Orthodox Church Leaders to Elect New Patriarch

Senior members of the Russian Orthodox Church on Sunday voted for three candidates. They included the church's interim leader, as potential replacements for former Patriarch Alexy II, who died last month. Church leaders chose them in a secret ballot Sunday in Christ the Savior's Cathedral. A final choice will be made by before a weekend enthronement. The Bishop's council chose 4 candidates. It will be the first election of a patriarch since the Soviet breakup and comes as the church is enjoying unprecedented popularity and close ties to the Kremlin. Their church is not like ours are here in America.

Vietnam Ferry Accident Kills 40

A small ferry, overloaded with holiday shoppers, sank in central Vietnam on Sunday. It killed at least 40 people ahead of the traditional lunar new year. At least 36 passengers survived. A few survived by swimming to shore and others were plucked by rescuers from the Gianh river in Quang Binh province. The boat's captain and owner were detained for questioning according to the local police chief.

An initial investigation showed the wooden boat was overloaded with nearly 80 people, though it was designed to carry only 12. The people from Quang Hai village were crossing the river to buy things for the lunar new year festivities. It is known as Tet in Vietnam. The new year is the country's biggest holiday and begins today.

Grandchildren

I think one of the best things about growing older is having grandchildren. But even better than that, is having great grandchildren. I think they call them that because they are great! They are so much fun to watch grow up from little babies into tiny people that walk and pretty soon they are talking.

We have six of them, 3 boys and 3 girls. Two of them are just 13 days apart in age so it is really fun to watch them mature. Emry started walking first but Kaelyn could crawl just as fast as he could walk and I think she felt she could get where she was going much faster crawling. But now she is walking too and they seem so little to be walking.
But I remember when our kids started walking, they looked so little to be walking too.

Now they are starting to talk and their parents are really excited over every new word. I remember those days too. And new teeth are popping in so fast. Emry has a whole mouthful of teeth but Kaelyn will catch up. They are both eating people food, not baby food. I've attached a picture of them as we are so proud of them.

Power Sharing Talks Still Stalled in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's president and opposition factions wrangled over power-sharing Monday. However, they made no progress despite the presence of southern African leaders who pressed for a resolution to the months long stalemate. It was after more than 12 hours of talk produced no agreement, that the deadlock was referred to a special summit of the Southern African Development Community to be held next week. Tomaz Salamao, executive secretary of the regional block told this to reporters. He said the meeting would be attended by leaders of the group's nations tomorrow either in South Africa or Botswana.

Rwandan Troops Enter Eastern Congo

On Tuesday, more than 1,500 Rwandan troops crossed the border into eastern Congo. They joined Congolese forces in an effort to oust Hutu rebels who participated in Rwanda's genocide and have long ben at the heart of the region's conflict, This was according to officials there.

Congolese government spokesman, Lambert Mende said the Rwandan forces arrived Tuesday morning. The joint military operations are supposed to last 10 to 15 days. And the fighting goes on. There are so many wars going on in this world that most of us are not aware of and many people dying in these wars.

Pittsburgh Steelers Topple Baltimore Ravens

The Steelers outhit and outplayed the Ravens behind a steady as he goes Ben Roethlisberger, marching into the Super Bowl behind a defense that brought back memories of the storied Steel Curtain. Ending the homefield Jinx in the AFC title game, the Steelers beat Baltimore 23-14 on Sunday. Troy Polamalu ended any chance the Ravens had for a come back with a 40 yard interception return for a touchdown. It was a very exciting game.

In Tampa, in two weeks, the Steelers will meet the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. The Steelers harassed rookie Joe Flacco all game long. Normally unflappable, he looked lost at times and finished 13 for 30 for 141 yards and three costly interceptions. Experience showed in a game this important and it showed that experience matters.

Catheter

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Right now until midnight Friday, January 23, they are offering 95 cents ground shipping on many orders. There is no minimum order, however, some items are exempt from this special. It is easy to check those out at their website. They not only have medical supplies of all kinds, but they also have outdoor gear and exercise equipment. You are sure to find just what you need here.

Al-Qaida's Hands Tied in Pakistan

The CIA has hampered al-Qaida's free rein in the tribal region of western Pakistan. Iran appears to be nearing a decision on whether to build a nuclear warhead according to departing CIA chief, Michael Hayden on Thursday. In what was probably his final briefing for reporters, Hayden said, "the great danger was that the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan was a safe haven. My belief is that it is neither safe nor a haven."

President-elect Barack Obama has picked Leon Panetta, a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and a former Democratic congressman from California, to head the agency. There is a great deal of controversy over this appointment and many say he has no experience in this field and is not a good choice.

Google Enhances Art Viewing

Now you can go to Google.com, download the software, and type in "Prado Museum" in the search engine and view art as never seen before at the museum. With Google Earth technology, it is possible to enjoy magnificent works of art in a way never previously possible, obtaining details that were impossible. The images available on the Internet are 1,400 times clearer than what would be rendered with a 10-megapixel camera.

Spain's Prado Museum has teamed up with Google Earth for a project that allows people to zoom in on the gallery's main works, even on details not easily discernible to the human eye. This is the first of its kind involving an art museum. It involves 14 of the Prado's choicest paintings. The Prado director said there was no better way to pay tribute to the great masters than to universalize knowledge of their works.

Denver Restaurants

The people of Denver know they can count on Westword to give them all the latest information on events, news, music, movies and Denver Restaurants. They produce one of the largest alternative newspapers in the country and now with their updated website, you can find everything you want to know about what is happening in Denver with the click of your fingers on your keyboard. Want Asian food, Mexican or some other favorite? Just check out their list of cuisines and you will find what you are looking for with very little effort. Know the name of a restaurant but want to know more? Just do a search on their website. They have lots to offer you.

Gasoline Prices

Here we go again, folks. The average national price of gasoline rose nearly 12 cents in the past three weeks. This marks the first price hike after six months of steady decreases and we loved it. I noticed yesterday, the gasoline in our little town jumped up 10 cents a gallon.

On Friday, the average price of regular gasoline was $1.78 a gallon. That was according to the oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg. The price of mid-grade was $1.91 a gallon and the price of premium was $2.02 a gallon. This increase was the first since July 11, when the average national price peaked at $4.11 a gallon. I sure hope it never goes back to that again. It really hurt the average person's budget.

Diet Pills

Has it ever occurred to you when you go to buy diet pills that they may be too strong for you? They might contain unsafe ingredients that could hurt you? Now you can check into this online website where they have studied over 200 diet pills for safety and the ingredients in them. They have also found out just what they can do for you and listed it so you can read the top ones and how they work. In addition to that, you can buy them so much cheaper at their website, you can't afford to go to the store and get them. Check them out. I think you will be glad you did.

Snowstorm Causes 59 Vehicle Pileup in Ohio

That isn't the only place that is having car pileups. Wisconsin had a really bad one we saw on TV today too. Last weekend when a winter storm blanketed parts of the Midwest and Northeast with up to a foot of snow, this caused a 59 vehicle pileup and at least four traffic fatalities.

In New Hampshire, three buses and two tractor-trailer rigs were among the 59 vehicles that crashed on snowy Interstate 93, sending a dozen people to hospitals Sunday morning. This temporarily shut down a stretch of the highway's northbound lanes. None of the injuries were life threatening, but it took emergency crews about an hour to remove one man from a car wedged under the back of a tractor trailer.

Here in Iowa part of I35 was shutdown on Monday and black ice was north of Des Moines. They had to pull the tow trucks and snow plows off the roads, it was so bad. Now it is -16 and -30 wind chill and going to get much colder yet tonight. Isn't winter fun? NOT!

Veteran Teacher Arrested

A veteran teacher was arrested on drug charges in central Pennsylvania. What is happening with teachers? So many have abused their students and had sex with their students. I guess it is no surprise that one would be arrested for drugs.

The police say they have arrested a veteran elementary school teacher and seized 72 pounds of marijuana from her home. Imagine 72 pounds! Williamsport police say they arrested Beth Camp, age 52, on Friday along with her husband and son and charged them with possession with intent to deliver and other counts. Police estimated the marijuana was worth $350,000. Wow!

Blister Relief

Finally, a Blister Relief that really works. ENGO patches are not only the patch to peel and put on your blister, but they will also prevent blisters from happening in the first place. They prevent the friction that causes the blisters to begin with and they guarantee it. The patches are long lasting too, up to 4 to 6 weeks.

If you already have a blister, they will give you immediate relief from the pain. It sounds almost too good to be true but it is true. Take a minute and read their Guarantee Policy. They have sent out 1,000 packs to the North American Hunter groups and Today's Health and Wellness to be tested. Reports from users of the blister packs continue to say how amazing they are.

Five Pirates Drown with Ransom Share

Well, at last, this sounds like justice was done. News out of Mogadishu, Somalia said that five of the pirates who hijacked a Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a $3 million ransom, according to one of their relatives on Saturday. This was the day after the bundle of cash was apparently dropped by parachute onto the deck of the ship.

The Sirius Star and its 25 crew members sailed safely away on Friday at the end of a two month standoff in the Gulf of Aden. This was where pirates attacked over 100 ships last year. Hundreds more kidnapped sailors remain in the hands of the pirates. It is just too bad they can't run them down and sink all their pirate ships and put a stop to this. I thought pirates were back in the olden days but they seem to be quite active again.

Prince Harry of England

According to the News of the World reports, it has video footage of Prince Harry, third in line for the British throne, using offensive terms to refer to people from Pakistan and people of Arab descent. Britain's St. James's Palace, the office of Harry and his elder brother, Prince William, said Saturday that Harry was sorry for any offense. The video was recorded three years ago according to the newspaper. It alleged he called one person a "paki" and referred to others as "ragheads." St. James's Palace said Prince Harry didn't intend any malice and understands how offensive the term "paki" can be. It is so easy now days for people just to say they are sorry and everyone forgives them so easily, they can go on and do something else offensive later on and expect to be forgiven again. It just showed Prince Harry's immaturity.

Romantic Vacation Riviera Maya

Doesn't that title alone " romantic vacation riviera maya " just want to make you feel like you want to go there? "Divine favor" is what KARISMA means in the greek and when you go to stay in one of the finest of Karisma hotels, you will definitely receive divine favor. Luxury and contentment, all the finest of amenities, and gourmet food are just among some of the wonderful aspects of staying in a Karisa Hotel.

Their five fine resorts cater to your every whim. One specializes in those who delight in naturalist living, another caters to adults only and still another is family friendly and endulges your children, as well as, yourselves. Yet still another caters to those who are stressed out and will enjoy the spa treatments and relaxation that will calm their shattered nerves and renew their bodies and minds to return to work. Check into their website and choose the one that suits you best. Enjoy the privacy of beautiful white sand beaches and so much more.

Blogger Pleads Not Guilty To Charges

This is another strange story out of Seoul South Korea. A South Korean blogger pleaded not guilty Saturday to charges that he spread false economic information on the Internet. A news report said the case drew heated debate over freedom of speech.

Although the blogger was identified only by his surname Park, he gained prominence among South Koreans because of some of his dire predictions about the global economy. I thought I had read that some false information about the economy on the Internet had really upset some things and guess it was true. One of the items he blogged about was the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Later on, this proved to be correct. Isn't that something?

Militia Attack Park Station, Kill Ranger

News out of Dakar, Senegal reports that militiamen attacked a national park station in the eastern Congo. They killed one ranger and wounded another in the government controlled sector in the far north of Virunga National Park. This was reported by officials on Saturday.

The assault took place north of Lake edward around Mount Tshiaberiu, a region home to a critically endangered population of 18 eastern lowland gorillas. No reason was given for the attack. I wonder what they expected to gain?

Unique Wedding Favors

Now that your June wedding has been decided, it is time to get everything together. You cannot start too soon as there is much to do. From the first plans of the wedding, to the jewelry to be worn by the attendants, to the reception and the unique wedding favors, this website has it all. You can plan for your invitations and gifts for your attendants. They have unique personalized gifts for your guests as well. Check into the wedding cake and table centerpieces and all the details of the wedding such as the unity candle, wedding guest books, pens and so much more. You will find many articles you won't find anywhere else as they are a unique site in itself.

Fish Fry Night

Well here it is Friday night and fish fry night and where are we? We are home of course. What a winter this is. We had a couple inches of snow again last night with freezing sleet coming down on top of it in the middle of the night. The snow plow guy had to come clean our drives again this morning. I had to shovel away from the door so we could get out. Then about the time we were thinking of going to the bigger city for fish fry, they threatened us with snow and blowing snow. Boy, it is going to be a long January!!!

Membership Card

No matter what the quantity of a membership card that you may need, this company is ready to make them up for you. They are ready to produce the highest quality of plastic cards for you embossed on your choice of template. They can put signature panels on them, or names, account numbers and more. They have over 10 years of experience and are able to produce just what you need quickly in great turnaround time. If you are thinking Green, you can even choose to have your cards printed on either recycled or corn stock. What a great way to help the environment.

Safety Equipment

In any outdoor or manufacturing business, safety equipment is a critical part of your business. Safety glasses are a must in so many positions, whether they are inside work or outside. The correct gloves can make the difference in whether an employee receives chemical burns or not. Vinyl gloves protect from germs that may endanger employee health. Fire fighters require various types of personal protective gear. This company carries millions of dollars of inventory of all kinds of safety equipment and you can reach them anytime on their toll free number. Orders over $125 are shipped free too.

Plum Trees

When you are planting an orchard on your farm or property, you want to get the best available fruit trees. You want them to produce beautiful fruit and in abundance. For lovely fruit bearing Plum trees, check out this online website. they specialize in the finest of many varieties of such trees. Not only that but they will guarantee to you 100% that you will receive trees that are very healthy and are sure to grow. That is because they handle them with care and pack them very carefully so you will receive them in the best of shape.

Sleep Number Beds

Just how old is that mattress on your bed? Do you toss and turn every night trying to find a comfortable place and cannot get a decent night's sleep? Then now is the time to check out a new sleep number bed. This is the time to get a wonderful deal at discounted prices and get a great night's sleep from now on. Your days will go so much better when you are fully rested after sleeping on your new bed. Check out their discounted airbeds and compare prices with the name brand and save $1000 and more.

Sale

This is the company that has everything and it is having a great sale.
Howie Mandel has made several videos telling you all about the great products you can buy here and he is not only funny, but he is right! Not only can you get everything you want at great prices but they give you free shipping on top of it. You just can't beat them for bargains and great prices. Have some fun, go there now and see if I am right. That they have everything you want and then some.

Winter Getting You Down? Seek Help

If winter is getting you down, usually it is because of the lack of sunshine and warmth. And this has been a very extremely cold winter in our part of the country. The Farmers Almanac predicted a "numbing" winter and they were right on.

In order to beat the winter blues, one of the ways is to find a winter sport you would enjoy such as cross-country skiing. My sister did this several years ago and really enjoyed herself. When you get your heart pumping they say it increases you endorphins and positively affects your mood.

Another way is to be sure you get enough light. Natural sunlight can do wonders for depression,but often there is a big lack of that so some people go to places where there is plenty of artificial lighting and it will lift your mood as well.

If things get too bad, find a professional and get some counseling and even some medications can help. But it takes a professional to decide whether or not you should be on medication. Sometimes just having a warm cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate with a friend and enjoying some conversation will do the trick. This is often called seasonal affective disorder and you can even go to www.nim.nih.gov and search under that description for more information. Don't suffer, get help.

Scientology and Tom Cruise

Actor Tom Cruise said Scientology teachings helped him overcome childhood dyslexia, according to a report in a Spanish magazine. Tom said he was diagnosed with the learning disability when he was 7 years old. He also said he was functionally illiterate when he graduated from school in l980, but he learned to read perfectly as an adult through Scientology technology. Tom Cruise and fellow actor, John Travolta, are among the more famed followers of the Church of Scientology, which claims 10 million members.

Fresh Baked Bread

I have two loaves of brown bread rising in the pans. It will be a long time before it is ready but it will sure be good when it is done. Hot bread, butter and raspberry jam is a big favorite of ours. I don't think there are too many things that smell better than freshly baking bread.

Cinnamon rolls would probably be my next favorite. Cinnamon anything smells up the house so good. I have a wonderful recipe for bread pudding that smells so good when it is baking. It has cinnamon in it too. My husband's family always ate it hot with cream and a little sugar sprinkled on it. We use half and half and warm the leftovers a bit the next day in the microwave and it is just as good as when it came out of the oven. I save up the heels of the bread until I have enough for a batch. It is so good.

Options Express

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Here Come the Police!

You better what out. Here come the Police with their new vehicles they got for Christmas. Our little grandchildren are doing great. They really had fun at Christmas. They can get around quite fast now but this will make another way to have Mom chasing after them. Pretty cute, don't you think?

Children really bring so much job to Christmas. Their Mom's took tons of pictures of them and we have sure enjoyed looking at them. They grow so fast. Last year at Christmas time, they were sleeping little babies and look at them now. Next year, they will really be on the go. So much fun.

Babies Grow Up

Who couldn't love a smile like this one? Emry is the happiest little guy I know. He is walking now at a year and can he go. He really gets around and you can hardly keep up with him. His little cousin crawls as fast as she can to get away from him and she is fast. But she will soon be walking too and she doesn't like all the hugging Emry wants to give her. It is so much fun watching two little ones the same age as they get to know each other. It is a new experience for them both.