DEADLINE OR LIFELINE?

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Although June 30 is the final deadline in nuclear talks with Iran, today is a self imposed date. Officials participating claim that a preliminary agreement on Iran's nuclear program are "very good" on the final day of negotiations.

BBC News - Iran nuclear talks: 'Good chance' of deal as deadline looms http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32125862

Iran, powers push for nuclear deal as clock ticks toward deadline http://reut.rs/1xQGuKG via @Reuters

Is Iran Conquering the Middle East? | The Nation http://www.thenation.com/blog/202905/iran-conquering-middle-east via @thenation

HOLY WEEK

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Holy Week completes the final days of Lent. The 40 day penitential season is observed in preparation for Easter Sunday, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, March 31st
Chrism Mass
Cardinal Dolan will celebrate the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Avenue and 51st Street) at 4:00 pm. During the Chrism Mass the archbishop is joined by priests of the archdiocese and blesses the holy oils which are used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the archdiocese for the year.

Thursday, April 2: Holy Thursday
Food Pantry Visit

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW

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News coverage continues on the possible effects of a controversial new piece of legislation from the Hoosier State, which was signed into law by the Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence .

LAUGHTER

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A proverb says, “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” We've known that laughter makes us feel good and puts everyone in high spirits, but did you also know that laughter actually causes physiological responses that protect the body from disease and help your vital organs repair themselves?

A good laugh exercises the muscles, gets the blood flowing, decreases blood pressure and stresses hormones, improves sleep patterns and boosts the immune system.

CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION

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World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
https://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html

United Nations (UN)
http://www.un.org/

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
http://newsroom.unfccc.int/

United Nations and Climate Change
http://www.un.org/climatechange/

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
http://www.cbd.int/

Global Environment Facility (GEF)
http://www.thegef.org/gef/

Linkages by International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
http://www.iisd.ca/

IPCC Data Distribution Centre
http://www.ipcc-data.org/

IRAN NUKE TALKS

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Negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear program have now entered crunch time, while differences are still remaining a couple of days days before a self imposed deadline to reach a framework deal that will be the basis for a final UN Security Council accord to be reached by the end of June.

The West and Iran have been meeting in Switzerland to reach a political understanding on terms that would curb Iran's nuclear activities and thereby relieve sanctions. Iran is reportedly pushing back on how long it must limit technology to make atomic arms.

PALM SUNDAY MASS

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will offer 10:15 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Avenue and 51st Street) on Sunday, March 29, 2015, the last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week.

Mass will begin with the Blessing of the Palms.

A live-stream of the Mass is available here: http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/live/.

WHOSE FOOLS?

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One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding.
One who acts unwisely on a given occasion: I was a fool to have quit my job.
One who has been tricked or made to appear ridiculous; a dupe: They made a fool of me by pretending I had won.
Informal A person with a talent or enthusiasm for a certain activity: a dancing fool; a fool for skiing.
A member of a royal or noble household who provided entertainment, as with jokes or antics; a jester.
One who subverts convention or varies from social conformity in order to reveal spiritual or moral truth: a holy fool.

NUMBER NINE

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The ninth edition of Earth Hour rolled across this wonderful wide world tonight promptly at 8:30P

Saturday night, all people and public places across the globe were being asked to switch off their lights for one hour to raise awareness about the impact of energy use on climate change.

Families and organizations were encouraged to turn off the lights and other unnecessary electrical devices from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time in order to participate in the global Earth Hour campaign, organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

CARLIN HANGS IN WAHINGTON

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In Washington, DC a portrait of the comedian George Carlin has been unveiled inside The National Portrait Gallery.

Carlin died in 2008 and was chosen by a public vote, edging out Groucho Marx and Ellen DeGeneres as the comedian who most influenced American politics, history and culture.

George Carlin (1937–2008) was an American stand-up comedian known for his blunt and unapologetic approach to taboo subjects, including politics, language, psychology and religion.