From the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: …The court ruled that, although the camp is owned by a religious organization, most of the 61-acre spread is taxable because it did not meet all of the criteria previously established for charities in Pennsylvania and, as a result, it did not qualify as a purely public charity.

It was only through reading the Acknowledgment at the end of “Strategic Vision, American and Crisis of Global Power” that we discovered the reason between the deficiencies of portions of the first half of the book and the brilliance of the final chapters: They were drafted by two different aides!

From the HUFFINGTON POST: Fifty-two percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the Supreme Court, a quarter-century low according to Pew Research Center, which released the polling data on Tuesday.

From REUTERS: A nearly three-year-long investigation by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats is expected to find there is little evidence the harsh “enhanced interrogation techniques” the CIA used on high-value prisoners produced counter-terrorism breakthroughs.

From the HUFFINGTON POST: …”There is no reason at this time not to talk about a military effort,” he said, “but definitely not to initiate an Israeli military strike.” Israel and the West suspect Iran is aiming to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

From the NEW YORK TIMES: The recently retired chief of Israel’s internal security agency accused the government of “misleading the public” about the likely effectiveness of an aerial strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, ratcheting up the criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak from the country’s security establishment.

America and the Crisis of Global Power.” He then proceeds, at times superficially, to discuss the causes of the decline of America and Europe.

From NPR: …Nonprofit hospitals, including Mount Carmel, pay no federal, state or local taxes, giving them a competitive edge over their for-profit counterparts. In return, nonprofits are expected to offer a community benefit, including free and discounted care for low-income patients.

ROME: A simple task: Exchange $100 US for Euros. To get a good rate, it is best to visit a bank. First we had to pass though a chamber where one door opened and closed behind and then a second door opens. Mrs. Watchdog and I tried to go together but the second door would not permit two at a time. Can’t be too careful.

From the FINANCIAL TIMES: The US economy grew a disappointing rate of 2.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 as inventories piled up and the federal government cut spending.

From NEW YORK CHANNEL 4: A construction crane owner was acquitted of manslaughter and all other charges Thursday in the May 2008 collapse of a 200-foot-tall rig that snapped apart, killed two workers and fueled concerns about crane safety…

From USA TODAY: Households have whittled down the massive debt they racked up in the mid-2000s credit bubble, but apparently not enough to nudge them into a spending binge that could jump-start the recovery, some economists say. Household debt is closely watched by economists because consumers burdened by big monthly payments for mortgage, credit card and student loan obligations are less likely to splurge on clothing, furniture and travel.

It will be apparent to those who have read Bill Keisling’s articles on Pennsylvania politics that the nomination for Attorney General of a Democrat who is not a part of the political establishment and not beholden to special interests poses a grave threat to those who have milked and bilked Harrisburg and much of the rest of the state for decades.