BPR Mailing List Digest: 06/15/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
June 15, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | June, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Serious shortage of water is expected
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("John in NZ")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 19:01:09 +1200

Interesting this water shortage.

Historically, after Israel was expelled from the land by the Romans, the
latter rains failed - and this condition continued for 1900 years. So much
so people used to write of the climate of Israel having two rains "the early
and the latter" but they mistook the heavy mid winter rains for the latter
rains not realising the latter rains had completely stopped. The confusion
came from places like Joel 2 "rains, early and latter rains" not realising
that the first "rains" was a technical word meaning the heavy mid winter
rains.

Without the latter rains the grain does not swell so effectively the land is
infertile.

With the re-establishment in the late 1800s of a Jewish community in
Palestine the latter rains began to fall - spasmodically at first but soon
they were regular again - and the land became fertile again.

Now this article is interesting - because if we go back to previous articles
about the relationship of sin to the climate we may want to ask the
following question: Is the fact that Israel is giving up land declared by
God to be theirs (hence a sin in Gods eyes) a contributing factor to the
water problem - lack of rainfall.

I don't know, but I am prepared to ask the question.

John in NZ.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Moza" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Sent: Thursday, 15 June 2000 12:38 am
Subject: [BPR] - Serious shortage of water is expected

> Wednesday, June 14, 2000
>
> Serious shortage of water is expected
>
> By Zafrir Rinat
> Ha'aretz Environmental Correspondent
>
> Israel will face a serious water shortage next year that may affect urban
and
> even domestic use, endangering the quality of groundwater and the water of
> the Kinneret, according to the Mekorot Water Company and senior water
> officials, who presented worrisome figures on Monday to acting Water
> Commissioner Yaakov Efrati.

_________________________
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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - June 15, 2000 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 08:45:09 -0400

9:00 PM Eastern

HIST - UFOS: THEN AND NOW? - "Aliens and Contact" - Humanity
pursues contact with extraterrestrials.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - THE SECRETS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE - "Mapping
Evil; Out of Control" - A fingerprint helps to solve the
murders of three people.(CC)

10:00

PBS - P.O.V. - "The Vanishing Line" - Physician and
filmmaker Maren Monsen examines medicine and
death.(CC)(TVPG)

HIST - THE INTERNET: BEHIND THE WEB - The Internet evolves
from a defense tool to an academic information storehouse to
a commercial technology.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - THE PYRAMID OF DOOM: AN ANCIENT MURDER MYSTERY
- Excavations at an ancient pyramid in Peru reveal the dark
side of a civilization.(CC)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inspection of Temple Mount works is stopped by police
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:08:07 -0400

Thursday, June 15, 2000

Inspection of Temple Mount works is stopped by police

By Nadav Shragai
Ha'aretz Correspondent

Police have stopped Jerusalem municipal officials from inspecting work
undertaken by the Waqf (Islamic religious trust) and the Israeli Islamic
movement on the Temple Mount. Tractors and trucks have been hard at work
in recent weeks, undertaking projects along the eastern ridge of the Temple
Mount, up to the Solomon's Stables site where sealed-off areas were opened
up four months ago. Two large stone structures have been erected.

The municipality yesterday complained officially about the thwarting of efforts
by the head of its supervisory department, Israel Ben Ari, to monitor these
signs of work activity on the Temple Mount. In response, the police say that
the Jerusalem official had reached the area without coordinating his steps
with them. According to the police, Ben Ari must tour the area accompanied
by the head of the police's holy places division, Chief Superintendent Nissan
Shaham. The police spokeswoman said the two stone structures are
temporary storage facilities.

Some Jerusalem activists are wary that the Waqf and Islamic movement
projects could harm precious antiquities. The "Committee for the Prevention
of Damage to Antiquities on the Temple Mount" - a non-partisan body
comprised of members representing a gamut of political views - claims that
considerable damage has been caused in recent months to valuable relics
on the surface of the Temple Mount, and below ground level. The Committee
complains that no clear explanation of what the Waqf is up to along the
eastern wall has been offered.

http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador=14&datee=06/15/00&
id=81636

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Satanic Crosses ... A Stamp Of Approval?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 08:09:38 -0500

Satanic Crosses ... A Stamp Of Approval?
by Sandy Simpson, 4/17/00

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/sataniccross.html
(See website for graphics)

I am not a conspiracy nut, though to say there is no such thing as a
conspiracy is just as nutty as thinking that everything is a conspiracy. A
conspiracy is when two or more people get together to secretly coerce other
people to do their will. We are all victims of conspiracies every time we
watch TV and then run out in a buying frenzy to buy the latest thing we have
seen in a commercial.

The items we will be discussing here, though, are highly unlikely to be the
product of any normal human conspiracy. But we know from the Word that our
battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers
(Eph. 6:12). It is very curious to see satanic symbols popping up in some
very prominent places lately. Some of the following pictures seem to fall
into the category of "coincidence" from a human standpoint. But given the
fact that the following parties, among many others, are joining forces in a
big event called "Celebrate Jesus 2000" <../celebratejesus.html> gives rise
to the question of whether or not this is the enemy tipping his hand. Or
perhaps this is a warning to believers.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Don't Say "Pray" In Virginia Public Schools
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:11:10 -0400

June 15, 2000 -- 9:09 am

Don't Say "Pray" In Virginia Public Schools

RICHMOND, VA (CNSNews) -- When Virginia public school students pause for a
moment of silence this coming fall, they probably won't hear the word
"prayer" mentioned at all.

The Virginia Education Department Tuesday advised school districts not to
tell students they have the option of praying during the mandatory moment
of silence.

The guidelines recommend that a teacher or principal simply announce, "As
we begin another day, let us pause for a moment of silence."

The Washington Post says Virginia lawmakers who supported legislation
requiring a moment of silence are furious. "This is a very tepid response
to a moral crisis in this country," the Post quotes Del. Robert Marshall
as saying.

"If they're so timid about mentioning the word "prayer," I'm doubtful
about what it [the moment of silence] will do."

Del. Marshall and other lawmakers who backed the moment of silence said
they did so in the belief that students would be told they could pray,
meditate, or reflect.

The bill that passed in March reads, "Each pupil may, in the exercise of
his or her individual choice, meditate, pray or engage in any other silent
activity which does not interfere with, distract, or impede other pupils
in the like exercise of individual choice." The legislation does not
address how teachers or principals may introduce the moment of silence.

Virginia's Deputy Attorney General warned against crossing a
"constituitional barrier" by mentioning prayer in school. State legal
experts believe that any suggestion to pray - or not to pray - would lead
to a successful legal challenge.

However, if students specifically ask a teacher if they may pray, the
answer should be "yes," the state guidelines said.

Some Virginia lawmakers promise they'll press for stronger legislation
when they reconvene in January. "I'm definitely going to bring it back to
put some teeth into it," said Del. Lionell Spruill. "We have a mandate
from both sides of the aisle to use the word 'prayer'," he said.

In 1985, the US Supreme Court struck down an Alabama law requiring a
minute of silence because the Justices decided the law amounted to an
endorsement of prayer in public school.

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/00/20000614d.htm

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Nigeria Christians Propose Splitting State
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:13:53 -0400

June 15, 2000 -- 9:11 am

Nigeria Christians Propose Splitting State

LAGOS, Nigeria (NEWSROOM) -- Splitting Kaduna into separate states for
Christians and Muslims would resolve religious differences that have
resulted in two bloody riots in which hundreds of people have died since
February, Christian leaders now say.

While there have been calls in recent years to divide the northern state
along religious lines, the suggestion has taken on new urgency in the wake
of significant bloodshed and property loss in riots in February and May.

Nuhu Adamu, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU),
told journalists at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday that splitting
the state is the answer to ending tensions that erupted with the adoption
of Islamic law in the state. "The only permanent solution to the Kaduna
state lingering problem is to split the state into two," Adamu said.
"Enough is enough."

Christian leaders in Kaduna last month had appealed for unity and peace
among religious communities and had called on the federal government to
strengthen intelligence-gathering machinery to identify those responsible
for inciting the riots. But the recommendation of a state House of
Assembly committee last week to proceed with the implementation of Sharia
rekindled tension between the two communities.

Nigeria's constitution establishes the country as a secular nation, but
permits Sharia in domestic matters such as marriage, inheritance, and
adoption. Sharia penal law permits public flogging, amputation,and
beheading for some crimes.

Many Nigerians blame political leaders for using religion as a wedge to
solidify their power bases. Nevertheless, hundreds of people in the city
of Kaduna were killed in the February and May riots that divided the
population along religious and ethnic lines. Destruction of worship
centers, homes, and businesses was extensive.

Kaduna, headquarters of northern Nigeria when the country was organized by
region, has an almost even number of Christians and Muslims. The northern
part of the state is largely Muslim, while Christians dominate in the
south. Under the present political arrangement in the state, as in the
past, Muslims occupy the majority of strategic posts. Christians for
decades have complained about their marginalization by successive
governments in the state.

A committee of the State House of Assembly rekindled tension last week
with the publication of a report that claimed significant support for
Sharia. During recent hearings on implementation of Islamic law, the
committee said, 260 of 267 memos supported Sharia, and 120 out of the 133
oral presentations favored the change.

Christians in the state contest this claim, however.

Seven retired Christian military generals who are active in the
anti-Sharia campaign joined Adamu at the press conference to support the
call for splitting the state in two.

"If not appropriately nipped in the bud, we may find ourselves in a very
difficult position to articulate a rational and realistic solution to the
glaring problem," Adamu said.

Seventy-five leaders of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Kaduna
have petitioned President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene as well. "Our
safety is not guaranteed if the Sharia law is adopted in the state," they
wrote.

Mohammed Aruna, a Muslim senator from Kaduna state, opposes splitting the
state on religious grounds, however. Powerful divisions remain among
Nigeria 's 250 ethnic groups, not one of which is entirely Christian or
Muslim, he noted.

"If you want a new state from the present Kaduna, where would you place a
town like Wusasa (in the Muslim north) that is predominantly Christian?"
he asked. "It is just not possible to create states or regions on a
religious basis, especially in a heterogeneous community like Nigeria."

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/00/20000614e.htm

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Shrinking Mediterranean...
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 08:18:51 -0500

Shrinking Med

http://www.newscientist.com/nl/0617/med.html

THE tide is going out in the Mediterranean. Over the past 40 years, sea
levels have been dropping in the near-landlocked sea, while over the rest
of the globe sea levels have been steadily rising, according to a new
analysis.

"The change is dramatic," says Michael Tsimplis of the Southampton
Oceanography Centre, who has analysed the records of seven long-term tidal
gauges around the Mediterranean. Global warming makes seawater expand, and
has pushed up sea levels around the world by more than a millimetre a year
over the past 100 years. The Mediterranean followed suit until 1960, but
since then its level has been dropping by as much as 1·3 millimetres a
year, returning to levels not seen since early last century. Tsimplis
believes the drop in sea level is caused by the Mediterranean becoming
more salty, which he puts down to the weather and dam builders. Since
1960, rising air pressure over the sea has reduced rainfall, bumping up
salinity. Rivers that bring fresh water into the sea have also been
dammed. As water gets saltier it becomes more dense, and takes up less
space, more than counterbalancing any expansion due to global warming,
Tsimplis says. Source: Geophysical Research Letters (vol 27, p 1731) Fred
Pearce From New Scientist magazine, 17 June 2000.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Bishop shows Gore the door
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:27:47 -0400

Bishop shows Gore the door
By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Catholic bishop of Scranton, Pa., barred Vice
President Al Gore from giving a speech yesterday in a
church-affiliated hospital because the vice president
supports abortion, which the bishop called an "unspeakable
crime."

Mr. Gore scrambled to find a secular clinic that would let
him give his speech on health care. He also tried to
smooth things over with Bishop James Timlin by emphasizing
that he respected the religious leader's position, even
while disagreeing with it.

"I certainly didn't want anyone to experience any
discomfort," Mr. Gore told CNN. "So we smoothly shifted
gears and did the event [at another] location and it went
wonderfully well."

But the dust-up put Mr. Gore conspicuously at odds with an
important voting bloc that was previously seen as hostile
only to the Republican candidate, George W. Bush.

Earlier this year, Mr. Gore and other Democrats accused
the Texas governor of offending Catholics by speaking at
Bob Jones University, an anti-Catholic school in South
Carolina.

"Much was made of Bush going to the university and I
realize they don't like Catholics very much, but I was not
alienated or offended," Bishop Timlin told The Washington
Times. "Speaking at that university is not even in the
same category as supporting abortion.

"We think of abortion as an unspeakable crime, so anyone
who condones that is taking a position that we feel is
wrong no question about it," he added. "I'm a registered
Democrat but I can't, in good conscience, vote for people
who are pro-abortion."

Mr. Gore countered: "I do support a woman's right to
choose and I make no apologies for that. In fact, I feel
very strongly about it."

The dispute overshadowed the content of Mr. Gore's health
care speech, which he had planned to deliver at 12:30 p.m.
yesterday at Mercy Hospital in Scranton. The vice
president was told to find another venue after Bishop
Timlin learned of the planned appearance and voiced his
objections at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Although Mr. Gore pointed out he has "done a number of
events" at Catholic institutions, he quickly canceled
plans to speak at Mercy Hospital and searched for another
venue. Allied Services, a private medical facility nearby,
agreed to host the vice president.

Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis, a conservative Catholic
magazine, said Mr. Gore's attempt to speak at Catholic
institutions is "all the more egregious" in light of the
vice president's support for partial-birth abortion.

Mr. Hudson pointed out that Catholic schools and hospitals
often provide a platform to pro-choice lawmakers such as
Mr. Gore.

"Pro-choice politicians are invited to Catholic
institutions all the time," Mr. Hudson said. "What is
remarkable about this incident in Scranton is that we have
a bishop drawing the line regarding the presence of a
politician whose record is unambiguously clear and
directly opposed to the Catholic teaching on life."

Yesterday's incident, coupled with a recent decision by
another Catholic institution to cancel a speech by a
Planned Parenthood official, gives Mr. Hudson hope.

"The leaders of Catholic institutions are beginning to
say: 'No more. You're not going to use our institutions to
further your agenda,' " he said. "The more Catholic
leaders that do this, the more lay Catholics are going to
wake up from their slumber, look at their own institutions,
alma maters and so forth and say: 'Hey, why aren't we
doing this?' "

Catholics have played a crucial role in presidential
elections for decades. During the first half of the
century, Catholics generally supported Democratic
candidates, culminating in an overwhelming show of support
for fellow Catholic John F. Kennedy in 1960.

But as working-class Catholics of European descent began
to prosper in the second half of the century, many became
disillusioned with high taxes and the expanding role of
the federal government.

Increasing numbers of Catholics began to support
Republicans such as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Catholics were a major part of the segment of important
swing voters vaunted as "Reagan Democrats."

But Catholic support for Republicans began to wane during
the Bush presidency. Democrat Bill Clinton began to win
the Catholic vote back in 1992 and won over even more
Catholics in 1996.

Yet it remains uncertain whether Mr. Gore will carry a
majority of Catholic voters in November. His support of
partial-birth abortion offends many practicing Catholics,
while many non-practicing church members are expected to
support him.

"I think it will be very close because Catholics look a
lot like the rest of the country," said Catholic
University professor John White, an expert on Catholic
voting trends. "They're a very big group, but they're also
an enormously diverse group."

Mr. White said the vice president is no more likely to be
hurt by his support of abortion than Mr. Bush is likely to
be hurt by his appearance at Bob Jones University.

He said Catholics did not view that appearance as an
affront to their beliefs, although some Americans in
general may have been put off by what they saw as Mr.
Bush's unseemly grab for conservative votes.

"Catholics are not single-issue voters," Mr. White said.
"That's what always gets lost in this debate. There's no
such thing as bloc voting among Catholics and there hasn't
been in a long time. I guess the closest was in 1960."

Mr. White predicted that the vice president will win
slightly more Catholic votes than Mr. Bush, but not
because of abortion or Bob Jones.

Rather, the demographics of U.S. Catholics are shifting
again, thanks to growing infusions of Hispanic immigrants
who will probably tilt the scales toward the Democratic
column.

A Republican strategist who spoke on the condition of
anonymity disagreed, pointing out that Mr. Gore is
"malpositioned against traditionalist, observant, church-
attending Catholics the kinds of Catholics who admire" Pope
John Paul II and the late Cardinal John O'Connor of New
York.

Mr. Hudson added: "Gore's the one who's going to have a
problem with Catholics.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-2000615225041.htm

via: Third_Watch@egroups.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Bills would strip power of international court
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:27:47 -0400

Bills would strip power of international court
By BetPisik and Sean Scully

Legislation to be introduced in both houses of Congress
today would cut off U.S. military aid to countries that
ratify a proposed International Criminal Court and
authorize the use of any "necessary" means to break U.S.
soldiers out of its jails.

The bills set the stage for a confrontation with U.S.
allies and others who are meeting this month in New York
to finalize rules and administrative procedures for the
planned court, which the United States fears would subject
U.S. soldiers to political show trials and criminal
prosecution.

A treaty establishing the court already has been signed by
almost 100 countries including all of the major European
powers and ratified by 12 of them.

The bill to be introduced in the Senate today by Sen.
Jesse Helms, North Carolina Republican, would bar all U.S.
agencies from cooperating with the court, including the
arrest of suspects or provision of information.

Dubbed the American Service Members Protection Act, it
would cut off U.S. military aid to any country that
ratifies the ICC and prohibit U.S. forces from
participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations unless
expressly immunized from the court's jurisdiction by a
U.N. Security Council resolution.

It also authorizes the U.S. president to undertake any
means "necessary and appropriate" to free U.S. or allied
soldiers from ICC captivity.

A coalition of House members plans to introduce an
identical bill in that chamber.

"As currently constructed, the ICC would jeopardize U.S.
military personnel. . . . This allows any nation, under
dubious circumstances, to prosecute military personnel for
war crimes," said Jonathan Baron, spokesman for House
Majority Whip Tom DeLay, Texas Republican and a key co-
sponsor.

Mr. DeLay expects "broad support" among House Republicans
for the bill.

A provision in the bills effectively would remove the
threat of a military cutoff of the NATO countries,
virtually all of which have signed the treaty.

Other major recipients of U.S. military aid such as
Israel, Egypt, Turkey and the Philippines have not signed
the treaty, meaning the impact would be felt most strongly
by smaller countries in Asia and Africa.

The international court "is being driven by the Third
World," said a senior Republican Senate staffer. "We're
going to put a cost on this."

One major military aid recipient that could be affected is
Colombia, which has signed the treaty.

The legislation comes as top State Department legal
officials are at the United Nations this week to seek
measures that would protect the soldiers of any nation
that has not ratified the treaty. The Americans see their
proposal as the last chance to create a court they can live
with.

"This really is a final effort to accommodate our most
fundamental concerns about the treaty, which is our
exposure to it as a nonparty," said David Scheffer, the
U.S. ambassador for war crimes issues.

The United States already is barred by law from
contributing financially to the court, either directly or
indirectly through U.N. regular budget assessments.

Last year's State Department-authorization bill prevents
the government from providing money or from extraditing
U.S. citizens to the ICC unless the Senate first ratifies
the treaty.

But there is much the United States could do to help the
court if it reaches a compromise that heads off the bills
being introduced today.

"Our role in the court could be considerable," said Mr.
Scheffer. "In the Security Council, we can refer matters
and enforce [compliance].

"We have the ability to relocate witnesses, to provide
expert personnel for the work, our diplomatic clout to
encourage cooperation with such a court, the ability to
share information in compliance with federal law."

Changes in the court proposed by Mr. Scheffer would permit
the prosecution of citizens of countries that do not sign
the treaty only with the approval of the home country or
the Security Council, where the United States has a veto.

Human rights groups and some European allies say the
language would make the court powerless against the likes
of Iraq's Saddam Hussein. But pressure is building for
nations to reach terms with the United States if they want
the court to succeed.

Until the shape and scope of the court are decided,
officials are unwilling to guess at what it will cost to
set up and operate the ICC. Nor is it clear how the court
will be funded.

The existing treaty language calls for the court to be
financed by nations that have ratified it. But a provision
would seek additional funding from the United Nations and
other parties that wish to contribute once the treaty
takes force, likely in the next year or two.

The court's chambers and offices would be located in or
near The Hague, which is home to the International Court of
Justice, an ad hoc tribunal for Yugoslavia, and bodies
that enforce compliance with other treaties such as one
monitoring chemical weapons use.

U.N. member states are paying about $200 million this year
to fund the special tribunals prosecuting war crimes in
Rwanda and the Balkans. Those courts, created by the
Security Council in 1994 and 1993 respectively, likely
will be folded into the ICC in future years.

Before that can happen, the court must acquire land, erect
a building, stock a law library and set up a computer
system.

The ICC will require a permanent staff of prosecutors,
investigators, translators and an administrative office.
Significant resources will be allocated for lawyers to
defend those brought before the court.

Once the court is up and running, the operating expenses
will depend on the nature of the cases it undertakes.

Delegates, U.N. officials and legal experts shudder at the
thought of attempting such an ambitious project without
U.S. participation.

The United States pays about 25 percent of the budget for
the two ad hoc tribunals, contributes specialized
personnel to the two bodies and shares intelligence with
prosecutors.

http://www.washtimes.com/world/default-2000614233057.htm

via: Third_Watch@egroups.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Infobeat News items (6/15/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:44:11 -0400

*** Judge strikes La. school prayer law

MONROE, La. (AP) - A federal judge struck down a Louisiana law
Wednesday that allows public schools to set aside time for prayer. A
1976 law initially allowed for silent meditation. It was amended in
1992 to include the word "prayer" and again last year to remove the
word "silent." The change to verbal prayer amounted to an
unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the Legislature, Judge
Robert James ruled Wednesday. "The court recognized in its decision
that the Louisiana Legislature cannot authorize the prayers of the
majority to be foisted upon nonbelievers," said Ayesha Khan, an
attorney for Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation
of Church and State, which joined the American Civil Liberties Union
in challenging the law. The ruling stemmed from the case Doe vs.
Ouachita Parish School Board, filed by the mother of a ninth-grader
at West Monroe High School, about 30 miles south of the Arkansas
border. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567348078-9a9

*** Israel makes settlement concession

JERUSALEM (AP) - Thousands of Palestinians who have settled in
Palestinian-controlled areas without permission from Israel will be
allowed to stay. The decision Wednesday by Prime Minister Ehud
Barak's security Cabinet will apply to 5,000 Palestinians who entered
the Palestinian areas on tourist visas, said Shlomo Dror, a spokesman
for the Israeli army's coordinator of activities in the territories.
Dror estimated that 40,000 Palestinians have arrived in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip since the signing of the Oslo peace accords in 1993.
Many have applied for family reunification, which would allow them to
become legal residents of the territories. Some of the Palestinians
were born abroad; others left the territories during Israel's
occupation, and lost their residency status. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567341231-abe

*** Moderate quake rattles Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - A moderate earthquake shook central Taiwan
Thursday, the latest in a series of aftershocks following a temblor
Sunday that set off rock slides, blocked traffic and injured 36
people. No damage or injuries were immediately reported from
Thursday's quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, the same as an
aftershock Wednesday. The quake struck at 9:40 a.m. about 30 miles
north of Mount Yu, the Central Weather Bureau said. Mount Yu, the
highest mountain in Taiwan, is about 180 miles south of Taipei.
Taiwan has been shaken several times this week, following Sunday's
quake with a magnitude of 6.7. Two people died of heart attacks that
doctors said appeared to have been related to the quake. A
7.6-magnitude quake devastated central Taiwan in September, killing
about 2,400 people and destroying thousands of homes. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567355516-ac9

*** Navy sonar may have killed whales

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Autopsies of whales that beached in the
Bahamas suggest a possible link between Navy sonar tests and ear
hemorrhages that disoriented the animals, a biologist hired by the
National Marine Fisheries Service said Wednesday. Darlene Ketten, an
expert on whale acoustics, said "the coincidence of the timing and
the pattern of the stranding with the presence of Navy sonars ...
raises a red flag and I think that there's reason for concern." But
she warned: "I'm still not ready to say the Navy did that." Ketten, a
marine biologist at Harvard Medical School and the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, spoke in a telephone news
conference in which the Fisheries Service released initial findings.
See http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567344189-240

*** House passes e-signature legislation

WASHINGTON (AP) - Businesses will soon be able to seal
multimillion-dollar mergers and consumers will be able to buy a car,
apply for a loan or close a mortgage with the tap of a computer key -
no scrawling in ink. Legislation passed by the House Wednesday would
give electronic signatures the same legal status as a penned "John
Hancock" on a paper document. The bill "will further move us from the
paper age to the digital age," smoothing the way for a change in the
way people have done business since the time of the ancient
Egyptians, said House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley, R-Va.
The bill, passed 426-4, was considered likely to get quick Senate
approval, and President Clinton said he looked forward to signing it.
"It will encourage the information technology revolution that has
helped lower inflation, raise productivity and spur new research and
development," Clinton said in a written statement. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567344372-7f8

*** New technology sees through things

WASHINGTON (AP) - Thought only cartoon superheros could see through
walls to detect the villains? New technology called ultra-wideband
will soon allow mere mortals to detect objects buried underground and
to build cars enhanced with sensors that help avoid collisions.
Ultra-wideband uses millions of narrow pulses each second to get an
accurate reading of location and distance, opening the door for new
applications in radar tracking, precise positioning and wireless
communications. The possibilities vary from short-range computer
networking for homes to devices that determine the location of
golfers on a course. What regulators like even better is that
ultra-wideband devices can work within frequencies already allocated
for other radio services - helping to maximize this dwindling
resource. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567356322-545

*** Software allows stealth monitoring

BOSTON (AP) - Beware, corporate snitches loose with company secrets -
your boss may have a new tool to track what you do with your
computer. Lexington-based defense contractor Raytheon Co. claims its
"SilentRunner" software is the vanguard of network monitoring. Rather
than rely solely on searches for suspicious keywords, the program
uses algorithms to analyze communications patterns. Then it turns its
analysis into 3-D pictures. By looking at the pictures, monitors can
follow traffic patterns and detect "backdoors" or other anomalies
that may mean sensitive data is at risk. And it's all undetectable by
those being monitored. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567345693-8be

*** Series of quakes rock southern Calif.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (AP) - More than three dozen earthquakes, including
a magnitude-4.3 temblor, rocked southern Imperial County Wednesday,
but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The first quake,
with a preliminary magnitude of 4.2, hit at noon about 7 miles
northeast of El Centro, said Kate Hutton, a seismologist at the
California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Within three hours,
it was followed by more than three dozen aftershocks, including 14
greater than magnitude-3.0. The region in southeastern California is
between the San Andreas Fault and the Imperial Fault, which was
responsible for a magnitude-6.9 quake in 1940 and a 6.5 quake in
1979. ###

*** Study: Hurricanes on the rise again

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hurricane activity in the Atlantic seems to
alternate between active and slow periods of several decades, with a
new busy period now under way, a new study reports. The first part of
this century and the 30 years that ended in 1994 were spans of few
major storms, researchers from Florida State University report in
Thursday's issue of Geophysical Research Letters. In contrast, the
period from 1943 to 1962 was a very busy one for hurricanes, and that
period returned in 1995, according to the team led by geographer
James B. Elsner. Their findings reinforce studies by William Gray of
Colorado State University, who also has reported that the Atlantic
and Gulf of Mexico are moving into a cycle of increased hurricanes.
See http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567343663-8b8

*** Confederate-linked portrait removed

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - A portrait of a former Texas A&M
University president has been removed from a campus building named
after him because the picture's background included Confederate Gen.
Robert E. Lee. The painting of Gilbert "Gibb" Gilchrist was removed
from the lobby of the research building of the Texas Transportation
Institute. Institute director Herbert Richardson said he ordered the
removal in late May after receiving a complaint that Lee's image
carried racist overtones. "I felt that the lobby of that building is
not the place for a confrontation between admirers of Robert E. Lee
and those who view him as a symbol of slavery," Richardson said.
Gilchrist was president of Texas A&M from 1944 to 1948 and chancellor
of the university system from 1948 to 1953. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2567341702-286

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - ReligionToday News Items - Thursday, June 15, 2000
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:03:19 -0500

Selected items from:

C U R R E N T N E W S S U M M A R Y
by the Editors of ReligionToday

France is restricting religious freedom. The national Senate
approved legislation allowing private citizens to take legal
action against "marginal religious groups" that practice "mental
manipulation," according to The Guardian, a British publication.
The law is aimed primarily at Scientologists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, and other fringe religions, but could include some
evangelical Protestants, observers said.
...The government blacklisted 700 religious groups it identified
as "sects" and "cults" in 1997, causing an outcry from religious
rights advocates (see link #2 below). Among the groups listed was the
Nimes Theological Institute, an evangelical school, according to news
reports. ...President Jacques Chirac rebuffed President Clinton's call
for tolerance, and criticized the U.S. Congress for meddling when it
introduced laws to protect religious freedom internationally. "No one
can forbid us to take action against sects in the interest of human
rights," said Alain Vivien, chairman of the French ministerial mission
to combat the influence of cults.

Computer-game users are playing god. While earlier computer games
involved destroying things, new games allow users to be "the creator,"
designing their own universe. The game Black & White pictures the
computer user as the "omnipotent hand" that can create people and
"seduce worshipers by any means necessary, raining manna from heaven
or unleashing lightning bolts to instill fear," the online magazine
Feed reported. Other games allow players to merge their "god" with the
deities of other players, creating a "polytheistic" world. ...The
games have their roots in role-playing games such as Dungeons and
Dragons, which put players in control of imagined societies and
battles, according to Feed.

A summer camp director was told not to list a Bible course.
Joseph Hills of Scottsdale, Ariz., who runs Desert Mountain
Summer Camp, is suing the Scottsdale Unified School District No.
48 in federal court after the district refused to allow his
advertising brochures to be distributed in its schools.
...The brochure lists courses on "Bible Heroes" and "Bible Tales"
along with 17 other courses that are not religious. After a complaint
from a parent, district officials told Hills to delete references to
the Bible, according to Freedom Forum, a rights group. Hills said he
had to cancel the first camp session because he couldn't get the word
out to students. ...Hills says the district unfairly censored him.
"The school district opened up a forum for other groups, such as the
YMCA and American Youth Soccer, to advertise their camps," his
attorney Kevin Theriot of the American Center for Law and Justice
said. "If they open their facilities to the community, they cannot
excise out speakers with whom they disagree."

-----------
RELATED LINKS:
2: http://www.religiontoday.com/Archive/FeatureStory/view.cgi?file=199707
18.s1.html

-----------
News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com.
Content may be reproduced provided proper credit is
given to religiontoday.crosswalk.com. Please go to
http://www.GOSHEN.net/Copyright.html to be sure you
meet all legal requirements.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Satanic Crosses ... A Stamp Of Approval?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Khazneh")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 12:14:58 -0400

On the subject of [Satanic] symbolism, here is a link which shows the
'Jubilee 2000' graphic. The five doves happen to form a star in the center:

http://www.oakdiocese.org/jubilee.htm

Compare it to the New Age symbol on the Lucis Trust site:

http://www.lucistrust.org/arcane/nasymb.shtml

There is also another 'Jubilee 2000'. I thought it was a hoax, but...?

http://www.jubilee2000.org/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shophar_Sho_Good" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 9:09 AM
Subject: [BPR] - Satanic Crosses ... A Stamp Of Approval?

> Satanic Crosses ... A Stamp Of Approval?
> by Sandy Simpson, 4/17/00
>
> http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/sataniccross.html
> (See website for graphics)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - (Fwd) Arutz-7 News: Thursday, June 15, 2000
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 12:24:27 -0400

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 18:25:49 +0300
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, June 15, 2000
Send reply to: netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, June 15, 2000 / Sivan 12, 5760
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. BARAK GIVING IN TO SHAS DEMANDS
  2. AUTHORITIES TRY TO STOP YESHA PROTESTS
  3. OLMERT SPEAKS UP FOR TEMPLE MOUNT
  4. TALKS SUSPENDED; PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE FEARED
  5. KEEPING ISRAEL JEWISH
  6. THE TRUTH FROM UP CLOSE
  7. ISRAELI AID TO CYPRUS
  8. SNEH CLARIFIES "BOYCOTT" STATEMENT
  9. GOLAN TENSIONS NOT EASED
*** SPECIAL INSERT:
THE SYRIAN OCCUPATION

1. BARAK GIVING IN TO SHAS DEMANDS
The coalition crisis with Shas appears headed for resolution - although it
could lead to the resignation of Meretz from the government. Shas has
agreed to Barak's proposal that authority for the Shas school system be
transferred from the Education Ministry, to the Culture and Sport
Ministry.
The former is controlled by Meretz leader Yossi Sarid, while the other is
headed by Labor party Minister Matan Vilna'i. Meretz, however, which
complained that it had not been informed of the plan earlier, announced
that it would not accept it, and would quit the government if it is
implemented.

Shas continues to demand that its radio stations be recognized as legal,
and this, too, appears to be on the way to being solved. Justice Minister
Beilin has suggested that the hareidi stations be supervised by the
existing broadcasting authority for non-public stations, while Shas is
demanding the establishment of a third authority. The Shas party insists
that the law legalizing its radio stations be passed at the same time that
its MKs vote against the proposal to dissolve the Knesset. The gaps are
narrowing, however, and Labor sources now feel that Shas' return to the
coalition will be finalized by tomorrow.

Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane asked Shas MK David Azulai today, "It appears that
as soon as all your monetary and other similar demands are met, you'll
return to the government. Isn't this simple extortion?" Azulai: "If
ensuring Jewish education for children who have chosen not to join the
public school system is 'extortion,' then I guess this is extortion. But
for Sarid to use these children as hostages - that's not extortion?! It
must be understood that for 50 years, the left-wing governments in Israel
have tried to force everyone into their mode of thinking, but now a
movement named Shas has arisen that will simply not allow this to happen.
We will restore our traditional Jewish culture to its rightful respected
place amidst the Jewish people."

Kahane: "Rabbi Yosef wrote two days ago that one of the reasons for
leaving the government is the abandonment of Eretz Yisrael. What, then,
are your specific demands from the government in this area?" Azulai:
"Once we become partners in the negotiations and in the diplomatic
process, we will be able to put the brakes on the Palestinians' unlimited
appetite. What is happening now is that Ehud Barak is prepared to give
away everything. I think it would be appropriate to note that there are
others who always talk about the importance of Eretz Yisrael, yet they
were the first to give the OK to this government..."

2. AUTHORITIES TRY TO STOP YESHA PROTESTS
Residents of Kedumim were detained by the police for a short while today
for "trespassing" on Public Works Department [PWD] property at the Morasha
Junction near Ra'anana. Yossi Kedumim recounts the incident:
"We had put up a little protest tent, and were holding large signs of the
type that are commonly seen these days around the country: 'Barak is
losing the State,' and 'Brothers must not be abandoned.' We were not
disturbing the traffic at all, as we were about ten meters from the
highway, on a little hill. In fact, the PWD people and the police allowed
us to be there. On the third day of our presence there, they told us to
take down the 'illegal structure' that we had erected there - namely, our
little four-pole contraption. We complied. Today they came with another
demand: that we leave altogether, because we were 'trespassing.' To this
we did not agree, and so they called the police, who politely took us to
the Ramat HaSharon police station for a short while... We will continue
to stand there, however, without a tent. We know that we were not
disturbing traffic, and that there was no reason to remove us - they
apparently received an order from above not to allow this protest."

The Yesha Council's series of protests continues tonight with a
demonstration outside the Prime Minister's home in Jerusalem by the
residents of Binyamin (southern Shomron). Close to 1,500 Yesha
inhabitants participated at each of the previous two rallies, wearing
personalized signs with their names and the words, "Prime Minister Barak,
don't abandon me!"

"The 40,000 Mothers" will be demonstrating again this Sunday at 8:30 AM,
in the Rose Garden, across from the Prime Minister's Office. The rally,
which is planned as a continuation of one held last Sunday, is to protest
the government's consent to give up over 90% of Judea and Samaria.

3. OLMERT SPEAKS UP FOR TEMPLE MOUNT
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert accuses Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein of
not acting to stop the illegal construction by the Waqf on the Temple
Mount. The Waqf is in the midst of building a large mosque on the Mount,
and has received none of the necessary permits. Olmert also accuses the
government of not acting to "stop the crime of the systematic destruction
of the archaeological treasures on the Mount." A Justice Ministry
official said in response that actions pertaining to the Temple Mount must
be carried out carefully, because of the fear of "an outburst of
violence."

4. TALKS SUSPENDED; PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE FEARED
The Palestinians have suspended the Washington talks with Israel, in
protest of the delayed third Oslo withdrawal and Israel's intended release
of three Arab prisoners. The PA demands the release of over 200 security
prisoners, and PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said, in a statement that was
trumpeted in foreign media accounts, "We don't want goodwill gestures from
the Israelis. All we want from Israel is to implement the agreements."
There are no such agreements, however. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai
Huberman explained: "At Wye Plantation, almost two years ago, then-Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed to release several hundred Arab
prisoners. But even the Americans agreed that these did not necessarily
include security prisoners."

Israeli diplomatic sources say that Arafat is preparing to begin an armed
conflict with Israel within a few weeks. "We reported months ago that
Arafat would wait until a few months after the Pope's visit to Israel
before starting trouble," said Huberman. "If no agreement is reached by
the time the American Administration officials begin their summer
vacations - and it doesn't look like it will be - then it's very likely
that Arafat will initiate violence against Israel." The interim talks in
Washington have been suspended, but the final-status talks continue.

5. KEEPING ISRAEL JEWISH
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman (National Religious Party) has submitted a bill to
the Knesset that would allow the State to allocate lands specifically for
Jewish settlement. The Supreme Court handed down a ruling in March
forbidding an Arab family from being prevented from moving into the Jewish
town of Katzir. The current legislation, which is already supported by at
least 60 MKs, is designed to bypass the ruling.

6. THE TRUTH FROM UP CLOSE
The much-battered Tomb of Joseph in Shechem was visited today by MKs Rabbi
Benny Elon, Rechavam Ze'evi, Tzvi Hendel, Yuri Stern, and Michael Nudelman
(all of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu). Students of the Od Yosef Chai
Yeshiva there briefed them on the difficulties the yeshiva has faced since
the Arab riots there last month. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman,
who accompanied the group, summarized his observations: "A tent - that
had replaced the permanent structure destroyed by Palestinian vandals
during the Kotel Tunnel riots of the fall of 1996 - was completely burnt
by 100 Arab-hurled firebombs at the compound last month. There have been
no [substantial] renovations done on the yeshiva even since the first
riots! MK Ze'evi discovered today that the PA has offered to renovate the
compound. After leaving the compound, the MKs held a meeting to discuss
the situation, and they decided that it would be proper to accept the
Palestinian offer to pay for the construction - but to insist that only
Jewish laborers do the actual work."

Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane: "It's very nice that the PA agrees to foot the
bill for the work, but, from what we've heard, they are not letting the
students there study!" Huberman: "That's correct. The Palestinian forces
are doing everything possible to interfere with daily routine. Two days
ago, for instance, there was a day-long stand off between the students and
the PA soldiers over a roll of plastic tablecloth. It began when the
students brought the roll into the yeshiva, and the Palestinians - just to
get their goat - demanded that the roll be handed over to them. The
students understandably refused, saying that it was one of their basic
supplies. In response, the Palestinian forces prevented students from
going in and out of the compound for almost an entire day. Only after
lengthy negotiations between the army and the PA were the students allowed
to keep the plastic roll..." Huberman added that MKs were disturbed by
the excessively-strict control exercised by the PA and IDF over access to
the tomb compound. "Some of the Knesset members missed the convoy by five
minutes and were forced to wait a very long time until the next trip,"
Huberman said.

MK Elon reminded listeners today that two million shekels had been
earmarked by the Netanyahu government for repairs after the first round of
vandalism: "I know that the Defense Ministry approved the reconstruction
plan, and that a contract was signed with a company for the work... The
problem is that each step of the work has to be approved by the PA - the
rioters and the vandals themselves..." MK Elon said that Foreign Minister
David Levy is right in saying that "he fears the approach of those
ministers living in a state of delusion, who are deceiving the nation, who
do not tell the people that we face a terrible danger and not true
progress towards peace. Those who get a chance to visit the compound have
the opportunity to get a sense of the situation from up close."

7. ISRAELI AID TO CYPRUS
Israel will send a Hercules jet and two Yas'ur helicopters to Cyprus, to
help out in the efforts to extinguish the giant forest fire that has been
raging there for two days. The President of Cyprus made a personal
request from Israel's Foreign Ministry for the aid. The Israeli plane
carries massive 5,000-liter buckets, which the helicopters will fill with
seawater and pour over the flames.

8. SNEH CLARIFIES "BOYCOTT" STATEMENT
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh clarified today that he did not mean
to threaten the United States with an Israeli "boycott." Sneh reacted
sharply yesterday to a Congressional initiative to "fine" Israel $250
million - the value of one of the advanced airborne radar systems that
Israel plans to sell China. He said that a cut in aid to Israel would be
"unprecedented in its severity and hostility," as well as an unfair
punishment of Israel "when it is spending millions of dollars to advance
peace, including redeploying to the international border with Lebanon."

Sneh told American Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk today that he made no
reference to a boycott of American goods: "I said only that if Israel
receives less money which we are required to spend in the U.S. [according
to the terms of the aid], we would have more money to spend in Israeli
factories." Congressman Sonny Callahan, who chairs the powerful House
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, has now backed down from his intention
to cut the aid to Israel, but is looking for other ways to penalize Israel
for its sale to China.

9. GOLAN TENSIONS NOT EASED
Syria's future President, Bashar Assad, promised U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright that he would decide within two months whether to renew
talks with Israel regarding the Golan Heights. He met with her in
Damascus after the funeral of his father. Albright made it clear that the
renewal of talks would facilitate American economic aid to Syria.

*** SPECIAL INSERT:
THE SYRIAN OCCUPATION
A subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee convened
yesterday to hear two experts discuss the negative consequences of the
illegal occupation of Lebanon by Syrian forces. The session was chaired
by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), and the two witnesses - Middle East
Quarterly editor Dr. Daniel Pipes, and Southern Lebanese Army Col. Charbel
Barakat - both talked against the continuing Syrian occupation of Lebanon.

Pipes said, "Control of Lebanon brings the Syrian government many
benefits... [Lebanon] has a much higher per-capita income. There are
economic opportunities. There's drug trafficking. The lively press that
existed in Lebanon has been closed down. It is a place where the Syrian
government can tangle with its adversary Israel without the stakes being
too high. It is a place for terrorist proxies to work out of... The Syrian
government has on three occasions concurred with decisions that require it
to leave Lebanon. And yet it is still there... [Lebanon, which] had been
the most open of the Arabic-speaking countries, boasting decentralized
power, real democracy, rule of law, unimpeded movement and a Hong
Kong-style free market, along with independent schools and an unfettered
press, has turned into something like a minor version of the totalitarian
state of Syria, with a more powerful central government, the increasing
lack of the rule of law, of less and less freedom of movement, imposed
school curricula, a declining economy, and the like. The Lebanese
population has responded with very negative attitudes towards the Syrian
occupation..."

Pipes said that the American responses have been "interesting." He said
that the Clinton administration does not specifically call for Syrian
troops to leave Lebanon, but "[has], instead, contented [itself] with a
vague appeal for 'all foreign forces' to leave the country... Perhaps the
most dramatic conversation was just a week ago, when Secretary Albright
met with the Syrian foreign minister in Cairo, and according to press
reports, she did not raise the issue of Syria's occupation of Lebanon. In
public, she actually praised it, and I quote, "Syria has played a
constructive role as far as Lebanon is concerned. We hope that they will
continue to do so." Unquote..."

SLA Col. Barakat said, "Over the past few months, media and diplomatic
circles have wrongly described the history of south Lebanon. I want to
say that, first of all, the South Lebanese Army and our community were not
the mercenaries of Israel, but allied to Israel. We were not traitors,
but the defenders of a free Lebanon. We are the natives; the Syrian Army
is a foreign occupation. We were the freedom fighters, and Hizbullah are
the terrorists. Yet we, the Lebanese people, were crucified, and Hizbullah
became the hero. And Syria is stabilizing power. Our land was occupied by
pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian, and they called it liberation. Liberation
from whom? Liberation from Lebanese communities who were 23 years
defending their identity and rights?"

"From 1976 to 1982," Col. Barakat continued, "we were isolated and
bombarded. No country in the world assisted us, not even the United
Nations forces, which were sent to monitor the Israeli withdrawal
according to the U.N. Resolution 425. When Israel moved into Lebanon in
'82, we finally were able to travel to our capital and communicate with
the rest of our country... When Syria invaded Lebanon, invaded east
Beirut in 1990, and imposed the new regime, many Lebanese who opposed
Syria, including Prime Minister Michel Aoun, were forced into exile, and a
new national reconciliation government was allegedly formed. The
government was supposed to end the war in Lebanon and include all
Lebanese, but we, the southern Lebanese, were not invited. Moreover, that
same reconciliation regime disbanded another major Christian party who
opposed Syria... [The U.N.] turned a blind eye on our people. Worse, U.N.
Envoy Terje Larsen pressured Israel to dismantle the SLA, washing the U.N.
hands from our blood. Mr. Senator, the SLA did not collapse, it was
dismantled as a part of a political deal."

Hebrew News Editor: Ariel Kahane and Haggai Seri
English News Editor: Hillel Fendel and Ron Meir

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Visa, MC Nixed Smart Cards
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 11:39:02 -0500

(Is the real issue that Visa/MC didn't want to implement the smart cards on
the Govt's schedule?????.......MMMMMM...)

Visa, MC Nixed Smart Cards

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,37002,00.html
Reuters 3:40 p.m. Jun. 14, 2000 PDT

NEW YORK -- Close ties between Visa and MasterCard deprived U.S. consumers
of a new type of credit card, a government witness said on Wednesday during
a trial of alleged collusion between the two top credit card networks.
MasterCard was poised to launch credit cards with embedded computer chips in
the United States in the late-1980s but its bank owners refused to go ahead
without Visa, John Elliott, a former MasterCard executive, testified in
court.

So-called smart cards, widely used in some European countries,
let people store personal financial data and money on the chip,
unlike the magnetic stripe on the back of credit cards that enables
merchants to authorize card purchases. Visa and MasterCard are owned by
major banks and together control more than 75 percent of U.S. credit card
sales. They say the cost of launching smart cards outweighed the returns,
and demand for the card was weak. The U.S. government filed suit against
the networks in October 1998, alleging their organizational set-up stops
them from competing with each other. Since U.S. banks often own both
networks, they do not pit Visa against MasterCard, the government alleges.
The heated antitrust trial, which could reshape the U.S. credit card
industry, started on Monday in a federal court in New York and is expected
to last all summer. Elliott, who worked at MasterCard from 1984-1989 as
head of electronic services, indicated banks did not want MasterCard to take
the lead over Visa by introducing the cards first. Elliott is now an
independent consultant doing work for card rival American Express Co., which
paid him $504,000 from 1998-1999, partly to work on this case, the networks
allege. "U.S. members of MasterCard's executive committee were dual members
and indicated they wanted the (smart card) program to go forward only if it
went forward with Visa," Elliott said. MasterCard's U.S. bank members,
which also had stakes in Visa, expressed this view at a 1987 meeting after
Elliott put forth smart card plans. MasterCard would have had a two- or
three-year lead over Visa if it had gone ahead, Elliott said. The card
networks counter they shelved plans for smart cards because it would have
been too expensive. The migration to smart cards from the existing magnetic
stripe technology would have cost MasterCard $1.3 billion over five years,
for a net loss of $200 million, MasterCard lawyer Ken Gallo argued on
Wednesday in a cross-examination of the government witness. With Visa, the
card's economic prospects would have been better, the networks argue. Visa
and MasterCard then hired consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton Inc. to
study the economic viability of launching smart cards in the United States.
Booz did not recommend the networks proceed in a 1988 report, documents
showed. Elliott also is biased because of his ties to American Express,
which paid for his personal lawyer in this case, Visa and MasterCard have
said. "Today's court developments further reveal the intense level of
cooperation between the government and American Express," Visa U.S.A.
spokesman Kelly Presta said. "The fact that Mr. Elliott, the government's
half-million dollar witness, was hired by American Express to work in
collusion with the government to build their case drives this point home."
Elliott was an executive at American Express from 1996 to 1998. A
spokeswoman for the financial services company said it is standard practice
to pay legal fees of a former executive called to trial on a matter related
to his time at the company. In a vocal public relations campaign leading up
to the trial, Visa and MasterCard have claimed American Express instigated
the trial by lobbying the Justice Department. American Express could benefit
if the government wins, because it would gain access to the bank networks
now controlled by Visa and MasterCard. Right now, banks that issue Visa and
MasterCard credit cards are not allowed to issue cards from competitors like
American Express and Discover, owned by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
American Express repeated its oft-stated view that Visa and MasterCard are
merely trying to distract attention from their own anti-competitive
behaviors.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - 'Smart card' would ID armed officers
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 11:41:38 -0500

'Smart card' would ID armed officers

By Gary Fields, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cti094.htm

WASHINGTON - The Secret Service has developed a "smart card" that it hopes
will alleviate security concerns after a government report revealed security
breaches at two airports and 19 government buildings. The plastic card would
be issued to officers who need to travel with their firearms. It contains a
microprocessor that is encoded and holds a digitized photograph of the
officer, along with weight, height, police agency and other information.
An officer needing to travel with a gun or enter a federal building would
run the card through a scanner at the location. The scanner would work much
like automated teller machines and devices now common at grocery stores and
on gas pumps. After swiping the card through the scanner, the officer would
type in an identification number, and the security agent checking the
officer would have the miniaturized information available via computer. Greg
Regan, who heads the Secret Service's financial crimes division, says that
the level of encryption on the computer chip on the card has never been
broken, so counterfeiting the cards would be exceptionally difficult.
Regan says the Secret Service got the idea for the police smart card from
its work with the credit card industry, which he says is at the forefront of
security devices. "The chips are next generation credit card," he says. The
cards would cost about $4 to make. The reader would be about $600, he says.
The Secret Service touts the card as a way to address issues that a General
Accounting Office investigation raised in April. Investigators used fake
police IDs and other credentials found on the Internet to gain entry to
secure areas, including the Justice Department, where they drove a van into
the courtyard and slipped into Attorney General Janet Reno's suite.
The investigators also used the fake IDs to get past secure areas at Ronald
Reagan Washington National Airport and Orlando International Airport. The
GAO investigation prompted the Federal Aviation Administration last week to
change its security measures for allowing armed law enforcement officers on
commercial flights. The directive requires that uniformed airport police
officers check the IDs of all law enforcement officers who need to fly
armed.

In addition to the directive, the FAA also hinted that it might have to
restrict severely who can fly armed unless a better way can be found for
verifying the identities of law enforcement. Organizations from the
Fraternal Order of Police to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Association oppose such restrictions. They say it would severely inhibit law
enforcement's ability to do its job. Secret Service spokesman James Mackin
says his agency's idea can be used to address that issue and dozens of
others. "This is for everybody. After that GAO report, everybody was looking
at their vulnerabilities," Mackin says. "This is something we're putting out
there for everybody: the FAA, other law enforcement agencies and those folks
who were identified in the GAO report. Whether or not they decide to adopt
it is up to them."

Several agencies and departments involved in discussions of the card say the
plan is promising. Justice Department spokeswoman Gretchen Michael says the
department is "very well aware of the smart card. It is a very secure way of
doing things and one of the many things we're considering." Rebecca
Trexler, spokeswoman for the FAA, says the Secret Service plan is "certainly
what we're working for: a counterfeit-proof form of identification that can
be used in aviation."

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - HOLY MP3: A DOWNLOADABLE BIBLE
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 11:52:51 -0500

HOLY MP3: A DOWNLOADABLE BIBLE

Something good is coming out of the MP3 craze after all. David
Williams couldn't find an audio version of the Bible on the
Internet that he could download, so he decided to record one
himself in MP3. Using his desktop PC and Goldwave, a shareware
software-editing application, Williams began recording himself
reading the Good Book. With all of the New Testament now available
online and work begun on the Old Testament, he is in the process of
completing the first free and downloadable Bible.

http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,36936,00.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Icy visitor may become visible to naked eye
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:35:14 -0500

Icy visitor may become visible to naked eye
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/skywatch_000606.html

By Jeff Kanipe
posted: 05:10 am ET
06 June 2000

Although not a blockbuster by any means, it's still potentially the
brightest comet we've had since Hale-Bopp's momentous apparition three
years ago. Comet LINEAR may hover between magnitude 5 and 6 until
early
August. Right now, it's a small, magnitude-10 fluff of light within
the
constellation Triangulum in the predawn sky. A 4-inch (10-centimeter)
telescope and low magnification should be able to detect it. You might
even try binoculars. The comet moves through Andromeda in mid June
then
slips briefly into Perseus in early July. Thereafter, it crosses over
into
the evening sky for the remainder of the summer. If it truly gets as
bright as some astronomers think, you should have no trouble spotting
it
with binoculars or a small telescope. But don't expect a blaze of
light.
If and when it can be seen with the unaided eye, it will appear as a
mere
wisp of soft light against the stars. Binoculars, though, should turn
up
the contrast somewhat. This is also an excellent opportunity for kids
to
see a comet, if they've never seen one before. Over the coming months,
we'll keep our eye on the comet. In the meantime, tonight's sky chart
B
shows the predicted positions of the comet up to July 1. Sky Note:
Solar
Alert. Scientists at the Space Environment Center report that an
active
region of the sun may produce powerful solar flares over the next few
days. The active region, known as number 9026, is currently near the
center of the sun's disk. This orientation means that any eruption
that
subsequently occurs will send a flow of charged particles toward
Earth,
triggering auroral displays, some of which may be visible in the
northern
latitudes of North America later this week, as well as from extreme
southern latitudes. The Space Environment Center falls under the
auspices
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Their
web
site is <http://www.sel.noaa.gov/index.html>

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - A new breed of superweed
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:38:10 -0500

(Now, remind me again how we have no "unknowns" with genetically
modified
ANIMALS...)

http://www.globeandmail.com/gam/Science/20000615/RV15WEED.html
A new breed of superweed

An Alberta farmer's shuffling of herbicides and
crops had an unexpected result: a plant that almost nothing could kill

GILLIAN STEWARD
Special to The Globe and Mail
Thursday, June 15, 2000

Calgary -- Tony Huether's family has been farming for four
generations. So
two years ago, when he spotted stray canola plants in a field on his
northern Alberta farm that he wanted to seed with wheat, he thought a
thorough spraying with herbicide would easily get rid of them. But
after a
thorough drenching in Roundup, an all-purpose weed killer developed
by the
agricultural-chemical giant Monsanto Inc., the canola was still
standing
tall. The year before, Mr. Huether had sown Quest canola -- a
genetically
modified variety, also developed by Monsanto, that was resistant to
Roundup. This meant he could plant the seed, and as it and other
plants
and weeds started to sprout, he could spray with Roundup and only the
canola would be left standing. In a field across the road he planted
20
acres of Innovator, a genetically modified canola engineered to
tolerate
Aventi's Liberty herbicide. In a third field 400 metres away, he
planted a
third variety bred for resistance to Cynamid's Pursuit and Odyssey
herbicides. As he prepared to seed fields with wheat in the spring of
1998, he realized that the stray canola didn't die because it was
likely
the Roundup-resistant type he had planted the year before. So he
applied a
second chemical mix, but the stray canola was left unscathed. "I knew
I
had a real problem," Mr. Huether said from his farm near Sexsmith,
about
400 kilometres west of Edmonton. "I just couldn't figure out how to
get
rid of the stuff." Eventually he called in the crop specialists from
Alberta Agriculture. They took plant and seed samples. In a report
released earlier this year, provincial oil-seed specialist Phil Thomas
confirmed that Mr. Huether's stray canola was a new variety resistant
to
two common herbicides. Seed from his fields produced canola that was
resistant to three commonly used herbicides -- Roundup, Liberty and
Pursuit. In three years, Mr. Huether had unwittingly produced a
super-herbicide-resistant breed, the first documented case of gene
stacking in canola occurring without deliberate human intervention.
It was soon determined that 2,4-D -- a common herbicide in use since
1946 --
would kill off the super canola that had become a super weed. But Mr.
Huether's super weeds served as a warning that while man can
successfully
tinker with nature in the lab, nature cannot be disregarded all
together.

-- more --

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

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