Controversial execution in Ohio uses new drug combination

(CNN) -- Ohio inmate Dennis McGuire appeared to gasp and convulse for roughly 10 minutes before he died Thursday by lethal injection using a new combination of drugs, reporters who witnessed it said.

McGuire was convicted in 1994 of the rape and murder of 22-year-old Joy Stewart, who was seven months pregnant. Her relatives were at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville to witness his death, according to tweets from television reporter Sheila Gray.

McGuire's "children and daughter-in-law were crying and visibly upset," Gray tweeted.

She said McGuire, before the drugs took effect, thanked Stewart's family for a letter he apparently received.

"To my children, I'm sorry. I love you. I'm going to heaven and I'll see you there when you come," McGuire reportedly said, according to CNN affiliate WDTN.

Columbus Dispatch reporter Alan Johnson said that the whole execution process took 24 minutes, and that McGuire appeared to be gasping for air for 10 to 13 minutes.

"He gasped deeply. It was kind of a rattling, guttural sound. There was kind of a snorting through his nose. A couple of times, he definitely appeared to be choking," WDTN quoted Johnson as saying.

Personally, I am not in favor with execution, since God is the giver and taker of our lives. This misfortune that happened to Mr. McGuire, I wouldn´t wish it to anyone. He suffered more than the letal injection should have taken to kill him. It´s sad to know about her family´s lost, but what´s even worse is that we are not sure if he accept Christ as his Savior. Even though he did many awful things in his past, if he genuinely asked for forgiveness, God is mercyful.

Winner of black rhino hunting auction gets $350,000

Dallas (CNN) -- Corey Knowlton is on edge sitting inside a Las Vegas hotel room, surrounded by a private security detail, explaining why he spent $350,000 for the chance to hunt a black rhinoceros in the southern African nation of Namibia.

"If I sound emotional, it's because I have people threatening my kids," Knowlton told CNN. "It's because I have people threatening to kill me right now [that] I'm having to talk to the FBI and have private security to keep my children from being skinned alive and shot at."

Knowlton was outed over social media as the winner of the Dallas Safari Club's auction for a black rhino hunting permit from the Namibian government last weekend. It didn't take long for the threats and vitriol to start pouring in.

"You are a BARBARIAN. People like you need to be the innocent that are hunted," posted one woman on Knowlton's Facebook page.

Some sounded even more sinister. "I find you and I will KILL you," read another threat. "I have friends who live in the area and will have you in there sights also," wrote another commenter.

Rhinos are considered a specie in danger of extinction; therefore, if my opinion is not nule, it shouldn´t be legal the practice of this activity. They are living creatures and they have the right to live. I´ve always considered myself a defensor of animals and seeing all this cruel murders makes me think about how everything would change if we get up to a point in which many animals extinct.

Berlusconi's step-dog joins Italian campaign against illegal New Year fireworks

Italy's most famous pet, Dudu the poodle, is urging Italians to stop the New Year's Eve practice of setting off powerful fireworks which kill and wound several every year.

The annual campaign to stop Italians letting off frequently fatal fireworks on New Year’s Eve has found a unusual new front man in Dudu, the fluffy poodle belonging to Silvio Berlusconi’s fiancée.

It would be a good idea that campaigns like this were practiced in my country, Honduras, since every Christmas many innocent children die or get wound beacause of the irresponsible use of fireworks. The kids have not the fault, parents do. How can a kid be left alone with this powerful things? If parents would be more responsible at the time their children use fireworks, tragic deaths in kids wouldn't be so often in our country.

Teen dies stopping suicide bomber at school in Pakistan

A 14 year old boy is now considered a hero after having saved many many of his classmates when a bomb was placed in their school. The ninthgrader Aitazaz Hassan, tackled the suicide bomber; but sadly he was killed while trying to stop the bomber from detoning the bomb. The bomber was wearing their same school uniform, that's why he entered the school freely. He also died during the fight with Aitazaz.

Personally, I feel very sad for this young Pakistan boy even though I didn't know him. I'm not sure if he was a Christian, but by the attitude he assumed toward his classmates, he demonstrates how much he cared for others, up to a point in which he gave his life for them. It's really sad to hear about these people trying to detone bombs with the purpose of killing innocent children and teens. They really need to hear about God's Word, since pmaybe they've never heard about His unending love. This people urgently need someone to care about them; the only One who could change their lives, is Christ!

Sharia and Islam

CNN's Soledad O'Brien sits down with Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman, who describes the basics of Sharia law and the difference between Islam and Sharia law. O’Brien chronicles the dramatic fight over the construction of a mosque in the heart of the Bible belt on “Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door.”



Islam comes from the root word Salaam, which means peace. It also means submitting one's will to Allah(swt).The word Salaam is also an attribute of God .In this context, it means ‘TheGiverofPeace’. Muslims greet each other with Assalaamualaikum which translates to wishing peace for one another.Even when wronged, theGlorious Qur’an advises Muslims to struggle against the temptation for hostility: "And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best,when lo!he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend..."(Al- Qur’an41:34)TheQur’an refers to Paradise as the“abodeofpeace”.Thus peace is a goal that Muslims are required to strive for ,In their ownselves, in their families and in their communities. It is ironical therefore, that Islam is perceived by many as being the motivation behind the want on killing of innocent people.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6

Is Greece finally on the mend after economic crisis?

CNN) -- Greece is on the way to economic recovery as investor faith returns to the recession-ridden eurozone nation, an executive at Greece's largest bank has told CNN.

Petros Christodoulou, deputy chief executive of the National Bank of Greece, said that a drastic drop in government borrowing costs since the outbreak of the crisis in 2009 marks a "great improvement and a great perception of the country" by foreign investors.

 

Speaking to CNN's Max Foster in Athens, Christodoulou said: "Are we out of the woods with 8% yields in government debt? Not yet, but we are on the right path."

 

He added: "All this eventually proliferates into everything that happens in Greece, starting from the banking sector which is in the center of the economy and this is good news going forward."

 

 

 

Personally, I think this is only propaganda put out by the Greek Government and its Bankers to make people "think all is well" when it is not and on the edge of a major revolt in Greece.

"GREEK GOV'T ABOUT TO FALL" - Reuters Sept 27th 2013
Greece may face snap elections. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras may have to
choose going to a national ballot and fears this destabilizing after a statement from Army Special Forces telling the government to resign and be replaced, which would suspend deals Greece had under its bailouts. The tone suggested a direct intervention in the democratic process which the Greek government finds very troubling."



Credits to worldarts.

Sochi 2014: Gay athlete promises openly defiant stance at Games

 

 

 

CNN) -- He's unlikely to break a world record or even win a medal but New Zealand's Blake Skjellerup is likely to generate plenty of headlines if he gets to February's Winter Olympics.

The speed skater is currently the only openly gay athlete who could compete in Sochi, at a Games already tinged by Russia's controversial laws on homosexuality.

 

The June ruling prohibits the distribution of information to minors promoting same-sex relationships and the public discussion of gay rights, but Skjellerup has promised not to shy away from the issue.

Instead, he's planning to tackle it head on.

Is there any reason why some people don't want to respect the principles and laws of other countries? Imagine if Russia, by hosting the games, must all of a sudden abide by the laws of all competing countries? Your sexuality is a private affair.. or isn't it?

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27