Gaza and the Dimona Hebrews

The Chronical Review
John L. Jackson, Jr.

In 1966, amid race riots and related urban unrest in America’s poorest neighborhoods, one of Chicago’s native sons, a 26-something African-American named Ben Ammi, led a group of African-Americans out of the “wilderness” of 1960s America.

Every Sunday morning, Ammi (born Ben Carter) delivered his emigrationist message atop a literal soapbox on Maxwell Street in one of the city’s crowded shopping districts. After convincing some 400 people to sell their homes, stockpile canned goods, ignore jeering relatives, and purchase tents for the journey, Ammi began to lead this exodus in the heat of July the following year.

Their first stop, Liberia, proved to be a temporary sojourn. Ammi (who is still alive and well) believes that African-Americans are actually descendents of ancient Hebrews, which means that West Africa was never necessarily their final destination. So, in 1969, these African-Americans moved their emigrationist experiment from West Africa to “Northeastern Africa,” the modern state of Israel. Not quite knowing how to respond to their genealogical claims, the Israeli government allowed them to enter the country in 1969 on “temporary” visas. And these African-Americans have been there ever since.

By the summer of 2004, when I first visited them in the quaint and quiet desert town of Dimona in Israel’s Negev region, about 40 miles southeast of Gaza, I was surprised to learn that the initial 400 emigres had ballooned to several thousand, and that these African-American immigrants who invoke the “right of return” to justify their presence in the area have established themselves as a recognizable (if small) segment of contemporary Israel’s multicultural landscape.

I’ve been conducting ethnographic research with this group (on and off) for the last five years. Most of that research has taken place among community members here in the United States, but I’ve also spent several shorter stints with the group in southern Israel. During one of those visits, Israel’s government was forcibly removing Israeli settlers from Gaza. I remember watching those conflicts and skirmishes on a television set in Dimona. Although not too far away from Gaza (objectively speaking), it still seemed light years away. The “African Hebrews of Jerusalem” traveled without fear. And they made sure I took note of how safe Dimona’s night’s felt, full of children playing in the streets and household doors opened and unlocked well into the wee hours of the morning.

When I found out about the bomb that fell in Beersheba last week, a city about midway between Gaza and Dimona, and someplace community members took me several times during my trip, I e-mailed to make sure that they were all OK. They relocated some community members who were residing there, but they explained that they were otherwise safe. In fact, they claimed to be more worried about how I was doing over here.

As we each follow this escalating conflict, it probably makes sense to think about the many ways, big and small, that we are all differently invested (and even implicated) in the conflagration.

Source:

http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=1092

Another Reason To Avoid High-fat Diet

It Can Disrupt Our Biological Clock,
Say Hebrew University Researchers

MedicalNewsToday.com
Nutrition / Diet


Indulgence in a high-fat diet can not only lead to overweight because of excessive calorie intake, but also can affect the balance of circadian rhythms - everyone's 24-hour biological clock, Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have shown.

The biological clock regulates the expression and/or activity of enzymes and hormones involved in metabolism, and disturbance of the clock can lead to such phenomena as hormone imbalance, obesity, psychological and sleep disorders and cancer.

While light is the strongest factor affecting the circadian clock, Dr. Oren Froy and his colleagues of the Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition at the Hebrew University's Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in Rehovot, have demonstrated in their experiment that there is a cause-and-effect relation between diet and biological clock imbalance.

To examine this thesis, Froy and his colleagues, Ph.D. student Maayan Barnea and Zecharia Madar, the Karl Bach Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, tested whether the clock controls the adiponectin signaling pathway in the liver and, if so, how fasting and a high-fat diet affect this control. Adiponectin is secreted from differentiated adipocytes (fat tissue) and is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. It increases fatty acid oxidation and promotes insulin sensitivity, two highly important factors in maintaining proper metabolism.

The researchers fed their subjects either a low-fat or a high-fat diet, followed by a fasting day, then measured components of the adiponectin metabolic pathway at various levels of activity. In the low-fat test subjects' diet, the adiponectin signaling pathway components exhibited normal circadian rhythmicity.

Fasting resulted in a phase advance. The high-fat diet resulted in a phase delay. Fasting raised and the high-fat diet reduced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels. This protein is involved in fatty acid metabolism, which could be disrupted by the lower levels.

In an article soon to be published by the journal Endocrinology, the researchers suggest that this high-fat diet could contribute to obesity, not only through its high caloric content, but also by disrupting the phases and daily rhythm of clock genes. They contend also that high fat-induced changes in the clock and the adiponectin signaling pathway may help explain the disruption of other clock-controlled systems associated with metabolic disorders, such as blood pressure levels and the sleep/wake cycle.


Source http://www.alphagalileo.com/ , http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134216.php

U.S. loses another 524,000 jobs

U.S. lost more than half a million jobs last month
by G. Scott Thomas
Business First Magizine


The nation lost more than half a million jobs last month, while the unemployment rate soared to 7.2 percent, it was announced Friday morning.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a loss of 524,000 jobs between November and December. That continued a four-month losing streak, which saw 1.93 million jobs vanish between August and December.

The national unemployment rate crossed the 7 percent mark in December, rising from 6.8 percent in November to 7.2 percent.

The biggest decline occurred in the manufacturing sector, which lost 149,000 jobs in December alone. A total of 791,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared in the 12 months of 2008, an average loss of 66,000 per month.

The nation also lost 101,000 construction jobs in December -- and 632,000 in the entire year.
Employment in the retail trade sector declined on a seasonally adjusted basis, despite the holiday season. There were 66,600 fewer retail trade jobs in December than in the month before. Total retail losses for the year totaled 522,300 jobs.

Good news was hard to come by in Friday’s report. The only sectors to register increases between November and December were health care, which picked up 31,600 jobs nationally; educational services, up 7,000 jobs; and government, which added a total of 7,000 jobs at the federal, state and local levels.

The unemployment rate reached 7.2 percent in December, the first time it had crossed 7 percent since 1993.

Unemployment stood at 4.9 percent one year ago.

See: US loses another 524000 jobs

Ahtur Keymah Class-ics Available on CD!!!

KNN-Staff
Advertising Dept.


Are you in need of some grounded spiritual inspiration beyond the immediate, however short-lived, emotional refreshments you receive from your usual hum drum lecturing circuit?

Do you remember the first time you were inspired to reach higher and deeper spiritual realms by having mastered the art of "hear"-ing?

When was the last time you feasted your ears and mind on enlightening discourse on the relativity of tried and proven Truth concepts and ideals on a very real and personal level?

When was the last time you heard something so powerful, so riveting that it served as a catalyst for some much needed life-altering breakthroughs to take place in your mind and in your life?

Well, now the timeless teachings by Nasik Aharon's son and personal understudy Ahtur Keymah are available to you on CD.

Many have testified about Ahtur's keen ability to dismantle complex concepts, to expound on profound revelations, which inspire life-changing thought patterns which bring about the "breakthrough" via the removal of spiritual blockages.

Also recognized for his organic, introspection-provoking teaching style, Ahtur Keymah was inducted into the Divine Scholarship Body at Jerusalem as well as elevated into the cadre of the Body's "Master Teachers".

Also a master student of the Resurrection Series-the total of 9 writings to date of Abbah Ben Ammi Ben Israel, the Anointed Spiritual Leader of the African Hebrew Israelite Community of Jerusalem, Ahtur Keymah's teachings reflect the great writings of The Master Teacher.

Timeless lessons such as "The Breakthrough Series", "The Law of the Harvest", "The Elect", "The Pleasure Principle", and "Two Men, Two Ways, Two Destinies", and many more great class-ics are available to you wherever you are through KNN.

To secure your copies or for more information, please contact Ahkote Tovleeyah at knn.tovleeyah777@gmail.com .

We assure you, great things await you...

John Atta Mills claims Ghana's Presidential Seat in runoff election

KNN-Ghana, West Africa

In a cliffhanger presidential race between Ghana's two dominant parties NPP and NDC, opposition leader NDC's flag bearer Prof. John Atta Mills (NDC) has prevailed as Ghana's President Elect, announces Ghana's Electoral Commission.

The Commission's chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has confirmed that Mills won the runoff by a narrow margin having secured 50.23% of the votes, while his opponent, the ruling party's candidate Nana Akufo-Addo made out with 49.77%.

NDC 's (National Democratic Congress) narrow victory over ruling NPP (New Patriotic Party) party was declared on Saturday in the wake of a crucial makeup vote held Friday in Tain, a western district where due to a shortage of ballots and late arrival of electoral materials, voters had not been able to cast their second round ballots on December 28, 2008.

The ruling NPP party had requested cancellation of the makeup vote and vowed to boycott it. Nonetheless, the vote was conducted and helped to seal the marginal win increasing NDC's lead from 50.13% to 50.23% of the votes.

Both NDP and NPP parties claimed abnormal voting procedures in various district, however the evidence that each submitted did not substantiate any foul play.

Ghana's exiting President John Kufour (NPP), stepping down after having served the maximum of two 4-year terms, called for peace during Friday's runoff election as well as in its aftermath. NPP's lawyers withdrew its court complaints to preserve the country's stability.

President Elect Mills is a 64-year-old lawyer, law professor who served as Vice President under former President Jerry J. Rawlings. Mills had attempted twice previously to win the presidential bid in 2000 and 2004.

Among the many privileges he will enjoy as Ghana's new President elect, the win grants Mills the right to decide how revenues from Ghana's recent commercially significant oil and hydrocarbon discoveries will be managed. His decision may thrust Ghana into the likes of its neighbors as an oil exporter as early as 2010.

Ghana ranks as the world's largest cocoa grower as well as Africa's second gold producer. To add to its wealth, one find at a Ghanaian oil-field has been estimated at 1.8 billion barrels of crude petroleum.

Eat Produce in Season for Better Health

Family Food & Nutrition

From essortment.com

Get the maximum health and nutritional benefit from the fruits and vegetables you eat by choosing produce at peak ripeness, locally grown & freshly harvested.

Today's food shopper has choices our ancestors never dreamed of. Year-round, they can go to the grocery store and buy produce that was once available for only a few months or weeks of the year. Have strawberries in November, corn on the cob in February!

Given these options, why would one want to eat like our ancestors did, eating produce in season, grown within a short drive from their homes? Because it's better for you, and it tastes better too. Produce is at its peak nutritional value when it is ripe. But fruits and vegetables that will be traveling long distances to market aren't picked when they are ripe, but before ripeness. While the produce gains color and softness on its journey to the supermarket, once harvested, a vegetable is as nutritious as its going to get. Its nutritional value comes through the stem from the living plant, and its nutritional value actually decreases every day past harvest.

Nutritional value is not on the top of the large commercial vegetable farmer's agenda. In times past, when all produce was local, horticulturists' primary criteria for developing new strains of fruits and vegetables were taste and nutritional value. But today, with much of the growing, harvesting, handling by machines and shipping of produce around the world, other criteria such as sturdiness, shippability, uniformity of size and grocery case eye appeal take precedence.

While these new criteria are important to the grower's profits, they add nothing to the consumer's health, rather, they detract from it. Sturdy produce that stands up to lengthy shipping loses nutritional value with every day that passes between harvest and eating.

So for your health's sake, when you're shopping for produce, find your local vegetable stand, preferably one on the road right in front of the farm where the fruits and vegetables are grown, selling what was picked that day. Eat produce intended to be grown in the area where you live, and buy it at its peak of ripeness, rather than produce that was picked unripe and shipped thousands of miles.

If you live in the city, finding the farm stand might take some doing, and getting there will require some driving. Look for a farmer's market or your local health food store's fresh produce section, or maybe add some healthy outdoor exercise into the mix and grow your own! If you lack the yard space, time, or inclination, by all means, support your community fruit and vegetable growers by buying your produce ripe, locally grown, and freshly harvested.

http://www.essortment.com/family/foodnutritionh_smqt.htm

Violent protest over Ghana poll results

American Free Press (AFP)
ACCRA

Ghanaian police fired water cannon late Wednesday on ruling party supporters who besieged the country's electoral commission in protest at presidential election results, witnesses and local media said.

Dozens of angry protesters wielding machetes and sticks attacked passing vehicles and local journalists after partial results from the run-off vote gave the opposition candidate a lead.

Completed official results for 229 of the 230 constituencies have shown opposition leader John Atta-Mills maintaining a slim lead over governing party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo.

The demonstrators only dispersed after the regional minister for greater Accra addressed the crowd and assured them of victory after the decisive vote in a remote constituency which has emerged as decisive.

Quiz: Are You Eating Enough Vegetables?

From AOLHealth.com

True or False?
1. According to the new USDA-issued food pyramid everyone needs 3 cups of vegetables a day?

2. It takes 2 cups of raw leafy greens (i.e. spinach, romaine lettuce) to equal one cup of your daily vegetable requirement.

3. Eating tofu is a good way to get your veggie requirement?

4. Adding avocado slices to your sandwich will boost your vegetable quotient.

5. Onions add flavor to your pasta, but don't count as vegetables.

6. Only raw or cooked vegetables not frozen, canned or dried count as servings of vegetables.

7. A baked white potato is not a vegetable.

8. Which of the following salad toppings will give you the most servings of vegetables?
A. 1/2 large tomato, 1/2 cup of mushrooms
B. 1 large stalk of celery
C. 1/2 cup kidney beans, 1/2 cup broccoli
D. They are all equal


Answers:
1. False. The amount of vegetables you need to eat depends on
your age, sex and level of physical activity. For example,
women ages 31 to 50 need 2 1/2 cups a day while men the
same age need 3.

2. True. One cup of raw greens only counts as a 1/2 cup of your
daily vegetable requirement.

3. True. Eight ounces of tofu counts as a cup of vegetables.

4. False. Avocados are fruit, not vegetables.

5. False. One cup of cooked onions (chopped) counts as a cup of
veggies.

6. False. Vegetables may be raw or cooked, fresh, frozen, canned,
dried or dehydrated.

7. False. One medium baked potato is the equivalent of one serving
of vegetables.

8. D. They are all equal.


http://www.aolhealth.com/healthy-living/nutrition/eat-enough-vegetables

Food Phosphates Might Spur Lung Cancer

Food Phosphates Might Spur Lung Cancer
Accelerated growth of tumors seen in study
By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter

A diet rich in the inorganic phosphates found in many natural and processed foods accelerated the growth of lung cancers in test subjects, South Korean researchers report.

"Our study suggests that dietary regulation of inorganic phosphates may be critical for lung cancer treatment as well as prevention," Myung-Haing Cho, lead author of a report in the first January issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, said in a statement.

Natural sources of dietary phosphates include leafy vegetables, fruits, meats and poultry products. Phosphates also are added to a number of foods, including baking powder, carbonated cola drinks, ice cream, bread, rolls, macaroni, fruit jellies and preserves. Food phosphates are listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as GRAS -- generally recognized as safe -- with no limits on their use.

The South Korean study was done with two subjects, one genetically inclined to have lung cancer, the other with induced lung cancers. They were fed either diets containing phosphates in roughly the same amounts found in human diets or phosphates at twice that level. After four weeks, more and larger lung cancers were found in the subjects given the higher-phosphate diets, the report said.

Phosphates appear to activate a metabolic pathway that stimulates the growth of the lung tumors, the researchers said. There is "good scientific rationale" for believing that phosphates can stimulate the growth of lung cancers and other tumors, Heffner said. But for lung cancer, he said, "the first thing is not to smoke." Genetics can also play a role in risk, Heffner added, since "some smokers get lung cancer, and some don't."

"I'll be more cautious about inspecting foods I ingest for phosphate addition, trying to keep dietary phosphate ingestion in the healthy range," he said.

Studies are planned in South Korea to determine what the healthy range is, the researchers stated. In the 1990s, phosphate-containing food additives contributed an estimated 470 milligrams a day to the average adult diet. Their wider use has increased intake by as much as 1,000 milligrams a day, equivalent to the higher dose given to the rats in the experiment, Cho noted.

Please click here to view the full article.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100230103

Holy Jerusalem Writer's Conference 2008/9

Please click flyer to enlarge.

For more info on the Conference, please contact the Directorate:

Dr. Ahtur Khazriel Ben-Yehuda at drkazriel@yahoo.com ,

Gamariyahu Ben-Yehuda at gemariyahu@yahoo.com , or

Aturah E. A. Khazriel at ahturah@yahoo.com

Turmeric: powerful antioxidant, superfood

Health News
KNN Staff

From the root of the curcuma longa plant, turmeric, this relative of ginger not to be confused with Javanese turmeric, has been traditionally called Indian saffron because of its deep yellow-orange color. Turmeric is a peppery, warm, bitter flavored and mildly fragranced herb used throughout history as a condiment, textile dye and has been long-touted as a healing remedy. It’s best known a key ingredient in curry and it also colors common mustard.

An excellent source of manganese, iron, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), dietary fiber, potassium, turmeric’s active ingredient, turmeric's active ingredient curcumin, a centuries-old chemical used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, pain reliever and antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. Researchers are now investigating its effects to better understand how it might be used for health purposes.

Studies demonstrate its antibacterial properties, its anti-tumoral effects against melanoma cells, its promising effects in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, Alzheimer’s disease, colorectal cancer, cystic fibrosis, enhancement of the effect of taxol (a breast cancer drug) in reducing metastatis of breast cancer, and is eefficacity in the reduction of joint inflammation, to name a few. Further clinical trials are underway to discover possible treatments for the alleviation of arthritis symptoms.

Traditionally, turmeric's finger-like underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and taken by mouth as a powder or in capsules, teas, or liquid extracts. It can also be made into a paste and used on the skin to treat eczema and in wound healing. In India, where its dermatological efficacy is well known, turmeric-treated band aids were commonly purchased in stores. Researchers are now working to develop a curcumin-based topical remedy to control cold sore outbreaks common in Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).

Turmeric is used as a dietary supplement which allegedly helps with stomach problems, aids in digestion, liver function, relieves arthritis pain, and regulates menstruation, treats heartburn, stomach ulcers, gallstones, as and anti-cancer agent of prevention and treatment, lowers blood pressure, reduces susceptibility of hemorrhagic stroke and aids with other ailments.

Scientists speculate that curcumin in the turmeric lessens insulin resistance and prevents type 2 diabetes by dampening the inflammatory response provoked by obesity. Turmeric treatment lessens susceptibility to developing type 2 diabetes based on blood glucose levels and glucose and insulin tolerance tests, as well as its significant reduction in inflammation in fat tissue and liver. A recent study has shown that turmeric slows the transference of breast cancer into lungs and other body parts.

A Yale University study revealed that curcumin might also decrease the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, while preventing and breaking up existing plaques in the brain. Curcumin treatment also restores physiologically-relevant levels of protein function. Though considered safe for most adults, however, high doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion. People with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement.

Homicides among black males spike

Six major cities have seen spikes in the number of young black males killing one another
By Maria Cramer
Boston Globe Staff

A study analyzing homicides across the country shows that Boston is among six major cities that have seen the sharpest spikes in the number of young black males killing one another between 2000 and 2007, an alarming trend that comes at a time when the state is cutting back on programs geared toward helping troubled youths.

The number of black males between 14 and 24 years old who killed in the city went up 78 percent to 64 between two two-year periods, 2000 to 2001 and 2006 to 2007, according to a Northeastern University study to be released today.

Out of 28 cities analyzed, five - Houston, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and San Francisco - had sharper increases than Boston.

The Rev. William E. Dickerson II, pastor of Greater Love Tabernacle Church in Dorchester, said he hopes the study will help those living outside minority neighborhoods realize the trend among young black males is everyone's problem. Earlier this month, he presided over the funeral of a 17-year-old youth. Later, he realized that 16 years ago, he had led the funeral of the victim's father, who was gunned down when he was just a teenager.

See: Homicides among black males spike

Enjoy the gift of the KOY Toolbar

by Chashavyah Israel
KNN-Texas

Hundreds of people around the globe have requested to view the recent video of Israeli President Shimone Perez's historic visit with Spiritual Leader Ben Ammi Ben Israel at the home of the African Hebrew Israelite Community - the Village of Peace in Dimona, Israel.

To answer this request, a toolbar has been developed that can be downloaded with links to yahkhai.com, KNN, KOY Media and the official Kingdom of Yah website.

Please click here to install http://yahkhai.ourtoolbar.com/ . Download this toolbar and enjoy the Presidential visit and many other exciting and informative videos on the Hebrew Israelite Community- truly a blossom and a miracle in the desert.

Soon we will be broadcasting live content from YAHKHAI.COM.

Enjoy!

2009 economic predictions

by Ted Allrich

The Online Investor

The Worst:
More mortgages default. As loans that were made with teaser rates (lower so borrowers could qualify) move up from teaser levels, some borrowers won't be able to make payments because they've lost their jobs or their income isn't sufficient. In residential and commercial mortgages, credit card defaults will grow. Jobs will become more scarce. As demand for goods and services decline, more people will be laid off. While the government will create jobs, the private sector will continue to show weakness and be reluctant to hire until demand for goods and services shows consistent strength. Housing won't rebound for a while, maybe not until 2010. Foreclosures will stay high as more people lose their jobs. Autos will continue to stack up on lots. Again, with unemployment high, buying a car isn't a priority. The automakers will get loans to keep them going but with plenty of government oversight. Government may take control of one or more manufacturers. If you like the post office, you'll love a government-run auto company.

Even with very low interest rates, borrowing will be limited as banks will only lend to the most highly qualified borrowers and only on certain types of assets (mostly houses or other real property). Consumers are shell-shocked at the moment, worried about their jobs, their mortgages, their futures. The psychology of borrowing too much has been broken. While interest rates will be low, getting people to borrow money will be harder.

The Best:

A new president takes office with a different approach from the last one. Whether he'll be right or wrong will take time to judge. The new WPA (Works Project Administration from the '30s) will absorb some of the jobless. The new administration is talking about building up the U.S. infrastructure-more highways and bridges or repairing old ones. Interest rates will stay low. With weak demand for housing and autos, credit will be cheap, for those who qualify. Qualifying will be the hard part, but loans will carry very low interest rates. Housing will stay cheap. With too much inventory, too much unemployment, too many foreclosures, and too many restrictions on borrowing, homes will stay at bargain levels.

As always, I could be wrong, hopefully on the worst part, not the best. But given where we are today, these predictions seem reasonable.

To view full article, please click this link

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/20/comfort-zone-investing-2009-predictions/

Bitter cold, high winds chill Midwest

CHICAGO – Heavily bundled Midwesterners were shuffling quickly from place to place in a bid to spend as little time as possible outside in bone-chilling, subzero cold that was expected to last through Monday morning.

The big freeze was expected to last through Monday morning, the first full day of the official winter season, when wind chill advisories for the region were to expire. Snowfall was scant after the frigid air mass rolled in, but ice and high winds whipped up snow along roadways and made driving hazardous for holiday travelers. But the worst danger was from the cold — exacerbated by 20-to-30 mph winds that drove wind chills to 25 degrees below zero, or even lower, according to the National Weather Service.

Monday morning commuters in Dayton, Ohio, were greeted with zero-degree temperatures, the National Weather Service reported. It was in the single digits in Toledo, Cincinnati and Columbus. The gusty winds and cold also added to power-outage headaches, with more than 7,100 Ameren customers without power Sunday night, mostly in the Peoria area. In northwest Ohio, about 5,000 homes were without power. "We have a blizzard. We just can't see anything," said Sheila Hyde, an emergency dispatcher for Ottawa County along the hard-hit Lake Michigan shoreline. "I think people have finally figured it out and are staying home."

Authorities in Boston, no stranger to chilly weather, canceled public schools Monday and Tuesday in the face of an overnight freeze and wind gusts of up to 50 mph. In North Dakota, the National Weather Service said Bismarck was on track to break a 1916 record for snowfall in December. The city has had 19 inches of snow so far this month, and with 4 more expected Monday night, the record of 21.7 inches could be shattered.


Associated Press writers Carla K. Johnson and Megan Reichgott in Chicago, Amy Lorentz in Des Moines, Iowa, and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.

Please click this link to view the full article
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_re_us/winter_weather

Satisfy your palate this holiday at Soul Veg

Soul Vegetarian Restaurants are OPEN throughout the holiday season

BY ALICIA ELER
Talk2Us@CenterstageChicago.com
Picture this: you're done with the whole gift thing, and the entire family is itching to get out of the house. If cooking or warming questionable leftovers just doesn't sound appealing, we have good news for you: There are more than a handful of restaurants open on any holiday. And no matter what your religious views on the holiday, make sure to tip your server with something more than good cheer.

(Photo caption: Nashamyah Isreal offers vegan cheer to all at Soul Vegetarian East, 205 E. 75th, one of the many eating-out options on Christmas Day.)

Go meatless at Soul Vegetarian East, 205 E. 75th, (773) 224-0104.

Spread cheer to your vegan and soul food-lovin' friends at this South Side stalwart. If you live up north, it's worth the trek. And because it's run by African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, they're open Christmas Day.

Break away from your meaty traditions with appetizers like battered cauliflower or hearty brown lentil soup. Try the wheat gluten Garvey Burger, named after Marcus Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). If it's available, don't miss the vegan sweet potato pie for dessert.

Please click the link to view the full article:
http://www.suntimes.com/holiday/1338269,WKP-News-open19.article

Chrysler shutdown begins today

Chrysler will shut down U.S. assembly plants on Friday with no firm date when they’ll re-open
NBC News

Chrysler will shut down its thirty U.S. assembly plants on Friday with no firm date when they’ll re-open. That could hinge on billions in taxpayer loans and the terms President Bush attaches to them. He made clear to C-Span what won’t happen. “A disorderly bankruptcy could be very destabilizing for what is now a fragile financial market. In other words, I am concerned about a shock to the system,“ said President Bush.

Chrysler wants four billion dollars to get through January. General Motors says it needs eight billion. United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said, “We’re hopeful that once we get this bridge loan through that we’ll be able to turn these companies around and move forward.“

Furloughed workers worry about getting through the short term on partial pay. “I’m only getting eighty percent of my pay,“ said Chrysler supplier employee Brad Pasquale. “I still got rent to pay, automobile loans to pay on, still gotta find food and groceries for my family. You know so money is tight.“

See: Chrysler shutdown begins today

KNN invites you to GO GREEN!

What is GOING GREEN? Going green is simply becoming aware of and committed to cultivating habits which are environmentally sound or beneficial for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the earth's vitality.

To forward the objective of saving our planet, KNN presents "GREEN TIPS" to help guide and support our readers in adopting "GREEN HABITS".


GREEN TIP #1 - RECYCLING 101
re.cy.cle - to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse; to alter or adapt for new use without changing the essential form of nature of; to use again in the original form or with minimal alteration; to pass through a cycle again, repeat a process from the beginning; to undergo reuse or renewal; be subject to or suitable for further use, activity, etcetera; the act or process of recycling.

Who should to recycle? We all should recycle! Imagine the significant impact that it would make upon our earth, our quality of life and that of our future generations if even half of the earth's inhabitants recycled as a daily practice!!! Remember that mankind alone is responsible for the state of the earth, and WE alone are responsible for the redemption and salvation of every blade of grass.

Besides, recycling is not only an important means to help save our planet; it is also a means to save money on landfill disposal costs. While earning money should not the main inspiration for recycling, many companies do offer cash refunds for recycled goods as an added incentive.

What to recycle? A good place to start is paper products, office paper, newspaper, telephone directories, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, other paper food bags, boxes and containers in order to save our friendly oxygen-producing trees which if left alone un-felled and/or additional trees planted help to maintain atmospheric balance to the ecosystem and to reduce on the amount of landfill waste.

Other items to recycle are plastics such as plastic bottles, jugs, containers, buckets, plastic shopping bags, plastic and Styrofoam containers and coolers, glass, glass bottles, bottles, aluminum (foil), scrap metal or other cans and buckets, rubber products, batteries, copper, furniture and even electronic devices including radios, cd players, computers and TVs, to name a few.

When to recycle? While shopping be mindful of what you're purchasing and seek out the most eco-friendly products and packaging available. While cooking, unpacking groceries, emptying food and beverage containers, bags, boxes, bottles, and while cleaning house, discarding cleaning product containers, bottles, etcetera, these are the times to be more circumspect of what you throw away each day or week and how you dispose of household waste!

Where to recycle? Search online or in your local phone directories for recycling centers,plants and services near you, and even national wholesale recycling companies which may offer CA$H for your TRA$H! There are many local recycling services that collects recyclable materials right along with garbage collection.

To help you get started, please click the link below to find Recycling Centers (wholesale) in a U.S. city near you!
http://www.magicyellow.com/category/Recycling_Centers_(wholesale)/Cities.html

How to recycle? It's easy! Just start with a large recycling bin or 3-4 different bins to collect various items depending on the type of recycling service you have access to.

Please stay tuned to KNN and learn how you can help save, preserve & protect our dear planet!

Coming Soon: KOY Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Summit

January 24-26, 2009 at the Return to Royalty Banquet Hall, Atlanta Georgia

Conference Fee $75.00

Register Online at www.kingdomofyah.com

For more information contact: keymah777@aol.com

A Beautiful Night For a Beautiful Bride

Akote Tovleeyah elevates into the institution of Divine Marriage
KNN – Atlanta

On Sat. evening, Dec 6th The Family of Ahtur Keymah and Akote Tovleeyah had their Divine Wedding Ceremony at the Return to Royalty Banquet Hall in Atlanta Georgia. It was truly a very moving and historical event. Saints, family, friends, and guests form all over the globe were in attendance.

The evening was filled with love and excitement as dedicated servants in Yah’s kingdom were joined together. Akote Tovleeyah was a beautiful bride and was escorted in and given away by Nasik Rahm. Many of the saints were moved to tears in their happiness for the new family. The evening was capped off with Divine food and dancing at the banquet hall. This one will be talked about for years to come. It was truly a Yah inspired evening.

Don't Drive Sleep

Eye-opening myths about sleepy driving
Men's Health.com
KNN Staff

Nearly half of the men surveyed said they've fallen asleep at the wheel. That number may be even higher in the most sleep deprived cities. While there are lots of ways to try to stay awake en route, Swedish researches found that mot of us rely strategies that may or may not work.

The Method: Take a short walk.

Does it work? In a US Army study, 10 minutes of exercise helped sleep-deprived pilots stay awake for up to 30 minutes.

The Method: Open the window.

Does it work? When drivers in a British study were blasted with cool air, they didn't report feeling any more alert.

The Method: Talk to a passenger.

Does it work? In a Miami University study, chatty drivers took 16% loner to hit the brakes when stopping.

The Method? Turn on the radio.

Does it work? A study published in the journal Sleep found that cruisin' to sounds failed to energize sleepy driver.

The most effective solution: Take a nap!!!!!

Spruce up your immune system

A hike in the woods can boost you immune system
Men's Health Magazine

You may finally have a legitimate reason to hug a tree: A hike in the woods can boost your immunity, say Japanese researchers.

They found that men who walked through a forest for a total of 6 hours over 2 days experienced a 46 percent spike in their blood levels of natural killer cells, which are part of your body's SWAT team against invading viruses.

Apparently, all trees release airborne chemicals called phytoncides that not only protect their foliage from microbes, but also help to stimulate our own immune systems.

KNN: Talk a walk in the woods for good health!!!!!

Delta to cut more flights in 2009

Delta is the first airline, but not the last, to trim capacity for the second year running
By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com

Delta Air Lines said it plans to cut overall flight capacity by 6% to 8% next year due to "the global economic recession and weaker demand for air travel." As result, passengers can expect flights to be crowded and fare deals to be scarce.

Delta, an Atlanta-based carrier that merged with Northwest Airlines in October, said it will eliminate its least fuel-efficient flights in order to meet that goal. Delta intends to trim domestic capacity by 8% to 10% while only paring international seats by 3% to 5%.

"I think the action taken by Delta is a clarion call for the others to reduce their capacity," said Harlan Platt, a finance professor and airline expert at Northeastern University College of Business Administration.

Airlines are also cutting jobs. Delta, which employs about 75,000 workers, previously announced it would eliminate 4,000 jobs through voluntary severance packages. American Airlines announced in July that it was cutting 7,000 jobs, or 8% of its total staff, through the end of 2008.

See: Delta to cut more flights in 2009

Sugarless & Live Weeks are back again!

Happy Sugarless & Live Weeks!!!

KNN - Staff

In our continuous pursuit of perfect health and Everlasting Life, the African Hebrew Israelite Community has instituted Sugarless Week and Live Foods Consumption Week four (4) times a year. The adoption of the cycle of these two consecutive weeks was established, in part, to heighten our health awareness regarding the consumption of sweets and live foods for ourselves and our families. Sugarless Week proceeds Live Week and generally commences around the change of seasons.

In conjunction with an internal cleansing program of herbal laxatives, colonic irrigation or other purgative practices, Live Week assists in purifying the body's internal organs of unneeded waste and toxic matter. Additionally, Live Week helps to flush out the old, putrefying foods which are lodged in the intestinal tract and prepares the body for the intake of the incoming season's harvest of fruits and vegetables. It also aids to prepare the body for the variations in weather. For example, winter's harvest of citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables help strengthen the immune system to fight colds and flu just as summer's harvest of honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelons help stave off dehydration and heat-related disorders.

During Sugarless Week, sugar, honey and other sweeteners which have not been approved by the Ministry of Divine Health are not consumed. Instead, other plant-based natural sweeteners such as maple syrup, date syrup, agave nectar and the naturally green-colored Stevia powder are used in moderation as suitable "sugar" substitutions.


During Live Foods Consumption Week consume a balanced live foods diet consisting of an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. To help make this vital dietary transition healthful and enjoyable for all, the inclusion of tofu, bean curds, bean threads, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, sea vegetables, nut butters, natural grains and foods which can be prepared via soaking in water, as well as unleavened breads, pita bread, flatbread (mahtsah) and crackers are permissible for consumption. Likewise, soya or other vegan "milks" and "butters" can be used in preparing veggie mayonnaises, salad dressings, cheeses, etcetera.

Sugarless Week will commence at sunset on Yom Sheshe (Friday) November 28, 2008 and will end at sunset on Mohtsai Shabbat (Saturday evening) December 6, 2008. Live Foods Week will commence on Mohtsai Shabbat (at sunset on Saturday evening) December 6, 2008, and will end at sunset on Yom Sheshe (Friday) December 13, 2008.

Please remember that in Live Food preparation, presentation is as important as taste. Be mindful to avoid using products which contain sugar, honey, cooked and other highly processed ingredients during the respective weeks, be creative and most importantly, ENJOY!

U.S. in recession, jobless to peak at 7.5%

About 96% forecasters believed that the US was already in recession
Reuter News Service

The U.S. economy is in recession and will contract at a faster pace in the fourth quarter, extending the decline into early 2009 as high unemployment crimps consumer spending, a survey showed.

The National Association of Business Economists' poll of 50 professional forecasters released on Monday found that real gross domestic product was expected to fall 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter and slump 1.3 per cent in the first three months of 2009.

See: US unemployment hits four-year high

Preliminary government estimates showed GDP contracted 0.3 per cent in the third quarter. The results of the survey, which was conducted between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7 indicated growing pessimism among forecasters.

"Business economists became decidedly more negative on the economic outlook for the next several quarters as a result of the intensification of credit market stresses and evidence of spillover to the real economy," said NABE President Chris Varvares.

See: US unemployment rate at 14-year high

More than a third reckoned the recession began in the third quarter of 2008, and nearly three-quarters believed it could persist beyond the first quarter of 2009. Over 60 per cent expected the depth of the recession to be contained, with the decline in GDP bottoming below 1.5 percent.

Overall GDP growth in 2008 was expected to come in at around 0.2 per cent and top 0.7 per cent next year, according to the survey. This compares with predictions of 1.2 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively in October's survey.

See Complete Article: US in recession, jobless to peak at 7.5 pct: survey

KOYMEDIA DIRECTOR PROMOTES

SONGS OF DELIVERANCE

Soferet Baht Yehuda

KNN-British Isles, London

‘Blossom in the Desert’ has taken on a momentum of its own as the vehicle for the high-profile promotional drive in the European Theatre of the Kingdom of Yah. The driving force behind the ‘Songs of Deliverance’ mission, Atlannta-based Director of KOYMEDIA Ahk Elkadame Ben Shaleahk arrived in London as a follow-up promotional trip to address a Black History Month event co-ordinated, KOYMEDIA U.K Representative.. The theme ‘A Dance of Hope to Songs of Deliverance’ was set by the Founders and Creative Directors and artistically interpreted by Prakeem, the three-month old Dance and Performance Arts Group inspired by Zehorah’s “masterpiece” creation as stated by a reviewer of the production.

In his brief, the Director stated that his mission was to share a special message from Anointed Spiritual Leader Ben Ammi delivered to the members of the Performing Arts Entity on the urgency of this new genre reaching global audiences; participate in Black History Month events, engage targeted media outlets and make contact with record distribution companies in Britain. He was also on a mission to express gratitude to key partners who supported the August launch. The event was co-ordinated by the U K KOYMEDIA Manager who collaborated with the key entities to make this event happen. The two-day trip of 28th and 29th October 2008 was a hectic one but had great significance and opportunities for the drive in Europe.

In his short but incisive message to the audience, Elkadame stressed that, “ Songs of Deliverance is more than just a new genre but that it is a new sound that the nations of the world needed to hear to heal spiritual ailments of a world gone wrong.”
He went on, “ while the genre echoes the journey of sound through the African Diaspora experiences, its unique essence is its driving force in the culture that produced it….the Hebrew Israelite Community of Dimona, Israel.” In her opening track of the CD “ ‘Rhythm Is’ Zehorah used the spoken word to introduce Sound and rhythm as a compatible couple in the African human experience. Prakeem’s Dancers conveyed this well in a small section of their performance to the Director before his leaving for the radio station.

Even on a very tight schedule, the KOYMEDIA Manager based in London managed to put together a schedule that was varied and productive. We accomplished meetings at Woolworths and W H Smiths both high street chain stores and major record-distribution outlets in the United Kingdom. In addition we attended a Black History Month event on ‘The Impact of Music on the Youth-a look at Hip- Hop’ put on by the Marcus Garvey Next Generation Youth Organisation. The MC of the event, Maskelah B. Gavriel, the sixteen-year-old Cultural Officer of the organisation brought a special sense of satisfaction to the visitor as he noted the young daughter’s leadership potential being nurtured by her mentor Afryea Adodo of the adults’ Marcus Garvey Planning Committee. Elkadame was also able to engage in some useful networking at the event.

One of the highpoints of the tour was a two-hour studio discussant participation on Voice of Africa Radio (VOAR) London’s only licensed African Radio Station with Sis Ekua aka Esther Stanford on ‘Africa Speaks’ on 94.3FM. He discussed ‘Songs of Deliverance’ and his promotional drive as well as some commentary on the Obama subject which was hotly topical. His main focus was the significance of Ben Ammi’s message. “ Today the musician is in the union and music is an industry. When music’s strong compelling influence is comprehended, you will better understand why musicians are paid handsomely to create destructive behaviours and moods. It plays a major yet subtle role in the destruction of people and cultures.” Ben Ammi Ben Israel ‘An Imitation of Life: Redefining what constitutes true life and living in the New World…the author of ‘God the Black Man and Truth’.

Corporate Layoffs: The Worst is Yet to Come

American Express announced that it will slash 7,000 positions
By Alex Altman
TIME Magazine

Amid a drumbeat of grim financial updates, two blue-chip companies announced plans for massive layoffs last week, spurring fears that the bloodletting on Wall Street could be just a prelude to deeper job cuts across the nation. American Express announced that it will slash 7,000 positions — some 10% of its staff — as part of an effort to save $1.8 billion next year as a counterweight to the rising number of consumers defaulting on their payments. Within hours of that announcement, communications giant Motorola Inc., which cut some 2,600 jobs in April, said it would trim an additional 3,000 staffers over the next several months after posting a third-quarter loss of nearly $400 million. It will also postpone a planned spin-off of its ailing cell phone division. (See pictures of the global financial crisis.)

A new analysis by Goldman Sachs sounds a similarly somber tone. It suggests that the downturn is still in its incipient phase, and that job losses could surpass 2 million in 2009, with unemployment climbing to 8%. "As the economy slides into a deeper recession, it appears we are closer to the beginning of the labor market downturn than the end," wrote the study's co-author, economist Ed McKelvey. "We anticipate a sharper decline in employment in coming months." Reich also quotes 8% as a likely unemployment figure, though he notes that figure excludes job seekers who have given up searching altogether and part-time workers seeking full-time employment. With those segments of the population added, the figure could skyrocket to 12%, according to Reich.

See: Corporate Layoffs: The Worst is Yet to Come - TIME

Atlanta's 8th Annual Red & Black Affair

Please click flyer to enlarge.

Shomrey HaShalom Unveils Its First Project

KNN-Dimona

Pictured from left to right, Sister Shamaiyah E. Elyahkeem, Prince Rahm Ben Yehuda and Ahtur Ahliel Ben Israel, members of the Directorship of Shomreh HaShalom Development Fund stand in front of the development fund's historic first project.

Shomrey HaShalom (Hebrew for "The Guardians of Peace") is a newly developing collective community settlement under the auspices of the African Hebrew Israelite Community located in Dimona, Israel.

The Directorship of Shomrey HaShalom would like to extend its eternal appreciation to all near and far who continue to donate in support of the Development Fund.

For more information, please contact us at shomreyhashalom@yahoo.com.

Increased TV Linked to Unhappiness

Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer
LiveScience.com

Unhappy people glue themselves to the television 30 percent more than happy people.

The finding, announced on Thursday, comes from a survey of nearly 30,000 American adults conducted between 1975 and 2006 as part of the General Social Survey.

While happy people reported watching an average of 19 hours of television per week, unhappy people reported 25 hours a week. The results held even after taking into account education, income, age and marital status.

In addition, happy individuals were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read a newspaper more often than their less-chipper counterparts.

Researchers suggest that over time, television-viewing could push out other activities that do have more lasting benefits. Exercise and sex come to mind, as do parties and other forms of socialization known to have psychological benefits.

Or, maybe television is simply a refuge for people who are already unhappy.

"TV is neither judgmental nor difficult, so people with few social skills or resources for other activities can engage in it," Robinson and UM colleague Steven Martin write in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research.

They add, "Furthermore, chronic unhappiness can be socially and personally debilitating and can interfere with work and most social and personal activities, but even the unhappiest people can click a remote and be passively entertained by a TV."




http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20081115/sc_livescience/unhappypeoplewatchlotsmoretv

'Armageddon' in Califorina

New Blaze Erupts, Thousands Flee
By DAISY NGUYEN,
Associated Press

A wind-blasted wildfire tore through the city's northern foothills early Saturday, sending thousands of residents fleeing in the dark, forcing a hospital to evacuate and destroying an untold number of homes.

The fire broke out late Friday night in the foothill community of Sylmar on the edge of the Angeles National Forest and quickly spread across 2,600 acres — more than 4 square miles — in a few hours as it was driven by Santa Ana wind that gusted as high as 76 mph.

At least 10 homes were burned, officials said, but aerial footage from television helicopters showed many mobile homes in flames. An Associated Press photographer said a fire crew abandoned one trailer park that was burning out of control.

Part of the area's network of highways was shut down.

Officials ordered huge evacuations in the Sylmar and Porter Ranch communities as the fire jumped two freeways, closing the highways and forcing fleeing evacuees to take surface streets.

To the west, firefighters were still battling a separate wildfire that destroyed more than 110 homes in Santa Barbara.

See: Photos Show Scope of Devastation

'Love handles' raise death risk

Extra fat around your middle dramatically increases your risk of early death
BBC News



A study of almost 360,000 people from nine European countries found waist size a "powerful indicator" of risk.

Each extra 2ins (5cm) raised the chance of early death by between 13% and 17%.

The New England Journal of Medicine study stressed GPs should regularly measure patients' waists as a cheap and easy way to assess health.

The link between waist fat and health problems has been established for some time, but the sheer size of the study gives scientists a far more accurate picture.

The researchers, including some from Imperial College London, followed the volunteers, who were an average of 51 years old at the start of the study, for the next 10 years, during which time 14,723 of them died.

The standard measure of obesity, body mass index (BMI) remained a reasonable predictor of health problems, with those with a high reading more likely to die from cardiovascular disease or cancer.

However, the 'hip/waist ratio', a number produced by dividing the waist size by the hip measurement, and just the waist measurement on its own, were both good ways of sorting out those at highest risk.

"If you tend to gather weight around your middle, increasing the amount of activity you do and watching what you eat will help to reduce your risk of heart disease and of dying early."

See Complete Article: 'Love handles' raise death risk

Obese Kids Have Middle-Aged Arteries

Scientists have found accelerated evidence of heart disease among obese children and teens
By JoNel Aleccia
MSNBC.com

A glimpse inside the neck arteries of obese children and teens reveals cardiovascular systems more like those of 45-year-olds, researchers said Tuesday.

Scientists using ultrasound imaging detected fatty deposits more typical in middle-aged adults than in children as young as 10, underscoring worries about accelerated risks of heart disease decades earlier than once thought possible.

"There's a saying that you're as old as your arteries," said the study's lead author, Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine. "These kids are showing up with arteries that show middle-aged conditions."

In fact, more than half of the 70 youngsters enrolled in the Children's Mercy Hospital study had a "vascular age" about 30 years older than their actual age, putting them at risk for early heart attacks, stroke — and death. The research was presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association's scientific meeting in New Orleans.

That finding might also hold true for many more young people in the United States, where more than 16 percent of kids ages 2 to 19 are considered obese, according to federal statistics.

"It kind of hammers home that the risk might be speeded up," said Dr. Stephen Daniels, chief pediatrician at the Children's Hospital in Denver, who was not associated with the new study. "It does kind of fit with the concept that kids with high cholesterol and other risk factors probably have premature aging factors."

See: Obese Kids Have Middle-Aged Arteries

Dimona's Black Hebrews see Obama as 'sibling of struggle' for social change

This community itself is a vehicle for change
By Brenda Gazzar
Jerusalem Post.com

Devorah Eshet Ravya of Dimona was born and raised in Chicago during politically and socially turbulent times.

So when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was elected last week as the first African American president of the United States, the 54-year-old member of the Black Hebrews couldn't help but feel a deep sense of hope and satisfaction.

"To see, at this time, something I never believed I would ever see - a black man being validated as being worthy, being competent, being a man of great achievement... to lead what is believed to be the most powerful nation on earth, is very gratifying," Eshet Ravya said Sunday, while sitting in a garden at the entrance to the community's kibbutz, the Village of Peace, in Dimona.

"We are siblings of the same struggle, so to speak," said Priest Yehuda HaCohane, 43. "We desire a better world. This community itself is a vehicle for change," a beacon of light to the nations.

For example, through the community's strict vegan diet, healthy lifestyle and culture, the community has rid itself of many health and social diseases that plague others around the world from the same gene pool, he said.

"We've been able to avoid many of the scourges that affect people there; diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, it goes on down the line," he said.

Community members say they have succeeded in purging other ills that have plagued African Americans in the US, ranging from alcoholism, to drug abuse, to violent crime.

In 2005, in collaboration with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights organization co-founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957, the community opened a conflict resolution center in Dimona that teaches holistic nonviolence and reconciliation in communities.

Click Here to See Complete Article: Black Hebrew Siblings for Change

Atlanta's Red & Black Affair

Is Coming Soon!!!
Ahkote Ehmoonah E. Zacoor
KNN-Atlanta

Attention Saints & Friends of the Kingdom of Yah!

On behalf of the Brothers and Sisters on the Move on the Southern Region, we humbly invite you to enjoy a divine evening in royalty and elegance at this year's'
Red & Black Affair'.

It will take place Mohtsai Shabbaht (Sat. night) December 13th, 2008, from 9:00 PM-until at the Return to Royalty Banquet Hall located at the Soul Vegetarian Restaurant South (Atlanta, Georgia).

For more information call (404) 752-5194

Sponsored by the Brothers and Sisters on the Move

Barak Obama Wins

First Black US President Elected

By Randy Lilleston and Douglas Stanglin
USA TODAY

Democrat Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, making history by becoming the first African American to win the post and completing a stunningly rapid rise to power.

A win in California put Obama over the top, giving him 55 electoral votes — enough to surpass the 270 needed to defeat Republican John McCain and claim the presidency.

By 1 a.m. ET Wednesday, the AP projected Obama had 338 electoral votes. McCain had 141.

Obama, 47, called for a renewal of the American spirit and spoke directly to McCain supporters.

Only four years ago on election night, Obama was a newly minted U.S. senator-elect after serving for eight years in the Illinois legislature. Now he holds the title of president-elect.

For full article:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/president.htm

Cloning From the Frozen Dead

Scientists Reportedly Clone Mice From Frozen Bodies
By Lauren Cox
ABC News Medical Unit

Scientists in Japan say they have successfully cloned a mouse from a body that had been frozen for 16 years, theoretically opening the door to a range of possibilities from preserving endangered animals, to resurrecting extinct animals to cloning Ted Williams.

The authors of the study made no bones about what they believe the implications of their work could be.

"It has been suggested that the 'resurrection' of frozen extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth, is impracticable, as no live cells are available, and the genomic material that remains is inevitably degraded," wrote the authors in the Monday edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

But the researchers say they got around the dead tissue issue by adapting new fertilization techniques for damaged sperm into a cloning technique for damaged frozen tissue. The authors of the study concluded these "techniques could be used to 'resurrect' animals or maintain valuable genomic stocks from tissues frozen for prolonged periods without any cryopreservation."

See: Cloning From the Frozen Dead

US to Hold Historic Election Tomorrow

US presidential candidates have begun making their final pleas for votes
KNN-Staff

The US presidential candidates have begun making their final pleas for votes during a hectic last day of campaigning that will see them make a frantic dash across key battleground states.

Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate who has retained a lead in most opinion polls, was set to hold rallies in Florida and North Carolina before ending his campaign with a final event in Virginia.

John McCain, his Republican rival, has visited Florida before heading to Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, New Mexico and Nevada before heading to his home state of Arizona.

Obama leads McCain in six of eight key battleground states, including the large states of Florida and Ohio, according to a series of Reuters/Zogby polls released on Monday.

Sexual content on TV is linked to teen pregnancy

Teens who watched most sexual content on TV were twice as likely to become pregnant
LA Times-Health

Teenagers who watch a lot of television programs that contain sexual content are more than twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy, according to a study published today in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers from RAND Corporation surveyed about 2,000 adolescents, ages 12 to 17, nationwide in 2001 about their television habits and sexual behavior. Researchers focused on 23 programs popular among teenagers that were widely available on broadcast and cable TV. The shows included dramas, comedies, reality programs and animated shows. Sexual content was defined as depictions of sex as well as dialogue or discussion about sex. The participants were surveyed again three years later. About 700 said they had engaged in sexual intercourse by the third survey.

The teens who watched the most sexual content on TV (the 90th percentile) were twice as likely to have become pregnant or caused a pregnancy compared to the teens who watched the least amount of sexual content on TV (the 10th percentile). Adolescents who lived in a two-parent household had a lower probability of pregnancy while African Americans and adolescents with behavior problems were more likely to be involved in a pregnancy.

Parents should consider limiting their teen's exposure to sexual content on TV, said the study's lead author, Anita Chandra, a behavioral scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. Television producers should consider more realistic depictions of the consequences of sex in their scripts, she says, noting that there is little content on the consequences of unprotected sex. About 1 million adolescents become pregnant each year in the United States.

"Adolescents receive a considerable amount of information about sex through television and that programming typically does not highlight the risks and responsibilities of sex," said Chandra, in a news release. "Our findings suggest that television may play a significant role in the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the United States."

-- Shari Roan