A Few Interesting News Items

World population to reach nine billion by 2050: UN projections Most of the additional 2.3 billion people will swell the population of the developing world, estimated to soar from 5.6 billion this year to 7.9 billion in 2050, and to spread among the 15-59 age group (1.2 billion) and those 60 or over (1.1 billion), the data showed.

[the most startling is:]  During the 2010-2050 period, major net receivers of foreign migrants are projected to be the United States (1.1 million annually), Canada (214,000), Britain (174,000), Spain (170,000), Italy (159,000), Germany (110,000) Australia (100,000) and France (100,000). Major countries of net emigration are expected to be Mexico (334,000 annually), China (309,000), India (253,000), the Philippines (175,000) and Pakistan (161,000).


A Persian Love Poem From Jerusalem of the Middle Ages

In time for Purim: a jug inscribed with a Persian love poem was recently discovered in excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Old City of Jerusalem. A fragment of a pottery vessel most likely created in Iran of the Middle Ages (12th-13th centuries CE) was discovered in an archaeological excavation directed by Dr. Rina Avner, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in the Old City of Jerusalem, prior to construction by a private contractor.


YOU CAN VOTE AND LET THEM KNOW 
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT IS DOING HIS JOB, and the Presidency is a JOB like any other federal agency.



IN THE EYE OF A SANDSTORM
NATURE’S FURY: A dust cloud envelops Riyadh on Tuesday. (photo by Khaled Al-Khamees).  RIYADH: A severe sandstorm lashed Riyadh yesterday, 

spreading an orange-color blanket of dust that led to over 70 road accidents, traffic snarls and cancellation of scheduled luncheon parties. 

The storm was attributed to changing weather.  *So says Yishmael, not so Hashem!

Scientists Locate 'G-d Spot' in Human Brain ...Science can't say whether G-d represents a loving, vengeful or nonexistent being. But researchers have revealed for the first time how such religious beliefs trigger different parts of the brain.
Brain scans showed that participants fell back on higher thought patterns when reacting to religious statements, whether trying to figure out G-d's thoughts and emotions or thinking about metaphorical meaning behind religious teachings.
. . .
The brain scans showed that people use known, higher-function brain regions to sort out their thoughts on G-d and religion. For instance, parts of the brain linked with theory of mind (ToM) lit up when trying to understand a supposedly detached G-d's intentions – although individual minds varied wildly when pondering a more involved G-d.

You can read the rest of this interesting article here.