Anger is born from ignorance, and is a strong ally of ignorance.
I have to deal with my anger with care, with love,
with tenderness, with nonviolence. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.

[Chorus] Alabama – Angels Among Us Lyrics

By John Boone, ET, September 9, 2014

Apple announced a new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus today, plus the Apple Watch.

Let’s start with the facts: As speculated, Apple announced two new iPhones. And they’re apparently the best phones ever: The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have bigger screens (4.7 and 5.5 inches, respectively), better battery life, a better camera…for taking selfies, and a bunch of other techno stuff that basically means these two are harder, better, fast, stronger.

Other exciting announcements include: Apple Pay, a “reinvention” of the wallet, that stores all your credit cards and allows “easy, secure, and private” wireless payments. And Apple Watch, a chic smart watch used for fitness, communication and, well, basically anything you want it to do.

But it may have been difficult to get all of that. At the beginning of his talk, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “Today we’re announcing the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone.” What Apple may not have spent so much time on what advancements in live streaming.

The live stream would cut out every few minutes, switching to color bars or a pre-filmed video intro. For fans that were able to get through to the stream, they had to listen to the speaker and a Chinese translator at the same time. It was a bit of a mess.

Eventually, Apple seemed to figure it out and everything eventually ran (more or less) smoothly. And thankfully there was one bright moment amid the early mess: This guy named Tommy, who was brought onstage to show off the new iPhone’s video game capabilities, as well as his awesome scarf:

Blast from the not-so-distant past: Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs!

@Carter Gibson

Link source

Troupes of city monkeys explore the rooftops and play with puppies that use the high terrain for exercise. Cute animal video from BBC natural history show Monkey Warriors.

US Air Force personnel walk to their aircraft for an in-air refueling mission over Iraq, on August 11, 2014 (AFP Photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

AFP, September 9, 2014

Washington (AFP) – The US Air Force has told a sergeant he will have to leave the military unless he agrees to take an oath with the phrase “so help me God,” officials said Tuesday.

In the latest religious controversy to roil the air force, the atheist airman last month was denied his request to re-enlist because of his refusal to swear to God — and he is now poised to take the military to court, his lawyer said.

“We have not received word from the Air Force regarding our letter. It has not indicated a willingness to settle out of court,” said Monica Miller, an attorney for the American Humanist Association, which has taken up the service member’s case.

With the deadline for re-enlisting expiring in November, the technical sergeant at Creech Air Force base in Nevada — whose name has not been released — will be forced to sue the government in a federal court, Miller told AFP.
In the past, an airman could opt for an alternative phrase and omit the words “so help me God,” but the US Air Force changed its policy in October 2013.

The other branches of the American military do not require the reference to God and make the phrase optional.

“This is the only branch to my knowledge that’s actually requiring everyone in all instances to use the religious language,” Miller said.

The requirement violates the US Constitution, which bars religious tests to hold office or other positions, Miller said of the case, which was first reported by the Air Force Times.

“The government cannot compel a nonbeliever to take an oath that affirms the existence of a supreme being,” she said.

The sergeant’s service expires in November and he has until then to re-enlist and take the oath, said US Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

In the meantime, “a written legal opinion is being requested” from the Pentagon’s top lawyer, she said.

The air force has been plagued by controversy for years over religion and the role of Christian evangelists.

The US Air Force Academy in Colorado faced accusations several years ago that evangelical Christians exerted a dominating influence over the institution.

But attempts to counter the perceived bias in the service have sparked criticism from Christian activist groups, who allege a new rule stifles the religious expression of troops.

The disputed rule bars commanders from promoting their religious convictions to their subordinates.

Advocates of the policy say it protects troops who worry their careers could be jeopardized if they do not take part in their superior’s Christian activities.

There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there. ~Paulo Coelho

Respect everyone and earn the respect of others. Respect your friends, your family, and your lovers by validating their opinions and experiences. Try to understand them deeply, on a personal level. Ask them questions, have long discussions, and open your heart. Understand that the other person has their own wishes and desires, and rights to privacy and dignity. If you can’t allow this for another person, then you can’t love them. ~wikiHow

Don’t expect perfection in the person you love
or in yourself. This sets incredibly unrealistic
expectations. Neither of you will be able to live
up to these standards and you both will end up
hurt and disappointed. Even if you feel that you
only expect perfection for yourself, this will give
you the mindset that people can be perfect and you
will subconsciously expect the same from the person
you’re with. ~wikiHow

We often think of peace as the absence of war, that if powerful countries would reduce their weapon arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds- our own prejudices, fears and ignorance. Even if we transport all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the roots of bombs are still there, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we will make new bombs. To work for peace is to uproot war from ourselves and from the hearts of men and women. To prepare for war, to give millions of men and women the opportunity to practice killing day and night in their hearts, is to plant millions of seeds of violence, anger, frustration, and fear that will be passed on for generations to come. ~Thich Nhat Hanh