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'Armchair' archaeologist sees Saudi sites

PERTH, Australia, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- An Australian researcher says he's found many potential archaeological sites in Saudi Arabia -- from his office in Perth, using satellite images from Google.

"I've never been to Saudi Arabia," David Kennedy at the University of Western Australia says. "It's not the easiest country to break into."

So Kennedy, sitting in his office chair, scanned 475 square miles of Saudi Arabia from his desktop computer using high-resolution satellite images from Google Earth and found 1977 potential archaeological sites, including 1082 "pendants" -- ancient tear-drop shaped stone tombs, NewScientist.com reported Friday.

Aerial photography of Saudi Arabia is not available to most archaeologists, Kennedy says, and it's difficult, if not impossible, to get permission to fly over the nation.

"But, Google Earth can outflank them," he says.

Kennedy says he was able to confirm the sites were the remains of ancient life, and not just vegetation or shadow, by asking a friend in Saudi Arabia, who is not an archaeologist, to drive out to two of the sites and photograph them.

Comparing the images with structures Kennedy has seen in Jordan, he says he believes the sites may be up to 9,000 years old, but that ground verification is critical.

"Just from Google Earth it's impossible to know whether we have found a Bedouin structure that was made 150 years ago, or 10,000 years ago," he says.

The science of "armchair archaeology" has blossomed since Google Earth was launched five years ago, and in 2008 researchers from Melbourne, Australia, found 463 potential sites in the Registan Desert in Afghanistan using the program, NewScientist.com said. Read more at www.upi.com

 

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Solar-Sail Flare Visible From Earth

By Lisa Grossman

The first Earth-orbiting solar sail has been caught streaking across the sky. When glints of sunlight reflect off NASA’s NanoSail-D satellite, the 10-square-meter sheet of shiny space-age material can briefly outshine the brightest stars.

NanoSail-D unexpectedly unfurled on Jan. 20, after spending a month trapped in its mothership. It is the second solar sail to ever be successfully deployed, and the first to orbit the Earth.

Between now and April or May, the shimmering sheet will skim through the upper atmosphere, slowly descending as it accumulates drag. The idea is to test potential “drag sails” that could help automatically remove future satellites from orbit at the end of their lives, reducing space junk.

Until then, watch the skies. As NanoSail-D sinks closer to Earth, it could flash ten to 100 times brighter than the planet Venus. That’s the sort of thing you can see even through city lights.

These flares may be a challenge to spot, though, because of the unpredictable viewing geometry. When viewed edge-on, it’s invisible. The sail only glints when the angle with the sun is right. Several websites, including Heavens-Above, Spaceweather.com and Calsky, can tell when NanoSail-D will be overhead, but not when it will flare.

Later in the mission, the best bet for catching a flare is when the sail is near the horizon. Right now the sail is tumbling, so flashes could occur at any time. But as it drags through the atmosphere, it will flatten out, with the flat surface facing forward like an ocean-faring ship. That means it will be edge-on when it’s high in the sky, but face-on and likely to flash closer to the horizon.

The beautiful photo above was captured Jan. 30 by Finnish astrophotographer Vesa Vauhkonen. If you can take a better one, submit it to NASA. NASA and Spaceweather.com are sponsoring a contest for the best images of NanoSail-D submitted between now and when the sail disintegrates. You could even win some cash. So look up!

Image: Vesa Vauhkonen/Spaceweather.com

See Also:

First Earth-Orbiting Solar Sail Unexpectedly Unfurls

Japanese Spacecraft Deploys First-Ever Solar Sail

NASA Needs You: 6 Ways to Help an Astronomer

Amateurs Find Hidden Gems in Space Photo Contest Read more at www.wired.com

 

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Small Asteroid Passes Close to Earth Today

By Lisa Grossman

A small asteroid swooped within 7,366 miles of Earth on Feb. 4 — today — at 2:40 p.m. EST [19:40 UT].

The object, called 2011 CQ1, was discovered earlier today by astronomer Richard Kowalski using a 0.68-meter telescope near Mount Bigelow outside of Tuscon, Arizona as part of the Catalina Sky Survey’s routine scanning of the skies for small objects that come close to Earth.

2011 CQ1 is tiny by asteroid standards, only about 6.5 to 10 feet across. But though it is small, it will be close. The last asteroid to come within moon-distance to Earth, 2010 TD54, stayed a chaste 27,960 miles away at its closest approach Oct. 12 — more than three times the distance to 2011 CQ1.

The asteroid is not on a collision course with Earth, but it will come well within the so-called Clarke Belt where satellites in geosynchronous orbit hang out.

Although the daytime skies are too bright to see the new object in the US, 2011 CQ1 will be visible for a few hours in dark skies, according to Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero of Remanzacco Observatory in Italy. If you’re under those dark skies and catch a photo of this new object, send us your best shots.

Via Spaceweather.com

Image: G. Sostero and E. Guido

See Also:

Asteroid Double Whammy Near Earth Wednesday

Close-Shave Asteroid Caught on Camera

Wednesday’s Near-Earth Asteroid Caught on Film

Video: The Asteroid That Will Almost Hit Earth

How to Defend Earth Against an Asteroid Strike

First-Ever Asteroid Tracked From Space to Earth Read more at www.wired.com

 

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35-year-old Adams County youth leader is accused of sexually assaulting two boys

Video: http://www.wgal.com/news/26749189/detail.html

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Youth Leader Accused Of Molesting Boys

Jeffrey Crosley Charged With Multiple Counts

LITTLESTOWN, Pa. -- A 35-year-old Adams County youth leader is accused of sexually assaulting two boys, and the district attorney says there may be more victims. Jeffrey Crosley Littlestown police arrested Jeffrey Crosley, 35, of Littlestown, on Thursday. Crosley was a youth leader at the Jesus Messiah Evangelical Free Church in Hanover for the last 10 years. Officials say Crosley molested a 16-year-old boy and another boy, who was 12-to 16-years-old when the acts occurred. A news release from the Adams County District Attorney's Office states that Crosley used his position as a way to have contact with teenage boys. Crosley is charged with two counts of rape, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault and other sexual-related crimes. According to Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner, there is reason to believe there are other victims. Adams County officials say if you have any knowledge of potential sexual abuse by Crosley, you should call the Littlestown Police Department at 717-359-4511 and ask for Chief Charles Kellar or Detective Douglas Hilyard. Police said that when they searched Crosley's home, they found "numerous photographs of what appeared to be child pornography depicting teenage boys." Police also seized a computer at the home. They said Crosley will face additional charges for possession of child pornography. Crosley's bail has been set at $500,000. Read more at www.wgal.com

 

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Thou Shall Not Have Any American Idols? Christian 'Idols' Take Center Stage

By Eryn Sun|Christian Post Correspondent

It was all sunshine and smiles last night on American Idol, maybe not so much for the judges who witnessed the many, many lemons of Los Angeles, except for two quirky and sweet brothers from the Redlands.

Holding up two tickets to Hollywood, Aaron, 27, and Mark Gutierrez, 28, gleefully ran out of the audition room that much closer to becoming the next idol or idols, in this case – but not the blacklisted Bible kind.

The extroverts grew up singing in church “from the womb” and are better known for being members of the GB5, a Christian harmony group recognized for their Latin Gospel praise. Alongside their three other siblings, the brothers fuse their music with jazz, Latin-soul, and a little bit of R&B.

It was no wonder they decided to sing their own soulful rendition of Bill Wither’s 1972 classic “Lean on Me” in harmony, to which Steven Tyler praised, “It was godlike the way you guys sing.”

Godlike and idol-worthy – there seems to be an almost sinful pattern emerging here … but don’t worry. These brothers seem to be well grounded in their faith.

“It’s all about God and not about you,” Aaron shared in an interview with FOX. “That just taught me to stay humble no matter what.”

Believing that God had taken their brotherly talents and formed them into hearts of worship and praise, Aaron quotes Joshua 24:15 on their official website, stating “‘Choose you this day whom you will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’ – this has been our commitment from the very beginning.”

The faithful and fashionable duo is hoping to continue to woo America with their God-given talent and funky charm.

Aaron is currently a shoe salesman while not on tour with GB5, while Mark is a substitute teacher and self-declared math nerd – he’s on his way towards an MA in Mathematics.

The Gutierrez brothers are not the only believers that American Idol has witnessed on its sets. In fact, a long lineup of Christians, from worship leaders to avid churchgoers, have graced and continue to take the famous stage.

During Idol’s eighth season, three worship leaders made the top six: the season’s winner, Kris Allen from New Life Church in Arkansas; Danny Gokey of Faith Builders International Ministry, Wis.; and Michael Sarver from Harvest Church, Texas.

Felicia Barton of the same season led worship at Freedom Fellowship in Virginia, while Scott MacIntyre regularly performed at his home church in Arizona.

Several finalists across multiple seasons have also gone on to release Gospel music albums, like Ruben Studdard, season two’s winner, George Huff, RJ Helton, Mandisa, and Chris Sligh.

The more popular and notable “Christian” idols, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood, all had their vocal start in church or openly profess their faith through their music.

In addition to the overwhelming numbers of Christian artists on the hit show, Journalist Richard Rushfield, who wrote “American Idol: The Untold Story,” shared with USAToday that a huge portion of the audience are conservative Christians.

So what is it about “American Idol” that is drawing in all these people of faith? It couldn’t have been Simon Cowell’s honest rebukes or Paula Abdul’s all-loving remarks. Maybe it was Randy –characteristically cool and unchanging? Who knows now with a whole new cast of characters serving as judges.

Although many viewers and contestants might have Christian roots, the show does its best to cater to all audiences. And the only requirement of an aspiring American Idol singer is to do one thing well – sing. Read more at www.christianpost.com

 

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FCC Net Neutrality is a Regulatory ‘Trojan Horse,’ EFF Says

By David Kravets

The Federal Communications Commission’s net-neutrality decision opens the FCC to “boundless authority to regulate the internet for whatever it sees fit,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation is warning.

The civil rights group says the FCC’s action in December, which was based on shaky legal authority, creates a paradox of epic proportions. The EFF favors net neutrality but worries whether the means justify the ends.

“We’re wholly in favor of net neutrality in practice, but a finding of ancillary jurisdiction here would give the FCC pretty much boundless authority to regulate the internet for whatever it sees fit. And that kind of unrestrained authority makes us nervous about follow-on initiatives like broadcast flags and indecency campaigns,” Abigail Phillips, an EFF staff attorney, wrote on the group’s blog Thursday.

And the paradox grows.

In a Friday telephone interview, Phillips was unclear how to solve the problem. What about an act of Congress? How about reclassifying broadband to narrow the FCC’s control if it?

“I’m not sure what I think the right solution is,” she answered.

The agency’s December action has already been attacked on multiple fronts, including two lawsuits.

One side of the debate has focused on claims the FCC overstepped its authority by adopting the principle that wireline carriers treat all internet traffic the same. A chorus of others complain that the FCC wimped out and didn’t go far enough when it comes to wireless carriers.

And the entire debate is littered with competing interests, including the mobile-phone carriers, internet service providers, private enterprise, developers, Congress and, last but not least, the public.

“In general, we think arguments that regulating the internet is ‘ancillary’ to some other regulatory authority that the FCC has been granted just don’t have sufficient limitations to stop bad FCC behavior in the future and create the ‘Trojan horse’ risk we have long warned about,” Phillips said.

But who can be trusted in this debate?

The answer opens Pandora’s box.

Photo: gillianchicago/Flickr

See Also:

Not So Fast! FCC Says Net Neutrality Lawsuits Filed Too Soon

FCC Net Neutrality Rules Slammed From All Sides

Why Google Became a Carrier-Humping, Net Neutrality Surrender Monkey

Appeals Court Throttles FCC’s Net Neutrality Authority

Verizon Files Suit Against FCC Net Neutrality Rules

Dems Go Populist on Net Neutrality

FCC Passes Compromise Net Neutrality Rules

FCC Chief Genachowski on Net Neutrality: Trust Me

Skype, Wireless Companies Fight to Shape Net-Neutrality Regs Read more at www.wired.com

 

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State-Owned Churches Are Killing America

Chuck Baldwin Friday, February 4, 2011

America was birthed in the spirit of liberty and baptized in the blood of patriots and tyrants. Leading the charge in America’s fight for independence was a courageous group of patriot-preachers that came to be known as the “Black Regiment.” I have written several columns on this subject. Suffice it to say here that I invite readers to take a look at my Black Regiment web page to learn more about this early American phenomenon. There is little doubt that without these stalwart Christian pastors, this country would not have come into existence. (I extended this call for a modern-day Black Regiment 5 years before Glenn Beck ever mentioned it.)

See my Black Regiment page at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=23

Plus, to read my column regarding the Black Regiment that was published in The New American magazine in 2009, go to:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/history/american/1789

So, what did these colonial preachers have that today’s preachers don’t? The better question might be: what did these colonial preachers NOT have that today’s preachers do? The answer? Two things: 1) an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation status, and 2) a 50-year misinterpretation of Romans chapter 13.

The now infamous 501(c)(3) section of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) goes back to 1936 (the seeds of this Venus Fly Trap date back to 1872). But then-Senator Lyndon Johnson was the Dr. Frankenstein who, in 1954, unleashed this monster upon America. His motivation was: he did not like the way pastors and churches were opposing his liberal agenda, and he wanted to use the power of law to silence them. He, therefore, introduced verbiage to the IRC that churches were prohibited from influencing political legislation and supporting political campaigns, or risk losing their tax-exempt status.

Of course, colonial pastors didn’t have to worry about their churches being “incorporated” as State-created (and controlled) entities, or about IRS agents intimidating them regarding what they could or could not say. In early America, preachers were free men; they could say whatever they darned well pleased. Gasp! Beyond that, virtually everyone regarded preachers as being “God’s men,” not the “servants of men.”

Today, however, the average pastor has become the servant of the State and the church he pastors, more often than not, has become a creature of the State. It is an absolute fact that State-owned churches are killing America!

Dick Greb of the Save-A-Patriot Fellowship in Westminster, Maryland, wrote: “Many Americans find it disturbing that some of our churches today are little more than milquetoast corporations that fear our federal government more than the great I AM. Moreover, it can even be said that some preachers have the appearance of cringing, ‘politically correct’ cowards, rather than committed Godly men of fortitude with backbone, such as those we read of in the Bible.” (Source: Greb, Dick. “The 501(c)(3) Hallucination: A Bane to Liberty.” Reasonable Action Issue #244 Winter 2003.)

Dear reader, you can take this to the bank: the vast majority of pastors and board members of these 501(c)(3) corporations, when push comes to shove (and it always does), will demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the State. Plus, they will compromise or sacrifice any and every Bible doctrine or principle in order to preserve their tax-exempt status and stay on the smiley side of the IRC. They will also throw anyone under the old proverbial bus who might risk them falling out of favor with the IRS. (I can give painful and personal testimony to that fact!) Greb is right! Many, or most, of today’s pastors and church officers fear the federal government far more than they fear God.

Not only did colonial preachers not have to contend with putting their churches under some State-controlled corporation, they would never have allowed it to happen! Can one imagine John Leland, Jonas Clark, or John Witherspoon being told by any State official what he could or could not say, or what his church could or could not do? What a joke! These men were willing to go to prison or even the grave in order to remain faithful to their spiritual calling and to their political and moral convictions!

The other thing that colonial preachers did not suffer from was a 50-year indoctrination of a misinterpretation of Romans 13.

This “Submit-to-the-government-no-matter-what” doctrine (using Romans 13 as the pretext) is a satanically inspired lie designed to turn free men and women into slaves of the state! Students of history know that Adolf Hitler encouraged German pastors and churches to promote this same fallacious philosophy among the German people. Gee! I wonder why? And according to Erwin Lutzer’s book, “Hitler’s Cross” (must reading, I might add), out of the more than 14,000 evangelical churches and pastors in Germany at the time, only about 800 remained faithful to Scripture and opposed Hitler’s brand of state worship. If my math is correct, that’s about 5%. And it would not surprise me if 5% is about the percentage of pastors and churches in America today that are opposing this modern-day worship of the state.

At this point, instead of embellishing upon Romans 13, I am going to insert a commercial. I began a series of messages on Romans 13 last Sunday at Liberty Fellowship in Kalispell, Montana. In fact, by the time you read this, Part 1 of my message on Romans 13 will be available online.

To view my message, “The Truth About Romans 13, Part 1,” go to:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=3014

I will continue my series on Romans 13 this Sunday, February 6, 2011. I invite readers to watch this address live on the Internet. To view this livestreaming broadcast, go to:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=17

“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” So said Edmund Burke. And, unfortunately, the good men that are mostly doing nothing and allowing evil to triumph in our land are the good men (and women) of America’s churches who have either been intimidated by the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation status, or who have been put into a sheepish, servile, Satan-induced coma from an overdose of misapplied Romans 13 poison.

To quote the famous Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, “It is the devil that stirs up his instruments, wicked men [in government or without], to persecute the people of God; tyrants and persecutors are the devil’s tools, though they gratify their own sinful malignity, and know not that they are actuated by a diabolical malice.” (Source: Matthew Henry’s Commentaries on the Bible, notes on Revelation 2:10)

Yes, the Black Regiment preachers of colonial America helped lead America’s fight for freedom and independence. But, they did not have their hands out to the IRS, or their minds and hearts numbed into apathy and indifference by decades of misuse and abuse of Romans chapter 13.

P.S. My son, Timothy Baldwin, who is a historian, author, and constitutional attorney, is in the process of publishing a new book entitled, “Romans 13, The True Meaning of Submission.” I have read it. In the similitude of Tim’s first book, “Freedom For A Change,” this book is an absolutely brilliant and scholarly presentation of the true meaning of Romans 13. Watch my web site, or Tim’s web site, for information regarding this new book’s release. Read more at www.prisonplanet.com

 

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Cops Brutally Beat Teen Lying On Ground

City officials deny cover up to hide video

Steve Watson Prisonplanet.com Feb 4, 2011

A graphic video of Houston police landing scores of punches and kicks to the head a fifteen year old boy suspected of burglary has been released despite attempts by the DA’s office to withhold it from public view.

The video shows High School sophomore Chad Holley being clipped by a police cruiser as he attempts to flee the cops. as he hits the ground he is clearly seen to place his hands behind his head and remain motionless.

Despite this, the cops charge out of the vehicles and begin landing volleys of kicks and punches.

One officer forcefully stomps on the teenager’s head as four other officers repeatedly kick him in the body and legs. One officer then lands five separate kicks to Holley’s head as the other officers hold him down, despite the fact that he is not resisting.

Another officer then lands five punches into Holley’s mid section with full force, as another stamps on his legs.

Holley is clearly posing no threat to the officers. Furthermore he is of slight build while the officers kicking and punching him are heavily built, almost twice his size.

It is remarkable that Holley was not severely injured or even killed as a result of the blows to the head that he sustained.

The incident, which took place last March, was recorded by a security camera of a nearby business. Had Holley continued a few more paces, the actions of the police might never have been exposed.

City officials reportedly withheld the video because they feared the public would be “sickened and shocked” by the images, yet ABC News affiliate 13/KTRK TV obtained a copy and leaked it, despite being asked not to by officials. Mayor Annise Parker has denied there was any attempt to hide the tape from public view.

The police seen in the footage were suspended without pay pending investigation and eventually fired. Yet they were only charged with misdemeanor official oppression, rather than assault charges

As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Holley was convicted of burglary by a Harris County jury in October and sentenced to probation until he turns 18. The video was not shown at his trial. He is now pursuing federal civil rights charges against two of the officers.

The video is the latest example in a long list of cases of police brutality that highlight a fundamental rise in an authoritarian attitude stemming from law enforcement officers. It is the culmination of a decade or more of cop shows depicting violence on behalf of police officers as normal, necessary and acceptable.

Holley is lucky he wasn’t charged with assaulting the officers, as in the case of Maryland student John McKenna, who took a similar beating last year, merely for walking close to a police horse after a sporting event.

Over recent years we have documented countless incidents of this type. Once only has to take a look through our archives to note that attacks like this are happening everyday.

American cops used to be the most respected in the world. Now they behave more like imperial jackbooted thugs worthy of a third world dictatorship like Nepal or Zimbabwe.

As the case of Chad Holley highlights, our greatest and perhaps only protection remaining against such brutal police state thuggery is the video camera.

Watch the video (discretion is advised): Read more at www.prisonplanet.com

 

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Woman Held In Cell For 2 Weeks For Selling Flower Baskets From Home

URL:  http://www.prisonplanet.com/woman-held-in-cell-for-2-we...

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Columnist Who Criticized Plans To Put Homosexual Material In School Curriculum Gets Death Threats

Hilary White Life Site News Friday, February 4, 2011

(LifeSiteNews.com) – A prominent conservative UK columnist has said she received death threats after she criticized plans to insert homosexual materials into all subjects in the curriculum in Britain’s schools. Writing in the Daily Mail this week, Melanie Phillips said that she had been expecting a reaction, “which would amply bear out the truth of what I had written.”

“The response, however, exceeded even my expectations.”

For the last week, she said, “I have been subjected to an extraordinarily vicious outpouring of hate and incitement to violence” through emails, the internet and in mainstream media.

“If the gay lobby had set about trying to prove my point, it could hardly have done a better job.”

Phillips had asserted that homosexualists are now attempting to suppress any public opposition to their political goals. The reaction to this statement, she said, reveals a basic “totalitarian mindset” that is behind the homosexualist agenda.

“Indeed, the total inability of those who subjected me to such abuse to realise that they are, in fact, spewing out the very hatred, intolerance and incitement to violence of which they are accusing others would be hilarious were it not so terrifying.”

In her January 24th piece titled, “Britain’s New McCarthyites,” Phillips wrote that plans to insert references to homosexual relationships throughout the schools curriculum are nothing more than “a Government-backed drive to promote the gay agenda.”

She pointed to the many cases in which opposition from Christians or others who uphold traditional sexual mores has been quashed through actions in the courts. “What was once an attempt to end unpleasant attitudes towards a small sexual minority has now become a kind of bigotry in reverse,” she wrote.

“Expressing what used to be the moral norm of Western civilisation is now not just socially impermissible, but even turns upstanding people into lawbreakers.”

Phillips said, “The response to this warning against an attempt by the gay lobby to silence dissent? An eruption of tweets on Twitter suggesting that I should be killed.”

She offered samples, including, “Someone just kill Melanie Phillips please”; “your homophobic rant equals that which comes out of a dog’s rectum. Kill yourself you ****”; and “throw her in the Thames.”

Full story here. Read more at www.prisonplanet.com

 

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