"A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."   Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12  KJV   Word study on this verse

McDonalds Homosexual Advocacy Increases - Now Funds Pride Parade lifesitenews.com 7/31/8 [""McDonald's expressed its support for the Pride parade via a television commercial, in which a company representative said, amidst montage shots of the parade, "McDonald's is proud of our diverse workforce and of our recognition by the Human Rights Campaign as a company that actively demonstrates its commitment to the gay and lesbian community."]
Central banks fire new round at credit crisis uk.reuters.com 7/31/8 ["The U.S., European, and Swiss central banks on Wednesday extended emergency lending facilities for investment banks and expanded other liquidity programs to ease credit market strains that have weighed on the global economy for nearly a year."]
Rick Warren Still Doesn't Get It? newswithviews.com 7/31/8 ["Pastor Warren is reportedly gathering bodies - any willing bodies - to help him "cure societal problems" for the "common good."  Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is gathering saved souls to a Kingdom not of this world for God's Glory.  Big difference… "]
GM May Cut Salaried Workforce in U.S., Canada by 15% bloomberg.com 7/31/8 ["General Motors Corp. may cut 15 percent of its salaried workforce in the U.S. and Canada by the end of the year as the money-losing automaker tries to pare annual costs by $10 billion, people familiar with the plan said."]
Rape Victim's Book Recounts Added Horror of Abortion After Sexual Abuse lifenews.com 7/31/8 ["Cooley is the author of "Into the Light: Rape, Abortion and the Truth that Set Me Free" (Pleasant Word, 2007), which provides an intimate look at the trauma associated with abortion - even in the case of rape.  "At the time of my abortion I believed that I didn't have another choice. It's devastating to believe you have to choose between your life and the life of your child - and then live with the aftermath of that decision," she explains in a statement to LifeNews.com."]
Bush quietly signs mortgage relief measure ap.google.com 7/31/8 ["intended to rescue about 15 percent of the cash-strapped homeowners in fear of foreclosure in the next year or so."]
NY gov slashes spending; state said in "recession" reuters.com 7/31/8 ["New York, which faces a steep budget deficit due to declining tax revenues, will slash spending by $630 million by laying off workers, imposing a hiring freeze and other measures, Gov. David Paterson said on Wednesday."]
Merrill to Sell $8.5 Billion of Stock, Unload CDOs bloomberg.com 7/31/8 ["...will sell $8.5 billion of stock and liquidate $30.6 billion of bonds at a fifth of their face value to shore up credit ratings imperiled by mortgage losses."]
 

Out-of-stage gay marriage closer in Massachusetts reuters.com 7/30/8 ["Massachusetts lawmakers cleared the way for out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in the state by voting on Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law that banned marriages not considered valid in the couples' home states.  Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat whose daughter has come out as a lesbian, has said he plans to sign the repeal measure."]
Price Increase Plagues Discount Shoppers abcnews.go.com 7/30/8 ["Costco has announced that it will have to raise its prices, on some items by as much as 15 percent.  ...Kraft Foods, Kellogg's and Tyson -- some of Costco's suppliers -- have said they may be forced to raise prices on some items by more than 20 percent, citing higher energy costs."]
California 'dodges bullet' as 5.4 earthquake rocks region afp.google.com 7/30/8 ["The quake, which was followed by 27 minor aftershocks, rippled across California and Nevada, rattling city officials in San Diego, tourists in Disneyland and residents as far east as Las Vegas, officials said."]
Starbucks Cuts 1,000 Jobs, Makes Executive Changes (Update3)  bloomberg.com 7/30/8 ["Earlier today, the coffee-shop chain said it will shut three-fourths of its 84 stores in Australia within the next five days, backing away from a market it entered eight years ago."]
 

Census reports more unmarried couples living together usatoday.com 7/29/8 ["The number of opposite-sex couples who live together, less than a million 30 years, hit 6.4 million in 2007, show federal data released Monday. Cohabiting couples now make up almost 10% of all opposite-sex U.S. couples, married and unmarried."]
Merrill sets $5.7 billion write-down, to sell stock uk.reuters.com 7/29/8 ["The company has lost $19.2 billion in the last year and suffered more than $40 billion of write-downs from subprime mortgages and other risky debt."]
McCain's son resigns from two Boards of Directors rawstory.com 7/29/8 ["McCain had served on the board of Silver State Bank, originally Choice Bank, and Silver State Bancorp since February 2008, having been a director with Choice Bank starting in 2006."]
Florida: Court Orders that Pro-Homosexual Proselytism by Students be Permitted in Schools lifesitenews.com 7/29/8 ["Justice Smoak ordered that the school board "shall take such affirmative steps as are necessary to remedy the past restraints of expression of support for the respect, equal treatment, and acceptance of homosexuals.""]
  Obesity has more children taking adult medicines iht.com 7/29/8 ["...hundreds of thousands of children are taking medication to treat Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and acid reflux - all problems linked to obesity that were practically unheard-of in children two decades ago."]
 

Will Pride Destroy America? newswithviews.com 7/28/8 [By Betty Freauf  "In Genesis 36 we see Esau a few years later under a microscope and the nation of Edom filled with pride and God said to Edom: “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwelleth in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set they nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.” (Obad. 1:3-4)  When I read this scripture, America came to mind."]
Yale hosts high-level Christian-Muslim dialogue reuters.com 7/28/8 ["Senior Christian and Muslim scholars and leaders are meeting in the United States this week seeking common ground in their different faiths to foster better understanding between Islam and the West.  Hosted by Yale University Divinity School, the conference is the first public dialogue launched by Muslim intellectuals in the Common Word group that appealed to Christian leaders last year for discussions among theologians to promote peace."]
As costs rise, inflation's next front is retailers ap.google.com 7/28/8 ["Hasbro said the retailers it sells to didn't like price increases the company announced Monday "but they recognize that their own private-label costs are going up and they've accepted it."  The increases leave retailers in a bind: They can keep prices steady and cut profit margins or raise prices and risk losing sales."]
Obama's $845 billion U.N. plan forwarded to U.S. Senate floor worldnetdaily.com 7/28/8 ["He said the legislation, if approved, dedicates 0.7 percent of the U.S. gross national product to foreign aid, which over 13 years, he said, would amount to $845 billion "over and above what the U.S. already spends.""]
Floods strip Midwest of tons of valuable topsoil ap.google.com 7/28/8 ["The floods may have caused up to $3 billion in crop losses in Iowa and $800 million in crop damage in Indiana, according to estimates from agriculture secretaries in those states.  Erosion damage is harder to tally."]
McDonald's critics enlist YouTube, Martin Luther King Jr. worldnetdaily.com 7/28/8 ["It was triggered by a decision by the restaurant chain known for Happy Meals and Big Macs to advocate for homosexuality. The company has given $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and placed one of its executives on that group's board. The NGLCC, among other things, lobbies for same-sex "marriage" provisions."]
Failed Bank List fdic.gov 7/28/8 [""]
U.S. regulators seize two more banks, engineer sale reuters.com 7/28/8 ["Two weeks after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp seized IndyMac Bancorp Inc, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said it closed First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank NA of California."]
California: Governor vetoes climate change curriculum mercurynews.com 7/28/8 [" In his veto statement, Schwarzenegger said he supported education that spotlights the dangers of climate change. However, the Republican governor said he was opposed to educational mandates from Sacramento."]
 

Sub-prime losses hit National Australia Bank telegraph.co.uk 7/27/8 ["National Australia Bank (NAB), which owns Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks in the UK, shocked the market by hiking up provisions for losses on US subprime loans.  Australia's largest bank booked A$830m (£400m) in losses, and said the move could wipe A$600m off profits this year. "]
NAB will shock Wall Street businessspectator.com.au 7/27/8 ["The National Australia Bank's decision to write off 90 per cent of its US conduit loans will have dramatic repercussions around the world. Wall Street will be deeply shocked when they understand the repercussions of what NAB has done. It is clear global banks have nowhere near provided for their exposures to US housing loans which in the words of John Stewart are experiencing a “meltdown”. "]
No angry lines of customers after bank takeover ap.google.com 7/27/8 ["Customers of two banks closed by federal regulators were assured that every penny of their money was protected, preventing lines of angry accountholders from forming Saturday."]
US food groups plan hefty price rises ft.com 7/27/8 ["Sara Lee, maker of meat products such as Jimmy Dean sausages, said costs would compel it to push up prices on meat lines by up to a fifth later this year."]
GM, Ford `On the Verge of Bankruptcy,' Altman Says bloomberg.com 7/27/8 ["The Z-scores for GM and Ford give both a bond rating equivalent to a CCC ranking, though GM is in slightly worse condition than Ford, Altman said. GM reported a $38.7 billion loss in 2007, the biggest in its 100-year history, and hasn't posted a profit since 2004. The scores are based on the companies' finances at the end of the first quarter."]
 

Obama promises to 'remake the world' politico.com 7/26/8 ["Addressing more than 200,000 elated Europeans massed in Berlin at twilight, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama promised Thursday that he would work to unite Christians, Muslims and Jews in a safer, more united world.  ...Billed as a speech about Transatlantic relations, it turned out to be a manifesto for the planet, with an appeal to “the burdens of global citizenship.”"]
Indian monkey god sent to Obama afp.google.com 7/26/8 ["The group decided to despatch the idol after reading reports that Obama carried a good luck "monkey king charm with him all the time in his pocket," said Brij Mohan Bhama, an Indian fan of Obama."]
Fuel cost now driving up electric bills csmonitor.com 7/26/8 ["On a national basis, the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electric bills will rise 5.2 percent this year. But next year, they're expected to rise 9.8 percent."]
Sales of Foreclosed Homes Are Up Nationwide businessweek.com 7/26/8 ["Even Michigan and Ohio—Rust Belt states that didn't experience the same level of overbuilding, rapid home-price inflation, aggressive lending, and speculation during the boom—hit the top 10, largely because of the loss of manufacturing jobs and other economic hardships."]
Tracing tomatoes from field to fork _ a new system ap.google.com 7/26/8 ["Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, says a better tracing system needs three key components: a unique identifier that follows each food item from field to consumer, electronic record keeping and a common framework for sharing information among all the players.  "It is unquestionable that we need to put more emphasis on the importance of traceability," said Acheson. "Tracing foods back can be really tough, or pretty straightforward, depending on the system.""]
Parents of Dead Teen Whose Unborn Child Was Stolen Forgive Culprit at Funeral lifenews.com 7/26/8 ["An AP report indicated Johnson's father, Eric Johnson Sr., said he forgave Curry-Demus, too, because he is a Christian.  "I'm just glad my daughter knew the Lord and she was saved. She's with Jesus," her father said, according to the Associated Press."]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules that Homosexual 'Hate Crimes' Law Violates Pennsylvania Constitution lifesitenews.com 7/26/8 ["The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania agreed last November that the law was unconstitutional and struck it down. On appeal the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania sided with the Commonwealth Court, saying on Wednesday: "The order of the Commonwealth Court is AFFIRMED for the reasons ably set forth in the opinion of the Honorable James Gardner Colins, which opinion is adopted as that of the Supreme Court.""]
 

Ford posts worst loss, puts turnaround plan into overdrive afp.google.com 7/25/8 ["...posted its worst quarterly loss in history.  The 8.7-billion-dollar loss in the second quarter was largely due to hefty charges as Ford wrote down the value of its assets and recognized losses from auto leasing.  ...Ford also will accelerate plans to streamline its global operations and will reduce the number of vehicle platforms it offers to nine from 25"]
Costco Gets Bitten by Inflation businessweek.com 7/25/8 ["...Costco could choose to please either investors by maintaining profit margins or its customers by keeping prices low. It chose its customers.  ...As the cost of goods rose over the last year, Costco has passed on only a small portion to customers and will continue to do so as long as possible."]
Conspiracy Collapses Dollar, Crime Does Pay newswithviews.com 7/25/8 [By Alan Stang  "Remember also that IndyMac consumed at least 10% of the “funds” FDIC has for the purpose. What happens when they are exhausted? We are told that many more of the nation’s biggest banks – including WaMu and Wachovia – are in trouble. What happens if they go belly up? Word arrives from Australia that banks there are putting sixty day holds on U.S. tellers’ checks. The “almighty dollar” is now just a piece of paper."]
Minimum wage rises to $6.55 an hour starting Thursday ajc.com 7/25/8 ["Since FDR, many businesses have argued that any kind of wage floor not only damages profits, by forcing companies to pay the minimum to even the least-experienced worker, but is actually counterproductive."]
Chicago Suburb Tries to Quietly Issue Permit to Largest Planned Parenthood in the Nation - Appeal Filed lifesitenews.com 7/25/8 ["The appellants claim that the City continues to refuse to apply the correct ordinance to Planned Parenthood, even after the City conceded that its outside attorneys applied the wrong ordinance during their legal review in September of last year. The facility has been dogged by claims that Planned Parenthood's subsidiary, Gemini Office Development, falsified permit applications, obtained an invalid building permit, had invalid building inspections, and violated numerous Aurora laws."]
Regional US banks in fears of cash calls ft.com 7/25/8 ["US regional banks will draw scrutiny during earnings season this week amid fears that losses on home equity and residential construction loans may force some to raise fresh capital or put themselves up for sale in turbulent markets."]
Pittsburgh cancer center warns of cell phone risks ap.google.com 7/25/8 ["The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.  The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute...  "Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use," he wrote in his memo."]
Last Abortion Clinic in South Dakota Closes after Law Requires Patients be Informed of Possible Side Effects lifesitenews.com 7/25/8 ["Planned Parenthood closed its doors after their abortionists, who are flown in from other states, refused to work under the new law that went into effect last Friday. The law orders abortionists to inform patients of the humanity of their babies and that the procedure could affect their mental health two hours before the abortion is set to be performed. The law also provides that abortionists can be sued if they do not comply."]
California's state workers face pay cuts ft.com 7/25/8 ["Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to slash the -salaries of California state employees to the federal minimum wage to keep the state solvent amid a deepening cash crisis.  ...The temporary pay cuts would affect 200,000 people"]
Jobless claims jump as housing market gets weaker ap.google.com 7/25/8 ["The Labor Department said the number of newly laid-off people filing for unemployment benefits rose to 406,000 last week, a jump of a seasonally adjusted 34,000. The last time jobless claims were higher was after the Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005."]
 

Court affirms online content law unconstitutional ap.google.com 7/23/8 ["In its ruling Tuesday, the federal appeals court concluded that the Child Online Protection Act also violates the First Amendment because filtering technologies and other parental control tools offer a less restrictive way to protect children from inappropriate content online."]
WaMu has $3.33 bln loss, may be cut to "junk" guardian.co.uk 7/23/8 ["Washington Mutual Inc, the largest U.S. savings and loan, posted a $3.33 billion second-quarter loss on Tuesday  ...said its third straight quarterly loss was $3.34 per share, more than triple the $1.09 per share loss that analysts on average expected"]
GSE rescue gets big price tag; House vote looms uk.reuters.com 7/23/8 ["Administration plan could cost taxpayers $25 billion"]
Two troubled U.S. banks each post billions in losses iht.com 7/23/8 ["Wachovia said it would also eliminate about 10,750 jobs, including about 6,350 positions, largely in its mortgage business, and another 4,400 contractors and other positions across the bank."]
Food banks turn to gleaning in lean times usatoday.com 7/23/8 ["Gleaning is growing in importance, in part, because fewer people are donating as fuel and food prices rise..."]
Speculators aren't driving up oil prices, report finds iht.com 7/23/8 ["The preliminary study concluded that the rise in oil prices over the last five years was "largely due" to fundamental factors like rapidly rising consumption and sluggish growth in energy supplies worldwide.  The analysis was spearheaded by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with help from six other agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the Treasury."]
Problems at loan giants push mortgage rates higher in the U.S. iht.com 7/23/8 ["Worried about the companies' financial health, bond investors are driving up interest rates on their debt, and the added cost is being passed on to consumers through the mortgage markets. For a $400,000 loan, the increase in 30-year rates in the last few days would add $71 to a monthly bill, or $852 a year."]
Court upholds prison porn law onenewsnow.com 7/23/8 ["A 1996 law that prohibits tax dollars from being used to distribute pornography is being used to argue against the distribution of porn to prison inmates."]
 

Court Rules Bush Admin Wrong to Fine CBS for Super Bowl Janet Jackson Striptease lifesitenews.com 7/22/8 ["The court claims this notorious act was not 'pervasive as to amount to "shock treatment" for the audience' but the wardrobe malfunction was clearly intended to shock the worldwide audience. It incited unprecedented outrage and immediate phone calls and emails from viewers to the FCC."]
Closing the Loophole on Pornography Sales cwalac.org 7/22/8 ["Congressman Paul C. Broun (R-Georgia), M.D., introduced the “Military Honor and Decency Act (H.R. 5821),” which closes that loophole so pornographic publications aren’t sold or subsidized by military exchanges. Legislation like H.R. 5821 would protect military families from the harmful effects of pornography and would encourage a family-friendly environment on military installations."]
Miami International Airport scanners see through clothes miamiherald.com 7/22/8 ["Miami is one of 21 airports nationwide receiving the new technology. The whole body imaging machines are already in use in Los Angeles, New York's JFK, Baltimore-Washington, Denver, Albuquerque, Ronald Reagan Washington, Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix Sky-Harbor, Washington Dulles and Las Vegas airports."]
Canadians, Americans, International - Sign the On Line Petition: "Rescind Order of Canada From Morgentaler" lifesitenews.com 7/22/8 ["Over 2000 Have Signed "Rescind Order of Canada From Morgentaler" Petition in First 24 Hours"]
In tight times, shunning materialism saves money ap.google.com 7/22/8 ["On Wednesday, the Labor Department said consumer prices rose 1.1 percent in June, nearly the fastest pace in a generation."]
Family Farms sustainabletable.org 7/22/8 ["Family farmers are being forced out of business at an alarming rate. According to Farm Aid, every week 330 farmers leave their land.i As a result, there are now nearly five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930's."]
 

Is America too big to fail? iht.com 7/21/8 ["Together, Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee nearly half of the nation's $12 trillion worth of home mortgages.  ...The central banks of China and Japan are on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Fannie's and Freddie's bonds - debts they took on assuming that the two companies enjoyed the backing of the American government, argues Brad Setser, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations."]
Overseas investors take hard look at U.S. mortgage giants iht.com 7/21/8 ["About one-fifth of securities issued by Fannie, Freddie and a handful of much smaller quasi-government agencies, some $1.5 trillion worth, were held by foreign investors at the end of March. One-tenth of all American mortgages are, in effect, in the hands of institutions and governments outside the United States."]
Paulson braces public for months of tough times ap.google.com 7/21/8 ["Paulson said the number of troubled banks will increase as they struggle to cope with big losses on bad mortgages. The government this month took over IndyMac after a run led it to become the largest regulated thrift to fail."]
Fuel's surge a headache for home health providers ap.google.com 7/21/8 ["...who care for roughly 12 million elderly and disabled patients nationwide and drive an estimated 5 billion miles a year, according to a recent study by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.  The industry is also contemplating abandoning uneconomical home visits in far-flung locations..."]
UK:  'No decision' on giant database news.bbc.co.uk 7/21/8 ["No decision has been taken to create a huge database containing details of all phone calls, e-mails and internet use, security minister Lord West says.  ...There have been reports that the giant database is planned for the government's proposed Communications Data Bill."]
 

Saudis host a global interfaith conference in Madrid: a 'first step' csmonitor.com 7/19/8 ["In his opening remarks Wednesday at the three-day conference, host Saudi King Abdullah reminded his audience – nearly 300 religious, political, and cultural leaders from 50 different countries – of their shared purpose.  "If we want this historic encounter to succeed, we must look to the things that unite us: our profound faith in God, the noble principles and elevated ethics that represent the foundation of religions," he said. "]
Brazil: Offend a homosexual ... Go to prison for 5 years worldnetdaily.com 7/19/8 ["The bill also seeks to penalize private and public school administrators with up to three years in prison if they refuse to hire openly "gay" teachers.  According to the CNA, the measure will force prison time for any "moral, ethical, philosophical or psychological expression that questions homosexual practices.""]
US activists praise Senate for lifting HIV travel ban afp.google.com 7/19/8 ["With the vote, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services now has the authority to lift the HIV ban. It remained unclear if President George W. Bush's administration would take action or leave the issue to the next president, US media reported."]
 

Nintendo says sold 666,000 Wii in U.S. in June uk.reuters.com 7/18/8 [Editor:  II Timothy 3:1-4 foretells, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy  ...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God"]
U.S. jobless claims rise, showing companies are staying lean iht.com 7/18/8 ["The number of people continuing to draw unemployment benefits fell to 3.1 million for the week ending July 5, the most recent period for which that information is available. That compared with 2.6 million a year ago."]
Merrill Lynch reports $4.9 billion loss cnn.com 7/18/8 ["Nation's largest brokerage suffers its fourth-straight quarterly loss, confirms plans to sell Bloomberg stake for $4.43 billion."]
Weis says he's open to assistance from State Police, but National Guard wouldn't help chicagotribune.com 7/18/8 ["A day after Gov. Rod Blagojevich called Chicago's rising crime rate "out of control" and offered state manpower to help, Police Supt. Jody Weis carefully waded into the political fray Thursday on the city's behalf  ...The governor's offer, which the administration said potentially involved using state troopers to patrol streets and National Guard helicopters to carry out surveillance, raised questions about whether it was more the result of a political struggle with Mayor Richard Daley rather than the need for more police."]
Virgin Mobile Solicits Youth to Strip for Charity, Posts Videos on Website lifesitenews.com 7/18/8 ["US mobile phone provider Virgin Mobile...  The "Strip2Clothe" drive has horrified parents, charities, and youth and family organizations with some saying that the campaign amounts to a gross exploitation of young people via the internet.  Virgin Mobile, however, has refused thus far to back down."]
SC gay group to pay for ads after state balks seattlepi.nwsource.com 7/18/8 ["A gay pride organization said Thursday it plans to raise $5,000 to pay for an advertising campaign that proclaimed "South Carolina is so gay" after the state refused to pick up the tab."]
As price of corn rises, catfish farms in U.S. dry up iht.com 7/18/8 [""It's a dead business," said John Dillard, who pioneered the commercial farming of catfish in the late 1960s. Last year Dillard & Company raised 11 million fish. Next year it will raise none. People can eat imported fish, Dillard said, just as they use imported oil.  ...Feed is now more than half the total cost of raising catfish, compared with a third of the cost of beef and pork production"]
US Senate triples funding for global AIDS fight afp.google.com 7/18/8 ["The Senate voted 80 to 16 to authorize 48 billion dollars over the next five years -- 18 billion dollars more than Bush had requested -- for the program, which also includes funds to battle tuberculosis."]
Malls get creative to draw more shoppers in tough economy usatoday.com 7/18/8 ["The International Council of Shopping Centers projects 144,000 store closures this year — up 7% from last year. That's the largest increase in the 14 years that the council has tracked the data."]
Our Prognosis Is Terminal newswithviews.com 7/18/8 [By Jim R. Schwiesow  "A people without God have no spiritual discernment and therefore have no wisdom. We clamor after the academicians and the so-called super intelligent and think their works brilliant.  ...it is the people - a godless and perverted people – of an iniquitous and degenerate mind that are perfectly and utterly responsible for the deterioration of our system and our society, and for the degenerates who rule over us."]
Freddie & Fannie Unconstitutional Bail Out Using What? newswithviews.com 7/18/8 [By Devvy Kidd  "The nation is awash in fear because they are coming to realize that while they've been buying all the hype from the cabal of gangsters in Washington for decades, reality is now setting in as poverty is slamming millions who used to belong to the middle class. From dangerous lending practices to the derivatives time bomb waiting to go off and inflation getting ready to launch into hyper inflation, the situation is more grim by the week."]
 

Family Advocates Take McDonald's Boycott to Home of the Golden Arches After "Hate" Smear lifesitenews.com 7/17/8 ["The American Family Association (AFA), Americans for Truth, the Illinois Family Institute, and the legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel held a joint press conference Wednesday in front of the McDonald's restaurant across from McDonald's corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois to protest the corporation's statements that people opposed to its support of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), were motivated by "hate.""]
Calif. court rejects gay-marriage-initiative case ap.google.com 7/17/8 ["The unanimous decision means that, barring further legal action, voters will consider a constitutional amendment in November that would again limit marriage in California to a union between a man and a woman. The court did not give a reason for deciding not to accept the case."]
Planned Parenthood in Hysterics over Bush Memo Defining Abortifacient Contraception as Abortion lifesitenews.com 7/17/8 ["Planned Parenthood and its abortion allies are apoplectic over a new Bush Administration memo that defines abortifacient contraception as abortion and proposes regulations that would prevent individuals and entities receiving federal money from discriminating against pro-life health care providers."]
The Fed's Cure for "Nature Deficit Disorder" in Our Kids crossroad.to 7/17/8 [By Professor Allen Quist  "Claiming to have the remedy for "nature deficit disorder," Congressional Democrats (along with some Republicans) are in the process of passing a new federal education program for all 50 states. The bill is called "No Child Left Inside" and is a major expansion of the federal education train-wreck, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  ...This radical bill says that it will make K-12 students "environmentally literate" before they graduate. If passed, the program will actually indoctrinate our kids with the values of the sky-is-falling type of environmentalists, the same crowd that has given us $4.00 plus per gallon gasoline by making it impossible to tap into our huge oil reserves on the North Slope of Alaska and the outer continental shelf."]
 

Gay couples in U.S. are one step closer to marriage in Massachusetts iht.com 7/16/8 ["The Massachusetts Senate voted Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law that has been used to bar gay couples residing in other states from marrying in Massachusetts. The law prohibited couples from obtaining marriage licenses if they could not legally wed in the states in which they reside."]
Banks hit by fallout from the crisis at IndyMac latimes.com 7/16/8 ["As thousands of customers waited hours in the heat Monday to withdraw deposits from failed IndyMac Bank, investors dumped the stocks of many mortgage lenders, precipitating the steepest one-day decline in banking shares since 1989.  Southern California fixtures Downey Financial Corp. and FirstFed Financial Corp., specialists in the nontraditional mortgages that fueled the housing boom, were among the hardest hit, with their stock prices down 24% and 19% respectively. Shares of Washington Mutual Inc., the biggest savings and loan, fell nearly 35%."]
Police show up at IndyMac Branches in Encino, Northridge as waiting customers clash latimes.com 7/16/8 ["Los Angeles police were dispatched to IndyMac Bank branches in Encino and Northridge this morning when customers waiting to withdraw money became irate after several people tried to cut in line on the second day of the failed institution's federal takeover.  ...By 9:30 a.m., there were more than 100 customers waiting in two lines -- one for people who had put their names on the list Monday, and one for everyone else."]
Calif. blazes called state's largest 'fire event' ap.google.com 7/16/8 ["The emergency services office says it's the single largest fire event in the history of California."]
Monsanto patent fight ensnares Missouri farm town kansascity.com 7/16/8 ["Now Monsanto is raising the stakes against this so-called seed piracy with an unprecedented lawsuit against a farm co-op it accuses of aiding the illegal practice by cleaning seeds for use in future crops. That practice violates the contract between Monsanto and farmers which prohibits farmers from stockpiling seeds or selling second-generation seeds."]
The Shack's Wayne Jacobsen Resonates with Contemplative/Emerging Writers crossroad.to 7/16/8 ["...readers need to be aware that Jacobsen is a proponent of emerging and contemplative books and authors. It's an important thing to know because Christian figures are heralding the book, helping it to remain on the New York Times Best Seller list. Those that understand this book -- its obvious and its not so obvious messages--know that it's important to issue a warning. And the fact that popular Christian authors like Eugene Petersen and Gayle Erwin (The Jesus Style) endorse the book..."]
Iran and Russia sign major oil deal jpost.com 7/16/8 ["Gazprom's Chief Executive Alexei Miller met on Sunday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and went on to sign an agreement for developing Iranian oil and gas fields."]
GM to cut jobs, raise liquidity by $15 billion guardian.co.uk 7/16/8 ["The automaker said it would cut white-collar employment costs by 20 percent, a step expected to mean the loss of thousands of jobs among the 40,000 salaried workers GM employs in North America.  ...Wagoner said GM assumed U.S. industrywide auto sales would drop to 14 million vehicles this year and stay at that level in 2009, down from 16.15 million in 2007. GM also assumed that oil prices would average between $130 and $150 per barrel by 2009."]
 

Paulson Seeks Authority to Shore Up Fannie, Freddie bloomberg.com 7/15/8 ["...asked Congress for authority to buy unlimited stakes in and lend to the companies, aiming to stem a collapse in confidence. The Federal Reserve separately authorized the firms to borrow directly from the central bank."]
General Motors to announce more cuts Tuesday ap.google.com 7/15/8 ["General Motors Corp. is expected to cut several thousand salaried jobs and further slash truck production in response to falling U.S. sales and Wall Street's demands for more action to stem its losses, according to two people briefed on the plan."]
Investors seek solace in gold ft.com 7/15/8 ["On Friday there was a record one-day increase in holdings in gold exchange traded funds as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, linchpins of the US mortgage market, threatened to collapse and IndyMac Bank imploded – the third-largest financial institution to fail in the US."]
Wall Street's woes escalate ahead of earnings wave ap.google.com 7/15/8 ["None of the troubles that have rocked the market over the past year have let up yet: not the housing market, not high commodities costs, not the ailing financial system."]
Khamenei aide: Iran would attack heart of Israel jpost.com 7/15/8 ["Iran would "destroy" Israel as well as 32 US army bases in the region if the Islamic Republic is attacked, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday."]
President George W Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran timesonline.co.uk 7/15/8 ["President George W Bush has told the Israeli government that he may be prepared to approve a future military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations with Tehran break down, according to a senior Pentagon official."]
 

Bold Mediterranean summit opens diplomatic doors iht.com 7/14/8 ["Leaders of 43 nations with nearly 800 million inhabitants inaugurated a new Union for the Mediterranean on Sunday, designed to bring the northern and southern countries that ring the sea closer together through practical projects dealing with the environment, climate, transportation, immigration and policing.  ...Sarkozy spoke of partnership and urged the leaders toward peace, saying: "The European and the Mediterranean dreams are inseparable." He said that "everyone is going to have to make an effort, as the Europeans did, to put an end to the deadly spiral of war and violence, that, century after century, periodically brought barbarity to the heart of civilization.""]
IndyMac one of the largest bank failures in U.S. history iht.com 7/14/8 ["But IndyMac's customers, afraid their savings might disappear, stampeded tellers, demanding their money back. Most of Indymac's deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which will operate the bank and try to sell it."]
Diesel hits record, gas ticks higher money.cnn.com 7/14/8 ["The price of diesel, which is used to power most trucks and commercial vehicles, hit $4.817 a gallon.  ...Prices for regular unleaded gas are 35% higher than where they were last year, and diesel prices have risen by more than 65% over the same period."]
US spells out Fannie-Freddie backstop plan ap.google.com 7/14/8 ["The Fed said it granted the Federal Reserve Bank of New York authority to lend to the two companies "should such lending prove necessary." They would pay 2.25 percent for any borrowed funds — the same rate given to commercial banks and Big Wall Street firms.  The Fed said this should help the companies' ability to "promote the availability of home mortgage credit during a period of stress in financial markets.""]
Oil fired up for an assault on $150 level ft.com 7/14/8 ["US crude on Tuesday recorded its largest one-day dollar decline - $5.33 a barrel - since the start of the first Gulf war in January 1991. Thursday saw the second largest one-day dollar gain - $5.60 - since crude futures started trading in the 1980s...  Some traders argued that the dollar was likely to come under further pressure as the Federal Reserve would find its ability to use interest rates to battle commodityrelated inflation pressures severely constrained by the increased threat of systemic failure across the financial markets."]
Government not expected to help more companies apnews.myway.com 7/14/8 ["Such an approach could mean beaten-down investment banks like Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (LEH) and regional banks must now fend for themselves as they try to recover from billions of dollars in mortgage-related losses. That is bound to unnerve Wall Street, already anxious as it awaits financial companies' earnings reports that are expected to be down a stunning 69 percent from a year ago when all the numbers are in."]
Spain to grant anonymity for women who have abortions afp.google.com 7/14/8 ["The majority of abortions in Spain take place in private clinics and are justified on the grounds that the pregnancy posed a "psychological risk" for the health of the woman."]
 

OPEC warns against military conflict with Iran iht.com 7/12/8 ["...warned Thursday that oil prices would see an "unlimited" increase in the case of a military conflict involving Iran, because the group's members would be unable to make up the lost production."]
IndyMac seized by FDIC; Office of Thrift Supervision reproaches Sen. Schumer forbes.com 7/12/8 [" IndyMac is the second-largest financial institution to close in U.S. history, said the Office of Thrift Supervision, which regulates the company."]
Economics Undone crossroad.to 7/12/8 [By Carl Teichrib  "During the past fourteen months, the threat of economic uncertainty has permeated the business and financial communities. From the American sub-prime crisis to the globally expanding costs of energy and food, it’s evident that a major shake-up is in the works, and this economicturbulence has resulted in some very interesting stories. Here are a few that cropped up toward the end of June."]
Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? nytimes.com 7/12/8 ["Disaster psychology tells us that few of us judge the risk of prospective hazards accurately, or take sensible precautions even if we do. We may believe that something terrible will happen in our nation or even our in city, but we tend to think it won’t touch us directly. Moreover, we’re often skeptical of official advice about public safety."]
McDonalds Strikes Back at Family Boycott with Charges of "Hate" lifesitenews.com 7/12/8 ["...the AFA, which has over 2.2 million members, has pointed out that its boycott has nothing to do with McDonald's homosexual employees, but everything to do with McDonald's cash from its 31,000 restaurants worldwide flowing from families into anti-family endeavors."]
Chinese Government is Top Foreign Holder of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Bonds marketwatch.com 7/12/8 ["The top five foreign holders of Freddie and Fannie long-term debt are China, Japan, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. In total foreign investors hold over $1.3 trillion in these agency bonds..."]
Food Costs Driving Up School Meal Prices usnews.com 7/12/8 ["According to the School Nutrition Association, 75 percent of school nutrition directors who responded to a recent survey said they plan to raise meal prices to cope with soaring costs. Prices for foods such as bread, milk, and cheese have jumped 17 percent in the past year alone. Some districts say they have no choice but to pass on the extra cost to students. In Tempe, Ariz., for example, students will no longer get Peter Piper Pizza, and a rice bowl—one of the most popular items—will now cost $4.25."]
Senate passes mortgage rescue plan seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/12/8 ["The new program would let the FHA insure as much as $300 billion in new mortgages, helping an estimated 400,000 homeowners."]
Another Disabled Young Person Dehydrated to Death in Terri Schiavo's Hospice lifesitenews.com 7/12/8 ["Unquestionably conscious cognitively disabled patients are now being denied sustenance in every state in U.S."]
Mediterranean Union to be launched euobserver.com 7/12/8 ["France will on Sunday (13 July) launch the Union for the Mediterranean – the brainchild of President Nicolas Sarkozy, which will bring together EU member states and a number of North African and Middle East countries."]
Oil sets new trading record above $147 a barrel ap.google.com 7/12/8 ["...s hostilities rise between the West and Iran — raising the likelihood that this winter's heating bills will be the priciest yet.  Crude oil's brief jump past $147 a barrel Friday arrived not only as the United States and Israel view Iran as a growing threat, but also as the U.S. dollar fell and worries erupted over possible supply disruptions in two other major oil-producing nations: Nigeria and Brazil."]
 

U.S. Considers Takeover of Two Mortgage Giants nytimes.com 7/11/8 ["The government officials said that the administration had also considered calling for legislation that would offer an explicit government guarantee on the $5 trillion of debt owned or guaranteed by the companies. But that is a far less attractive option, they said, because it would effectively double the size of the public debt."]
Fears rise on trillion-dollar trouble for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac afp.google.com 7/11/8 ["...as fears intensify about a potential calamity at the firms, which underpin trillions of dollars in home loans.  On Thursday, Freddie Mac shares plunged 22 percent to eight dollars, and are down over 40 percent this week and 75 percent this year.  Fannie Mae sank 14 percent to 13.20 dollars, down 26 percent in the week and 64 percent for the year."]
Fannie, Freddie insolvent, Poole tells Bloomberg reuters.com 7/11/8 ["Chances are increasing that the government may need to bail out the two mortgage companies, Poole was quoted as saying."]
Fake euro notes on the rise ECB reveals guardian.co.uk 7/11/8 ["The ECB said the number of fake euro notes seized by authorities had jumped more than 15 percent in the first six months of the year."]
Americans use less gas, hurt highway trust fund-CBO reuters.com 7/11/8 ["The fund is built on an 18.4 cent tax levied on each gallon of gas. It had been forecast to run out by 2009, but the fund is now shrinking more quickly, Peter Orszag testified to a Senate panel."]
Some in U.S. replace oil heat with wood stoves reuters.com 7/11/8 ["In New England, which has the nation's highest rates of heating oil use, homeowners are bracing for a near doubling in the cost to fill home oil storage tanks compared with last year.  The surging cost has spread alarm among heating oil distributors, mainly small and often family-run businesses. Their profit margins already squeezed, they now face the prospect of taking on unprecedented amounts of debt to buy fuel for winter."]
 

IndyMac depositors pull cash as mortgage woes grow uk.reuters.com 7/10/8 ["...said on Tuesday depositors had been withdrawing cash at an "elevated" pace since a key U.S. senator questioned its ability to survive the housing crisis.  ...collapse of the largest independent, publicly traded U.S. mortgage lender could prove a headache for U.S. regulators since more than $17 billion of its deposits carry federal insurance."]
Abu Dhabi fund snaps up NY's Chrysler Building afp.google.com 7/10/8 ["The cash-rich Abu Dhabi Investment Council has bought one of New York's best-known skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building, for a heady 800 million dollars  ...Investors from Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar bought the General Motors building, which is located on Fifth Avenue, last month for 2.8 billion dollars."]
1,000 Attend Ottawa Rally Demanding Order of Canada to Abortionist be Revoked lifesitenews.com 7/10/8 ["She added that giving the highest Canadian award to an individual who, for 40 years, has earned his living - not by saving babies, but by aborting them - causes national division. "Henry Morgentaler has not consoled the thousands of Canadian mothers and fathers who are still suffering … and he is unrepentant.""]
Reasons To Just Say No To Vaccines newswithviews.com 7/10/8 [Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, DO  "With the passage of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007, signed into law April 24, 2008, the blood will be collected and warehoused for scientific research.[1] Parents have little or no say in any of these events."]
Food Shortages in Syria, United Arab Emirates jpost.com 7/10/8 ["...the news could not have come at a worse time for the Syrian government: Instead of being able to export wheat and enjoy the current high prices on the world market, the government will now have to import wheat, adding an extra burden to the country's economy.  Over the past few years Syria has earned some $200 million from wheat export. "]
 

Fed may extend Wall Street lending reuters.com 7/9/8 ["Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday the U.S. central bank may keep an emergency lending facility for big Wall Street firms open longer than it initially intended, a signal the Fed is fearful of shutting down a vital backstop."]
Today's Christians: No Hope In God's Way newswithviews.com 7/9/8 [By Chuck Baldwin  "What they were saying was, "Doing it God's way offers no hope. We will do it our way. We will rely upon our own devices, wisdom, and strength. We can get ourselves out of this mess." That is the spirit these people possessed.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit that this is exactly the same spirit that many professing Christians display today."]
World Bank: Biofuels lift food prices 75 percent news.cnet.com 7/9/8 ["The World Bank argues that these policies have distorted the market for grains in three ways, according to The Guardian. First, crops that would have been sold for food have been diverted for biofuels production. Second, land is now being used for fuels rather than food. And third, the mandates have set off speculation in financial markets"]
Gardasil - 18 Dead, Thousands Suffer Complications lifesitenews.com 7/9/8 ["The public interest group Judicial Watch recently obtained more than 8,000 reports, under the US Freedom of Information law, of adverse events in girls and young women after they were injected with the HPV vaccine Gardasil."]
Wisconsin Abortion Numbers Plummet 14 Percent in 2007 as Centers Close lifenews.com 7/9/8 [""With five abortion clinics in Wisconsin, 40% were closed last year. It is quite possible that abortions will go up in 2008 because the clinics, unfortunately, have re-opened," WRTL indicated.  "Nonetheless, nothing can diminish the fact that 1,313 babies were saved from abortion in 2007 and their mothers spared the lifetime impact of abortion," the Right to Life group concluded."]
Colorado Planned Parenthood Finishes New Denver Abortion Center Early lifenews.com 7/9/8 ["No one knew about the new abortion center until August or that the new facility will house the pro-abortion group's headquarters and an abortion facility in the same 50,000-square foot space."]
Feds target children with live flu vaccine worldnetdaily.com 7/9/8 ["The vaccinations could start as early as a few weeks from now, and the infections could be spread for up to three weeks following the vaccinations, officials confirmed.  Each half milliliter portion of the formula, called FluMist, contains particles of "live, attenuated influenza virus," writes Robert Carrillo on his extensive blog posting about the vaccine."]
 

Golden Arches Awash in Rainbow Colors: Family Group Boycotts McDonalds for Support for Homosexual Agenda lifesitenews.com 7/8/8 ["The American Family Association, which has at least 2.2 million members, declared the boycott of McDonald's after the company refused repeated requests to withdraw McDonald's name, logo, and endorsement from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) website, which lists McDonald's as a "Corporate Partner.""]
Crisis wipes $1 trillion from financial stocks ap.google.com 7/8/8 ["U.S. financial companies have lost more than $1 trillion in value this year..."]
U.S. gasoline price at record $4.11/gallon: gov't reuters.com 7/8/8 [""]
Report: Emirates calls on GCC countries to depeg currencies from US dollar jpost.com 7/8/8 ["The National, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi ruling family, reported Sunday that the UAE is calling on all six Gulf Cooperation Council member states to "rethink" their monetary policy amid soaring inflation in the oil-rich region."]
Americans Will Be Taxed For Their Carbon Emissions newswithviews.com 7/8/8 [By Jim Kouri  "On July 1, citizens of Canada's British Columbia began paying a so-called carbon tax for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The provincial government is levying the tax on most fossil fuels, including gasoline and home heating fuel."]
IndyMac deemed under-capitalized by regulators marketwatch.com 7/8/8 ["IndyMac Bancorp said late Monday that regulators have told the lender it isn't "well capitalized" after failing to raise new capital.  The company said it has agreed to a new business plan with regulators which includes halting new mortgages to shrink its balance sheet and improve capital ratios. It will also cut 3,800 jobs, bringing staff levels to roughly 3,400. "]
 

UK: Government asks stores to stockpile food to overcome hauliers strike timesonline.co.uk 7/7/8 ["Ministers are in talks with supermarkets about emergency food reserves in case fuel protests lead to shortages at shops.  The government wants to ensure retailers and suppliers can continue to sell basics such as meat, bread and milk if hauliers bring the country to a halt.  They have asked supermarkets to make contingency plans “in case the infrastructure of the country breaks down”. "]
U.S. is in no shape to give advice, Medvedev says iht.com 7/7/8 ["Medvedev made his comments on Tuesday in a meeting with a small group of foreign journalists a day after the American treasury secretary, Henry Paulson Jr., appealed in Moscow for Russian investment in the United States. The symbolism of the visit resonated here, in that only a decade had passed since the Russian economy was in shambles and the country was desperate for Western aid."]
OPEC president blames ethanol for crude-price rise marketwatch.com 7/7/8 ["...said in an interview with an Algerian newspaper. "We have to follow the evolution of the dollar, because a 1% fall in the dollar means $4 more on the price of oil."  Khelil said the weak dollar and geopolitical worries are responsible for 60% of the rise in crude prices"]
The buck doesn't stop here; it just keeps falling ap.google.com 7/7/8 ["...The gaping U.S. current-account deficit — the amount by which the value of goods, services and investments bought in the U.S. from overseas exceeds the amount the U.S. sells abroad — and the low levels of domestic savings means that foreigners must purchase more than $3 billion every business day to fund the imbalance.  Since roughly half of the nation's nearly $10 trillion national debt is held by foreigners, mostly in Treasury bills and bonds, such a withdrawal could have enormous consequences."]
Inexpensive Cancer Treatments cancertutor.com 7/7/8 ["While this website has articles for recently diagnosed cancer patients ..., the main focus of this website is on identifying the very small number of the 300+ alternative cancer treatments which are strong enough to deal with the disastrous condition of cancer patients who have had extensive orthodox treatments, many of whom have been given up on by orthodox medicine."]
 

Shares tumble worldwide on "Super Thursday" uk.reuters.com 7/4/8 ["The gloom was rampant everywhere with Tokyo stocks setting their longest losing streak in more than half a century while the dollar hit a two-month low against the euro. Government bonds largely benefited from a global risk aversion."]
Abortionists in South Dakota Now Required to Admit Abortion Kills a "Whole, Separate, Unique, Living Human Being" lifesitenews.com 7/4/8 ["The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in a 7-4 decision, will allow South Dakota to begin enforcing a state law that requires abortion providers to tell women, in writing, that the abortion procedure "will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." In Planned Parenthood v. Rounds, the Court vacated a temporary injunction that had been issued by the trial court, which had blocked the law from going into effect."]
62,000 jobs lost, off nearly half-million for year ap.google.com 7/4/8 ["With more job cuts expected in coming months, there's growing concern that many people will pull back on their spending later this year when the bracing effect of the tax rebates fades, dealing a dangerous setback to the shaky economy."]
Oil price hits yet another record bbc.co.uk 7/4/8 [" The price of oil has continued to climb with US light, sweet crude reaching a record closing price and London Brent rising above $146 a barrel."]
Fed auctions $75 billion to ease credit stresses ap.google.com 7/4/8 ["in loans to squeezed banks to help them overcome credit problems and announced it will provide a fresh batch of the loans this month."]
L.A., Miami Home Foreclosure Rates More Than Double bloomberg.com 7/4/8 ["The company's report focused on four metropolitan areas, including New York City and Seattle.  New York's foreclosures climbed 49 percent, to include 961 properties with an average lien of $460,970 for a total of $424 million in outstanding debt. Los Angeles had about 15 times as many foreclosed properties set to be sold. "]
Controversial HPV Vaccine Causing One Death Per Month: FDA Report lifesitenews.com 7/4/8 ["140 "serious" adverse reactions, including 27 "life threatening" cases, 10 spontaneous abortions, and 6 cases of the debilitating Guillain-Barre Syndrome reported since January 2008"]
US army would find 'third front' hard if Israel attacks Iran afp.google.com 7/4/8 ["Israel is a key US ally in the volatile Middle East, with the two countries enjoying privileged ties, meaning that any conflict between Iran and the Jewish state would inevitably involve the United States.  But the US Army is already stretched with thousands of troops committed to fighting insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq."]
UK: Jobs blow as haulage firm crashes bbc.co.uk 7/4/8 ["One of Britain's biggest road hauliers, Leeds-based Macfarlane Transport, has gone into administration with the loss of about 300 jobs."]
Charities feel drag of gas crisis usatoday.com 7/4/8 [""We're in a bad crisis right now," says Enid Borden, chief executive of the Meals on Wheels Association of America. A survey found that 58% of its local chapters had lost volunteers because of gas prices."]