58 Killed by Islamists Targeting Non-Muslims in Kenya

Kenyan security forces and al-Qaeda-linked Islamists were in a standoff Sunday morning after gunmen killed 59 people – including a Canadian diplomat and the Kenyan president's nephew – and injured at least 175 others in an attack at an upscale shopping mall in Nairobi.  About 30 hostages were still being held.

"We will punish the masterminds (of the attack) swiftly, and indeed very painfully," Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta told reporters Sunday afternoon.

An Islamist group from Somalia, al Shabaab, claimed responsibility for the assault at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Reuters reported. The attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and wore ammunition belts, according to witnesses.

The gunmen opened fire at shoppers while a radio station was hosting a children's cooking competition at the mall and the winners were about to receive prizes, the newswire said.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said Sunday that authorities believe 10 to 15 gunmen were involved in the mall attack.  

Among the dead are close family members of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the wife of a U.S. diplomat working for the U.S. Agency for International Development was killed, three British citizens, two French citizens and two Canadians, including a 29-year-old diplomat. Some children have also died.

Several American citizens have been wounded, but no American died, according to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. "The perpetrators of this heinous act must be brought to justice, and we have offered our full support to the Kenyan Government to do so," Kerry said in a statement.

S.C. Jobless Rate Depressed Since 2008

Five years after the Great Recession began in earnest in South Carolina, the state’s jobless rate remains stuck.

About 106,000 more South Carolinians had jobs in August 2008 than did this August. And the state’s jobless rate – 8.1 percent – is still a full percentage point higher than it was five years ago.

Then, in the fall of 2008, home sales were beginning to slide, the jobless rate was rising and, nationally, financial services firm Lehman Brothers just had filed the single largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Economic conditions took a sharp turn for the worse. The jobless rate in South Carolina rocketed up to nearly 12 percent by the end of 2009. Historically, a fast downturn has meant a fast recovery, said Frank Hefner, an economist with the College of Charleston.

But not anymore.

The Great Recession was different from downturns caused by an oil crisis or a tech bubble, Hefner said. It permeated all sectors of the economy. And it will take recovery in most of those sectors for the jobless rates to improve, he added.

The jobless rate in South Carolina has dropped excruciatingly slowly over the past 31/2 years. Since April, it has hovered around 8 percent, according to figures the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce released Friday.

“That just shows the depths of this financial disaster,” Hefner said. “Not all recessions are the same. … This was a financial crisis; we haven’t seen one since the 1920s, ’30s.”

South Carolina’s lingering financial woes will be the subject of heated debate over the next year.

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, who is seeking re-election in 2014, says more than 37,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been announced since she took office in 2011.

“These numbers continue to grow every week, and the governor won’t stop building on them until every South Carolinian has a job,” spokesman Doug Mayer said.

However, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, who will challenge Haley in the governor’s race next year, said Friday’s unemployment report “marks three months of no progress on jobs.”

“South Carolina continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, all while middle-class families take a hit from falling income and struggle to keep their heads above water,” Sheheen said. “We can do better.”

‘A lot of problems’

Read Full Story at The State

Downtown Fresh Taste Event Set for Oct. 1

FreshTaste returns to downtown Anderson for its second year on Oct. 1 in the East Church Street Parking Lot at 6 p.m.. The event showcases local food and emerging artists with special wine and craft beer tastings.

“Last year, the event was well received and we expect an even more exciting experience for attendees this year,” said Arlene Young, Downtown Development Director. “Many communities, including Anderson, are renewing the focus on local buying power and the quality of the food we eat. This is an opportunity to build on that trend and to highlight the variety we have available here.”

The City of Anderson has partnered with the Anderson Area Food and Farm Association (AAFFA) as the centerpiece for FreshTaste, pairing local restaurants with local farms to offer a unique culinary blend. 

The public will be invited to sample offerings from the following dynamic duos of cuisine:

SummaJoe's/Polecat Farms

Friends/Walker Century Farm

Bleckley Inn/Hurricane Creek Farm

Tavern Under the Bridge/Split Creek Farm

Tokyo Bay/Putney Farm

Uptown Lounge/Happy Critter Ranch

Sullivan's/Timm's Mill 

Doolittle's/Early Bird Farm 

Music for the evening will include acoustic jazz by The Carl Neil Duo, Andy Fleming and Brad Pearson.

Five local artists will be on hand to present their work, including Michael Curry who will paint on-site during the event. And this year, FreshTaste brings literature to the venue with the addition of “Author’s Alley.” The book “Little Wren Lost and the Teakettle Call” written by Beth Batson and illustrated by Scott Foster,  published locally and now garnering statewide attention, will be featured. 

For more information, Contact: Arlene Young  864-231-5933  ayoung@cityofandersonsc.com 

Hackers Bypass New iPhone Fingerprint Security

Hackers from the Germany-based Chaos Computer Club (CCC) claim to have bypassed the fingerprint reader in Apple's iPhone 5s, dubbed "Touch ID," just two days after the smartphone first went on sale.

In a statement on its website, the CCC confirmed the bypass had taken place, adding: "A fingerprint of the phone user, photographed from a glass surface, was enough to create a fake finger that could unlock an iPhone 5s secured with Touch ID."

The video posted online on Sunday shows one user enrolling their finger, while later accessing the device using a different finger with a high-resolution latex or woodglue cast. The group detailed how they accessed the device using a fake print by converting a photographed fingerprint.

"Apple's sensor has just a higher resolution compared to the sensors so far," said CCC spokesperson Frank Rieger on the group's website. "So we only needed to ramp up the resolution of our fake." 

The Chaos Computer Club is one of the longest-running hacking groups in the world. The CCC produces the world's oldest hacking conference and this year will celebrate its 30th gathering ("30C3") in Hamburg, Germany in December.

Full Story Here

Famed Horse Trainer Brannaman Visits Garrison Arena Sunday

By M. J. Goodwin

Buck Brannaman, known world wide for his natural horsemanship techniques, is holding a 4 day clinic at Clemson University’s Garrison Livestock Arena.  Over 25 students and their horses are participating.  Dozens more are observing the legendary cowboy at work.

Known for his quiet strength and honest, straightforward approach, Brannaman counseled his students to view mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning and to be particular rather than picky.  Brannaman told his students that he was not one to “blow smoke up their skirts.”   

Men and women, with varying breeds of horses, including Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and a Freisian, participated in the clinic.

Brannaman was the subject of the 2011 Documentary “Buck.”  Brannaman states that he helps horses with people problems.  He was the main advisor on horsemanship to Robert Redford in the movie “The Horse Whisperer.”  Brannaman, a former foster child who suffered an abusive father, lives by the mantra be gentle in what you do, firm in how you do it.

Buck Brannaman will be Garrison on Sunday, September 22, 2013.  Admission is $30 for the day.

Opinion: Hartwell Lake Summit at "Home Run"

By S.C. Rep. Don C. Bowen

The second meeting of the Savannah River Caucus was declared a hit by the 437 people who came, who saw and who listened to the great presentations at Big Oaks Park in Hartwell.  We all heard in real terms the effect that the lakes have on the local economies when they are at their full capacity and acceptable levels.  They explained the adverse effects on our businesses when our lakes are down.  The lakes and the abundant supply of water that they impound along with the I-85 corridor are the two main reasons our local economies get wind in their “economic sails.”  

The jobs created by lakes specific traffic was well documented by the local chambers of commerce.  Hartwell Lake is one of the most heavily visited lakes in the Corps of Engineers’ system by tourists.  Yes, the lakes are much more than just pretty tranquil places where water is stored—they are essential for drinking water, business needs and are the major tourist attractions that rival our coastal beaches.

Both Governors spoke about the importance of the lakes and the River Basin according to their respective states.  There were 38 Legislators, two Lieutenant Governors, each state’s heads of DNR, the Colonel of the Corps of Engineers and of course, our Governor Nikki Haley and Governor Nathan Deal in attendance.  All these dignitaries’ attendance spoke volumes of the importance of this historic meeting and both Governors reiterated that theme in their presentation.

Alan Powell, the Georgia Representative from Hartwell who hosted the second Summit on the Georgia soil along with me and my South Carolina crew were pleased to participate and help in this major event.  The potential for this large group is that while coming together on the commonality of water, we see this being the impetus for more meetings on a multitude of issues that confront both the state of South Carolina and the state of Georgia. 

Brooks Benton, Warden for the prison in Hartwell, sang the National Anthem in such a manner that he brought tears of respect from many eyes in the crowd. 

The new compact agreement was signed and the study is off the ground for the Basin.  This has been six years in the making.  We all hope that the scientific data that we derived from the study will be a key component in the “adaptive management” program that is forthcoming. 

Dr. Gene Eidson of Clemson Water Resource Department has released his new smart river sensor that will give us real time data that will be collected up and down the Basin.  This system will share its data with all involved and interested groups.  It will give us the ability to make adjustments to the flows up and down the Basin in a more timely and immediate manner.

The NRC has agreed to give us more variation on Keowee Lake which currently has a 5.9 foot variation allowed before they are allowed to cut the flow off of Keowee to Hartwell.  This was put in place when we had the 3-mile island fiasco.  This new lake level variation will allow us to have more flexibility in the levels of the lakes below Keowee.

Yes, all in all, the meeting was a success.  Now we must move on to local meetings so that everyone will have a chance to get input into what actually takes place.  The next meeting is planned for the Augusta, North Augusta area.  We plan to do all that we can to keep the momentum rolling and to try to get input from everyone so that they may take ownership in this major endeavor.

AU Playhouse to Present "The Corn is Green"

The AU Playhouse of The South Carolina School of the Arts presents "The Corn is Green," at the Belk Theatre of the Rainey Fine Arts Center September 25-28.

The story by Emlyn Williams is a now classic play about an inspirational, quirky teacher, Miss Moffat, and a student who she grooms for a scholarship to Oxford University. The tough, take no prisoners, spinster Miss Moffat literally transforms the raw, unschooled Evans into an intellectually thirsty scholar from a just hungry coal boy in a poor Welsh mining village.  This is a rich story of two changed lives.  Both mentor and student wrestle with the life-changing challenges that emerge.  They both realize new callings.

Emlyn Williams based the play on his own personal experience, a relationship with a transformative school teacher that he encountered in his rural Welsh home village. Williams portrayed Evans himself in the production's London premiere in 1938. He also directed it. The play had long runs in London's West End and on Broadway. The 1945 Bette Davis film version is a gem.  Readers may also remember the 1978 film version starring Kathryn Hepburn and filmed on location in Wales.

The Anderson production is directed by David Larson, Theatre Professor and Dean of the South Carolina School of the Arts.  Scenery was designed and developed by AU Shop Foreman, Dalton Cole.  Lighting is designed by Associate Professor, Cara Wood.  Elizabeth Nelson is the costume designer and Lara St. Peter is the dialect coach.

Times: September 25 – 28 at 7:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, September 28.  For tickets please call 231-2080, or come by the School of the Arts Office during office hours (phone - 231-2125).

Week 4 TD Club Winners

Week 4 TD Club Winners


Lineman of the week – Desmond Williams, Wren High School

Defensive Player of the week – Ted Haynie, BHP High School

Offensive player of the week – Ryan Greer, BHP High School

Greenville Turns Down NewSpring Plans for I-85 Location

A megachurch that wants to expand in Greenville may have to change plans due to a decision handed down by Greenville's Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday night.

NewSpring Church, which has campuses in cities across South Carolina, wants to build a church that can seat 14,000 people along the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research campus in Greenville. 

Thursday night, church representatives asked for permission to create more parking spaces than the number typically allowed.

"In order to properly park the cars that come to our 14,000-seat auditoriums, we need 874 parking spaces," said Campus Development Pastor Howard Frist.

The board denied the request, saying that much parking could be harmful to the rest of the CU-ICAR development.

Frist turned down WYFF4's request for an interview but gave a statement, saying, "We're disappointed with the outcome of this vote, but our team will take a further look at this and consider our options." 

Clemson University officials have opposed the development, saying the CU-ICAR campus may not be the best fit for the church.

Frist also told the board that NewSpring has plans for two additional campuses in the Greenville area. 

Read more: http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/greenville-news/greenville-board-turns-down-newspring-church-parking-request/-/9654794/22032634/-/xlgn9rz/-/index.html#ixzz2fQL7fzF4

Poll: 50% of Christians Say Prayer, Bible Can Cure Mental Illness

Nearly 50 percent of American Christians believe that prayer and Bible study alone can cure mental illness, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research.

Dr. Tim Clinton, president of the American Association of Christian Counselors, credited this response to Christians' faith in God.

"I applaud those out there who really believe in the power of God," Clinton told Moody Radio show host Chris Fabry on Thursday. "It's an encouraging time. People continually look for out for God spiritually for hope, for help."

Sixty-eight percent of Americans said they would feel welcome in church if mentally ill, though 54 percent of all Americans said that the church needs to do more to prevent suicide.

One of the first steps the church must take is to avoid stigmatizing Christians taking medication for their mental illnesses, said Clinton.

"So often we trivialize one another's pain, especially emotional disorders. Somehow we think this is a weakness or a horrible sign," said Clinton. "Don't get me wrong, I understand both sides of the river, I debate both sides. I know there are people taking medication who probably don't need to be on it, and I also know there are people who are not taking it who probably need to be on it because of biology."

Ed Stetzner, president of LifeWay Research, said that Christians must better relate treating mental illness to physical illnesses.

"They forget that the key part of mental illness is the word 'illness'," he said in a Lifeway blog reporting on the survey. "In a typical evangelical church, half the people believe mental illness can be solved by prayer and Bible study alone."

Several prominant Christian leaders have recently begun to talk more frankly about mental illness following the suicide of their children.

Full Story Here

Anderson Businessman Gene Madden, 85, Dies

Gene Madden, former co-owner of Electric City Printing, died yesterday at the age of 85 at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home.

Read the full obituary here.

LifeHacker: Why it Can be Hard to Wake Up in the Morning

Is it just laziness, or does the daily struggle to rouse yourself stem from something more serious?

So you had some trouble getting out of bed today? Maybe you spent yesterday moving furniture into your new top-floor apartment, and your body really needed an extra hour's rest. Or perhaps you chose the warmth of your comforter over the nippy morning air slipping through your bedroom window. Or maybe you just couldn't get to sleep last night, your head too filled with important thoughts about the sartorial and/or existential ramifications of a viral video about pantsuits to bother with something as trivial as rest.

With the exception maybe of falling into YouTube's pantsuit nexus, all of the above are entirely "normal" explanations for a touch of morning sluggishness. More importantly, they are all easily pinpointed; when you can single out why you're feeling lackadaisical, fixing the problem is relatively straightforward. But for many of us, identifying the root of our a.m. lassitude is more complicated than that.

"The difficulties [we have] waking up in the morning could be the result of many causes," writes sleep specialist Dennis Rosen over at Psychology Today. Here are just a few:

• Insufficient sleep: This one's a bit of a no-brainer, almost sounds like more of a symptom than a cause. A lack of sleep – like the trouble of waking up in the first place – inevitably raises the question of why?
• Irregular sleep schedule: Are you a nurse, fireman, or someone else who works unconventional hours and nightshifts? Your occupation could be an occupational hazard in and of itself.
• Circadian rhythm phase delay: Is your body's internal clock at war with society?
• Poor sleep hygeine: Do you take naps during the day, drink coffee close to bedtime, or watch TV in bed? The National Sleep Foundation says these are all examples of poor sleep hygiene.
• Sleep apnea: You could well benefit from a Darth Vader-esque breathing machine.
• Restless leg syndrome: Vagueness notwithstanding, it's recognized by the Mayo Clinic.
• Pharmaceutical side effects: Antidepressants, blood pressure pills, alergy meds and over-the-counter drugs like pain medications and more have all been shown to interfere with the ability to fall asleep at night and wake rested in the morning.
• Underlying physical or psychiatric disorders: A common culprit: depression.

Adding to the confusion, Rosen explains, is that these factors are often experienced not just in isolation, but in combination with one another. In fact, the more we learn about the various symptoms of sleep and wake disorders, the more we find them to be interconnected.

Consider, for example, the growing number of related and increasingly recognized circadian rhythm sleep syndromes (including Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder and Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder, aka DSPD and ASPD, respectively), which syndromes are thought to arise in people with biological rhythms that are out of time with the tempo of modern society. These disorders originate at the cellular level, have been linked to serious metabolic dysfunction and are thought to have a hand in the elevated incidence of other disorders like heart disease and diabetes – the latter of which has been linked repeatedly to an increased risk of sleep apnea, an incredibly common (and underdiagnosed) sleeping disorder.

All this is to say that the trouble you face in getting up every day may be rooted in something more complicated than your decision to stay up late on a Netflix-binge-to-end-all-Netflix-binges. Does this mean you shouldn't consider rebooting your sleep cycle, or try other tricks to improve the quality of your sleep? Of course not. But it is a reminder that sleep is incredibly complex; as Rosen recommends, it might behoove you to seek out a sleep center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Sleep remains one of biology's most confounding mysteries. 

Scientists, after all, still aren't clear on why we sleep in the first place (William Dement, a pioneer in the field of sleep research and founder of Stanford University's Sleep Research Center, is famous for saying that, as far as he knows, "the only reason we need to sleep that is really, really solid is because we get sleepy”), so don't feel defeated if you can't figure out your sleep/wake issues on your own.

Clemson Survives Unranked N.C. State

Tajh Boyd threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 3 Clemson squeak by unranked North Carolina State 26-14 on Thursday night in Raleigh.

Boyd's second scoring pass, a 30-yarder to Martavis Bryant, capped a critical third-quarter sequence and blown call that negated a Wolfpack touchdown that allowed the Tigers (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) to seize momentum in front of a hostile crowd.

Clemson pulled away from there. Boyd found Bryant for another touchdown, with Bryant snatching the ball from defender Niles Clark for a 15-yard score that helped the Tigers blow the game open early in the fourth.

Sammy Watkins added 10 catches for 96 yards on a night when Clemson's explosive offense didn't manage many big plays yet finished with 415 yards.

Shadrach Thornton scored the Wolfpack's first touchdown on a 21-yard run in the second. N.C. State (2-1, 0-1) led 7-6 at that point but couldn't complete the upset in coach Dave Doeren's first league game.

Read more: http://www.wyff4.com/news/sports/clemson-faces-nc-state-thursday-night/-/9324280/21999342/-/r7xwhx/-/index.html#ixzz2fQLflD9O