UPDATES ARCHIVE FOR APRIL 2005
HOME PAGE	Kleiner's Korner For Week of April 25, 2005 Many of you are KK readers because you are current RSE students, former RSE students, family members of RSE students or advocates of what you learned in the hit movie “What The Bleep Do We Know.” For whatever reason you turn to these pages, you know this writer’s respect and affection for Ramtha's Channel JZ Knight and the deep appreciation for the impact she has made in this writer's life. JZ gave a fabulous talk open to the public in the Yelm Timberland Library on April 13th. Since this story did not make the local paper’s website, I will quote their report here in honor a fabulous lady and her outrageous knowledge she shares with the world: Knight draws crowd at Library appearance By Delynne Troy Nisqually Valley News Ramtha School of Enlightenment’s JZ Knight spoke to community members last week in the living room of the Yelm Timberland Library. About 120 people gathered for Knight’s talk, her second high profile appearance in Yelm since March 31, when RSE hosted the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. During last Wednesday’s presentation, Knight said she was raised in a multicultural community of migrant “cotton pickers” whose bonhomie served as a model for future interactions. Knights also talked about the evolution of Yelm’s library: of the hard work to make it a reality, one that can be utilized and enjoyed by all. Knight said she was illiterate when she entered third grade. Knight told the audience that she credits the kindness and generosity of her third grade teacher with introducing her to literature. Knight said she discovered that she loved stories. The written word, she said, led to a desire to know and understand the world around her. "We can know anything,” Knight said, as she related her growth from illiteracy to winning a ninth grade mathematics award. Through learning, knowledge, and self-discovery, Knight said, people can overcome prejudices whose bases are grounded in ignorance. She urged listeners to “establish a knowledge base from hands-on experiences” and use such information to pass on an awareness and a love of learning to future generations. “Skilled writers create a fire in the brain,” said Knight, referring to what she called “theater literature creates in the mind.” Knight also expressed a love of poetry and the innate cadence and musicality a reader experiences while pursuing the works of classic poets, such as Tennyson, one of her personal favorites. “Have a relationship with knowledge,” Knight said. “Do good works” for the library, such as donating to the library, or actively involving themselves in setting examples for children to use and gain knowledge that can be found in any library. copyright, 2005 Nisqually Valley News . JZ Knight will also be speaking this weekend at the Prophets Conference in Boulder, CO. which is open to the public and can be accessed here: link here About JZ Knight from her website: link here What is a Channel [Ed. Note: an often abused and misunderstood term]: link here JZ has given several fabulous talks in the last 6 months that are now available to the public on DVD: - JZ Knight’s Keynote Address to: Gather the Women 2004 International Congress October 15, 2004 Dallas Texas link here - JZ Knight's live radio interview on Beyond the Ordinary.net September 24, 2004. You can listen online or order the CD, which this writer did and listened while driving just last week. I was deeply touched by what I learned from this talk. link here - JZ Knight's presentation at the February, 2005 Prophets Conference in Santa Monica, CA, which this writer and his wife attended. Highlight of this CD set is JZ teaching "sending & receiving" and expanding on Dr. Joe's "Create the Day" talk from the movie What The Bleep. link here then scroll down to "JZ Knight" . QUOTE OF THE WEEK "'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) In Memoriam A. H. H. (1850) canto 27. Cf. Congreve 215:3 . Kleiner’s Korner is copyrighted by Stephen R. Klein, 2005. For archived issues of Kleiner’s Korner, click on “Current Kleiner’s Korner and Archives” at link here Send comments to steve@kleinerskorner.com . Kleiner's Korner Special Edition For April 19, 2005 Dear KK Reader, Yes, this website is dedicated to news of science, medicine, the environment and human achievements. However, I wish to pen my thoughts of today's events which directly affect the lives of over one sixth of this world's population. With the election of a new Pope, this writer views this day as a continuation of the Holy Mother Church holding onto the past and enslaving her people. Benedict 16 has always been known as the "Enforcer of Dissent" to maintain a rigorous conservative policy amongst John Paul II's Cardinals snuffing out any liberal view. Although John Paul II was a much beloved figure, his policies underscore a Church that : 1. withholds rights among women. 2. will not let priests marry. 3. does not support birth control and the use of condoms or the pill, or even entertain the thought of abortion under any circumstances. 4. would not sign the European Council's Declaration of Human Rights whilst saying that support of human rights is sacrosanct. 5. exonerating Gallileo and barely mentioning a thing of performed attrocities to Giordano Bruno and the thousands of others tortured in the Church's name during the Inquisition. These items have been mentioned in several venues willing to have the courage to speak out and above the great persona of the former Pope. Nowhere was this more eloquently written than in Pope John Paul II's Europe from Germany's Der Spiegel Magazine, submitted by a KK reader in this article titled The Pope's [John Paul II] Contradictions: link here At age 78 currently, look for a few vibrant years from Benedict 16th and then the ravages of age taking a toll with a papacy short on length and change and long on holding on to enslaving traditions of the past. As has been stated via many news sources all day, this is a transitional Pope. Where is a Pope guiding the spiritually hungry to a future of hope??? Unfortunately, not this day! However, this writer does see a day in our lifetime when humanity will remove the shackles of superstition, fear, hidden truths and agendas perpetrated by world religions and reach for the knowledge that every human being is divine with the understanding that we are not separate from God, rather God lives within us all. Stephen R. Klein April 19, 2005 . Kleiner’s Korner is copyrighted by Stephen R. Klein, 2005. For archived issues of Kleiner’s Korner, click on “Current Kleiner’s Korner and Archives” at link here Send comments to steve@kleinerskorner.com . Kleiner's Korner For Week of April 18, 2005 Remember the 35th annual Earth Day is April 22, 2005 all over the USA: link here "By Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked. Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political "limelight" once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour. I flew to Washington to discuss the proposal with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who liked the idea. So did the President. The President began his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issue onto the national political agenda. However, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day." link here 1. There were so many media outlets and bloggers weighing in on the USA debut of the Discovery Channel showing of SuperVolcano on Sunday, April 10th that all you have to do is "Google" the word "supervolcano" and you will find any number of stories. Here is a quote from the Casper, WY. Star Tribune, almost at the epicenter of Yellowstone's caldera depicted in the film, "The fictional plot of "SuperVolcano" -- produced by BBC Science and The Discovery Channel -- revolves around a series of violent eruptions at Yellowstone National Park that send vast amounts of rock, gas, and ash over three-quarters of the United States. It causes a 'volcanic winter,' devastating global agriculture and resulting in mass starvation. The program is based on extensive scientific research about a real-life 'supervolcano' under Yellowstone that has erupted before -- 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago, and 640,000 years ago. The three eruptions, respectively, were about 6,000, 700, and 2,500 times larger than the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State." link here And the Discovery Channel's SuperVolcano site [Ed. Note: Turn up your volume.] link here . 2. "WHY DID SO MANY ANIMALS SURVIVE THE TSUNMAI WHEN HUMANS PERISHED?" This writer read a fascinating story in The Ecologist Magazine written by Rupert Sheldrake, mentioned here several times the last 4 years, with the aforementioned title. "Many animals escaped the great Asian tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004. Elephants in Sri Lanka and Sumatra moved to high ground before the giant waves struck; they did they same in Thailand, trumpeting before they did so. According to a villager in Bang Koey, Thailand, a herd of buffalo were grazing by the beach when they “suddenly lifted their heads and looked out to sea, ears standing upright.” They turned and stampeded up the hill, followed by bewildered villagers, whose lives were thereby saved. At Ao Sane beach, near Phuket, dogs ran up to the hilltops, and at Galle in Sri Lanka dog owners were puzzled by the fact that their animals refused to go for their usual morning walk on the beach. In Cuddalore District in South India buffaloes, goats, and dogs escaped, and so did a nesting colony of flamingos that flew to higher ground. In the Andaman Islands “stone age” tribal groups moved away from the coast before the disaster, alerted by the behaviour of animals. How did they know? The usual speculation is that the animals picked up tremors caused by the undersea earthquake. This explanation seems to me unconvincing. There would have been tremors all over Southeast Asia, not just in the afflicted coastal areas. And if animals can predict earthquake-related disasters by sensing slight tremors, why can’t seismologists do so?" link here In Mr. Sheldrake's "recent book, 'The Sense of Being Stared At,' I summarize a large body of evidence for unusual animal behaviour before earthquakes, including recent earthquakes in California, the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan, and the 1997 earthquake in Assisi, Italy. In all cases there were many reports of wild and domesticated animals behaving in fearful, anxious, or unusual ways several hours or even days before the earthquakes struck. The same is true of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey, with its epicentre near Izmit. Dogs were howling for hours before the earthquake, and many cats and birds were behaving unusually. link here Sheldrake's " MORPHIC FIELDS AND MORPHIC RESONANCE. - An Introduction" link here The Ecologist Magazine is worth your consideration for a subscription: link here Sheldrake’s books can be ordered at link here . 3. STUDY: KING TUT LIKED RED WINE “Ancient Egyptians believed in properly equipping a body for the afterlife, and not just through mummification. A new study reveals that King Tutankhamun eased his arduous journey with a stash of red wine. Spanish scientists have developed the first technique that can determine the color of wine used in ancient jars. They analyzed residues from a jar found in the tomb of King Tut and found that it contained wine made with red grapes. This is the only extensive chemical analysis that has been done on a jar from King Tut's tomb, and it is the first time scientists have provided evidence of the color of wine in an archaeological sample. The report appears in the March 15 edition of Analytical Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. The earliest scientific evidence of grapes is from 60-million-year-old fossil vines, while the first written record of winemaking comes from a much more recent source, the Bible, which says Noah planted a vineyard after exiting the ark,” quoting the American Chemical Society story in ScienceDaily. link here . 4. FOLLOW-UP: "RESVERITROL IN PEANUTS STORY" CAUTION A KK reader sent in this comment about this story in last week’s KK: “David Steinman, an impeccable researcher who published Diet for a Poisoned Planet in 1990, researched and rated grocery store foods in each geographical region of the U.S., as to levels of neurotoxin residues and other cancer causing pesticides in a range of foods from water, wine, and dairy, fruits and veggies, grains, meats, seafoods, eggs, etc...Which brings us to PEANUTS. David organized foods into Green Light (low toxins), Yellow Light (quite high), Red Light (fast overload to the body). He lists only two RED LIGHT foods in the vegetable-fruit section: Peanuts and Raisins.” Steinman’s book is available online at link here Then type in “Diet for a poisoned Planet” and click “Search” And, all-ways trust your own knowingness! . 5. WA. SENATOR CANTWELL FIRST TO PROMOTE BIODIESEL “’I think we need to make a significant change now,’ said Sen. Maria Cantwell, who toured Plaza's facility on Sunday [Apr. 10]. Cantwell is proposing to expand Federal tax incentives for biofuels and to triple research and development. The program would cost at least $6 billion. Cantwell has been a vocal opponent of President Bush's plan to drill for oil in Alaska,” quoting Seattle KING-5 TV. link here And Senator Cantwell’s site on this subject: link here And the Northwest Biodiesel Network, covered here previously and worth a repeat: ”Our mission is to promote the use of biodiesel in the Northwest as an immediate and effective way to advance environmental health, economic strength, and social and political well-being in our communities, our nation, and the world. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made which is primarily made from any vegetable or animal oil source. In the United States the most common source is soybean oil. Waste vegetable oil (left over from deep fryers) can also be used. Biodiesel is CO2 neutral. All of the carbon in biodiesel was recently captured by the plants which were grown for the seed stock. This is very different from petroleum based fuels which are releasing carbon that was captured millions of years ago (hence the term DinoDiesel). Most other emissions are also lower than petroleum based diesel. link here . 6. STUDY: EARTH HAD MUCH HYDROGEN IN ATMOSPHERE EARLY ON "A new University of Colorado at Boulder study indicates Earth in its infancy probably had substantial quantities of hydrogen in its atmosphere, a surprising finding that may alter the way many scientists think about how life began on the planet. Published in the April 7 issue of Science Express, the online edition of Science Magazine, the study concludes traditional models estimating hydrogen escape from Earth's atmosphere several billions of years ago are flawed. The new study indicates up to 40 percent of the early atmosphere was hydrogen, implying a more favorable climate for the production of pre-biotic organic compounds like amino acids, and ultimately, life," quoting University of Colorado. link here . 7. LOVE THOSE DIETS? – DIETS DON’T WORK! ”It's no secret that Americans are fat -- and getting fatter by the burger. Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are overweight, and another third are technically obese, as defined by a body-mass index of more than 30. And Americans aren't happy about it. Last year, we spent an estimated $46 billion on diet products and self-help books. Much of that money is wasted. Indeed, a government review found that two-thirds of American dieters regained all the weight they had lost within a year, and 97 percent had gained it all back within five years. And following these regimes is significantly more expensive than the tried and true technique of eating less and exercising more," quoting Forbes. link here . 8. EVER HEARD OF POLYMEAL? NEITHER HAD THIS WRITER This writer read a fabulous story in AARP Magazine about the Polymeal. Although the AARP Magazine article is not available online, this story about the "Polymeal" from WebMD.com sums up what AARP reported: "Here's a new recipe for heart disease prevention: Grab a handful of dark chocolate, a couple of almonds, some fruits and vegetables, and a sprinkle of garlic. Wash it all down with a glass of wine [make that 2 or 3]. Do this every day, and researchers say you'll cut your risk of heart disease by a whopping 76%. The diet, [Ed. Note: This is NO diet. This is eating smart! I love 'em all] dubbed the "Polymeal," is a combination of foods that have been individually shown to reduce one's risk of heart disease. It includes all of the above-mentioned items eaten on a daily basis, plus fish four times a week. Ingredients can be combined as a meal or taken individually throughout the day." link here . 9. BUSH COST-CUTTING COULD END 28-YEAR VOYAGER BUDGET “In a cost-cutting move prompted by President Bush's moon-Mars initiative, NASA could summarily put an end to Voyager, the legendary 28-year mission that has sent a spacecraft farther from Earth than any object ever made by humans. The probable October shutdown of a program that currently costs $4.2 million a year has caused consternation among scientists who have shepherded the twin Voyager probes on flybys of four planets and an epic journey to the frontier of interstellar space,” quoting the Washington Post. link here . 10. BUSH ECONOMY FINALLY HITTING HOME - AS PREDICTED BY THIS WRITER "For the first time in 14 years the American workforce has in effect gotten an across-the-board pay cut. The growth in wages in 2004 and the first two months of this year trailed inflation, compounding the squeeze from higher housing, energy, and other costs. The result is that people like Victor Romero are finding themselves falling behind. The 49-year-old film-set laborer had to ditch his $1,100-a-month Hollywood apartment because his rent kept rising while his pay of $24.50 an hour stayed flat," quoting the LA Times. link here . 11. GET ANYONE’S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FOR A SONG “It's $35 at link here [this link quoted in this article does not work] & link here , where users can also sign up for a report containing an individual's credit card charges, as well as an e-mail with other 'tips, secrets, & spy info!' The Web site Gum-shoes.com promises that "if the information is out there, our licensed investigators can find it.’ Although Social Security numbers are one of the most powerful pieces of personal information an identity thief can possess, they remain widely available and inexpensive despite public outcry and the threat of a congressional crackdown after breaches at large information brokers,’" quoting the Washington Post. link here . 12. YELM SPEAKERS RFK JR. & DR. BRUCE LIPTON PUBLISH NEW BOOKS During RFK Jr’s recent appearance in Yelm, he mentioned privately he was coming out with a wonderful children’s book titled, Saint Francis of Assisi Order yours online at link here Then type in Saint Francis of Assisi and click “Search.” Dr. Bruce Lipton, who has spoken in Yelm several times, has published a groundbreaking work in the field of new biology. His experiments, examining in great detail the molecular mechanisms by which cells process information, have revealed that genes do not in fact control our behavior, instead genes are turned on and off by influences outside the cell, and is laid out in "Biology of Belief." Order yours online at link here then type in “Biology of Belief” and click “Search” . OF LOCAL NOTE: JZ Knight of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment and channel for Ramtha the Enlightened One will be speaking at Evergreen State College on April 22 at 7 PM and ending at 9 PM. The doors will open at 5:PM - The public is invited including the Evergreen community and RSE students: Evergreen State College, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA, 98505, (360) 867-6000. The event will be held at the Gymnasium, which seats 4000. The cost is $5.00 with proceeds going towards the consciousness studies program at Evergreen. link here then scroll down to : "JZ Knight's Upcoming Speaking Events" The Yelm Commerce Group has formed to bring public awareness to the local public about the impact "big box" stores will have on this town's pristine rural character. They are accepting donations at: Yelm Commerce Group P. O. Box 1616 Yelm, Wa. 98597 . CORRECTION: True Messiah is sold online at link here type in "true" and scroll to True Messiah. "In this narrative Phillip Malpas overviews the life story and wanderings of the Pythagorean teacher Apollonius of Tyana. Considered by his contemporaries the greatest spiritual influence of the time, his wisdom and story are here insightfully presented. To some he was the Messiah figure himself whose life and wisdom paralleled in many ways that of Jesus Christ," quoting the RSE website for the book "True Messiah" which is available for purchase from there online. . QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Twenty years after her disappearance, Princess Grace is always present in our hearts and in our thoughts. …carrying out to perfection her role as spouse and mother.” Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1923-2005) Who penned this preface in a royal palace published glossy book on the 20th anniversary of his beloved’s (Princess Grace Kelly) death in 2002. Rainier passed this plane on April 6th, as Europe’s longest reigning monarch. . Kleiner’s Korner is copyrighted by Stephen R. Klein, 2005. For archived issues of Kleiner’s Korner, click on “Current Kleiner’s Korner and Archives” at link here Send comments to steve@kleinerskorner.com . Kleiner's Korner For Week of April 11, 2005 Dear Readers, While the prayers of 1.2 billion of his constituents nor any church doctrine could not save the Holy See, other important news was relegated to the back pages and out of mind of many during last week's funeral of the pontiff. However, here are some of those stories this writer found of interest. [Ed. Note: This writer knows the “unsubscribes” and comments will be many this week, as with any similar thought-provoking observation this writer makes here about the hypocrisies of world religions.] 1. PEANUTS HAILED FOR NUTRITIONAL VALUE & RESVERITROL CONTENT "Peanuts, a dietary outcast during the fat-phobic 1990s, have made a comeback, with consumption soaring to its highest level in nearly two decades and more doctors recommending nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet... When peanuts were out of favor in the last decade, American consumers seemed to overlook the respectable list of nutrients - vitamin E, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and minerals such as copper, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and magnesium. They also are a good source of fiber and protein. Peanuts also have a small amount of resveratrol, the antioxidant in red wine that has been linked to the "French Paradox" - a low incidence of heart disease among the French, despite their love of cheese and other high-fat foods. Research at several universities suggests peanuts may help prevent heart disease, that they can lower bad cholesterol and that they can help with weight loss, possibly by making people feel satisfied so they eat less overall. One Harvard study showed an association between peanut butter consumption and a reduced risk of diabetes. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a qualified health claim for peanuts and some tree nuts. Producers can say they may reduce their risk of heart disease by eating 1 1/2 ounces daily," quoting the AP. link here . 2. SCIENTISTS LOCATE “SENSE OF HUMOR” GENE "Scientists today [Apr. 1] announced they have located a gene apparently responsible for a person’s sense of humor. The finding may provide potential drug targets for those who “just don’t get it.” Scientists have debated for years whether humans are really unique among other animals in their ability to find things funny. One thing that most researchers do agree on, however, is that, though widespread, the ability is not shared by all people," quoting Science Magazine. link here . 3. SENSE OF HUMOR NEEDED FOR THIS STORY "More than a mile below the choppy Gulf of Mexico waters lies a vast, untapped source of energy. Locked in mysterious crystals, the sediment beneath the seabed holds enough natural gas to fuel America's energy-guzzling society for decades, or to bring about sufficient climate change to melt the planet's glaciers and cause catastrophic flooding, depending on whom you talk to. No prizes for guessing the US government's preferred line. This week it will dispatch a drilling vessel to the region on a mission to bring this virtually inexhaustible new supply of fossil fuel to power stations within a decade. The ship will hunt for methane hydrates, a weird combination of gas and water produced in the crushing pressures deep within the earth - literally, ice that burns. The stakes could not be higher: Scientists reckon there could be more valuable carbon fuel stored in the vast methane hydrate deposits scattered under the world's seabed and Arctic permafrost than in all of the known reserves of coal, oil, and gas put together. ‘The amount of energy there is just too big to ignore,’ said Bahman Tohidi, head of the centre for gas hydrate research at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. ‘It's not easy, but it's not something we can say we can't do, so let's forget about it,’" quoting UK’s the Guardian. [Ed. Note: More harm to Mother Earth as more of her life force and blood is removed. Big oil just does not get it. They still want their last gasp. This way of life is over. Time to be responsible and take care of our home. Focus on hydrogen…. More unsubscribes!] link here . 4. MAYBE SOME COMPANY DOES ‘GET IT’ "General Motors Corp. rolled out the world's first drivable fuel cell truck Friday [Apr. 1] and handed over the keys to an exacting patron: the Army. The olive-green pickup took a demonstration spin around GM's fuel-cell development center in rural upstate New York, carrying Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Brig. Gen. Roger Nadeau, commander of the Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command," quoting the AP. link here . 5. SPORTS DRINKS HURT TEETH, STUDY SAYS ”Some popular flavored sports and energy drinks destroy tooth enamel more effectively than cola drinks and other sodas, and at least one brand of bottled lemonade may be among the most destructive, a study has found. Dr. J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, a professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School, and Dr. Matthew Rogers, an Air Force dentist, exposed dental enamel from extracted teeth to 12 different brands of soft drinks, including colas and other carbonated sodas, iced teas, lemonade, and energy and sports drinks…Carbonation, the authors say, is not an important factor in dental erosion…Of all the drinks, Coca-Cola did the least damage to the test teeth by a considerable margin…The harm, the authors say, is caused by polybasic acids, which are particularly effective at dissolving enamel. Calcium chelation, the chemical binding of calcium in the enamel with substances in the beverage, may also play a role,” quoting this New York Times article published in the San Francisco Chronicle. link here . 6. BLUE LIGHT TO THE RESCUE HEALING GUM DISEASE “Mini 'light sabres' might one day replace the toothbrush in the ongoing battle against gum disease and tooth decay, as scientists are working on a new hand-held device that kills only the “bad” bacteria. The researchers, from the Forsyth Institute in Boston, US, say that just 2 minutes of oral illumination with the new device every day should be enough to prevent, control, or treat gum disease. The blue light emitted will be more effective at eradicating harmful bacteria than antiseptic mouthwash, they say. 'The patient feels nothing when blue light is applied to the dental pocket - the area between the teeth and the gums where dental plaque resides,' says researcher Nikos Soukos. ’We think it will be particularly beneficial to those who don't like using a toothbrush.’ Soukos' team reports that the light kills the bacteria associated with gum disease but leaves 'good' bacteria intact,” quoting New Scientist. link here . 7. U. S. HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM THREATENED “Declining enrollments of foreign students at U.S. universities, caused in part by tighter security restrictions imposed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, threaten the nation's higher education system, economy, and even security, a top Senate Republican said Monday [Apr. 4],” quoting the San Francisco Chronicle. link here . 8. CAPITOL HILL REPUBLICANS AGREE ALLOW STEM CELL FUNDING VOTE - HMMM! "The quiet of Easter recess on Capitol Hill was interrupted last week by stunning news that Republican leaders of the House had changed their position on allowing a vote for federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research opposed by President Bush," quoting CNN. [You just gotta read this story! You be the judge of why we have such arcane chicanery among our representatives in Congress. Praise here for Castle; whatever it takes!] link here "With the Bush administration refusing to budge from its restrictive policy on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, the states have begun to take up the gauntlet. As many as 20 states have legislative proposals to curb embryonic stem cell research in one form or another. But nearly half of those sates [sic], following California's lead, are looking at measures that would support the controversial research with state tax or bond dollars. That adds up to a lot of legislative activity across the country, all of it having a significant impact on science today and tomorrow," quoting Stem Cell Research News. link here . 9. NOW PUGET SOUND ORCAS POSSIBLY THREATENED BY NAVY SONAR “Scientists and whale-watchers in Haro Strait could hear the sonar long before they saw the USS Shoup. As the pings grew louder above and beneath the waves, sounds ricocheting off submerged land forms, onlookers saw a minke whale, Dall's porpoises, and killer whales behaving strangely. Whale expert David Bain said a minke, usually wary of research boats, was nearly run over by one. The porpoises panicked, bolting from the unnatural sounds. A pod of orcas swam into an unusual area, hid for a while, then split up, reuniting a day later… The agency is still ‘taking seriously the possible effect of ambient sound in the environment and its effect on killer whales,’ and is pursuing a killer whale recovery plan, Gorman said. The Fisheries Service has proposed adding the resident orcas to the threatened species list. The whales, which number between 85 and 90, are classified as endangered by the state of Washington. Some environmentalists said the analysis demonstrates increased government concern about sonar's potentially harmful effects,” thanks to this thorough report by the Seattle PI. link here Further, the Seattle Times reports "A prolific and potentially toxic fire retardant is showing up in Puget Sound marine life ranging from tiny herring to massive killer whales, raising alarms among scientists who warn it could become the next big toxic threat to underwater animals." link here . 10. WA. GOVERNOR SIGNS FIRST U. S. LAW FOR GREEN BUILDINGS “Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign the 'high performance green buildings' bill at Washington Middle School in Olympia at 9 a.m. Friday, April 8. The bill, ESSB 5509, sets new construction standards for state and school district buildings that will reduce water and energy use. It is the first such law in the nation,” quoting the Governor’s website. link here . 11. “PLANET EARTH ON CUSP OF DISASTER” ”'Planet Earth stands on the cusp of disaster and people should no longer take it for granted that their children and grandchildren will survive in the environmentally degraded world of the 21st century.' This is not the doom-laden talk of green activists but the considered opinion of 1,300 leading scientists from 95 countries who will today publish a detailed assessment of the state of the world at the start of the new millennium. The report does not make jolly reading. The academics found that two-thirds of the delicately-balanced ecosystems they studied have suffered badly at the hands of man over the past 50 years. The dryland regions of the world, which account for 41 percent of the earth's land surface, have been particularly badly damaged, and yet this is where the human population has grown most rapidly during the 1990s. Slow degradation is one thing but sudden and irreversible decline is another. The report identifies half a dozen potential "tipping points" that could abruptly change things for the worse, with little hope of recovery on a human time scale. Even if slow and inexorable degradation does not lead to total environmental collapse, the poorest people of the world are still going to suffer the most, according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which drew on 22 national science academies from around the world,” quoting UK’s The Independent link here And the homepage for the "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment" link here . 12. HERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT "Earth Share, a nationwide network of the most respected environmental and conservation organizations, offers a simple way to care for our health, water, air, land, and wildlife. Earth Share partners with employees and employers across the country to support hundreds of environmental groups through efficient and effective payroll contribution giving," quoting their site. link here And "Old car batteries contain 18 to 21 pounds of lead and one pound of sulfuric acid. Any acid escaping through cracks can cause painful injuries to curious children or animals while leaking lead eventually seeps into the ground, polluting the soil. That’s why every April, AAA holds the Great Battery Roundup, giving members AND NONMEMBERS the chance to remove and recycle hazardous batteries at designated battery-recycling collection sites, free of charge! Last year, AAA Washington/Inland recycled more than 5,000 toxic batteries. Search your garages, sheds, backyards and other areas for lone batteries and join us in removing and recycling these hazards for good," quoting AAA Washington/Inland. Check out AAA recycling in your community. link here . WHAT THE BLEEP – THE MOVIE NEWS Still in the Amazon Top 5 all week: link here . OF LOCAL NOTE: “The Ramtha School of Enlightenment made a move to throw off the hooded cloak of secrecy Thursday [Mar. 31] evening by inviting several hundred Yelm business people inside its walls. The open house, part of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce's After Hours Program, was intended to increase understanding and tolerance for the school, according to organizers,” quoting The Olympian story. link here The Tacoma News Tribune says “Maligned school welcomes visitors to learn about mind’s powers” link here The Nisqually Valley News said “Yelm businesswoman and Ramtha School of Enlightenment founder JZ Knight spoke of her humble beginnings to visiting members of the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce last Thursday [Mar. 31]. About 150 business people came to hear her speak. Amidst the trappings of the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, channeler JZ Knight talked business with about 150 people gathered for a Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Community leaders gathered at RSE last Thursday for a rare glimpse behind the brick and chain-link walls that enclose Knight’s property. Knight conceded that the wall contributes to suspicion and misunderstanding about what takes place at RSE, but explained that it was erected for very practical reasons: It once kept in expensive horses that she bred, and keeps out those intent on bringing her harm. Knight said she was the target of a gunshot years ago while weed-eating on her property along State Highway 510. [Ed. Note: Be sure to see the fabulous picture of JZ in the Great Hall with orbs all around taken by the NVN’s Cindy Teixeira. Not published on their website was Editor Kevin Graves' very astute editorial about his observations of this event and Ms. Knight!] link here And this writer mentioned his return to Venture Bank in Yelm a few weeks ago. Now, congratulations are in order to Venture Bank for their five-star rating released last week by BauerFinancial Inc., the nation’s major rating organization for banks and thrifts. link here . QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.” Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, interred last week . Kleiner’s Korner is copyrighted by Stephen R. Klein, 2005. For archived issues of Kleiner’s Korner, click on “Current Kleiner’s Korner and Archives” at link here Send comments to steve@kleinerskorner.com . Kleiner's Korner For Week of April 4, 2005 KK readers know of this writer's distaste for oil drilling on Alaska's North Slope. If many of you were to visit there, you would agree. Last week's North Slope crude leak underlines my opposition, as reported in the Anchorage (AK.) Daily News [Ed. Note: This is a story I can assure most people did not hear about last week!]. link here 1. DON’T LIKE HIGH GAS PRICES? GET USED TO HIGHER STILL UNTIL WE, THE PUBLIC, PUSH FOR HYDROGEN “Instead of inaugurating a new age of cheap oil, the Iraq war may become known as the beginning of an era of scarcity. Two years ago it seemed likely that Iraq, with the world's third-largest petroleum reserves, would become a hypercharged gusher once U.S. troops toppled Saddam Hussein. But chaos and guerrilla sabotage have slowed the flow of oil to a comparative trickle. The price of crude on global markets hit an all-time record Friday [Mar. 18], and oil experts say U.S. consumers are likely to keep feeling the pinch. ‘Global supply hasn't kept up, and it isn't likely to in the near future, and one of the causes is Iraq,’ said John Lichtblau, chairman of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation in New York. The war coincided with the start of a sharp rise in oil imports by booming China and India, and experts say this alignment of factors may keep prices permanently high,” quoting the San Francisco Chronicle. link here . 2. MOTHER NATURE WARNING: HUNDREDS OF SEA ANIMALS DEAD “Conservationists have expressed alarm at the death of hundreds of one of Britain's most distinctive seabirds, found washed up on the east coast of Scotland. The bodies of around 1,000 shags, thought to have died from malnutrition, have been found during a recent count on beaches. Environmentalists say they are likely to only be the tip of the iceberg, with countless others dying at sea. The UK has almost half of the world's population of shags, also known as the green cormorant, with most of the 29,000 birds living around Scotland's coasts. Experts say they can ill afford to lose such significant numbers,” quoting UK’s Guardian. link here “Dead jumbo squid are again mysteriously washing up along the Southern California coastline, baffling scientists who are trying to find out why dead jumbo squid are again mysteriously washing up along the Southern California coastline, baffling scientists who are trying to find out why. The Ocean Institute in Dana Point has conducted some of the research, shipping specimens to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Stanford University for further study,” quoting the AP. link here . 3. CHECKOUT THIS LIGHTNING STRIKE OF THE SEATTLE SPACE NEEDLE The Pacific NW had the drought emergency dented last week when record rains pummeled the area. “Better late than never,” as the saying goes. A spring storm brought rain and snow to the Northwest, dumping more than a foot of snow in the Washington Cascades overnight Monday and Tuesday [Mar. 28 & 29]. High winds, rain, and snow pummeled Washington Tuesday [Mar. 29], bringing new life to ski areas that had suffered a disappointing winter. Much of the state was overcast and wet, and winds were gusting to more than 30 miles per hour in Bremerton, Hanford, Hoquiam, Moses Lake, Pasco, Pullman, Walla Walla, and Wenatchee,” quoting KING-5 TV in Seattle. Scroll to the picture of the lightning strike photographed by KING-5’s Tower cam. link here . 4. “WOMEN SPEAK OUT IN SAUDIA ARABIA” (FINALLY!) “Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about democracy in the Arab world -- most of it coming from President Bush, who has called on one Middle Eastern government after another to give more power to their own people. That will be difficult for one of the president’s closest allies –- Saudi Arabia, a bastion of conservative Islam that is home to one of the last absolute monarchies in the world -– one that is notorious for keeping a tight grip on political power. Loosening that grip means more freedom for Saudi women, against whom there is widespread social, economic, and political discrimination. Women’s rights are at the heart of calls for reform in Saudi Arabia --- calls that are finally challenging the link here . 5. SAVE YOUR SEEDS – CORP’S DO NOT WANT YOU TO HAVE SOVEREIGNTY “Since the advent of farming thousands of years ago, farmers have carefully collected seeds at harvest so as to have enough seed for the next year's planting. Concerned that seed-saving by farmers reduces their profits, seed and biotech giants like Monsanto have rammed though controversial "intellectual property laws" in numerous countries that make traditional seed saving a crime. Last year, Monsanto harassed and/or sued more than 500 U.S. farmers who saved their seeds, forcing them to pay the company over $15 million in fines, including up to 8 month long prison sentences,” quoting Organic Consumers Assn. link here . 6. LABELS FOR SEAFOOD ORIGINS NOW REQUIRED "Beginning on Monday [Mar. 28], U.S. retailers must provide country-of-origin labels for the seafood they sell — the first time such labels become mandatory under a three-year-old law, the government said on Friday [Mar. 25]. Under the law, shoppers must be told the origin of fish and shellfish offered for sale and whether they were raised on a farm or caught in the wild. Vendors can put the information on each package or on signs in their display cases. link here . 7. COME ON, REALLY! DO YOU STILL USE A CELLPHONE? READ ON… Quoting this excellent story from C/Net.com and reprinted on Mercola.com Both have other links about cell phone dangers: Does this sound familiar? Nearly everyone uses it Has wide social acceptance Highly habit forming More hints: More and more studies come out documenting harm from the product; product manufacturers deny dangers. Sure sounds like the tobacco industry, doesn't it? Well, it would appear the cellular phone industry is repeating the same path. We all know that history has a tendency to repeat itself, and that certainly seems to be the case here. Critics claim the cell phone industry, just like the tobacco industry (Big Tobacco), seems determined to prevent and deny any suggestion that its products might be dangerous; however, years of negative research may prove otherwise. For example, one study showed that radio waves from mobile phones definitely damage DNA and other cells in the body, and that the damage extended to the next generation of cells. Another research case in particular delivered quite a blow to the cell phone industry: The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association hired a man to head up a $28-million research program into possible health effects from cellular phones. Findings revealed that heavy cell phone users experienced: An increased rate of brain cancer deaths Development of tumors Genetic damage link here And Mercola’s: link here . 8. PLANTS CAN MASTER OWN MUTATIONS, STUDY SAYS “Plants inherit secret stashes of genetic information from their long-dead ancestors and can use them to correct errors in their own genes. The phenomenon represents a startling capacity for DNA editing and self-repair wholly unanticipated by modern genetics, researchers said Tuesday [Mar. 22]. The newly discovered ability resembles the caching of early versions of a computer document for later viewing. It allows plants to archive copies of genes from generations ago, long assumed to be lost forever. Then, in a move akin to choosing their parents, plants can apparently retrieve selected bits of code from that archive and use them to overwrite the genes they’ve inherited directly,” quoting the Washington Post. link here . 9. EUROPE & AFRICA NOW ON TB ALERT “The global war against tuberculosis is being successfully fought, but not in Africa and Europe, warn experts. While most areas of the world have seen a 20% drop in TB since 1990, rates in Africa have tripled, a WHO report says. The rise continues, fuelled by high rates of HIV/Aids and poor healthcare, and now a third of the 1.7 million TB deaths a year occur in Africa. In Eastern Europe, drug resistance is to blame, the WHO says,” quoting the BBC. link here . 10. APOLLONIUS OF TYANA SITES This writer’s teacher, Ramtha, introduced me and my fellow students to a man of which I had never heard, Apollonius of Tyana, called “the wandering spiritual alchemist of the first century.” “The charismatic teacher and miracle worker, Apollonius lived in the first century AD. He was born in Tyana (Bor in the south of modern Turkey) and may have belonged to a branch of ancient philosophy called neo-Pythagoreanism.” quoting this site. link here Apollonius’ death was never recorded. “At last, after a thousand natural miracles so easily accomplished, when he was more than eighty years old, he accomplished the "miracle" of his own death. It was indeed a great miracle, for everyone believed him immortal and that he would never die. But perhaps after all, this miracle was not accomplished, for at the end of his life he simply disappeared without leaving a trace,” quoting this site. link here This fabulous book from the RSE booklist provides a glimpse into this man’s life. Order yours here: link here . 11. KK READER SUBMITS JACK LONDON’S BOOK REPORTING “OUT-OF-BODY” CASES One of this writer’s favorite authors as a teen was Jack London, whose Call of the Wild captured the imagination of someone who did not like books then. I always wanted to visit the Far North after reading his tales and finally made my first trek there in my 30’s. London’s The Star Rover written in 1915 is “the great transmigration novel inspired by the experiences of an ex-prisoner's acount (sic) of coping with "the Jacket," a form of torture at San Quentin. London was a lifelong supporter of humane prison practices,” quoting this list of London’s work from Berkeley’s (CA.) Digital Library site. link here “The story goes that Jack London, following an interview with a prisoner, wrote a novel concerning the excess of torture prior to 1920, when such punishment was still legal in California Penitentiaries. By the constraining power of the strait jacket, a prisoner's physical will was crushed but not always his spirit. Jack London recorded that prisoners under this severe punishment had in some cases left their body and soared above their place of captivity, time traveled, and even visited upon their various incarnations. While reading this novel one may wonder as to the extent that Jack London himself had visited his past lives, having crossed beyond the line where spirit is free of the body,” quoting this site. link here London was born in San Francisco in 1876 and grew up in Oakland, whose public wharf is called Jack London Square. link here . 12. THIS IS A FASCINATING LINK SENT BY MY BROTHER Need to know the time of day & date? Someone has a lot of time on their hands to have programmed this: link here . WHAT THE BLEEP - THE MOVIE NEWS What the Bleep continues to astound with its rank as number one or two all last week on Amazon.com’s “Top Sellers.” The DVD still ranks in the top 5 today. link here Additionally, Ramtha’s “Create Your Day” has been in the Top 30 all week, right there with Academy Award Winner [tm] Finding Neverland. Today this fabulous DVD is in the top 60: link here Further, Bleep producer & financier William Arntz gave a lively interview to Nancy & Eleana on “KRSE, Beyond the Ordinary” radio: link here . OF LOCAL NOTE The Children’s School of Excellence (CSE) in Rainier WA says, “Our enrollment is up and it is time for us to grow!” The Children's School of Excellence is accepting applications for innovative, enthusiastic, and experienced Kindergarten and middle school teachers. Teaching certificate required; Washington Certificate a plus. Check us out on the web at link here and send your resume immediately to cseinfo@ywave.com. . QUOTE OF THE WEEK “A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.” Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Conservative politician; Prime Minister, 1940-5, 1951-5 . Kleiner’s Korner is copyrighted by Stephen R. Klein, 2005. For archived issues of Kleiner’s Korner, click on “Current Kleiner’s Korner and Archives” at link here Send comments to steve@kleinerskorner.com .