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An Argument for Prohibiting Fingerprinting or Bar-Coding of Students for Lunch Participation

How much further must we go before somebody, somewhere puts the foot down and says “NO.” This legislation would “just say no” to friendly fascism.

(SALEM, Ore.) - An Oregonian named Ed Johnston has drafted a letter for the Oregon Legislature highlighting serious concerns over fingerprinting and bar-coding of students for school lunch purposes.

A group called Cascade Consulting has already managed to sell this concept to Bend, Oregon schools. Johnston says it is a serious violation of Civil Rights, and he plans to pursue to matter until it is changed and that change is reflected in Oregon's laws.

Johnston says we have lost our art and music classes, our wood and metal shop classes, our auto mechanic classes, and our home economics classes. If we have the money for this totalitarian business, we can easily find better uses for it.

Palestinian Journalist Killed in Gaza bombing

Reporters Without Borders reminds the world that the group condemns all the military operations in which journalists have been killed or injured.

(GAZA) - A Palestinian journalist, 32-year old Ihab el-Wahidi el-Baligh, was killed in an Israeli bombardment last week while paying his family a brief visit at their home in the southwestern outskirts of Gaza City.

His wife and his father-in-law were also killed.

Ihab el-Wahidi el-Baligh worked as a cameraman for Filastine, the Palestinian Authority’s official TV station, often covering the activities of President Mahmoud Abbas.

UN Agency Launches `Operation Lifeline Gaza` to Feed Thousands of Hungry

As of yesterday, the violence had already killed an estimated 792 people and wounded over 3,200 in the occupied Palestinian territory, according to reports cited as credible by UN officials.

(GAZA) - The United Nations food agency today announced an initiative to help ramp up food distribution to the growing number of hungry people in the Gaza Strip, where a military offensive Israel says it launched in response to Hamas rocket attacks is in its 15th day.

Operation Lifeline Gaza is a World Food Programme (WFP) scheme aiming to provide ready-to-eat, culturally acceptable food to hundreds of thousands of people caught in the conflict.

“We are proposing an immediate, innovative solution to hunger in an unusually challenging situation, where many people are suffering from a complete breakdown in access to food and clean water,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

UN Says Both Israel and Hamas Could Face War Crime Charges

UN rights chief suggests mission to assess possible war crimes in Gaza conflict.

(SALEM, Ore.) - During the Third Reich and the years of Jewish persecution, the Nazi's were known for either blocking international human rights observers or putting on a show for them by arranging a small number of Jewish refugees who "appeared" to be well fed and cared for.

The fact that Israel has blocked international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip could be reminiscent of those dark years of the late 1930's and early 40's.

The top United Nations human rights official has proposed a mission to assess violations and possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict, and called for immediate implementation of a ceasefire.

There`s No Such Thing as Quality Time

All our new technologies have only made most people more overwhelmed, busier. It’s these moments that matter most in our lives - the little ones, like building a Legos with your 9-year-old and figuring out where the mistake was.

(SANTA MONICA) - I learned a great lesson this past weekend with my kids. It’s something I knew, but had never experienced so directly.

There’s no such thing as quality time, only QUANTITY time (with kids). Some people believe that they can schedule "quality time" with their kids, in which they think their kids will open up, reveal what’s really going on, and "share".

They want to schedule this time the way they schedule a business lunch. BUT, kids don’t work on these kinds of schedules!

Flop in Chile

World travels from a former Willamette Valley resident.

(EL BOLSON, Argentinia) - When a person isn’t well, it’s always best to be among friends and neighbors, people who care. This thought echoed in my head as Gail and I got off the bus back in el Bolson after our difficult trip to Chile.

Once we were safely back at el Molinito, there would be the comfort of others who would help you to focus away from your illness and offer support, even if those people distracted you only by means of their fixations on their own problems.

Being sick on the road in a foreign country is no picnic and we were glad the trip was over.

Tim King Joins Radio Free Nation Tonight to Discuss LaVena Johnson Case

The show happens at 8:00 PM Central Time, 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

(SALEM, Ore.) - LaVena Johnson was a proud American serving her nation in uniform when she met her untimely death on an American military base in Iraq. In spite of extensive injuries, evidence of a severe beating and sex abuse, and her body being lit on fire, the U.S. Army deemed her case a "suicide".

The Army, which has plenty of problems over sexual assault within its ranks, apparently didn't believe any of the injuries LaVena Johnson had suffered prior to her death were caused by a second person or persons.

A simple fact when it comes to suicide, in addition to all of the evidence, is that statistically, black women are among the least likely groups to commit this act in the first place.

Coast Guard Pilots Recount Difficult Flood Rescue (VIDEO)

The Coast Guard video shows the crew retrieving two different evacuees.

(ASTORIA, Ore.) - In this video released by the Coast Guard, a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Oregon helicopter crew hoists two people stranded at their home by floods in Morton, Washington, Tuesday, January 7th, 2009.

UN Will Resume Suspended Aid Distributions in Gaza

The decision was announced after Israeli assurances, the UN said.

(GAZA) - The United Nations will resume suspended aid distribution for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza as soon as possible after receiving credible security assurances from “the very highest levels” in Israel following an attack that killed one UN contract driver and injured a second although they had received Israeli clearance.

At the same time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure implementation of last night’s Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, phoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today to voice his disappointment that the violence is continuing on the ground in disregard of the call.

Cowlitz County Flood Update

The City of Kalama is having problems with their water system. Sixty homes are without water and many are under a boil water order.

(LONGVIEW, Wash.) - The Cowlitz County Incident Command Post that was county-wide has been closed. Officials there say command has been transferred back to each individual agency and jurisdiction.