Happy Easter 2013

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

http://bookofconcord.org/creeds.php

The Stations of the Cross / Via Crucis

Planned Parenthood Official Argues for Right to Post-Birth Abortion

Florida legislators considering a bill to require abortionists to provide medical care to an infant who survives an abortion were shocked during a committee hearing this week when a Planned Parenthood official endorsed a right to post-birth abortion.

Alisa LaPolt Snow, the lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, testified that her organization believes the decision to kill an infant who survives a failed abortion should be left up to the woman seeking an abortion and her abortion doctor.

"So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief," said Rep. Jim Boyd. "If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

"We believe that any decision that's made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician," said Planned Parenthood lobbyist Snow.

Rep. Daniel Davis then asked Snow, "What happens in a situation where a baby is alive, breathing on a table, moving. What do your physicians do at that point?”

"I do not have that information," Snow replied. "I am not a physician, I am not an abortion provider. So I do not have that information.”

Rep. Jose Oliva followed up, asking the Planned Parenthood official, "You stated that a baby born alive on a table as a result of a botched abortion that that decision should be left to the doctor and the family. Is that what you’re saying?”

Again, Snow replied, “That decision should be between the patient and the health care provider.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/video-planned-parenthood-official-argues-right-post-birth-abortion_712198.html

Mexican vigilantes seize town, arrest police

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hundreds of armed vigilantes have taken control of a town on a major highway in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, arresting local police officers and searching homes after a vigilante leader was killed. Several opened fire on a car of Mexican tourists headed to the beach for Easter week.

Members of the area's self-described "community police" say more than 1,500 members of the force were stopping traffic Wednesday at improvised checkpoints in the town of Tierra Colorado, which sits on the highway connecting Mexico City to Acapulco. They arrested 12 police and the former director of public security in the town after a leader of the state's vigilante movement was slain on Monday.

A tourist heading to the beach with relatives was slightly wounded Tuesday after they refused to stop at a roadblock and vigilantes fired shots at their car, officials said.

The vigilantes accuse the ex-security director of participating in the killing of vigilante leader Guadalupe Quinones Carbajal, 28, on behalf of local organized crime groups and dumping his body in a nearby town on Monday. They reported seizing several high-powered rifles from his car, and vigilantes were seen toting a number of sophisticated assault rifles on Wednesday, although it was not clear if all had been taken from the ex-security director's car.

"We have besieged the municipality, because here criminals operate with impunity in broad daylight, in view of municipal authorities. We have detained the director of public security because he is involved with criminals and he knows who killed our commander," said Bruno Placido Valerio, a spokesman for the vigilante group.

Placido said vigilantes had searched a number of homes in the town and seized drugs from some. They turned over the ex-security director and police officers to state prosecutors, who agreed to investigate their alleged ties to organized crime.

The growing movement of "self-defense" vigilante groups has seen masked townspeople throw up checkpoints in several parts of southern and western Mexico, stopping passing motorists to search for weapons or people whose names are on hand-written lists of "suspects" wanted for crimes like theft and extortion.

The vigilantes have opened fire before on motorists who refused to stop, slightly wounding a pair of tourists from Mexico City visiting a local beach in early February.

The groups say they are fighting violence, kidnappings and extortions carried out by drug cartels, but concerns have surfaced that the vigilantes may be violating the law, the human rights of people they detain, or even cooperating with criminals in some cases.

Sensitive over their lack of ability to enforce public safety in rural areas, official have largely tolerated vigilante groups.

http://news.yahoo.com/mexican-vigilantes-seize-town-arrest-police-033530439.html

Thoughts of a USMC Vet

from: http://seanlinnane.blogspot.com/2013/03/written-by-usmc-vet.html

 

He wrote:

The American Dream ended (on November 6th) in Ohio. The second term of Barack Obama will be the final nail in the coffin for the legacy of the white Christian males who discovered, explored, pioneered, settled and developed the greatest Republic in the history of mankind.

A coalition of Blacks, Latinos, Feminists, Gays, Government Workers, Union Members, Environmental Extremists, The Media, Hollywood, uninformed young people, the "forever needy," the chronically unemployed, illegal aliens and other "fellow travelers" have ended Norman Rockwell's America.

The Cocker Spaniel is off the front porch . . . the Pit Bull is in the back yard.

The American Constitution has been replaced with Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" and Chicago shyster, David Axelrod, along with international Socialist George Soros will be pulling the strings on their beige puppet to bring us Act 2 of the New World Order.

Our side ran two candidates who couldn't even win their own home states, and the circus fattster Chris Christie helped Obama over the top with a glowing "post Sandy" tribute that elevated the "Commander-in-Chief" to Mother Teresa status. (Aside: with the way the polls were run, he didn't need any help!)

People like me are completely politically irrelevant, and I will never again comment on or concern myself with the aforementioned coalition which has surrendered our culture, our heritage and our traditions without a shot being fired.

You will never again out-vote these people. It will take individual acts of defiance and massive displays of civil disobedience to get back the rights we have allowed them to take away. It will take Zealots, not moderates--not reach-across-the-aisle RINOs to right this ship and restore our beloved country to its former status.

Those who come after us will have to risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to bring back the Republic that this generation has timidly frittered away due to "white guilt" and political correctness.....

I'm done.

British Lefties in Gaza 'aid' Convoy Kidnapped and Sexually Molested

Britons in aid convoy kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Libya

Three women taking part in aid convoy to Gaza are attacked in Benghazi The Guardian, Thursday 28 March 2013 (thanks to Golem)

Libyans celebrate the second anniversary of the revolution in Benghazi. The city has become a no-go zone for foreigners. Photograph: Mohammad Hannon/AP

Three women who were part of an aid convoy passing through Libya on the way to Gaza have been sexually assaulted in Benghazi, after a group of five British nationals were briefly kidnapped.

The three women, two of whom are sisters, were part of a large aid convoy travelling to the Gaza Strip. It is thought that they were part of a group of five people who were briefly kidnapped near Benghazi in the early hours of Tuesday and they were released some hours later. The group is currently safe in the Turkish consul in Benghazi and is expected to return to the UK.

Libyan security officials said the attacks happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Abdul Barghathi, commander of preventative security in the Libyan defence ministry, said the women had been sexually assaulted, but not raped. "There was no rape, just touching (sexual assault)," he said. "Because there is no British consulate here they were handed to the Turkish consulate." The three women are not badly wounded and are being attended to by consular staff from the UK, he added.

The women were part of a large convoy taking vehicles and aid to the Gaza Strip on a journey that had taken them through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and then Libya. It had intended to cross the border with Egypt but was prevented from doing so by Egyptian authorities. The 10-vehicle convoy is still stuck at the border but the five British nationals returned to Benghazi in eastern Libya late on Monday night in order to return home.

The most recent post on the convoy's Facebook page, written on Saturday, detailed the convoy's frustration at being held at the Egyptian border.

It read: "We have been here for five days now. Despite harassment & abuse from the Egyptian authorities here, we're determined more than ever, to persevere in our aim to deliver this aid to Gaza. Well-wishes, prayers & support are appreciated & welcome."

Turkish authorities in London said two sisters and their father, plus another woman and man, were taken near Benghazi on Tuesday and released. "They are at the Turkish consul and they are safe," said a spokesman.

The Foreign Office confirmed that an incident in the city had occurred, but gave no further details. "We are aware of an incident in Libya involving a number of British nationals who were part of an aid convoy and we are providing consular assistance," said a spokesman.

A supporter of the convoy, writing on the All United for Free Palestine page, said five people had been kidnapped, but said that reports in foreign media that two females had been raped were inaccurate. The writer, who did not immediately respond to requests for information, wrote: "If anyone has read or heard a report from Al Watan voice newspaper about the kidnapping in Benghazi of 5 convoy members, the report is partially true in so much as they were taken, however I stress that the report of the two females being raped is not true. All are now safe and being looked after Alhamdulilah."

Benghazi has seen frequent bouts of militia violence in recent months, including the attack by a jihadist militia that killed the US ambassador Chris Stevens at the American consulate in the city, and 18 prominent or retired officials, including the city's police chief, have been murdered in the past 12 months.

Attacks on the British and Tunisian consulates and the attempted murder of the Italian consul in previous months have made the city a no-go zone for most foreigners, with Egyptians on edge after the burning of the city's Coptic church on 4 March.

Benghazi is immune to central government control, its streets controlled by a galaxy of militias, army and police units. Ansar al-Sharia, the Islamic unit blamed for the killing of Stevens in September, is back in its city centre headquarters and defying government demands that it disband.

The burning of the church and arrests of more than 50 foreigners for evangelism have raised tension.

Persecuted Christians

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Baron Bodissey

The following editorial was published on Wednesday in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, and has been kindly translated for Gates of Vienna by Henrik Ræder Clausen



Persecuted Christians

During Easter of 2003, the invasion of Iraq had already begun, designated by President George W. Bush as a crusade against terrorism — bringing up memories of the Christian Crusades from 1096 to 1272, and the words of Pope Urban II about the necessity of holy war against the infidels.

In particular among militant Islamists, whose ambition is to bring down Christianity as such.

Christianity lives on as the world’s largest religion. Of all the faith systems on earth, it remains the largest, with over two billion adherents, more than one third of all religious persons in the world. Islam is the second largest with 1.6 billion believers. And the influence of Christianity is growing, not least in China, where the number of Christians — in spite of their problems in the most populous country of the world — is projected to reach 400 million in 15 years’ time.

But Christianity is under threat in many countries, not least in the same Iraq that was the target of the war initiated by President Bush after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Since the invasion began, more than 70 Christian churches in Iraq have been bombed, over 700 Christians have been killed, 17 of these being priests, and an unknown number of Christians have been abducted. On Maundy Thursday of 2003, there were over one million Christians in Iraq. Today only one third of them remain, and most of those have needed to take refuge in the autonomous Kurdish regions in northern Iraq. Many have fled abroad. For years they have been unable to visit their relatives in Iraq.

But Christians also suffer difficult circumstances in countries other than Iraq. In most of the Middle East, the region that gave rise to the Bible, where Jesus lived and died as a person of the Middle East, Christianity is under pressure. Acutely in Bashar al-Assad’s Syria, where the Apostle Paul gave Christianity roots outside of the Jewish world, and in Iran, where non-Muslims are forced to “submit or leave the country”.

Lebanon used to be a harmonious center for Christians, Muslims and Jews. It is now an Iranian vassal state, where Hezbollah, particularly in south Lebanon, is striving to remove every Christian cross, and where churches dating back to the time of the Apostle Paul have been torched, torn down or converted into mosques.

In Palestinian-controlled Gaza, Hamas is calling for “Islamic purity”, while Christian clinics are being shut down on the pretext that they are spy centers. In Egypt a couple months ago, a woman and her seven children were sentenced to fifteen years in prison for converting from Islam to Christianity — a warning of what Christian Egyptians may expect from the Muslim Brotherhood — and in Tunisia, militant Muslims cut the head off a young man who converted to Christianity. In Saudi Arabia, Bibles are being confiscated, while churches and Christian symbols are banned.

At the end of 2012, the English think tank Civitas warned of the dangers threatening Christians in the Middle East, and of the continuing silence about the violence and repression targeting them, not only in the Muslim Middle East, but also in Africa and Asia. It is deeply worrying that Western leaders are watching in silence while Christianity is persecuted in the part of the world where it arose.

And it is a regrettable fact that this silence about persecution of Christians in Muslim countries is a likely consequence of the fears harbored by Western leaders that any criticism will be interpreted as religious racism. And that in these years, the divisions between Christian and Islamic believers are being deepened.

EVO, Innova, California Natural and HealthWise Dog Food Recall

by Mike Sagman

March 18, 2013 – Natura Pet Products has announced it is recalling four of its most popular brands of dry dog, cat and ferret foods due to possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

Click on the brands being recalled for complete information:

• EVO
• Innova
• California Natural
• HealthWise

No Karma, Mother Nature, wet or treat products are included in this recall.
No illnesses have been reported from the recalled products and no other P&G Pet Care brands are involved.
The recall has now been confirmed by the FDA in a news release dated March 18, 2013.

What’s Being Recalled?

Please visit this table of recalled products for a complete list with details for all the products being recalled.

What to Do?

If you have a product included on this list, you may contact the company at http://www.naturapet.com/about/contact-us or at 800-224-6123.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

from: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/evo-innova-california-natural-healthwise-dog-food-recall/

For Our Best Friends: Innova Prime Grain Free

Innova Prime Grain Free (Dry)

by Mike Sagman

 

Rating:
Innova Prime Grain Free dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

 

The Innova Prime Grain Free product line lists 3 dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

• Innova Prime Grain Free Chicken and Turkey
• Innova Prime Grain Free Salmon and Herring
• Innova Prime Grain Free Beef and Lamb Meal

Innova Prime Grain Free Salmon and Herring dog food was selected to represent others in the line for this review.

Innova Prime Grain Free Salmon and Herring

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Ingredients: Salmon, salmon meal, red lentils, green lentils, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), herring, peas, flaxseed, pea fiber, natural flavors, calcium carbonate, apples, pumpkin, carrots, salt, cottage cheese, dried chicory root extract, ascorbic acid, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate), direct fed microbials (dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product), vitamins (betaine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, beta carotene, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid), vitamin E supplement, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method	Protein	Fat	Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis	35%	16%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	39%	18%	35%
Calorie Weighted Basis	33%	37%	30%

The first ingredient in this dog food is salmon. Although it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, raw salmon contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Salmon meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.¹
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears² to be ethoxyquin-free.
The third and fourth ingredients are both lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is herring. Like salmon, herring is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.³
Although it is a quality item, raw fish contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The seventh ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like lentils, peas can also contain a notable amount of natural fiber and protein.
The eighth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
The ninth ingredient includes pea fiber, a mix of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, chicory root is naturally rich in a substance called inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
And lastly, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

Innova Prime Grain Free Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Innova Prime Grain Free looks to be an above-average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 35%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the lentils and peas, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing an above average amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Innova Prime Grain Free is a meat-based dry dog food using an above-average amount of fish as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

02/17/2012 Original review
02/17/2012 Last Update

1. Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
2. Per Innova website, 2/17/2012 ↩
3. Adapted by The Dog Food Advisor from the official definition of fish as published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog’s daily diet.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/innova-prime-grain-free-dry/

For our Best Friends: Canidae Grain Free Pure

Canidae Grain Free Pure (Dry)

by Mike Sagman

 

Rating:
Canidae Grain Free Pure Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Canidae Grain Free Pure product line includes four dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

• Canidae Grain Free Pure Sky
• Canidae Grain Free Pure Sea
• Canidae Grain Free Pure Elements
• Canidae Grain Free Pure Land (4 stars)

Canidae Grain Free Pure Sky was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.

Canidae Grain Free Pure Sky

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

 

Ingredients: Duck, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potato protein, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, natural flavor, salt, choline chloride, natural mixed tocopherols, suncured alfalfa meal, inulin (from chicory root), lecithin, sage extract, cranberries, beta-carotene, rosemary extract, sunflower oil, Yucca schidigera extract, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, papaya, pineapple

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method	Protein	Fat	Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis	32%	16%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	36%	18%	39%
Calorie Weighted Basis	30%	37%	33%

The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Although it is a quality item, raw duck contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The third ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The fourth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
In addition, we find alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
Next, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Canidae Grain Free Pure Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Canidae Grain Free Pure Dry Dog Food looks like an above average dry product.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 39%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 36% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effects of the peas and potato protein, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Canidae Grain Free Pure Dry Dog Food is a meat-based kibble using a generous amount of poultry, lamb or salmon meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Those looking for a quality wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Canidae Grain Free Canned Dog Food.

Please note some products may have been given higher or lower ratings based upon our estimate of their total meat content.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

12/06/2009 Original review

07/17/2010 Review updated

11/09/2010 Upgraded (ethoxyquin free)

04/12/2011 Review updated (major product line change)

12/07/2012 Review updated

12/07/2012 Last Update

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog’s daily diet.

From: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/canidae-dog-food-grain-free-dry/

Best of the Best (NY SWAT)?

A SWAT team in upstate New York is being mocked as an example of the difference between military and police training after an officer was captured peering through a backwards sight on his combat rifle.

As users on the military Reddit were quick to point out when the image was posted, the reverse sight makes it effectively useless.

Users mocked the SWAT officers training and some went so far as to question the motives of some of the men serving in local law enforcement.



Oops: This image of a SWAT officer with his sight backwards has been widely ridiculed on the web

The officer is using a 'military style' assault weapon with a close quarters combat sight that costs roughly $500.

'It's disturbing to think that 1) none of his buddies corrected it, and 2) he's in a real-life situation with his optic on backwards, which means he's never fired that rifle with the optic on it, which means it isn't zeroed and he thought it was OK to show up to a gunfight with an unzeroed weapon,' wrote one Reddituser.

Joked another: 'So much tomfoolery in this photo. You sure this isnt a screen shot from the next Three Stooges movie'



Right way: Unless the sight is on properly, as shown here, the sight is effectively useless

The image came from a report on WKTV about an overnight standoff between law enforcement and an alleged killer hiding in building in Herkimer, N.Y.

Despite the backwards sight, the standoff ended with the gunman killed and no reports of innocent bystanders being accidentally shot by SWAT.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294225/SWAT-officer-attracts-ridicule-s-pictured-rifle-sight-backwards.html#ixzz2NjBn16cu
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Not only did he not zero the weapon but apparently never even looked through the sight. But he looks cooler than shit in his military style gear, doesn't he?

Let me also point out that one of his teammates is holding a shotgun with his gloved finger on the trigger and if that ain't an accident waiting to happen, I don't know what is.

http://ogdaa.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-best-of-best.html

This is not Freedom

http://moonbattery.com/?p=27071

76-Year-Old Argentinian Jesuit Elected Pope

In a move clearly intended to solidify one of its strongest population groups; namely, Spanish speaking Roman Catholics, the Cardinals have chosen Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina to be the next pope. He chose the name Francis intentionally as a way of signalling his desire to return the Roman Catholic Church to “basics” and care for the poor, an issue about which he is passionately committed.

We can expect the new Pope to be…traditionally Roman Catholic. We can expect him to reflect the commitment of the Jesuit order historically to standing steadfastly against the Lutheran Reformation. He is a traditional Hispanic Roman Catholic. In his very first remarks, the bishop with the new pope, announced a plenary indulgence for all listening and watching the events.

The new pope took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi because he is a lover of the poor, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Tom Rosica told CNN.

Also, the new pope should be known as Pope Francis, not Pope Francis I.

Further, reports indicate that he has been highly critical of the intrenched bureaucracy at the Vatican and intends to “clean up the mess” there. The “mess” there may be much more than meets the eye.

On moral issues, there is little doubt he will continue the Roman Church’s steadfast opposition to abortion and homosexuality, etc.

From all accounts, he is a humble and modest man who deliberately avoided the lavish trappings of his office in Argentina and chose to live in a single small room in a downtown building in Argentina, heated with a simple stove. He preferred, when possible, to cook his own meals and would make a point of sitting in the back of the room during gatherings of bishops and Cardinals. He is known as an intellectual who would admonish his priests to get out among the people in the slums of Buenos Aires, doing so often himself. He vigorously condemned priests who refused to baptize babies of unwed mothers, calling out as unfaithful hypocrites. He rejected the outspoken feminist leader of Argentina and condemned her views on homosexual marriage, abortion, etc.

Here is his admonition on baptizing children of unwed mothers:

“In our ecclesiastical region there are priests who don’t baptize the children of single mothers because they weren’t conceived in the sanctity of marriage,” Bergoglio told his priests. “These are today’s hypocrites. Those who clericalize the Church. Those who separate the people of God from salvation. And this poor girl who, rather than returning the child to sender, had the courage to carry it into the world must wander from parish to parish so that it’s baptized!”

Bergoglio stated about homosexuality:

In a letter to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, he wrote: “Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” He has also insisted that adoption by homosexuals is a form of discrimination against children. This position received a rebuke from Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who said the church’s tone was reminiscent of “medieval times and the Inquisition”.

We Lutherans can be thankful for Pope Francis’ support of traditional Biblical values on key moral issues. At the same time, we will continue the work of the Reformation and continue to insist on the Gospel reformation of the Church.

http://cyberbrethren.com/2013/03/13/an-76-year-old-argentinian-jesuit-elected-pope-first-thoughts/

"The Church gives us the means to treat these wounds..."

Yesterday, a friend sent me Father Barron's video commentary on the devil. It was released by WordOnFireVideo back in July so it's not fresh by any means but it's solidly good and provides a sensible, meaningful and relevant look at something most in this culture dismiss, to their chagrin and frankly to society's demise.

Take a peek. Pay particular attention to what is said around the 9:20 mark and beyond though the entire thing ought to be listened to. It's that good and seriously revealing.

Father Barron by the way was recentyly hired by NBC to provide commentary during the papal proceedings to elect a new pope. He's a respectable guy with serious creds.

Take a listen:



http://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/2013/03/the-church-gives-us-the-means-to-treat-these-wounds.html

Georgetown Hoyas History

 

Georgetown Colors:
Georgetown's colors are blue and gray. The colors were selected in 1876 by the Georgetown College Boat Club (the original crew team) in honor of Georgetown students and alumni who wore the Union blue and Confederate gray in the Civil War. 

Soon thereafter, a banner was presented to the College by the Boat Club, sewn by the girls of the nearby Georgetown Visitation school. Half blue and half gray, it bore the inscription Ocior Auro ("Swifter Than The Wind"). The banner and its colors quickly became a part of college life. Student gatherings and formal University occasions both prominently featured the colors.

What's A Hoya:
The official explanation holds that there was a baseball team at Georgetown called the "Stonewalls". It is suggested that a student, applying Greek and Latin, dubbed the team the hoia saxa-- hoia is the Greek neuter plural for "what" or "what a", while saxa is the Latin neuter plural for "rock". Substituting a "y" for an "i"; "hoya saxa" literally means "what rocks".

To this day, however, no one has proven exactly when and under what circumstances the yell originated. While there was a Stonewalls team between 1866 and 1873, an actual reference to the team is pure speculation. Some have held that hoia saxa referred not to the team but its surroundings--the team's field (the present site of Copley Lawn) was bounded by the College Walls along 37th street. One theory holds that words such as saxa (Latin for "rocks") were scribbled on the walls for years and a similar phrase may have simply been adopted by fans of the baseball team.

Jack The Bulldog:
Georgetown's nickname is a Hoya, but its mascot is a bulldog. This bulldog is known as Jack, but many other dogs through the years have been a part of Georgetown teams.

Students maintained pet bulldogs as mascots into the early 1970's. By 1979, Georgetown was one of the first schools to employ a "human mascot", a student in the now familiar blue and gray bulldog suit. "Jack" now appears at major athletic and social events, and is among the most recognizable college mascots in the nation. (Jack is not to be confused with "Joe Hoya", which is a traditional campus expression for the everyday Georgetown student.)

Harvard Students Send Dorm Demolition Notices to Jews

Anti-Israel Harvard Students Send Dorm Demolition Notices to Jews

While the anti-Israel left routinely claims that hatred for Israel is not anti-Semitism, students at Harvard would be hard-pressed to make that distinction in the aftermath of a recent incident highlighting anti-Israel anti-Semitism. Last week, Jewish students in the Harvard dormitories woke up to find flyers under the doors from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee informing them that they had been evicted from their dorm rooms.

“We regret to inform you that your suite is scheduled for demolition in the next three days,” the flyer read. There was no distinction made between Israelis and Jews, leftist Jews and conservative Jews, peaceniks or defense hawks. All Jews are the same to the anti-Israel crowd.

The Anti-Defamation League rightly condemned the disreputable tactic. “This tactic is designed to silence and intimidate pro-Israel advocates at Harvard and campuses around the country,” the group said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time advocates for Palestinian Arabs have tried this thuggery. Just last year, hundreds of Jewish students at Florida Atlantic University – the former home of terrorist professor Sami Al-Arian – received similar notices. And this sort of sentiment isn’t foreign to Harvard, either. Just last year, the Harvard Crimson reported a joke invitation to a social club called “The Pigeon.” “Jews need not apply,” the footnote to the application read.

Anti-semitism is alive and well … on the campus left. And no hiding behind anti-Israel sentiment can hide that uncomfortable fact.

Ben Shapiro is Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the book “Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America” (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013).

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/03/07/Harvard-anti-semitism

Penn Jillette defends Catholicism against Piers Morgan

Atheist Penn Jillette defends Catholicism

And he does so against Piers Morgan who, shockingly, is Catholic.

This is pretty fascinating:

Mr. Jillette here sounds more like a Catholic than many Catholics and more intelligent than Piers Morgan which actually, isn't quite saying much now is it.

http://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/2013/03/atheist-penn-jillette-defends-catholicism.html

I have no idea how money or budgets work.

Sarhadi Lutheran Church Begins Rebuild

Renovation: Sarhadi Lutheran Church starts picking up its pieces
Built in 1930, the church was set ablaze on Septem­ber 21.
By Baseer Qalandar Published: March 4, 2013



The Sarhadi Lutheran Church is situated on approximately 1,518 square metres of land. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:

Reconstruction of the Sarhadi Lutheran Church in Mardan started last week, nearly five months after it was burnt down by a mob.

The construction had been delayed after differences emerged among churchgoers over the formation of the Diocese of Mardan. The dispute was resolved after the dissolution of Mardan’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Rioters protesting the ... movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’ launched a vicious attack on the place of worship on September 21, 2012. They set the church building on fire, and looted the surrounding residential quarters.

Built in 1930, the Sarhadi Lutheran Church is situated on approximately 1,518 square metres of land. The premises include a science laboratory and a primary school.



According to Awami National Party MNA Himayatullah Mayar, the estimated cost of renovation is Rs34.4 million. This includes the reconstruction of the church building, residential quarters and the house of the school’s principal which is also on the premises.

Mayar said the provincial government has also met security measures requested by the church representatives for the prevention of such incidents. “We have intensified security by raising the boundary walls of the building as well,” he maintained.

Executive Director Peshawar Diocese Andreas Barkat Masih, who is also responsible for overseeing the repair process, said they asked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government for the construction of the three residential quarters and nine rooms of the school. “The government has also agreed to expand the church hall, which is also one of our demands,” Masih added.

According to Masih, a group of Christians formed the Diocese of Mardan. “The group came into being under the leadership of Ilyas Masih,” he added.

The riots uncovered reservations held by some Christians on the supervision of the Sarhadi Lutheran Church by a diocese other than the Diocese of Peshawar, he added.

The Diocese of Mardan eventually merged under Peshawar’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction, resolving the doubts held by certain church members, said the director of the Peshawar Diocese. Now the church’s affairs will be supervised by us, he added.

“There is no other local diocese across the province. The Peshawar Diocese looks after the affairs of churches across the province,” he added.

As far as the renovation is concerned, there are no changes in the architectural layout, with the exception of the expansion of the church hall, Masih explained. He welcomed the government’s approach for redressing their grievances.

Sarhadi Lutheran Church Chairman Peter Majid said the place of worship was targeted twice in 2010 during similar protests.

Chand Masih, the fourth bishop of the church, appreciated the K-P government’s support in launching the reconstruction work.

Mardan, the hometown of Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, houses around 5,000 Christian families, who moved to the district in 1903 during the British Raj.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/515392/renovation-sarhadi-lutheran-church-starts-picking-up-its-pieces/