of Jesus

“The Bible” spans both the Old and New Testaments from Genesis to Revelations. The 5 part series will air starting this Sunday, March 3, with the episode entitled “In the Beginning” and conclude on Easter Sunday, March 31, with “Courage.” The stories will include Noah’s Ark, Abraham, Moses and the Exodus, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, King David and Bathsheba, and the stories of the life of Jesus, just to name a few.

Here is the extended trailer:

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IMDb “The Bible”
New Downey and Burnett Bible series to launch faith journeys

TB OUTBREAK IN LOS ANGELES


View Skid Row in a larger map

Reports of an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in the downtown area of Los Angeles has even the police taking precautions. Over the weekend, LAPD officers in the skid row area were advised via email and roll calls to use masks to protect themselves from risk of being infected by the disease if a situation seems to warrant the preccaution.

Mabel Aragon, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Health Department (LACHD), gave a statement Friday that the federal agency, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is helping in the process of surveillance and statistic gathering as the LACHD is in the process of confirming the number and type of TB cases in LA County.

Scott Bryan, spokesman for the CDC, confirmed they have been asked by both state and local TB officials to assist with the investigation. They are planning on sending in a team in about 2 weeks to further help with containment of the disease.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there have been almost 80 cases of a unique strain of TB identified including 11 deaths. Of those, 60 of the cases were from homeless individuals from the skid row area of Los Angeles. The strain which is unique to Los Angeles can be treated with anti-TB medications for 6 – 9 months.

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Downtown L.A. TB outbreak: LAPD urges officers to wear masks

BUG OR DRONE?

With the signing of a new law by President Obama this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been directed to completely open US airspace to drones by September 30, 2015. There are many uses arguable for the use of drones, but most think of the unmanned planes we have seen in action against Al Qaeda when the term drone is mentioned.

The Air Force Research Laboratory made an animated video of the many uses of Micro Air Vehicles and how they may work in the field. After being released by a larger air vehicle, these bird or bug like surveillance drones can literally fly under the radar as well as enter places other drones cannot.

The video includes a section on “Remote Tag and Target” and “Precision Engagement.” The narration states, “Individual MAV’s may perform direct attack missions and can be equipped with incapacitating chemicals, combustable payloads, or even explosives for precision targeting capabilities.”

A picture of an existing MAV drone is now pictured as the main image on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base web site. Back on July 22, 2010, they also released a Fact Sheet entitled “MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.”

John Horgan of National Geographic has published an article called “Unmanned Flight: The Drones Come Home” in this month’s issue documenting the history of drones and their possible uses in the US.

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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
‘Bug-Sized’ Drones Are The Most Frightening Type Of Killer Robot Yet

HOMELESS MAN SUES PARENTS FOR NOT LOVING HIM ENOUGH

A 32 year old man is still blaming his parents for the life he now leads.

Bernard Anderson Bey has self-filed a suit with the Brooklyn Supreme Court against his parents, Vickie and Bernard Manley, in the amount of $200,000. He claims that they didn’t give him enough support him enough or show him enough affection. He and his siblings were allegedly raised in a poor household where they were not loved enough. This is why he is homeless and destitute.

Now he wants his parents to make up for it. He wants them to mortgage their share of a Bedford-Stuyvesant home and use the money to open two franchises like Domino’s Pizza. This would provide employment for all of his family including his 5 younger siblings he claimed are on public assistance.

“Our whole family is really poor, and my father doesn’t care about the situation,” Bey said yesterday. “I feel unloved and abandoned.” He also claims in the suit that his father beat him, called him names, and did drugs in front off him.

His mother, Vickie Anderson, said, “He’s 32 years old. That speaks for itself. Welcome to America. Everyone in America has the same opportunity. Don’t blame the parents at this point. The choice is yours. You’re an adult.”

Bernard Manley said, “He’s not related to me. He’s not my son.” Bey is his step-son.

A sister said, “I’m not on public assistance. My parents were not terrible. They did the best they could. He chose the life he’s leading now.”

read more  Homeless man sues parents for not loving him enough | Fox News.
Homeless man sues parents for ‘too little love’

OBAMA ADMIN. CALLS ON SUPREME COURT TO STRIKE DOWN DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

The Blaze.com reported that the Obama administration on Friday formally urged the Supreme Court to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

In a brief filed Friday evening, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli argued that DOMA’s section three, which bars married same-sex couples from filing joint federal tax returns and other federal spousal benefits, is unconstitutional:

Section 3 of DOMA violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection. The law denies to tens of thousands of same-sex couples who are legally married under state law an array of important federal benefits that are available to legally married opposite-sex couples. Because this discrimination cannot be justified as substantially furthering any important governmental interest, Section 3 is unconstitutional.

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“THE GUN LEGISLATION THEY ARE CLOSE TO PASSING, IS A PATH TO CONFISCATION.”

Ex-Secret Service Agent “There is no gun control, only people control”

The Blaze.com reported that Dan Bongino lost his race for the U.S. Senate last Fall and the former Secret Service agent was finally closing up shop on his campaign offices when his phone started ringing like crazy. Television and radio shows were calling to ask Dan if he was free… free to talk about this brief speech he gave on January 19th at a Guns Across America rally in Annapolis Maryland.

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BRITAIN’S CREDIT RATING DOWNGRADED BY MOODY’S TO AA1

The UK has had it’s credit rating downgraded one notch from AAA to AA1 by the credit rating agency Moody’s. Out of all the major economies this leaves only Canada and Germany with their top credit ratings intact.

The downgrade is a major blow for the government who have been tackling the UKs massive debt mountain, seeking to end the UK budget deficit by 2016.

Moody’s made the downgrade due to the continued poor economic growth, pointing out, “continuing weakness in the UK’s medium-term growth outlook, with a period of sluggish growth which [it] now expects will extend into the second half of the decade”.

UK Chancellor George Osborne has pledged to continue on his course of deficit reduction, calling Moody’s decision a “stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country – and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems”.

“Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it.”

Last year all three major credit rating agencies placed the UK on negative outlook.

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FRENCH MOTHER ARRESTED FOR SLITTING THROATS OF HER 3 CHILDREN NEAR PARIS

A French woman has been arrested after her three children were found with their throats slit at their home near Paris Friday.

Sky News reports that two of the kids—a  9-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son—died of multiple stab wounds. Their 17-year-old brother was still alive when emergency services arrived, but later died of his wounds.

Their father, a doctor, discovered the scene after returning home in the morning from work, according to judicial sources and police. He was reportedly in a state of shock.

“The children had their throats slit but we are still awaiting forensic reports,” authorities told Sky.

Police launched a hunt for the mother after the bodies were found, eventually apprehending her and holding her in Paris.  The family lived in a suburb east of Paris called Dampmart.

Investigators said the couple was having marital problems.

more at  French mother arrested for slitting throats of her 3 children | Fox News.

CHRIS DODD, FORMER SENATOR OF SANDY HOOK STATE, DEFENDS VIOLENCE IN MOVIES

Zero Dark Thirty, Violence in Entertainment

US News reported that Chris Dodd defends ‘Zero Dark Thirty’,  – Violence in Entertainment, and said that regulating content is a slippery slope.

The president of the Motion Picture Association of America, former U.S. senator Chris Dodd, praised the movie industry for its economic, cultural, and social contributions to the country on Friday, while speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He discussed violence in the media and defended the entertainment industry against claims by the NRA (National Rifle Association), that it is to blame for the recent spate of mass shootings in America.

“I feel very strongly that this industry has been on the forefront of freedom of speech from its inception,” said Dodd, who represented Connecticut in the Senate. “Films that have challenged and provoked not always were received warmly.”

[READ: Zero Dark Thirty Review: In Search of a Hero]

He said he sees the industry’s role in the depiction of violence is providing the tools to people—particularly parents—to know what is in film, through the ratings system and other platforms of information.

“We provide choice for people, a remarkable choice for entertainment, not every movie is for everyone,” he said.

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CHINA’S MILITARY HACKING US GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES REPORT FINDS

A report by Mandiant, an American computer security company, has detailed the extent of Chinese government backed hacking of America.

Mandiant spent three years compiling evidence and now claim to have located the Chinese Liberation Army’s global hacking HQ. A 12 story building in a suburb of Shanghai, has been identified as the possible source of state funded cyber attacks, the report claims.

The report details how Chinese cyber attacks have targetted US businesses as well as government agencies. The hackers have been stealing sensitive corporate information, and have even gained access to government agencies which control fundamental US infrastructure. Theoretically, hackers could manipulate crucial infrastructure including water supply and power grids.

Jay Carney, a spokesman for the White House, said: “We have repeatedly raised our concerns at the highest levels about cyber theft with senior Chinese officials including in the military and we will continue to do so.”

Sen Diane Finestein has also said that the problem of hacking from China and other states requires further legislation. However, security experts have pointed out that international laws are already in place that prohibit such activities, and that China has repeatedly failed to tackle the problem of hacking within it’s country.

The Chinese government has been quick to attack the Mandiant report, saying it lacks technical proof.

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NEW GUIDELINES FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS. AGREE OR BE PUNISHED.

Parents across Massachusetts are upset over new rules that would not only allow transgender students to use their restrooms of their choice – but would also punish students who refuse to affirm or support their transgender classmates.

Last week the Massachusetts Department of Education issued directives for handling transgender students – including allowing them to use the bathrooms of their choice or to play on sports teams that correspond to the gender with which they identify.The 11-page directive also urged schools to eliminate gender-based clothing and gender-based activities – like having boys and girls line up separately to leave the classroom.Schools will now be required to accept a student’s gender identity on face value.“A student who says she is a girl and wishes to be regarded that way throughout the school day and throughout every, or almost every, other area of her life, should be respected and treated like a girl,” the guidelines stipulate.

According to the Dept. of Education, transgender students are those whose assigned birth sex does not match their “internalized sense of their gender.”They said gender nonconforming students “range in the ways in which they identify as male, female, some combination of both, or neither.”

“The responsibility for determining a student’s gender identity rests with the student,” the guidelines dictate. “One’s gender identity is an innate, largely inflexible characteristic of each individual’s personality that is generally established by age four…As a result, the person best situated to determine a student’s gender identity is that student himself or herself.”The new rules would also prevent teachers and administrators from telling parents with which gender their child identifies.“School personnel should speak with the student first before discussing a student’s gender nonconformity or transgender status with the student’s parent or guardian,” the directive states.

The guidelines were issued at the request of the state board of education to help schools follow the 2011 anti-discrimination law protecting transgender students.“These students, because of widespread misunderstanding and lack of knowledge about their lives, are at a higher risk for peer ostracism, victimization, and bullying, the document read.

The Massachusetts Family Institute denounced the new rules calling them a violation of privacy.“Fundamentally, boys need to be using the boys’ room and girls need to be using the girls’ rooms, and we base that on their anatomical sex, not some sort of internalized gender identity,” said Andrew Beckwith, the institute’s general counsel.Beckwith told Fox News the new policy has a “very broad standard that is ripe for abuse.”“The policy allows students to have one gender identity at home and another at school,” he said. “And it refuses to let teachers and administrators tell parents what gender their child is at school.”Another part of the directive that troubles parents deals with students who might feel comfortable having someone of the opposite sex in their locker room or bathroom.The state takes those students to task – noting their discomfort “is not a reason to deny access to the transgender student.”And any student who refuses to refer to a transgendered student by the name or sex they identify with could face punishment.

For example – a fifth grade girl might feel uncomfortable using the restroom if there is an eighth grade transgendered boy in the next stall.Under the state guidelines, the girl would have no recourse, Beckwith said.“And if the girl continued to complain she could be subjected to discipline for not affirming that student’s gender identity choice,” he told Fox News.“It should not be tolerated and can be grounds for student discipline,” the directive states.

more at  Students Who Refuse to Affirm Transgender Classmates Face Punishment | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes.

METEORITE CRASH IN RUSSIAS URAL MOUNTAINS SPARKS UFO FEARS

Explosions and bright flashes in the sky over several locations in Russias Urals region, has sparked fears of a UFO crash, according to RT news.

The number of people injured by the blast above the mountain range soared to “nearly 1,000,” according to the Associated Press.

The crash — felt in Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and Sverdlovsk and elsewhere — resembled an earthquake, witnesses report.

There were conflicting reports. The Interfax news agency described the event as a meteor shower, a spokeswoman for Russias Emergency Ministry, told the AP. But the Interfax news agency described the incident as a single meteorite.”

It was definitely not a plane,” an emergency official told Reuters. “We are gathering the bits of information and have no data on the casualties so far.”

RT quotes witnesses who say the blast and unusual spectacle overhead had some residents fearing a UFO.“

My windows were not smashed, but I first thought that my house is being dismantled, then I thought it was a UFO, and my eventual thought was an earthquake,” Bukreeva Olga wrote on Twitter, according to the news site.

more at  Meteorite Crash In Russias Ural Mountains Sparks UFO Fears Video.