Author Archives: Kami Klein

Giving Or Getting? Do These Kids Have the Answer?

In Atlanta, 83% of the children that go to the boys and girls club come from low income families. Many of these children live where most homes cannot even afford a Christmas tree. Many of these kids were asked one of the most difficult questions when UPtv decided to talk to them about their Christmas wishes.

As each child spoke of the thing they wanted the most, their eyes sparkled with the magic that children feel this time of year. They described the dream of that most special gift that they just might, despite all odds, receive.

There were many children that UPtv spoke to. Beautiful kids such as Destiny, Miracle, Austin and Brooke. Each made their wish. For example:a computer, a barbie doll house, an Xbox system. And then they were asked about their families. What would their Mom like as a present? Or their Dad? Or the whole family? A new television, a ring for my Mom, a watch for my Dad, a christmas tree and a necklace were some of the wonderful presents these children imagined.

Two days later UPtv sat these children down again and set before them the gift they had wanted so badly. They also presented the gift that they would want to give to their family, Mom or Dad. As their eyes grew wide, they were offered the chance to take home one of the gifts. Either the one for themselves or the one for their parent or family.

Their young faces told the story of how very difficult this choice was. Yet within mere moments, without hesitation, they each picked the gift that they would love to give. When asked why they picked to give a present instead of get one, Miracle told UPtv. “If I get a laptop, then my mom will lose something. She’s my Mom and she’s special!” In each case, the children picked a gift for giving saying that toys are not important, but making those they love happy, giving back to them for all they have done, means the most of all.

After unselfishly giving up their gifts, UPtv decided to give up a few too and happily gave the children the present that was intended for them as well. The thankfulness, the joy and the smiles of these wonderful kids is what makes the magic of Christmastime.

In a world so full of negativity and injustice. At a time where we despair over the future. It is the children who see our sacrifice and know…truly, how to give.

You can see for yourself this wonderful presentation on UPtv: “The Other Christmas Gift,” by watching the video below:

Turkey Accuses Russia of Wanting “Ethnic Cleansing” in Syria

Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu is accusing Russia of using bombing raids in the supposed effort to fight the Islamic State in Syria as an attempt to drive ethnic Turkmen and Sunni Arabs, considered to be rebels against the Syrian region led by Bashar al-Assad, out of the area.

According to The Telegraph, Mr. Davutoglu, while speaking to reporters at a briefing stated, “Russia is trying to make ethnic cleansing in northern Latakia to force (out) all Turkmen and Sunni populations who do not have good relations with the regime. They want to expel them, they want to ethnically cleanse this area so that the regime and Russian bases in Latakia and Tartus are protected.”

Relations between Turkey and Moscow have been tense and heated since a Russian warplane was shot down last month on the Syrian border. The BBC reported UK specialists have been asked to help analyze the flight recorder by Vladimir Putin in a direct request to Prime Minister David Cameron. Turkey maintains the act was justified and that the Russian bomber had been repeatedly warned that it was in Syrian airspace.

Ethnic Turkmen were reportedly the ones allegedly being targeted by the Russian fighter. Turkmen also have claimed to be the group that shot at and killed one of the pilots.

According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that accusations of ethnic cleansing in Syria are “groundless.”

Morningside Celebrates Community Birthday Party for Jesus

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as Morningside opened their hearts for the 4th annual Christmas Community Outreach Birthday Party for Jesus! Families from all over the community came to enjoy and celebrate together with the staff and volunteers of Morningside Church!

On Saturday December 5th, Jim and Lori Bakker, Marie Bakker, Zach Drew and Sasha Voltz welcomed hundreds of families to Grace Street to give back to the community. As Tammy Sue Bakker and the Morningside band joyfully brought Christmas to life with all of our Christmas favorites, the smell of pancakes and a full delicious breakfast wafted through the air. Families joined together to savor their meal and remember that Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus.

A multitude of gifts were raffled off for children as well as adults. The smiles of boys and girls as they picked out a new bike or toy, hugged Santa and danced to the music is what inspires Morningside and the Jim Bakker Show to put on this huge event together each year.

For families who are in need, the opportunity to provide gifts for their families and feel the presence and love of God, as they pick out items they could never have provided on their own brings a peace to their spirit that the volunteers and staff are grateful to share.

This ministry is incredibly blessed by our community and this small of way of giving back could never be enough to thank you.

Happy Birthday Jesus! And a Very Merry Christmas from Jim and Lori Bakker and everyone here at Morningside!

U.S. Unemployment Rate Up, But Consistent with Healthy Labor Market

The Labor Department said that for the week ending November 28th, claims for state unemployment benefits increased 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 269,000, as reported by Reuters. Claims held below 300,000, for a 39th straight week which is normally associated with a healthy labor market.

Data on Thursday showed planned job cuts in November were the lowest in 14 months, with the purge in the oil sector appearing to be slowing. Factory orders picked up in October after two straight months of declines.

Bloomberg reports that according to figures released Wednesday from the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, New Jersey, there was a 217,000 increase in employment which was the biggest in five months.

According to Bloomberg, employers are keeping those already on their payrolls as the labor market tightens because it is difficult for them to find workers who are skilled and experienced.

Federal Reserve policy makers have been monitoring progress as they consider whether the economy has the strength to handle an increase in interest rates, a decision that will be reached in Federal Reserve meetings December 15th and 16th.

Janet L. Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman has recently stated in multiple media reports that she believes the economy is healthy enough to support the benchmark interest rate increase.

County employee Named Suspect in San Bernardino Killings

By Kami Klein

San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguen held a press conference late Wednesday night to identify the suspects in the shooting earlier today at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, CA which caused the deaths of 14 people; 17 were injured.  The suspects killed in a shootout with police were identified as Syed Rizwan Farook (28) and Tashfeen Malik (27) .  According to a report by CBSN, the two had been married for two years and have a 6 month old daughter.  

The U.S. born Syed Rizwan was employed with San Bernardino County as an environmental specialist for the last five years.  He had attended a meeting/ party that has been an annual event for the county and reports were that he left angry.  It is still unclear what the disagreement was about or with whom.   

Chief Burguen says both law enforcement and the FBI feel that although first reports were that there were three suspects, they believe the two that went into the building were the same that were killed in the suspects car and the only shooters.

In an interview with his brother-in-law, CBSN reports that Sayed Riswan and Tashfeen  lived in the house in Redlands, CA that is now being investigated and belongs to his mother.  Syed is the name he went by for work and in public but the family called him Riswan.

Speaking on a motive for the case Police Chief Burgeun stated.

“We do not have a motive at this time.  We understand that when these kinds of things happen, information changes frequently at the beginning of the investigation.  We have not ruled out terrorism at this time.  But we do not yet know a motive.”   

In regards to the crime scenes, Chief Burgeun said that for the last couple of hours they have been working on the explosive devices that have been found.

“We feel that all explosives have been found and disposed of and are just now being able to get in there and process the evidence. Some degree of planning went into this attack.”

Both of the suspects had 223 assault rifles and semi automatic handguns in their possession when the gun battle with police took place.

Chief Burgeun concluded the press conference with a message for his community.  

“ We understand that you are scared and concerned but please understand that we are doing everything we can to keep people safe here. If we see a threat  we will be sure to communicate that to the community to protect you and your families.”

 

Update: Suspects Killed After Horrific Attack

Wednesday Morning at approximately 11:15 Pacific Time three gunman, armed with long assault weapons entered the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, CA , and opened fire in a conference room.  Witnesses said that the three suspects were on a mission, wearing masks and dark tactical clothing and sounds of bullets filled the air for approximately three to four minutes before fleeing the scene in a black SUV.    In their wake were 14 dead and 17 injured while hundreds of employees locked themselves down and hid waiting for authorities to arrive.  

At a press conference, law enforcement officials said that about 4½ hours later, multiple police cars were involved in a high-speed chase beginning as police followed a lead to a home in the nearby city of Redland.  After a dark SUV emerged from this home. police went into pursuit.  After arriving again in the San Bernardino area, a shootout occurred with police.  One female suspect and one male suspect were killed and one officer wounded with non life threatening injuries.

The dead suspects were armed with assault weapons, handguns and possible explosive material as well as being clothed in dark tactical style gear.  Law Enforcement is handling the scene cautiously until they are sure that there no danger for anyone else.  A third suspect was apprehended while fleeing the neighborhood and is being detained for questioning.  Police are not sure if this person is involved in the shooting or with the  dead suspects.

Assistant Director of the FBI in Los Angeles, David Bowdich, offered true sadness and sympathy to the families that have been involved in this tragedy and reassured them that all law enforcement resources will work diligently together to solve this case.  The FBI has been brought in to analyze the evidence and find all of those who are responsible for carrying out and planning this devastating act.

“Is this terrorism?  We do not know that for sure.  It is a possibility.  We are not willing to go down that road just yet and will go where the evidence takes us.” Bowdich stated. “This is a very fluid, active investigation, we will get there when we get there. ”

Police Chief Jarrod Burguan added that authorities do not yet know who the suspects are, if the home they came from belonged to them or what the motive is for this horrific attack.

Burguan reported that police authorities are still processing and releasing the scene at Inland Regional Center, the scene where the shootout occurred in a neighborhood close by and is also processing evidence at the home where the suspects vehicle came from.  Neighborhoods have been searched for any other possible suspects and police feel that the areas in question have been cleared.

Chief Burguan stressed that this is still an active crime investigation and will be sure that media receives information as soon as they are able to do so.

 

Police: 14 dead, 14 injured in California mass shooting

Police are investigating a mass shooting that left 14 people dead and 14 more wounded with what police called “significant injuries” on Wednesday morning in San Bernardino, California.

Police said at a news conference that up to three shooters reported to be heavily armed, prepared and dressed in tactical gear entered the Inland Regional Center, a facility for people with developmental disabilities, and opened fire. Those responsible fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV and were still at large as of Wednesday afternoon, police said.

According to KABC and many tweets by those on the ground, rescuers did not wait for ambulances and began loading the injured into trucks to get them to safety.

“They were being carried on trucks … They were shot, they were injured. Some of them did not survive,” said NBC Los Angeles reporter Tony Shin, describing victims he saw being brought to the triage area.

It is unclear how many people were at the facility at the time of the shooting. The center’s Facebook page says it employs nearly 670 staff members at its facilities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, providing service to more than 30,200 people. The three-story building is still being cleared as SWAT members go through each office.

According to the Sheriff of San Bernardino County, most of the victims were in a central area of the building but cannot confirm where.

Schools are on lockdown and one elementary closest to the airport is being evacuated, according to NBC reporters. SWAT and multiple police are looking for the suspects who are still at large.

Chinese company on track to clone dogs, racehorses and humans

The Chinese company Boyalife has signed a deal to build a $31 million cloning factory in Tianjin, a city approximately 100 miles from Beijing. The company has plans to bring its operations online in the first half of 2016 with plans on cloning 1 million cows a year by 2020 as well as replications of racehorses and police dogs, according to multiple media sources.

The CEO and lead scientist of this factory says that they now have technology capable of replicating human beings.

In a quote released by Breitbart, Xu Xiaochun, the 44-year-old Chairman of the Boyalife group remarked, “The technology is already there,”and added “If this is allowed, I don’t think there are other companies better than Boyalife that make better technology.”

“Unfortunately, currently, the only way to have a child is to have it be half its mum, half its dad,” said Xu. “Maybe in the future you have three choices instead of one. You either have fifty-fifty, or you have a choice of having the genetics 100 percent from Daddy or 100 percent from Mummy.”

In a report by CBS and AFP, Boyalife has joined forced with Sooam Biotech, a South Korean research company, that has already been quite successful at cloning pets for grieving owners. The market for deceased pets is reportedly extremely popular, with some people willing to pay up to $100,000 to bring a departed pet back to life.

In the CBS report, critics communicated feeling uneasy about the current cloning plans because Sooam Biotech founder, animal cloning pioneer Woo-suk Hwang, was convicted in 2009 of embezzling research funds and illegally buying human eggs for his research.

“Anything connected to Woo-suk is going to be suspect,” said Jaydee Hanson, senior policy analyst at the Center for Food Safety. “I’m not expecting Boyalife to be around for long,” he added.

Boyalife Group Board Chairman Xiaochun, said in a press statement on the company’s website that Chinese farmers are struggling to produce enough beef cattle to meet market demand. He said that the center will produce 100,000 cattle embryos a year, eventually increasing to 1 million.

CBS reported that many people took to social media to express their apprehension of eating cloned meat.

“This beef definitely must first be saved just for the central government leaders; only after they and their families have eaten it for 10 years should they deign to give it to us, the people! Really can’t wait!” one commenter said.

Another asked: “Is this meat going to be sold in South Korea or China? If in China, please make our leaders eat it first.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled in 2008 that food from cloned animals is safe to eat.

In an article by AFP, Han Lanzhi, a GMO safety specialist at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said Boyalife’s claims about the safety, scope and timeline of their operations were alarming — and implausible.

“To get approval for the safety of cloned animals would be a very drawn-out process, so when I heard this news, I felt very surprised,” she said.

“There must be strong regulation because as a company pursuing its own interests, they could very easily do other things in the future,” she added.

Greek Immigrant Gives Back on Thanksgiving

Every Thanksgiving people all of the United States gather together to share a meal.  For many it is with their family and friends.  For many others who are alone on Thanksgiving their meal comes from caring people that know how much food served with love means to their life.  

One such caring man has made it a tradition at his Northville, Michigan restaurant, called George’s Senate Coney Island by opening up his popular place of business to those that are alone over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Every Thanksgiving(or Easter!) for the past 10 years if you are homeless or even just alone for Thanksgiving , you can get a free meal at George’s.

Each year George serves 75 to 100 people.

“The reason I do this is because I was alone one time,” Dimopoulos told ABC news. “I remember the good times and bad times.”  

“I see people coming into the restaurant, and I say, ‘Are you by yourself?’ and they say, ‘I am, I’m alone,'” Dimopoulos told Today.com. “They need a little attention and help. That’s what I believe. I don’t care how much it costs. I make good money, so I can help those people.”

Recently a passerby posted a photo of the sign advertising the event to Reddit.  

“If anyone is home alone, come eat with us for free! All day,” the sign reads.

In a recent article, Huffington post said that for George, helping others in this way is quite personal.  The Greek-born Michigan immigrant who came to the country when he was 23 was once homeless in Athens when he was 12 and relied on strangers to help him find ways to eat.

This is a man that understands the meaning of paying forward in a warm, welcoming and delicious way!

Winter Storm Cara Bringing Dangerous Mix

Winter Storm Cara will make traveling for Thanksgiving and for those returning home, slow going and in some places quite dangerous for a great deal of the middle of the country. According to the Weather Channel, this strong system will bring a mixture of flooding rain, heavy snow and treacherous icing conditions.  The possibility for black ice is a great concern as well as power outages from freezing rain.

Accuweather has reported that freezing rain has already been reported in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving in parts of northeast Colorado, eastern Wyoming and Nebraska.

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for portions of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, including the city of Amarillo, Texas, as well as parts of southern Kansas. These warnings are valid from Thursday night into Friday or Saturday.

Cities that could experience one or more periods of freezing rain and drizzle include Amarillo, Texas; Gage, Oklahoma; Dodge City, Kansas; Lamar, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Des Moines, Iowa.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Bowers, “People traveling either a short or long distance from the eastern slopes of the Rockies to the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region are likely to encounter delays into Friday.”

Snow is expected from the central and eastern parts of Colorado and Wyoming to central Nebraska, northwestern Kansas, northwestern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. The slushy snow will harden as the temperatures fall so caution is urged.

The most widespread impact on travel will be associated with drenching rain during Thanksgiving Day into Friday.

“Motorists will need to slow down due to patchy fog and blowing spray and to reduce the risk of hydroplaning,” Bowers said.

Enough rain can fall in some locations to cause flash flooding. The greatest risk of flooding  will extend from north-central Texas to southern Missouri.

For those traveling in these areas be sure to check weather conditions before heading out on the road.