People of the Keys!

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
(Psalm 145:17)

Righteous In All His Ways

Dear Friends,

Greetings! No one can deny that the world today is in one horrible mess. Children being slaughtered and maimed, women and old people suffering in inhumane and hellish conditions. One is tempted to say, and rightly so, why doesn't God stop this unmitigated suffering.

One day, and that day can not be far off, He will!

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7

At the battle of Armageddon, if we understand correctly, according to Zachariah 13 two thirds of the population of Israel is going to be destroyed. God is going to leave a remnant and that because of His name sake. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Now will I turn back captivity in Jacob, and will have mercy on the house of Israel, and will be jealous for the sake of my holy name.” Ezekiel 39:25

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts thereof shall be cut off and perish; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will try them as silver is tried, and I will prove them as gold is proved: they shall call upon my name, and I will hear them, and say, This is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Zachariah 13:8-9

Below are two short dialogues concerning this subject, the first by David Brandt Berg and the second, the author is unknown.

Why Didn't God Stop Hitler?

By David Brandt Berg

“In this age of grace, free will and choice, God won't force you to do His will. The only thing He can do is wipe you out. He can stop you, kill you if you go too far, but the rules of the game now are, He won't make you be good. He can limit you in some way, He's got the power. But my mother used to preach a sermon called, "why didn't God stop hitler?"

Do you know what the answer was? If God had stepped in and intervened and stopped Hitler, He would have had to stop every sinner in the World from doing his sin and wickedness. He would have had to interfere with the power of choice and the free will of man and man's choice in determining his own fate.--And He's not going to do that until the Millennium!--Maybe not even then! (Rev.20:8-9)

He would've had to stop Adam and Eve in the Garden and not just forbidden them to eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil or merely warn them not to eat of it, but He would've had to forcibly prevent them from eating of it. But in order for them to have free will and choice, to demonstrate what would happen if man could have his own way and choose to do evil, for the whole plan of God to succeed in showing the awful consequences of evil and the blessings of doing good, He had to let them go ahead and have their own way. He has let man go ahead and have his own way and do as he pleases ever since, in order to especially save and bless those who voluntarily choose to love and serve Him forever.

It's a gigantic lesson, especially to the whole world and to the entire universe of men and angels (and God knows what other creations throughout space), to let the Earth be an example of what rebellion against God is like and what a mess man and angels can make of themselves and His creation if they do not follow God's laws and obey God, but defy Him.”

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

Another writer adds: “Should God intervene and prevent people from doing bad things? Consider how man is made. The Scriptures say that God created man in God's own image, that is, in God's likeness. Thus, humans have the ability to reflect God's qualities. Humans have been given the gift of free will and can choose to love God and stick to him or doing what is right in their own eyes.

If God coerced people in following a certain course, would He not be nullifying the gift of free will? Why, humans would be reduced to nothing more than machines, doing exactly what they were programmed to do. The same would be true if fate dictated what we do and everything that happens to us. How glad we can be that God dignifies us by allowing us to choose our own course.”

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Romans 9:14, Psalm 145:17, Deuteronomy 32:4

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MailOnline

The sunset that was Heaven-sent: Clouds parting after storm appear to show God-like man looking down on people of Norfolk

The picture was taken by interim company finance director Mr Jeremy Fletcher, 56

He was stood on the beach at Snettisham looking out to The Wash - a wide estuary between Norfolk and Lincolnshire

By TARA BRADY

PUBLISHED: 18:53 EST, 22 July 2014 | UPDATED: 09:04 EST, 23 July 2014
Norfolk laid claim to be 'God's own county' yesterday after an extraordinary photograph of a man with a white beard in the clouds apparently peering over the area emerged.

During recent turbulent weather conditions the clouds momentarily parted at sunset to reveal the image of the God-like bearded man.

The picture was taken by interim company finance director Mr Jeremy Fletcher, 56, from the seashore at Snettisham in the west of the county looking out to The Wash, a wide estuary between Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

Heavens above! During recent turbulent weather conditions the clouds momentarily parted at sunset to reveal the image of the God-like bearded man

The face is looking straight back at Mr Fletcher as he took the photograph and appears to be gazing over Norfolk's famously flat landscape.

Mr Fletcher, of Bray, Berkshire, was in the area for a three-month attachment with a company and took the photograph on an evening stroll along the beach at Snettisham.

'I realised the image looked remarkably like a face of a man with a beard so I took a number of shots on my phone. The face appeared to be looking back towards the shore.

The face is looking straight back at Mr Fletcher as he took the photograph and appears to be gazing over Norfolk's famously flat landscape

Meanwhile, Norfolk councillor and county stalwart Charles Joyce, 62, said: 'Everyone who lives here knows Norfolk is a bit special and now it seems to have been confirmed from above.'Norfolk is England's fifth largest county and has a population of 859,000.

“(The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1)

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The Daily Show
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WND

MUSLIMS FORCE THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS FROM HOMES

'No Western government seems to be standing up or protecting these folks'

Published: July 22,2014

GREG COROMBOS

The rise of a self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq is already responsible for the eradication of Christianity in the historic city of Mosul, and this could be the first step toward much greater persecution in the weeks and months to come.

Even before the rise of the radical Islamists calling themselves the Islamic State, or ISIS, Christianity was greatly endangered in Iraq. Open Doors USA listed it as the fourth worst persecutor of Christians in the world earlier in the year.

“Iraq was already a very dangerous place for Christians because of the weakness of the central government and their inability or unwillingness to protect Christian churches and Christians who wanted to choose for themselves what their religious beliefs were,” said Open Doors USA President and CEO Dr. David Curry, who added that the latest developments in Iraq are making things exponentially worse.

On July 19, ISIS announced every Christian in Mosul had a choice by noon Saturday to convert to Islam, pay a financially crippling tax or leave with no possessions but the clothes on their backs.

“Since June 10, when ISIS came in and took over … it’s been incredibly difficult. Over 3,000 families, just from Mosul, are homeless, are on the run and have had to leave everything and it’s really unprecedented in this modern age to have a group call out this kind of segregation of a religious minority and force them out of their homes with impunity. No Western government seems to be standing up or protecting these folks,” Curry said.

Not surprisingly, the persecution is leading to a significant humanitarian crisis.

“Those that have the resources are heading out of the country entirely,” he said. “Most of them, of course, don’t have the resources to get on a plane and fly out, so they’re heading north into the Kurdistan regions, where there is more security.”

Open Doors USA is racing to meet the physical needs of those heading for an uncertain destination.

“Open Doors has set up response to help the refugees,” Curry said. “We’ve got a project that is giving them food, water, tents, whatever we can do to help them stabilize in their homeless condition and try to acclimate them back into society if possible.”

Curry said those who choose to turn a blind eye to the treatment of Christians in Iraq are making a horrific mistake.

“I think people underestimate how fast this kind of persecution spreads and to our detriment,” he said. “This sort of persecution in the Middle East could certainly spread to other religious groups, like Jewish minorities, certainly Buddhist minorities. When we let this kind of aggression stand, I think it’s a very bad sign for the rest of civilization.”

Curry added, “I think you could see problems in Jordan. I think you could see problems in parts of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. There’s still key parts of Iraq. It certainly is a major shift in the Middle East. I think it could get worse.”

That’s why, Curry said, Western nations need at least to publicly condemn ISIS for this persecution.

“Governments need to stand up and send clear messages of support to the Christian minorities, to do what they can to put diplomatic pressure on these groups and to make this very difficult to happen anywhere else and to hopefully turn the tide in the coming weeks,” he said.

The upheaval of the past 11 years is taking a severe toll on the Christian population in Iraq. Curry said there were a million believers in Iraq in 2003. Now he said some estimates are as low as 300,000.

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CHRISTIAN NEWS

‘Christianity is Abhorrent’: More Atheistic Materials to be Distributed in Public Schools

July 17, 2014

By: Garrett Haley

ORLANDO – A federal judge has given a secular organization the green light to distribute more atheistic and anti-Christian materials to Florida public school students, in spite of the materials’ graphic content and offensive language.

As previously reported, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) learned last year that a Christian ministry had made Bibles available to Orlando high school students on “Religious Freedom Day.” To counter the Bible distribution, FFRF sought permission from the school district to give students a variety of atheistic and anti-Christian materials.

According to reports, the Orange County School Board permitted FFRF to distribute several books and pamphlets, including a booklet entitled “What’s Wrong With The Ten Commandments?” and a brochure entitled “What Is An Atheist?” However, the board prohibited FFRF from giving students several other publications, citing the materials’ “disruptive” and inappropriate content.

FFRF promptly sued the school board for not allowing the distribution of the materials. Eventually, the school board complied with the organization’s demands, giving FFRF permission to distribute the previously-prohibited materials. Then, earlier this month, a district judge officially dismissed the FFRF lawsuit, thus giving the green light to the in-school distribution of atheistic materials.

In a statement released on Tuesday, FFRF praised the school board’s and district judge’s decisions to permit the anti-Christian materials.

“Satanists can distribute their literature, Muslims can distribute the Quran, and atheists can distribute books that criticize religion,” said FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel.

The atheists now promise to circulate “a lot more” secular materials in the future.

“We intend to give out a lot more literature to educate students about atheism and the importance of keeping religion out of public schools,” FFRF member David Williamson proclaimed. “We are even designing new materials specifically for students and families in Orange County.”

The materials approved by the Orange County School Board include a variety of graphic and anti-Christian content, including references to oral and anal sex, a description of God as the “most prolific abortionist of all,” and a number of explicit sexual references and offensive expletives.

Furthermore, the materials repeatedly attack Christian beliefs and doctrines, including the life of Jesus Christ.

“On the whole, Jesus said little that was worthwhile,” alleges the FFRF booklet “Why Jesus?”

“He introduced nothing new to ethics (except hell),” the booklet states. “He instituted no social programs. Being ‘omniscient,’ he could have shared some useful science or medicine, but he appeared ignorant of such things.”

Similarly, the “Dear Believer” booklet attacks the Bible’s message and content in a demeaning first person tone.

“Christianity, besides being false, is also abhorrent,” it alleges. “It amazes me that you claim to love the god of the bible, a hateful, arrogant, sexist, cruel being who can’t tolerate criticism. I would not want to live in the same neighborhood with such a creature! The biblical god is a macho male warrior.”

“Do you see why I do not respect the biblical message?” the booklet adds. “It is an insulting bag of nonsense. You have every right to torment yourself with such insanity—but leave me out of it. I have better things to do with my life.”

Many people have expressed concern at FFRF’s literature, arguing that the graphic, insulting material is inappropriate in a public school setting.

“The Christians wanted to only distribute Bibles to those who wanted them—not force them on anyone, not bash other religions,” one commenter noted. “… Then the atheists got involved, and they wanted to distribute material, not to promote atheism, but to denigrate Christianity and religion in general. They are not content with presenting their belief system, they have to tear down others belief systems.”

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WND

WAKE UP, WEST! RUSSIA MARCHES TO 'HOLY' WAR

Exclusive: Marisa Martin reveals 'the most powerful pieces of art on earth'

Published: July 24, 2014

MARISA MARTIN

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

Something very strange is happening in Russia – stranger than Putin’s fawning female devotees or half nude, Siberian hunting excursions.

Byzantium II is resurrecting – or attempting to – deep in historic Rus.

Drifting ever further into secularism, the West is too busy nailing the doors of the church shut with endless lawsuits and harassments to even notice. Meanwhile back at the Kremlin, Russia looks back longingly to a pre-revolutionary pattern of government … and church.

Evidence abounds in old-world style military expansionism, Russian media, church announcements and even the arts. Not contemporary art, which is still allied closely with European liberalism, but church art, especially icons, which are becoming decidedly martial. What are we to make of it?

Flocks of the faithful venerate even copies of a “miraculous” icon of Tsar Nicholas II. The original in the U.S. is reputed to exude the scent of myrrh. In 1998 the icon was sent by air to circle Russia to call back “the resurgence of Russia” to faith.

Nicholas II and his family are now all considered religious martyrs, murdered only for their faith. This has been a quiet belief ever since their deaths in 1918. Historically there is just enough truth in this to make it plausible. The reds who murdered them were devoutly, God-hating atheists, while the Tsar was utterly pious and partisan. Also the Russian Supreme Court legally exonerated the Romanovs in 2008.

Exclusively and devotedly Russian Orthodox, the tsar wasn’t particularly tolerant with Protestants, Roman Catholics or others. Keeping up tradition, he also continued the anti-Semitism of his fathers, pushing a vast number of Jews from Russia.

In spite of Nicholas’ failures, his mythology and grandeur continue to grow long after death. Shrouded in secrecy, the veneration of the tsars never entirely died – even after seven decades of Marxism – and is mushrooming in popularity now.

Nicholas has taken on a beatific glow of sanctity and holiness unmatched by real life, although he wasn’t particularly awful compared to other czars. Some honorifics surrounding him reveal Orthodox spiritual identity with the last tsar, who is seen as a Christ-like sacrifice for Russia.

The tsar was “anointed with Holy Chrism” and “in the eyes of believers and atheists alike, more than a man.” He is “Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,” the Russian Orthodox Church declares.

Since the regent’s death, he and his family were canonized along with a throng of assorted Russian saints and soldiers.

By killing him the “Bolsheviks were consciously striking at the heart of Russia or, more accurately, at its head,” claims writers of “The Mystical Meaning of the Tsar’s Martyrdom.” Another makes the astonishing claim, “The Tsar has taken the guilt of the Russian people upon himself, and the Russian people is forgiven.”

Tsarist believers advance Nicholas as the “Defender of the Church.” His devotees also attribute the curse of Soviet oppression at the feet of the unjust slaughter of the Romanov family alone. Unlike most Westerners, Orthodox see any attacks on the monarchy as attacks on the church.

Some still believe that Nicholas II was the last representative of lawful, Christian authority in this world, that he personally restrained “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess. 2:27).

Visions of Nicholas come such as this from a sailor (Silaev, with the cruiser “Almaz”): “The Tsar-Martyr in royal purple and a crown, holding a cup filled to the brim with blood. Beside him on the right was a handsome youth – the Tsarevich – in a dress uniform, also with a cup of blood in his hands. Behind them, on their knees, was the whole martyred Royal Family in white garments, and each of them held a cup of blood in their hands.”

There are several paintings and icons with this theme.

Biblical prophecies, as well as historic events and Bible verses, are reinterpreted in this manner. “Touch Not Mine Anointed One ” warns the Alaska Brotherhood with dire descriptions of the wrath to come. And it did come – too late, of course.

Some icons even place Nicholas at the Judgment Seat of God or the right hand of Jesus. A modern icon from the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, “The Opening of the Fifth Seal,” features Nicholas interceding for Christian martyrs in hard times ahead.

Taking a look at the tsars’ titles reveals the scope of Russian power or desire, which seems to be rekindled lately. The full name of Nicholas II from the 1906 Constitution is mighty impressive and ambitious. Remember that the Russian Empire was one of the largest in history, surpassed only by the British and Mongol empires. Perhaps the Finns and others should take note.

Here are a few excerpts from Nicholas’ full name:

“Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias’”

“Titular King of Poland”

“The Grand Principality of Finland (as an inseparable part of the Russian state of course)

“Prince of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Semigalia” (likewise for Georgia being played out now)

“Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein” etc, etc.

Big hunks o’ earth were claimed subject to Nicholas II and considered part of a divine plan to reinstate the Byzantine Empire in Russia. This is quietly encouraged again in some Russian circles, although not highly publicized for obvious reasons.

Statements flying around in recent years confirm this, such as from a website edited by Bishop Alexander of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad: “[Nicholas] was an earthly symbol of the Heavenly King, the protector and upholder of the Orthodox Church in Russia, and the heir of Byzantium. … And, like his father, he too was the head of Russia’s Eastern Orthodox Church. Under Nicholas II, Moscow was still seen as the new City of Constantine, the ‘Third Rome’ (since the 15th century).”

We hear more about the Byzantine Empire, which may be forgotten by the West but not the East. This is very old stuff. Catherine the Great groomed her grandson (Constantine – what else would he be named?) to become the first emperor of a restored Byzantium. That didn’t happen.

Catherine was also concerned over the fate of Orthodox Christians under Ottoman rule, which was generally not good. Today many of these same lands are in Islamic turmoil. Russians aiding Christians in Syria makes them the “good guys,” and the U.S. is reflected on poorly, as we have not helped.

Western conservative Christians cheer when Putin stands up for Christian rights in Syria and other ex-Ottoman territories – and so do I. But if his motives are altruistic, we’ll have to wait and see. Putin’s interest in religious rights is confined to the Russian empire and those of Orthodox faith. It is not planetary.

But this may become a resurrected war of worldviews from antiquity: Byzantium, led (so far) by Russia, against the Ottomans, which have generally fallen to terrorists. If this is our future, it will be difficult to not cheer for the bear-wrestling one.

Patriarch Kirill and Vladimir Putin are almost attached at the hip, espousing a very strong state/church relationship. The Theotokos (icons of “Our Lady of Kazan”) go on before them.

Russia’s national icon is making a comeback in popularity after decades in hiding. The Kazan Lady was “found in a garden” in 1597 and after many centuries embodies Russian nationalism and militarism. This Madonna is a Russian girl to the core. Is this a religious revival, a new imperialist crusade or both? Either way the icons have great significance, as they did long ago. They are not merely ornaments.

Christians have always prayed for peace, protection of their nations and troops, sending priests and chaplains out for this office. We understand this. But Russia’s icons have also been portents of war to come as well as promises of peace.

Russia’s palladium, the “Kazan Mother of God” icon, is their most famed religious icon, but it has a secondary mission: She has been borne into battle for centuries by Russian generals and Emperors. The “Kazan” icon is considered imbued with miraculous power to help in military matters – but only for Russia. Her aid is attributed to fending off (generally successfully) Napoleon and the Turks, Persians, Swedes, Poles and Germans.

So precious is the Mother of Kazan (or Black Virgin) to Russians and belief runs so deep that even Stalin appeared to have used the icon for military purposes. Or perhaps that was just propaganda – who knows? From deep banishment, Mother Kazan’s icon was sent to Stalingrad in 1943 by Stalin for divine help against the Germans – apparently a true story.

Russia’s Lady of Kazan is beginning to see duty again.

In February Putin quietly sent the Kazan icon on a trip to the Crimea. At the time it was assumed it was for a blessing over the Winter Olympics – but far from it. The events in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea soon followed. All this is according to ancient custom of bringing in the icons to bless a military venture.

The important icon “She Who Reigns” was also sent on a highly politicized journey across the world by the Orthodox Church and endorsed by Vladimir Putin. The 2007 venture was highly publicized as a call to “celebrate reconciliation among Russians at home and abroad (since the 1917 revolution).”

Russia’s joint church/state venture receives little fanfare from the Western press, who have no concept of the depth of religious feeling of the mass of humanity. Still, in the U.S., the solid unity, almost theocracy, Putin and Kirill seek for Russia makes both left and right cringe. It is very politically aligned and conveniently supportive of Putin. One wonders, will they need a new Emperor to do this?

Not all Russian Christians are dancing with joy either. After Putin declared a Day of National Unity between the Orthodox Church and the state, many felt alienated. Complaints ranged from the Russian Union of Evangelical Baptists to the leaders of the Communist Party, who called it a “provocation” that would only lead to division. Tatar nationalists detest the Kazan icon, labeling it as symbolic of “the colonial yoke.”

Russian Orthodox consider icons “an entire world that unite our peoples … a consolidating principle.” There are not many important, original icons, and they really aren’t very interesting to look at – especially after you’ve seen them 1,000 times. The art is formulaic and plain, faces unlikely or cadaverous. But their antiquity, purported powers, history and often secret meaning to millions of Orthodox make these little, gilded plaques perhaps the most powerful pieces of art on earth.

Sources: http://www.interfax-religion.com/ R. Monk Zachariah (Liebmann) / The East-West Church & Ministry Report / www.fatheralexander.org / www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org / www.aawsat.net / “The Miracles of the Royal Martyr” / “Eastern America and New York First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad” / www.eastwestreport.org

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CNN

Kerry caught on hot mic: Was he criticizing Israel?

By Shannon Travis, CNN National Reporter

July 20, 2014 -- Updated 2352 GMT (0752 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Secretary of State John Kerry's comments were picked up in between interviews

He was talking to an aide about the situation in Gaza

It appears he was being critical of Israeli assurances of a precision military operation

The White House says Kerry heading to Egypt to pursue an end to the conflict

(CNN) -- Secretary of State John Kerry raised eyebrows Sunday following comments, caught on an open mic, that left some wondering whether he was criticizing Israeli assurances that its ground offensive in Gaza would be limited.

Kerry's comments occurred between multiple television interviews. He was heard in a phone conversation with a State Department deputy, Jonathan Finer, discussing the deaths of Israeli soldiers killed overnight.

"I hope they don't think that's an invitation to go do more," Kerry said in the unguarded moment. "That better be the warning to them."

At that point, Finer is heard mentioning the number of Palestinians wounded and killed in the past 24 hours.

"It's a hell of a pinpoint operation. It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," Kerry said, a seemingly frustrated comment aimed at Israel.

"Right," Finer responded.

Noting that the situation is "escalating," Finer added: "it just underscores the need for a cease fire."

"We've got to get over there," Kerry said, adding, "I think, Jon, we ought to go tonight. I think it's crazy to be sitting around. Let's go."

In a later interview with Fox News, host Chris Wallace played the recording for Kerry.

"When you said 'It's a hell of a pinpoint operation,' are you upset that the Israelis are going too far?" Wallace asked. "And, in fact, do you intend to go back to the Middle East tonight, sir?"

"I think it's very, very difficult in these situations, obviously very difficult, Chris," Kerry replied.

"You have people who've come out of tunnels. You have a right to go in and take out those tunnels. We completely support that. And we support Israel's right to defend itself against rockets that are continuing to come in. Hamas has started this process of rocketing, after Israel was trying to find the people who killed three young -- you know, one American kid, three young Israeli citizens. It's disgraceful."

Kerry continued: "And so, yes, it's tough. It's tough to have this kind of operation. And I reacted obviously in a way that, you know, anybody does with respect to young children and civilians. But war is tough, and I said that publicly and I'll say it again. We defend Israel's right to do what it is doing in order to get at those tunnels."

The State Department said Kerry would travel to Cairo on Monday to meet with Egyptian and other officials about efforts to broker a cease-fire.

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WND (Edited from longer article.)

WILL CLASSIC JOE BIDEN REMARK HAUNT HIM?

Vice president's jab at Putin revealed

Published: July 23, 2014

BOB UNRUH

Vice President Joe Biden, who has called “jobs” a three-letter word, “J-O-B-S,” and praised President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s response on television to the 1929 market crash (even though that happened before his term and television hadn’t been invented yet) has delivered another head-scratching remark.

Only this time the impact could be far more serious than the usual guffaws from those who know the career politician for his gaffes.

The statement was revealed by a profile in the New Yorker, which said that in 2011, Biden met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin and told him, “Mr. Prime Minister, I’m looking into your eyes, and I don’t think you have a soul.”

The profile, which examined Biden’s impact on foreign affairs, quoted the vice president saying of the conversation: “I had an interpreter, and when he was showing me his office I said, ‘It’s amazing what capitalism will do, won’t it? A magnificent office!’ And he laughed. As I turned, I was this close to him. I said, ‘Mr. Prime Minister, I’m looking into your eyes, and I don’t think you have a soul.’”

The New Yorker reporter asked, “You said that?”

“Absolutely, positively,” Biden said. “And he looked back at me, and he smiled, and he said, ‘We understand one another.’”

The report of the exchange prompted speculation about its impact if Biden were to decide to run for president in 2016.

The Wire’s Arit John commented: “Biden has said he has four factors to consider: his family, his motivation, his fundraising ability, and whether he actually has a shot or, in his words, ‘Can you win this thing?’ We’re not sure if his Putin encounter will hurt or help his chances.”

The Moscow Times reported at the time, March 11, 2011, that Leonid Gozman, a leader of Russia’s Right Cause Party, confirmed Biden made the statement to Putin.

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THE INDEPENDENT

Turkish Prime Minister says Israel is 'more barbaric than Hitler'

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel's actions in Gaza had been "disproportionate" and would derail any efforts to try and foster better Turkish-Israeli relations

JACK SIMPSON

Sunday 20 July 2014A A A

Turkey's Prime Minister has lambasted Israel's ground invasion of Gaza and accused the Israeli government of "barbarism that surpasses Hitler".

Speaking at a political rally in the city of Ordu as part of his re-election campaign, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "(Israelis) have no conscience, no honour, no pride. Those who condemn Hitler day and night have surpassed Hitler in barbarism."

Erdogun ,who has been a vocal opponent of Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip, has said that the Israel Defence Forces' actions have been "disproportionate" and would derail any efforts to try and foster better Turkish-Israeli relations.

The comments align with the general mood of anger in Turkey at Israel's continued offensive in Gaza, which has so far seen over 350 Palestinians killed.

Over the past three nights Turkish protesters have hit the streets of Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey’s two largest cities, to rally against Israel’s Operation Protective Edge.

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USAWatchdog

Germany Secretly Planning on Joining BRICS-Jim Willie

By Greg Hunter

July 23, 2014

Financial newsletter writer Jim Willie says no matter who shot down the Malaysian commercial jet over Ukraine recently, there is going to be massive fallout. Willie contends, “Here’s the big, big consequence. The U.S. is basically telling Europe you have two choices here. Join us with the war against Russia. Join us with the sanctions against Russia. Join us in constant war and conflicts, isolation and destruction to your economy and denial of your energy supply and removal of contracts. Join us with this war and sanctions because we’d really like you to keep the dollar regime going. They are going to say were tired of the dollar. . . . We are pushing Germany. Don’t worry about France, don’t worry about England, worry about Germany. Germany has 3,000 companies doing active business right now. They are not going to join the sanctions—period.”

Willie goes on to say, “It’s a war game and Europe is sick of U.S. war games. The defense of the dollar has come to war versus trade. Are you with us or are you against us?” As far as the NSA spying on Germany, Willie says, “I think they are looking for details on assisting Russia on dumping the dollar. I think they are looking for details for a secret movement for Germany to get away from the dollar and join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.) This is exactly what I think they are going to do.”

Willie thinks as countries move away from the U.S. dollar, the money printing (quantitative easing, QE) increases, and the economy gets worse. Willie calls this a “feedback loop” that he contends, “You get the feedback loop from the damage of lost income that comes from the higher costs that comes from QE. It’s not stimulus, people. It’s a back door Wall Street bailout that degrades, deteriorates and damages the economy in a feedback vicious system. . . . You are seeing the free-fall and acceleration of the damage; and, so now, you get even more cost damage. QE didn’t happen by accident. Foreigners didn’t want to buy the Treasuries anymore. They don’t want to buy a bond where the same central bank is printing money to buy the bond! QE raises the cost structure and brings about shrinkage and disappearance of profits. QE is not stimulus. It’s capital destruction. ”

On the so-called “recovery” the mainstream media has been harping on for years, Willie says, “I believe the U.S. has gone into a recession that it is not going to get out of until the dollar is gone. When you factor inflation in properly . . . we got a monster recession of -6% or -7% right now. I don’t think it will get better until the dollar is disposed of. So, we’re entering the final phase of the dollar.”

In closing, Willie says, “You want to get rid of political obstacles? Go straight to commerce and trade. Why is it that Exxon Mobil is still doing projects in the Artic and still doing projects in the Black Sea, which is Crimea, with the Russians and their energy companies? We already got the U.S. energy companies defying our own sanctions, and yet we are prosecuting French banks for doing the same thing. This is insane. We are losing control.

***

THE INDEPENDENT (Edited from longer article.)

Ukraine crisis: PM Arseny Yatseniuk resigns over his country's precarious energy situation

Parliament has blocked legislation to allow a liberalisation of control over Ukraine's gas pipeline system

ANDREW BUNCOMBE

DNIPROPETROVSK

Thursday 24 July 2014

Ukraine’s Prime Minister has announced his resignation, adding to the turmoil in a country which is still dealing with the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as well as a separatist insurgency.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused parliament of putting Ukraine’s future at risk by blocking legislation to pay soldiers and free the country from dependence on Russian oil supplies.

Earlier in the day, President Petro Poroshenko welcomed the departure of two parties from a parliamentary coalition, a move that opened the way for new parliamentary elections to give the country what he called “a full reset”.

Two Ukrainian parties, the nationalist Svoboda, or Freedom, and Udar, or Punch – led by the former boxer Vitali Klitschko – said they had left the majority coalition in parliament to allow a new election. Politicians and activists have complained that while Ukraine has a new President, it has yet to elect a new parliament since the toppling of the pro-Russian leader Viktor Yanukovych in February.

“Society wants a full reset of state authorities,” Mr Poroshenko said in a statement. According to the Ukrainian constitution, the parliament has 30 days to try to forge a new coalition. If that fails, the President then can dismiss parliament and call a new election.

The Parliamentary Speaker, Oleksandr Turchynov, said it was up to Udar and Svoboda to propose a candidate for temporary Prime Minister to lead the government until early parliamentary elections can be held.

***

WHISTLEBLOWER: U.S. SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW UKRAINIAN TROOPS SHOOTING DOWN MH17

Source tells award winning reporter Washington lying about responsibility for tragedy

by PAUL JOSEPH WATSON | JULY 21, 2014

INFOWARS.COM

Award winning former Associated Press reporter Robert Parry has been told by an intelligence source that the United States is in possession of satellite imagery which shows that Ukrainian troops were responsible for the shoot down of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

In the absence of any proper investigation, media rhetoric over the last few days has firmly pointed the finger of blame for the downing of the aircraft on Russian-backed Ukrainian rebels, but Parry’s source tells a different story.

What I’ve been told by one source, who has provided accurate information on similar matters in the past, is that U.S. intelligence agencies do have detailed satellite images of the likely missile battery that launched the fateful missile, but the battery appears to have been under the control of Ukrainian government troops dressed in what look like Ukrainian uniforms.

The source said CIA analysts were still not ruling out the possibility that the troops were actually eastern Ukrainian rebels in similar uniforms but the initial assessment was that the troops were Ukrainian soldiers. There also was the suggestion that the soldiers involved were undisciplined and possibly drunk, since the imagery showed what looked like beer bottles scattered around the site, the source said.

Although the establishment press has attempted to deride any questioning of the official narrative that Ukrainian rebels were responsible for the incident by invoking the tired “conspiracy theory” pejorative, Parry can hardly be dismissed as a crank given his key role in covering the Iran-Contra scandal for the Associated Press and Newsweek. Indeed, Parry’s investigative work on intelligence matters, for which he was awarded the George Polk Award, suggests that the information provided by his source is worthy of serious attention.

U.S. and Ukrainian authorities continue to insist that Moscow-backed separatists were responsible for the tragedy, asserting that a BUK missile system was used to bring down the airliner. However, this was contradicted by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Vitaliy Yarema, who stated, “The military told the president after the passenger plane had been shot down that the terrorists did not possess our Buk missile systems.”

In a related development, audio experts who conducted a study into the authenticity of a recording released by Ukrainian authorities which implicated Russian-backed rebels as being responsible for the missile attack on MH17 concluded that the tape was fabricated.

“The tape’s second fragment consists of three pieces but was presented as a single audio recording. However, a spectral and time analysis has showed that the dialog was cut into pieces and then assembled. Short pauses in the tape are very indicative: the audio file has preserved time marks which show that the dialog was assembled from various episodes, the expert said,” reports ITAR-TASS.

***

KIEV’S EVIDENCE OF MILITIA’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR AIRLINER CRASH FAKED – EXPERT

A group of experts studied the tape and came to the conclusion that it was made up of numerous unrelated recordings

by ITAR-TASS | JULY 21, 2014

A tape posted by Ukrainian security services in the Internet and allegedly recording a talk between self-defense fighters about the destruction of a Malaysian airliner is a fake, experts said on Sunday.

A group of experts studied the tape and came to the conclusion that it was made up of numerous unrelated recordings.

“This audio recording is not an integral file and is made up of several fragments,” said Nikolai Popov, a reputable expert in sound and voice analysis.

Specifically, the first of the three audio fragments, in which Gorlovka self-defense militia commander Igor Bezler talks about a plane shot down by the fighters, does not say anything about the type of the plane, the expert said.

At the same time, the name of the town of Yenakiyevo is clearly heard in the tape. However, the town is located about 100 km (60 miles) from the settlement of Snezhnoye where the Malaysian Boeing-777 airliner crashed.

Bezler said the talk had really taken place but the he had talked about a Ukrainian attack aircraft shot down by the militia above Yenakiyevo a day before the Malaysian airliner crash.

The tape’s second fragment consists of three pieces but was presented as a single audio recording. However, a spectral and time analysis has showed that the dialog was cut into pieces and then assembled. Short pauses in the tape are very indicative: the audio file has preserved time marks which show that the dialog was assembled from various episodes, the expert said.

The tape’s linguistic analysis also shows that those who made the faked tape clearly didn’t have enough material and time, the expert said.

That is why, speech fragments can hardly correlate with each other in terms of their sense and the spectral picture of audio materials also differs, the expert said.

But the most indicative moment is that the audio tape clearly shows that it was created almost a day before the airliner crash, the expert said.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 passenger airliner on the flight from the Dutch city of Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur crashed in the area of hostilities between local militias and Ukrainian governmental troops in east Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Thursday, July 17. All 298 people aboard the airliner died in the air crash.

***

THE INDEPENDENT

Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Vladimir Putin is given 'one last chance' to end hostilities in Ukraine

Kremlin's response to Western leaders' demands is to accusing Washington of 'pushing its own agenda'

OLIVER POOLE

Sunday 20 July 2014

Only six months ago Vladimir Putin was ready to confirm his global eminence with the Winter Games in Sochi – an event to confirm his and his country's restored influence.

Now it appears no more than an exercise in hubris, as the West closed ranks against the Kremlin and the alleged part it played in the circumstances that led to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Germany's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Moscow had a "last opportunity" to stop the conflict.

These sentiments were echoed by Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, having had an "extremely intense" telephone conversation with Mr Putin. He said the Russian President "has one last chance to show he means to help" over the recovery of bodies from MH17.

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, also called Mr Putin to urge him to use his influence to reach a ceasefire. Ms Merkel and Mr Putin agreed that the contact group of diplomats from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Russia and Ukraine should meet quickly and directly with the separatists to reach a truce.

***

RIANOVOSTI

Developing Situation in Ukraine Unacceptable, Counterproductive, Destabilizing - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin

16:30 22/07/2014

MOSCOW, July 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that scenarios in the developing crisis in Ukraine are unacceptable, counterproductive and destabilizing the situation in the world.

“If we return to similar scenarios, as a whole, as I have already said, then this is absolutely unacceptable and counterproductive. This is destroying the modern world and order. Undoubtedly, such methods in regard to Russia won’t work,” Putin said during a Security Council meeting.

“Our people, our citizens of Russia won’t let that happen and they will never accept [this],” he said.

At the moment Ukrainian authorities are carrying out a military operation in the east of Ukraine, fighting against the supporters of independence of southeastern regions, who refused to acknowledge the new government appointed after the coup back in February.

Thousands of Ukrainians flee from the war-stricken regions to Russia seeking refugee status.

The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions against several Russian officials and companies over the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow responded with its own sanctions, releasing a list of US citizens banned from entering Russia.

***

CNN

Traveling to China? Weeks of flight disruptions lie ahead

By CNN Staff

July 23, 2014 -- Updated 0706 GMT (1506 HKT)

(CNN) -- For the next three weeks at least, flying to and within China is going to be a stressful affair, for even the hardiest of travelers.

Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed Monday and China's civil aviation regulator warned that more flights in 12 airports will be affected over the coming three weeks.

The worst affected airports so far have been Shanghai's two airports -- Pudong and Hongqiao -- two of the country's busiest airline hubs. Another 120 flights were delayed for more than two hours.

Domestic travelers have been switching to high-speed trains (Chinese only) after hearing of the widespread delays, leading to severe overcrowding on main rail routes some have likened to the Chinese New Year migration.

Officials and airlines have shed little light on the reasons for the disruptions but local media have suggested the cause is due to military exercises.

Speculation is rife on social media.

"Perhaps I'm ill-informed but I've never heard of any other countries' military exercises affecting civil airlines on such a large scale," posted user @luoyu on Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

"I've also never seen such vast adjustments affecting a quarter of civil airlines' flights in China's history. Whatever is causing the wide-scale delays, it's making history."

What's going on?

Local officials cited "air traffic restrictions" while Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines said "the airspace was occupied," according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper.

"Among situations for air traffic restrictions being imposed are when military maneuvers are taking place," the newspaper added.

CCTV, the state television channel, shared on its Weibo account -- China's equivalent of Twitter -- a widely circulated memo, originally published on a Chinese flight crew blog, that said the civil aviation authority has requested airlines to reduce flights by 25% in eastern China.

Hundreds of flights to and from eastern China were canceled or delayed Monday, with 200 flights canceled at Pudong and Hongqiao. Flights departing from other eastern Chinese cities' airports, including Nanjing and Hangzhou, were also affected.

Where to expect delays

"The following 12 airports will experience massive delays for 26 days! Fliers, bring snacks and water!" the CCTV post said.

"From July 20 to August 15, operations of these airports -- including Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Wuxi, Ningbo, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Zhengzhou and Wuhan -- will be affected by high-frequency exercises conducted by another party. All airlines are requested to reduce flights by 25% and fliers are expected to face delays."

Officials at the Civil Aviation Administration of China declined to comment when approached by CNN.

***

Money News

Another horrific stock market crash is coming, and the next bust will be “unlike any other” we have seen.  

That’s the message from Jeremy Grantham, co-founder and chief investment strategist of GMO, a Boston-based firm with $117 billion in assets under management.  Grantham pulls no punches when assigning responsibility for the coming financial carnage. In a recent interview with The New York Times, he calls Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen “ignorant” and says the Federal Reserve all but killed the economic recovery.  Grimly, he adds, “We have never had this before. It’s going to be very painful for investors.”  Grantham isn’t the only one worried about a market collapse.  “We have no right to be surprised by a severe and imminent stock market crash,” explains Mark Spitznagel, a hedge fund manager who is notorious for his hugely profitable billion-dollar bet on the 2008 crisis. “In fact, we must absolutely expect it.”  Billion-dollar investor Warren Buffett is rumored to be preparing for a crash as well. The “Warren Buffett Indicator,” also known as the “Total-Market-Cap to GDP Ratio,” is breaching sell-alert status and a collapse may happen at any moment. So with an inevitable crash looming, what are Main Street investors to do?

***

Natural News

'Tokyo should no longer be inhabited,' Japanese doctor warns residents regarding radiation

Monday, July 21, 2014 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) In an essay addressed to his colleagues, Japanese doctor Shigeru Mita has explained why he recently moved away from Tokyo to restart his practice in western Japan: He believes that Tokyo is no longer safe to inhabit due to radioactive contamination caused by the March 11, 2011, meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.  The essay, titled "Why did I leave Tokyo?" was published in the newsletter of the Association of Doctors in Kodaira, metropolitan Tokyo. 

Soil tests prove contamination

Dr. Mita opens his essay by contextualizing his decision to leave, noting that he had a long history as a doctor in Tokyo.

"I closed the clinic in March 2014, which had served the community of Kodaira for more than 50 years, since my father's generation, and I have started a new Mita clinic in Okayama-city on April 21," he wrote.

Dr. Mita notes that, for the past 10 years, he had been working to persuade the municipal government of Tokyo to stock iodine pills to distribute to the population in the case of a nuclear accident. Dr. Mita's concern had been that an earthquake might trigger a meltdown at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. All of his requests were rejected, however, under the excuse that there was no reason to expect such an accident.

When the disaster did occur -- albeit at a different plant than Dr. Mita had feared -- Tokyo did not act to protect its population, and still has taken no measures. Yet, based on soil surveys, Dr. Mita noted, "It is clear that Eastern Japan and Metropolitan Tokyo have been contaminated with radiation."

Dr. Mita compares radioactive contamination of the soil (measured in becquerels per kilogram, Bq/kg) in various parts of Tokyo with that observed in various portions of Europe following the Chernobyl disaster.

Prior to 2011, Shinjuku (the region of Tokyo that houses the municipal government) tested at only 0.5-1.5 Bq/kg. Today, levels at nearby Kodaira are at 200-300 Bq/kg.

"Within the 23 districts of Metropolitan Tokyo, contamination in the east part is 1000-4000 Bq/kg and the west part is 300-1000 Bq/kg," Dr. Mita wrote.

For comparison, Kiev (capital of the Ukraine) has soil tested at 500 Bq/kg (Cs-137 only). Following the Chernobyl accident, West Germany and Italy reported levels of 90-100 Bq/kg, and both experienced measurable health effects on their populations.

Dr. Mita notes that the radiation situation in Tokyo is getting worse, not better, due to urban practices of concentrating solid waste in small areas such as municipal dumps and sewage plants. That is why, he says, radiation levels in Tokyo riverbeds have actually been increasing over the prior two years.

"Tokyo should no longer be inhabited, and... those who insist on living in Tokyo must take regular breaks in safer areas," Dr. Mita writes. "Issues such as depopulation and state decline continue to burden the lives of second and third generation Ukrainians and Belarusians today, and I fear that this may be the future of Eastern Japan."

Patients showing radiation-induced sickness

Dr. Mita's essay also chronicles the many cases he has observed of patients presenting with radiation-induced health problems. He notes that, since 2011, he has observed while blood cell counts declining in children under the age of 10, including in children under one year old. In all of these cases, symptoms typically improve if the children move to western Japan. He has similarly observed persistent respiratory symptoms that improve in patients who move away.

Other patients have shown symptoms including "nosebleed, hair loss, lack of energy, subcutaneous bleeding, visible urinary hemorrhage, skin inflammations, coughs and various other non-specific symptoms." He also notes high occurrences of rheumatic muscle symptoms similar to those observed following the Chernobyl disaster.

"Ever since 3.11, everybody living in Eastern Japan including Tokyo is a victim, and everybody is involved," he wrote.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.save-children-from-radiation.org

http://science.naturalnews.com

***

Natural Blaze

10 Amazing Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Although the U.S. FDA has attempted to create a spice scare, the history of cinnamon use spans thousands of years among disparate cultures, rendering FDA claims as nothing more than a ham-fisted desire to assert severe regulatory control over this natural product.

The fact is: quality cinnamon, such as organic Ceylon, is one of the most diverse and inexpensive ways to boost your overall health. Taken moderately it is far safer than what the FDA continues to approve on a daily basis as over-the-counter drug consumption for adults and children.

Cinnamon is a fantastic source of fiber, flavanols, calcium, iron, manganese, and powerful antioxidants. Its ease of consumption offers a pleasing range of dietary compatibility. Cinnamon can also be used topically and even added as a natural fragrance to boost health and sharpen the mind!

The following 10 amazing health benefits of cinnamon have been documented, and clearly demonstrate why this is one spice that needs to be defended instead of eradicated.

1. Gut health - This is key, as gut health is increasingly being shown as the center of a multitude of other problems that formerly have been treated in isolation. Ailments such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diarrhea, acid reflux, indigestion and even chronic pain such as arthritis have all shown the potential to be alleviated through cinnamon consumption.

2. Oral health - This is another key area that is often overlooked as the root cause for many of our ailments. A reduction in tooth decay and gum disease is essential to one's overall health outside of diet and exercise. Cinnamon has natural anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties which help avoid physical deterioration, In the abstract of a study posted at PubMed, we find the mechanism for how this occurs, as well as its superiority over another common essential oil:

A comparative study was carried out between cinnamon oil and clove oil on the oral micro-biota causing dental caries. Cinnamon oil was found to be more effective than clove oil exhibiting broad spectrum of antibacterial activity inhibiting all the ten test bacterial species involved in dental caries. Cinnamon oil produced maximum inhibition zone of diameter (IZD) of 24.0 mm against Streptococcus mutans (major causative bacteria of dental plaque) as compared to clove oil (IZD = 13.0mm). This is contrary to the popular belief that clove oil is effective in tooth decay and dental plaque. This study shows the potential of cinnamon oil over clove oil in the treatment of dental caries. (www.actabiomedica.it).

As an added benefit, cinnamon is the perfect addition to your natural mouthwash and toothpaste for clean breath throughout the day.

3. Mood/mind enhancer - This might be the most comprehensive category among them all. Whether eaten, or used as aromatherapy, cinnamon has demonstrated that it can aid in cognitive function to boost memory and prevent Alzheimer's, reduce irritability and depression (also associated with PMS), alleviate headaches while increasing attention and focus, and can even spice up your sex life. The range of ailments connected to our mood and brain function is endless and cinnamon continues to attract further study as a natural mental health supplement.

4. Lowers blood pressure - A thorough study was conducted in the UK via a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The findings were miraculous:

After intervention, the mean HbA1c was significantly decreased (P<0.005) in the cinnamon group (8.22% to 7.86%) compared with placebo group (8.55% to 8.68%). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were also significantly reduced (P<0.001) after 12 weeks in the cinnamon group (SBP: 132.6 to 129.2 mmHg and DBP: 85.2 to 80.2mmHg) compared with the placebo group (SBP: 134.5 to 134.9mmHgandDBP: 86.8 to 86.1mmHg). A significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) was observed at week 12 compared to baseline in the cinnamon group, however, the changes were not significant when compared to placebo group. There were no significant differences in serum lipid profiles of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterols neither between nor within the groups.

Conclusions

Intake of 2g of cinnamon for 12 weeks significantly reduces the HbA1c, SBP and DBP among poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients. Cinnamon supplementation could be considered as an additional dietary supplement option to regulate blood glucose and blood pressure levels along with conventional medications to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.

These findings have been backed up by another study from the University of Toronto that showed even short-term use of cinnamon can reduce blood pressure.

5. Antibiotic/Immune system - Lizzie Bennett from Underground Medic has served on major catastrophe teams around the UK as an expert in trauma and emergency response; she is eminently qualified to discuss wound treatment and overall health. In her article "Research Proves That Cinnamon Is A Potent Antibiotic" she states that "cinnamon kills a wide variety of micro-organisms" and goes on to cite several studies to back up those claims. Beyond topical applications, cinnamon is consistently a go-to anti-flu, anti-cold remedy, both for prevention as an immune system booster and after onset to alleviate sore throat and congestion.

6. Weight loss - Cinnamon thins the blood, boosts metabolism, and helps to regulate blood sugar levels, all of which increase the likelihood of weight loss when combined with a sound diet and moderate exercise. This is a not a weight-loss silver bullet, but rather a way to jump start a sluggish system and create optimal conditions for extended weight management.

7. Skin care - Cinnamon's anti-bacterial properties can help fight itch and skin rashes associated with insects, exposure to plants and allergens, as well as more complex skin disorders. It is also a drying agent, which can help with acne. As a bonus, it functions as a natural skin repellent that is far safer than over-the-counter toxic synthetic products. Cinnamon's natural heat production also makes it ideal for massages and relief from muscle and joint pain.

8. Cholesterol reduction - In a Pakistani-American study from 2003, researchers measured the patients’ lipid levels, with the following results: total cholesterol was reduced by 12–26%; LDL-cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) was reduced by 7–27%; HDL-cholesterol (“good cholesterol”) was unchanged; and triglycerides (fats) were reduced by 23–30%. All three doses of cinnamon were effective in reducing the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, and all three showed remarkably sustained activity at the 60-day point (20 days after the treatment had stopped).

Another study backed up these findings .

9. Cancer - Many have suggested that sugar is one of the gateways through which cancer emerges and feeds upon. With the above-established positive effects that cinnamon has on blood sugar levels and insulin, perhaps it could aid in cancer treatment? This is exactly what was indicated by a USDA study in 2005 where cinnamon was used as a water-soluble extract from the bark.

These water-soluble compounds are called procyanidins (type A). Another water-soluble component of cinnamon, MHCP (methylhydroxychalcone polymer), was until recently thought to be primarily responsible for cinnamon’s insulin-mimetic properties.

[...]

In the cinnamon study, the USDA researchers used cancer-cell cultures that were undergoing exponential growth.

[...]

In this case, the researchers used three types of human cancer cells: two representing leukemia and one representing lymphoma. The former disease entails the malignant proliferation of leukocytes, a type of cell found mainly in the blood; the latter entails the malignant proliferation of lymphocytes, the predominant type of cell in the lymph. The idea was to see whether a cinnamon extract could inhibit the proliferation of these cancer cells, and if so, how.

Cinnamon Halted Cell Proliferation by Interrupting the Cell Cycle

The results were striking: over a 24-hour period (the time required for one doubling of the cell population), the cinnamon extract dramatically reduced the rate of proliferation in all three types of cancer cells. It did this in a dose-dependent manner, i.e., the higher the concentration of cinnamon extract, the greater the reduction in proliferation rate. At the highest cinnamon concentration used, the cell counts were reduced by about 50% compared with the untreated control cells.

The fact that cinnamon seems to be beneficial for both diabetes and cancer is one bit of evidence suggesting that there may indeed be a connection between these diseases.

Thus, although the control cells proliferated to about twice their original number during the 24-hour period, only about half as many cinnamon-treated cells as control cells were counted, meaning that their proliferation had been effectively halted—not bad for a common kitchen spice!

10. Food preservation - This one might come as a bit of a surprise, but makes sense in light of cinnamon's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It's clearly a great addition to your prepper and survival pantry, while providing added protection to your daily meals, or even in your travels. From Cinnamon Vogue:

Cinnamon is effective in inhibiting bacterial growth. This maybe one reason why it is widely used in food preparation in hot Asian countries. In Sri Lanka, virtually every dish has a pinch of Cinnamon in it. In addition to great flavor, Ceylon Cinnamon in combination with other spices like Turmeric and Chili may have been an indigenous solution to preserve food without a refrigerator. This study for using Cinnamon Oil coated paper as a preservative found a 6% Cinnamon Oil solution was responsible for complete inhibition of mold in sliced bread packaging. This study listed on Feb 2013 also found cinnamon oil effective in developing insect resistant food packaging film. Cinnamon also came on top in this study, even against All spice and Clove Oil as very effective for making edible food film.

Does the above list of benefits sound like a product that should be targeted for restriction? Or rather one that should be sought as a virtual holy grail of enhanced health and longevity. And, hey, even if it did nothing, it tastes and smells great!

***

Until next week...keep on believing.
Almondtree Productions

“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”
(Proverbs 7:17)