What's in The News Today

Tonight is New Year's Eve and Triple A will drive you home. The "Tipsy Tow" will prevent drunk drivers from driving and will take you up to 10 miles. To check if this service is available in your area here is the number. #1800-AAA. You don't have to be a member!

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/29/aaa-tipsy-tow-new-years-eve?hpt=hp_t2

What is New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is an ancient holiday and has many spiritual meanings. Ancient Romans celebrated with six days of carousing and dancing in the streets. St. Boniface was appalled in the way the Romans celebrated the holiday, due to heathenish cries, sacrilegious songs and women wearing amulets and offering them for sale. 

In ancient Babylon it was the days between Winter Solstice and the New Year and the struggles between Chaos and Order with taking over the world. Hindu, Chinese and Celtic viewed it as reversing order and rules-celebrants would change roles with servants or dress in costumes for a time until order was restored. 

In Italy you are told to watch for falling objects "out with the old and in with the new." They throw out their old sofas, refrigerators and chairs through the window. 

In Ecuador they make stuffed dummies out of straw to represent the year past and at midnight they burn them. This is called "ano viejo" symbolic for getting rid of the past.

To learn more about other customs click on link http://www.beliefnet.com/Wellness/2006/01/The-Meaning-Of-New-Years-Traditions.aspx 

Inspirational Friday

A dog saves family from a burning house. "Bear" a golden noodle who never barks, but did in order to get his family out of a burning house. "Bear started barking to wake up his owner and two children before the smoke detectors went off. The whole side of  the house was engulfed and the family got out safely.

7 WDAM. (December 29, 2011). Dog saves family from burning home. Retrieved December 30, 2011, from  http://www.wdam.com/story/16409542/dog-saves-family-from-burning-home

A man finds $10K in Las Vegas and returns it to owner. Mitch Gilbert from Colorado was going through security at McCarran International airport in Las Vegas, and saw two sealed envelopes from Caesar's Palace left behind on the table. He waited for someone to turn around so he could hand it to them, but that did not happened. He didn't want to start asking people "he was in Las Vegas" being a gambling state. He waiting at security figuring that the person would realize and return for the envelopes. He waited for 30 minutes until his flight was ready to take off, he placed the envelopes in his backpack and decided he would find out who it belongs to when he gets home. When Gilbert got home he opened the envelopes and was surprised to find $5,000 in each one. He called the airport's lost and found to see if anyone called for the envelopes and they stated "they couldn't give that information to a third party." Gilbert was persistant and called for thirty days, and finally the airport officials gave his  phone number to anyone that called about the money. Gilbert received a phone call from Ignacio Marquez of El Paso, Texas. Marquez was so thankful and said "that this was the best Christmas present for his family" and rewarded Gilbert $1,000. Gilbert stated 'he felt uncomfortable about taking the money." He agreed to deposit the rest of the money in Marquez's bank and Gilbert told the teller what happened and she told people in the bank and they were all complementing Gilbert for his acts of kindness.

Ng. C. (December 27, 2011). Man Finds $10K in Las Vegas Airport, Hunts Down Owner.  abc NEWS. Retrieved December 30, 2011, from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/man-finds-10k-in-las-vegas-airport-hunts-down-owner/


Laguna Beach, Ca man pays off layaway's at Kmart. David Wilson owns several car dealerships in Orange County, Ca and called Kmart store on Harbor Blvd. and asked the store manger how many layaway accounts the store had. Store manager "Tricia Lawrence" stated that there was 1,000 and 260 of them had balances less than $100. Wilson asked her to tally them and it was $4,000 and she added more until the amount reached $15,919.61. Lawrence called the customers and told then that their bill was paid and they were in disbelief and some even cried. In addition to Wilson's generosity there were over $8,000 in layaways paid off by strangers stated "Lawrence."  

KTLA.com (December 21, 2011). OC Mn Pays Off $16K in Kmart Layaways After Seeing KTLA Story. Retrieved December 30, 2011, from  http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-oc-layaway-angel,0,5905344.story

What's in The News Today

A third infant has been struck with the rare bacteria "Cronobacter sakazakii." The child was fed a different brand of baby formula than Enfamil that was linked to the death of baby Avery Cornett in Missouri. The third case is from Oklahoma and the infant recovered fully. Enfamil has been tested, but does not seem to be the culprit. This bacteria can also be found: water, clothing, bedding, surfaces where the formula is prepared. The formula is the powered form and once rehydrated bacteria can grow.

CC. (December 28, 2011). third infant reportedly sickened by rare bacteria. Retrieved December 29, 2011, from  http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/28/third-infant-reportedly-sickened-by-rare-bacteria/?hpt=hp_t3



Jerry Brown the governor of California is weighing clemency to a grandmother. Shirley Ree Smith, 51was accused of shaking her grandchild to death. She was sentenced 15 years to life. Her defense has been that the baby died from Sudden Infant Syndrome (SID). The prosecutors claimed that Smith shook baby Etzel Glass at 7-weeks-old in 1996. The autopsy revealed that the baby's brain had a pool of blood in the brain.Two officials from the medical examiner's office stated "the cause of death was from violent shaking."

Los Angeles Times. (December 29, 2011). Gov. Jerry Brow weighs clemency petition for a grandmother. Retrieved December 29, 2011, from   http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-brown-clemency-20111229,0,855448.story?track=rss

President Chavez of Venezuela is accusing the United States for giving him cancer and other leaders. He has stated that the  "U.S. has figured a way to give Latin American leaders cancer." He also suggested that "the technology that was developed from the U.S. can induce cancer." He thinks it's strange that "Chavez, Fernandez, Paraguay's Fernando Lugo, Brazil's Dilma Rousseff and former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have all been diagnosed with cancer recently."Fidel Castro former Cuban leader warned "Chavez that the U.S. developed technology, and not to be careless, and watch what you eat, and a little needle they can inject with I don't know what."

Wallis, D. (December 29, 2011). Venezuela's Chavez: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelas-chavez-did-u-latin-american-leaders-cancer-065103256.htmlDid U.S. give Latin American Leaders cancer? Yahoo!NEWS. Retrieved December 29, 2011, from

What's in The News Today

Thousands of people sterilized against their will in United States. Charles Holt was in an institution in North Carolina and called unworthy to have children. He was not the only one that went under Eugenics, which meant anyone with any kind of a disability was considered an unfit human and shouldn't reproduce. The total who was sterilized was over 60,000 Americans from 1960 to the 70's and North Carolina was not the only state that was part of Eugenics. It only took one person a teacher or doctor, etc that can order for the procedure. Some of the conditions that were considered a burden on society and forced to be sterilized: deaf, blindness, paralyzed, skin disorder, syphilis, etc. Not everyone was institutionalized before the surgery many were living home. This happened to men and women many were African Americans. The victims want to be compensated, but North Carolina officials stated that "the budget can not allow for compensation because they wouldn't be able to pay for teachers and schools."

Cooper, A.(December 28, 2011). Forced sterilization in America. CNN video. Retrieved December 28, 2011, from http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/bestoftv/2011/12/28/cohen-forced-sterilization-in-america.cnn


Heavy D rapper died to due to a blood clot from being on a long flight. Heavy D died at the age of 44 years-old and suffered from deep vein thrombosis and heart disease. Heavy D had just returned from a trip to London from Los Angeles, and long periods of sitting without moving can cause blood clots. Heavy D died on November 8th and was having problems breathing prior to his death.

Marikar, S. (December 27, 2011). embolism After Long Flight Killed Rapper Heavy D. abc News. Retrieved December 28, 2011, from http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/embolism-long-flight-killed-rapper-heavy-d-184223544.html


A Serial killer is lurking the streets of Detroit. Three  women were found in a burning car, after advertising for adult services on Backpage.com. Police are warning women that the killer may be scanning the site for it's victims. Craigslist had a similar problem and they no longer advertise adult services.


Schabner, D. (December 26, 2011). Murdered Whttp://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/murdered-women-linked-backpage-com-cops-022728469.htmlomen Linked to Backpage.com, Cops Say. abc NEWS. Retrieved December 28, 2011, from

What's in The News Today

A missing Indiana girl who disappeared two days before Christmas is found dead.  The 9-year-old, Aliahna Lemmon was staying over Michael Plumadore, 39 while her mother was recuperating from the flu. He was a close family friend and details of how he became a suspect for Aliahna's murder has not been released. Aliahna suffered from hearing loss and partial blindness.

CNN Justice. (December 27, 2011). Suspect held in death of Indiana girl. Retreived December 27, 2011, from http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/justice/indiana-missing-girl/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Suspect who shot Christopher Sullivan a U.S. soldier surrendered. Sullivan was at his home coming party from Afghanistan and was shot in the back twice. The shooting has left him a paraplegic and is waiting for surgery. The suspect Ruben Ray Jurado, 19 years-old shot Sullivan after an argument between Sullivan's brother and Jurado about football.  Sullivan tried to protect his brother and was shot by Jurado. Jurado surrendered to the police on Monday in California.

CNN. (December 26, 2011). Suspect in soldier shooting surrender. Retrieved December 27, 2011, from
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/26/police-hunt-man-who-shot-recovering-soldier-at-homecoming-party/?hpt=hp_t2

A Gila Monster found in San Diego, California. The Gila monster is a lizard that can be deadly and showed up in Jennifer Giorgetta's  yard. She called animal control and San Diego animal services stated "they never seen a Gila monster in San Diego and that they are native to deserts in Arizona and Nevada." A Gila Monster are venomous lizards.http://www.desertusa.com/sep97/du_gilamonster.html

Frances, E. (December 27, 2011). Gila Monster Found in Calif. Yard. abcNews. Retreived December 27, 2011, from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/gila-monster-found-in-calif-yard/

What's in The News Today

Thirteen people found dead in a trunk of a car in Mexico. Near the border of Veracruz  routine patrol by national defense forces discovered an abandoned truck in the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico. They believe the crime is due to organized crime. The American consulate are waning Americans to be vigilant when traveling in Mexico especially in Veracruz and do not travel at night.

CNN. (December 26, 2011). 13 bodies found in abandoned truck, Mexican authorities say. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from  http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/26/world/americas/mexico-bodies-found/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

A fire kills 5 in Stamford Connecticut. Madonna Badger's Victorian house was engulfed in flames on 5 a.m. Christmas morning. The fire killed her parents, 7-year-old daughter, and her twins of 7. Badger and her male friend were desperately trying to save her children hanging from the roof and breaking windows. The fire was a 3 alarm fire. Neighbors stated "they heard screaming and the mayor of Connecticut said "this the worst Christmas in the history of Stamford." 
Badger an executive in the fashion industry and the founder of Badger & Winters survived with her male companion. The reason for the fire is still under investigation.

The Wall Street Journal. (December 26, 2011). Fire at Conn. home kills ad exec's 3 kids, parents. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://online.wsj.com/article/AP98c0a47a47874cd98d883aa0318a61f0.html
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/five-killed-christmas-day-house-fire-connecticut-164006059.html

A solider survived a suicide bombing in Afghanistan is shot at his own home coming party. Christopher Sullivan, 22 years-old was shot at the party, which left him paralyzed. An argument at the party started "about who was a better football team" in San Bernardino, California. Someone pulled out a gun and shot Sullivan in the back. The gunman fled the scene on foot and is still at large. Sullivan is in critical condition and awaiting surgery, the gunshot has left him a paraplegic. Sullivan received a purple heart while in Afghanistan when he survived a suicide bombing.

Katrandjian, O. (december 25, 2011). Soldier Christopher Sullivan at His Homecoming PArty in California. Retrieved December, 26, 2011, from  http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/soldier-christopher-sullivan-shot-homecoming-party-california-145404881.html

What's in The News Today

The true meaning of Christmas and Christmas Eve

God sent his son Jesus to earth and the miracle of trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) impregnated Mary who was a virgin with Jesus. God's plan was to redeem the evil in the earth and forgive us of our sins with eternal life with Jesus' death and resurrected. 

This evening or tomorrow when you are exchanging gifts "remember the greatest gift that you can receive is the gift of our lord." Make Jesus your Lord and Savior and receive eternal life. 

If you have not experienced the lords presence ask him to come to you and guide you. Ask for help in finding your way to him.

God Bless all my followers and Christmas is about our Lord and Savior.