News from the Nest
Obit: Isaac Bonewits
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 2:04pmThis morning, August 12, 2010 at approximately 8 AM ET, Isaac Bonewits passed away peacefully in his sleep. All his brothers and sisters arrived at his side last night. His family and friends surround him now. ** See also the moving tribute posted on The Wild Hunt blog at http://wildhunt.org/blog/ (or click 'additional link' below)
Study: Couples Who Share Religious Practices Tend To Be Happier
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 9:00pmIn what is described as the first major look at relationship quality and religion across racial and ethnic lines, researchers report a significant link between relationship satisfaction and religious factors for whites, Hispanics and African Americans. The study appears in this month's issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family.
Critical Plant Bank In Danger
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 9:00pmPlant scientists around the world are warning that hundreds of years of accumulated agricultural heritage are in danger of being plowed under after a Russian court ruled today (August 11) that the land occupied by a world-renowned plant bank on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg may be transferred to the Russian Housing Development Foundation, which plans to build houses on the site. The fate o
Victory At The Louvre
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 9:00pmI clicked along the marble floor in my Franco Sarto boots, a modern woman, chic, savvy, worldly. But when I saw her poised at the top of her stairs, admirers from all over the globe gazing worshipfully, I stopped and stared. Im not easily intimidated, but she had me. The headless, armless statue had something I lacked. Winged Victory of Samothrace leaned forward upon the prow of her ship in t
Group Putting Up 20 Anti-Religious Billboards Across Tampa Bay
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 9:00pmAn anti-religion group is taking advantage of Florida's battered economy by launching a low-budget billboard blitz. "To be honest, the price was right," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. "We got some special rates that made it affordable to get our message out." That message is going up this week on 20 billboards in locations thro
Perfumer Re-Creates Egyptian Fragrances For King Tut Show
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 9:00pmWhat do Cher, Steven Tyler and King Tut have in common? Perfumer Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of Boulder has created perfumes for all of them. OK; not specifically King Tut, although, goodness knows, he could use a little freshening up after all that time in a tomb. She re-created the fragrances of ancient Egypt in conjunction with the " Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" exhibit at t
Ancient Language Mystery Deepens
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amA linguistic mystery has arisen surrounding symbol-inscribed stones in Scotland that predate the formation of the country itself. The stones are believed to have been carved by members of an ancient people known as the Picts, who thrived in what is now Scotland from the 4th to the 9th Centuries. These symbols, researchers say, are probably "words" rather than images. But their conclusions
All Mexican States Must Recognize Gay Marriages
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amMexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that all 31 states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in the capital, though its decision does not force those states to begin marrying gay couples in their territory. In a 9-2 decision, the tribunal cited an article of the constitution requiring states to recognize legal contracts drawn up elsewhere. It did not specify what degree of recognition
The 2010 Perseids Meteor Shower
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amYAY! My second favorite meteor show of the year is coming up this week. The Perseids shower comes to us compliments of the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The shower peaks on August 12 13, its a must see. The shower seems to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which will be rising in the Northeastern Sky by 9 pm (your local time). Ive heard predictions of up to 50 meteors per hour because the
Pets Vital To Human Evolution
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amDogs, cats, cows and other domesticated animals played a key role in human evolution, according to a theory being published by paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman of Penn State University. The uniquely human habit of taking in and employing animals even competitors like wolves spurred on human tool-making and language, which have both driven humanity's success, Shipman says. "Wherever you go
Can Science Explain The Soul?
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amThe soul has never lacked for believers, including around 90% of the American public, according to pollsters. But science has remained aloof, basically for two reasons. First, the soul has been assumed to be a matter of personal belief, not objective knowledge. Second, science deals in visible, concrete things using objective data. But since the era of quantum physics began over a century ago, inv
Seize The Ripest Days As The Harvest Celebrations Begin
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 10:03amWhen I see advertisements for late summers fruit and festivals, I cant help but think, Lughnasadh. Lughnasadh (Loo-nuh-suh), or Lammas, is the modern Pagan celebration of the first harvest. Its supposed to honor th bringing in of the first sheaves. And was once celebrated with fairs, festivals and games. Much like a county fair. Lugh was the Celtic sun god, and a master of everything
Last 2 Foreign Dead In Afghan Murders Identified
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 3:12pmA Christian charity said today that it had no plans to leave Afghanistan despite the murders of 10 members of its medical aid team and repeated that the organization does not attempt to convert Muslims to Christianity. The 10 team members six Americans, two Afghans, one Briton and a German were gunned down Thursday after they were accosted by gunmen after finishing a two-week mission provid
Enter Christianity (Opinion)
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 3:12pmJudaism and Islam developed with only marginal reference to Christianity, but Christianitys evolution has been entangled with the two other monotheisms as essential foils. That has nowhere been more evident than in the Middle East. European Christendom came into existence in tension with an imagined Holy Land to which both Jews and Muslims had competing claims. That competition continues s
A Texas Stonehenge Will Move From Hunt To Ingram
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 3:12pmStonehenge is the hot topic these days at the Hunt Store, where locals in this town of about 700 come to chew the fat along with pit-smoked barbecue. "They're moving it, you know," clerk Cassandra McClerk said as she rang up a few beers. Everybody in Kerr County knows Stonehenge is moving. This neck of the woods, a two-hour drive from Austin, is known for its summer camps on the banks of the
Secrets Of The Bristol Churches
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 3:12pmDespite the best efforts by both archaeologists and historians, Bristol's origins, more than 1,000 years ago, remain shrouded in mystery. We have the bones of a story, it's true, but not much hard evidence to flesh it out. Coins from the late Saxon period have been unearthed and there is a remarkable carving the Harrowing of Hell from the same period on show in Bristol Cathedral. But
Isaac Bonewits Gravely Ill
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 7:40amIsaac Bonewits, founder of theÁr nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship remains hospitalized today (Actually, he is at home.) with cancer, and is expected to pass to the Summerlands soon. Isaac is the author of Real Magic, Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism, Bonewits's Essential Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, Authentic Thaumaturgy and other texts. He is also a musician with a number of albums r
History And Symbolism Of The Traditional Thai Tattoo
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 5:55pmThe traditional tattoo in Thailand is called Sak Yant. It is quite difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of this art as it is so old the history has almost been lost. Many countries have laid claim to the birth of this ancient art, but it is believed to have originated from the Khmer period approximately 3,000 years ago. Proof of the age of the tattoo in the form of mummies, have been discover
For Psychic Shops, Business Is Intuitive
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 5:55pmFor Gina Mitlo, the future is her business. As she settles into a newly approved fortunetelling shop in Hudson, Mitlo and other area clairvoyants say their businesses offer unique foresight - an exclusivity not lost on the selectmen who approve them. "Not every town has a fortuneteller. You get them more in the Hamptons or tourist places. It's nice and unique," Hudson Selectmen Vice-Chairman
Authorities Call For Regulations Of "Brujeria" (Witchfract)
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 5:55pmIt is unknown exactly how many fall victim to scams and cons by "brujeria" (witchcraft) in Costa Rica, only that in San José alone at least 10 criminal complaints are filed each year. For this, the sub-director del Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Francisco Segura, is calling on legislators to close the loophole in the law that allows the practice brujeria and the placing ads in the m
