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Santa Claus and Odin

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:29:16 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Influence of Germanic paganism and folklore

Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. Since many of these elements are unrelated to Christianity, there are theories regarding the pagan origins of various customs of the holiday stemming from areas where the Germanic peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous traditions, surviving in various forms into modern depictions of Santa Claus.

According to Phyllis Siefker, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.

ADL, AJC join brief on Wiccan clergyman

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:25:58 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: blogs.jta.org

The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee have signed on to an Americans United for Church and State amicus brief arguing that a Wiccan clergyman should be able to challenge a state prison policy that limits paid chaplaincy positions to people who are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Native American.

“Whether the State needs to hire a Wiccan chaplain and, if so, whether McCollum is the right person for the job, may be unclear,” the brief says. “What is clear, however, is that the district court erred in denying McCollum the chance to have his claims heard.”

Religious minorities should have the right to go to court and challenge discriminatory hiring practices imposed by the government, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

McCollum is a qualified candidate for a chaplain position at the California Department of Corrections but cannot be considered for the job because of his religious beliefs.

Yank their tax-exempt status! Bishops be damned.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:22:06 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.suntimes.com

Barack Obama, the unapologetic pro-choice presidential candidate, needs to find his strong voice again on the issue now that he is president.

And he needs to stand up to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a tax-exempt religious organization, declaring that reproductive rights of women will not be sacrificed in the fight over a universal health-care bill.

Catholic bishops have every right to speak their mind and preach the church's teaching. But they are engaging in outright political lobbying. Helping to write legislation that turns Catholic doctrine into law. Violating the separation of church and state.

When bishops lobby legislators, they should be required to do what all tax-exempt 501(c)3 groups have to do. Create a parallel political organization and pay taxes on the contributions they receive. And fully disclose, like every other lobbying organization -- corporate or charitable -- what they take in and what they spend to advance positions they advocate.

Edward Woodward, The Wicker man, dies

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:10 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

(Reuters) - British actor Edward Woodward, best known for his starring roles in cult classic "The Wicker Man" and U.S. television series "The Equalizer," died on Monday aged 79.

* LIFE DETAILS:

-- Edward Albert Arthur Woodward was born June 1, 1930, in Croydon, Surrey.

* STARRING ROLES:

-- Feature film roles in such acclaimed period costumers as "Becket" (1964) and "Young Winston" (1972) were overshadowed by his more successful work on television, especially his weary spy in "Callan" (1967), which spawned a TV movie and the popular character. In this role Woodward demonstrated his ability to express controlled rage which occasionally explodes, and his stoic demeanor has seen him cast in similar roles since.

-- His memorable role as repressed police Sergeant Howie in the chilling cult thriller "The Wicker Man" (1973) eventually led to international stardom as courtmartialed Lt. Harry Morant in the classic Australian-made historical drama "Breaker Morant"

Get Your Free Torture Team Cards!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:42:13 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: act.credoaction.com

Want the torturers prosecuted? Tired of the "few bad apples" line? The Center for Constitutional Rights has partnered with CREDO to distribute Torture Team trading cards to spark the conversation about responsibility for torture at the highest levels. Get one pack of 10 cards for free. $5 for a complete set of all 20 cards; $20 for five sets. All money will go to CCR. The cards may take 3-7 weeks to arrive.

Near stadium, Cowboys have a new rival: Satan

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:37:26 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — A wee bit o’ Scotland has come to the outskirts of Cowboys Stadium, and with it a foggy auld controversy over whether a Scottish sculpture park is also a pagan shrine that might hex the Dallas Cowboys.

City leaders and the family of late philanthropist Jane Mathes Kelton gathered Thursday to rededicate Caelum Moor, a former $3 million corporate sculpture park now relocated as public art along the bonny banks of Johnson Creek.

The letter was headlined, "No Witchcraft Park in Arlington."

In a Thursday phone interview, Tummillo called Caelum Moor "a mockery of Christianity" and said those near the park — including the Cowboys — are "in a dance with the devil."

Tummillo was a youth pastor with the now-disbanded Redeeming Love Covenant Church when the Rev. Danny Smith and his wife, Dena, took their witchcraft warnings nationwide on CNN and even to the syndicated TV entertainment show Strange Universe.

Dallas Police Improperly Cite Drivers for Not Speaking English

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:10:36 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

DALLAS — Dallas police officers have improperly cited drivers for not being able to speak English 38 times in the past three years, Chief David Kunkle said Friday.

The discovery came after a woman was pulled over earlier this month for making an illegal U-turn and was given a ticket for being a "non-English speaking driver."

The police chief said the citations are disappointing for Dallas, a city where the Latinos make up 44 percent of the more than 1 million residents and nearly 45 percent speak a language other than English.

At least six officers wrote the citations, including one who wrote five of them, Kunkle said at a news conference. The officers and their commanders are under investigation, and Dallas police also plan to look beyond the last three years to see if other citations turn up, Kunkle said.

Ralph Lauren says size 4 is too fat!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:52:14 GMT

clipped by: boniface
clipper's remarks: Ladies, when are you going to stop buying from companies like this?

Clip Source: www.accesshollywood.com

The model at the center of an advertising photo editing controversy last week has claimed she was fired for being a size 4.

At 5’ 10” and 120 pounds, 23-year-old model Filippa Hamilton claims her weight was behind Ralph Lauren terminating her contract earlier this year.

“Had they told you before they wanted you to lose weight?” Acccess Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson asked Filippa on Wednesday morning.

“No,” Filippa said. “It makes me sad. It makes me think Ralph Lauren wants to have this kind of image.”

Filippa claims she was terminated in April, six months before the abnormally thin Photoshopped advertisement published by the fashion house surfaced online.

However, the French bombshell maintains her agent was sent a letter noting she didn’t fit into the sample clothes she needed to wear.

Hidden Cost of Nokia's $299 Netbook

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:46:37 GMT

clipped by: boniface
clipper's remarks: What a rip off!

Clip Source: www.pcworld.com

When the hidden costs are calculated in the Nokia Booklet 3G becomes an expensive option in a cheap device niche.

That subsidized price comes with some strings that affect the total cost of ownership though. The $299 price tag is based on a 2-year wireless service commitment with a mandatory data plan requirement. So, $299 isn't just $299. It is $299 plus $60 a month for two years which brings the total cost up to over $1700.

But wait, there's more! The data plan you get for $60 a month has a limit of 5Gb of bandwidth per month. Even moderate netbook users could easily surpass the bandwidth cap and end up hit with steep overage charges that add even more hidden costs and increase the total cost of ownership for the Booklet 3G.

You can forego the AT&T subsidy and purchase the Nokia Booklet 3G outright for $599 without the contract. That brings the total cost over two years down significantly, but the device is still almost double the cost of comparable devices.

Texas: The Death Penalty State

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:57:35 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Someone needs to throw up a similar one next to the "Welcome to Texas" signs you hit when coming in on I-10.

"If you'd done what our Governor has done, you'd be executed by now."

As the case against Cameron Todd Willingham, executed in 2004, sinks like a rock, the truth has started to float to the top and the rats are streaming out from all sides, led by none other than Texas Governor Rick Perry. Perry has reason to be running - his office denied clemency to Willingham just before he was executed, despite the fact that new information was submitted from arson experts stating that "no evidence of arson" was found (see Dare Devils: Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Death Panel).

As the state's Forensic Science Commission, which was set up to investigate the Willingham case, was preparing a report on the validity of the arson investigation, Governor Perry decided to replace three of the nine members appointed to the commission.

"Business as usual."

Welcome to Texas.

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:01:10 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.mindspring.com

'My father says almost the whole world's asleep. Everybody you know, everybody you see, everybody you talk to. He says only a few people are awake. And they live in a state of constant, total amazement.'

Clip Source: www.mindspring.com

This is one of those typical conversations where we're all open and sharing our innermost thoughts, and it's all bullshit and a lie, and it doesn't cost you anything.

Damned if I know, Kemo sabe. All I know is, when you're making those kind of calls, you're up in the high country.

Joe, nobody knows anything. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life.

I know he can get the job, but can he do the job?

It looks fake. I like it.

This is a great town. It stinks, but it's a great town.

Celeb Searches: Most Dangerous Names on the Web

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:39:33 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

What's the matter with Jessica Biel? McAfee, the anti-virus software maker, is out with its third annual list of the most dangerous names to search on the web, and reports that if you Google "Jessica Biel screensavers" (or Yahoo or Bing it), almost half the downloads you could click on will try to deposit malware (viruses, pop-up ads, spyware, etc.) in your computer.

Here is McAfee's list of the "Riskiest Celebrities to Search on the Web":

1. Jessica Biel
2. Beyonce
3. Jennifer Aniston
4. Tom Brady
5. Jessica Simpson
6. Gisele Bundchen
7. Miley Cyrus
8. Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie (tie)
9. Ashley Tisdale
10. Brad Pitt (he was first last year)
11. Reese Witherspoon
12. Britney Spears
13. Rihanna
14. Lindsay Lohan
15. Kim Kardashian

"Cybercriminals are star watchers too -- they latch onto popular celebrities to encourage the download of malicious software in disguise," said Jeff Green, a McAfee senior vice president, in a press statement.

Civil rights group calls for ban on Tasers

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:02:35 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.kob.com

A national Hispanic rights group is calling for the all-out banning of Tasers. The group says Tasers are over-used by law enforcement officers, with sometimes deadly results.

The League of United Latin American Citizens is the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization, and the group's national leaders say cops should stop using Tasers immediately.

A Taser shocks with 50,000 volts, temporarily disabling its target. Police say they are a valuable tool that reduces the need for deadly force.

LULAC says Tasers can be just as fatal.

That's why the New Mexico branch of LULAC held a protest Saturday on the steps of Albuquerque's City Hall.

LULAC says 437 people have died by Taser use since 1999, and, on average, nine people are killed every month in the U.S. by Tasers.

we want to hold those accountable who are using these types of tools and not using their good judgment," LULAC State Director Pablo Martinez said Saturday.

Whole Foods CEO's Health Care Views Provoke Some Customers to Boycott Store

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:31:34 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Calls to boycott Whole Foods Market are growing louder and more sophisticated following a Wall Street Journal opinion article by the company's chief executive, John Mackey, in which he criticized President Obama's health care plan and offered his own alternative.

Mackey's article first prompted individuals to threaten taking their business elsewhere. But now the Progressive Review, an online alternative publication, is calling for a formal boycott, and campaigns are popping up all over, including on Facebook, a popular online social networking site.

Protesters are hoping a boycott will cut into the success of Whole Foods, the 10th largest food and drug store in the U.S., which reported sales of $1.8 billion for the last quarter, a 2 percent increase from the previous quarter.

"While it was a horrible business move, it was a great courtesy," a commenter identified as boycottwf wrote. "Now, I know that my dollars spent at whole foods are going to fund your misguided conservative views."

Bob Dylan mistaken for homeless man

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:25:52 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.abcnews.go.com

Forty Years After Woodstock, Bob Dylan Is Mistaken for a Homeless Man

Talk about "a complete unknown."

Bob Dylan was detained by police in Long Branch, N.J. last month, when a young officer failed to recognize him, police said. The officer proceeded to go to earnest lengths to ensure the hooded, disheveled, rain-soaked music legend was, in fact, who he said he was.

Dylan, 68, one of the most celebrated, eccentric artists in American history, was in the area on July 23 as part of a national concert tour -- a fact lost on 24-year-old Long Branch police officer Kristie Buble.

To hear the young New Jersey police officer describe it, the scene was like something out of one of Dylan's epic song-poems: It was pouring rain, Dylan was soaked and wandering alone, far from the traveling home of his entourage of tour buses.