Sunday, March 29, 2015


News Clips For The Day


http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/27/395788461/app-that-aims-to-make-books-squeaky-clean-draws-ire-from-edited-writers

App That Aims To Make Books 'Squeaky Clean' Draws Ire From Edited Writers
COLIN DWYER
March 27, 2015

Photograph – Joanne Harris, seen here at the London premiere of Jack Reacher, has been a vocal critic of Clean Reader.
Ian West/PA Photos/Landov

Photograph – The three settings of Clean Reader at work: "clean," "cleaner" and "squeaky clean."
YouTube

In a stroke of irony fit for fiction, an effort by two Idaho parents to clean up their daughter's books has dredged up a fairly messy controversy. Clean Reader — an e-reader app designed to ferret out, and block, profanity in novels and nonfiction — drew significant pushback from some authors amid its recent launch.

In the face of that criticism, the folks behind Clean Reader have now backed down, announcing their intentions to stop selling books directly through the e-reading platform.

"Many authors do not want their books being sold in connection with Clean Reader," reads a statement this week on the app's Facebook page. "We have therefore taken immediate action to remove all books from our catalogue."

For all the hubbub, Jared and Kirsten Maughan, the couple who founded Clean Reader, say the app began innocuously enough. Their daughter had returned from school one day upset with the language in a book she was reading for class.

"We told her that there was probably an app for this type of thing that would replace profanity with less-offensive words," they explain on their website. "To our surprise there wasn't an app like this."

So with the help of the design firm Page Foundry, they made one themselves. The platform allows readers to load their e-books into the app, and from there use one of three settings — "clean," "cleaner" and the uber-strict "squeaky clean" — to find, block and even suggest replacements for words they find offensive. The app also directly sold e-books in their unedited form, taking a small commission from the sales, according to The Washington Post.

Blogger — and romance novel aficionado — Jennifer Porter has drawn up a rundown of the common replacements for words the app deems profanity. Among some of the noteworthies: from "whore" to "hussy," from "badass" to "tough" and, somewhat confusingly, from "vagina" to "bottom."

The Response

Although the Maughans may have initially found there was no app for that, so to speak, there was precedent: Thomas Bowdler, who in the 19th century nipped and tucked a collection of Shakespeare's work, with the hopes of rendering it more appropriate reading for women and children. In the years since, the attempt has accrued a fair bit of infamy, and the term "Bowdlerize" is now something of a dirty word itself for many writers — a sign, perhaps, of the pushback that was to come for Clean Reader.

Arguably, the leader of that angry response was author Joanne Harris, best known for her novel Chocolat. In several scathing blog posts, Harris decried what she called "censorship, not by the State, but by a religious minority."

Harris added:

"Well, we've been down this road before. We should know where it leads by now. It starts with blanking out a few words. It goes on to drape table legs and stick fig leaves on to statues. It progresses to denouncing gay or Jewish artists as 'degenerate'. It ends with burning libraries and erasing whole civilisations from history."

The Society of Authors also took issue with Clean Reader, saying, "Our concern is that the app contradicts two aspects of the author's moral rights, namely the right of integrity and the right of false attribution."

For their part, the Maughans have defended the app on legal grounds — saying the filtering system makes no changes to the e-book's original file — and on moral grounds, too. In one blog post, the founders equated the filtering system with the relationship between a chef and patrons who might not like elements of a dish.

"Is the chef offended when I don't eat the blue cheese? Perhaps," they wrote. "Do I care? Nope. I payed good money for the food and if I want to consume only part of it then I have that right."

To which novelist Margaret Atwood responded, bringing Beethoven into the mix.




“Although the Maughans may have initially found there was no app for that, so to speak, there was precedent: Thomas Bowdler, who in the 19th century nipped and tucked a collection of Shakespeare's work, with the hopes of rendering it more appropriate reading for women and children. In the years since, the attempt has accrued a fair bit of infamy, and the term "Bowdlerize" is now something of a dirty word itself for many writers — a sign, perhaps, of the pushback that was to come for Clean Reader. Arguably, the leader of that angry response was author Joanne Harris, best known for her novel Chocolat. In several scathing blog posts, Harris decried what she called "censorship, not by the State, but by a religious minority." Harris added: "Well, we've been down this road before. We should know where it leads by now. It starts with blanking out a few words. It goes on to drape table legs and stick fig leaves on to statues. It progresses to denouncing gay or Jewish artists as 'degenerate'. It ends with burning libraries and erasing whole civilisations from history."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyBH5oNQOS0

From youtube: “George Carlin first listed in 1972 in his monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television". The words are: ….” Since some people have gotten into trouble for things they have posted on the Internet, I won't list those words here, but just look it up for yourself if you don't remember what they are. Look at this youtube recording for yourself. It's very funny. I had forgotten how cute Carlin was, and how mischievous.

There's no point trying to avoid having the kids read sexual and other vulgar language. At least half of those kids have been sexually active since they were twelve years old, and they probably know some specialized activities that their parents have never heard of. I also object in principle to sanitizing literature, especially great literature. As for books of pure porn, which most modern “romances” are nowadays, it's a useless battle. I personally hate extended sexual description, so I never read those books. Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, after all, is a true romance. If you really want to protect your kids, have them read the old tried and true classic works of the 1700s and 1800s. If they do that they will increase their vocabulary and learn good grammar, plus experience great characters and stories. Of course, that would be on the Common Core reading list, and therefore dangerous left wing propaganda.

In summary, just don't bother with this App. It's just one more thing to spend money on, when you probably should be saving for their college fund instead. With college tuition going up the way it is, you'll need the money for that. Besides, your kids are reading something smutty right now at their girlfriend's house, possibly on the Internet. Peyton Place is the novel I remember for the 1950s. It was kept behind the library desk when I was a teen, but that didn't stop me from getting my hands on it. It was actually a very good and important novel about the unfortunate life of a poverty stricken teenaged girl in the 1930s. Her vicious stepfather was abusing her sexually and beating her. Finally she took up some kind of iron rod, a fire poker maybe, and cracked his head with it. I was delighted.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyton_Place_%28novel%29

Peyton Place (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Peyton Place is a 1956 novel by Grace Metalious. It sold 60,000 copies within the first ten days of its release and remained on the New York Times best seller list for 59 weeks. It was adapted as both a 1957 film and a 1964–69 television series.

The main plot follows the lives of three women—lonely and repressed Constance MacKenzie; her illegitimate daughter Allison; and her employee Selena Cross, a girl from across the tracks, or "from the shacks." The novel describes how they come to terms with their identity as women and sexual beings in a small New England town. Hypocrisy, social inequities and class privilege are recurring themes in a tale that includes incest, abortion, adultery, lust and murder. The term "Peyton Place" became a generic label for any community whose inhabitants have sordid secrets.”





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/japans-2011-earthquake-caused-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases-to-rise/?

Japan 2011 earthquake released tons of greenhouse gas
By MICHAEL CASEY CBS NEWS
March 27, 2015

Photograph – In this handout image provided by U.S. Navy, an aerial view of tsunami and earthquake damage is seen from an SH-60B helicopter assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 14 from Naval Air Facility Atsugi March 12, 2011 seen from the air of Sendai, Japan.  U.S. NAVY, GETTY IMAGES

When the 2011 earthquake struck Japan, it sparked a tsunami that decimated scores of coastal villages and caused a meltdown at one of the country's nuclear facilities.

Now, a study finds that the disaster also was responsible for the release of thousands of tons of climate-warming and ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere.

Writing in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, researchers concluded that 6,600 metric tons (7,275 U.S. tons) of gases stored in insulation, appliances and other equipment were released into the atmosphere when thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed by the the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.

Emissions of these chemicals, called halocarbons, increased by 21 percent to 91 percent over typical levels, according to the study.

"What we found is a new mechanism of halocarbon emissions coming from the earthquake," said Takuya Saito, a senior researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Japan, and lead author of the new paper.

The halocarbons released include chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and are responsible for rising global temperatures. These include chlorofluorocarbons like CFC-11, a powerful ozone-depleting chemical used in foam insulation until it was phased out in 1996, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons like HCFC-22, an ozone-depleting refrigerant that is also a powerful greenhouse gas and is in the process of being phased out of use. Among other halocarbons released by the earthquake were hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, and sulfur hexafluoride, both potent greenhouse gases.

To get a sense of the impact, the researchers said the amount of halocarbons released was equivalent to the release of 19.2 million metric tons (21.2 million U.S. tons) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere - an amount equal to about 10 percent of Japanese vehicle emissions in 2011.

Saito and his colleagues decided to examine the role of these chemicals after air monitoring stations recorded high levels of them. The stations are located on Hateruma Island, east of Taiwan; Cape Ochiishi, on the east side of Hokkaido; and Ryori, north of Tokyo on Honshu.

The researchers then took the air station data and combined it with an atmospheric model and other mathematical methods to figure out that increased emissions from the earthquake were involved and how much of the emissions could be attributed to the disaster.

They found that emissions of all six halocarbons were higher from March 2011 to February 2012 than they were during the same period a year earlier and a year after.

The most common halocarbon, HCFC-22, was 38 percent higher after the quake while emissions of CFC-11 were 72 percent higher. HFC-134a and HFC-32 rose by 49 percent and 63 percent, respectively.

As a result, the surge of halocarbons increased Japan's contribution from those six gases to ozone loss by 38 percent from March 2011 to February 2012 and led to an increase of 36 percent in the country's contribution to heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.

On a global scale, these gases contributed less than a percent of ozone-depleting and greenhouse gas emissions. Part of that is due to the fact these six gases are minor contributors to global warming compared to carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide.

Steve Montzka, an atmospheric scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who didn't contribute to the study, said the findings "made sense" since the destruction caused by the disaster in a country as developed as Japan would have caused significant amounts of chemicals to leak into the atmosphere.

"For Japan, this event changed their emission footprint perhaps from quarter to a third," he said. "If they want their understanding of their greenhouse gas emissions to be accurate, then Japan would have to take into account these types of events. Without it, their inventory would have been inaccurate."

And while this one event didn't dramatically alter the global climate picture, Montzka said it would be wise in the future to consider just how much natural and manmade disasters contribute to emissions.

"On a global scale, this one event had a measurable impact on global emissions but it was pretty darn small. This event didn't change things much at all," he said. "But you have destructive events happening all the time and in all different places. The accumulation over time and space of these events would enhance emissions in a way inventories may not account for. But how much is not clear."




“As a result, the surge of halocarbons increased Japan's contribution from those six gases to ozone loss by 38 percent from March 2011 to February 2012 and led to an increase of 36 percent in the country's contribution to heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. On a global scale, these gases contributed less than a percent of ozone-depleting and greenhouse gas emissions. Part of that is due to the fact these six gases are minor contributors to global warming compared to carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide.”

It's been several years since I heard about CFCs. There are so many dangerous things that we face nowadays, it's depressing. Of course in the old days we worried about saber toothed tigers and nomads from Germany who were called “berzerkers” because they attacked every village in their path with the ferocity of madmen. That was our forebears, the Celts. They also are reported to have dyed themselves blue for combat and, at least in the Roman day, fought in the nude.

I am sorry to say that the human creature has brought environmental ruin with him since the earliest days, clearing forest land for planting with fire, and killing off the last of the large mammals such as the mammoth by the neolithic. The result is a landscape that has very few of the original plants and animals left nowadays and more still on the extinction list. To quote T S Elliott's poem The Hollow Men,

“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-begrudgingly-asks-u-s-for-help-in-battle-of-tikrit/

Iraq begrudgingly asks U.S. for help in battle of Tikrit
By HOLLY WILLIAMS CBS NEWS
March 27, 2015

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- While the U.S. is backing Sunni Arabs in Yemen, in Iraq it is fighting on the same side as Shiite militias who've been helping the Iraqi Army try to kick ISIS out of Tikrit. U.S.-led airstrikes targeted ISIS vehicles, heavy weapons and fighting positions around the city, which was captured by the extremists in June.

The strikes were requested by Iraq's government -- after Iraqi leaders earlier said they didn't need U.S. help to win back the city. Instead Iraq turned to military advisers from Iran to help its fighting force of more than 20,000 men -- many of them from Shiite Muslim militiamen with Iranian links.

A condition of the U.S. strikes is that the militias go home. Just outside Tikrit two weeks ago an Iraqi general -- Bahaa al-Azawi -- confidently told us that victory was days away.

"We got the ability, we got the capability to defeat terrorism, and push them away from Iraq," al-Azawi said at the time.

But the Tikrit offensive stalled -- even though one senior Iraqi politician told us ISIS may have only 20 fighters left in the city.

"There are very few. They're using snipers, and booby trapped buildings," said Saad al-Muttalibi.

Al-Muttalibi admits that Iraq's army is feeble - despite the $20 billion spent by America to train and equip it.

"I think the American money was very badly spent by the Americans," he said. "The Americans produced for us a very weak, disorganized army filled with corruption that fell within the first battle."

The U.S.-led airstrikes may help win back Tikrit. But this drawn out battle -- despite Iraqi forces vastly outnumbering ISIS militants-- does not bode well for Iraq fight in the rest of the country.




“The strikes were requested by Iraq's government -- after Iraqi leaders earlier said they didn't need U.S. help to win back the city. Instead Iraq turned to military advisers from Iran to help its fighting force of more than 20,000 men -- many of them from Shiite Muslim militiamen with Iranian links. …. A condition of the U.S. strikes is that the militias go home. Just outside Tikrit two weeks ago an Iraqi general -- Bahaa al-Azawi -- confidently told us that victory was days away."I think the American money was very badly spent by the Americans," he said. "The Americans produced for us a very weak, disorganized army filled with corruption that fell within the first battle."

I think one problem with the American efforts in the fighting is that we keep trying to back one militia group over the others, thus influencing who wins. We are afraid of Iran, but they are good fighters. We favored the Iraqi army, whom we trained and equipped, but they quickly gave up the fight and left their American weapons for ISIS to take and use against every established group in the area.

Both Sunnis and Shia have radical fundamentalist wings who want to defeat Westerners and Israeli sympathizers. The whole Middle East is made up of ethnic and religious groups who all hate each other. It is what you get when you set up governments based on religion and not on secular principles. I say help those who are opposed to ISIS and are courageous fighters. ISIS is like the army of Ghengis Khan who swept out of Asia and completely overran the disorganized farming people of Europe. Their reputation for complete brutality precedes them, and in the weaker countries the more moderate Islamic groups are trampled.

If Iran and the Kurds can go in with ground troops and win against ISIS, by all means give them weapons and back them up with air strikes. The real threats that we are facing are ISIS, al Qaeda, Boko Haram and perhaps Hamas, though Hamas mainly seems to be fighting Israel rather than sending jihadists to the Western nations to bomb civilians like al Qaeda. Islam, though they claim that they are “a religion of peace,” are all bloodthirsty in their fundamentalist extremist wings. Peace is one of their principles, but killing “the Infidel” is another. Let Islam purify itself by going back to its peaceful roots. It's a grassroots issue.





http://news.yahoo.com/germanwings-crash-co-pilot-hid-illness-airline-050913689.html

Alps crash pilot told ex 'everyone will know my name'
By Raphaelle Logerot with Kate Millar in Berlin
March 28, 2015

Duesseldorf (Germany) (AFP) - The co-pilot who investigators believe crashed a passenger jet into the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard, worried "health problems" would dash his dreams and vowed one day to do something to "change the whole system", an ex-girlfriend told a German newspaper.

The 26-year-old woman, identified only as Maria W., recalled in an interview with the mass-circulation Bild daily how Andreas Lubitz told her: "One day I'm going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember."

"I never knew what he meant by that but now it makes sense," it quoted the "shocked" flight attendant as saying.

The black box voice recorder indicates that Lubitz, 27, locked the captain out of the cockpit of the Germanwings jet and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside as the more senior pilot tried des
perately to reopen the door during its eight-minute descent, French officials say.

As investigators race to build up a picture of Lubitz and any possible motives, new media reports emerged saying he had suffered from vision problems, adding to earlier reports he was severely depressed.

German prosecutors believe he hid an illness from his airline but have not specfied the ailment, and said he had apparently been written off sick on the day the Airbus crashed on its route from Barcelona to Duesseldorf.View gallery

Bild, which showed a photo of the ex-girlfriend from behind to conceal her face, said she had flown with Lubitz on European flights for five months last year and that he had had another girlfriend since her.

She said he could be "sweet" and would give her flowers but got agitated talking about work conditions, such as pay or the pressure of the job, and was plagued by nightmares. "At night he woke up and screamed 'We're going down!'," she recalled.

If Lubitz did deliberately crash the plane, it was "because he understood that because of his health problems, his big dream of a job at Lufthansa, of a job as captain and as a long-haul pilot was practically impossible," she told Bild.

She split up with him because it became "increasingly clear that he had problems", she said.iew gallery

German police found a number "of medicines for the treatment of psychological illness" during a search at his Duesseldorf home, newspaper Welt am Sonntag weekly said, quoting an unnamed high-ranking investigator as saying he'd been treated by several neurologists and psychiatrists.

Sunday's Bild weekly and the New York Times, which cited two officials with knowledge of the investigation, said Lubitz had sought treatment for problems with his sight.

Germanwings pilot Frank Woiton was quoted by Saturday's edition of Bild as saying he had flown with Lubitz who had spoken about his ambitions to become a captain and fly long-distance routes.

He said he handled the plane well and "therefore I also left him alone in the cockpit to go to the toilet," he told the newspaper.

French police investigator Jean-Pierre Michel, who was in Duesseldorf Saturday, told AFP that Lubitz's personality was a "serious lead" in the inquiry but not the only one.

The investigation has so far not turned up a "particular element" in the co-pilot's life which could explain his alleged action in the ill-fated Airbus plane, he said.

German prosecutors revealed Friday that searches of Lubitz's homes netted "medical documents that suggest an existing illness and appropriate medical treatment", including "torn-up and current sick leave notes, among them one covering the day of the crash".

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said that Lubitz had suspended his pilot training, which began in 2008, "for a certain period", before restarting and qualifying for the Airbus A320 in 2013.

The second-in-command had passed all psychological tests required for training, he told reporters Thursday.


Several German newspapers Saturday questioned whether doctor-patient confidentiality should always apply.

"The case of Andreas Lubitz has already sparked a debate on whether medical confidentiality for professions like pilots must be limited," said the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Germany is to hold a national memorial ceremony and service on April 17 for the victims of Tuesday's disaster, half of whom were German, with Spain accounting for at least 50 and the remainder composed of more than a dozen other nationalities.

Around 500 people earlier Saturday attended a religious ceremony in the town of Digne-les-Bains, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the remote Alpine crash zone where searchers are recovering the victims' remains and evidence.

Candles for each of the victims were placed in front of the cathedral's altar.

Lufthansa and Germanwings -- which has offered victims' families up to 50,000 euros ($54,806) per passenger towards their immediate costs -- placed a full-page condolence notice in several European newspapers Saturday.




Much of this article is repetitious, but some is not. The co-pilot's desire to be “important” and have everyone know his name is one thing that seems to be a common trend in these mass killings. Also, usually, there is some deep-seated hatred of a group or of people in general. It's not a difficult step from being a NeoNazi to being a killer of blacks, Jews and various other “different” groups. In addition to that, they have a brain chemistry or structural disorder. This man had been treated for some two years by a psychiatrist, and yet he was allowed to have a pilot's license. That is a problem. There are some jobs that carry such a high level of danger that a mentally disturbed person should not be allowed to do them. Sometimes we need to abridge civil rights and medical privacy in selective ways in order to preserve the public safety.





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-who-would-americans-consider-voting-for-in-2016/

Poll: Who would Americans consider voting for in 2016?
CBS NEWS
By Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus
March 29, 2015

THE REPUBLICANS

As he did last month, Jeb Bush remains the potential candidate with the most support from Republicans, and he is also the best-known of the candidates tested. Former Governor Mike Huckabee shows the second-highest level of consideration, followed by Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Respondents could say "yes" to as many or as few candidates as they wanted.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has undergone the biggest change since last month(interviews were being conducted for the poll when he announced his candidacy): 37 percent of Republicans would now consider voting for him, last month only 23 percent said so. Senator Rand Paul has gained 9 points since last month; now, 39 percent would consider voting for him, up from 30 percent in February.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker remains less well-known, but almost all Republicans who know him would consider voting for him; just 8 percent say they would not (the smallest percentage of any potential candidate tested in the poll). The difference between the percent that say they would consider him (35 percent) and the percent that would not (8 percent) is largest for Walker.

While the percent of Republicans that would consider voting for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has held steady, Christie also receives the highest percentage - 42 percent - who say they would not consider voting for him. Fewer Republicans now say they would consider voting for neurosurgeon Ben Carson than did so last month.

THE DEAL-BREAKERS: WHAT RULES REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN OR OUT?

The poll tested a number of policy positions in general terms, asking Republicans if they would consider voting for a hypothetical candidate for the party's nomination who holds a different view on an issue than they did.

Among the issues asked about in the poll, the biggest litmus tests for Republicans are candidates' positions on ISIS - which Republicans overwhelmingly see as a major threat to the U.S. - and abortion. Sixty-one percent of Republicans would not consider voting for a candidate who disagrees with them on dealing with ISIS, and half (51 percent) would not vote for someone with a different position on abortion.

On the budget and illegal immigration, Republicans divide: about half are open to backing a candidate who disagrees with them. This may reflect Republicans' views of immigration policy more broadly. Forty-four percent think illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be required to leave, while 50 percent of Republicans think they should be permitted some legal status.

Fifty-six percent are flexible on education policy. Even six in 10 Republicans who oppose Common Core say they would consider supporting a candidate for the nomination who disagrees with them on that issue.

And in terms of governing approach, 77 percent of Republicans say they would be open to a candidate who is willing to compromise with Democrats to pass legislation.

Evangelical Christian Republicans are less willing to overlook differences on abortion than non-evangelicals.

RELIGION AND POLITICS

Fifty-four percent of Americans say it is not important that a candidate for president in 2016 shares their religious beliefs, while 45 percent say it is. There are stark partisan differences on this question. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans (65 percent) say it is very or somewhat important that a presidential candidate shares their religious beliefs, while a majority of Democrats (64 percent) don't see it as that important.

Looking at religious affiliation, most Protestants think it is important that a 2016 candidate have the same religious beliefs that they do, but it is less important to most Catholics.

However, white evangelicals (regardless of denomination) are especially inclined to say a candidate sharing their religious beliefs is important to them -- 79 percent say it is, including 43 percent who say it is very important.

At this very early stage of the campaign, 50 percent of Republican evangelicals say they would consider supporting Jeb Bush, who converted to Catholicism 20 years ago, for the Republican nomination; 29 percent would not consider backing him.

Still, white evangelicals are open to backing other potential candidates, too. They are also inclined to consider candidates like Huckabee and Cruz for the Republican nomination, in addition to Paul and Rubio. More evangelicals say they would consider Walker for the GOP nomination than not, but six in 10 don't know enough about him to say.

ISSUES

Education policy and Common Core - a new set of teaching standards - have drawn particular attention from the potential candidates recently. While more than half of Americans don't know enough about Common Core to have an opinion, more say it is a bad idea than a good one. This is particularly true among Republicans: 38 percent say Common Core is a bad idea; while just 10 percent think it is good.

Most Americans support legal status for illegal immigrants currently in the U.S., including 56 percent who favor a path to citizenship. Republicans divide: 44 percent think illegal immigrations should be required to leave the U.S., while half favor legal status, including 41 percent who support a path to citizenship.

THE DEMOCRATS

Revelations about Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state have done little to change her commanding lead as the potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2016. 81 percent would consider voting for her - the same percentage as last month.

Vice President Joe Biden follows Clinton as a distant second: 48 percent of Democrats would consider backing him for the Democratic nomination, virtually unchanged from February. But Biden has improved when it comes to the percentage of Democrats who would not consider voting for him: now just 26 percent would not consider voting for Biden, down from 35 percent last month.

Most Democrats still don't have an opinion yet of the remaining potential candidates asked about in the poll. Of this group, Senator Elizabeth Warrencontinues to have the most support: 31 percent would back Warren, and only 16 percent would not consider her for the party's nomination. Still, Warren remains unfamiliar to 53 percent of Democrats nationwide. Over two-thirds of Democrats still don't know enough about Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, or Jim Webb, though more would not consider voting for them than would consider it.

COMPETITION FOR HILLARY CLINTON?

Even though far more Democrats would consider voting for Clinton than any other candidate, most would still like to see a competitive Democratic primary. While more than eight in 10 Democrats want to see Clinton run, 66 percent want to see her run with strong competition from other Democratic candidates. Only 21 percent want to see her run without any real competition. Just one in 10 Democrats don't want her to run at all.

Liberal Democrats (74 percent) are more likely than Democrats overall (66 percent) to want to see Clinton have a competitive race, though just 4 percent of liberal Democrats don't want her to run at all.

More Americans are paying attention to the presidential campaign than they were last month, but fewer are tuning in compared to this point during the 2008 campaign, the last election in which an incumbent was not seeking re-election. Fifty-seven percent of Americans are paying a lot or some attention to the 2016 campaign, down from 72 percent in March 2007. At this point in the 2008 election cycle, a number of White House hopefuls had formally announced their candidacies.

Currently, more Republicans (69 percent) are paying attention to the campaign than either Democrats (55 percent) or independents (53 percent).

This poll was conducted by telephone March 21-24, 2015 among 1,023 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. The margin of error for the sample of Republicans is 6 points, and the margin of error the sample of Democrats is also 6 points. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

For all of the poll questions and answers go to this CBS website.

Related Articles:

At prayer breakfast, Obama condemns use of religion as "a weapon"
Rhetoric, religion, and the fight against extremists




Republicans – "As he did last month, Jeb Bush remains the potential candidate with the most support from Republicans, and he is also the best-known of the candidates tested. Former Governor Mike Huckabee shows the second-highest level of consideration, followed by Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Respondents could say "yes" to as many or as few candidates as they wanted.... Among the issues asked about in the poll, the biggest litmus tests for Republicans are candidates' positions on ISIS - which Republicans overwhelmingly see as a major threat to the U.S. - and abortion. Sixty-one percent of Republicans would not consider voting for a candidate who disagrees with them on dealing with ISIS, and half (51 percent) would not vote for someone with a different position on abortion.... And in terms of governing approach, 77 percent of Republicans say they would be open to a candidate who is willing to compromise with Democrats to pass legislation.... Nearly two-thirds of Republicans (65 percent) say it is very or somewhat important that a presidential candidate shares their religious beliefs, while a majority of Democrats (64 percent) don't see it as that important..... At this very early stage of the campaign, 50 percent of Republican evangelicals say they would consider supporting Jeb Bush, who converted to Catholicism 20 years ago, for the Republican nomination; 29 percent would not consider backing him.”

Democrats – “Revelations about Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state have done little to change her commanding lead as the potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2016. 81 percent would consider voting for her - the same percentage as last month.... But Biden has improved when it comes to the percentage of Democrats who would not consider voting for him: now just 26 percent would not consider voting for Biden, down from 35 percent last month.... Most Democrats still don't have an opinion yet of the remaining potential candidates asked about in the poll. Of this group, Senator Elizabeth Warrencontinues to have the most support: 31 percent would back Warren, and only 16 percent would not consider her for the party's nomination. Still, Warren remains unfamiliar to 53 percent of Democrats nationwide. Over two-thirds of Democrats still don't know enough about Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, or Jim Webb, though more would not consider voting for them than would consider it..... Liberal Democrats (74 percent) are more likely than Democrats overall (66 percent) to want to see Clinton have a competitive race, though just 4 percent of liberal Democrats don't want her to run at all.”

“Currently, more Republicans (69 percent) are paying attention to the campaign than either Democrats (55 percent) or independents (53 percent).” This is a problem that the Democrats tend to have – maybe its because there is so much depression and economic stress among Democrats, but too often we just aren't enthusiastic enough to go to the polls and vote that good old “straight Democratic ticket.” The Republicans are more aroused politically, more united in viewpoints, full of “team spirit,” and more optimistic about life. Garrison Keillor used to pick on Unitarians regularly, accusing them of being more likely to have a big argument than the more popular Lutherans.

Democrats are much like the Unitarians and for the same reasons. We are free thinkers in religion and politics – we do a lot more “thinking” than “believing” – and we are mostly liberal, but not in identical ways. I am for a much more equalized income level between the poor and the rich, freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion, full civil rights and justice for all. I am not, on the other hand completely against the death penalty, a strong and pretty active military on the world scene – in the defense of democracies, of course – and a booming strong economy that includes high wages and union activity. In that kind of situation the Republicans always start worrying aloud about the evils of inflation, but the poor have more money in their pockets and a full time job. Having an easier time financially tends to produce an overwhelming love for the materialistic world, uniformity and avid patriotism, happiness with one's inherited social and economic status, and optimism. Those are good characteristics for building a “stable” government, but not good for controlling racism and similar maladies. Self satisfied people tend to be abusive people just because they've always been favored by school administrations and police officers.





DISCRIMINATORY LAW – INDIANA


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/indiana-governor-mike-pence-will-support-legislation-to-clarify-intent-of-religious-objections-law/

Indiana Gov. responds to furor over religious objections law
CBS/AP 
March 29, 2015

Photograph – Demonstrators gather at Monument Circle to protest a controversial religious freedom bill recently signed by Governor Mike Pence, during a rally in Indianapolis on March 28, 2015.  REUTERS/NATE CHUTE

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he would support legislation to "clarify the intent" of a new state law that has attracted widespread criticism over concerns it could allow discrimination against gay people. However, in subsequent remarks, he insisted that the law was not going to change.

In an interview Saturday with the Indianapolis Star, the Republican governor said he's been in discussions with legislative leaders this weekend. He expects that a clarification bill will be introduced this coming week to the religious objections law he signed Thursday. Pence declined to provide details but told the newspaper that making gay and lesbian Indiana residents a protected legal class is "not on my agenda."

Appearing on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, Pence was adamant that, "We're not going to change the law."

Host George Stephanopoulos repeatedly asked whether it's legal for a Christian florist to refuse a gay couple service, but Pence refused to answer.

Pence disputes that the law allows state-sanctioned anti-gay discrimination, as some Indiana businesses, convention organizers and others have argued. He told the Indianapolis Star that he didn't anticipate "the hostility that's been directed at our state."

Since Pence signed the bill into law Thursday, Indiana has been widely criticized by businesses and organizations around the nation, as well as on social media with the hashtag #boycottindiana – “Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana's new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.”
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015

Hundreds of people, some carrying signs reading "no hate in our state," gathered Saturday outside the Indiana Statehouse for a boisterous rally against a new state law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people.

Rachel Cowgill and Amy Knopf have been married for 15 years.

"I don't want my child living in an environment where she's made to feel like her family is somehow less than other families," Knopf said.

The protest echoed growing opposition online as companies from Apple to pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly took to social media to express reservations about the law. Local officials and business groups around the state hope to stem the fallout, although consumer review service Angie's List said Saturday that it is suspending a planned expansion in Indianapolis because of the new law. Salesforce.com has already canceled planned events in Indiana.

Cowgill works for that company. She and Knopf fear for their family and their jobs.

"Both of our employers have started sending out notices about not wanting to be here," Knopf said.

Pence and other supporters of the law contend discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds. They also maintain that courts haven't allowed discrimination under similar laws covering the federal government and 19 other states.

"We're not here to discriminate; we're here to serve anybody we can," business owner Casey Samson said. "But just as they have the right to live their life their way, I believe we should have the right to live how we want to."

But state Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, said Indiana's law goes further than those laws and opens the door to discrimination.

"This law does not openly allow discrimination, no, but what it does is create a road map, a path to discrimination," he told the crowd, which stretched across the south steps and lawn of the Statehouse. "Indiana's version of this law is not the same as that in other states. It adds all kinds of new stuff and it moves us further down the road to discrimination."

The measure, which takes effect in July, prohibits state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

Angie's List had sought an $18.5 million incentive package from Indianapolis' City-County Council to add 1,000 jobs over five years. But founder and CEO Bill Oseterle said in a statement Saturday that the expansion was on hold "until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees."

Saturday's crowd, for which police didn't have an exact estimate, chanted "Pence must go!" several times and many people held signs like "I'm pretty sure God doesn't hate anyone" and "No hate in our state."

In the newspaper interview, Pence said he didn't expect the reaction the law has generated.

"I just can't account for the hostility that's been directed at our state," he said. "I've been taken aback by the mischaracterizations from outside the state of Indiana about what is in this bill."

Zach Adamson, a Democrat on Indianapolis' City-County Council, said to cheers that the law has nothing to do with religious freedom but everything to do with discrimination.

"This isn't 1950 Alabama; it's 2015 Indiana," he told the crowd, adding that the law has brought embarrassment on the state.

Among those who attended the rally was Jennifer Fox, a 40-year-old from Indianapolis who was joined by her wife, Erin Fox, and their two boys, ages 5 and 8, and other relatives.

Fox said they married last June on the first day that same-sex marriage became legal in Indiana under a federal court ruling. She believes the religious objections law is a sort of reward to Republican lawmakers and their Conservative Christian constituents who strongly opposed allowing the legalization of gay marriage in the state.

"I believe that's where this is coming from - to find ways to push their own agenda, which is not a religious agenda; it's aimed at a specific section of people," Fox said.

Although many Indianapolis businesses have expressed opposition to the law and support for gays and lesbians, Fox worries her family could be turned away from a restaurant or other business and that her sons would suffer emotionally.

"I certainly would not want them to think that there's something wrong with our family because we're a loving family," she said.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who opposed the law, said he and other city officials would be talking to many businesses and convention planners to counter the uproar the law has caused. "I'm more concerned about making sure that everyone knows they can come in here and feel welcome," Ballard said.

The Indianapolis-based NCAA has expressed concerns about the law and has suggested it could move future events elsewhere; the men's Final Four will be held in the city next weekend.




“Hundreds of people, some carrying signs reading "no hate in our state," gathered Saturday outside the Indiana Statehouse for a boisterous rally against a new state law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people.... Saturday's crowd, for which police didn't have an exact estimate, chanted "Pence must go!" several times and many people held signs like "I'm pretty sure God doesn't hate anyone" and "No hate in our state." In an interview Saturday with the Indianapolis Star, the Republican governor said he's been in discussions with legislative leaders this weekend. He expects that a clarification bill will be introduced this coming week to the religious objections law he signed Thursday. Pence declined to provide details but told the newspaper that making gay and lesbian Indiana residents a protected legal class is "not on my agenda." Appearing on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, Pence was adamant that, "We're not going to change the law.".... Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who opposed the law, said he and other city officials would be talking to many businesses and convention planners to counter the uproar the law has caused. "I'm more concerned about making sure that everyone knows they can come in here and feel welcome," Ballard said. The Indianapolis-based NCAA has expressed concerns about the law and has suggested it could move future events elsewhere; the men's Final Four will be held in the city next weekend. …. Host George Stephanopoulos repeatedly asked whether it's legal for a Christian florist to refuse a gay couple service, but Pence refused to answer. Pence disputes that the law allows state-sanctioned anti-gay discrimination, as some Indiana businesses, convention organizers and others have argued. He told the Indianapolis Star that he didn't anticipate "the hostility that's been directed at our state.".... Zach Adamson, a Democrat on Indianapolis' City-County Council, said to cheers that the law has nothing to do with religious freedom but everything to do with discrimination. "This isn't 1950 Alabama; it's 2015 Indiana," he told the crowd, adding that the law has brought embarrassment on the state. The protest echoed growing opposition online as companies from Apple to pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly took to social media to express reservations about the law. Local officials and business groups around the state hope to stem the fallout, although consumer review service Angie's List said Saturday that it is suspending a planned expansion in Indianapolis because of the new law. Salesforce.com has already canceled planned events in Indiana.... Pence and other supporters of the law contend discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds....

Governor Spence and the state house of Indiana are meeting some strong grassroots resistance of this law. Large and reputable businesses have been making statements against the law, and the number of protestors against Spence is given in an NPR article as being about 3,000 rather than “hundreds.” The word that gays and lesbians are not sinner or mentally ill, just “different,” is out on the streets now since Act Up began to promote gay rights. There are now many young people who feel strongly that their peers who are gay should not be treated unfairly by the law, or by civilians either. That's the real problem with this law. Up until the last couple of years gays have been “protected” as Governor Spence claims, but that is good because there are political and social radicals who want to root out these “unchristian” people and force them into mental health counseling, a ridiculous marriage, or better still, just beat them up as they walk through the park together.

I think the whole premise that a business can have a religious or social viewpoint is ridiculous anyway. To me a corporation is absolutely not “an individual,” shouldn't be able to give bunches of money to a political candidate or get huge tax breaks, while the poor are hated and scorned for getting the Earned Income Credit which allows them to eat and have shelter. That is a perversion of our Constitutional law and what we stand for as a republic. If that is exactly and actually what the Constitution says, then we should write an amendment to change it. So this Indiana bill that allows businesses to get away with refusing service due to any citizen's personal characteristic, from skin color to religion to sexual orientation, should be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and voted out. I have a feeling that Governor Spence is not going to be reelected, anyway. There are thousands and thousands of gay people in this country, and even if we aren't gay we may support a fair legal system that will not keep such laws in force.





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/yemen-airstrikes-will-continue-until-rebels-withdraw-arab-leaders-say/

Arab leaders: Airstrikes will continue until Yemeni rebels withdraw
AP March 29, 2015

Video – White House isn't ruling out U.S. involvement in Yemen

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen will continue until Shiite rebels there "withdraw and surrender their weapons," a summit of Arab leaders decided Sunday, as they also agreed in principle to forming a joint military force.

The decision by the Arab League puts it on a path to potentially more aggressively challenge Shiite power Iran, which is backing the Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis.

A Saudi-led coalition began bombing Yemen on Thursday, saying it was targeting the Houthis and their allies, which include forces loyal to Yemen's former leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

At the summit, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby read a final communique outlining the leaders' views.

"Yemen was on the brink of the abyss, requiring effective Arab and international moves after all means of reaching a peaceful resolution have been exhausted to end the Houthi coup and restore legitimacy," Elaraby said.

The Houthis began their offensive in September, seizing the capital, Sanaa, and later holding embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi under house arrest. The rebels ultimately took over government in Yemen and ultimately forced Hadi to flee the country in recent days.

Speaking at the summit Saturday, Hadi directly accused Iran of being behind the Houthi offensive, raising the specter of a regional conflict. Iran and the Houthis deny that Tehran arms the rebel movement, though the Islamic Republic has provided humanitarian and other aid.

Speaking after Elaraby, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said leaders also agreed in principle to creating a joint Arab military force. He said a high-level panel will work under the supervision of Arab chiefs of staff to work out the structure and mechanism of the force.

Egyptian military and security officials have said the proposed force would be made of up to 40,000 elite troops and will be headquartered in either Cairo or Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The force would be backed by jet fighters, warships and light armor.

However, it is unlikely that all 22-member nations of the often-fractious Arab League will join the proposed force. Creation of such a force has been a longtime goal that has eluded Arab nations in the 65 years since they signed a rarely used joint defense agreement.

Now in its fourth day, the Saudi-led airstrike campaign has pushed Houthi rebels out of contested air bases and destroyed any jet fighter remaining in Yemen, Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri said.

The strikes also continued to target Scud missiles in Yemen, leaving most of their launching pads "devastated," according to remarks carried Saturday by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. However, he warned that the rebels could control more of the missiles. His account could not be immediately corroborated.

Meanwhile Sunday, Pakistan dispatched a plane to the Yemeni city of Hodeida, hoping to evacuate some 500 citizens gathered there, said Shujaat Azim, an adviser to Pakistan's prime minister. Azim told state-run Pakistan Television more flights would follow as those controlling Yemen's airports allowed them.

Pakistan says some 3,000 of its citizens live in Yemen. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also tweeted Sunday: "We are doing everything to evacuate our people from Yemen at the earliest by all routes - land, sea and air."




"Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen will continue until Shiite rebels there "withdraw and surrender their weapons," a summit of Arab leaders decided Sunday, as they also agreed in principle to forming a joint military force. The decision by the Arab League puts it on a path to potentially more aggressively challenge Shiite power Iran, which is backing the Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis..... At the summit, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby read a final communique outlining the leaders' views. "Yemen was on the brink of the abyss, requiring effective Arab and international moves after all means of reaching a peaceful resolution have been exhausted to end the Houthi coup and restore legitimacy," Elaraby said.... Speaking after Elaraby, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said leaders also agreed in principle to creating a joint Arab military force. He said a high-level panel will work under the supervision of Arab chiefs of staff to work out the structure and mechanism of the force. Egyptian military and security officials have said the proposed force would be made of up to 40,000 elite troops and will be headquartered in either Cairo or Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The force would be backed by jet fighters, warships and light armor..... Creation of such a force has been a longtime goal that has eluded Arab nations in the 65 years since they signed a rarely used joint defense agreement.... Meanwhile Sunday, Pakistan dispatched a plane to the Yemeni city of Hodeida, hoping to evacuate some 500 citizens gathered there, said Shujaat Azim, an adviser to Pakistan's prime minister. Azim told state-run Pakistan Television more flights would follow as those controlling Yemen's airports allowed them.”

I don't know what the Obama administration thinks about this Arab League, but if they unite to fight ISIS and possibly keep coups from occurring as it seems they are doing in Yemen they will tend, I think, to produce less fracturing of national identities due to coups and religious warfare. The extremely complex religious and ethnic map there is surely prone to constant warfare and instability. The US and others don't like Iran, but they have proven to be a stable government since the Carter/Reagan administrations, and as a result they are strong enough to actually present a front against ISIS. It gives me hope for the prevention of fundamentalist groups from trying to bomb American and British cities, as ISIS has declared it intends to do. Some groups of people have to be fought, not appeased or convinced into our way of thinking.






http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-blind-artists-altruistic-vision/

​A blind artist's altruistic vision
CBS NEWS
March 29, 2015

Photograph – Jeff Hanson lost most of his sight as a child, but that hasn't stopped him from embarking on a career as a painter - and a philanthropist.  CBS NEWS

NOTE: I suggest you go to this website for the 27 incredibly beautiful photographs of his paintings and the complete article, which is two pages long. He is “legally blind,” not completely blind. I don't see how a completely blind person would be able to paint, especially not like this. Excerpts from the article are copied below.

Painter Jeff Hanson is a young artist with an inner vision that defies his physical limitations. Tracy Smith shows us how he does it: You've got to wonder, looking at these paintings, with their vibrant colors and deep textures: How does this artist see the world?

Truth is, he really can't.

Twenty-one-year-old Jeff Hanson is legally blind. He also has a few other physical and mental challenges, but that hasn't stopped him -- or apparently even slowed him down.

He's done about 1,400 paintings to date. "My mom keeps track for me," he said.

His mom, Julie Hanson, helped turn the basement of their Kansas City home into a rainbow-splattered assembly line.

The man in the paint-splattered surgical scrubs is Jeff's dad, Dr. Hal Hanson, head of the ER at a local hospital. Sometimes dad helps load up the putty knife ... and Jeff does the rest. ….

When Hal and Julie Hanson were married, all of their dreams seemed to be coming true. In 1993, they were blessed with a healthy baby, who grew into a healthy kid. All seemed well, until little Jeff started bumping into things.

"He couldn't see that there was a curb," Hal said. "He couldn't see that there was a stairway, and he would fall down it. And we realized, he's not seeing a lot."

Their only child had a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis. The disease caused a brain tumor that was stunting his growth, and slowly robbing him of his sight. ….

To distract Jeff during chemo, Julie would have him use watercolors to decorate little notecards.

And as he painted, something inside him clicked.

"To me, it was nothing more than kid art," said Hal. "I didn't see any genius to it. It would be something that you would put on the refrigerator with a magnet and forget it in a couple of days, and it would make it to the trash can."

Luckily, it turns out, Julie couldn't bring herself to throw any of her son's artwork away.

"I started using his note cards for thank-you notes during chemotherapy and radiation," she said. "But as I started to do that, my friends would say, 'Do you have any extras? I would love some of those.'"

Jeff started selling them at a makeshift stand in his family's driveway, and a business was born

Because Jeff can barely see what he's working on, his process is unique:

First, he slathers a kind of plastic goop on canvas, front and sides. After it hardens, and gets a coat of flat black, Jeff uses those ridges to feel his way around his painting as he works.

Now, he can't keep up with demand: Jeff has at least a six-month backlog of orders -- and some pretty prominent fans. Warren Buffett has a painting; Elton John has two.

A Jeff Hanson original typically goes for around $4,000.

According to Hal Hanson, Jeff has supported himself with his painting. "We really haven't been involved in this financially at all," he told Smith.

After expenses, Jeff makes around $50,000 a year.

He's in it for the money -- just not for himself. For every painting that Jeff sells, it seems he donates another one. For Jeff, the real goal isn't making a fortune: it's raising a fortune, and giving it away. Hanson's paintings frequently sell for $20,000 or more at charity auctions.

A couple of years ago he made a vow to give away a million dollars by age 20. He made it -- with two days to spare.

Jeff Hanson may never see the stars in the sky; his father gave up on that dream a long time ago.

"You can't see stars with tears in your eyes," Hal told Smith. "And it made me cry. So, we move on. And this is a new horizon."

And that's okay? "It's great," said Hal.

Like his paintings, Jeff's future is brighter than his parents could ever have hoped -- and that is something you don't need a telescope to see.




“His mom, Julie Hanson, helped turn the basement of their Kansas City home into a rainbow-splattered assembly line. The man in the paint-splattered surgical scrubs is Jeff's dad, Dr. Hal Hanson, head of the ER at a local hospital. Sometimes dad helps load up the putty knife ... and Jeff does the rest. …. When Hal and Julie Hanson were married, all of their dreams seemed to be coming true. In 1993, they were blessed with a healthy baby, who grew into a healthy kid. All seemed well, until little Jeff started bumping into things. "He couldn't see that there was a curb," Hal said. "He couldn't see that there was a stairway, and he would fall down it. And we realized, he's not seeing a lot.".... "I started using his note cards for thank-you notes during chemotherapy and radiation," she said. "But as I started to do that, my friends would say, 'Do you have any extras? I would love some of those.'" Jeff started selling them at a makeshift stand in his family's driveway, and a business was born Because Jeff can barely see what he's working on, his process is unique: First, he slathers a kind of plastic goop on canvas, front and sides. After it hardens, and gets a coat of flat black, Jeff uses those ridges to feel his way around his painting as he works.... A Jeff Hanson original typically goes for around $4,000. According to Hal Hanson, Jeff has supported himself with his painting. "We really haven't been involved in this financially at all," he told Smith. After expenses, Jeff makes around $50,000 a year. He's in it for the money -- just not for himself. For every painting that Jeff sells, it seems he donates another one. For Jeff, the real goal isn't making a fortune: it's raising a fortune, and giving it away. Hanson's paintings frequently sell for $20,000 or more at charity auctions.”

Every now and then I run across a news article that really stands out from the crowd. Every day I search until I find at least six good articles, often eight, and see if something informational from the Net would add to their interest value in my viewpoint. It can take eight hours or so in all, especially if my mind is not too clearly functioning at the time. My best time to concentrate and really work is first thing in the morning after breakfast and coffee. If I get started too late in the day I'm not usually as enthusiastic about the process and drag my feet a bit.

Today I got up around 8:00 and had breakfast, then sat down to work immediately. I was not attracted to the headlines on this one, but to the 27 color photographs of his extraordinary paintings. Then I saw that he has very limited eyesight and paints by touch. Wow! I love his composition and rather impressionistic renderings, and his amazing use of bright colors. I suggest that you go to this website and click on his paintings, which will allow you to move through and look at each of them. He is only 20 years old and has not only made, but given away, $2,000.000. I'll never look at blind people in the same way again.