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Quote of the day. "You can look at the latest forms of life and the first evidence of life and all the way through the dinosaurs, all the way through the first emergence of hominids and our ancestors, right through to today. There's nowhere else in the world where you can find that," Andrea Leenen, head of the Paleontological Scientific Trust, a South Africa not-for-profit organization that sponsors paleontological research, on why South Africa is a "mecca for archaeologists." (Los Angeles Times)

RELIGION IN THE NEWS

Basic Religion Test Stumps Many Americans "Americans are by all measures a deeply religious people, but they are also deeply ignorant about religion."

Atheists, agnostics most knowledgeable about religion, survey says "If you want to know about God, you might want to talk to an atheist. Heresy? Perhaps. But a survey that measured Americans' knowledge of religion found that atheists and agnostics knew more, on average, than followers of most major faiths."

Americans stumble on Religion 101 "The new U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey, released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that although 86% of us believe in God or a higher power, we don't know our own traditions or those of neighbors across the street or across the globe."

Catholic Charities reports millions more in poverty "On the heels of a U.S. Census Bureau report that the number of Americans living in poverty soared by nearly 4 million last year, Catholic Charities USA said that its member agencies served a record 9.2 million clients in 2009 -- up 7.5 percent from the year before."

Catholic Charities writes, pushes legislation to end poverty "In an unprecedented action, Catholic Charities USA has drafted federal legislation that would take a new approach to ending poverty in America. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is expected to introduce the bill in Congress today."

Faith-Based Hiring Bill an 'Assault' on Religious Charities, Says NRB Leader "A pending bill that seeks to bar government funding for non-profits that have a religious requirement in their hiring process is a "serious assault" on faith-based charities, said the senior vice president of the world's largest network of Christian communicators."

NEWS AT HOME

Campaign finance. 'Super PACs' alter campaign "A new political weapon known as the "super PAC" has emerged in recent weeks, allowing independent groups to both raise and spend money at a pace that threatens to eclipse the efforts of political parties. Late cash dash: Lobbyist money flows in "Outside the Capitol, in the private rooms of Washington's top steakhouses, political clubs and Capitol Hill townhouse salons, there is an epic money grab under way, with more than 400 fundraisers for House candidates in the two weeks leading up to Friday's congressional adjournment."

Immigration. Immigration has grown more complicated "U.S. visa laws have changed and become so much more complex since the days of Ellis Island that it is simply impossible for many hardworking people around the world to legally immigrate to the USA."

Military training. U.S. military training adjusts its aim "For the first time in years, Army troops are training for "full-spectrum operations" - mounting large strikes against all types of enemies, not just insurgents.