“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”
(Luke 17:26)
As It Was

***

WND

ATHEISTS, SKEPTICS FLOCK TO SEE … THE ARK!

400,000 visitors in just 3 months of operations

Published: October 21, 2016

They said it couldn’t be done. Then when it was built, they said they wouldn’t let it open. Then when it was open, they said it would be a failure.

But today, the facts are in and the astonishing Ark Encounter attraction created by the Christian apologetics group Answers in Genesis is a resounding success, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.

The life-size replica of Noah’s Ark, spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high, is attracting guests from around the country to Williamstown, Kentucky.

And among the multitudes coming to witness this marvel are atheists, skeptics and adherents of non-Christian faiths, some of whom are being won over by the exhibit’s uncompromising Gospel message.

Mark Looy, chief communications officer for the Ark Encounter and vice president of outreach, told WND the exhibit has surpassed all expectations.

“I’m thrilled to report we are approaching 400,000 visitors to the Ark in three months of operation,” he said. “Now that’s significant not only because it’s exceeding our projections, but because the state of Kentucky, which was very cool towards the project, had done a study predicting we would have only 325,000 visitors the first year. Now we exceeded 325,000 in less than three months.”

Looy says a sizable percentage of those who attend the Ark Encounter aren’t evangelical Christians.

“We believe, though we haven’t done any intensive surveys yet, it’s possible that perhaps 40 percent of our Ark visitors are not ‘born-again’ as taught by the Bible,” Looy stated. “That seems to match up with our feasibility study that we conducted a few years ago, that the Ark has such a broad interest among the culture that some non-Christians and even some skeptics will come out to see this immense ship.”

But some atheists and skeptics did their best to prevent the Ark Encounter from ever opening. Atheist groups attempted to use a billboard campaign to inspire opposition to the project. There were also attempts to deny Answers in Genesis access to a Kentucky state program designed to boost tourism through tax rebates.

As Looy recalled, atheists also made their presence felt on the day the Ark Encounter opened.

“Well, the first day we opened there were about 75 protesters out front,” he remembered. “One of their main arguments was a false one, that taxpayer money was used to build the Ark and that’s not true at all. There’s a tax incentive that can kick in later on, but this Ark was funded through our donors, through a bond offering and through donations. There’s the occasional skeptic that comes through and tries to engage our staff in conversation and we deal with them in a firm but loving way. There haven’t been any disruptions within the Ark Encounter park itself but outside the Ark on opening day there was a protest.”

However, the Ark Encounter is more than a tourist attraction or something designed to reinforce the views of those who are already believers. Instead, it is a ministry designed to win people to salvation.

“We present the gospel message in a number of places,” said Looy. “We don’t hide the fact that we are a ministry that shares biblical truths starting with Genesis but working through the New Testament. And so the Gospel is presented, especially on the second deck of the Ark. There’s a door there, which we depicted as the door that Noah and the animals used to come in, those that were saved from the watery judgment. And Christ is our modern day ark of salvation, the door through which we must pass to be saved. And so yes, we are evangelistic.”

As part of that effort, the Ark Encounter will be hosting the premiere of well-known evangelist Ray Comfort’s newest film, “The Atheist Delusion” on October 22. The film is designed to give Christians a rational basis for their faith as well as challenge the secular worldview of atheists.

Looy says such outreach is a core part of the Ark Encounter’s mission.

“We strongly encourage skeptics, agnostics, atheists and those who are of other religions to visit the Ark,” he said. “We open up our doors in a very loving way. We have some very important messages to share with them, the Gospel most of all.

“Our objective is more than just to prove the Book of Genesis is history. And by the way, I’m a former evolutionist and remained one until I heard both sides of the issue. We hope atheists leave the Ark Encounter recognizing that the Bible is true, but not just because we want to show them that evolution is wrong, creation is true and that there was a worldwide flood and this huge ship. That, in terms of eternity, doesn’t get a person into heaven. We want them to accept the New Testament message of why Christ came to earth 2000 years ago.”

And the efforts are paying dividends.

“I just heard of a young lady, after touring the Ark and in the parking lot after the visit, prayed with her parents to receive Christ,” said Looy enthusiastically. “Now, sometimes you don’t hear about these salvation testimonies until years and years later. It usually happens not on site, it happens elsewhere as that person’s whole worldview has been challenged. A worldview, like that of evolutionary naturalism, doesn’t go away overnight. It takes some digesting of the materials.”

With that kind of effectiveness, Looy says it is not surprising the Ark Encounter has aroused opposition from atheist activists. But he is proud to say the Ark Encounter is a triumph despite their efforts.

“In the first month or two of operation there were some bloggers, atheist, secularist bloggers and others, who were claiming that no one was coming to the Ark,” Looy recalled. “And there was one image that got circulated in a lot of secularist blogs and websites. Someone took some drone footage of the parking lot of the Ark and there were only maybe 75 cars in the parking lot. And they said therefore nobody was coming.

“Well, what wasn’t made clear was this drone footage was taken a half hour before the Ark opened. The fact that there were 75 cars already at the Ark before it opened was significant. And of course, some days, you’re going to be busier than others.

“But again, this last Saturday, we had 7,000 people at the Ark. And yet there’s this myth out there circulated by atheists. They’re perpetuating the myth that no one’s coming to the Ark. And here we are, almost 400,000 visitors in three months. It’s been a success.”

***

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

Josephus: 'The beginning of the third wall was at the tower Hippicus, whence it reached as far as the north quarter of the city'

Archaeologists find battle site where Romans breached Jerusalem walls

Discovery confirms Josephus’s account of the conflict that saw destruction of Second Temple nearly 2,000 years ago, says Israeli Antiquities Authority

BY GAVIN RABINOWITZ October 20, 2016, 5:02 pm

<

p>The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, by David Roberts, 1850. (Wikipedia/ Creative Commons)

Israeli archaeologists found the site of a fierce battle where the Roman army bombarded and breached the walls of Jerusalem before conquering the city and destroying the Second Temple almost 2,000 years ago, officials said Thursday.

They said that the discovery, made last winter during an excavation of a construction site for the new campus of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design outside the Old City, also finally confirmed the description of the wall that was breached provided by the historian Josephus Flavius.

During the dig, the archaeologists found the remains of a tower surrounded by scores of stones and boulders fired by Roman catapults at the Jewish forces guarding the wall, the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement.

“This is a fascinating testimony of the intensive bombardment by the Roman army, led by Titus, on their way to conquering the city and destroying the Second Temple,” the statement said.

The excavation site in the Russian Compound. One can see the sling stones on the floor, which are tangible evidence of the battle. (Yoli Shwartz/ Israel Antiquities Authority)

“The bombardment was intended to attack the sentries guarding the wall and provide cover for the Roman forces so they could approach the wall with battering rams and thereby breach the city’s defenses,” it said.

The boulders fired by Roman catapults at the Jewish defenders of the wall. (Yoli Shwartz/ Israel Antiquities Authority)

The part of the wall that was breached was known as the Third Wall. It was found in the area of modern Jerusalem known as the Russian Compound. According to accounts by Josephus, this part of the wall was designed to protect a new quarter of the city that developed outside the other two existing walls.

For much of the 20th century, scholars have been debating the route of this Third Wall and “the question concerning Jerusalem’s boundaries on the eve of the Roman onslaught,” the statement said. “It seems that the new discovery in the Russian Compound is proof of the wall’s existence in this area.”

In his “The War of the Jews,” Josephus describes the wall as follows: “… the beginning of the third wall was at the tower Hippicus, whence it reached as far as the north quarter of the city, and the tower Psephinus …It was Agrippa who encompassed the parts added to the old city with this wall, which had been all naked before.”

The Third Wall had been completed as part of preparations by the Jews for the Great Revolt against Rome that began in 66 CE and ended in 70 CE when the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed, and the rout heralded the start of nearly two thousand years of exile.

The excavation findings will be presented in a conference at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem later this month.

News of the discovery comes during a week in which Israel has been engaged in a fierce diplomatic spat with UNESCO, over a decision by the United Nations cultural body that Israel says ignores Jewish and Christian historical ties to Jerusalem’s holiest sites.

The resolution, passed last Thursday in the committee stage at UNESCO, referred to the Temple Mount and Western Wall only by their Muslim names and condemned Israel as “the occupying power” for various actions taken in both sites. The resolution was confirmed by UNESCO’s executive on Tuesday.

***

WND

FEAR SWEEPS CHURCHES OVER BATHROOM POLICY

State looks to allow men who identify as women to use restroom of choice

Published: October 17, 2016

BOB UNRUH

A move by the state of Iowa to classify churches as “public accommodations” and require them to allow men who say they are women to use women’s restrooms is causing an “objectively reasonable” fear that they will be prosecuted, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose refused to dismiss a case brought by the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ against the state’s Civil Rights Commission, finding that the church already was self-censoring its statements because of a fear of prosecution.

“The court concludes the chilling of plaintiff’s speech constitutes an injury in fact for the purpose of standing,” she wrote.

The case is being pursued by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which said the ruling – even before the case advances further – provides “much-needed reassurance and clarification to churches.”

ADF explained the Iowa Civil Rights Commission claimed the Iowa Civil Rights Act applied to churches.

“The commission’s interpretation and application of that law could censor church statements on biblical sexuality in certain contexts and force churches to open their restrooms to members of the opposite sex under conditions that the government dictates. Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, which filed the suit through its Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, also has showers, which the law also affects,” the organization said.

“The government acts outside of its authority when it attempts to control churches. Neither the commission nor any state law has the constitutional authority to dictate how any church uses its facility or what public statements a church can make concerning sexuality,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steve O’Ban, who argued before the court on behalf of the church in August. “As the court found, government bureaucrats don’t get to decide which church activities have a religious purpose; that’s for the church to decide.”

The government had admitted in the court hearing that the church’s restroom policy “likely” is permitted under its antidiscrimination laws.

But the court warned that “such acknowledgement does not prevent the state defendants … from seeking enforcement against” the church.

“That’s why this lawsuit has been so necessary,” said ADF counsel Christiana Holcomb. “Though the state admitted to the court that the church’s shower and restroom policy isn’t subject to the law, those words alone aren’t sufficient to ensure that the state won’t try to enforce it against churches.

“Churches should be free to talk about their religious beliefs and operate their houses of worship according to their faith without fearing government punishment,” she said.

The case arose when the Iowa Civil Rights Act banned places of public accommodation from expressing their views on human sexuality if they would “directly or indirectly” make “persons of any particular … gender identity” feel “unwelcome,” ADF said.

The state claimed the authority to define “bona fide religious purposes” as well as other critical issues.

In fact, the state claimed it could enforce its agenda in a church if “the place of worship engages in non-religious activities which are open to the public.”

It cited such events as child care or a spaghetti dinner.

WND reported last week a similar case is under way in Massachusetts against a “gender identity” definition adopted in the state. The measure makes “gender identity” a special class, with more protections than ordinary citizens. Under the provision, the attorney general has claimed “houses of worship” are places of “public accommodation” and members, therefore, cannot even express ideas concerning “religious expression regarding biological sex and gender identity.”

The case was launched by the Alliance Defending Freedom after the state commission interpreted the law “to force churches to open church changing rooms, shower facilities, restrooms, and other intimate areas [to people] based on their perceived gender identity, and not their biological sex, in violation of the churches’ religious beliefs.”

Four churches are plaintiffs: Horizon Christian Fellowship, Swansea Abundant Life Assembly of God, House of Destiny Ministries and Faith Christian Fellowship of Havarhill. Several individuals also are named: George Small, David Aucoin, Esteban Carrasco and Marlene Yeo.

“The government shouldn’t encroach on the internal, religious practices of a church,” said ADF Senior Counsel O’Ban. “Neither the commission nor the attorney general has the constitutional authority to dictate how any church uses its facility or what public statements a church can make concerning a deeply held religious belief, such as on human sexuality.”

At the Volokh Conspiracy legal blog, Eugene Volokh pointed out that “churches hold events ‘open to the general public’ all the time – it’s often how they seek new converts.”

“And even church ‘secular events,’ which I take it means events that don’t involve overt worship, are generally viewed by the church as part of its ministry, and certainly as a means of the church modeling what it believes to be religiously sound behavior.”

Volokh continued: “My guess is that most churches would not turn someone away from a generally open spaghetti supper. … But some religious leaders, as well as the church employees and volunteers, may refuse to use pronouns that they believe are inconsistent with God’s plan as revealed by anatomy.”

“Under Massachusetts law, refusing to use a transgender person’s preferred pronoun would be punishable discrimination. (At least this is true of ‘he’ or ‘she’ – I saw nothing in the document about ‘ze’ and other newly made-up pronouns.) The Massachusetts document … makes that clear in the employment context, and it also makes clear that the antidiscrimination law rules apply to places of public accommodations (including churches, in ‘secular events’ ‘open to the public’) just as much as to employment.”

Volokh warned: “Indeed, a church might be liable even for statements by its congregants (and not just its volunteers, who are acting as agents) that are critical of transgender people. Tolerating such remarks is generally seen as allowing a ‘hostile environment,’ and therefore ‘harassment.’ Indeed, the statement … specifically encourages people to ‘prohibit derogatory comments or jokes about transgender persons from employees, clients, vendors and any others, and promptly investigate and discipline persons who engage in discriminatory conduct’.”

***

BREITBART

New Museum Invites Visitors to Desecrate Image of Virgin Mary

by THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.13 Oct 2016

The new National Museum of Estonia features an exhibit that invites visitors to desecrate a virtual image of the Virgin Mary, in celebration of the Protestant Reformation in the historically Lutheran nation.

A virtual image of Our Lady of Graces is projected onto a screen in a glass box. The image remains static until a visitor kicks a spot marked out on the plinth of the display. Once this area is kicked the image of Mary shatters into pieces and is replaced by the word “Reformation.” The exhibit then “resets” to the image of the Virgin Mary again, until the next visitor comes forward to kick it.

The Museum was inaugurated on the 29th September 2016 by the President of Estonia and the exhibit itself forms part of area that covers the history of the Reformation in Estonia.

This desecration of a sacred image has led to protests from Christian leaders and politicians in Estonia, who claim that the display mocks religion.

The Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Urmas Viilma, said the exhibit ridicules religion and insults the feelings of believers. He wrote on Facebook:

“I very seriously doubt that this exhibit is suitable for the permanent collection of the National Museum of Estonia, even if it is interesting from a technical point of view or from the perspective of modern approach to the depiction of historical events.”

He further noted that for a “huge number of believers,” the Virgin Mary is “not some historical figure or event, gone into oblivion, but a reality today.”

“The ridicule was an insult to the feelings of believers,” he wrote.

Political figures have also come forward to complain of the exhibit. Mart Helme, chairman of the opposition Conservative People’s Party and former ambassador to Russia, said that desecration of an image of the Virgin Mary also offends the Russian-speaking community of Estonia who have a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary.

“Most Russians living in Estonia are actively religious people and their integration is not helped by religious insult approved on a state level,” Helme said, noting that the display “insults the feelings of religious Russian-speaking residents and hinders their integration.”

“Mocking the symbols of faith also has a political dimension to it,” Helme added. “An attack on symbols may lead to an escalation of social tensions and a cooling of inter-state relations.”

A former Soviet Socialist Republic, Estonia is on the border between Europe and Russia and reportedly faces rising fears of Russian expansionism following the invasion of Ukraine.

Estonia, evangelized in the 12th century and predominantly Lutheran as of the 16th century, is one of the least religious countries in world. Some two thirds of the population declares no religious affiliation whatsoever.

***

CNN

Israel suspends ties with UNESCO in spat over Jerusalem holy site

By Oren Liebermann, CNN

Updated 1812 GMT (0212 HKT) October 14, 2016

Jews call the holy site the Temple Mount, and Muslims know it as Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary.

Jerusalem (CNN)Israel has suspended ties with UNESCO, the UN body in charge of preserving culture and history, after a draft decision that Israel says ignores Judaism's ties to the religion's holiest site.

The draft decision notes the importance of Jerusalem to all three monotheistic religions -- Christianity, Judaism and Islam -- but makes no mention of why the city is significant to Christians or Jews. A subsidiary body of UNESCO's Executive Board passed the resolution Thursday in Paris.

It refers to Jerusalem's holiest site -- known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary -- only by its Muslim name.

The draft decision, which largely criticizes Israel's actions in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, was proposed by a group of Arab countries and drew harsh rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the move as absurd, saying: "To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or that Egypt has no connection to the Pyramids. By this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it has left."

In a letter from Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett following the vote, Israel announced it will freeze all professional activities with UNESCO.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner also criticized the decision. "We are deeply concerned about these kinds of recurring, politicized resolutions that do nothing to advance constructive results on the ground. And we don't believe they should be adopted," Toner said.

The United States stopped funding UNESCO in 2011 over the organization's acceptance of a Palestinian bid for full membership. Washington had contributed $80 million a year to the organization before then.

In April, UNESCO passed a similar decision that Israel and other countries also harshly criticized.

This week's resolution, put forward by Arab countries including Egypt, Algeria and Qatar, was adopted by a 24-6 vote, with 26 abstentions.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lauded the decision.

"Palestine will continue to defend the rights of our people through all available legal and diplomatic avenues, including UN organizations," a ministry statement said. "Our peaceful agenda will not be derailed by propaganda, nor will our tolerance and adherence to international law by altered by fallacies and cynical spin."

To Jews and Christians, the Temple Mount is the site of the foundation stone on which Adam was created and the site where Abraham came to sacrifice his son Isaac. To Jews, it is also the site of the First and Second Temples. To Muslims, it is the site where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven on his miraculous "night journey."

Responding to Israel's criticism in a statement, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova suggested she wasn't pleased with the decision.

"The outstanding universal value of the City, and the reason why it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, lies in this synthesis, which is an appeal for dialogue, not confrontation," Bokova said. "When these divisions carry over into UNESCO, an organization dedicated to dialogue and peace, they prevent us from carrying out our mission."

Bennett, the Israeli education minister, welcomed Bokova's statement but said it wasn't enough, calling on UNESCO to cancel the decision. "Words are important, but they are not a replacement to the actions of the organization she heads."

The draft decision will go before a full plenary of the UNESCO Executive Board on Tuesday. It will either be adopted unanimously, or be the subject of further debate and a possible vote.

***

RT

Sun, moon and Earth align for stunning supermoon finale to 2016

Published time: 16 Oct, 2016 16:31

This year is closing on a lunar high note with the spectacular ‘supermoon’ phenomenon expected to occur an incredible three times before the end of 2016 - the first of which can be seen tonight.

October 16 is the first night of the year when there will not only be a full moon in the night sky, but it will also be at its closest point to Earth, making it a ‘supermoon’.

The term, according to NASA, was originally given to a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is “within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit”, but it’s now used more broadly to cover any full moon that is closer to Earth than normal.

The moon’s distance from Earth varies depending on which side of its journey the moon is on during its elliptical orbit. ‘Perigee’ is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the opposite side ‘Apogee’.

When the Earth, sun and moon line up during the ‘perigee’ side of the lunar orbit, we get a ‘perigee moon’ or ‘supermoon’.

***

Ancient CODE

Advanced ancient technology beneath Egypt: 100-ton stone boxes baffle researchers

Ultimate evidence a lost ancient technology created before the time of the Dynastic Egyptians. Inside a tunnel system carved out of the solid limestone bedrock in the desert of Egypt, more than 20 granite boxes made of precision shaped Aswan granite are a true enigma. Said by some to have been the burial places of prized bulls, their real function is far more intriguing. B. Foerster.

Ever since people turned towards the study of the ancient Egyptian culture and their achievements through thousands of years, we have been left amazed by everything that ancient cultures were able to achieve thousands of years ago.

A massive amount of evidence is piling up supporting the idea that our ancestors had in their possession, thousands of years ago a technology that we can only dream about today.

This technology allowed ancient cultures like the ancient Egyptians to cut, transport, stack and place blocks of stones weighing up to ONE HUNDRED TONS.

Mainstream scholars tell us this was achieved by sticks and stones. However, places like the Serapeum of Saqqara tell a DIFFERENT story.

Ever since its discovery in 1850, the Serapeum of Saqqara has been a mind-boggling location filled with mystery.

This majestic ancient labyrinth is home to 25 megalithic stone ‘boxes,’ weighing between 70 to 100 tons. The existence of these massive blocks of stone is the ultimate proof that the builders of these incredible ‘boxes’ possessed incredible knowledge in fields such as geometry and mathematics, and had the necessary technology to shape, cut, transport and place into position massive blocks of stone.

Some believe the massive boxes were used as burial chambers, other’s like author and explorer Brien Foerster suggest the truth behind the Serapeum is beyond fascinating and has nothing to do with alleged burial chambers for bulls.

We know that the boxes were not: they were not burial places of bulls.

It is noteworthy to mention that when the Serapeum of Saqqara was discovered, some of the massive boxes were blown open with gunpowder, only to find the inside of these giant boxes empty.

Researchers have no idea what their actual purpose is now how these giant boxes were assembled thousands of years ago.

Interestingly, most of these boxes are made of rose granite, an extremely hard rock mined at a quarry located about 800 kilometers from Saqqara while other boxes were made from an even stronger material, diorite, found even further away from Saqqara.

This makes you wonder; what kind of technology was used in the distant past to precisely cut, shape, transport, and place into position massive blocks of stones that weigh up to ONE HUNDRED TONS?

Is it possible that the knowledge and technology did in fact originate from the stars as many ancient astronaut theorists suggest? Or are we missing something in history, an incredibly important moment in ancient history overlooked by mainstream scholars, a moment that could explain the knowledge and ability of ancient civilizations such as the Egyptian?atching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in

To understand this, we have to look back in history to a period called Pre-Pharaonic Egypt.

In Ancient Egypt, long before the first ‘mortal’ Pharaoh known as Menes-Narmer ruled over the lands of Egypt there were other kings, deities and “those who came from above” who ruled over the land known as Egypt today.

This time in history, the pre-pharaonic period remains a great mystery for most scholars and Egyptologist, mostly because they cannot accept that what is written since it goes directly against the beliefs of most historians, archaeologists, and Egyptologists.

The time before 3000 BC, the date when the first official Pharaoh appeared in Egypt is a great enigma.

***

THE SUN

GIZA LOOK Mysterious ancient ‘anomalies’ spotted inside Great Pyramid of Giza

It is believed this project may finally solve the mystery of the Pyramids of Giza

WILL GRICE 17th October 2016, 12:34 pm

A high-tech imaging project has discovered some groundbreaking anomalies in the ancient Pyramids of Egypt.

ScanPyramids, the company responsible for the study, discovered hidden cavities within the pyramids by analysing their shape with futuristic technology.

ScanPyramid believe they’ve discovered some amazing new areas

Combining infrared thermography with 3D reconstruction and radiography imaging, ScanPyramids was able to find the previously undiscovered chambers, but have not yet given full details on what is housed inside.

According to a statement published by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, one of the anomalies was found in the gateway to the pyramid’s mausoleum (the area where tombs are kept).

The mausoleum is an area that is often filled with Egyptian treasures and secrets.

The announcement came shortly before ScanPyramid’s first anniversary after it was set up as a way to study the interior of Egyptian pyramids via non-invasive methods.

They specialise in using non-invasive ways of exploring

ScanPyramid’s Hany Helal stated that the project will carry out more research in order to identify the nature of the anomalies.

It is believed the anomalies will show areas of the pyramids that are filled with ancient secrets, due to the fact that many areas of the pyramids have not yet been explored.

One of the anomalies was in the area that holds the ancient tombs

The Former Minister of Antiquities in Egypt, Zahi Hawass, has commented saying that “in principle” the project’s contract has been extended for another year.

Meaning we could be one step closer to finally discovering what is hidden inside one of the world’s most mysterious archaeological structures.

***

MailOnline

Kremlin calls Joe Biden's threat to 'cyber strike' Russia 'unprecedented' and pledges to protect itself from the 'aggressive, unpredictable United States'

• Russia called the US's threat to perform a cyber attack 'unprecedented'

• Vice president Joe Biden said America will 'send a message' to Russia

• Kremlin responded by saying it'll do what it must to protect itself from US

• CIA could prepare cyber attack to stop interference with election

• Tensions between US and Russia at their worst levels since the Cold War

• Russia accused of posturing to the world by prepping civilians for conflict

• State-controlled media explains what do should war break out in Russia

By ALEXANDER ROBERTSON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:48, 15 October 2016 | UPDATED: 22:37, 15 October 2016

As tensions continue to escalate between the U.S. and Russia, the Kremlin has called Vice President Joe Biden's threat to 'send a message' through America's own cyber strike 'unprecedented'.

Russia said it would protect itself from a potentially unpredictable attack from the U.S., the New York Post reported.

'The threats directed against Moscow and our state’s leadership are unprecedented because they are voiced at the level of the US vice president.

'To the backdrop of this aggressive, unpredictable line, we must take measures to protect (our) interests, to hedge risks,' a Kremlin spokesman said, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

The Kremlin has called vice president Joe Biden's threat to 'send a message' through America's own cyber strike 'unprecedented'

Just one day early, Biden told NBC News: 'We're sending a message. We have the capacity to do it. It will be at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact.'

U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News the CIA 'had already begun opening cyber doors, selecting targets and making other preparations for an operation'.

Moscow has been accused of posturing to the rest of the world by prepping civilians for potential war, instructing them to check on the availability of bomb shelters and gas masks.

In response, US intelligence officials told NBC News that the CIA is preparing for a possible cyber attack on the Kremlin to embarrass its leadership.

Russia's UN ambassador also admitted on Friday he feels that tensions are at an all-time high.

Vitaly Churkin said that Cold War relations between the Soviet Union and Russia more than 40 years ago were different than U.S.-Russia relations today.

'The general situation I think is pretty bad at this point, probably the worst... since 1973,' he said in an interview with three journalists at Russia's U.N. Mission.

But Churkin said that 'even though we have serious frictions, differences like Syria, we continue to work on other issues ... and sometimes quite well'.

Churkin said that is different than during the Cold War when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israel on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar in October 1973, the Mideast was thrown into turmoil.

And according to historians, the threat of an outbreak of fighting between the Soviet Union, which backed the Arabs, and the United States, Israel's closest ally, during the Yom Kippur War was the highest since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

Churkin said there are 'a string of things' that have brought U.S.-Russian relations to their current low point.

'It's kind of a fundamental lack of respect and lack of in-depth discussions' on political issues, he said.

Churkin said Russia would like to normalize relations with the United States.

'If the change of administration is going to help, that's fine,' he said.

But even if President Barack Obama stayed for another term, which he is barred from doing, 'we would be pushed to trying to get back to normal in our relations'.

Many defense experts believe Russia is not intent on war but is instead throwing its weight around to deter western countries from intervening with Russian bombing in Syria.

Among the 'stunts' carried out by the Kremlin have been state-sponsored television guides on how to prepare in the event of an attack on Russian soil.

State-controlled media has also carried news bulletins warning civilians to familiarize themselves with the nearest bomb shelters and clarifying which government bodies would take command in the breakout of war.

Last week Russia moved nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles into one of its regions on the Baltic Sea - prompting a fearful response from Poland and Estonia.

Russia says the missiles are being deployed as part of regular military maneuvers to Kaliningrad, but it comes amid heightened tensions between the country and the West over Syria.

At the time, Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Poland considers the matter of 'highest concern' and is monitoring the situation.

It comes as the administration of US President Barack Obama prepares for a possible cyber strike on the Kremlin.

The covert operation has been prepped to ensure that Russian hackers are unable to interfere with the Presidential vote in November, NBC News reported.

Earlier this month, reports from Moscow suggested the Kremlin had ordered officials to fly home all relatives living abroad - with some residents claiming it is 'another step towards war'.

The Kremlin is said to have told high ranking officials to bring their loved ones back to the 'Motherland' immediately - with any who disobey being overlooked for promotion.

It follows a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations with the West over Russia's role in the Syria conflict. Putin cancelled a planned visit to France amid a furious row.Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned just days ago that the world is at a 'dangerous point' due to rising tensions between Russia and the US.

***

RT

Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga forces gather on the east of Mosul during ‘Time of victory has come’: Iraq launches operation to retake Mosul from ISIS

Published time: 16 Oct, 2016 23:25

Edited time: 17 Oct, 2016 04:05preparations to attack Mosul, Iraq © Azad Lashkari / Reuters

Iraqi forces begun their operation to retake the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced.

“The time of victory has come and operations to liberate Mosul have started,” Abadi said, in an address broadcast on state television. “Today I declare the start of these victorious operations to free you from the violence and terrorism of Daesh [Islamic State, formerly ISIS/ISIL].”

An offensive to retake Iraq’s second largest city has been planned for months, since Iraqi forces and loyal government militia surrounded Mosul, in the country's north. The city fell to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in June 2014, when the terrorists conducted their offensive on Iraq, overrunning nearly a third of the country.

Before the offensive began, dozens of ambulances were lined up at the frontline ready to ferry out casualties, as thousands of Iraqi troops moved into battle positions, The Washington Post reported.

Ahead of the offensive, the country's air force allegedly dropped leaflets warning the residents of the IS stronghold of the looming US-supported offensive. Iraqi forces have also cut off any escape routes for ISIS fighters.

A day before the offensive, the US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, Brett McGurk, warned of the unpredictability of the Mosul battle.

"This will be a very unpredictable, very dynamic, very uncertain operation," McGurk said, NBC reported. "We do not know what Daesh is going to do in Mosul."

Just ahead of the operation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), warned of the humanitarian catastrophe that the offense could cause, saying that the battle could create a million refugees.

Some 30,000 Iraqi and Kurdish forces are now up against an estimated 3,000 to 4,500 IS militants in Mosul, where approximately 1 million civilians are now caught in the crosshairs.

UN emergency relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien issued a statement expressing his concern for the civilian population in Mosul.

“I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted by military operations to retake the city from ISIL. Families are at extreme risk of being caught in cross-fire or targeted by snipers. Tens of thousands of Iraqi girls, boys, women and men may be under siege or held as human shields,” O’Brian said in a statement.

The UN fears that thousands may be forcibly trapped between the fighting lines, warning that “children, women, the elderly, and disabled will be particularly vulnerable.”

“Depending on the intensity and scope of the fighting, as many as one million people may be forced to flee their homes in a worst-case scenario,” the UN official stressed, calling on the warring parties to respect international law and spare civilian lives.

In addition to Iraqi and militia forces, it is widely believed that US troops could also participate in the offensive. Late last month, President Obama authorized the dispatch of an additional 600 American troops to Iraq to assist with the Mosul operation. Before the announcement, the US had 4,500 troops in Iraq, years after the Obama administration officially withdrew all American troops from the country.

Meanwhile, US Defense Chief Ash Carter has welcomed the offensive on Mosul, calling it a "decisive moment” in the campaign to defeat Islamic State.

“We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL's hatred and brutality,” he said in a statement. “The United States and the rest of the international coalition stand ready to support Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga fighters and the people of Iraq in the difficult fight ahead.”

All News PipeLine

All Hell Is Breaking Loose! Wikileaks 'Dead Man's Switch' Has Been Activated Days After A Mysterious Warnings From Drudge

Susan Ducies

October 17, 2016

Julian Assange's internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans - Wikileaks, October 16, 2016.

Busy Monday morning as we see that Julian Assange's Internet access has been "intentionally severed" by a state party, leading to a trending Twitter hashtag of #FreeJulian, and RT which reported Assange's Internet disruption just had all their UK bank accounts blocked.

As many already know, Wikileaks, founded by Julian Assange, has been dumping a lot of hacked emails pertaining to the Hillary Clinton campaign, thousands in the last week alone, the latest of which relating to Clinton insider John Podesta, which are all compiled in a searchable file at Wikileaks. They have promised tens of thousands more to be released at least once a week up until the November presidential election.

To understand what we may be watching happen right now, we have to go back to June 17, 2016, when Wikileaks posted the following tweet which stated "Protect our coming publications. Torrent WIKILEAKS INSURANCE 2016-06-03 (88 Gb encrypted) https://file.wikileaks.org/torrent/2016-06-03_insurance.aes256.torrent …"

In a followup interview Julian Assange explained what the file was and who it was about, stating "Well lately I heard a lot of threats from US official and this might be the reason for it,but the answer to your question is yes encrypted file with a dead man’s switch and it is about Hillary Clinton but also it contains info for much more government official around the world!"

According to Wikipedia, this type of Wikileaks Insurance has only been used four times since 2010, but the dead man's switch was never activated.

The difference with this Wikileaks Insurance is that on October 16, 2016, Wikileaks provided three apparent "pre-commitment" codes. One at 3:08 pm ET, saying "John Kerry," the second at 3:23 pm ET, saying "Ecuador," and the third at 3:25 pm ET saying UK FCO," all including a key of sorts, a different string of numbers and letters.

Following the release of those tweets, Wikileaks posted the following cryptic tweet, stating "Julian Assange's internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans."

Two interesting points I would like to note here -After the Wikileaks hacked email dump in September, Democratic operative for Clinton, Donna Brazile, publicly tried to intimidate veiwers from reading the leaked emails by claiming they could contain "virus threats," and in this latest data dump on Podesta, Clinton mouth-piece CNN attempted to scare veiwers by telling them "it is illegal to posses these stolen documents. It is different for the media, so everything you learn about this, you are learning from us."

It is quite obvious that Clinton operatives do not want you to see what Wikileaks is exposing.

These three pre-commitment keys were published to Wikileaks Twitter feed as Julian Assange's Internet was "intentionally severed," indicating that we could possibly be seeing the activation of their dead man's switch, and all of this comes just days after Matt Drudge from the Drudge report tweet three posts on October 15, 2016.

Drudge often clears his account of previous tweets, so we have taken screen shots of each one, which will be seen below. The first stated "Media CAN'T cover WikiLeaks Podesta shitstorm - because so much of it involves them! Will take a generation to recover from this corruption." The second came with an image of Hillary Clinton appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, with his text on the tweet saying "Oh, on the sex stuff. Hillary is about to get hers..." The third simply said "The mothership has arrived... @johnpodesta"

BOTTOM LINE QUESTION

Did Drudge know that all hell was about to break loose a day before Assange was cut off and Wikileaks "activated the appropriate contingency plans?"

WND

JULIAN ASSANGE IN MEXICAN STAND-OFF WITH HILLARY CAMPAIGN

WikiLeaks says Internet link severed by 'state party'

Published: 16 hours ago. Updated: 10/17/2016 at 10:00 PM

JEROME R. CORSI

NEW YORK – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, secreted away in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, entered into a “Mexican stand-off” Sunday night with John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.

As the drama unfolded overnight, suspicions built that the Clinton campaign had grown tired of Assange’s daily “drip, drip, drip” release of Podesta emails, with the ninth drop occurring earlier Sunday. A total of 12,073 emails have been released of a suspected trove of 50,000.

Despite being largely ignored by establishment media, the emails have done obvious damage to Clinton’s candidacy through wide circulation on the Internet.

Sign the precedent-setting petition supporting Trump’s call for an independent prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton!

The problem Podesta and the others in charge of the Clinton campaign face is that any attempt to apprehend Assange may not prevent the future release of more adverse emails.

WikiLeaks appears to be giving out clear signals on Twitter that any attempt to apprehend Assange could trigger the release of the most damaging information WikiLeaks holds, not only on Clinton and her presidential campaign, but on the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, on Ecuador and on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Politico reported Monday, meanwhile, a source close to the Clinton family said Hillary Clinton was “not really focused on the hack” but remains worried about the political impact. One longtime aide said “she’s pissed.”

The WikiLeaks drama builds

At 12:33 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, WikiLeaks tweeted: “Julian Assange internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans.”

The tweet suggested the possibility authorities in the U.K., perhaps with the encouragement of the U.S., were in the process of pressuring the Ecuadorian government to release Assange from his current refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy, freeing him to be extradited to the U.S. for criminal prosecution.

Roger Stone, the former Trump adviser known for his outspoken comments, weighed in on theory: “John Kerry has threatened the Ecuadorian President with ‘grave consequences for Equador’ if Assange is not silenced,” he tweeted, adding “Reports the Brits storm the Ecuadorian Embassy tonite while Kerry demands the UK revoke their diplomatic status so Assange can be seized.”

At about 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, WikiLeaks tweeted what appeared to be three “dead man” files, the first dealing with UK FCO [Foreign & Commonwealth Office], the second with Ecuador and the third with John Kerry.

A “dead man” file, in the vernacular of cyber-hackers, is considered a fail-safe measure in which the hacker sets up a file of the most damaging information to be released on the Internet if he is killed.

Speculation immediately developed on the Internet that Assange was dead.

“Praying for Julian. I hope he isn’t dead. This does look like an emergency dead man’s switch,” wrote one Reddit user.

The hacktivist group Anonymous posted what appeared to be live-streaming of British police storming the Ecuadorian Embassy in London at night. But on closer inspection, it became clear the group, in typically mischievous fashion, had simply re-posted an incident that took place four years ago.

At 9:53 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, the U.K. Ecuadorian Embassy Security office tweeted a photograph of Assange holding a sign that read “Transparency for the state! Privacy for the rest of us!”

The sign appeared to confirm Assange was alive and still within the protective custody of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Monday: The Mexican Stand-off Begins

Through the night, Internet experts in the U.S. worked to open without success the three “dead man” files WikiLeaks had posted on Twitter.

During Sunday night, an anonymous post from a source identified as “a low level intelligence officer, not CIA,” appeared to solve the puzzle of why the WikiLeaks “dead man” could not be opened, explaining the posting was aimed not at making the files public, but to make clear the files existed and were ready for release at any time.

The post read:

I’m a low-level intelligence officer, not CIA. The Tweets are SHA256 hashes, not keys. They signify that the files to come are real.

Read it here first: Ecuador has caved to pressure from Clinton & Co. Assange is being extradited. The situation is very fluid and he has threatened to kill himself if removed from the embassy.

The file hash is directed at Sec. Kerry as a direct threat.

No, I don’t have any proof I can share; these are diplo [diplomatic] cables I’m getting this from. But Assange will likely be imprisoned or dead in the next 12 hours.

If they get me for sharing this, at least I died a patriot.

There is no definitive way to determine whether the post is legitimate or another fraudulent scheme designed to build the drama.

What is clear is that Assange, if he can re-establish an Internet connection, will most likely continue the daily release of what WikiLeaks is calling “the Podesta file.”

***

Surviving Global Recession

Today’s Science Has Found That Mixing Honey and Cinnamon Cures Most Diseases

by Aaron DB Savage

April 17, 2016

Interesting stuff!!

Cinnamon and Honey

Drug companies won’t like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:

It is found that a mix of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus.Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain — and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder….who knew?

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it’s delicious too!

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ‘Ingredient’ which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

***

Until next week...keep on believing.
Almondtree Productions
“Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.”

(Proverbs 16:24)