Brian

International - While a new space race is in the works in Asia as three major countries, Japan, India, and China plan for lunar flights, China claims that this is not a competitive race, but that they are paving the way for future cooperation in space. China recently launched the Chang'e 1 satellite as part of an ambitious space exploration plan. Japan already launched their lunar probe and India plans to launch theirs in April. This is the first new wave of space and moon exploration since the space race during the cold war between the US and the Soviet Union. The probe is named for a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon.

Opinion – I’m always really excited by this sort of thing. But Red China in space is kind of scary and humbling, from an American perspective. It will be interesting to see what results from all the upcoming space expeditions by all these different countries. I remember when I was little I saw a 3D movie at the IMAX about a self-sustaining space station and that idea of living in space has always kept me interested in this sort of news.

International - The Sajmiste concentration camp, a Serbian WWII Nazi death camp in Belgrade, is now the site of regular rock concerts. The site, which is deteriorating has no memorial to the 48,000 Jews, Serbs or Gypsies who were killed there and was recently bought illegally by a company, which is renting it out for rock concerts because it makes “business sense”. Nearly all 8,000 of Belgrade’s Jews were killed there after the camp was set up there in 1941 at Belgrade’s fair grounds.

Opinion – This is a shame, and proof that we forget our past too easily. Many other death camps may have been preserved and are monuments to the terrible atrocities man is capable of, but this is an example of how quickly people can forget the past. Or even worse, know of the past but pay it no heed. Something should be done about this, and hopefully the press coverage of this situation might help to do something before it’s too late.

National - So the fastest growing site on the internet is… GodTube, a Christian alternative to Youtube. It is just one of many alternative sites that appeal to all different religions. This one in particular was created by a seminary student as a resource for churches and became a big hit. There is the occasional trouble with controversial theological viewpoints presented on the site, but those are allowed as long as they are not offensive. Supposedly, more people watch GodTube on Sunday mornings, than go to Joel Osteen’s mega church. But both are based in Texas.

Opinion – I suppose this is probably pretty great for some people, who feel they need a Christian alternative to Youtube, Myspace, Wikipedia, or other popular internet sites. But I’m happy with the originals. I can understand why people would like these sites as Christians if they don’t usually use the others or want to avoid them, but in my own personal opinion, the other sites, if used properly, are much more powerful tools, and can be used to expand the kingdom of God just as much as Godtube. I don’t really like Joel Osteen either.

National – In Philadelphia, a 25 year veteran police officer was shot and killed today by a masked robber in a Dunkin’ Doughnuts the officer frequented. The officer was the third officer shot in that city in a span of four days.

Opinion – This is a really sad story and shows that the crime rate must be high in Philadelphia. It seems tragically ironic that the officer was shot before he could react in a doughnut shop, of all places.