Pacific NW News Service

Reactions poured in from around the world.

U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the attack in a statement on Wednesday and said the American government would "provide any assistance needed to help bring these terrorists to justice." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attack "horrific" and told the people of France that "each and every American stands with you today."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Wednesday's assault "an attack on freedom of speech and the press." She added, "This abominable act is not only an attack on the lives of French citizens and their security." British Prime Minister David Cameron called the attack "sickening." Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to the victims' loved ones and all Parisians.

..George said "Holiday Inn Bob?"

ATHENS, GA (December 18, 2014) – The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced that the National Press Photographers Association will relocate its headquarters to the Athens, Georgia, campus in early 2015.

NPPA is the voice of visual journalists, representing photographers, videographers, multimedia journalists, editors, designers, visual managers and academics, with nearly 6,000 members nationwide and around the world.

– “Take care of your spiritual life, your relationship with God, because this is the backbone of everything we do and everything we are.”

– “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”

– “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”

– “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”

– “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”

– “Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”

– “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”

– “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”

– “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and strangers, because we will be judged on this.” Pope Francis

The incoming Senate majority leader has set a political goal for the next two years of overseeing a functioning, reasonable majority on Capitol Hill that scores some measured conservative wins, particularly against environmental regulations, but probably not big victories such as a full repeal of the health-care law.

McConnell’s priority is to set the stage for a potential GOP presidential victory in 2016. “I don’t want the American people to think that if they add a Republican president to a Republican Congress, that’s going to be a scary outcome. I want the American people to be comfortable with the fact that the Republican House and Senate is a responsible, right-of-center, governing majority,” the Kentucky Republican said in a broad interview just before Christmas in his Capitol office.
http://www.salon.com/2015/01/07/gops_coming_horror_show_why_new_congress_may_be_even_worse_than_you_think/

(a) In General.–It is contrary to the public policy of the United States to prohibit or restrict photography in public spaces, whether for private, news media, or commercial use.
(b) Should a Federal agency seek to restrict photography of its installations or personnel, it shall obtain a court order that outlines the national security or other reasons for the restriction…
(c) Prohibition on Fees, Permits, or Insurance.–No Federal Government agency shall require fees, permits or insurance as a condition to take still or moving images on Federal lands, National Parks and Forests, and public spaces, whether for private, media, or commercial use.

The entire Ansel Adams Act is available to read on Congress.gov. It’s only about a page long and is surprisingly easy to read. Definitely  worth the few minutes it would take to read so be sure to click the link or at least save it to your reading list. Especially if you are a US citizen or a photographer who photographs in the U.S.

Spokane County’s nine recreational marijuana stores all reported sales in December higher than the previous month, pushing the legal market above $1.2 million as it continues to grow and gain traction with lending agencies statewide.
The retail growth comes at a time when some planning officials and elected representatives are pushing to stanch the spread of the recreational and medicinal markets through moratoriums and other measures. In the midst of that climate, Steve Burks opened the area’s newest dispensary, Treehouse Club, at 14421 E. Trent Ave., in a renovated house.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m concerned with the moratorium,” Burks said, referring to an action by the Spokane Valley City Council last month that prohibited new pot businesses not licensed by the state’s Liquor Control Board. “It doesn’t really apply to us.”

 Indians Fan caught shopping in Mariners Territory

A renewed blast of arctic air has prompted wind chill warnings, watches, or advisories for over 180 million in the U.S. in anticipation of the coldest weather since the so-called "polar vortex" event one year ago.The combination of wind and cold air is leading to dangerous and potentially life-threatening wind chills Wednesday over a large part of the Midwest. Wind chills have dipped as low as 54 degrees below zero in Grand Marais, Minnesota, Wednesday morning.
This second round began Tuesday afternoon as cold northwest winds began blasting into the Northern Plains. This next shot of cold air will surge south and east, reaching the East Coast and South later Wednesday into Thursday.
High temperatures are expected to be up to 35 degrees below average in parts of the Midwest on Wednesday. In many cases, the high temperatures Wednesday will be the midnight temperatures at the beginning of the day; for instance, Chicago's temperature was 6 degrees at midnight, and the city probably won't get any warmer than that Wednesday afternoon. The average high in Chicago for this date is 31.
Chicago has not had a subzero high since January 6 of last year.

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