Molded Massage Oil | Natural Holistic Health Blog

* 4 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
* 3 tablespoons solid cocoa butter
* 2 tablespoons solid coconut oil
* 1 tablespoon beeswax
* 1 tablespoon paraffin wax
* 10 drops orange essential oil (or whatever you like)

Heat all the above, except essential oil, in a microwave (power 7) for approximately 3 minutes or melt in a double boiler.

Stir until liquid. If you want them colored, add a crayon or wax dye. Beat for several minutes until emulsified and slightly thick. If it isn?t thickening, place your bowl in ice water as you beat it with an electric mixer.

Add essential oil. Pour into metal or lightly oiled plastic/glass molds. (Chocolate molds work well and are about the right amount for a body massage.) Refrigerate until set.

Wrap in plastic and store in a cool place.

To use, simply hand warm your molded oil and give a massage to your favorite person or give yourself a foot massage.

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About Dee Braun

Dee is an Adv. Certified Aromatherapist, Reiki Master, Adv. Color/Crystal Therapist, Herbalist, Dr. of Reflexology and single mom who is dedicated to helping others any way she can. One way she chooses to help is by offering information on the benefits and uses of natural health and healing methods for the well-being of both people and pets. Dee also teaches Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Color/Crystal Therapy at the Alternative Healing Academy

Source: http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/molded-massage-oil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=molded-massage-oil

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NOAA lists ringed and bearded ice seal populations under the Endangered Species Act

Dec. 30, 2012 ? NOAA Fisheries announced on December 21, in compliance with a court ordered deadline, its final listing decision for four subspecies of ringed seals and two distinct population segments (DPSs) of bearded seals under the Endangered Species Act. Specifically, in line with the proposal, NOAA will list as threatened the Beringia and Okhotsk DPSs of bearded seals and the Arctic, Okhotsk, and Baltic subspecies of ringed seals. The Ladoga subspecies of ringed seals will be listed as endangered. The species that exist in U.S. waters (Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia DPS of bearded seals) are already protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

This science-based listing decision will not result in any immediate restrictions on human activities; however, Federal agencies that permit or fund projects that may affect a listed species must consult with NOAA Fisheries to ensure the existence of the species is not jeopardized. In addition, this listing will have no impact on the subsistence harvest of ice seals by Alaska Natives, a practice that is central to the traditional culture and nutrition in many Alaskan Native coastal communities.

"Our scientists undertook an extensive review of the best scientific and commercial data. They concluded that a significant decrease in sea ice is probable later this century and that these changes will likely cause these seal populations to decline," said Jon Kurland, protected resources director for NOAA Fisheries' Alaska region. "We look forward to working with the State of Alaska, our Alaska Native co-management partners, and the public as we work toward designating critical habitat for these seals."

NOAA will work with local, state and Native partners, as well as the public to help determine whether to propose critical habitat designations for Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia DPS of bearded seals. This decision will happen at a later date, after compiling significant additional scientific and economic data and public input. Earlier this year, the President directed that any future designations of critical habitat carefully consider all public comments on relevant science and economic impact, including those that suggest methods for minimizing regulatory burdens. Any potential future critical habitat designation will include a full analysis of economic impact, including impact on jobs, and will strive, to the extent permitted by law, to avoid unnecessary burdens and costs on states, tribes, localities, and the private sector.

Ringed and bearded seals depend on sea ice and snow to survive. After a comprehensive review of the best available science including climate models developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, NOAA has concluded that sea ice and snow cover are likely to further decrease in the foreseeable future resulting in population declines that threaten the survival of these seals.

Ringed seals nurse and protect their pups in snow caves, which are threatened by late ice formation in the fall, rain-on-snow events in the late winter, earlier break-up of spring ice, as well as decreasing snow depths, which are projected to be too shallow for snow cave formation by the end of the century. Both ringed seals and bearded seals rely on sea ice for extended periods during molting, and bearded seals live on sea ice during critical months for breeding, whelping, and nursing. Sea ice is projected to shrink both in extent and duration, with bearded seals finding inadequate ice even if they move north.

NOAA Fisheries proposed the listings in December 2010 and provided opportunities for public input through public comment periods and during public hearings held in Anchorage, Barrow, and Nome. In accordance with NOAA's Policy for Peer Review in ESA Activities, the agency also solicited comments from peer reviewers on each of the proposed rules. In December 2011, NOAA administratively extended the deadline for final listing determinations six months to June 2012 to allow for additional consideration of relevant science and information. In November 2012, the Alaska district court ordered NOAA to respond to a complaint about further delay by December 21, 2012.

The Endangered Species Act defines an endangered species as "any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." A threatened species is "any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range."

The Endangered Species Act requires species listed as endangered to receive the full protection under the Act to prevent extinction, including a prohibition against "take," which includes harassing, harming, pursuing, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting. These protections may also be established for threatened species to prevent them from becoming endangered, but NOAA does not propose pursuing such a rule at this time.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/zX7CoN9eWps/121230180804.htm

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morphemic thule: Learn 3 Home Improvement Suggestions You ...

The smallest budgets should not dissuade you from taking on home improvement plans that will help keep your home safe and sound. Sometimes you can improve your home without spending a lot of money at all. We like to focus on those projects that are less involved, but they provide good value and service to your investment. On the Internet, there is a lot of information about your expensive projects like remodeling your kitchen. The world economy is actually very bad right now, which will cause many people to hesitate for doing such projects.

One very natural way to naturally protect and keep your home cool in hot months is by having trees growing near your house. Trees are great, especially when they are tall and thick enough to block the sun on a hot day in the summer. The best way to approach this is by talking to a professional about what kind of trees would be best. Planting trees can be much more simple if you have an expert help you. Contacting a nursery can be a step in that direction, especially when it comes to planting in the right location. Planting trees by yourself is only a good idea if you are an expert in this field.

As we have just stated, home improvement is something that cannot be ignored ? or at least should never be ignored. We do recognize very well that your situation is vital and matters a great deal. We will begin the rest of our discussion right away, but sometimes you have to stop and let issues sink in a little bit. This is the sort of content that men and women need to know about, and we have no problems saying that. Our last few items can really prove to be highly effective considering the overall.

Install GFCI, ground fault circuit interrupter, outlets in bathrooms and other areas. A GFCI outlet is different from the normal household power receptacle in both design and appearance. Typically, the flow of electrical current goes from the hot to the neutral terminal. This outlet will detect if this if this is actually happening. If there should be an electrical short, such as with the device you are using, the difference or change in current will be detected by the receptacle. The GFCI will automatically open up and the current flow will stop to prevent any damage.

Energy costs have risen a lot over the years, and everyone knows it. It is interesting that some things are known to never decrease in price, so they can be prepared for because you always know what to expect. So, you have to make the most with what you have, and this involves staying as energy-efficient as possible. Take your refrigerator for example, there are coils in the back of it that have to receive adequate ventilation. What you can do is make sure you do not restrict the normal flow of air. The coils on your refrigerator also need to be free of dust buildup or the efficiency will decrease.

Regardless of the type of home improvement that you do, if it improves your energy efficiency, it is money well spent. If you are only spending a few years at the helm, don?t do it. If you are going to spend the rest of your life, you should do these projects. There are many homes on the market today, and that people live in, that are not energy efficient at all. Problems that you see now should be fixed immediately so they do not become larger problems at a later date. The longer you wait to fix small problems, the more money you will eventually pay later on.

The writer is a search marketing and advertising specialist ? who writes on numerous home improvement related subjects such as roofer Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale commercial roofing company and Learn Here.

Source: http://foundation.16mb.com/2012/12/28/learn-3-home-improvement-suggestions-you-could-not-know/

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Source: http://morphemic-thule.blogspot.com/2012/12/learn-3-home-improvement-suggestions.html

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Any ?fiscal cliff? deal must get through political obstacle course in next few days (Washington Post)

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Obama: GOP's insistence on halting tax hikes for the wealthy is stopping fiscal cliff deal

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, President Barack Obama tells David Gregory he's optimistic the fiscal cliff can be averted, lays out the goals for his second term, and also discusses the Benghazi attack and how it was handled by the administration and those on Capitol Hill.

By Carrie Dann, NBC News

President Barack Obama on Sunday said congressional Republicans and their?insistence on preventing tax increases for the very wealthy are standing in the way of a deal to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.

In an exclusive?interview on NBC's?"Meet the Press," the president chided House Republicans as the clock continued to run out on a potential agreement.

"They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they're behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected," Obama said. "That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme."

President Barack Obama says he negotiated with House Speaker Boehner in good faith and moved more than halfway in order to achieve a grand bargain.

With?a little more than one day remaining?before the nation faces automatic spending cuts and tax hikes that could impact an already-wobbling American economy, the president implied that there has been little progress in recent days to justify hopes of a last-minute deal to prevent going over the fiscal cliff at year's end.

"I was modestly optimistic yesterday, but we don't yet see an agreement," he said in the interview, taped on Saturday at the White House. "And now the pressure's on Congress to produce."

Read the full transcript

The president?appeared open to eliminating at least some of the scheduled automatic spending cuts if Republicans agree to tax increases for the wealthy. Those cuts are slated to impact defense spending and non-entitlement discretionary spending beginning on Jan. 1.?

"If we have raised some revenue by the wealthy paying a little bit more, that would be sufficient to turn off what's called the sequester, these automatic spending cuts, and that also would have a better outcome for our economy long-term," he said.?

The president challenged Republicans to vote on legislation that he said should be introduced by the Democrat-controlled Senate to prevent taxes on the "middle class" from being increased.

But he did not specify what income level he would be willing to accept as a dividing line between those who retain Bush-era tax rates and those whose rates would increase. The president has consistently supported increasing taxes on families making over $250,000 a year, but that figure has been a major bargaining chip in negotiations.

Wherever the line on tax increases ends up, Obama urged a vote in both houses on a final Senate bill if a broader agreement cannot be reached.

Pete Souza / White House Photo

President Barack Obama is interviewed by David Gregory of NBC's "Meet The Press" in the Blue Room of the White House, Dec. 29, 2012.

"Everybody should have a right to vote on that," he said. "If Republicans don't like it, they can vote no. But I actually think that there's a majority support for making sure that middle class families are held harmless."

"So far, at least, Congress has not been able to get this stuff done," he added. "Not because Democrats in Congress don't want to go ahead and cooperate, but because I think it's been very hard for Speaker Boehner and Republican Leader McConnell to accept the fact that taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up a little bit, as part of an overall deficit reduction package."

Dismissing the notion that the Democratic Party is as compromise-averse as the GOP, the president said Democrats? -- "warts and all" -- have more consistently agreed to components of bipartisan deals.?

"What I'm arguing for are maintaining tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans. I don't think anybody would consider that some liberal left-wing agenda. That used to be considered a pretty mainstream Republican agenda," he said. "And it's something that we can accomplish today if we simply allow for a vote in the Senate and in the House to get it done. The fact that it's not happening is an indication of how far certain factions inside the Republican Party have gone where they can't even accept what used to be considered centrist, mainstream positions on these issues."

The president offered no new suggestions of compromise measures that may be more palatable to Republicans, although he acknowledged that some Democrats oppose entitlement adjustments and some of the spending cuts that he's put forward during negotiations.?

The president games out different scenarios of how he thinks the fiscal cliff negotiations will be resolved.?

"The offers that?I've?made to [Republicans] have been so fair that a lot of Democrats get mad at me," he said, noting that his acceptance of Chained CPI, a measure that would change the way Social Security payments are determined, has caused particular rancor within his own party.

"Highly unpopular among Democrats," he said of the proposed change. "Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions."

If an impasse remains in place, Obama warned, Republicans' rejection of his version of deficit reduction plans would be enough to send financial markets skidding.?

"What's been holding us back is the dysfunction here in Washington," he said. "And if people start seeing that on January 1st this problem still hasn't been solved, that we haven't seen the kind of deficit reduction that we could have had had the Republicans been willing to take the deal that I gave them, if they say that people's taxes have gone up, which means consumer spending is going to be depressed, then obviously that's going to have an adverse reaction in the markets."

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Source: http://pheedo.msnbc.msn.com/click.phdo?i=cb973bfcd0536647aea808ac87c17389

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NRA envisions armed volunteers, but experts say trained police are needed for school security (Star Tribune)

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Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies

H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the retired general credited with leading U.S.-allied forces to a victory in the first Gulf War, has died at age 78, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News.

He died today in Tampa, Fla., a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

Schwarzkopf, sometimes called "Stormin' Norman" because of his temper, actually led Republican administrations to two military victories: a small one in Grenada in the 1980s and a big one as de facto commander of allied forces in the Gulf War in 1991.

"'Stormin' Norman' led the coalition forces to victory, ejecting the Iraqi Army from Kuwait and restoring the rightful government," read a statement by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. "His leadership not only inspired his troops, but also inspired the nation."

Schwarzkopf's success during what was known as Operation Desert Storm came under President George H.W. Bush, who said today through his office that he mourned "the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation."

"Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomized the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises," Bush said. "More than that, he was a good and decent man -- and a dear friend."

Bush's office released the statement though Bush, himself, was ill, hospitalized in Texas with a stubborn fever and on a liquids-only diet.

Schwarzkopf, the future four-star general, was born Aug. 24, 1934, in Trenton, N.J. He was raised as an army brat in Iran, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, following in his father's footsteps to West Point and being commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1956.

Schwarzkopf's father, who shared his name, directed the investigation of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping as head of the New Jersey State Police, later becoming a bridgadier general in the U.S. Army.

The younger Schwarzkopf earned three Silver Stars for bravery during two tours in Vietnam, gaining a reputation as an opinionated, plain-spoken commander with a sharp temper who would risk his own life for his soldiers.

"He had volunteered to go to Vietnam early just so he could get there before the war ended," said former Army Col. William McKinney, who knew Schwarzkopf from their days at West Point, according to ABC News Radio.

In 1983, as a newly-minted general, Schwarzkopf once again led troops into battle in President Reagan's invasion of Granada, a tiny Caribbean island where the White House saw American influence threatened by a Cuban-backed coup.

But he gained most of his fame in Iraq, where he used his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and fearsome temper to drive his troops to victory. Gruff and direct, his goal was to win the war as quickly as possible and with a focused objective: getting Iraq out of Kuwait.

"If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our intention to overrun the country, we could have done it unopposed," he said at a military briefing in 1991.

He spoke French and German to coalition partners, showed awareness of Arab sensitivities and served as Powell's operative man on the ground.

Powell today recalled Schwarzkopf as "a great patriot and a great soldier," who "served his country with courage and distinction for over 35 years."

"He was a good friend of mine, a close buddy," Powell added. "I will miss him."

Schwarzkopf retired from the Army after Desert Storm in 1991, writing an autobiography, becoming an advocate for prostate cancer awareness, serving on the boards of various charities and lecturing. He and his wife, Brenda, had three children.

Schwarzkopf spent his retirement in Tampa, home base for his last military assignment as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command.

ABC News' Dana Hughes, Gina Sunseri and Polson Kanneth contributed to this report.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gen-h-norman-schwarzkopf-dies-78-004852482--abc-news-topstories.html

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Valuable Home Improvement Advice To Remodel And Repair Your ...

Even beginners can tackle some home-improvement projects. It is possible for home improvement projects to add to a home?s value and improve the appearance of a living space. As you continue to read this article, you will find out some great tips to use when making a wide range of home improvements.

TIP! Don?t try to remove an old popcorn ceiling without testing it for asbestos first. Asbestos is harmful to your health and needs to be removed by knowledgeable professionals.

Pay your contractor according to the tasks they complete, rather than an hourly or daily rate. By doing so, you can request the contractor leaves if their work is not up to standard, but you won?t be left with a project that is incomplete.

If you don?t have much counter space in the kitchen, think about a microwave over your range. These microwaves stand in place of the range hood and have additional features and a variety of prices. Because most units have only a recirculating filter instead of a vent, they?re best suited for cooks who don?t require a strong venting solution.

TIP! Roofs often need repairs, but you need to make sure the roofer you hire to take care of it is a reputable contractor. Make sure to do your research on a company before agreeing to work with them.

Up to 20% of heat and cold air can be lost through the windows. Adding a second glaze to your larger windows can easily reduce this amount by half, making your electric bills much more reasonable and also making your home more comfortable during extreme temperatures.

Find inspiration for remodeling or redecorating from magazines, paint swatches and home improvement shows. While you may not even be ready to launch your project quite yet, clipping and saving things that appeal to you can make life easier when you do start to work. You can also purchase what you need a little at a time, and this can dilute the upfront expenses.

TIP! If you are in a dwelling with limited space, and don?t have the space for both a washer and dryer, think about buying a unit that combines the two together. Many combined washer-dryer models can fit in compact spaces or under counters.

Fresh paint on your walls will add a new look to any room and won?t cost a fortune. Take a trip to your nearest hardware store and pick up some paint chips! Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you don?t love it, you can paint over it.

Look at your home?s water usage when planning home improvement projects. Low flow toilets, efficient hot water heaters and low-volume shower heads are all good choices to reduce water consumption. You will not only add value to your home but you will be environmentally conscience.

TIP! A normal wood fireplace used for heating might not be such a great idea. Apart from reasons related to aesthetics, this system could be inefficient due to the heat having to go through the chimney.

Since safety should be a priority in the home, have a family meeting focused on establishing escape routes. People are likely to panic in the event of a traumatic incident. If you have an escape plan from the house when you have an emergency may save lives. Make your plan, and practice it with your family.

Often home builders reduce their costs by installing cabinets without any hardware at all. Hardware stores in your area are sure to carry a variety of pulls and knobs, so you won?t have any problem finishing off the look. You can choose knobs, handles and pulls in a vintage look, modern or designer type, and they are easily installed.

TIP! Put up some new trim and art to update your bathroom. It does not cost much, and there are a lot of styles available.

When installing tile on your shower, tub, floor, or any moist area, be sure to install backer boards made of cement. This back board prevents moisture from touching the drywall. If moisture penetrates drywall, mold and mildew will form in the wall.

TIP! While some air conditioning units aren?t necessarily the most aesthetically appealing appliances on the market, they are essential in many locations across the country. Wooden trellises or a length of lattice be great to provide camouflage for your unsightly AC unit.

Regularly maintain the septic tank. There are purchasable chemicals that will prevent overflow by speeding up the rate of decomposition. It is important to know exactly where your septic tank is located before beginning any home improvement project. Get a home plan if you need it so you can avoid damaging it accidentally.

When you are renovating your house, you must be sure that you personalize while still staying within the confines of other properties in your area. You won?t want to be in the position of being the only house in the neighborhood with a tower mounted atop your roof. If you have some strange addition like this, you will have a hard time selling your house.

TIP! Think about appliance upgrades as home improvements, to enable saving money on all utility bills. Getting appliances that are newer can pay for itself in the end.

In conclusion, some home repairs are so simple that even a rookie can do them. If you are new to home improvements, it can be scary to think about doing it. Use what you have learned in this article and get started on a home improvement project right away.

Peter Barret is a home improvement expert and enjoys sharing his knowledge about the property industry.

Source: http://sacredbuffalos.com/valuable-home-improvement-advice-to-remodel-and-repair-your-home/

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Vietnam police arrest well-known dissident lawyer

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) ? Vietnamese police have detained a well-known dissident lawyer, escalating a crackdown on those who speak out against the country's one-party, authoritarian rule.

Le Quoc Quan was arrested on his way to drop off his children at school Thursday in the capital, Hanoi, according to the Vietnamese Redemptorist Church's website. The state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper reported Friday that Quan was detained for alleged tax evasion.

Quan, 41, had recently complained of harassment by authorities and required hospital treatment in August after being beaten by men he claimed were sent by the state. Since that incident, he had taken to carrying a golf club with him for self-defense.

Neither authorities nor Quan's family were available for comment.

Quan, who was detained in 2007 for three months on his return from a U.S. government-funded fellowship in Washington, is one of Vietnam's better-known dissidents and maintains a popular blog that highlighted human rights abuses and other issues off-limits to the state media.

In an interview with The Associated Press in September, Quan said he was under constant surveillance and that he, his family and staff received frequent warnings and pressure from authorities. But he pledged to keep speaking out against the government and in favor of multi-party democracy and freedom of speech and religion.

Vietnam converted to a market economy in the late 1980s and wants to integrate with the world, but maintains strict controls on freedom of speech and political expression. Bloggers, activists and others are routinely arrested and imprisoned. Foreign media representatives are allowed to live in Vietnam but are subject to restrictions on where they can travel and what they can report.

The Internet has emerged as a vital organizing tool for dissidents in recent years, and there has been a surge of blogs and Facebook pages highlighting criticism of the government. The rise of the Internet has combined with an economic slowdown, leaving the ruling elite feeling vulnerable.

In a related development, a court in Ho Chi Minh City Friday upheld long jail sentences two bloggers whose cases have attracted international criticism: Nguyen Van Hai, who received 12 years, and Ta Phong Tan, who received 10.

Judges said there were no grounds to alter the sentences passed down against the two in September for conducting "propaganda against the state", according to lawyer Ha Huy Son. A third member of the so-called "Free Journalist's Club," Phan Thanh Hai, had his four-year sentence reduced to three.

Nguyen Van Hai, who blogged under the name of Dieu Cay or tobacco pipe, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail in 2008 for what international human rights groups said were trumped-up tax evasion charges. He served out his sentence in October 2010, but was not released and charged with a new crime.

Last week, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung gave a fresh warning to dissidents, ordering police to prevent people from "forming opposition political groups to carry out sabotage and that go against the interests of the country and the people."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vietnam-police-arrest-well-known-dissident-lawyer-111508086.html

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Oregon Humane Society gearing up for 11,000th adoption of year ...

The Oregon Humane Society is on a countdown for its 11,000th adoption this year.

The Northeast Portland nonprofit expects to hit that mark between 2 and 4 p.m. on Thursday for the third straight year. Last year, the society recorded 11,521 adoptions, a record since the current shelter on Northeast Columbia Boulevard opened in 2000.

"We adopt more pets from our shelter on Columbia Boulevard than any other single facility on the West Coast," said Sharon Harmon, the society's executive director. "We're one of the busiest humane societies in the nation, thanks in large part to the compassion of this community."

The society has slashed adoption fees by 50 percent or more to empty its kennels and clear out other animal areas. Fees, which include spaying or neutering, initial shots and microchips, range from $50 for a dog aged 1 year or older to $12 for an adult cat. Puppies, which are not discounted, still cost $200 to $400.

About 85 animals are up for adoption, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and a hamster. The resident who's been at the society the longest is Mittens, a short-haired black-and-white cat, 7 years old. She's been at the shelter since Oct. 5. Kelso, a 5-year-old Springer spaniel mix, arrived Nov. 6, making him the longest current canine resident.?

Society staff hope they find homes soon.

The shelter, located at 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd., is open for adoptions from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday.

-- Lynne Terry

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/12/oregon_humane_society_gearing.html

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Bumper Pack Of Goal Setting/ Self Improvement Plr ? Video ...

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Source: http://shumonahmed147.blogspot.com/2012/12/bumper-pack-of-goal-setting-self.html

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Best paid iPhone apps

The App Store is flooded with apps, both good and bad, so it can be overwhelming to decided which apps you're going to spend your hard earned cash (or gift cards) on. Stress no more! We've gathered up some of our all time favorite apps that we believe to be worth every penny.

1Password 4

1Password is not only one of the best apps for your iPhone, but one of the best for your iPad, Mac, and PC as well. With 1Password, you can say goodbye to using the same, insecure password for all your logins all over the internet and instead give each login its own individual secure password yet only need to remember one password to gain access to them all.

1Password is not just extremely useful and practical, but it's extremely well designed that gives the perfect combination of functionality and beauty.

• $7.99 - Download now
• First look: 1Password 4 for iOS

Fantastical

Apple's built-in Calendar app is great and all, but if you want a superb calendar, take a look at Fantastical for iPhone. This awesome little calendar app lets you simply type your meetings in normal language and it translates them into an appointment for you. For example "meeting with Rene Ritchie next friday at noon" will automatically fill in the appropriate fields to schedule this event. If you're a quick typer, this is typically much faster than adding all the information yourself. Fantastical will make you wish you had more things to add to your calendar so that you can use it more. Seriously.

• $3.99 - Download now
• Fantastical review

Tweetbot

Tweetbot has been one of our favorite Twitter apps for quite some time, now. It's perfect for the power tweeter, with useful features like, intuitive gestures, granular notifications, and flexible mute filters all wrapped up in fun sounds and a great design.

• $2.99 - Download now

• See also:

  • Twitterrific for iPhone - $2.99 - Download now
  • Twitterrific review

Camera+

The iPhone's is, without question, an excellent camera, but the iPhone isn't exactly equipped with all the tools to make the most use out of it -- but Camera+ is! Camera+ is a photography app that is useful for both taking photos and editing them. With features ranging from separate exposure and focus points, stabilizer, dozens of effects and borders, different scene modes, and more, Camera+ is sure to help you grow to become the awesome iPhone photographer you desire to be!

• $0.99 - Download now

iMovie

The still camera isn't the only great camera in the iPhone -- the video camera is also pretty great! But with the restrictions of simply shooting video and trimming clips, the built-in Camera app doesn't allow you to actually make movies, but iMovie does! iMovie is a fantastic video editor because it's super easy to make fun videos in just a matter of minutes. Videographers may yearn for more, but for everyone else, iMove is an excellent video editor for the iPhone.

• $4.99 - Download now

Clear

Clear is a task list app for those who don't like task list apps -- a new, gesture-based approach that's manages to be simple without being simplistic. It takes an almost Windows Phone Metro-style approach. It's not a task app for those who want power features or a more traditional interface. But for anyone new to todos, who wants something fresh and fun, who just has a few lists of a few items and finds Reminders far too much of a chore, Clear might be the perfect place to start.

• $0.99 - Download now
• Clear for iPhone review

Solar : Weather

Sure, the built-in Weather app on the iPhone gets you basic weather information in a somewhat appealing packages, but it's nothing compared to Solar : Weather. This little gem is a unique weather app for the iPhone that offers a one-of-a-kind interactive UI and experience. Instead of simply displaying the weather forecast for you, Solar: Weather will display different information based on gestures. For example, swiping up with scroll through the 24-hr forecast, swiping down will display the 3 day forecast, and swiping left/right will switch between locations. It's actually very fun to use.

• $0.99 - Download now
• Solar for iPhone review

Launch Center Pro

Tap an app icon on your Home screen and what happens? The app opens up, that's it. Tap an app icon in Launch Center Pro and what happens? Messages are ready to write. Events are ready to be added. Movie times are there for you to see. And much, much more. That's because Launch Center Pro doesn't just launch apps, it launches actions. Sure, iOS doesn't allow real app-to-app communication yet, but App Cubby, the makers of Launch Center Pro, have toiled away taking what Apple does allow -- the URL schemes that let apps send and receive small amounts of information in links -- and made something not only wonderful, but wonderfully productive.

• $2.99 - Download now
• Launch Center Pro review

Instapaper

Instapaper is one of the most popular read-later services on the web and iPhone that saves web pages and articles for offline reading and is optimized for readability on your device's screen. It offers a distraction-free text only environment with the ability to adjust fonts, text sizes, line spacing, and margins to truly satisfy your specific reading needs. You can save articles to Instapaper via a bookmarklet that you save in Safari or from one of the many Twitter, reading, and social apps in the App Store.

• $3.99 - Download now

Reeder

If you use Google Reader, you want Reeder - plain and simple. It's an RSS reader that will sync with your Google Reader account and present your feeds on a beautiful and clean interface. You can also choose to sync with Fever and Readability and Reeder allows you to share to nearly every social service out there.

• $2.99 - Download now
• Reeder for iPhone review

Instacast

Instacast 3 is the all new version of Vemedio's popular iPhone and iPad podcasting app. With it, Vemedio has switched out a lot of old methods for newer technologies like automatic reference counting and Core Data to make Instacast better and faster. Alongside these fancy new technologies is Instacasts new Cloud sync. Instead of using Apple's iCloud to keep your podcasts in sync, the folks at Vemedio put in a lot of work to create their own. All you need to do to use it is sign-up for a free account and all your data will be seamlessly moved to the cloud. If Apple's free Podcasts app isn't up to your needs, give Instacast a whirl.

• $4.99 - Download now

Byword

Byword is a text and Markdown editor that focuses on being simple, distraction free, and beautiful. It's available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac and can keep all your work in sync via iCloud or Dropbox. It also features a special keyboard with a swipable row at the top that includes selective word and character counters, a tab key, smart paring characters, and undo key, Markdown helpers, and more.

• $2.99 - Download now
• Byword for iPhone review

iWork: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote

Want to create posters, write papers, design spreadsheets, and create presentations? Apple's iWork suite consisting of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote has go you covered. All three of these apps are available on both the iPhone and iPad and sync over iCloud with their Mac counterparts.

• Pages - $9.99 - Download now
• Numbers - $9.99 - Download now
• Keynote - $9.99 - Download now

Your favorite paid apps for iPhone?

This really is just a short list of fantastic apps out there, and we know there's some other great ones that have been left out. That's where you come in! What are the best paid apps you have installed on your iPhone and use regularly? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/qYr411k1OII/story01.htm

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Jesse James Pro-Gun Rant: Anecdotal Evidence Totally Supports NRA Position!

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Paul Daley out of Bellator tournament after problems with visa arise

Paul Daley's next shot in MMA has hit a roadbump. The British fighter, who was cut from the UFC after he threw a cheap shot after the bell at Josh Koscheck in 2010, is out of Bellator's welterweight tournament. He can't enter the United States because of issues getting a work visa.

ESPN reports Daley was involved in a bar brawl and was charged with assault, which is the problem with the visa. Daley denies the brawl, and says via his Facebook page it was just a problem with his visa.

It seems as though (sp) a mass press release has gone out to the MMA media stating I was involved (in a) bar brawl, arrested, and cannot obtain a P-1 visa to compete in the USA. I am currently awaiting a decision on my visa, which is not expected until late April. Which means I am unable to compete in the season 8 Bellator tournament, as it starts in January. I will be fighting in Europe in the coming months, so I am able to stay active while awaiting a decision on my visa status. I was not involved in a bar brawl. This is 100-percent a false statement.

Previously, Daley has fought in the United States for Bellator, Strikeforce and the UFC without any visa issues.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/paul-daley-bellator-tournament-problems-visa-arise-133424597--mma.html

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Simple eye scan can predict how quickly Multiple Sclerosis patients ...

? Eye / Vision Problems ? ? Neurology ? Dec 25, 2012

A quick and easy eye test could offer an effective way of measuring how fast multiple sclerosis is progressing in someone with the disease.

Researchers performed scans on 164 M.S patients that measured the thickness of the lining at the back of the eye.

The team from John Hopkins University found patients with thinning of the retina had both earlier and more active forms of the disease.

The scan, known as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), takes just a few minutes per eye and can be performed at a GPs surgery.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing problems with muscle movement, balance and vision.

Around 8 out of 10 people with M.S. have a type known as relapsing remitting, which means people will have periods where symptoms are mild or disappear followed by flare-ups. After around 10 years half of patients will develop secondary progressive disease where symptoms get worse and there is little remission.

It is difficult for doctors to monitor M.S. because its course can be unpredictable. Scientists believe OCT could provide a good way to do this.

?As more therapies are developed to slow the progression of MS, testing retinal thinning in the eyes may be helpful in evaluating how effective those therapies are,? said study author Dr Peter Calabresi.

The team measured the eyes of 164 M.S patients, 59 of whom were showing no symptoms, every six months for around 21 months. They also gave them MRI brain scans once a year.

The study found that people with MS relapses had 42 per cent faster thinning than people with MS who had no relapses.

The MRI scans revealed people with MS who had signs of active inflammation - known as gadolinium-enhancing lesions - experienced 54 per cent faster thinning.

Meanwhile people whose level of disability worsened during the study experienced 37 per cent more thinning than those who had no changes in their level of disability.

The study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Eye Institute and Braxton Debbie Angela Dillon and Skip Donor Advisor Fund.

###

Scan measures thickness of lining at the back of the eye
Those with thinning retinas had earlier and more active forms of M.S
Could help doctors to track the unpredictable disease and act to slow its progression

###

Dailymail.co.uk

Provided by ArmMed Media

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Source: http://www.health.am/ab/more/simple-eye-scan-can-predict/

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Books: Football-Casino-Sports

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Will Ferguson

Children's literature

United States of America, Nursing, Recreation More

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New Japan PM: Saving economic crisis top mission

Japan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, is the country's seventh prime minister in just over six years. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, is the country's seventh prime minister in just over six years. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during his first press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. Old-guard veteran Abe was voted back into office as prime minister Wednesday and immediately named a new Cabinet, ending three years of liberal administrations and restoring power to his conservative, pro-big-business party that has run Japan for most of the post-World War II era. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during his first press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. Old-guard veteran Abe was voted back into office as prime minister Wednesday and immediately named a new Cabinet, ending three years of liberal administrations and restoring power to his conservative, pro-big-business party that has run Japan for most of the post-World War II era. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe bows after being named Japan's new prime minister during the plenary session at the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. The rise of Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, ends more than three years at the helm for the left-leaning Democratic Party of Japan and brings back the conservative, pro-big business LDP that governed for most of the post-World War II era. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Japan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe waves for the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, is the country's seventh prime minister in just over six years. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

TOKYO (AP) ? Shinzo Abe took office as Japan's seventh prime minister in six years Wednesday and vowed to overcome the deep-rooted economic and diplomatic crises facing his country.

Abe was elected as Japan's leader hours earlier Wednesday, bringing back to power the conservative, pro-business Liberal Democratic Party that governed for most of the post-World War II era. It replaces the liberal-leaning government of the Democratic Party of Japan that lasted three years.

"A strong economy is the source of energy for Japan. Without regaining a strong economy, there is no future for Japan," Abe told his first news conference after becoming prime minister for the second time.

Calling his administration a "crisis breakthrough Cabinet," Abe promised to launch bold economic measures to pull Japan out of deflation. He also vowed to step up an alliance with the United States to stabilize Japan's diplomacy shaken by increasing territorial threats from its neighbors.

Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, was also prime minister in 2006-2007 before resigning for health reasons that he says are no longer an issue.

The outspoken and often hawkish leader has promised to restore growth to an economy that has been struggling for 20 years. His administration also faces souring relations with China and a complex debate over whether resource-poor Japan should wean itself off nuclear energy after last year's earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at an atomic power plant.

On top of that, he will have to win over a public that gave his party a lukewarm mandate in elections on Dec. 16, along with keeping at bay a still-powerful opposition in parliament. Though his party and its Buddhist-backed coalition partner is the biggest bloc in the more influential lower house, Abe actually came up short in the first round of voting in the upper house, then won in a runoff.

Capitalizing on voter discontent with the Democratic Party of Japan, Abe has vowed to shore up the economy, deal with a swelling national debt and come up with a fresh recovery plan following last year's tsunami disaster, which set off the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

Abe promised to launch bold economic measures, and mobile financial steps and strategies to encourage investment.

"We must recover a Japan where hardworking people can feel that there is a better tomorrow," he said.

Abe is expected to push for a 2 percent inflation target designed to fight deflation. Continually dropping prices deaden economic activity, a situation the Japanese economy has been stuck in for two decades.

Finance Minister Taro Aso, another former prime minister who is one of Aso's most-trusted senior lawmaker, said fighting deflation would be a challenge: "We've never dealt with deflation since the end of the war. In fact, nobody in the world has."

Besides generous promises to boost public works spending ? by as much as 10 trillion yen ($119 billion), according to party officials ? Abe is pressuring the central bank to work more closely with the government to reach the inflation target.

In foreign policy, Abe has stressed his desire to make Japan a bigger player on the world stage, a stance that has resonated with many voters who are concerned that their nation is taking a back seat economically and diplomatically to China.

He has said he will support a reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist postwar constitution to loosen the reins on the military, stand up to Beijing over an ongoing territorial dispute and strengthen Tokyo's security alliance with Washington. Beijing has already warned him to tread carefully, and will be watching closely to see if he tones down his positions now that he is in office.

"Japan's national security faces a clear and present danger," Abe said, referring to intensifying territorial disputes around the Japanese seas, and renewed his campaign promise to protect the safety of the people of Japan and its territory.

"Japan must strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy," Abe said. That will be key to re-stabilizing Japan's regional diplomatic relations, he added.

Abe has picked the U.S. as the first destination of his official overseas trip, expressing hopes to hold talks with President Barack Obama as early as January.

The new foreign minister is Fumio Kishida, an expert on the southern island of Okinawa, where many residents upset over crime and overcrowding want a big reduction in the number of U.S. troops they host ? now at about 20,000. The new defense minister is Itsunori Onodera, who was in Abe's previous administration.

The LDP governed Japan for decades after it was founded in 1955. Before it was ousted in 2009, the LDP was hobbled by scandals and problems getting key legislation through a divided parliament.

___

AP writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-26-Japan-Politics/id-ade308516ac74c52bd87019c0c67b584

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Kaitam: LoveOnTheNet: Relationship Enhancement Kelowna ...

http://www/naturalhealthcommunity.org/davidchurch/ David Church is the president and founder of the Smart for Love relationship enhancement program. David created Smart for Love because he wanted to help couples experience greater happiness and success in their love relationships.

More info... Relationship Enhancement Kelowna

Source: http://loveonthenet007.blogspot.com/2012/12/relationship-enhancement-kelowna.html

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Good Reads: Mexico?s rise, Lincoln?s precedence, and tomorrow?s truth

A round-up of this week's long-form good reads include a look at Mexico's competitive growth, the virtues of compromise in multiple administrations, and how facts 'decay.'

By Marshall Ingwerson,?Managing editor / December 14, 2012

Shipping trucks in Veracruz, Mexico, a major port city on the Gulf of Mexico.

Alfredo Sosa/Staff/File

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Which country produces the biggest share of America?s flat-screen TVs? You know it can?t be China, or we wouldn?t bother asking.

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Three years ago, a Pentagon report warned that Mexico was on the brink of becoming a failed state, notes a special report in The Economist. Instead, Mexico?s economic growth has overtaken and surpassed that of Brazil. And as Chinese wages have quintupled in the past 10 years, Mexico?s competitiveness is rising to match its great field position next door to the US Sun Belt. The flat-screen TVs are the least of it. What?s amazing to The Economist is how little Americans know about the progress of their southern neighbor. It estimates that nearly a tenth of current US residents, or their children, are Mexican citizens. But as the Monitor has noted, net migration from Mexico has dropped to zero or lower as opportunities there have expanded.

Many Americans have heard, if vaguely, of Mayan calendars that seem to predict the end of the world coming in a few weeks. But few have heard that recent translations revise that apocalypse into something more like a renewal or fresh start. And that, the magazine argues, looks to be where Mexico is heading.

Lincoln?s example for today?s mess

In these times of winter winds whipping across the ?fiscal cliff? at Americans? feet, compromise is suddenly in again. What was scorned in the tea party upswell of 2010 as caving in to bad Washington habits, is lauded in late 2012 as adult behavior and getting something done.

History, of course, stands on both sides of the compromise question. Abraham Lincoln may have been the self-effacing pragmatist who could hold together a diverse ?team of rivals.? But he was not about compromise. This is something the new Steven Spielberg film on Lincoln gets right, says The New Yorker?s Adam Gopnik. The United States had been straddling various compromises over slavery for years, he says, and there are still arguments over whether Lincoln could have avoided the unprecedented human suffering of the war. But Lincoln instead stood at the end of the line for compromise. His position was absolute, both on union and on slavery.

?Lincoln was an uncompromising man who sponsored violence on a hitherto unimaginable scale; that he paid the highest price himself for the noble but hugely costly morality in which he believed is one of the things that makes his story still so fateful and, in its way, uncompromised.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/t5BGfdRTR9k/Good-Reads-Mexico-s-rise-Lincoln-s-precedence-and-tomorrow-s-truth

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Pope decries slaughter of 'defenseless' Syrians

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world Tuesday, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate.

Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies.

He prayed that China's new leaders respect religion, a reference to persecution Chinese Roman Catholics have at times endured under communism.

As the 85-year-old pontiff, bundled up in an ermine-trimmed red cape, gingerly stepped foot on the balcony, the pilgrims, tourists and Romans below backing St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers.

Less than 12 hours earlier, Benedict had led a two-hour long Christmas Eve ceremony in the basilica. He sounded hoarse and looked weary as he read his Christmas message and then holiday greetings in 65 languages.

In his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, which traditionally reviews world events and global challenges, Benedict prayed that "peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict that does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims."

He called for easier access to help refugees and for "dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict."

Benedict prayed that God "grant Israelis and Palestinians courage to end long years of conflict and division, and to embark resolutely on the path to negotiation."

Israel, backed by the United States, opposed the Palestinian statehood bid, saying it was a ploy to bypass negotiations, something the Palestinians deny. Talks stalled four years ago.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said that in a meeting with the pope last week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "emphasized our total readiness to resume negotiations." The Palestinians have not dropped their demand that Israel first stop settlement activities before returning to the negotiating table.

Hours earlier, in the ancient Bethlehem church built over the site where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminated the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filled its overflowing halls.

Overcast skies and a cold wind in the Holy Land didn't dampen the spirits of worshippers in the biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited to see the grotto that is Jesus' traditional birthplace.

Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Va., traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem's Manger Square where the church stands.

"I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time," Hardock said. "On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we're suddenly in the middle of the party."

Bethlehem lies 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Jerusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967.

For those who couldn't fit into the cavernous Bethlehem church, a loudspeaker outside broadcast the Christmas day service to hundreds of faithful in the square.

Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city's year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations' recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month.

"From this holy place, I invite politicians and men of good will to work with determination for peace and reconciliation that encompasses Palestine and Israel in the midst of all the suffering in the Middle East," said the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal in his annual address.

Back at the Vatican, Benedict offered encouragement to countries after the Arab spring of democracy protests. He had a special word for Egypt, "blessed by the childhood of Jesus."

Without citing the tumultuous politics and clashes in the region, he urged the North African region to build societies "founded on justice and respect for the dignity of every person."

Benedict prayed for the return of peace in Mali and harmony in Nigeria, where, he recalled "savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians."

The Vatican for decades has been worried about the well-being of its flock in China, who are loyal to the pope in defiance of the communist's government support of an officially sponsored church, and relations between Beijing and the Holy See are often tense.

Speaking about China's newly installed regime leaders, Benedict expressed hope that "they will esteem the contribution of the religions, in respect for each other, in such a way that they can help to build a fraternal society for the benefit of that noble people and of the whole world."

Acknowledging Latin America's predominant Christian population, he urged government leaders to carry out commitments to development and to fighting organized crime.

In Britain, the royal family was attending Christmas Day church services at St. Mary Magdelene Church on Queen Elizabeth II's sprawling Sandringham estate, though there were a few notable absences. Prince William is spending the holiday with his pregnant wife Kate and his in-laws in the southern England village of Bucklebury, while Prince Harry is serving with British troops in Afghanistan.

Later Tuesday, the queen delivered her traditional, prerecorded Christmas message, which for the first time was broadcast in 3D.

At Canterbury cathedral, Anglican leader Rowan Williams delivered his final Christmas day sermon as archbishop of Canterbury. He acknowledged how the church's General Synod's vote against allowing women to become bishops had cost credibility and said the faithful felt a "real sense of loss" over the decision.

_____

Dalia Nammari in Bethlehem and Cassandra Vinograd in London contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-decries-slaughter-defenseless-syrians-111207075.html

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