The Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Today, Christmas Day, is also the fifth night of Hanukkah.  The fifth night is considered to be somewhat special because at that point there is enough light from the candles to light the room. Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Lights.  The origin of the name may actually be due to Halley's comet, which would have appeared in the night sky in 163BC.  That's just about right for the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.

Cell Phone = Brain Tumors?

From Popular Science Magazine:

Nearly five decades ago, Americans learned that one of their most treasured habits—smoking—was lethal. This year, we could get more scary news, when scientists announce the results from Interphone, the largest-ever study to investigate whether cellphones cause cancer.

Interphone researchers are pooling and analyzing the results gathered from studies on 6,400 tumors sampled from patients in 13 countries. If the final results mirror the preliminary ones, the world’s three billion cellphone users might want to dial back their talk time. Israeli researchers participating in Interphone found that people who use cellphones regularly are 50 percent more likely than non-users to develop brain tumors. And a joint Interphone analysis from the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland reported a 40 percent increase in tumor risk in people who use cellphones for more than a decade; the study found no discernable risk for people who have used cellphones for fewer than 10 years.

George Washington's Gift

Did you know that after the Revolutionary War ended, George Washington witnessed a set of Hanukkah lights.  He was so inspired by the sight and ritual that he presented the owner with a gold coin engraved with a Hanukkah menorah.

Speaking of great generals, did you know that the Maccabbes, led by Judas Macabees, were able to defeat the Greek/Syrian army with just sticks and stones?  I guess they really do break your bones.  

Alexander, Alexander, Alexander...

Do you know your Bible?  Here's a question for you.  Where is the story of Hanukkah located in the Hebrew Bible?  Is it in Exodus?  How about Deuteronomy?  Maybe Numbers?  Or at the Golden Jade Chinese Buffet? 

Actually the story of Hanukkah is not in the Hebrew Bible at all.  It is, however, mentioned in John 10:22-23 wher Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication, or Hanukkah.

And did you know that Alexander the Great permitted the Jews to observe their religion after the Greeks conquered them.  In exchange the Jews promised that all baby boys born for the next year would be named Alexander.  So the important question here is, "How did the teacher take roll? Alexander?  Here.  Alexander?  Here....

Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev.

Tonight, December 21, is also the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.  Hanukkah!  The Maccabees overthrew the Greeks and rededicated the temple in Jerusalem.  There was only enough oil for the lamps for one day and it would take another eight days to make enough oil to keep the eternal lamp lit.  The oil burned for eight days, thus the miracle of Hanukkah.  

Martial Law

If you are not yet outraged by the $700 billion "bailout," then read on...

Senator James Imhofe of Oklahoma revealed that Hank Paulson, the Bush administration's spokesman, threatened martial law if the bailout was not put through.  In other words, the President, elected by the people of the United States, threatened those elected to Congress with the suspension of Constitutional law if the bailout was not passed.  So, to my way of thinking, Bush sees himself as a dictator.  Plain and simple.  He goes much to the right of Nixon's, "If the president does it then it's not against the law."  

Bush cannot vacate the White House fast enough.

The Constitution is Up In Flames

There is an alarming report coming from the US Army War College as follows (be sure to read the entire piece):

The report from the War College’s Strategic Studies Institute warns that the U.S. military must prepare for a “violent, strategic dislocation inside the United States” that could be provoked by “unforeseen economic collapse” or “loss of functioning political and legal order.”

Entitled “Known Unknowns: Unconventional ‘Strategic Shocks’ in Defense Strategy Development,” the report was produced by Nathan Freier, a recently retired Army lieutenant colonel who is a professor at the college — the Army’s main training institute for prospective senior officers.

He writes: “To the extent events like this involve organized violence against local, state, and national authorities and exceed the capacity of the former two to restore public order and protect vulnerable populations, DoD [Department of Defense] would be required to fill the gap.”

Freier continues: “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order … An American government and defense establishment lulled into complacency by a long-secure domestic order would be forced to rapidly divest some or most external security commitments in order to address rapidly expanding human insecurity at home.”

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned last week of riots and unrest in global markets if the ongoing financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are beset with credit constraints and rising unemployment, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Rep. Brad Sherman of California disclosed that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed a worst-case scenario as he pushed the Wall Street bailout in September, and said that scenario might even require a declaration of martial law.

The Army College report states: “DoD might be forced by circumstances to put its broad resources at the disposal of civil authorities to contain and reverse violent threats to domestic tranquility. Under the most extreme circumstances, this might include use of military force against hostile groups inside the United States.

“Further, DoD would be, by necessity, an essential enabling hub for the continuity of political authority in a multi-state or nationwide civil conflict or disturbance.”

He concludes this section of the report by observing: “DoD is already challenged by stabilization abroad. Imagine the challenges associated with doing so on a massive scale at home."

As Newsmax reported earlier, the Defense Department has made plans to deploy 20,000 troops nationwide by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to emergencies.

The 130-year-old Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But a 1994 Defense Department Directive allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage, according to the Business Journal.

And Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the U.S. military operations to liberate Iraq, said in a 2003 interview that if the U.S. is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.