LA vets demand housing at giant VA campus

From Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Caleb Hellerman, CNN

updated 8:56 AM EST, Sat October 22, 2011

Los Angeles (CNN) -- The connection seems obvious: nearly 400 acres of land set aside to house veterans and thousands of veterans who need a place to call home.

But Los Angeles' estimated 8,000 homeless vets have been barred from living at the sprawling campus for decades. The West Los Angeles property -- some of the most valuable in the nation -- was donated in 1888 to "establish, construct and permanently maintain" a branch of a national home for veterans, according to the original deed.

And for nearly a century, that's what happened: permanent veterans facilities sprang up, including a post office, a trolley system and housing for as many as 4,000 vets, said American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Mark Rosenbaum.

But "beginning with the Vietnam War era, vets were kicked out," said Rosenbaum, who's leading a class-action suit over the property against the Department of Veterans Affairs.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/health/homeless-veterans/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Close encounters in the Galapagos

By A. Pawlowski, CNN

updated 6:17 PM EST, Fri October 21, 2011

The Galapagos -- 19 islands that lie 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean -- are home to species of animals found nowhere else on Earth. Famously visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, the archipelago played a key role in his theory of evolution.

These days, both tourists and researchers flock to the islands to see giant tortoises that can live 150 years, marine iguanas that dive to find dinner, flightless cormorants, and penguins that somehow thrive near the equator.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/18/travel/galapagos-tips-destination-adventure/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Dark Night of Soul

Dark Night of the Soul
by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Dark Night of the Soul is currently listed as the 9th most popular CCEL downloaded book. A sequel and continuation of Ascent of Mount Carmel, the Dark Night of the Soul is a spiritually moving and mystical story. In the book, St. John of the Cross continues his description of the soul's journey--the "dark night"--to the "divine union of the love of God." A poet at heart, St. John describes the journey and the union with beautifully rich and deeply symbolic language. His words offer encouragement and comfort directly to readers as they too struggle with the excruciating dark night. At times, the Dark Night of the Soul can be difficult to read, but its difficulty is surpassed by its ability to offer hope to the downtrodden and discouraged. One of the most profound works of Christian mysticism, this book is highly recommended for those seeking union with God.

-The Christian Classics Ethereal Library

http://www.ccel.org/read

Psalm 49

Psalm 49

 ¹Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
 ²Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
 ³My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
 ⁴I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
 ⁵Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
 ⁶They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
 ⁷None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
 ⁸(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
 ⁹That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
 ¹⁰For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
 ¹¹Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
 ¹²Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
 ¹³This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
 ¹⁴Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
 ¹⁵But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
 ¹⁶Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
 ¹⁷For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
 ¹⁸Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
 ¹⁹He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
 ²⁰Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

God's creations

Psalm 105

 ¹O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

 ²Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

 ³Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

 ⁴Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.