Saturday, November 22, 2014


News Clips For The Day


http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/271647/speedreads-jesus-was-married-to-mary-magdalene-and-had-two-kids-new-book-claims

Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had two kids, new book claims
Peter Weber
November 10, 2014

Christian orthodoxy doesn't really consider Jesus to have been much of a family man — he told his disciples to leave their families and follow him, after all. But a new book based on a 1,500-year-old manuscript would dispute that characterization. According to The Lost Gospel, Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene — who was also the Virgin Mary — and they had two children. Jesus, Mary, and their children also escaped an assassination attempt years before Jesus was crucified.

The authors of this story are Barrie Wilson, a professor of religious studies at Canada's York University, and Canadian-Israeli screenwriter and documentarian Simcha Jacobovici, and they are basing their tale off the Ecclesiastical History of Zacharias Rhetor (of Mytilene), an Aramaic-language text that has been in the British Museum then the British Library for almost 170 years.

"Before anyone gets his/her theological back up, keep in mind that we are not attacking anyone's theology," the authors say. "We are reporting on text." Reporting is a little modest. Wilson and Jacobovici, who has made discredited claims about the historical Jesus before, more accurately "decoded" the text, which is about a man name Joseph and his wife, Aseneth — characters that the authors say are stand-ins for Jesus and Mary Magdalene.



http://rt.com/news/203895-jesus-virgin-mary-married/

Jesus & Mary Magdalene were 'married with children,' ancient manuscript claims
Published time: November 10, 2014 11:05 
Edited time: November 11, 2014 08:09

Jesus was a devoted family man with two kids and Mary Magdalene for his wife, a new history book based on an ancient manuscript claims.

According to the 1,500-year-old text, there was a previously unknown plot on Jesus’s life 13 years prior to the crucifixion. The revelations were made by Professor of Religious Studies at Toronto's York University, Barrie Wilson, and an Israeli-Canadian historical writer and filmmaker, Simcha Jacobovici. 

One of the most astounding claims in the book is that Mary Magdalene was the same person as the Virgin Mary. The authors of The Lost Gospel assert that the manuscript features the names of the two children of Christ and Mary Magdalene – and even recites an assassination attempt against Mary and the children. 

The book also chronicles Jesus’s connections to Emperor Tiberius and his best friend, the soldier Sejanus. 

The manuscript, known as “The Ecclesiastical History of Zacharias Rhetor (of Mytilene)” has been with the British Museum and then the British Library for nearly 170 years, according to The Sunday Times. It was purchased by the British Museum in 1847 before being transferred to the British Library some 20 years ago. 

The Lost Gospel, which has been translated from Aramaic, is set to come out later this month; details of the manuscript are expected to be revealed at a press conference at the British Library on Wednesday.

READ MORE: ‘Jesus’ wife’ papyrus not a modern forgery, scientific tests say

Some religious scholars are not enthusiastic about the upcoming release. "We're basically looking at a sensationalist money-making scheme here," Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary Greg Carey told the Huffington Post.

Arguing that the text has not been "uncovered" by Jacobovici and Wilson, as they claim, the professor says "over three hundred scholarly books and articles devoted to this text" can be found online, with over twenty manuscripts of the story. The ancient novel needs no "decoding," Carey says, as it simply has no secret meaning.

One of the men behind the new to-be-announced revelation, the Emmy-winning journalist Simcha Jacobovici, has been previously criticized by some scholars for his other takes on the history of early Christianity. Jacobovici has been involved in court suits, after being accused of publicizing scientifically dubious theories, and Discovery Channel once listed his documentary among the top 10 scientific hoaxes of all time.

Claims that Jesus was married have been published before. One of the latest cases was the 2012 discovery of an Egyptian papyrus fragment, which some scholars believed to be the first explicit reference to Jesus being married.

Although many claimed it was a forgery, according to the results of a carbon dating test released earlier this year, the so-called “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” could have originated as far back as the 8th century AD, shattering allegations that the fragment of paper had been produced more recently by fraudsters.




Zacharias Rhetor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zacharias of Mytilene (c. 465, Gaza – after 536), also known as Zacharias Scholasticus or Zacharias Rhetor, was a bishop and ecclesiastical historian.

Life[edit]

The life of Zacharias of Mytilene can be reconstructed only from a few scattered reports in contemporary sources (the accounts are also partly conflicting – for example, some Syrian authors have "Melitene" instead of "Mytilene"). Zacharias was born near Gaza, which hosted a significant school of rhetorics in late antiquity. That was also where he received his initial education. In 485, he travelled to Alexandria, where he studied philosophy for two years. In Alexandria, he was embroiled in a conflict between Christians and Pagans in connection with the Horapollo affair. It was also there he met Severus, who was later to become a notable patriarch of Antioch. Zacharias was baptized and travelled in 487 to Beirut to study law at its law school. He stayed there, leading a very ascetic life, until 491, but he also made several journeys to different parts of Palestine in search for religious knowledge. He finally moved to Constantinople, where he worked as a lawyer for a long time. Zacharias, who was leaning towards moderate Monophysitism, seems to have often played with the thought of becoming a monk. He apparently had good contacts with the Imperial court and that probably won him the appointment as Bishop of Mytilene (on Lesbos). His successor is known to have taken the post in 553, setting the terminus ante quem for his death. He was certainly alive in 536, as he took part in the Synod in Constantinople that year.

Works[edit]

Zacharias composed several works in Greek, among which an Ecclesiastical history that was probably completed towards the end of the 5th century. The document, dedicated to Eupraxius, a dignitary, contains valuable historical material and describes the time period from 451 to 491. It was used by Evagrius Scholasticus for his own history. The original is lost, but a truncated and revised Syrian version has been preserved, as a Monophysite monk from Amida, now known as Pseudo-Zacharias Rhetor, incorporated it in his 12-volume compilation, Historia Miscellanea, of ecclesiastical histories (volumes 3-6). 



http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/389961/monophysite

Monophysite, in Christianity, one who believed that Jesus Christ’s nature remains altogether divine and not human even though he has taken on an earthly and human body with its cycle of birth, life, and death.

The Christological position called monophysitism asserted that in the person of Jesus Christ there was only one, divine nature rather than two natures, divine and human, as asserted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.



rt.com – “The Lost Gospel, which has been translated from Aramaic, is set to come out later this month; details of the manuscript are expected to be revealed at a press conference at the British Library on Wednesday.... Jacobovici has been involved in court suits, after being accused of publicizing scientifically dubious theories, and Discovery Channel once listed his documentary among the top 10 scientific hoaxes of all time.... Claims that Jesus was married have been published before. One of the latest cases was the 2012 discovery of an Egyptian papyrus fragment, which some scholars believed to be the first explicit reference to Jesus being married. Although many claimed it was a forgery, according to the results of a carbon dating test released earlier this year, the so-called “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” could have originated as far back as the 8th century AD, shattering allegations that the fragment of paper had been produced more recently by fraudsters.... 'We're basically looking at a sensationalist money-making scheme here,' Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary Greg Carey told the Huffington Post.”

This story of Jesus life comes from a 1,500 year old text. “The original is lost, but a truncated and revised Syrian version has been preserved, as a Monophysite monk from Amida, now known as Pseudo-Zacharias Rhetor, incorporated it in his 12-volume compilation, Historia Miscellanea, of ecclesiastical histories (volumes 3-6).” It tells of an assassination attempt on Jesus about 12 years before his crucifixion, and characterizes Jesus as being married to Mary Magdalene with two children. I would like to see a copy of the upcoming book, because the 5th century is closer to the time of his life and may contain some historical details that the Catholic Church fathers left out. The idea of their marriage is appealing to me, and not unlikely. Professor of Religious Studies at Toronto's York University, Barrie Wilson, and an Israeli-Canadian historical writer and filmmaker, Simcha Jacobovici's upcoming book is called The Lost Gospel. Greg Carey a New Testament scholar has called it “a sensationalist money-making scheme” and it probably is, but if it is a translation of the old Historia Miscellanea it may well contain interesting fragments of a biography of Jesus. I would like to read the book to see what it says.  






Man arrested in fatal NYC subway shove
CBS NEWS November 18, 2014, 8:13 PM

NEW YORK - Police have taken into custody a man who allegedly pushed a rider onto the subway tracks in the Bronx, where he was killed by an oncoming train.

CBS New York reported Kevin Darden, 34, was arrested without incident in front of his mother's house. Charges were pending Tuesday evening, but he is expected to be arraigned in the death of Wai Kuen Kwok, 61.

Police say Kwok and his wife waiting on a subway platform Sunday morning, headed to Manhattan for her birthday breakfast, when he was shoved onto the tracks as the train approached. The motive for the alleged push is unknown and police know of no prior altercation between the two men.

Surveillance cameras caught a man authorities said was Darden just after the attack.

Darden has a lengthy criminal record, including 30 prior arrests on assault, robbery and drug charges, police say. He is also suspected of at least two other crimes similar to the shoving incident that took place earlier this month.

In the first, a 51-year-old man was pushed to the floor of a subway platform in Manhattan. He came forward and identified Darden after seeing video of him following the most recent incident. In the second, police believe he robbed an individual at a subway station in the Bronx, just prior to the fatal push.

Earlier in November, he was also arrested for alleged pickpocketing in Manhattan.




This is a story about a sick man who has led an apparently long life of crime, and who has evolved into someone who kills for the thrill of it. It's a little different from the usual sexual sadist crimes and the spree shooters. I have always been a little nervous when standing at the subway track waiting for the train. There are often large crowds there, and someone could easily slip up behind their victim and give him a shove. I'm glad they got video footage of him and that a prior victim recognized him and came forward as a witness. “He was arrested without incident in front of his mother's house.” Thank goodness for those surveillance cameras. I don't mind being under surveillance in such situations, as they really help about solving crimes. This criminal had a history of 30 arrests and he was only 34 years old. He was a busy man.





Obama: Immigration fight can't be "dealbreaker"
By JAKE MILLER CBS NEWS
November 22, 2014, 11:19 AM

In the face of fierce Republican blowback, President Obama continued defending his recent executive action on immigration in his weekly address Saturday, warning Republicans not to paralyze the government simply because they object to one part of his agenda.

"We can't allow a disagreement over a single issue to be a dealbreaker on every issue," Mr. Obama said in the address, which was taped Friday during the president's trip to Las Vegas. "That's not how our democracy works. This debate deserves more than politics as usual."

Conservatives have accused the president of grossly overstepping the bounds of his authority with the action, which will shield roughly 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the country from the threat of deportation and authorize them to live and work legally in the United States for at least three years. Some Republican lawmakers have pushed their leaders to strip funding for new green cards and visas in a spending bill that must pass Congress by mid-December to prevent a government shutdown.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have lodged stiff objections to Mr. Obama's policy changes, vowing a swift response when the new Congress convenes in January, but they've not yet indicated what actions they will take.

Of course, goading Congress into action on immigration is exactly what the president hoped to accomplish by acting unilaterally.

"As you might have heard, there are members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better," he said in his address. "Well, I have one answer for that: Pass a bill. The day I sign it into law, the actions I've taken to help solve this problem will no longer be necessary."

While it's a likely bet Congress won't react to the president's action by passing comprehensive legislation, as he would like, GOP leaders are mulling a variety of responses, including taking legal action against the president on the issue and stalling confirmation of all non-essential nominees when Republicans assume the Senate majority in January.

The president announced his executive actions Thursday night during a primetime speech, and he traveled to a Las Vegas high school Friday to promote the changes.

On Saturday, he again outlined exactly what his action will - and will not - accomplish. The action would devote more resources to border security, he said, and prioritize enforcement resources to focus on "felons, not families; criminals, not children." He also said the action would bring undocumented immigrants "out of the shadows, so they can play by the rules, pay their full share of taxes, pass a criminal background check and get right with the law."

What his actions will not do, the president said, is "grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently or offer the same benefits that citizens receive." The deportation relief would only be available to immigrants who have lived in the country for at least five years, not those who have come more recently, he emphasized.

"And it's certainly not amnesty, no matter how often the critics say it," he added. "Amnesty is the immigration system we have today -- millions of people living here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules. And the actions I took this week will finally start fixing that."




'We can't allow a disagreement over a single issue to be a dealbreaker on every issue,' Mr. Obama said in the address, which was taped Friday during the president's trip to Las Vegas. 'That's not how our democracy works. This debate deserves more than politics as usual.' Conservatives have accused the president of grossly overstepping the bounds of his authority with the action, which will shield roughly 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the country from the threat of deportation and authorize them to live and work legally in the United States for at least three years. Some Republican lawmakers have pushed their leaders to strip funding for new green cards and visas in a spending bill that must pass Congress by mid-December to prevent a government shutdown.... While it's a likely bet Congress won't react to the president's action by passing comprehensive legislation, as he would like, GOP leaders are mulling a variety of responses, including taking legal action against the president on the issue and stalling confirmation of all non-essential nominees when Republicans assume the Senate majority in January.... The action would devote more resources to border security, he said, and prioritize enforcement resources to focus on 'felons, not families; criminals, not children.' He also said the action would bring undocumented immigrants 'out of the shadows, so they can play by the rules, pay their full share of taxes, pass a criminal background check and get right with the law.'... What his actions will not do, the president said, is 'grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently or offer the same benefits that citizens receive.' The deportation relief would only be available to immigrants who have lived in the country for at least five years, not those who have come more recently, he emphasized.”

The Republicans are foaming at the mouth over Obama's latest executive action, though they have been stalling on producing a comprehensive immigration bill. They want to use this as an excuse to shut down the government again over the upcoming spending bill and to avoid confirmation of any of his “non-essential” appointees. Obama's new AG appointee Loretta Lynch may be attacked by Republicans over her civil forfeiture activities under Holder. Some Republicans and Democrats as well are strongly against that type of government action as failing to follow due process. The use of this practice goes back to 1970 and 2001 laws, but was expanded apparently under Holder. See Wikipedia and Fox articles below.

Under the title Asset Forfeiture by Wikipedia the article states: “Asset forfeiture or asset seizure is a form of confiscation of assets by the state, pursuant to law. It typically applies to the alleged proceeds or instrumentalities[Note 1] of crime. Some jurisdictions specifically use the term "confiscation" instead of forfeiture. Civil and administrative asset forfeiture, or forfeiture without a conviction and sometimes in the absence of evidence, both draw major criticism. Proponents of seizure suggest that it is a necessary tool to prevent drug trafficking or other crimes. Statistics submitted by the South African Police during the civil asset forfeiture trial of Simon Prophet indicate that civil asset forfeiture has failed to prevent methamphetamine drug crime in South Africa. Former United States president George H. W. Bush said, "Asset forfeiture laws allow [the government] to take the alleged ill-gotten gains of drug kingpins and use them to put more cops on the streets."

“History – Congress has incrementally expanded the government's authority to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises and their money laundering activities since the early 1970s. They have done this by enacting various anti-money laundering and forfeiture laws such as the RICO Act of 1970 and the US Patriot Act of 2001.”


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/21/civil-forfeiture-likely-to-be-hot-issue-at-lynch-confirmation-hearing-experts/ –

AG pick Lynch may face grilling over seizing properties, experts say
By Joshua Rhett Miller
Published November 21, 2014

A boast by President Obama's pick to be the nation's top law enforcement official could come back to haunt her in confirmation hearings before the Senate, where some members object to prosecutors' rampant use of civil forfeiture, a controversial but legal process that can allow citizens' assets to be seized without due process.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch, who Obama seeks to elevate to U.S. attorney general, replacing Eric Holder, announced in January that her office collected more than $904 million in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2013. While the policy generates funds used for other law enforcement efforts and offsets the burden on taxpayers, liberals and conservatives alike have questioned asset forfeiture as “an abuse of due process.” Experts say Lynch will likely have to defend the practice she once touted.





FBI arrests come amid rising tensions in Ferguson
CBS/AP November 22, 2014, 7:23 AM

FERGUSON, Mo. -- A grand jury decision is expected soon - perhaps as soon as Saturday - on whether to indict the officer involved in the shooting death ofMichael Brown in August.

While peacekeeping preparations are underway, the FBI told CBS News that two men have been arrested on firearms charges. Brandon Orlando Baldwin and Olajuwon Davis allegedly bought explosive material during an FBI undercover operation.

The men are suspected of planning to detonate pipe bombs during protests in Ferguson.

Separately, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports from nearby Clayton, Missouri, that at least one protester was arrested for a third consecutive night overnight in demonstrations outside Ferguson police headquarters. The protesters had blocked traffic until police cleared them away.

Activists, authorities and the family of Brown called for calm as the grand jury drew closer to an announcement. But it was unclear whether the panel was still at work or when it would render a decision.

On Friday, a spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch told reporters that the grand jury weighing whether to indict officer Darren Wilson was still in session. Five hours later, Ed Magee declined to say whether the panel was still meeting.

The time, date and place for a news conference announcing the decision has not been decided, Magee said.

(When the decision is announced, CBSN, CBS' digital streaming news network,will provide live coverage.)

Wilson, 28, reportedly told the grand jury that he feared for his life on Aug. 9 as Brown, who was 6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds, came at him. Witnesses said Brown was trying to surrender and had his hands up.

The shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old black man by a white police officer led to protests, some of which turned violent. Demonstrations have continued for more than three months, though the number of protesters has dwindled and violence has become uncommon.

There were signs of rising tension.

Protesters were arrested Thursday outside Ferguson police headquarters after around 40 demonstrators blocked South Florissant Road. One of the three people arrested pushed an officer and was hit with pepper spray, according to St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman.

Calls for peace and restraint emanated from several quarters, including President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and civil-rights leaders and business owners.

The most emotional appeal came from Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr.

"Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer," Brown said in the video released by the group STL Forward. "No matter what the grand jury decides, I don't want my son's death to be in vain. I want it to lead to incredible change, positive change, change that makes the St. Louis region better for everyone."

Holder issued a general reminder to police to prepare for demonstrations and to "minimize needless confrontation."

His video message did not explicitly mention Ferguson, but it did reference demonstrations over the past few months that have "sought to bring attention to real and significant underlying issues involving police practices."

"I know from firsthand experience that demonstrations like these have the potential to spark a sustained and positive national dialogue, to provide momentum to a necessary conversation and to bring about critical reform," Holder said in the video.

"But history has also shown us that the most successful and enduring movements for change are those that adhere to nonaggression and nonviolence," he added.

Eddie Hassaun of the civil rights group Justice Disciples urged protesters not to be confrontational and for police to follow suit.

"We're looking for the action on the other side to be equally as committed to peace in the streets and peace for the demonstrators," Hassaun said.

City, county and state leaders on Friday announced a "rules of engagement" agreement between police and roughly 50 protest groups. The pact is aimed at preventing violence on both sides.

Mr. Obama also urged Ferguson to keep the protests peaceful, saying all Americans have the right to peacefully assemble to speak against actions they regard as unjust. But, he said, using any event as an excuse for violence is contrary to the rule of law.

The president commented in an interview with ABC News scheduled to air Sunday. The network released his comment about Ferguson on Friday night.

The civil rights organization Advancement Project said more than 70 protest actions are scheduled around the country, including occupying government space in Washington and a gathering at police headquarters in Chicago.

Concern about the aftermath of the announcement prompted one school district to call off classes for Monday and Tuesday. The Jennings district includes some students who live in Ferguson. It had previously planned to close for Thanksgiving starting Wednesday.

Antonio Henley, owner of Prime Time Beauty and Barber Shop in Ferguson, said concern about the pending announcement is hurting business.

"It's been rough, especially these past few weeks leading up to the decision," Henley said. "Our business has been cut in half because the people in the community are afraid to come around."

The FBI has sent nearly 100 additional agents to Ferguson to help law enforcement agencies, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the FBI plans.




“While peacekeeping preparations are underway, the FBI told CBS News that two men have been arrested on firearms charges. Brandon Orlando Baldwin and Olajuwon Davis allegedly bought explosive material during an FBI undercover operation. The men are suspected of planning to detonate pipe bombs during protests in Ferguson.... The time, date and place for a news conference announcing the decision has not been decided, Magee said. (When the decision is announced, CBSN, CBS' digital streaming news network,will provide live coverage.)... The most emotional appeal came from Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr. 'Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer,' Brown said in the video released by the group STL Forward. 'No matter what the grand jury decides, I don't want my son's death to be in vain. I want it to lead to incredible change, positive change, change that makes the St. Louis region better for everyone.' Holder issued a general reminder to police to prepare for demonstrations and to 'minimize needless confrontation.'... 'I know from firsthand experience that demonstrations like these have the potential to spark a sustained and positive national dialogue, to provide momentum to a necessary conversation and to bring about critical reform,' Holder said in the video. 'But history has also shown us that the most successful and enduring movements for change are those that adhere to nonaggression and nonviolence,' he added.... The civil rights organization Advancement Project said more than 70 protest actions are scheduled around the country, including occupying government space in Washington and a gathering at police headquarters in Chicago. 'City, county and state leaders on Friday announced a 'rules of engagement' agreement between police and roughly 50 protest groups. The pact is aimed at preventing violence on both sides.'”

I keep clipping these articles hoping for more information on the Grand Jury decision. The tension is increasing as time goes on. This article does speak of a “rules of engagement” decision between police and some fifty protest groups, and a Civil Rights organization Advancement Project is planning 70 protests nationwide. One thing I do hope will result from all this is a nationwide reformation of standard operations in so many city police forces which are just like Ferguson, MO. That includes large northern cities. Racism occurs all across the country. Police brutality has been in the news for the last 30 years at least. The US armed forces are relatively free of racism, at least from what I have seen in the news, but police forces have become a concentration of violence and biased thinking. They are almost all “conservative,” and unlike the army they just aren't as well disciplined as they need to be. The blanket authority to operate as judge, jury and executioner needs to be curtailed. The simple solution is to fire officers who get out of hand in the way they carry out their work. If they do kill somebody without any real need to do it, they should be prosecuted. I think the body cams have disappeared from the news. I hope they are being widely used now. NPR website http://www.npr.org/2014/11/12/363547611/after-ferguson-police-body-cameras-catching-on has an update on the issue. It seem they are expensive, but according to the article some more competitive prices are being offered due to the increased demand after Ferguson.





Bill Cosby makes new comments on accusations
CBS/AP November 22, 2014, 10:08 AM

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Bill Cosby commented Friday on the growing accusations of rape and sexual assault that have derailed his career comeback and crumbled his tour schedule in an interview with a Florida newspaper.

"I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn't have to answer to innuendos," the comedian told Florida Today. "People should fact check. People shouldn't have to go through that and shouldn't answer to innuendos."

After giving the backstage interview, Cosby regained the revered status he long enjoyed, for 90 minutes at least.

The show in Melbourne, Florida, might have seemed destined for disaster for the comedian. What he got, though, was an adoring audience that laughed so hard they slapped their knees, shouted love at the stage and rose to their feet as he came and went.

"I think people went in there with him as Bill Cosby from the TV show," said Travis Weberling, 40, of Melbourne, "not the guy they heard about on the news."

The 2,000-seat theater beefed up security and announcements before Cosby took the stage warned a disturbance was possible - radio hosts had even offered cash and prizes to anyone who made it happen.

Cosby addressed the radio hosts' offers in the Florida Today interview.

"These people are prodding and pushing people and asking people to have a frat house mentality," Cosby said. "Now suppose someone brings a weapon or decided to do more foolishness. There will be announcements made and the stations made some disclaimers, but what if people don't listen to what they said and they entice violence. That's not good for anyone."

Reporters swarmed the venue. But, in the end, just one protester stood outside, holding a sign that read, "Rape is no joke."

What remained to be seen was whether the evening marked a turning point for a beloved television father, or simply a momentary reprieve. It did nothing to immediately change the fact that Cosby's projects have been nixed and stalled, performances have been canceled across the country and women continue to come forward accusing him of serious crimes.

Cosby has never been charged in connection with any of the allegations.

Cosby's lawyer, Martin Singer, said the accusations had "escalated far past the point of absurdity," dismissing them as "fantastical," ''unsubstantiated" and "uncorroborated."

"When will it end?" he asked. "It is long past time for this media vilification of Mr. Cosby to stop."

And, throughout the audience, his fans agreed.

They talked of watching him on TV as a child, and of his albums becoming familiar friends when the moved to unfamiliar, faraway towns. They brushed off the accusations, howling at everything he uttered.

When he took the stage at the Maxwell C. King Center For The Performing Arts, they stood and hollered, and he returned a thumbs-up. Only a smattering of empty seats were seen. Cosby wore cargo pants and a shirt that said "Hello Friend" and never once ventured in the realm of controversy. His 90-minute set wandered from a childhood fear of God to the loss of freedom in marriage to the rocket-speed Spanish of a piñata-store worker.

He sat for much at the start of the show, then grew increasingly physical, impersonating jujitsu and gymnastics poses, laying on the floor in stocking feet and thrusting a fist upward in a gesture of battling the everyday oppression of living with a wife. And when it was over, he said "good night," walking off as the audience again stood.

The most impassioned of his fans breathed a sigh of relief. Judith Stone traveled from Madison, West Virginia, for the show, deeming it "absolutely fantastic" and grateful no one interrupted.

"I think he will leave with a very positive attitude," she said.

Elsewhere, audiences will not have the chance to see Cosby. Performances in Oklahoma, Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina and Washington were called off. David Fischer, director of The Broadway Center in Tacoma, Washington, said an April appearance was called off because it conflicts with the organization's mission strengthen the community "building empathy, furthering education and sharing joy."

Projects on NBC and Netflix have been canceled, and TV Land decided not to air reruns of "The Cosby Show." Cosby's producers said at least 28 other shows remain on his schedule through May 2015.

Tom Werner, who co-founded the Carsey-Werner Company which produced "The Cosby Show," defended Cosby in a statement to the Boston Globe.

"The Bill we knew was a brilliant and wonderful collaborator on a show that changed the landscape of television," Werner and partner Marcy Carsey said in the statement. "These recent news reports are beyond our knowledge or comprehension."

And, even in a crowd of Cosby faithful, there was some worry there was more to come.

"This very well may be Bill Cosby's last show," said Marcus Utt, 25, of Melbourne.

Some of the women accusing Cosby are going public again after initially coming forward around 2005, when Andrea Constand filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him.

Tamara Green, a California attorney, also said Cosby tried to sexually assault her in her Los Angeles apartment around 1970, when she was a model and an aspiring actress. She said Cosby gave her two pills that made her almost lose consciousness, took her to her apartment, undressed her and then took his clothes off as she fought off his advances.

Another woman, Joan Tarshis, said Cosby gave her drug-laced drinks twice in 1969, forcing her to perform a sex act the first time and raping her the second time. She said she told no one about this for decades, and only decided to go public when she read a Nov. 13 column in The Washington Post by Barbara Bowman, who alleges she was drugged and raped by Cosby when she was 17.

And, offering a familiar narrative, another woman, Therese Serignese, said she was drugged and raped by Cosby in 1976.




“The 2,000-seat theater beefed up security and announcements before Cosby took the stage warned a disturbance was possible - radio hosts had even offered cash and prizes to anyone who made it happen. Cosby addressed the radio hosts' offers in the Florida Today interview. 'These people are prodding and pushing people and asking people to have a frat house mentality,' Cosby said. 'Now suppose someone brings a weapon or decided to do more foolishness. There will be announcements made and the stations made some disclaimers, but what if people don't listen to what they said and they entice violence. That's not good for anyone.' Reporters swarmed the venue. But, in the end, just one protester stood outside, holding a sign that read, 'Rape is no joke.'... Cosby has never been charged in connection with any of the allegations. Cosby's lawyer, Martin Singer, said the accusations had 'escalated far past the point of absurdity,' dismissing them as 'fantastical,' ''unsubstantiated' and 'uncorroborated.' 'When will it end?' he asked. 'It is long past time for this media vilification of Mr. Cosby to stop.'... Tom Werner, who co-founded the Carsey-Werner Company which produced 'The Cosby Show,' defended Cosby in a statement to the Boston Globe. 'The Bill we knew was a brilliant and wonderful collaborator on a show that changed the landscape of television,' Werner and partner Marcy Carsey said in the statement. 'These recent news reports are beyond our knowledge or comprehension.' And, even in a crowd of Cosby faithful, there was some worry there was more to come. 'This very well may be Bill Cosby's last show,' said Marcus Utt, 25, of Melbourne.”

For some reason, Hannibal Buress, a young black comedian has been doing a standup routine in which he accuses Cosby of rape. It finally made it to a video and was published on the Internet. As a result women have been coming forward and claiming he raped them, too. In the November 13 issue of the Washington Post a columnist Barbara Bowman stated that he raped her when she was only 17 years old. One woman Joan Tarshis said he gave her drug laced drinks twice in 1969 and she drank them both times. She must have had a short memory to take a drink from his hand twice. Some of the women accusing Cosby are going public again now after initially coming forward around 2005, when Andrea Constand filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him. The worst thing I have heard that tends to make him seem guilty is that he actually settled in court and paid a fine. No one has charged him with a crime, though one report said that the statute of limitations is up on those allegations. All I can say is that if the well-educated and apparently civilized Bill Cosby did rape anyone, he certainly covers his tendencies very well. “'This very well may be Bill Cosby's last show,' said Marcus Utt, 25, of Melbourne.” If he is a rapist I am indeed saddened. If he isn't, then the several women who have accused him should be ashamed for telling such a story. False accusations do happen, usually to cover up a willing complicity or to get a piece of a rich man's money. I don't think Cosby was wealthy yet by 1969, but he was handsome and might have been attractive. I can't know what the truth is, but I'm sorry to hear about the whole issue. I can't help it. I always liked him.






Report reveals new details about Newtown shooter's history
CBS/AP November 21, 2014, 12:18 PM

The socially isolated, violence-obsessed man who carried out the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School had severe mental and emotional problems that went largely ignored by schools and possibly his parents, according to a report released Friday.

The Office of Child Advocate, which investigates all child deaths in the state, concluded that "weaknesses and lapses in the educational and healthcare systems' response and untreated mental illness played in Adam Lanza's deterioration."

The agency released its report nearly two years after Lanza killed his mother then shot his way through the Newtown school, gunning down 20 children and six educators before committing suicide.

The report notes that Lanza suffered from "significant developmental challenges from earliest childhood" and his preoccupation with violence appeared to go unaddressed by the school system and even his parents.

Authorities found violence-lanced writings and an arsenal of weapons in the Newtown home where he lived his mother, Nancy Lanza, and spent long hours playing shooter video games.

The authors of the 114-page report noted that although numerous mental health issues were not properly addressed and recommendations regarding Lanza's care went unheeded, they could not say whether more effective treatment could have prevented the tragedy.

"This report raises, but cannot definitively answer, the question as to whether better access to effective mental health and educational services would have prevented the tragic events at Sandy Hook," they wrote.

At different stages of his childhood, Lanza was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Asperger syndrome. The report says that Lanza resisted taking medication for his anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - a decision that was apparently supported by his mother. Lanza also apparently disagreed with his Asperger's diagnosis.

The report concluded that the school system cared about Lanza's success but also "unwittingly enabled Mrs. Lanza's preference to accommodate and appease" him.

Adam Lanza apparently cut off contact with his father in 2010 and "did not respond to numerous emails Mr. Lanza sent between 2010 and 2012 seeking to spend time with him." Lanza's parents separated in 2001 when he was nine years old.

The report also asks whether a family that was not white or as affluent as the Lanzas would have been given the same leeway to manage treatment for their troubled child.

"Is the community more reluctant to intervene and more likely to provide deference to the parental judgment and decision-making of white, affluent parents than those caregivers who are poor or minority?" the report said.

The authors of the report also noted that Lanza's parents and the school tended to view him as "intellectually gifted" even though psychological testing indicated his cognitive abilities were average.

Documents released by police in December 2013 included descriptions of sporadic treatment for his mental health troubles. At one point, experts at the Yale Child Studies Center prescribed antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication, but his mother discontinued the treatment after her son was unable to raise his arm after taking the medicine and never scheduled follow-up visits, police reports said.

The Yale Child Study Center, which evaluated Lanza at age 14, recommended that Lanza receive "extensive special education supports, ongoing expert consultation, and rigorous therapeutic supports embedded into (his) daily life."

Those recommendations, the report said, went largely unheeded.

A Connecticut judge last year ordered Newtown school officials to give Lanza's records the Office of Child Advocate for its investigation. The governor's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission has been waiting for the office's report before releasing its recommendations on what the state can do to prevent and respond to future incidents.




“The socially isolated, violence-obsessed man who carried out the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School had severe mental and emotional problems that went largely ignored by schools and possibly his parents, according to a report released Friday. The Office of Child Advocate, which investigates all child deaths in the state, concluded that 'weaknesses and lapses in the educational and healthcare systems' response and untreated mental illness played in Adam Lanza's deterioration.'... The report notes that Lanza suffered from 'significant developmental challenges from earliest childhood' and his preoccupation with violence appeared to go unaddressed by the school system and even his parents. Authorities found violence-lanced writings and an arsenal of weapons in the Newtown home where he lived his mother, Nancy Lanza, and spent long hours playing shooter video games.... The authors of the report also noted that Lanza's parents and the school tended to view him as 'intellectually gifted' even though psychological testing indicated his cognitive abilities were average.

Lanza cut off all communication with his father, refused to take his medication and his mother went along with that. Apparently the school system did as well. The statement that “violence-laced writings” and “an arsenal of weapons” were found in the home sounds as though the weapons were his, but a news article from two years ago said that the weapons belonged to his mother. Presumably she didn't write the violent material. He also habitually played violent video games, which to me is an obvious danger with mentally disturbed people. Some psychologists have said it makes no difference, but I doubt that is true.

“The report also asks whether a family that was not white or as affluent as the Lanzas would have been given the same leeway to manage treatment for their troubled child.” His mother discontinued his medication, which she said made him unable to raise his arm, and refused to take him back to his therapist. Supportive treatments recommended by the Yale Child Study Center went unheeded as well. The state is considering how to respond to similar situations in the future.




Sponge test a low-cost, easier way to spot signs of cancer
By ALPHONSO VAN MARSH CBS NEWS
November 21, 2014, 1:48 PM

Retiree Tony Richards survived cancer of the esophagus and gets an endoscopy every year to look for any sign of cancer's return. Richards says the endoscopy procedure -- where medics insert a camera-enabled tube-like device down an often sedated patient's throat to collect esophagus cells -- would take him out of commission for the day.

"It's not a very pleasant process," Richards says.

But now researchers at the University of Cambridge say they've come up with a less-invasive, capsule test to screen for cancer at a fraction of the cost of a traditional endoscopy. Their "Cytosponge" looks like a large multi-vitamin attached to a string. Patients swallow the capsule and then it expands into a sponge in the stomach within minutes. As the sponge is slowly pulled back out by the string, it gently collects cells from the esophagus wall.

Scientists next examine the cells for protein associated with cancer.

"The sponge contains about half a million cells," says lead researcher, Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald of the MRC Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge. Fitzgerald says the sponge technique collects a more representative and comprehensive sweep of cells in the esophagus than an endoscopy, that snips cells from the esophagus wall. "If you directly compare the [Cytosponge] results to endoscopy, it's accurate to 80 to 90 percent of the time," Fitzgerald says.

Doctors tested the Cytosponge on more than a thousand people. The trial results claim more than 94 percent of the patients who swallowed the sponge reported no serious side effects. Researchers say patients who were not sedated for an endoscopy procedure were more likely to rate the Cytosponge as "a preferable experience."

Richards, who took part in the trial, says the Cytosponge is a nice alternative to the endoscopy. "Well, I think it is a no-brainer because the sponge test is so much easier," he says.

Medics say a traditional endoscopy costs around $900 per procedure. Fitzgerald says the sponge technique costs less than a hundred dollars. In a statement, British cancer charity Cancer Research UK said the Cytosponge trial results are very encouraging. "It will be good news if such a simple and cheap test can replace endoscopy," said Dr. Julie Sharp, the organization's head of health information.

Doctors hope to start offering the sponge to patients in Britain sometime next year and say it could become available in the United States within three years.




“Fitzgerald says the sponge technique collects a more representative and comprehensive sweep of cells in the esophagus than an endoscopy, that snips cells from the esophagus wall. 'If you directly compare the [Cytosponge] results to endoscopy, it's accurate to 80 to 90 percent of the time,' Fitzgerald says.”

It's good to see that something simpler and much cheaper can work for cancer testing than the $900.00 endoscopy. I've had an endoscopy, though I was asleep at the time. I had an ulcerative condition in my stomach, and severe "heartburn." I had no cancer, and when I was prescribed a drug to stop the stomach from producing so much acid, my symptoms mainly went away.

The endoscopy, which apparently is given to some people without anesthesia, sounds terrible. I don't think having a doctor drag an apparently sizable sponge back up through the throat sounds like a highly pleasant experience either, though, and I'll bet they don't put people to sleep for that one. As one who smoked for twenty years, I could end up needing this, as esophageal cancer sometimes is caused by smoking. I hope I will pass away quietly from a heart attack in my sleep, however, rather than contracting any form of cancer or something even worse disease like Alzheimers. The older I get the more likely it is that something very unhappy will happen to me, though, so I'm living each day with as much enjoyment as possible while I can. Live one day at a time is my motto, which I learned at a 12 Step program, and have been grateful for it ever since. My life is 100% better now mentally and physically.