Shamelessly stolen

And on the Lord's Day, too! And me a priest.

Via Margaret's blog, "Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It," we have Mina Mazzini, Italian pop singer, delivering a powerful version of "Nada te turbe" [from the bookmark of Santa Teresa de Jesus, aka Teresa de Ávila].



Nada te turbe
Nada te espante
Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta
Solo Dios basta
Todo se pasa
Dios no se muda
La paciencia todo lo alcanza

Let nothing disturb you,
nothing afright you.
Whom God possesses
in nothing is wanting.
Alone God suffices.
All things are passing.
God never ceases.
Patient endurance attains all things.

I love this conclusion to Margaret's current most recent post:

Earlier this week I stated that I was striving to get a good mantra deep into my soul --'let nothing disturb you' --and 'all shall be well' and let it be my method of being. Feh! Now I am ready to go radical... step outside the system.... go wild....

I'll let you know how it goes.

Margaret, thank you for commenting at Mimi's place so I and others might get to know you better.

¡Santa Teresa, ruega por nosotros!

--the BB

4113

Latest Coalition Fatalities

06/28/08
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties (3 of 3)
Cpl. Marcus W. Preudhomme, 23, of North Miami Beach, Fla...assigned to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii...died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province

06/28/08
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties (2 of 3)
Capt. Philip J. Dykeman, 38, of Brockport, N.Y...assigned to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii...died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province

06/28/08
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties (1 of 3)
Lt. Col. Max A. Galeai, 42, of Pago Pago, American Samoa...assigned to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii...died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province

06/28/08 en.apa.az:
Azerbaijani peacekeeper dies in Iraq
Azerbaijani peacekeeper serving in Iraq died. APA’s north bureau reports that 20-year-old Rafael Agayev, who was drafted from Khachmaz in December 2006, died in Iraq some days ago.

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (2 of 2)
Maj. Dwayne M. Kelley, 48, of Willingboro, N.J., who was assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Green Bay, Wis...died June 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from a bomb blast.

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (1 of 2)
Chief Warrant Officer Robert C. Hammett, 39, of Tucson, Ariz., who was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo...died June 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from a bomb blast.

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (3 of 3)
Pfc. James M. Yohn, 25, of Highspire, Pa...died June 25 in Mosul, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device on June 24. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment...

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (2 of 3)
Spc. Joel A. Taylor, 20, of Pinetown, N.C... died June 25 in Mosul, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device on June 24. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment...

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (1 of 3)
Sgt. Alejandro A. Dominguez, 24, of San Diego, Calif... died June 25 in Mosul, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device on June 24. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment...

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Pfc. Bryan M. Thomas, 22, of Lake Charles, La., died June 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Salman Pak, Iraq, when his patrol encountered small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion...

06/27/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. Joshua L. Plocica, 20, of Clarksville, Tenn., died June 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment...

Source: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Source: iCasualties.org/oef/

"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."

This is the terrifying core of the mysterious and dreadful tale of the Akedah, the Binding of Isaac (or as Christians usually call it "the sacrifice of Isaac" though it did not quite get that far).

Intriguingly, it is also the first time the word "love" occurs in the Bible, underscoring the horror of the tale.

In offline correspondence today Jane R and I discussed this passage very briefly, as it is appointed for the Eucharist this weekend and she is preaching tomorrow. I commented that child sacrifice continues today and is sadly common and the chiefest means thereof is war (the second possibly being neglect - e.g., doing nothing about malnutrition and disease because we lack the political will to do so).

Moloch today is, as ever, the egos of old men. And perhaps, nowadays, oil and the evils aggregated around it.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace and rise in glory.

And Godde have mercy on us all.
--the BB

Billy Carleton Sykes - RIP

I just learned that Uncle Billy, aka Billy C. Sykes, had a massive stroke and died. He is my ex's uncle, and thus mine (you cannot un-adopt me).

The son of Otto C. and Katherine (Kate) P. Sykes, Billy was in "the cattle bidness" in Ballinger, Texas. Earlier in life he and Aunt Mary were raising cattle in the bleaker parts of SE New Mexico. A hard life. Good people.

Many a time we've heard how he flew "over the hump" in Burma during WWII. He was a First Lieutenant.

I was fortunate to visit their home during a family reunion some years ago. The Carnegie Library in Ballinger had just been restored through energetic efforts of the community spearheaded by Aunt Mary.

Billy helped me with an off-the-wall question I needed to resolve in writing my fiction.

I last saw him when we had a family reunion for my father-in-law Jack in August 2007. Aunt Mary and Uncle Billy came out from Ballinger and there were cousins from all over. Most of these folks I had not seen in about 16 years, though I have seen Billy and Mary a few times in between.

Unfortunately, when I was having troubles with my hard drive earlier this year I lost my photos of last August's party. A sadness.

As is the passing of Billy, a true exemplar of an earlier era.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
--the BB

Sabbath in spite of myself

I usually fall asleep so fast I barely get past the Lord's Prayer and remembering people before God when I am deep in snoresville.  Not so easy last night and I woke well before the alarm.  I was totally wiped out when I got up this morning.  Perhaps it was the intercessions of all those nurses, but I had the good sense to give the keys to a carpool buddy and stay home.  I crawled back into the rack and slept until 11 a.m.  I then arose and had a big plate of scrambled eggs with toast and orange juice (part of this complete breakfast!).

Because I have commitments to accomplish certain things, this means I will be working on Sunday instead.  As I commented in another thread elsewhere, I am sure Godde, who wants me to be healthy, understands.  Later this afternoon I am going to take a long walk in this neighborhood but first I have to let the daily thunderstorm do its thing.  I just heard a long, deep rumble and believe I can hear rain falling.

And that's the news from River Ridge.

--the BB

Working weekends

When in New Orleans I work Saturdays (8-10 hours).

On my next two weekends at home I will be preaching on Sunday.

When this gig is over I am planning on down time.

On a saner note, Belle and Maggie are going to work tomorrow. Brave daughters. Of course, they are on a mission of mercy, lifting spirits and spreading love among the work-weary.

Last Saturday they were princesses. This time around I am thinking of them as psychiatric nurses. I think they need little white caps (but that's just because I am old fashioned and still am uncomfortable with gaudy floral print blouses). Nice white uniforms with pins and little capes. That's the ticket.

[You guessed it: the girls are giggling at their silly old parental unit. Maggie just suggested a rectal thermometer and Belle is threatening to hold me down. Fortunately, dad is still bigger than they are.]


UPDATED to include illustrative graphic of a proper nurse, a minister of mercy

--the BB

A Sabbath day's journey

The title refers to the short distance one is allowed to walk on the Sabbath (enough, it is hoped, to get to the synagogue and back home). Tonight we are having another round of New Orleans photos that you can watch without leaving your chair. I leave it to learned rabbis to debate whether clicking and scrolling constitute "work" on the Sabbath. This blog takes no responsibility for your souls.

A closed restaurant. So much of New Orleans dining is not yet close to recovering, even though luxury commercial high rise buildings surround this spot and busy office workers and vacationing tourists are all nearby. Perhaps not yet enough of them. And beginning a business takes a lot of money, any kind of business. You have to be able not only to start up and open the doors but stay afloat as business builds - and that in the best of circumstances!

This is actually one of the hopeful views: a commercial high rise being renovated and restored. A small army of workers gather here every morning.

Looking into a courtyard. Moments before I snapped this picture the largest damned rat I've ever seen slithered across the courtyard. [Apologies to the sensitive types but a reporter's gotta tell it like it is.]

Here is a closer shot of the window framing from the prior post. If you really want to see the detail, click on the photo to enlarge (not because my photography merits enlargement but because detail is so fascinating... for some of us, anyway).

This has some nice detail too, even if the pic is a bit washed out.

I absolutely love the rhythms in this building. Nice proportions too.

A close-up at the restaurant. Whaddya think: should I treat myself some evening?

Here we have the Baronne Plaza Hotel, another historic building from the 1930s with its deco style. This is the one with the painted panels in its windows.

I include this because the biotech firm I worked for in Emeryville, California, was in old laboratories of Shell Oil, and we thus occupied "The Shell Building." This New Orleans edifice is now a place with luxury condos and corporate apartments. The retail portion of the building is not yet developed.

This is a fun building. The red granite portion of the facade juts out slightly at the bottom, so it all slants back as it rises. Very disorienting when we expect vertical surfaces of buildings to be plumb! I think it constitutes some really nice detail.

The next few photos are of the historic Charity Hospital of New Orleans. I especially wanted to include these because some years ago my ex's father worked here as a young doctor. When I was last in New Mexico and we were enjoying a Father's Day dinner, he inquired about it and I gave a rather blank look in response. I had not heard of it and wondered in what part of town it might be. The joke was on me when a quick check of Wikipedia (see the link above) provided the address.

"Oh," I responded, "I have been driving past it every night. It is just down the street from the Tulane Medical Center hospital cafeteria where I eat most of my lunches."

It is an immense facility, now empty. You can read about its history and fate at the link above.





This was a quick shot while waiting at a red light. No, I did not take photos while driving.

Here we have a courthouse, as all the bail bond sites in the neighborhood testify. Doesn't it just reek of solidity and civic power?

Actually, the central portion is rather nice with good columns. "The administration of justice is the foundation of liberty" reads the inscription. Hmm. I should rather like to see justice administered in this nation once again.

That is tonight's tour. We'll see what happens this Sunday. I may play vegetable again or I may go romping about.

Shabbat shalom!
--the BB

Living in fear

Markos has a post quoting Chris Bowers at Open Left.

Here's the quote from Bowers:

It must be really scary to be a conservative. To be one, you must live in constant fear of terrorists nuking the United States, of gay people on the verge of convincing you that you really enjoy sodomy, of Spanish becoming the official language of the United States next week, of every African-American voting seven or eight times in the next election, of radical Islam suddenly becoming the latest hip thing among kids across the country, of perpetual lesbian orgies in girls bathrooms in high schools across America, of liberals forcing everyone to become a vegan, of Christians being rounded up into concentration camps, and of Democrats outlawing private property if they were to ever take power again.

Kos adds a few words. Worth pondering.
--the BB

I have not seen...

Any roadrunners in New Orleans. Perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough. This juvenile was hanging out near the office a few Decembers ago. Just a little desert nostalgia to lift my spirits.

I have seen this, however. Actually, just shot these on the way to the car park this evening.

Interesting decorative framing.

Anyone noticed lately how insufferably dull window frames are these days? They can work with good proportions and a few very good details. But mostly they are, frankly, butt ugly.

One really should click on this to enlarge it and catch some of the detail. I was captured by it when I looked up.

Something in the color, proportions, and rhythmic arches that suggests Venice here. Or am I totally off base?

They've done something terrible to the middle columns in this one but the former glory still teases the beholder.

Alas, there is also the juxtaposition with the box on the left.

Great doors, no?

A very high percentage of downtown is still boarded up, abandoned, slated for some unknown future. One may walk past a bustling, newly-refurbished building - a bastion of business and power - and come upon the sadness of a huge building where nothing is happening, the windows are sealed over with plywood, and disrepair and uncertainty hang in the air.

I want to get photos of those too but am usually either hustling my butt into work in the morning or heading back to the apartment with folks in the carpool whom I do now want to inconvenience while I lollygag and dsightsee and wait for the batteries in the camera to gear up for the next shot.

--the BB

I'm OK

I've just been too tired to blog the past couple of days. Gonna head to bed now.

As for prayers....

My coworker Delores' father died suddenly today.

My "cousin" Jan continues her journey to eternity.

Kirstin copes with interferon treatment.

Ormonde finished his round of chemo for leukemia.

Some folks I know have been laid off.

Our mission vicar's aunt Susan died in the past week.

My friend Karen's friend Sandra was just diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer.

Jonathan has not returned from vacation - whether he's having the time of his life or going through challenges, send the love.

Mimi has lovely flower photos.

Y'all have a blessed summer.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

4109

Latest Coalition Fatalities

06/25/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Capt. Gregory T. Dalessio, 30, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, died June 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Salman Pak, Iraq, when his patrol encountered small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion...

06/24/08
MNF: 3 Soldiers killed by attacked by IED in Ninewah Province
Three Multi-National Division - North Soldiers and an interpreter were killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Ninewah Province at 10:45 p.m., June 24.

06/24/08
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Staff Sgt. Du Hai Tran, 30, of Reseda, Calif.,died Jun. 20 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on patrol during combat operations. He was assigned to the Fires Squadron...

06/24/08
MNF: Two Soldiers, 2 civilians killed in Sadr City explosion
Two Coalition forces soldiers and two civilians serving with Coalition forces were killed after an explosion inside the District Advisory Council building in a southern neighborhood of Sadr City district at approximately 9:30 a.m. today.

From Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Excerpted from a poem by Li Po (c. 750 CE)

In the battlefield men grapple each other and die;
The horses of the vanquished utter lamentable cries to heaven,
While ravens and kites peck at human entrails,
Carry them up in their flight, and hang them on the branches of dead trees.
So, men are scattered and smeared over the desert grass,
And the generals have accomplished nothing.

May the beloved of the fallen find comfort in their overwhelming loss. May the fallen be remembered.

May the cost of conflict never be forgotten.

May the earth and its peoples find healing.

--the BB

Just how stupid are we?

That is the title of Rick Shenkman's book on why, as Juan Cole puts it, " the American People Were So Easily Bamboozled by the Bush Administration."

I commend to your attention the excerpt at Juan's place.

One key paragraph:

The answer is, I'm afraid, simple. Myths count more than facts in these debates because Americans don't know many facts and don't care to take the time to learn them. Unlike subjects with which they have first-hand experience--think gas prices--matters related to foreign countries are both exotic and incomprehensible to most Americans. This leaves them sitting ducks for wily pols who want to take advantage of their ignorance by playing on fear and patriotism.

--the BB

4104

Latest Coalition Fatalities

06/23/08
MNF: Second soldier dies from small arms fire attack near Salman Pak
A Multi-National Division - Center Soldier was killed as a result of a small arms fire attack near Salman Pak, Iraq June 23...The Soldier was the second of two killed by the same attack.[url pending]

06/23/08
AP: American soldier killed, 5 others wounded in Iraq
The U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed and five others wounded southeast of Baghdad. The military says the soldiers were hit Monday by small-arms fire in an attack near Madain.

Source: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

V. With pity behold the sorrows of our hearts;
R. Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people.


--the BB

The answer depends on who you are

Derrick Z. Jackson sums it up nicely at the Boston Globe in his article "Big Oil and the war in Iraq."

IT TOOK five years, the deaths of 4,100 US soldiers, and the wounding of 30,000 more to make Iraq safe for Exxon. It is the inescapable open question since the reasons given by President Bush for the invasion and occupation did not exist, neither the weapons of mass destruction nor Saddam Hussein's ties to Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Times reported last week that several Western oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, Total, BP, and Chevron, are about to sign no-bid contracts with the Iraqi government. Western oil had a significant stake in Iraqi oil for much of the last century until the government nationalized the industry in 1972. The Associated Press quoted Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Fadel Gheit as saying he believed the contracts were a first step toward production-sharing agreements. "These companies are in it for the money, not to make friends," Gheit said.

You can read the whole article here.

And don't forget Halliburton and its former subsidiary KBR and Blackwater and their ilk.

UPDATE:
I see that this is the 1500th post on this blog.
--the BB

Attention must be paid.

Webranding has a post up titled "Where I Live Is Drowning, Do You Care Or Know?"

Good question. Check it out. I lifted the photo from the post.
--the BB

Domine, exaudi nos - 6/23/08

Laughter
Edgy comic George Carlin dies in LA, aged 71
Washington Post - 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian George Carlin, a counter-culture hero famed for his routines about drugs, dirty words and the demise of humanity, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sunday.
US comedian George Carlin dies BBC News
Comic pioneer George Carlin dies at 71 New York Daily News


Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe elections a travesty of democracy, says EU
Reuters - 56 minutes ago
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's elections have become a travesty of democracy and the withdrawal of leading opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is understandable, the European Union's foreign policy chief said on Sunday.
Video: Opposition Leader Pulls Out of Zimbabwe Election AssociatedPress
Zanu-PF criticised over MDC boycott Aljazeera.net

Zimbabwean elections to go ahead
BBC News - 39 minutes ago
Zimbabwean officials have said a run-off presidential election will go ahead, despite the withdrawal of opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.
Stop him’ plea to world as Times Online

Philippines
Owner: Over 860 on board as Philippine ferry capsized
Xinhua - 48 minutes ago
MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Eight-hundred and sixty-two people were on board as a Philippine passenger ferry capsized off the country's central province of Romblon, the owner of the ship said on Monday, up from the earlier reported figure of 747.
Video: Search for Philippine ferry survivors - June 23 2008 AlJazeeraEnglish
Philippines rescuers may bore hole in ferry The Associated Press

Philippines ferry disaster: 38 survivors found
Telegraph.co.uk - 3 hours ago
By Rupert Neate Thirty-eight people, including 28 who drifted at sea for more than 24 hours, have been found alive after a ferry carrying more than 800 people capsized during a typhoon off the Philippines.

Palestine - Israel
Hamas says too early to judge Israel's commitment to cease-fire
Xinhua - 43 minutes ago
GAZA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Monday said it was too early to judge Israel's commitment to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire which took hold in the Gaza Strip since Thursday.
'Israel, Hamas to begin Schalit talks' Jerusalem Post
Israel continues transferring goods into the Gaza Strip Monsters and Critics.com

Sarkozy : "Jérusalem a vocation à devenir capitale des deux États"
Le Point - Il y a 3 heures
Au deuxième jour de sa visite en Israël, Nicolas Sarkozy a appelé au gel de la colonisation israélienne, y compris à Jérusalem qui, selon lui, "a vocation à devenir capitale des deux États", Israël et la Palestine. Le président français, qui s'exprime ...
Israël: Sarkozy à la Knesset au 2e jour de sa visite d'Etat AFP
En Israël, Sarkozy appelle à prendre des "risques pour la paix" L'Express

Iraq
Suicide car bomb injuring 14 in N Iraq
Xinhua - 43 minutes ago
MOSUL, Iraq, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A suicide car bomb attacked a police patrol in the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, wounding 14 people, including 4 policemen, a provincial police source said on Monday.
Another Female Suicide Bomber Kills 15 in Iraq New York Times
At Least 15 Killed by Female Bomber in Iraq Washington Post

Iraq qualifies six more firms for oil contracts
Xinhua - 12 hours ago
BAGHDAD, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Up to 41 foreign oil firms are now qualified to participate in Iraq's coming licensing round for oil and gas contracts, the Iraqi oil ministry said on Sunday.
Iraq adds six more oil firms to those qualified to bid for future ... International Herald Tribune
Talks on new Iraq oil law to resume this week The Associated Press

Jordan Returns 2466 Artifacts Looted From Iraq National Museum
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago
By Massoud A. Derhally June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Jordan returned to Iraq 2466 stolen artifacts including jewelry, coins and sculptures that were looted from the country's national museum after the US-led invasion in 2003, Minister of Tourism Maha Khatib ...
Looted Antiquities Returned to Iraq New York Times
Jordan returns stolen antiquities to Iraq AFP

Thailand
Thai PM distances himself from Thaksin
AFP - 2 hours ago
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister Monday distanced himself from ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, hoping to ease pressure on his four-month-old government as parliament gears up for a no-confidence vote.
UPDATE 1-Thai PM gets senate grilling, rally blocks office Reuters India
Thousands rally against Thai government Radio Australia

Iran
Iran says Israel not capable of threatening it
Reuters - 43 minutes ago
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday Israel could not threaten it, a few days after a US newspaper reported that Israel's air force had apparently rehearsed a potential bombing raid of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Israel on the Iran Brink Wall Street Journal
ElBaradei warns against strike on Iran CNN International

EU poised to agree new Iran sanctions
guardian.co.uk - 36 minutes ago
The EU was today set to formally agree a new set of sanctions against Iran expected to include an asset freeze targeting its biggest bank.
EU says set to agree new Iran sanctions on Monday Reuters
EU nations to adopt new sanctions against Iran Xinhua

Nigeria
Nigeria: Bonga Attack - Niger Delta Crisis Out of Control, Says AC
AllAfrica.com - 2 hours ago
The Action Congress said yesterday the long simmering Niger Delta crisis had finally spurned out of control with the shocking and unexpected attack on Shell's deep offshore Bonga oil field last Thursday.
Rebels blamed for oil attacks announce truce CNN International
Nigerian militants call ceasefire BBC News

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Boosts Oil Supply; Doubt Over Price Drop (Update1)
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
By Maher Chmaytelli and Ayesha Daya June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, plans to raise production for a third-straight month in July and make further increases as needed to curb record prices.
Oil summit fails to halt soaring prices guardian.co.uk
EU's Piebalgs calls for lower oil prices from producing, consuming ... Forbes

Missouri
In Missouri, flood workers watch, and wait, and rest
Los Angeles Times - 2 hours ago
National Guard members in Clarksville think that their Mississippi River levee -- sandbags stuffed and stacked at breakneck speed -- will hold.
Forecaster: End is near to Mississippi River rise The Associated Press
Many levees rarely inspected DesMoinesRegister.com

Western States
Firefighters battle wildfires in California, NM
Houston Chronicle - 42 minutes ago
By MARCUS WOHLSEN AP Writer © 2008 AP SAN FRANCISCO - Cooler weather helped firefighters gain ground on hundreds of wildfires that charred bone-dry terrain across the heart of wine country and remote forests in Northern California.
California firefighters battle hundreds of blazes The Associated Press
Firefighters battle blazes across region Times-Standard

Health
Editorial: Food inspection system in dire need of overhaul
San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago
If the tomato salmonella outbreak didn't make you nervous about the food you buy, this should: The Centers for Disease Control estimates that for every salmonella case it receives, 38 are not brought to the attention of doctors.
Probe Heads to Florida, Mexico Washington Post
Salmonella Tomato Update: Farms Probed WebMD

Lebanon
Clashes rock north Lebanon city
BBC News - 52 minutes ago
Security sources say another person has been killed in sectarian clashes in northern Lebanon, bringing to six the number who have died since Sunday.
Video: Fighting breaks out in Lebanon despite Doha deal - 22 Jun 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
Fierce sectarian clashes in north Lebanon AFP

Science - Technology
Northen Lights to Blame For Satnav Failures
ITProPortal - 46 minutes ago
Northen Lights may be blamed for Satnav cockups and GPS devices failures according to researchers from the University of Bath; adding to the already long list of potential excuses which also includes electric storms and dodgy onboard software.
Northern Lights leading sat navs astray PC Pro
Sat-navs stuffed by Northern Lights Inquirer

Switzerland
Gay Pride: 16'000 personnes à Bienne
TSR.ch - 21 juin 2008
Des milliers de personnes venues de toute la Suisse ont participé samedi à Bienne à la 10e Gay Pride sous un soleil de plomb. Une foule très dense était massée le long des rues pour suivre la traditionnelle parade formée de plusieurs chars. ...
6 000 gays et lesbiennes défilent à Bienne 360 Degrés
Une 10e Gay Pride torride mais sans provocation Journal du Jura

Bolivia
Bolivie : une nouvelle province choisit l'autonomie
Le Monde - Publié depuis 1 heure
"L'autonomie n'en reste pas là : nous sommes quatre mais nous serons neuf" régions à avoir bientôt notre autonomie, a martelé M. Cossio, le gouverneur de la région de Tarija. Les partisans de l'autonomie de la région bolivienne de Tarija ont remporté, ...
Bolivie: victoire sans appel du référendum "illégal" sur l'automnie Europe1
Bolivie: victoire écrasante pour l'autonomie au référendum de Tarija AFP

Tarija completa desafío de la “media luna” boliviana a Evo Morales
La Crónica de Hoy - hace 1 hora
m El departamento de Tarija, en el sudeste boliviano aprobó ayer con un 80 por ciento de los votos, según las encuestas, su estatuto de autonomía, el mismo que ya han aprobado por porcentajes similares o superiores Santa Cruz, Beni y Pando. ...
Concluye Tarija, Bolivia referendo sobre autonomía El Porvenir
Vota cuarta región boliviana en referendo sobre su autonomía El Universal (México)

South Africa
South Africa: US Lawmakers to Remove Mandela From Terror List
AllAfrica.com - 4 hours ago
South African Ambassador to the United States, Welile Nhlapo, has confirmed he is in talks with United States' State Department officials and lawmakers to strike Nelson Mandela's name off the country's list of terrorists ahead of his 90th birthday on ...
US lawmakers want Mandela off terror list Reuters South Africa
New exhibition to honour Nelson Mandela 90th birthday Black Mental Health UK


Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.