tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12229354241477776542011-11-04T04:26:18.518-05:00"A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths. Sooner or later, such a religion will emerge." -Carl Sagangenexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.comBlogger4011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-79261005718940463312011-06-26T18:36:00.002-05:002011-06-26T18:49:48.142-05:00

On this date, June 26, 363 AD, Julian II died in battle. The Wikipedia has a pretty good entry on him. The best book I've read on Julian is "The Last Pagan: Julian the Apostate and the Death of the Ancient World. The author of the book has a great blog loaded with information on the emperors of Rome. He currently features some fascinating YouTube clips.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-8179021569893338222011-04-11T19:49:00.002-05:002011-04-11T19:56:09.047-05:00

Mother Earth To Be Given Rights Equal to Humans in new Bolivian LawFrom TreeHugger: ...Bolivia is about to pass laws granting all of nature equal rights to human beings. The laws were first proposed after the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth and show the deep differences in zeitgeist between Bolivia and...pretty much the rest of the planet...

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-45989870615473850932011-03-28T18:41:00.002-05:002011-03-28T18:44:11.522-05:00

Wiccan TSA Agent FiredYikes! Once again, Xtains flexing their muscle:...Smith claims that for over a year she found herself subject to school-yard bullying, and harassment based on her Wicca practices. However, her complaints to officials higher-up went unheeded.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-33282414958623616252011-03-26T12:03:00.004-05:002011-03-26T12:22:11.336-05:00

I first saw this version at CrooksandLiars, William Shatner turned 80 this Friday. But my friend at Toomanytribbles reminded me of this:Happy Birthday Mr. Shatner. Thank you for a lifetime's worth of entertainment.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-34249844677532367852011-03-23T08:53:00.003-05:002011-03-23T09:03:49.153-05:00

Elizabeth Taylor, one of the last Hollywood icons, died today.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-24102429970504791902011-02-04T12:38:00.002-05:002011-02-04T12:53:26.140-05:00

Ugh, Xtians trying to convert Wiccans:"Whether spellwork is effective or not," writes Dodd, according to The Telegraph, "has no bearing on the psychological damage that can be done to a young person who is convinced that they have summoned the dead, or have performed a spell that has hurt or injured another."Oh yeah, all us Wiccans are summoning the dead and casting evil spells! As the author

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-81318667752483678272010-12-26T20:49:00.003-05:002010-12-26T20:56:02.112-05:00

I saw "Agora" this weekend, I received it as a gift. It is amazing, riveting, and disturbing. And it's wonderful. For it's American release, the anti-Xtain elements were toned down in the publicity. But anyone viewing this movie could not avoid the conclusion that early Xtianity was founded and popularized by a cult that would impress the t*liban.Much of early Xtainity was strengthened by a

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-53348317756034621742010-12-25T11:59:00.005-05:002010-12-25T12:09:56.650-05:00

The Wheel turns! This wonderful pic is via Dr. Zaius. Don't you think it sums up the year fairly well? Bye-bye, Christine O'Donnell.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-53955685202487742052010-12-14T22:12:00.003-05:002010-12-14T22:19:56.643-05:00

I love this fascinating devise. Now someone has built on from Legos!

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-56275131018727101402010-12-04T23:20:00.006-05:002010-12-05T22:26:01.237-05:00

Art or Hate Speech? Video of Ants Crawling on Crucifix Pulled from SmithsonianI well remember the war against the NEA, waged by the Religious Right against a number of artists (such as Karen Finley) in the 1990's. Well, it seems like old times as an outcry over an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution has resulted in the artwork being pulled from display:...A provocative video depicting ants

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-45092287990069921362010-11-30T20:28:00.004-05:002010-11-30T20:42:34.978-05:00

Latest Pompeii collapse: Garden wall gives wayThis is so sad. It seems Italy is having real difficulty conserving its remarkable history:...A stretch of garden wall ringing an ancient house in Pompeii gave way Tuesday after days of torrential rain, the latest structure to collapse at the popular archaeological site...This is the third in a string of recent collapses.More pics here.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-58674039864943315962010-11-27T09:28:00.003-05:002010-11-27T09:54:31.601-05:00

Council has moment to reflectMany have taken issue with prayers of invocation at the start of town council meetings. For those who cherish the concept of the "Separation of Church and State", this becomes even more troublesome when just prayers of mainstream faiths (dominated by Christian ones) are welcome. In the USA, debates in small towns often degenerate into shouting matches, egged on by

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-38991005941669775912010-11-24T22:28:00.003-05:002010-11-24T22:53:05.296-05:00

Ingrid Pitt, star of many Hammer Horror films, and a small but significant roll in the original Wicker Man, died the other day shortly after a collapse.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-89080010423624259512010-11-23T22:06:00.003-05:002010-11-23T22:09:36.964-05:00

Ron Hutton's landmark book "Triumph of the Moon" is on the bookshelf of many Wiccans and Pagans. In it, Hutton asserts there is little connection between modern Paganism and the Paganism of old. For years, Hutton's pronouncements about the history of our religion have influenced many of the movers and shakers of modern Paganism and Wicca. A number of popular Pagan authors rely heavily on Hutton

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-6355647588312740762010-08-22T17:11:00.002-05:002010-08-22T17:15:03.919-05:00

RIP, Mr. Jack Horkheimer. I really enjoyed your "Star Hustler" shorts.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-86429067250325681832010-07-18T16:05:00.007-05:002010-07-19T19:15:11.772-05:00

Few things piss me off more than charlatans hawking end-of-days crap. As I've said before, I feel the fact certain people in the New Age and Pagan/Wiccan world support this nonsense is something to be ashamed of. Dark Star has a great post over at DailyKos, "Apocalypse Soonish", about a true villain in this hoax--which happens to be The History Channel:...Having a channel called the History

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-6248801986465627922010-05-31T12:54:00.004-05:002010-05-31T13:13:19.714-05:00

How would Jason of Greek mythology handle the Gulf Coast Oil spill? Here's an interesting post by Ellen Kanner at Huffington Post:...Jason got the Golden Fleece, but was so ruthless, he managed to piss off people, gods and his metaphorical mother. Jason didn't honor the Argo, he didn't take care of it and it lay rotting -- and plotting -- in the sun. One day, Jason passed by and a piece of the

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-27025749259900497662010-04-12T20:22:00.002-05:002010-04-12T20:30:10.215-05:00

Greco-Roman mummy, tombs uncovered in Egypt oasisNew mummies found! Yeah:(Reuters) - Egyptian archaeologists carrying out excavations at the site of a planned youth center have found 14 tombs dating back to the third century BC, including one with a female mummy adorned with jewelry.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-75737130733791810322010-04-06T19:22:00.004-05:002010-04-06T19:57:15.689-05:00

Sarah Palin hosting a wildlife show on the Discovery Channel? When I first heard that, I thought it was something that belonged in the hoax archive at Snopes. But no, it's true. It's dumbfounding that a network whose programing centers so much on science and the environment would provide a venue for such a polarizing figure, more concerned with spouting falsehoods to cement her "maverick"

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-63659917946655336642010-04-04T14:56:00.005-05:002010-04-04T18:58:27.416-05:00

A group of us (including GreenGhost) spent a great day this weekend at the Woodstock Animal Sanctuary, just outside of Woodstock, NY. From the website:...Surrounded by the Catskill Mountains in the town made famous for peace and music, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary provides shelter to cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks and geese who have been rescued from cases of abuse

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-74417642977633784422010-03-20T12:09:00.005-05:002010-03-21T21:36:45.668-05:00

Turning the Witch-Hunter into a HeroI saw this on WildHunt. The plot for a potential (in development) film depicts Witch-hunters as heroes:...The protagonist is one of the last remaining witch hunters, a breed that keeps the population of witches and warlocks in check. They are about to repopulate in a major way unless he can stop them...Jason at WildHunt rightfully comments:...So let me get this

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-83595612477871029812010-02-23T20:36:00.005-05:002010-02-23T22:05:42.650-05:00

After a long day at work, finding this in my inbox brightened my day. Heh! This was sent by my friend and fellow Pagan, musician Bill Brovold. You can find out more about his music here and here. Thanx, Bill.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-3691921340478638122010-02-07T19:27:00.003-05:002010-02-07T19:45:47.661-05:00

25 Plants you should consider growingI have not been over to Scienceblogs in a while, having grown tired of the Neo-atheist dogma. But you should really check out Casaubon's blog, especially if you are interested in environmental issues and trying to order adapt yourself to an earth-friendly lifestyle. Here's an example from her list of recommended plants for your edible garden:...3. Blueberries.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-55366136405883185032010-01-19T19:55:00.003-05:002010-01-19T20:02:24.958-05:00

Cat Goddess Bastet Temple: Egypt Announces Find Of Ancient TempleThe Temple of Bast in Alexandria has been discovered:Mohammed Abdel-Maqsood, the Egyptian archaeologist who led the excavation team, said the discovery may be the first trace of the long-sought location of Alexandria's royal quarter. The large number of statues depicting Bastet found in the ruins, he said, suggested that this may be

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-43673248884601088382009-12-22T20:59:00.004-05:002009-12-22T21:15:21.557-05:00

Religion, science, and the solsticeThis a fine editorial about Yule by James Carroll of the Boston Globe, I first saw over at DailyKos:...Religion and science occupy separate and opposed spheres, no? Not to our distant forebears, from whom all of our illumination festivals derive. They could not afford the facile dichotomy between the sacred and the profane that defines thinking since the

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-30549572651355421592009-11-16T20:56:00.004-05:002009-11-16T23:03:13.762-05:00

The Evolution of the God Gene There have been a couple of shots-across-the-bow directed at the neo-Atheists and others who delight in kneeling at the altar of reason. The above article points up the growing evidence that religion and spirituality have imparted an evolutionary advantage to our species: ...This and other research is pointing to a new perspective on religion, one that seeks to

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-40993361890523704352009-10-21T20:13:00.003-05:002009-10-21T20:29:54.758-05:00

On Oct 3rd of this year, I had the pleasure of attending a Pagan Pride event sponsored by Maetreum of Cybele, a pagan convent in Upstate NY in the town of Palenville. I vended at this event and attended an open circle. I had a great time. Unfortunately, the Maetreum is finding itself under attack: ...Not long after we purchased the property a local slumlord addressed a town meeting calling for us

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-17326986155930226042009-10-17T10:54:00.004-05:002009-10-18T14:34:20.911-05:00

A while ago, I saw the "The Secret" DVD with a friend. My impression was that it was ridiculous on it's face. Where can I begin? How 'bout the hokey 'scientists' lending an air of credibility to pseudo-physics? Or maybe the incessant mantra of self-help speak mouthed by the participants? Best of all, if you were masochistic enough to sit till the end, came the requisite selling of cheap

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-63235352141456738562009-09-30T21:54:00.004-05:002009-09-30T22:43:01.439-05:00

Two weeks, there was a piece in the NYTimes about Carolyn Porco and her remarkable contributions in imaging the outer planets of our solar system. A protege of Carl Sagan, she is credited as being the model for the character Dr. Ellie Arroway in the book/movie "Contact". Definitely an interesting read. But today there was an interesting letter called "Eyeing the Cosmos"in the NYTimes, inspired by

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-81869579248108833372009-09-25T15:17:00.003-05:002009-10-15T21:23:23.988-05:00

Amateur with Metal Detector Strikes Ancient English TreasureA dedicated hobbyist, who was often made fun of for his passion, makes major archeological find:LONDON — For the jobless man living on welfare who made the find in an English farmer’s field two months ago, it was the stuff of dreams: a hoard of early Anglo-Saxon treasure , probably dating from the seventh century and including more than

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-15668369047800506082009-09-17T20:01:00.003-05:002009-09-17T20:19:07.668-05:00

Has anyone been watching "Clash of the Gods" on the History Channel? The show has been rather good. So far, episodes have covered Zeus, Hercules, Hades (the place and the God) and The Medusa. Most recently, 'Part I' of Odysseus aired. You can view some of the past episodes on the History channel website, above.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-63213930315302847652009-09-15T20:48:00.002-05:002009-10-18T21:56:35.089-05:00

No U.S. distributor for Charles Darwin movie because of fear of fundamentalistsMany of you will remember the Xtian angst that ensued when the Monty Python movie "The Life of Brian" was released in the USA. At that time, I was friendly with a married couple who ran the a 'mom & pop' size theater in my college town. They were fans of Python, and dearly wanted to show the film. But they had received

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-13204048533956049172009-08-16T20:08:00.001-05:002009-08-16T20:08:48.978-05:00

Space Weather News for Aug. 16, 2009http://spaceweather.comFor those getting up early, there's a cool site in the sky Monday morning:MONDAY MORNING SKY SHOW: Set your alarm for dawn. On Monday morning, Aug. 17th, Venus and the crescent Moon will gather beautifully close together in the eastern sky. For many observers in North America, the International Space Station (ISS) will make an appearance,

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-15881705031379056352009-07-19T10:13:00.001-05:002009-07-19T10:13:25.816-05:00

Amazon Erases Orwell Books From KindleThe ironies here are obvious. Of all "books" for Amazon to erase from Kindle, it's ones by George Orwell! All I can say is thanx, George, for showing how stupid it is to buy into such a dubious vehicle for the printed word. The old ways are best, folks. Stick with the printed word. At least when they want to burn your books, they gotta go through the trouble

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-5799302576006069712009-07-10T10:48:00.001-05:002009-07-10T10:48:42.544-05:00

Spider Lady of the Liverpool Albert Dock’s Bugworld Experience spins web of love for eight legged friendsHere's a lady after my own heart:...Jenny’s hungry housemates include 40 tarantuas, a clutch of huntsman spiders, 20 scorpions, a colony of Madagascan hissing cockroaches, assorted giant millipedes and six hermit crabs....“I’m the spider lady,” jokes Jenny, 26. “I haven’t been away since going

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-63667435493682672722009-06-26T10:46:00.001-05:002009-06-26T10:46:37.155-05:00

Scientists study foes' ways at Creation MuseumScientists are visiting the 'Creation Museum' in order to learn how they are portrayed:...The real purpose of the museum visit is to give some of my colleagues an opportunity to sense how they're being portrayed," said Arnold Miller, a professor of paleontology at the University of Cincinnati, which is hosting the conference. "They're being demonized,

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-3111225302288885822009-06-24T20:40:00.003-05:002009-06-24T20:49:12.638-05:00

Huge Pre-Stonehenge Complex Found via "Crop CirclesIt's hard to believe that another Stonehenge-like complex has remained hidden all these years. But aerial photography of some peculiar 'crop circles' has revealed just that:...For such a site to have lain hidden for so long is "completely amazing," said Wickstead, of Kingston University in London. Archaeologist Joshua Pollard, who was not

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-47270372656837567222009-06-07T00:08:00.003-05:002009-06-07T00:19:57.085-05:00

Antediluvian politician Eye-of-Newt Gingrich took a moment from his 24/7 foaming at the mouth quest for power to utter this gem. From DailyKos:....I think this is one of the most critical moments in American history. We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism...I have to hand it to the jackass, it takes a lot of scraping to get to our level of the barrel. I mean, I was starting

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-14128814923168914522009-05-27T14:40:00.003-05:002009-05-27T14:55:25.240-05:00

Skeleton 4,000 Years Old Bears Evidence of LeprosyWhere leprosy came from--and how it entered Europe--has been a mystery. Now, evidence from a bear skeleton points up a possible link with an important historical figure:...The skeleton, about 4,000 years old, was found at the site of Balathal, near Udaipur in northwestern India. Historians have long considered the Indian subcontinent to be the

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-65653169540592002422009-05-25T16:42:00.003-05:002009-05-25T16:49:49.375-05:00

Iran arrests 104 "devil worshippers": reportNow, I'm assuming this warrants the death penalty:...The Islamic Republic, which bans alcohol and narcotics, last year said it would launch a crackdown on "indecent Western-inspired movements" such as rappers and satanists...One Inquisitor, er, I mean investigator said:"... a Guards intelligence unit launched an investigation into the all-male group

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-5431186360878578902009-05-20T15:04:00.004-05:002009-05-20T15:25:05.711-05:00

Chemicals in Dragon’s Glands Stir Venom DebateAs if the Komodo Dragon could not get any more fascinating (and terrifying), some scientists are claiming that they are poisonous:...a provocative paper to be published this week, an international team of scientists argues that the Komodo dragon is even more impressive. They claim that the lizards use a potent venom to bring down their victims...The

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-18927464793232444692009-05-04T20:46:00.002-05:002009-05-04T20:51:14.475-05:00

Wow, meteors from comet Halley! From SpaceWeather.com:...Space Weather News for May 4, 2009METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Halley's Comet, the source of the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Wednesday, May 6th, with as many as 85 meteors per hour over the southern hemisphere. Rates in the northern hemisphere will be less, 20

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-67740688909958112252009-04-27T11:45:00.005-05:002009-04-27T12:02:33.715-05:00

Obama speaks before the NSA today (here's the link to his speech). Some interesting bits.And we have watched as scientific integrity has been underminedand scientific research politicized in an effort to advancepredetermined ideological agendas....We know that our country is better than this.That is why I have charged the White House Office of Science andTechnology Policy with leading a new

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-28896663816843810602009-04-15T21:46:00.005-05:002009-04-15T22:06:35.178-05:00

Cleopatra's Tomb Believed To Be At 1 Of 3 Egyptian Archaeological SitesA find of coins bearing Cleopatra's image and a mask of Antony my point the way to the famous lover's tomb:...Archaeologists looking for the tombs of the celebrated queen of Egypt and the Roman general will begin excavating three sites at a temple where tombs may be located, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-61712929611135553882009-04-12T13:33:00.003-05:002009-04-12T13:45:53.564-05:00

I saw this gem at HuffingtonPost (direct link):.DOBSON POINTS TO CULTURE WAR DEFEAT.... James Dobson delivered a farewell speech to the Focus on the Family staff, and conceded that the culture war he helped start hasn't turned out well for the agents of intolerance. Indeed, Dobson almost sounded resigned to defeat...James Dobson, 72, who resigned recently as head of Focus on the Family -- one of

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-47191799220029180042009-03-24T20:30:00.003-05:002009-03-24T20:41:25.787-05:00

Komodo dragons kill Indonesian fishermanI don't mean to make light of a personal tragedy, but these animals have killed a number of people (mostly tourists) over the years:(CNN) -- An Indonesian fisherman has been killed by Komodo dragons after he was attacked while trespassing on a remote island in search of fruit, officials said Tuesday.The article mentions a particularly hair-raising account

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-37867619252391732982009-03-19T19:49:00.003-05:002009-03-19T20:27:55.351-05:00

Getting Their Kirk On Trek fetishists have a new toy:...Serious Trekkies have long fashioned copies of their favorite costumes and props, and, back in the ’70s and ’80s, a few even put together homemade knockoffs of the captain’s chair, using reference materials like the “Starfleet Technical Manual” and “U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge Blueprints...”Big deal, who has not done that? But it gets better:..

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-69098503306734888642009-03-12T19:31:00.003-05:002009-03-12T19:46:30.240-05:00

A Dirty Pun Tweaks China’s Online CensorsAnyone having any doubt about the power of myth has not met the "grass-mud horse". This mythical creature has caused a sensation in China, presenting a headache for the country's heavy handed internet censors:...A YouTube children’s song about the beast has drawn nearly 1.4 million viewers. A grass-mud horse cartoon has logged a quarter million more views

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-2489006548781457412009-03-05T20:58:00.005-05:002009-03-05T21:21:08.841-05:00

Bolivian Constitution Mentions Earth DeityIs Bolivia a trendsetter? If you are going to include religion in your constitution, at least embrace early as well as later gods:...Bolivia has eliminated any mention of the Roman Catholic Church in its new constitution, and instead recognizes the Christian God and Pachamama, the Andean earth deity...Roman Catholicism is out, but "the Christian God" is

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-41226542714306587052009-02-28T13:38:00.006-05:002009-02-28T13:47:37.991-05:00

Five suspected witches burnt to death in KenyaMore horrifying murderous persecution:NAIROBI: Five elderly people suspected of practising witchcraft were burnt to death in western Kenya, police have said..."They include four women and a man in their 80's who were accused of having abducted a child," Kisii deputy police Commander Manasseh Musyoka said yesterday.Besides the hideousness of this, I

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-13393626294968362302009-02-28T11:16:00.006-05:002009-02-28T11:32:02.103-05:00

Prints Show a Modern Foot in PrehumansIn a recent comment to this blog, in regards to a post about fossils, Riverwolf asked: "I realize there are exceptions, but i was discussing this with a friend about how some Christians say these "discoveries" are all lies mention to destroy belief in God. What? Like, someone has enough money to go around creating fake bones and burying them??..."Dammit! He's

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-57746417632257566472009-02-27T15:53:00.003-05:002009-02-27T16:01:23.172-05:00

Philip José Farmer, Daring Science Fiction Writer, Dies at 91One of the Greats has died:...Philip José Farmer, a prolific and popular science fiction writer who shocked readers in the 1950s by depicting sex with aliens and challenged conventional pieties of the genre with caustic fables set on bizarre worlds of his own devising, died Wednesday. He was 91 and lived in Peoria, Ill...His official

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-54654714875205776772009-02-20T22:51:00.002-05:002009-02-20T22:57:35.736-05:00

Los Angeles Tar Yields Mammoth’s Skeleton Another creature has emerged from the famous La Brea Tar Pits. This time, it's a rather complete Mammoth:...LOS ANGELES — The excavation for a parking garage near the La Brea tar pits here has yielded the site’s first intact mammoth skeleton as well as a trove of other bones that could double the size of the site’s already large collection of fossils from

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-92100959235298810372009-02-12T21:08:00.004-05:002009-02-12T21:29:16.515-05:00

Of Darwin, Dover And (Un)Intelligent DesignIn order to honor Darwin's birthday, I'd like to post some snippets from the latest issue of Church & State Magazine, the zine of American's United. Please check out the above article, which is an interview with Kenneth Miller, who was a star witness in the landmark 'Kitzmiller v. Dover' case. Dr. Miller is one of the heroes who helped prove--in court--

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-22755414520477029472009-02-04T21:16:00.003-05:002009-02-04T21:25:49.249-05:00

Green Comet Approaches EarthIt would be great if this comet becomes visible to the naked eye. But even if it does not grow into something special (that catches the traditional media's attention), it probably will be amazing to behold in a small telescope or binoculars:...The comet makes its closest approach to Earth (0.41 AU) on Feb. 24, 2009. Current estimates peg the maximum brightness at 4th

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-70787112984821729132009-01-27T19:21:00.006-05:002009-01-27T20:14:05.028-05:00

Charles H. Schneer, Sci-Fi Film Producer, Dies at 88My favorite film director, Charles H. Schneer, has passed to SummerIsle:...Charles H. Schneer, a noted film producer who for a quarter-century helped the Oscar-winning special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen lay waste to Washington, San Francisco, Rome and many other places, died on Wednesday in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 88...With Schneer directing

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-12050435726234902612009-01-22T21:13:00.000-05:002009-01-22T21:15:09.642-05:00

Scientists Welcome Obama’s WordsPresident Obama's statement that he will “restore science to its rightful place" brought joy to scientists thought the US government. Although many scientists (and science policy experts) realize it will take years to repair the damage of Bush's antediluvian rules and regulations, many are optimistic:...Still, many scientists were exuberant. Staff members

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-6909068388425968872009-01-19T21:11:00.004-05:002009-01-19T21:29:33.862-05:00

Damn, the fellow who played the Robot in Lost in Space has crossed over to SummerIsle.LOS ANGELES — Bob May, who donned The Robot's suit in the hit 1960s television show "Lost in Space," has died. He was 69....May's robot was the Robinson family's loyal sidekick, warning them of approaching disaster at every turn. His line to one of the children, "Danger, Will Robinson," became a national catch

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-12080732294437493042009-01-15T21:12:00.001-05:002009-01-15T21:28:52.740-05:00

Go out and enjoy the planet Venus. She is amazingly bright right now. From the Jan 14th edition from spaceweather.com: ...HOURS OF VENUS: Today and for the rest of the week, Venus is at maximum elongation (greatest apparent distance) from the sun. This means the silvery planet is "up" for more than three hours after sunset. Go outside after dark, face south, and take a long look. Venus is so

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-41052497939756436582009-01-10T16:39:00.002-05:002009-01-10T16:43:34.987-05:00

Woman suspected of witchcraft burned aliveHorrifying: ...(CNN) -- A woman in rural Papua New Guinea was bound and gagged, tied to a log and set ablaze on a pile of tires this week, possibly because villagers suspected her of being a witch, police said Thursday...

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-9307483958463569462009-01-01T18:35:00.003-05:002009-01-01T19:02:29.882-05:00

Tree Lobsters!!BugGirl has an amazing item about the rediscovery of "Tree Lobsters", a previously thought-to-be-extinct species of Phasmid (that's 'walking sticks' to all you non-bug geeks people out there). The original article is in German.BugGirl humorously suggest maybe people should develop a taste for these critters, therefore insuring their survival via farming. Yum! But captive breeding

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-10876747262949332462008-12-30T15:58:00.003-05:002008-12-30T16:17:56.103-05:00

For Good Self-Control, Try Getting Religious About ItJohn Tierney reports today in the Science section of the NYTimes findings by a psychologist that religious people demonstrate more self control that than the general population. Dr. Michael McCullough (of the University of Miami) and a fellow researcher have surveyed eighty years of research and found: ...As early as the 1920s, researchers

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-57951354718250503842008-12-20T12:50:00.003-05:002008-12-20T13:12:35.921-05:00

Extreme good news. President Elect Obama has made a number of appointments for cabinet and advisory positions who are scientists. From the "Science Debate 2008" org's mailing:...A few days ago we told you about the appointment of Steven Chu as Energy Secretary. Today we have two more outstanding appointments to announce: 1. We have learned that

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-67503947122239620162008-12-15T18:05:00.004-05:002008-12-15T18:27:03.204-05:00

Bee-friendly garden, pollinator paradise, planned at UC DavisHow cool is this: ...Häagen-Dazs has announced that it is making a $125,000 donation to the UC Davis Department of Entomology to launch a nationwide design competition to create a one-half acre Honey Bee Haven garden at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis....The garden will include a seasonal variety of

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-70135294859057575732008-12-12T21:32:00.003-05:002008-12-12T21:53:32.536-05:00

Beyond BabylonThis weekend I'm visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a number of our Coven members. I'm particularly excited about the "Beyond Babylon" exhibit. There was a good review of it in the NYTimes entitled "Global Exchange, Early Version". From the article, something I'm really looking forward to seeing:"...a ceramic goddess with wings and talons for feet is an exuberant arrival

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-45964504153083237762008-12-09T13:04:00.002-05:002008-12-09T13:21:47.630-05:00

A Hole in the Ground Erupts, to Estonia’s DelightEstonia is noted for it's sink holes, some of which exhibit mysterious behavior:...The famed Witch’s Well of Tuhala erupted last week for the first time in three years, attracting pilgrims from all over Estonia...the visitors dangled pendants to test energy fields and held arthritic fingers perfectly motionless over stones...I was not aware of the

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-1720030132995101192008-12-06T15:42:00.004-05:002008-12-06T16:17:36.529-05:00

Missing atheist sign found in Washington stateI've been trying to avoid commenting on this, but it's getting wide coverage. The "Freedom from Religion Foundation" took it upon itself to have a sign posted near a nativity scene in Washington State. The sign reads:"At this season of The Winter Solstice, may reason prevail..."Sounds good to me, but then:"There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-8759689483725744632008-12-04T12:59:00.003-05:002008-12-04T13:11:03.342-05:00

Secrets Only Your Witch Would KnowThe NYTimes seems to have a 'thing' for the shop 'Enchantments' in the East Village, as they've written positively about it before. This article explores the fact that Wiccan/Pagan themed shops seem somewhat immune to the effects of our economic downturn. I don't know if I totally agree with that, yet it raises some interesting issues. But the only thing I'll

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-45373045929323296232008-12-03T20:37:00.006-05:002008-12-04T21:14:49.537-05:00

Wicca Experts Encourage Christians to Engage America's 'Fastest-Growing' ReligionThis is just another fluff piece about the snow-job entitled "Generation Hex", a book that purports to teach Christian how to interact with Wiccans/Pagans. It's off topic for my blog, and it's been covered before very well (here, for example), but I'm in the mood to rant a bit.Now get this:...The authors urged for

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-81139938202088208742008-12-01T20:49:00.002-05:002008-12-01T20:56:08.802-05:00

Still of Rachel Weisz as Hypatia of Alexandria in the upcoming film "Agora", to be released December 18th.(Original image here)

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-47007796533045064052008-12-01T14:25:00.002-05:002008-12-01T14:30:20.250-05:00

Tonight, Monday Dec 1st, at sunset we should see an amazing 'great conjunction', of the crescent Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. Sadly, as this conjunction has been forming over the last few weeks, we've been hit with some bad weather here in the Northeast (I've only gotten a good look at Venus and Jupiter 3x in the last two weeks). Hopefully it will be clear tonight.From SpaceWeather.com:...When the

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-88723382937094182008-12-01T14:02:00.003-05:002008-12-01T14:17:48.346-05:00

How Did That Vase Wind Up in the Metropolitan?I've blogged before about the repatriation of pilfered artifacts . Today there's an Opinion piece in NYTimes by Sharon Waxman, who is the author of “Loot: The Battle Over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World.”. It seems the new director of the MET (Thomas Campbell) has the opportunity (according to Sharon Waxman) to set a new course when dealing

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-66370461918222574402008-11-26T19:23:00.001-05:002008-11-26T19:26:25.003-05:00

On this day, "King Tut's" tomb was opened by Howard Carter.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-22320411056843476182008-11-21T19:11:00.000-05:002008-11-21T19:29:00.786-05:00

Mental State of Soldier QuestionedIf I don't know where to start on this horrifying mess:...A Fort Carson soldier and war veteran charged in the murder and sexual assault of a woman in Colorado last month faces accusations that he also raped a 14-year-old girl and sexually assaulted a third woman, an internal Army document states...It seems that everybody who know this guy was certain he was

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-39599740854856899302008-11-20T12:55:00.003-05:002008-11-20T13:07:22.521-05:00

Found: An Ancient Monument to the SoulGood King Kuttamuwa left his soul entombed in a stone structure, so people could leave offerings and party with it. How cool is that!"...In a mountainous kingdom in what is now southeastern Turkey, there lived in the eighth century B.C. a royal official, Kuttamuwa, who oversaw the completion of an inscribed stone monument, or stele, to be erected upon his

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-125888881530294682008-11-18T12:48:00.004-05:002008-11-18T20:49:04.501-05:00

In the Shadow of a Long Past, Patiently Awaiting the Future"Maalesh", in modern Egyptian means 'never mind' or 'Oh, well". That seems to be the attitude of many Egyptians regarding the unearthing of a new pyramid in Gaza. This pyramid was built for Queen Sesheshet, mother of Pharaoh Teti. But many modern Egyptians are ambivalent:"...Can you believe our government can do nothing for us, and this

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-64924096628594120322008-11-16T20:36:00.003-05:002008-11-16T20:43:38.341-05:00

Very nice display, courteous nature. From SpaceWeather.com:EVENING PLANETS: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look southwest. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, are shining through the twilight side by side. You'll want to keep an eye on these two because they are drawing noticeably closer together every night. Venus and Jupiter are converging on a patch of sky in

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-68346351845494008362008-11-08T09:40:00.002-05:002008-11-08T10:14:08.793-05:00

Tuatara eggs found in sanctuaryEggs of the critically endangered lizard-like primitive reptile, the tuatara, have been found:...Wildlife lovers are ecstatic at the discovery of four tuatara eggs at Wellington's Karori Sanctuary...While there's no way of knowing when the eggs will hatch, sanctuary staff are hoping it will be in the next few months...The moment they hatch, the little monsters will

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-16083879603520833892008-10-29T19:42:00.004-05:002008-10-29T19:59:03.934-05:00

On the much publicized "Obama" infomercial tonight, Michelle Obama revealed that her husband read the Harry Potter series to their daughter! Woowhoo!I'm sure there's thousands of Dominionists coughing up blood at this moment.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-79410460742087393732008-10-22T20:18:00.003-05:002008-10-22T20:53:43.214-05:00

A Taste for BloodGreat article about creatures that survive by drinking blood and a recent book ("Dark Banquet") by Bill Shutt. It starts in the office of a friend of mine, Lou Sorkin:...With his soft voice and friar’s manner, Louis Sorkin hardly seems the type to flout the sensible advice of a nursery rhyme. Yet on a recent afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History, Mr. Sorkin, a

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-56401524403525791332008-10-21T20:25:00.003-05:002008-10-21T20:47:26.299-05:00

Yielding to Conservationists, eBay Will Ban Ivory SalesOnline auction sites have become primary facilitators of the illegal trade in endangered animals and products derived from them. Ebay has now put the brakes on that:...In response to growing pressure from international law enforcement agencies and conservation groups, eBay, the online auction giant, announced Monday that it would ban all

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-41805681435981466342008-10-13T20:38:00.003-05:002008-10-13T21:07:32.749-05:00

Hindu Threat to Christians: Convert or FleeMost polytheists (Wiccans, NeoPagans, and the whole unwashed mess of us) like to believe ourselves to be tolerant and accepting of other religions or spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs). It's the monotheists who are cranky, strident, and intolerant---RIGHT? Well, not exactly. Hinduism is the worlds largest polytheistic religion. But there's been a growing

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-22892704368809950212008-10-13T20:21:00.003-05:002008-10-13T20:38:28.087-05:00

Vote for Obama: McCain lacks the character and temperament to be president. And Palin is simply a disgrace.This article by Christopher Hitchens has gotten wide coverage, but since I've taken issue with this iconoclastic atheist's opinions a number of times, I think I owe this to him. It's wonderful to see such a great writer cut about a dozen new arseholes into the McCain/Palin ticket: ...The

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-62784126974739972012008-10-09T18:24:00.003-05:002008-10-09T18:43:41.260-05:00

Jason over at wild hunt outdoes himself again. Sarah Palin is indeed more of a nightmare than any of us can conceive. Mary Glazier is another mover and shaker in Palin's Dominionist cult:...Glazier and her prayer warriors claim to have made God blind and give cancer to a Wiccan chaplain. Is this anything but the most malefic of magic? Any Pagan who proudly claimed to have given a Christian cancer

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-46603087433909052692008-10-05T17:43:00.003-05:002008-10-05T19:39:39.351-05:00

Hi friends. Sorry my posting has been a bit erratic the last few weeks. Been swamped at work and had to prepare for a whip show. But things should be calming down now.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-22050140995867767762008-10-04T11:40:00.004-05:002008-10-04T12:06:29.140-05:00

Don't cry, Soccer Moms. Pull yourself up by your dumdibbly bootraps. This team of mavericks will keep that persnickety government outta your way --wink--. That meanie Joe O'Biden just wants to take our sixpacks away--or worse--tax'em more! But change is a-commin... (Great artwork by artist Zina Saunders via Blue Gal.)

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-46325040565281031372008-09-27T11:13:00.003-05:002008-10-09T11:59:38.500-05:00

It's really hard to envision a candidate more at odds with our beliefs than Sara Palin. Both the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria-grade rantings of her Bishop, and the 'death of the Goddess' intentions offered up by her church were excellently covered over at Wild Hunt (here and here). Palin seems to delight in the desecration of just about every element of earth-based spirituality or science, so I

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-18831971657452400312008-09-25T21:25:00.003-05:002008-09-25T21:30:43.517-05:00

In Egypt, a 3,000-year-old findMore signs that Horus, the son of Egypt and Africa, will soon ascend the throne:...CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Egypt's antiquities council says that archaeologists have unearthed a 3,000-year-old red granite head believed to portray the 19th Dynasty Pharaoh Ramses II...the 30-inch-high head belonged to a colossal statue of Ramses II that once stood in the area. Its nose is

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-62685962135118413592008-09-24T21:01:00.002-05:002008-09-24T21:20:28.113-05:00

Hardygrades: Space survivalTardigrades (aka: 'water bears' or 'moss animals')are the coolest animals. There ability to resist one of the plagues of corporeal life--namely dying--boarders on science fiction:...Most living things cannot survive in space, though a few hardy bacteria and some lichen can do so for a while. Now, however, an animal has been found that can venture outside without a space

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-56127710005549426592008-09-09T20:16:00.001-05:002008-09-09T20:20:55.067-05:00

From SpaceWeather.com for Sept. 9, 2008:...FIREBALL OUTBURST: This morning, Sept. 9th, a surprising flurry of fireballs lit up the sky over eastern parts of the United States. All-sky cameras at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, recorded 25+ meteors, most as bright as Jupiter or Venus. A preliminary analysis by NASA astronomers suggests this is an outburst of "September

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-91993561195617794492008-09-04T20:33:00.002-05:002008-09-04T20:43:01.537-05:00

Greece Welcomes Return of AntiquitiesI previously blogged about the return of a krater and two acroliths. It's great to see this happening more and more:...On Wednesday Greece celebrated the return of two rare antiquities, Reuters reported. The items, a bronze vase from the fourth-century B.C. and the upper part of a marble tombstone, have been put on display at the National Archaeological Museum

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-8597981989240216662008-08-29T19:51:00.009-05:002008-09-03T10:57:59.087-05:00

Yvonne over at MetaPagan has nominated WitchesandScientists for an "I Love Your Blog Aware". Thanx, Yvonne.The rules are:1. Put the logo on your blog.2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.4. Put links to those blogs on yours.5. Leave a message on the blogs nominated.1)BranchesUp, wide ranging, deep analysis of issues effecting our

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-47837877133430239762008-08-27T19:16:00.008-05:002008-08-28T22:32:24.298-05:00

The 'Must Sees' of Salem:The Witch House: This is the only standing building directly tied to the "Salem Witch Hysteria" still in Salem. The house belonged to Magistrate (Judge) James Corwin, a major player in the events of 1691/92. (His wife, Elizabeth, was accused at one point but the charge was never taken seriously.) The building is beautiful and the interior fascinating. Since this is an

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-43040951020869696562008-08-25T22:13:00.008-05:002008-08-26T10:33:22.631-05:00

We had a great time in Salem. Every time I go, I learn more and more. I have a lot to report on but think it best to divide events among several different posts. First, before delving into the more spiritual stuff, I'd like to go over some of the basics. (I should point out, that besides the fact this is an ad free blog, I have no commercial interest in any of the establishments or products I

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-63931894881397787952008-08-21T07:32:00.005-05:002008-08-21T07:52:23.201-05:00

GreenGhost, Zelda and I are heading to Salem, MA today! Yeah! Hope to see the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers. Probably no blogging for the next few days.

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-18044151477078662662008-08-20T09:50:00.003-05:002008-08-20T10:05:11.180-05:00

A Chameleon With a Short LifeA little chameleon has a very short life:...As researchers...reported in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the entire life span of the Furcifer labordi chameleon — from the moment of conception to development in the egg, hatching, maturation, breeding and right through to its last little lizardly thud to the ground — clocks in at barely a year...

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-3313155319525340232008-08-18T20:41:00.003-05:002008-08-18T20:49:13.862-05:00

Smithsonian scientists discover new bird species...Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution have discovered a new species of bird in Gabon, Africa, that was, until now, unknown to the scientific community...the newly found olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus) was named by the scientists for its distinctive olive back and rump. Adult birds measure 4.5 inches in length and average

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-53243660926030818652008-08-15T21:51:00.007-05:002008-08-15T22:18:54.344-05:00

Graves Found From Sahara’s Green PeriodAn ancient burial site has been discovered in the Sahara, belonging to people who occupied the area from 10,000 to about 5,000 years ago:...In its first comprehensive report, published Thursday, the team described finding about 200 graves belonging to two successive populations. Some burials were accompanied by pottery and ivory ornaments. A girl was buried

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-34558000693168599542008-08-14T20:58:00.004-05:002008-08-14T21:19:46.724-05:00

Q. People find moths in closets but never butterflies. Why?How come I find moths flying around in my home from time to time, but never butterflies? It would be nice to have butterflies as house guests. Lou Sorkin of the American Museum of Natural History mentioned a few factors for the lack of butterfly tenants:...The answer has to do with the paucity of nectar-bearing flowers in the average home

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222935424147777654.post-83383027461208559152008-08-12T20:05:00.004-05:002008-08-12T20:26:45.846-05:00

While a Magician Works, the Mind Does the TricksAccording to some recent research, it appears much of a magician's art relies on gaps in our perception, which they have learned to exploit: ...a team of brain scientists and prominent magicians described how magic tricks, both simple and spectacular, take advantage of glitches in how the brain constructs a model of the outside world from moment to

genexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.com0