“Three-quarters of the world’s big carnivores—including lions, wolves and bears—are in decline, says a new study. A majority now occupy less than half their former ranges according to data published in the journal, Science… The researchers say the loss of these species could be extremely damaging for ecosystems the world over” (BBC, January 9, 2014).

In the European Union, there is a new worry—deflation. The economic concern has been inflation in many countries—such as Argentina (about 25 percent according to private economists) and Venezuela (52 percent in 2013). With the United States economy being flooded with liquidity from “quantitative easing” by the U.S. Federal Reserve—along with massive fiscal deficits—many analysts in the United States are concerned that inflation could spike up in the U.S. as well. But in the European Union, the concerns are quite the opposite.

“Happy Hunger Games!” is the greeting from Suzanne Collin’s blockbuster sensation Hunger Games. Interestingly, fans of the movie series almost wish each other the same greeting via texts, tweets and social media messages, as they make the pilgrimage to theaters for the second movie in the trilogy, Catching Fire. But, is this movie series, which has now developed a cult following, something Christians should really be “happy” about?