To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Chinese Premier's US Trip Described as Walking into 'Snake Pit'
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 08:33:41 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Chinese Premier's U.S. Trip Described as Walking into "Snake Pit"
[CND, 04/06/99] Chinese Premier ZHU Rongji travels to the United
States on Tuesday amid many looming problems between the two
countries, AFP reported.
David Shambaugh, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at
George Washington University, told foreign journalists in Beijing last
Friday that Zhu is walking into a "snake pit," referring to the very
hostile political climate right now in Washington.
GUO Xiangang, a foreign affairs analyst at the China Institute of
International Studies, also expressed similar reserved forecast for
Zhu's trip, saying that the aim of the visit now has changed from
furthering the constructive and strategic relationship to getting back
to that kind of relationship.
Beijing has been so concerned over the obstacles laying ahead for this
visit that it doesn't confirm the official dates until the very last
minute. As what the U.S. officials have done, Chinese officials also
have warned that continued attacks on Clinton's China policy would
further damage the already battered ties.
The main problems on the table are: allegations that China has stolen
U.S. nuclear missile technology, China's furious criticism of NATO air
strikes on Yugoslavia in which the U.S. played a major role, a U.S.
decision to back a motion censuring China's human rights record though
the motion is unlikely to be carried, and mounting critics in
Washington of the Clinton engagement policy towards China.
Guo also said that Zhu's trip at best could hope to meet three
objectives: a framework agreement on China's bid to enter the World
Trade Organization, a high-level return visit to be announced by the
United States, and an indication that Clinton would not give in to
pressure from the Republicans in Congress. (LIU Yanping, YIN De An)
China News Digest
April 7, 1999
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia: Mideast in Critical State, Seeks Talks
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 08:43:07 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Russia: Mideast In Critical State, Seeks
Talks
MOSCOW, Apr. 07, 1999 -- (Reuters) Russia
said on Tuesday the situation in the
Middle East was becoming critical and
urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to
hold urgent peace talks with U.S. and
Russian officials.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat,
visiting Moscow on the latest stage of a
foreign tour in which he is discussing
his plans to declare a Palestinian state,
immediately supported the call for talks.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
proposed talks before May 4, when a
five-year interim period set out in a
1994 self-rule accord with Israel runs
out. He said the signatories to the
accord and U.S. and Russian officials,
should attend.
"We noted with deep concern that the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process has
been standing still for a long time. The
situation is becoming critical because of
the approach of May 4," Ivanov told a
joint news conference with Arafat.
"It is important, before May 4, to look
for an acceptable plan for agreeing on an
extension to the interim period and on
extra time which could be used for
intensive Palestinian-Israeli talks on a
final status (for Palestinian
self-determination)."
Arafat faces pressure to delay declaring
statehood, at least until after Israel
holds an election on May 17.
He said he supported Russia's proposal
for talks but that it did not mean he was
abandoning plans to declare an
independent Palestinian state.
"We warmly welcome the Russian proposal,"
he said. "We have not taken a final
decision yet on the May 4 problem as
consultations have not yet finished with
Arab states and foreign states."
He said his visit to Russia was a major
step on the path to taking that decision.
He arrived in Moscow on Monday after
trips to Turkey and Jordan and ahead of
visits to Japan and China. He has also
had talks in recent weeks with U.S. and
European leaders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
also visited Russia last month. He urged
Russia to play a more active role in the
Middle East peace process in its role as
co-sponsor with the United States.
Russia has been trying for several years
to step up its role in the Middle East,
but the United States has had much more
influence in the peace process.
"We constantly pursue a policy of
supporting you and will support you,"
Yeltsin told Arafat during talks in the
Kremlin. "I highly appreciate the fact
that you came to consult me and to take
advice from me and Russians at this
crucial moment."
Russian news agencies quoted Yeltsin as
saying he favored extending the interim
period set out in the 1994 accord.
Arafat was also due to meet Russian Prime
Minister Yevgeny Primakov, a Middle East
expert, later on Tuesday. ( (c) 1999
Reuters)
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999040705.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hawk kills duck on White House lawn
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 08:46:27 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
*** Hawk kills duck on White House lawn
WASHINGTON (AP) - The victor stood over its prey on the White House
lawn. Surprised tourists stared and pointed from outside the gates
Tuesday. Photographers hurried to take pictures. After all, it's not
every day you see a red-tailed hawk kill a duck at the White House and
then feast on its remains. The large hawk - some people think there
are two - has been hanging around the White House for the last week or
so. Squirrels that roam the 18-acre compound rush into hiding when the
hawk is around. The duck wasn't that smart. ###
via: Infobeat News
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Middle East water news
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 08:55:25 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Green light to finance Syrian - Jordanian dam
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Tue Apr 6 , 1999 -- Well-informed sources in Damascus said that
Arab and international establishments had given the "green
light" to take part in financing the Syrian-Jordanian al-Wahda
dam which will be installed on al-Yarmouk river. In this respect the
chairman of the water department in the Syrian Ministry of Irrigation,
Abdul Aziz al-Masri, noted "positive indications" that
Turkey will join to the water meetings between Syria and Iraq to
negotiate over a just and reasonable division "for the waters of
the Tigris and Euphrates rivers" between the three countries.
He said that waters may constitute bridges of peace and
cooperation between Ankara and Damascus, al-Masri indicated that
certain international agreements "avails resorting to arbitration
by any side whose water problem cannot be settled" with a
neighboring state. He considered the arbitration an important issue in
the hands of Syria and Iraq in the future if the water crisis cannot
be solved with Turkey. Al-Masri was talking in the symposium under the
title "Monitoring water resources: its importance and
applications," which was concluded on Monday in Damascus in which
Iraq and other Arab states took part.
Breakthrough in Jordanian-Israeli water problem
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Tue Apr 6 , 1999 -- A Jordanian official said on Tuesday that
there has been a "clear breakthrough" in the water problem
between Jordan and Israel, MAP reported. During a tour of major
Jordanian newspapers, minister of water and irrigation, Kamal Mahadeen
told "Al-Rai" newspaper that the Israelis re-asserted their
commitment to all terms of the peace treaty with Jordan.
According to the 1994 peace treaty, Jordan is to get 50 million cubic
meters of water from Tiberias lake annually. Israel decided last month
to reduce Jordan's share from the Israeli-controlled lake by almost
half, claiming it was forced to take this step due to drought.
Addressing the parliament, Jordan's minister Abdulraouf Rawabdeh said
his country insists on getting its full rights of water. "Our
right in the waters is clear and we'll obtain it in full." During
their discussion of the Israeli-Jordanian treaty, parliament members
proposed the abolishment of the peace treaty, due to Israel's
non-compliance with its terms regarding water.
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Syria/Jordan news (4/6/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 09:01:47 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Jordanian king highlights relations with Syria and Kuwait
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Tue Apr 6 ,1999 -- Jordan's King Abdullah Bin al-Hussein said
that Jordan's relations with both Syria and Kuwait are proceeding for
the better. King Abdullah said: "Our relations with our brothers
in Syria and Kuwait are good, and we are in continuous contact with
them to exchange viewpoints and to consult on issues of mutual
concern." The Jordanian king asserted his country's commitment
to the Middle East peace process to reach a just and comprehensive
peace that provides for restoring rights to their owners and
establishing security and stability in the region. The Jordanian king
said: "We are committed to backing the Middle East peace process
and to try, within our own capabilities, to help this process to
attain a just and comprehensive peace that provides for restoring the
rights to their owners and establish stability and tranquility for
the peoples of the region."
Abdullah confers with Arafat
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Tue Apr 6 , 1999 -- Jordan's King Abdullah on Sunday in Amman
discussed with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat developments in
peace negotiations and obstacles impeding them, especially on the
Palestinian-Israeli track. Arafat briefed King Abdullah on the results
of his contacts and visits to several countries and on certain
thoughts proposed to the Palestinian side in order to revive
negotiations with the Israeli side and to settle problems remaining
between the two sides. Abdullah stressed Jordan's support for the
Palestinians and the ideas they have adopted and backing them to
attain their rights stated in the agreements signed between them and
Israel.
The Jordanian King also stressed the need to abide by
items of these agreements and honor the dates set for their
implementation. Discussions also dealt with bilateral relations
between Jordan and the Palestinian government and the cooperation
agreement signed between the two sides as well as eliminating
obstacles hindering its implementation which are not caused by either
of the two sides.
Abdullah denies meeting request from Israeli DM
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Tue Apr 6 ,1999 -- Defense Minister Moshe Arens requested a
meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, but the monarch declined.
According to sources in Jordan, the king was approached for a
"working meeting" with the minister, but it was decided
that it would be better to postpone such an event until after the
elections in Israel, scheduled for May,17 '99. Jordanian officials
report that Amman has decided to "distance itself" from the
Israeli political arena until after the elections. Sources in the
Defense Ministry responding to the report stated the minister never
requested a meeting and in any event, such a meeting is not currently
on the minister's agenda. According to a report in the daily Yediot
Ahronot, at the time of the elections in Israel, King Abdullah will
be in Washington where he will discuss the results with President
Bill Clinton.
Damascus hails Russia's refusal to the US pressures to delay weapons
sales to Syria
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Tue Apr 6 ,1999 -- Damascus hailed the Russian opposition to US
pressure on Moscow to delaying the sale of advanced weapons to Syria
days before the visit of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to Moscow on
April 13. The Syrian official mass media criticized yesterday the
domination policy practiced by Washington in the world, and said that
"the U.S. responded to the Israeli faked fuss against Syria by
imposing sanctions on Russian companies under the pretext of providing
Damascus with anti-tank weapons."
Al-Baath newspaper, which speaks for the ruling Baath party in Syria,
criticized the Israeli - US ideas regarding Israel's military
superiority over the Arab states through accumulating all weapons,
including weapons of mass destruction, creating a permanent threat as
Israel is allowed to be armed as it wants while Syria or any other
country in the area is denied the same right to confront potential
aggressions.
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inside China Today items (4/7/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 12:51:43 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
U.S. STOPS COMPUTER WORK AMID NUCLEAR THEFT CHARGES
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Energy Department has halted all scientific work
on the computers containing the country's most sensitive secrets at
three nuclear weapons laboratories amid espionage fears involving
China, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999040712.html?text
YASSER ARAFAT TO VISIT CHINA
BEIJING -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to visit China next
week and will urge Beijing to support Palestinian statehood, the
Palestinian ambassador in the Chinese capital said Wednesday.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999040715.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arabia On Line items (4/7/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 13:41:17 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
UAE, US Naval War Games End
The UAE and the US ends three days of naval war games in the Gulf on
Wednesday. http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/uae7.shtml
Mubarak Wants Palestinian State Delayed
For the first time, Egyptian President calls for a delay of up to six
months in the declaration of a Palestinian state.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/mubarak7.shtml
Assad Meets Chinese Parliament Speaker
Chinese parliament president Li Peng describes the relations as
"excellent" on his arrival in Damascus Tuesday.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/assad7.shtml
Wife Whose Husband Wears Earrings Wins Divorce
An Egyptian woman who is mortified because her spouse wears earrings
filed for divorce and wins.
http://www.arabia.com/content/culture/4_99/divorce7.shtml
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Nostradamus
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 15:59:01 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Hello all,
For the past couple of months people have been asking me/referring to
Nostradamus and wondering whether or not he was a man of God. I,
personally, don't believe so.
[Taken from "FAQ: the Prophecies of Nostradamus, Part 1"
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/text/faq/usenet-faqs/html/nostrad
amus /part1/faq.html]
c. How did Nostradamus do it?
"The D.Cannon books [Conversations with Nostradamus by Dolores
Cannon] I-III contain a great deal of information on
Nostradamus' techniques, which came from a variety of sources. First,
he acknowledges he was born with an inner 'sixth sense', i.e. a
strong intuition and great psychic abilities. Secondly he had
enormous drive to develop it. His grandfather apparently passed him
books on witchcraft that allowed him to experiment with some rituals.
He also had access to 'lost' manuscripts handed down outside of the
libraries of the time. He talks about guides from the astral plane
and from other worlds who helped him. Some pointed him in the
direction of esoteric plant recipes and mind-enhancing drugs (but he
emphasized they only enhanced his powers and were not the source of
them). One apparently bestowed on him a mirror during one of his
meditations. The mirror was especially important to his predictions.
"Nostradamus also talked of using different crystals to focus on
various telepathic frequencies. Occasionally he refers to staring at
fire or water (such as in a bowl on a tripod) as a way of focusing his
mind. He had access to some lost works of mysticism from his travels
(apparently to some Moslem lands). He communicated with other expert
astrologers and mystical teachers. However it is possible that some of
his notes about and explanations of his techniques were a means of
throwing the Inquisition off track.
"One of the most amazing possibilities explored in various places in
the D.Cannon books was that in a sort of 'twist of time' Nostradamus
was tapping into the subconscious of the people from the future who
contacted him. D.Cannon talks about this in the introduction of II.
"Some have wondered about Nostradamus' healing capabilities. He talks
about a sort of holistic approach to health and reveals that he was
skillful in avoiding the shock that was induced in many patients of
surgeons at the time using psychic approaches. He talked about the
importance of the 'aura' of the person in determining the health of
the patient and criticized the practice of treating symptoms. He said
that a patient will find some other way to make themselves sick if
their critical mental attitude is awry. He talked about cancer being
caused by deeply ingrained self-sabotaging thoughts. Nostradamus also
confirmed what many have speculated, that he was able to see future
approaches to treating the diseases he encountered (such as the
plague) and adopt key aspects of the techniques."
This faq isn't the only place where his methods are described and it
all comes down to occult practices with a "medium" (the most popular
being water in a brass bowl perched on a tripod).
--------------------
Saul consulted a witch in 1 Samuel 28. [She was the witch from En-dor
and I read somewhere that Endora on "Bewitched" was named for
her....hmmm, you find references to the Bible in the strangest
places.]
"Saul was overwhelmed at the sight of the Philistine army. Instead of
turning to God, however, he turned to the occult.
"God had strictly forbidden the Israelites to have anything to do
with black magic, fortune tellers, witches, wizards, or anyone who
claimed to bring forth spirits from the dead (Deut 18:9-14).
[When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those
nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his
son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth
divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or
a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto
the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth
drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the
LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess,
hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for
thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.--Deut
18:9-14]
"In fact, sorcerers were to be put to death (Exo 22:18) [Thou shalt
not suffer a witch to live.]. Occult practices were carried on in the
name of pagan gods, and people turned to the occult for answers that
God would not give.
"Practitioners of the occult have Satan and demons as the source of
their information..."
Life Application Bible
Comments on 18:11,12, 18:15-18
----------
But, you say, some of his "quatrains" have come true. Maybe, maybe
not. Let's take the best case scenario and say that yes, some of them
have come true. It makes me think of the magicians and sorcerers of
Egypt who could make their rods become serpents just like Moses and
Aaron could. I don't know how it was done, but it was possible--and
it didn't make them godly men.
[And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When
Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then
thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before
Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went in
unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron
cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it
became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the
sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner
with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and
they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their
rods.--Exodus 7:8-12]
--------------------
These are a few things that came to mind while I was trying to figure
it out for myself. There are other areas that could be touched on,
but I think the above is just about it for now. It's settled in my
mind and I hope this helps someone else who has had the same
questions.
Bye,
Moza
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arms with artificial intelligence
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:03:14 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
ARMS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Smart bombs have exploded onto the front line in Yugoslavia. Will
robots roam the battlefield of the future? AI Guide Denis Susac looks
at the evolution of intelligent weapons, from cruise missiles in World
War II to tomorrow's technology.
http://ai.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa040699.htm
Mining Co. CyberWeek
Vol. 1, No. 21
7 April 1999
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Dirty bath water could fuel industry
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:10:22 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://www.independent.co.uk/stories/A0704914.html
Dirty bath water could fuel industry
By Charles Arthur, Technology Editor
A hot bath can do more than inspire deep thought, according to a
British scientist who has used one to power a television set.
Mike Rowe, of Cardiff University, has built a system that can generate
100 watts using the temperature difference between his cold water
supply and a bath full of used hot water.
Professor Rowe says his system can be applied on an industrial scale
to provide large amounts of electricity at low cost.
"This is part of a seven-year contract from the Japanese government,
seeking ways to recover waste heat that presently goes down the drain
- literally - from industry," Professor Rowe said yesterday.
"All that this system needs to work is a temperature difference: a hot
bath is about 55C, and the cold water supply about 50 degrees cooler.
>From that, we can generate 100 watts in our lab setup - and a colour
TV needs only 80 watts."
The system uses a series of thermocouples, which produce power because
the difference in temperature between two points will generate a
voltage difference if the correct materials are chosen and placed at
the respective points. Typical thermocouples use metals, but Professor
Rowe has found that usable voltages are can also be generated by
semiconductors such as germanium and silicon.
The industrial applications are potentially huge, and could save
millions of pounds by using hot water discharged from the steel,
glass, ceramics and electricity generating industries.
The steel industry, in particular, produces waste water with a
temperature of 90C - too low to power a steam turbine, which requires
140C - so the water is often simply thrown away.
Water is an ideal material for thermocouple systems because it can
absorb large amounts of energy. "The great thing is that in essence
the energy source - the hot water - is effectively free.
We have devised a system that can generate 2 watts foronly $5
[=A33.12]."
Professor Rowe's system could also benefit the environment if it is
taken up by industries that currently discharge waste into rivers:
high outflow temperatures have been blamed for affecting the life
cycles of river animals and fish.
via: Insane Science Mailing List
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - NATO to introduce attack choppers
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:18:14 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
[A lot of people think these are the locusts of Revelation (and their
silhouette is striking--see http://www.revfile.com/).--Moza]
*** NATO to introduce attack choppers
WASHINGTON (AP) - After two weeks of bombing by high-flying jets, NATO
is about to introduce into the Yugoslav air campaign the Apache
helicopter gunship, one of the Army's most versatile killing machines.
Adding Apaches marks an escalation of NATO's war effort but also
deepens the risk to American pilots. "If they go in aggressively -
which they will, because that's what they do - then we're going to
take losses," said retired Army Col. Harry Summers, an analyst who has
written extensively about military affairs. The only allied plane that
has gone down on Yugoslav territory since the start of the conflict
was a U.S. Air Force F-117A stealth fighter-bomber on March 27. The
Pentagon won't say what caused it to crash, but defense officials said
privately it probably was hit by a surface-to-air missile. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559078059-f14
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Ancient Jewish customs during Passover
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 13:05:14 -0500
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
Hi folks...
Need some help. We know that during Passover, it was a Jewish custom
to release a prisoner unto the people (case in point is Barabbas).
I've also read that it was against Jewish custom to put anyone to
death during the Passover.
Would anyone have further references or commentary to either of these
two customs?
Thanks,
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hole in one
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 18:46:19 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
HOLE IN ONE
Peter Vettiger and his team of researchers at IBM's micro and
nanomechanics group in Zurich are in the process of creating the
world's smallest data storage disks. With a certain number of
cantilevers, Vettiger's new product, called the Millipede, can store
more than 100 times more data on a polymer-coated disk than today's
magnetic hard disks can store. The Millipede can read and write data
at roughly 100 Mbps, and can store as much as 3000 GB of data on one
square centimeter. Such a microscopic mechanism may have a few
problems, one being that an assembly has not yet been built to fit
into a real computer's disk drive. Other problems relate to the
long-term durability of the moving parts, and to the fact that the
polymer surface that contains the data only moves in a straight line
and has not yet been formed into a disk. However, IBM says these
problems should be solved soon, and that it will not be too long
before the product is available on the market. (New Scientist
03/27/99)
via: Edupage, April 7, 1999
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hey look at this....
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 19:11:12 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Hello all,
I'm not quite sure what heading to put this under but it seems to
have quite a few parallels to things in the book of Revelation. I
stuck in some explanations for Jewish words in brackets:
-----begin-----
On the eighth day [of the inauguration ceremony], Moshe called Aharon
and his sons, and the elders of Israel ... (Vayikrah [Lev] 9:1)
For seven days, Aharon and his four sons had undergone a special
installment ceremony, to induct them into the service of G-d in the
Mishkan [tent, tabernacle]. Now, on the eighth day, the service was
about to conclude, and life with a Mishkan was about to begin.
Whenever we see the number eight, lights should go off. As our
tradition states, seven is a number that implies physicality, because
G-d made the physical world in seven days. Hence, the number eight
implies the supernatural--a quantum step above the physical world,
which is probably why Rashi adds:
"This was the new moon of Nissan, on which the Mishkan was erected,
and it [the day] received ten crowns ..." (Rashi)
In other words, as Rashi alludes, there were ten distinguishing
features of this day, and they were:
1. It was a Sunday, which was the day on which creation occurred. This
makes sense given that the Mishkan was a replication of creation, a
microcosm of G-d's masterpiece. The entire Mishkan was built to
parallel the physical world.
2. The princes began to bring their gifts on this day. Hence, some
have a tradition to read this part of the Torah (Bamidbar [Num]
7:1) each day--one prince per day--from Rosh Chodesh [new moon]
Nissan onward.
3. This began the priestly service, which, until then had been
performed by the firstborn of the nation. Originally, the priesthood
was the right of all firstborn--a right that was forfeited at Mt.
Sinai when they did not step forward to help Moshe purge the camp of
those who participated in the episode of the golden calf. Therefore,
the priesthood was officially turned over to the seed of Aharon.
4. Communal services began that day (Continual-Offering,
Mussaf-Offering, etc.).
5. The Heavenly fire to ignite the altar came down that day. This is
also mentioned in this week's parshah:
Then, a fire came out from before G-d and consumed the Burnt-Offering
and the fat on the altar, while the people watched ... (Vayikra 9:24)
6. The sacrifices could no longer be eaten anywhere, but only in their
prescribed locations.
7. Private altars became forbidden, since now sacrifices could be
brought to the opening of the Appointed Tent. Until this point, it
was permissible to build an altar and sacrifice to G-d just about
anywhere one wanted. However, once the Mishkan was operative, that
was no longer so.
8. It was the first time since Torah was given that Rosh Chodesh
Nissan, the New Year of the months, came around. In Egypt,
Moshe received the mitzvah [command] to start counting the months and
the years (Shemos [Exo] 12:1), and this Rosh Chodesh Nissan was the
completion of the first cycle.
9. The Shechina began to dwell among the Jewish people, as it says:
Let them make Me a sanctuary, so I can dwell among them ... (Shemos
25:8)
10. Birchas Kohanim--the Priestly Blessing--began. Outside of Israel,
this is only recited on holidays; inside Israel, it is recited in the
Morning Service daily (see Bamidbar 6:22).
These are the ten "crowns" to which Rashi refers. However, what all of
this really indicates is that the eighth day of the inauguration was a
transition point between the physical and spiritual reality--which is
why the death of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon HaKohen [Aaron
the High Priest] is so shocking, and needs investigation each year.
Rabbi Pinchas Winston <winston@torah.org>
Perceptions - Shemini: A Matter of What You "Eight"
-----end-----
Bye,
Moza
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Survival of the Fittest Spacecraft
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 20:35:03 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Survival of the Fittest Spacecraft
April 7, 1999: If two space scientists have their way, the
term "mother ship" will take on a whole new meaning.
Presenting a paper at the International Conference on
Advanced Propulsion held in Huntsville, Ala., Drs. David
Noever and Subbiah Baskaran, both of the NASA Marshall Space
Sciences Laboratory, discussed the potential of spacecraft
reproduction and evolution.
"The next generation of spacecraft will more than likely
evolve traits that their parent-ships could not have
equaled," says Noever.
Computers can create infinite lists of combinations to try
to solve a particular problem, a process called
"soft-computing." But you don't want a computer to endlessly
spew out random lists of possibilities. Instead, by breeding
the most successful operations, the following generations
can learn from past mistakes and successively improve. This
process shares some features with the biological concept of
natural selection, in which the most able organisms survive
in the face of environmental pressure and multiply. Survival
of the fittest, when applied to computer design, is one of
the ingredients for artificial intelligence.
"What it boils down to is trying to get computers to
recognize patterns and react," says Noever. "We treat the
designing choices of a mission like a biologist treats a
genetic chromosome. We can cut and splice missions together
with remarkable speed, compete them against each other, and
then multiply the survivors."
The "survivors" are those who successfully meet mission
goals. Applying natural selection to computer spacecraft
design could generate new possibilities for developing
better, faster and cheaper spacecraft.
A pattern-recognizing computer, for example, could determine
whether plastic parts could safely and effectively be
substituted for military-grade, space-hardened ceramics.
Such a substitution would save money, because plastic parts
are 10 times cheaper to produce than high-tech ceramics.
NASA has been developing spacecraft with artificial
intelligence capabilities. The Mars Pathfinder, the Earth
Observer, and the Deep Space 1 Interplanetary Probe are
just some of the most recent applications of this
technology. Deep Space 1 is especially interesting to
Noever and Baskaran, because it is the first major
spacecraft that is expected to learn during its long,
lonely tripthrough the solar system.
"You just have to figure there's some study time for these
kinds of long-term missions," says Noever.
But after a while, the craft will have read through all of
its 'books' and there will be nothing left to study. And
those books will become outdated long before the spacecraft
completes its mission. Earth-based signals can be sent to
the craft to update its library, however. Just as you can
download program updates off the Internet for your computer,
scientists can send new software and new hardware
configurations to the distant spacecraft. In this way, the
spacecraft can continue its education via correspondence
course.
"One surprise in developing this technology was the amount
of elbow-room we have to generate improvements," says
Noever.
By sending the spacecraft new information, improvements can
be made in on-board memory, bandwidth, power and control
features, and flight software codes. This
earth-to-spacecraft link works two ways, so scientists can
download the spacecraft's 'homework' and use it to design
better spacecraft.
Body by Nature, Spacecraft by NASA
Nature has been evolving for millions of years,
fine-tuning and improving its designs through the process
of natural selection. Scientists are looking toward nature
to improve spacecraft design, so the results of Earthly
evolution may someday find themselves having to adapt to
other worlds as well.
For instance, the common dandelion evolved to aptly handle
problems in redundancy and navigation. Just as dandelion
seeds float away and plant themselves far from the source
flower, the 'dandelion' spacecraft would have a pod land on
a planet and explode with thousands of tiny rovers. That
way, if something disastrous happened to one of
the 'seedlings' there would still be many left to
carry on the mission. The mini-rovers would improve on the
dandelion design because they would each have their own
'thinking' capacity and would be able to communicate
with one another while they're off exploring on their own.
Other such 'designed by nature' spacecraft will probably
have superior capabilities in navigation, power, and
communication.
Noever and Baskaran presented their paper, "Darwinian
Spacecraft: Soft Computing Strategies and the Breeding of
Better, Faster, Cheaper Missions," at the Tenth Annual
International Conference on Advanced Propulsion. The
conference runs from April 5th through the 8th at the Bevill
Conference Center Hotel in Huntsville, and combines
researchers from Marshall Space Flight Center, the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
NASA Space Science News
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/prop07apr99_1.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 8, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 08:40:21 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
8:00 PM Eastern
DISC - GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT - The Apache and Blackhawk
attack helicopters serve in Desert Storm
missions.(CC)(TVG)
HIST - FRONTIER DOCTORS - With few available resources,
frontier doctors rely on common sense and
ingenuity.(CC)(TVG)
9:00
ABC - THE CENTURY - Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933
inauguration; banks fail; internment camps; farm
foreclosures; the birth of Hollywood; film industry and the
Cold War.(CC)
A&E - THE UNEXPLAINED - "UFO Cults" - The Heaven's
Gate suicides put UFO splinter groups in the
spotlight.(CC)(TVG)
10:00
DISC - DIVINE MAGIC - "Angels: Messengers of the Gods" - The
mythology and study of angels throughout history; the role of
angels in Christian, Muslim and Jewish
beliefs.(CC)(TVG)
HIST - MAP MAKING - Satellites and the global-positioning
system spark a revolution in cartography.(CC)(TVG)
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Email posts
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 09:23:01 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Hello all,
We at BPR have become aware of the practice of some people to take
our material strip any association to us off of them and repost them
as if they were their own and in some cases archive them (this also
includes the books we offer). I've prayed about this and feel the
need to speak on the subject. While we do not necessarily need the
recognition (although it's nice every now and then :)) we do not want
to be the ones accused of taking someone else's info and stripping
their names off and putting ours on it. Everything that comes through
this list is clearly marked where the info came from or is something
that I, myself, or the owner have compiled ourselves (and in some
cases other list members).
Our names, unfortunately, have been sullied by these other practices.
We had hoped that the BPR name and our email addresses would stand
for integrity and Christ-like behaviour but I know that if I saw
something on someone's website with their name on it and then saw
the same info on the BPR website with someone else's name on it, I
would question the ethics of that particular website. We cannot
control which website you see first, but we do want you to know that
we do not practice this type of thing (and find it rather shameful)
and would appreciate it if the same channels that our usual posts go
out, that you forward this one also.
Thank you very much for your time,
Moza
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Scientists Warn On Genetic Screening Dangers
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 09:45:16 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/sc/story.html?s=v/nm/19990408/sc/science_screening_2.html
Thursday April 8 2:08 AM ET
Scientists Warn On Genetic Screening Dangers
LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists warned Thursday that genetic screening
and new DNA technology could open up a Pandora's box of discrimination
and eugenics if it is not regulated.
Doctors already are screening test-tube embryos for genetic defects
before implanting them in their mother's womb. In a few years,
scientists are expected to be able to test a person's genetic makeup
for susceptibility to diseases by using DNA silicon chips the size of
a thumbnail.
``The combination of DNA chip screening with pre-implantation
diagnosis might be the logical next step toward high-tech eugenics,''
said Dr. Wolfram Henn, a clinical geneticist with the Institute of
Human Genetics in Homburg-Sarr in Germany.
Henn said DNA chip technology that can scan up to 400,000 DNA
sequences in just a few hours is an unquestionable blessing for
clinical medicine and may lead to better drugs to treat illnesses such
as schizophrenia.
``It also provides employers and insurers with ethically questionable
parameters for aptitude tests,'' Henn added in a report in a special
genetics issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Scientists already are using the technology to pioneer better
treatments for colon and brain cancers, but the DNA chip can just as
easily be used to identify desirable genetic traits.
``A chip design with probes for interesting traits, be they
pathological, or conversely, desired, has got to be a
million-seller,'' Henn added.
Dr. Heather Draper of Britain's University of Birmingham expressed
similar concerns about pre-implantation genetic diagnosis used for
couples undergoing in vitro fertilization who do not want to pass on a
genetic abnormality to their children.
Doctors can check the test tube embryos and implant only those without
genetic faults. The others are allowed to die, which some doctors and
patients considered more acceptable than having an abortion.
Draper questioned whether it is always wrong to implant an embryo with
a genetic disorder and said the technology shifts the reproductive
power from women to the doctors treating them.
via: Insane Science Mailing List
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Greater Syria
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 09:56:24 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Reviving the greater Syria project
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- The Jordanian weekly al-Majd has stated that the
Arab-Israeli conflict will be crystalized in the near future in the
form of confrontation and competition between the "Greater Syria
project" and the "Greater Israel project." In its Monday issue's
editorial, the weekly called for returning to reviving the project for
"Greater Syria," even within the context of a minimum level within the
framework of a confederation including Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon for
the meantime and later to contain Palestine after the establishment of
the real Palestinian state. The weekly added that organizing Syria,
Lebanon and Jordan in a confederation state would strengthen Jordan's
political positions and strengthen its water, economic and security
conditions. The paper added that great hopes are pinned on the visit
of Jordan's King Abdullah to Damascus, where he will meet with Syrian
President Hafez al-Assad. The paper called for strategic integration
relations between Amman, Damascus and Beirut which will be gradually
conducive to the establishment of "Bilad al-Shaam" confederation, and
thereby put the stick in the wheel of the "Greater Israel" project.
==========
See history files:
History of Jordan (120k)
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/List_Studies/Daniel/dan-1-8.htm
History of Syria (100k)
http://www.mv.com/ipusers/butterfly/rev/syria.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (4/8/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 10:04:18 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Libya to join European - Mediterranean partnership
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- It is expected that Libya will become the 28th
member of the European - Mediterranean partnership known as the
Barcelona declaration countries, as an result of the recent Libyan
position toward the Lockerbie problem. Egypt's assistant foreign
minister for European affairs, who has supervised the Barcelona
process since its beginnings in 1996, Fathi El-Shazely, said he
expects Libya's participation in the Stuttgart meetings through Libya
joining the Barcelona declaration countries, to which Libya did not
belong due to the Lockerbie impasse. During preparations for the third
conference of the Barcelona process' foreign ministers, decided to be
held in the German city of Stuttgart on April 15 - 16, as Germany is
the current head of the European Union, Egypt is seeking to convince
its European partners to issue Libya an invitation to attend the
coming ministerial meetings as it took a positive stand towards trying
the two Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie explosion. The Barcelona
countries include the 15 EU member states and eight Arab states,
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and
Tunisia, in addition to four other Mediterranean countries, Cyprus,
Israel, Malta, and Turkey.
First PA delegation to visit Tehran since Oslo agreements
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- A Palestinian delegation will arrive in Tehran on
Friday, in the first step of closeness since signing the Oslo
agreement in 1993. The Palestinian delegation is led by chairman of
the PLO political department, Farouk al-Qaddoumi, and has in among its
members, Fatah movement central committee member Muhammad Jihad,
Palestinian central council member Abdul Latif Abu Hajaleh, and the
director of Asia department at the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Ihsan
Salha. Al-Qaddoumi and Jihad oppose the Oslo agreements in the
leadership of the "Fatah" movement.
Russian foreign minister to visit Cairo next week
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- Russian Foreign Minsiter Igor Ivanov is to arrive
at Cairo in the coming week at the beginning of a Middle East tour,
during which he will meet with Egyptian President Mubarak and Foreign
Minister Amr Moussa in Cairo. Russian sources in Cairo said the
Russian official will discuss the position of the region's countries
toward what is taking place the Balkans and NATO strikes against the
Serbs. The Russian sources added that Ivanov will meet with the Arab
League's secretary general, who will inform Ivanov about the details
of the two Libyan suspects' trail and the carrying out of the
guarantees that Libya obtained for its citizens during the current
trial in Holland. Moreover, Moussa and Ivanov will discuss obstacles
facing the Middle East peace process and their view toward declaring
the Palestinian state by May 4, and that Russian is not against the
declaration but has reservations about the date.
Mubarak refuses to visit Israel
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has refused an
Israeli invitation extended by the chairman of the foreign relations
committee at the US Congress to visit Israel. The Egyptian weekly
al-Osbo said the invitation, which was extended by the US
congressional official during his recent visit to Egypt, aimed at
urging President Mubarak to visit Israel during April. In his response
to the invitation, President Mubarak said he will visit Israel at the
appropriate time and according to the true requirements of the visit
in order to attain its own objectives. The Egyptian weekly said that
before agreeing to pay such a visit to Israel, the Egyptian president
sets a precondition: is Israel's abidance by a just and comprehensive
peace.
Mubarak calls for a new world order
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has expressed
hopes that a new world order will emerge based on justice and
equality.AFP quoted Mubarak, who is currently on a five-day official
visit to China, as saying in a speech he delivered at Beijing
University that the new world order should permit the establishment of
justice and equality between the countries of the northern and
southern hemispheres, especially in the area of foreign trade and the
question of debts in order to ensure the stability of financial
markets. Meanwhile, President Mubarak met in Peking on Tuesday the
Chinese vice President Hu Jintao and discussed with him bilateral
relations between the two countries in various fields.
Egypt and the division of Iraq
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- The Iraqi government, finally, urged UN secretary
general Kofi Annan to halt a low-intensity, high-tech air campaign by
the US and Britain. Analysts say that America and its friend designed
this campaign to inflict damage without arousing international
opposition also to pave the way for the division of Iraq. Some Arab
states occasionally affirm that they are worried about, and opposed
to, the division scheme that is looming over Iraq in view of the daily
US-British air strikes against Iraqi defenses in the no-fly zones in
the northern and southern parts of the country. The problem of
dividing Iraq needs an Arab leader to halt it, not to
governmentally-appointed leader. The division of Iraq would be the
biggest strategic problem in the Arab world. This division, either
into three states or in the form of a trilateral federation, would be
a blow to the political stability and economic well-being to major
Arab states. The division of Iraq would mean that Egypt to its east
would not only have Israel to worry about, but also the intentions of
the new entities, which would have questionable political affiliations
and ambiguous military orientations. Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr
Moussa's statement that we are against any such scenarios, "whether
they are executed legally or by virtue of a fait accompli." But what
can Egypt do to prevent this division? Egyptian political sources say
that the constraints on any Egyptian move are too many. And it is not
only the US position, to which Egypt has already shown calculated
defiance by voicing criticism of the use of military force against
Iraq, but the greater hurdle in the way of any potential Egyptian
effort is the attitude of Iraqi government. Baghdad continues to issue
verbal threats against its Gulf neighbors, refuses to accept the
required confidence-building measures and, above all, shrugs off the
Egyptian role. So the Egyptian position is not going to move forward
and seems willing to remain committed to opposing greater instability
in Iraq.
Syrian president confers with EU envoy on Middle East peace
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Wed Apr 7 , 1999 -- Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday at the
Lattakia's presidential palace received European Union Middle East
peace process special envoy Miguel Moratinos and members of the
accompanying delegation. Discussions centered on the Middle East peace
process, its developments and the conditions the process has reached.
Moratinos expressed the EU's desire to continue its utmost and further
efforts to maintain the Middle East peace process and to ensure
climates for its continuity. The Syrian president reiterated Syria's
positive attitude towards the peace process on the grounds of the
Madrid principles and Syrian's incessant call for an effective
European role in the process. In an earlier meeting, Syrian Foreign
Minister Farouk al-Sharaa discussed with the EU envoy developments in
the international and regional arenas as well as the current
preparations for the convening of the European - Mediterranean
conference in Stuttgart to be held in mid-April. Al-Sharaa put Syria's
request in the name of the Arab Mediterranean countries to Moratinos,
asking for the invitation of Libya to the conference because the
reasons that prevented Libya from attending the conference are no
longer applicable as UN suspended sanctions imposed on Libya over the
Lockerbie incident.
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Dalai Lama: The goal of human life is happiness
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 10:23:40 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Religion Helps in a Material World
BRASILIA (AFP) -- Any kind of religion can help
people achieve "spiritual peace" in today's
materialistic world, the Dalai Lama told an
enthusiastic audience Wednesday gathered at a
university auditorium here.
The 62-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader acknowledged
to some 3,500 people at the Brasilia National
University in Brasilia that material progress could
make everyday life easier.
Nevertheless humans "need spiritual peace, and this
is something that nobody can buy," he said. "Only
religion can help reach" that spiritual peace, he
said.
"I am a Buddhist," he stated, "but I respect other
religious traditions."
The 1989 Nobel Peace laureate, who began his visit to
Brazil on Sunday, gave his presentation along with
Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders under
strict security and heavy police presence.
"The goal of our human life is happiness," the Dalai
Lama told the audience, adding: "happiness is the
right of all humans."
The Dalai Lama promised to one day visit the land of
a group of Brazilian Indians that came to the event.
A group representative, Marcos Terena, described the
Dalai Lama as "one of those warrior Indians."
The Tibetan leader was due to travel to Argentina.
The Dalai Lama, who heads a government in exile in
Dharamsala, India, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed
uprising against the Chinese regime.
China has said it was ready to talk with him if he
agreed not to advocate independence, an overture
which angered radical Tibetan exiles who accuse the
Dalai Lama of making too many concessions to China.
Editor's Note
[the] Dalai Lama: (also Grand Lama) the head of the
Tibetan Buddhist religion. He has lived outside Tibet
since the Chinese took control of it in 1950 and
leads the movement for an independent Tibet.
http://www.arabia.com/content/culture/4_99/dalai8.shtml
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inside China items (4/8/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 10:25:42 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
CHINA STOLE NEUTRON SECRETS IN SECOND SECURITY LEAK
NEW YORK -- Amid allegations China stole secrets from U.S. nuclear
weapons research laboratories, an intelligence report suggests a
second security leak, The New York Times reported Thursday.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999040802.html?text
CHINA: U.S. ARMS INDUSTRY PROFITS FROM NATO STRIKES
BEIJING -- China's state-run media painted the U.S. arms industry on
Thursday as a clique of war mongers delighted by the chance to profit
from NATO's air strikes against Yugoslavia.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999040803.html?text
CLINTON'S FOREIGN POLICY ADDRESS ON CHINA
WASHINTON -- The following is the text of remarks made on China by
U.S. President Bill Clinton during a foreign policy address in
Washington on Wednesday. (Clinton is pictured while making his speech
at the U.S. Institute for Peace, April 7)
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999040807.html?text
U.S., CHINA TO SIGN CIVIL AVIATION PACT
WASHINGTON -- The United States and China will sign a civil aviation
pact on Thursday that will double passenger and cargo flights between
the two countries, a White House official said on Wednesday.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/business/news/1999040805.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inside China Today in-depth coverage of Prime Minister's visit t
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 12:55:16 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Press Notice:
Inside China Today, in association with Sprint International, is
providing in-depth coverage of Prime Minister Zhu's U.S. visit at
http://www.insidechina.com/china/special/sinous/sinous.html?breakingne
ws
Beijing, Wednesday April 7th, 1999 - For the latest on Prime Minister
Zhu Rongji's current visit to the United States, Inside China Today is
providing in-depth coverage, history and background information.
The prominent issues during Prime Minister Zhu Rongji's visit to the
United States are China's 13-year bid to join the World Trade
Organization as well as human rights and relations with Taiwan. Inside
China Today offers exclusive commentary and brings news groups,
journalists and news enthusiasts an inside look at the latest
developments in Southeast Asia.
Sino-U.S. relations are reaching tense levels over volatile issues
such as the Kosovo crisis and allegations of nuclear espionage. Inside
China Today provides a source of reliable updated headline news, as
well as a deeper understanding of China's foreign policy.
For all the latest information on Sino-U.S. relations, mainland China,
or even Chinese business developments, go to the following Inside
China Today sections for the latest information:
Special Section of Prime Minister Zhu Rongji's visit to the U.S.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/special/sinous/sinous.html?breakingne
ws
Inside China Today Homepage
http://www.insidechina.com
Inside China Today, published since 1996 by the European Internet
Network, Inc. (EIN), is providing daily coverage of the latest events
in Southeast Asia for journalists, media groups and news enthusiasts
via the World Wide Web.
Media Contact:
Richard Moravec - P.R. Manager
European Internet Network Inc.
(301) 654-5122
richard@einmedia.com
David Rothstein - CEO
European Internet Network Inc.
(301) 654-5122
david@einmedia.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Pizza mogul creating law school
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 16:02:04 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
*** Pizza mogul creating law school
DETROIT (AP) - Former Domino's Pizza mogul Tom Monaghan plans to
spend $50 million of his pizza fortune to create a new law school
aimed at producing lawyers sensitive to the moral consequences of the
law. "I think it will be the West Point for Catholic laity in the
years to come," said Monaghan, who recently sold Domino's Pizza for $1
billion. The Ave Maria School of Law is scheduled to open in the fall
of 2000 in Ann Arbor with about 40 students. Robert Bork, the
conservative legal scholar and one-time nominee for the U.S. Supreme
Court, has signed on as the first professor. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559087592-eff
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Blair's Choice for new EC Head Vows to Create 'Political Europe'
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 20:37:54 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
End Times Update
Re: Ten Kings
Scripture: Rev 17:12-14
News Source: Telegraph
URL:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=001136033854542&rtmo=qs9Ksxx9&atm
o=mmmm0w SR&pg=/et/99/4/7/nbla07.html
Date: 4-7-99
===================================================
Blair's Choice for new EC Head Vows to Create "Political Europe"
By Robert Shrimsley, Chief Political Correspondent
Wednesday 7 April 1999
TONY BLAIR's choice of head of the European Commission yesterday
dedicated
himself to eroding the nation state and creating a new "political
Europe".
Romano Prodi, the Commission president designate, used remarkably
frank language, which is likely to embarrass the Prime Minister, in
revealing his clear federalist intentions by committing himself to
developing a "common European soul". Mr Prodi, the former Italian
prime minister, said that the EU's two big projects of the moment -
the single currency and the forging of a common foreign and defence
policy - would fundamentally undermine "the pillars of the nation
state".
Tory leaders said his comments had "let the cat out of the bag" and
also revealed Mr Blair's true Europhile views. Francis Maude, the
shadow chancellor, said: "Tony Blair's endorsement of Mr Prodi shows
he does not have any concerns about his plans to create a federalist,
political Europe."
Interviewed in the Financial Times, Mr Prodi said: "We have started a
new chapter in the structure of Europe. The euro was not just a
bankers' decision or a technical decision. It was a decision that
completely changed the nature of the nation states."
Referring to both the euro and Mr Blair's European defence initiative,
Mr Prodi said: "The pillars of the nation state are the sword and the
currency, and we changed that. The euro decision changed the concept
of the nation state and we have to go beyond that."
Euro-sceptics said it was one of the clearest statements yet of the
way other European leaders saw the euro as undermining the
independence of EU nations that abolish their own currencies.
Mr Prodi said that his "real goal" was to draw on "the consequences of
the single currency and create a political Europe". He also made clear
his belief that Britain could not avoid joining the euro - which he
admitted was an overtly political project - if it succeeded. He said:
"Either the euro will fail or Britain cannot stay out."
John Redwood, Tory trade and industry spokesman, said Mr Prodi was
being "honest" in a way Mr Blair was not. He said: "Mr Prodi is
showing himself to be the true federalist the Conservatives warned
Tony Blair he was. The Prime Minister now has some explaining to do
because Mr Prodi was his nominee for the job."
Mr Prodi, referring to Britain's initiative with France to forge a
common defence policy, said: "I do not see the defence initiative as a
substitute for euro membership. But I don't think it was completely
irrational that the UK prime minister started it just after deciding
not to join the euro."
Mr Prodi was unanimously nominated by EU leaders late last month to
become the next EC president, although the European Parliament has
still to ratify his appointment.
via: End_Times_News@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Bus Passenger Evicted for Talking about Jesus
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 20:39:30 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
BUS PASSENGER EVICTED
A woman from the Seattle, Washington, area is considering legal action
after she was evicted from a public transit bus for talking about
Jesus Christ. 25-year-old Michelle Shocks says the incident occurred
last Friday while on her way home from work. She says she struck up a
conversation with another passenger after he boarded the same bus with
her and said, "Praise the Lord," apparently out of happiness about
getting in out of the rain. Shocks says the two started chatting about
the Lord, and within a few minutes, the female bus driver called her
to the front. Shocks says the driver warned her to change the topic of
conversation or be evicted. Shocks says she then went to sit by the
man and continued their conversation more quietly. A few minutes
later, the driver called her forward again and stated she and the male
passenger were being put off the bus at the next stop. Shocks, who is
five months pregnant, was forced to walk a mile in the rain during
busy rush hour traffic. The Seattle Times newspaper says Transit
authorities will only say they are investigating the incident.
(c) 1999 American Family Radio News Network
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 9, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 20:52:41 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
7:00 PM Eastern
HIST - 20TH CENTURY - Insidious Killers: Chemical and Biological
Weapons. Examination of the insidious history of the weaponry of
germs and poisons tracing their horrifying use in World War I with
gas attacks across the trenches through to the 1995 Tokyo subway
attack by a terrorist group. Leonard A. Cole, author of "The
Eleventh Plague The Politics of Biological and Chemical Warfare",
is interviewed.
8:00
A&E - BIOGRAPHY - "Slobodan Milosevic" - Yugoslavian
leader Slobodan Milosevic.(CC)
DISC - Yugoslavia - Death of a Nation (3 hrs)
Violence and disorder in Yugoslavia have dominated the news
worldwide for the beginning of the 1990s. With up-to-the-minute
topicality, this four-part mini-series will describe how and
why the country which we used to know as Yugoslavia has
disintegrated into the warring factions tearing it apart today. We
will focus on the government, and will speak with the
people at the heart of the political and military decision-making,
as well as those closely involved in the conflict to give the
most complete account possible of a country on the
brink of ruin.
HIST - THE FIRST OLYMPICS - In 776 B.C. the first Olympics
honor Zeus.(CC)(TVG)
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Insane Science Mailing List items (4/9/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 08:30:39 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://www.ohio.com:80/bj/business/docs/030700.htm
-
Scientists develop way to `grow' fingers, toes
NEOUCOM researcher helps create joint with bone, cartilage, tendon
BY STUART DROWN
Beacon Journal staff writer
Add this to the list of bioengineered wonders: Scientists have
``grown'' a finger joint, complete with bone, cartilage and tendon.
====================
http://www.exn.ca/html/templates/htmlpage.cfm?ID=19990408-55&Parent=Sc
ience -
How to make a human being April 8, 1999
Two groups, one public and one private, are expecting to have a
complete set of instructions for making a human in the next few years.
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - China News Digest items (4/9/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 08:36:05 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Chinese Premier Expected to Play European Card
[CND, 04/08/99] Premier ZHU Rongji is likely to play the European card
to make Washington accept Beijing's concessions for entering the World
Trade Organization (WTO), the South China Morning Post reported
Wednesday.
Zhu is the first Chinese Premier to visit the United States in 15
years. The Premier's visit aims to achieve several objectives. At the
top of the list are the resumption of American transfers of advanced
technology to China, and Washington's acceptance of Beijing's
concessions for entering the WTO.
According to diplomatic sources, if Washington rejects the
concessions, Beijing could turn to the European Union or other
countries supporting Beijing's bid for WTO membership. Earlier,
Washington demanded that Beijing open its agricultural and financial
markets in return for American cooperation on the WTO issue. The
sources believed that, except for possible breakthroughs in trade and
technological cooperation, chances are rather slim that Washington
will agree with Beijing's terms.
During his visit, the Premier is expected to reiterate Beijing's
opposition to Taipei's participation in the Theater Missile Defense
(TMD) system and to the U.S.-led NATO strike on Yugoslavia. He will
also deny charges that Beijing has been involved in the theft of
American nuclear technology. However, the Premier's delegation will
hand the hosts a "shopping list" containing American high-tech
products and know-how that it would like to acquire. The Chinese are
expected to state that high-tech imports are to be used only for
peaceful purposes. The Premier will remind his American host that
similar high-tech products can also be purchased from European
manufacturers. (Peter LI, YIN De An)
Sino-Egyptian Communique Calls for UN Security Council
Reform
[CND, 04/08/99] President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who is visiting
China on a five-day tour, signed a joint communique with Chinese
President JIANG Zemin in Beijing on Monday night, AFP reported.
The joint communique called for a reform of the UN Security Council.
"The two sides agree that expansion of the Council should fully
consider the geographical and regional balance in order to ensure the
just representation of developing countries and the Security Council's
ability to fulfill its duties," the communique stated. Globally,
"lingering tension, instability and emerging crises must be properly
handled and eventually eliminated."
China has heavily criticized the NATO air strikes over Yugoslavia,
suggesting the U.S.-led military intervention has neglected the UN's
role in safeguarding world peace and security. Egypt, on the other
hand, has blamed the Serbs and Yugoslavian President Slobodan
Milosevic as the cause of the current situation.
The communique also stressed the importance of maintaining peace in
the Arab world. "All countries and people (in the Middle East) have
the right to safeguard their security, independence, territorial
sovereignty and national interests," the communique said. (Jim YU,
YIN De An)
Qing Ming Festival Still Deeply Rooted in Southern China
[CND, 04/08/99] Despite the lack of official approval for honoring the
dead during the April 5 Qing Ming festival, the holiday is still alive
and well in the poor southern province of Guizhou, AFP reported
Tuesday.
During Qing Ming, families travel to the sites of their departed and
leave offerings of food, drink and paper money, and also sweep the
grave sites. This has increasingly fueled competition among neighbors,
who seek to ensure that others do not outdo them in paying homage.
Naturally, this competition has turned the occasion of Qing Ming into
a type of consumer holiday. Families spend large proportions of their
already scant incomes to travel long distances to the graves, and then
leave a wealth of offerings such as sweet biscuits, oranges and soda
at the ancestral burial grounds.
Despite land collectivization reform in China after the Communist
Revolution, which turned private property over to the government for
redistribution as public collectives, many of these family burial
grounds remained intact. Throughout the Cultural Revolution
(1966-1976), many families practiced Qing Ming with a great deal of
secrecy. However, since Mao Zedong's death in 1976, Qing Ming has
increasingly been practiced publicly, without government scrutiny.
(Jennifer HYMAN, YIN De An)
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Infobeat News items (4/9/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 08:41:06 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
*** Yugoslavia: Kosovo offensive over
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) - Yugoslavia urged refugees to return home
Thursday, declaring "peace has prevailed in Kosovo" and saying its
14-month war against ethnic Albanian separatists was over. But Western
officials feared those same refugees would be used as human shields
against NATO attacks. NATO jets unleashed fierce attacks late Thursday
and early Friday against Yugoslavia, even though a former Cypriot
president arrived in Belgrade to try to win freedom for three captured
U.S. soldiers. A hard-line Serbian vice premier ruled out any release
as long as the NATO bombardment continued. On the 16th night of the
U.S.-led air assault, hopes for the prisoners' release were mixed with
concern over thousands of ethnic Albanian refugees whose fate was
unknown a day after Yugoslavia sealed off its borders and stopped
their flight out of Kosovo. The Yugoslav government, which says it is
observing a unilateral cease-fire in Kosovo since Tuesday for Orthodox
Easter, claimed the refugees were voluntarily heading back to their
homes in the province. Spyros Kyprianou, currently the speaker of the
Cypriot parliament, said he planned to meet Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic Friday and the Americans might be freed during the
long Orthodox Easter weekend. He called on NATO to reciprocate with a
cease-fire over the holiday, something the alliance has refused. NATO
had arranged for safe passage for Kyprianou's flight. ###
*** Palestinian offices to stay open
JERUSALEM (AP) - Three Palestinian offices in Jerusalem will remain
open, Israel's prime minister said Thursday, reversing an earlier
pledge to shut them down. In a high-profile operation, Israeli police
had served closure orders Sunday against the offices Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said were connected with Yasser Arafat's
Palestinian Authority. The Israelis say interim peace agreements ban
Palestinian Authority offices from operating in Jerusalem. Under the
agreement reached Thursday, the offices will not handle affairs
connected to the Palestinian Authority from Jerusalem. The
Palestinians agreed to move one office out of the city, but will
maintain a Jerusalem office under a different name. The Israelis had
suspended their closure order against the Palestinian news agency
office Monday, but let orders against the Palestinian Prisoners Club
and an office dealing with Muslim-Christian relations stand. Appealing
to Israel's Supreme Court, Palestinians said the operation was a
campaign stunt by Netanyahu, who faces elections May 17. He has
pledged to thwart the Palestinian aim of establishing their capital in
Jerusalem and has suggested that his opponent, Ehud Barak, would split
the city. ###
*** Rules proposed for cell research
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Government advisers drew up proposed rules
Thursday to control federal financing of research on "master cells"
obtained from human embryos - a promising area of science that has
raised serious ethical questions. A 13-member committee drafted a
proposal that would permit the National Institutes of Health to pay
for master cell studies only if researchers adhered to strict
guidelines that would control how the cells were obtained. The cells,
called pluripotent stem cells, are the building blocks for nearly all
of the tissues in the body. They are capable of growing virtually any
human tissue. Researchers believe they can learn how to use the cells
to make body parts or to correct some disorders, such as Parkinson's
disease or diabetes. But the cells only can be obtained from human
embryos or from very early fetuses. A federal law bans government
funding of embryo research and severely restricts fetal research. At
least 75 members of Congress have said stem cells taken from human
embryos are covered by the ban. Some religious organization also are
opposed to the research. ###
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today Daily Brief items (4/9/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 12:13:33 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
DUMA SPEAKER SAYS YELTSIN ORDERS MISSILES AIMED AT NATO
MOSCOW -- Interfax news agency quoted Russia's parliamentary speaker
as saying on Friday that President Boris Yeltsin had ordered the
country's strategic missiles to be aimed at those states bombing
Yugoslavia.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999040901.html?text
YELTSIN SAYS RUSSIA WON'T PERMIT NATO LAND FORCE
MOSCOW -- President Boris Yeltsin said on Friday that Russia would not
allow NATO to launch a ground operation in Kosovo and would not to be
sucked into the Yugoslavia conflict unless Washington forced matters.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999040903.html?text
RUSSIA VOWS TO KEEP UNSCOM'S BUTLER OUT OF UN COUNCIL
UNITED NATIONS -- Russia's U.N. ambassador vowed to bar for a second
time chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler from Security Council
discussions on Iraqi disarmament when they resume on Friday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999040904.html?text
DUMA CONSIDERS DELAYING YELTSIN IMPEACHMENT
MOSCOW -- Russia's Duma, the lower house of parliament, agreed on
Friday to consider delaying a debate next week on impeaching President
Boris Yeltsin.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999040907.html?text
ISRAEL URGES FRESH IMF CREDITS FOR RUSSIA
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on
the International Monetary Fund to approve a new package of credits
for Russia and Ukraine in a new move to boost ties with Moscow, the
Israeli press reported Friday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/business/news/1999040902.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 10, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 08:27:28 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
7:00 PM Eastern
A&E - MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE - King Solomon
9:00
ABC - THE CENTURY - Iran hostage crisis; 20th-century
thinkers discuss the new millennium.(CC)
CNN - LARRY KING WEEKEND - Henry
Kissinger.(CC)
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
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