Historians tell us that the predecessor of the Mother’s Day holiday was the spring festival honoring mother goddesses.

In ancient Greece, the spring festival honored Rhea, wife of Cronus and mother of the gods and goddesses.

Cybele was honored in Roman festivals. This Roman celebration, known as Hilaria, lasted for three days – from March 15 to 18, and began several hundred years before Christ was born.

England observes “Mothering Sunday”, observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is possible that the ceremonies to honor Cybele were adopted by the early Church in honor of Mary, Mother of Christ.

In seventeenth century England, young men and women would bring small gifts to their mothers in observance of this day. This British holiday would not carry over to America. One explanation is that life on the American frontier was simply too harsh to take time out for this celebration. Some also believe this conflicted with rigid Puritan beliefs. It would be several centuries later before Americans redesigned their own day dedicated to the memory of their mothers. (more…)

Quietly, almost invisibly today, National Security Agency Director Navy Admiral Mike S Rogers turned over his command to Army General Paul Nakasone.

Together with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan, a small but formal ceremony was held at Fort Meade, Maryland, on the same day the U.S. Cyber Command was elevated to become the nation’s 10th unified combatant command.

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It does not seem coincidental that today, in the background of events, there is also a great deal of activity within the aggregate intelligence community (FBI/DOJ).  As DNI Dan Coats and NSA Director Mike Rogers are together in a formal and official capacity for the final time, the FBI was purging usurping agents (Page, Baker). Indeed with Admiral Rogers exit from service, he is now able to testify regarding his knowledge of prior FISA issues.

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Earlier today President Trump hosted the Wounded Warrior Project at the White House:

[Transcript] East Room – 11:00 A.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: Please. Thank you very much. I’m thrilled to kick off the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride, and to be in the presence of — really, to be with you folks is such an honor. I know some of you. We’ve been dealing together for more than a year. I’ve watched you get better and stronger, and you’re stronger than all of us. So I want to thank you all for being here. Thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

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Shortly after 3:00am this morning a disturbed man named Travis Reinking, 29, of Morton Illinois, walked into a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville Tennessee and opened fire.  Four people were killed and two more injured.

While attempting to re-load his rifle another young man named James Shaw Jr. physically confronted the shooter, grabbed the barrel of the rifle, and incredibly wrestled the gun away from him saving everyone else who was there. A stunning act of heroism.  WATCH briefing:

The shooter, Travis Reinking, remains on the run and potentially armed.  Reinking was arrested last summer at the White House, by Secret Service agents for unlawful entry into a secure area.  As an outcome of his behavior federal authorities revoked Reinking  firearms permit and instructed local authorities to remove his weapons.

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Sometimes the most interesting and fresh insight comes from placing an atypical interviewer with a subject of strong interest.  This interview by Jesse Waters of Devin Nunes is one such example.  Really good interview, extracting a surprising amount of insight and perspective:

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Congratulations to all Philadelphia Eagles fans and supporters on their first ever Superbowl win.  MVP Nick Foles.  Exceptional character all around. Congratulations.

Earlier tonight White House Chief of Staff John Kelly sat down for an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier to discuss current political events.  Great interview:

Yesterday, as a measure of appreciation and thanks, President Donald Trump invited U.S. Coast Guard members from Lake Worth Inlet station to play golf at Trump International West Palm Beach.  Seventy-five members from the Coast Guard took the opportunity to play.
President Trump organized a luncheon in their honor and closed the course so the USCG could hold an impromptu tournament.  POTUS knows how to host; top shelf, always.  Even CNN had a hard time trying to angle this jovial story into a hit piece – but they tried:

Earlier today President Trump visited West Palm Beach Fire and Rescue Unit-2 to thank first responders and those who are activated during his holiday visit to Mar-a-Largo.
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BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump paid a holiday visit Thursday to wounded service members at Walter Reed National Medical Center, hailing them as “some of the bravest people anywhere in the world.”
During his visit, the president awarded the Purple Heart to 1st Lt. Victor Prato of the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, who was injured last month while deployed in Afghanistan.

Prato, 25, of Somers, New York, suffered multiple soft tissue injuries following a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device blast, according to the White House.
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