tagged w/ Living
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by Nicole
After blasting Kathy Griffin at the Emmys, and physically threatening Vanity Fair columnist Christopher Hitchens on a MSNBC new show, Bill Donohue and his Catholic League have set their sites on fellow instrument of the Devil, Britney Spears. The troubled songstress has upset the leader of the self proclaimed largest Catholic civil rights organization" in the United States by featuring some sexy snaps in the CD booklet of her new album Blackout. The shots, were taken by renowned photographer Ellen Von Unwerth, whose work has been extensively featured in magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. The erotic images show Spears rocking a saucy pose in a confessional and sitting on a hunky priests lap. Heresy indeed.
This is all the puzzle pieces coming together. This girl is crashing, said Catholic League president Donohue, in an interview with New Yorks Daily News. Shes not even allowed to bring up her own kids because shes not responsible enough. Now we see she cant even entertain. Harsh words for a man in the forgiveness business.
Over the last month, on his website, Donohue has attacked Halloween costumers and haunted house owners, David E Kelley and his Boston Legal show, Cold Case, the now notorious yet utterly harmless Chocolate Jesus art exhibit, and the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age for their unfavorable depiction of the Catholic Church. And another Catholic leader said Britney was the one doing the bottom of the barrel stunts! Were glad that minor issues such as AIDS, poverty, and global warming arent distracting Donohue from doing Gods work.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Nicole
After blasting Kathy Griffin at the Emmys, and physically threatening... more
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by Marisa
Guising and witches, campfires and pumpkins these past seven days have been a whirlwind of Samhain images and traditions. But now that youve explored the whys behind contemporary Halloween trends, whats next?
Well, Samhain was initially a New Year celebration, developed by the ancient Celts out of reverence for the earths calendar, the end of the harvest, and the changing of the seasons. As with all Pagan holidays, great attention was paid to the earths cycle and the elements of earth, wind, air, and fire. So, for a last exploration of Samhain 2007, and in keeping with this holidays Pagan roots, lets see what the stars have to say.
October 31, 2007 falls within several astrological cycles. Perhaps most prevalently (and familiarly to anyone traveling or working with electronics these past couple weeks), from October 13th to November 1, Mercury is in retrograde. In simplest terms, this means we can all expect miscommunication, travel glitches, and electronic difficulty (back up those computers!). As the first and last few days of Mercury's retrograde cycle tend to be the most difficult, you may wish to allow extra travel time for any Halloween commutes, or to be particularly attentive to your communication.
The news isnt all bad, however, as while Mercury is in retrograde it's an excellent time to reflect back and return to old projects and intentions a perfect match for Samhains traditional reflection on the years harvest. Just keep in mind that Neptune will be direct this Halloween, so we may not be seeing everything clearly. (Unsurprising, given the extensive masks and costuming on this day - perhaps Samhains wandering spirits will be equally stumped!)
By Pagan tradition, certain qualities are also attributed to each day of the week. As Halloween falls this year on a Wednesday, we are in particularly strong alignment for creative work and money/business matters. More relevantly for Samhain traditions, Wednesday is believed to be the best day for lifting hexes and conducting psychic readings. So, if youre interested in gazing through this nights thin supernatural veil, it looks as though stars and tradition are in your favor.
Whatever Halloween enjoyment you choose this Samhain, be it distributing modern-day soul-cakes among guising children, lighting a candle for poor Jacks lantern, or reflecting quietly on your personal harvest and hopes for the year ahead, we hope you enjoy the evening and its rich history. Happy Halloween!
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Marisa
Guising and witches, campfires and pumpkins these past seven days have... more
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by Nicole
In a beautiful illustration of the butterfly effect, Florida researchers George Austin and Andrew Warren are auctioning the naming rights of a new species of owl butterfly they discovered earlier this year. The proceeds will go to the McGuire Center at Floridas Museum of Natural History to fund research into Lepidoptera, the species class that includes butterflies and moths.
This is a rare opportunity to buy this unique and eternal gift, since its been more than 100 years since a new owl butterfly has been named. It is extraordinarily uncommon for such a large, showy butterfly to have escaped detection until now, said Warren. This likely will be one of the last times such a large and beautiful butterfly is named.
The soon-to-be-named butterfly is native to the Mexican Sonoran Desert, which is just south of the Mojave, though Austin and Warren actually discovered the previously misidentified butterfly in a collection at Floridas Museum of Natural History. The male has a bright orange hue, with the female having more distinct marking on its browner wings. Both have a wingspan of approximately four inches.
Convention allows that those who discover new species have a say in naming it. We realized this striking discovery represents an exceptional opportunity to raise funds for continued research on Mexican butterflies, by allowing rights to the species-level name to be auctioned, said Austin.
The butterfly lot is up for sale on iGavel.com, a high-end auction site which guarantees the authenticity of its items. So far there have been twelve bids, with the highest offer being $34,000. Bidding closes on Nov 2nd.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Nicole
In a beautiful illustration of the butterfly effect, Florida researchers... more
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by Marisa
Costumes, masks, and trick-or-treating. Fun stuff, associated with costume parties and the collection of candy, right? Sure, in contemporary American society, but the original Pagan associations were a more literal matter of life and death.
To the ancient Celts, the thin veil between the living and dead on Samhain night allowed for both reverent reunion with departed loved ones and possible harm from more malicious wandering spirits. To protect against the latter, Pagans donned masks and costumes of the dead, hiding their identity as living beings, and allowing them to walk unharmed among Samhains spirits.
How did these masquerades coincide with trick-or-treating? To best understand this evolution, we need to make a pit-stop at guising a Scottish tradition in which goblin and ghoul-costumed folk sang and danced their way among neighborhood homes, intimidating any evil spirits in their path. In exchange for their performance, residents would provide a treat that is, the smart residents would, as in absence of said treat, guisers were prone to, well, tricks. Christmas wassailing, dating from the Middle Ages, is another example of the Celtic exchange of song and sustenance as is the medieval practice of souling, in which peasants would travel door to door across the British Isles, receiving soul cakes in return for their Samhain prayers for the dead.
So while the Samhain stakes have dropped with time, and the urgency of dressing as a ghost, goblin, witch, or ghoul to avoid detection among the dead has transitioned into a more playful variation, creative fun still abounds in this long-standing tradition. Maybe this year add some soul cakes to your Halloween spread, or favor a ghostly ensemble over more contemporary trends. Youll be treating friends to a Halloween tale, and avoiding the tricks of those wandering spirits all in one.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Marisa
Costumes, masks, and trick-or-treating. Fun stuff, associated with costume... more
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by Marisa
Halloween may not come to mind as readily as, say, Thanksgiving, for culinary enticements, but theres a great deal more to this ancient Celtic tradition than soul-cakes and bags of candy.
To begin, hospitality was historically a substantial Samhain component. In addition to the treats bestowed on visiting guisers in exchange for songs or prayers, dinners were prepared for the deceased, both to honor passed loved ones, and to appease less friendly spirits. In areas of Ireland and Scotland they still set a place for dead loved ones at the Samhain table, and pass the evening with nostalgic stories. The more menacing spirits, however, proved more of a trick. Not wishing to invite any threatening presence into the home, ancient Celts would place a dumb supper of traditional Samhain foods outside their door, or bury apples roadside for those spirits who were lost or without descendants.
Why the emphasis on apples? In keeping with the ongoing apple-bobbing tradition, ancient Celts believed that eating a slice of three different apples ensured a year of good luck, and that an apple before sleep on Samhain night would prevent illness for a year. The apple was also credited with magical abilities, due in part to the pentagram revealed at an apples core, when sliced width-wise.
One Pagan divination ritual instructs that you sit in front of a mirror, lit only by candlelight or the moon, and descend into a meditative silence, focusing on a particular question. Next, cut an apple into nine pieces, eating the first eight with your back to the mirror before throwing the ninth slice over your left shoulder, and following it with your gaze. If you allow your focus to soften, an image is said to form from the reflected moon or candlelight in the mirror, providing your answer.
In addition to apples, other Dumb Supper foods include traditional Irish colcannon and barmbrack - just chew carefully, as Samhain dishes often include buried objects, such as coins, rings, or cloth, from which the diner might glean divination. Hazelnuts are another customary Samhain treat, regarded by the Celts as a symbol of occult wisdom, as is chocolate, associated in Mexico with wishing the dead a sweet return in their next incarnation.
So this year, dont limit yourself to the candies of contemporary custom, but indulge instead in a full Samhain feast! After all, youre just protecting your home.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Marisa
Halloween may not come to mind as readily as, say, Thanksgiving, for... more
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by Marisa
Haunted houses and horror films, zombies and ghouls, Halloween traditions are inseparable from images of the dead, even if the origins are sometimes a bit, well, masked.
To the ancient Celts, the fine Samhain veil between earthly and spiritual planes made for a long night of ghostly goings on from wandering spirits, to visitations from departed loved ones. In this context, our tradition of visiting haunted houses and telling ghost stories around the fire harks back both to the Pagan ritual reverence for the dead, and the ancient Celtic desire for protection from more menacing, soul-stealing ghouls.
Sprinkling salt into the hair of children, or burning dried sage (known as smudging) were just a couple of the protective measures favored across the British Isles. But how does this relate to fire? It may seem simply convenient, given the charm of a late October hearth, that campfires and ghost stories are so intertwined. Historically, however, Samhain balefires were an integral part of the nights celebration, lighting the dark sky, purifying the land, warding off evil, and containing the energy of the newly departed Sun God (whose passing symbolized both the end of the harvest and the slaughter of animals for winter).
The ancient Celts often burned several fires in close proximity, and would drive their cattle between the flames, or leap amongst the fires themselves, in a ritual purification. (The perception that fire could purge evil influences was later used to horrifying effect in the witch burnings of the mid-fifteenth through eighteenth centuries.) As cattle were a primary unit of currency to pre-Christian Celts, villagers would also cast the bones of slaughtered livestock upon the fire, along with other symbols of their hopes for the coming season. The term bonfire, from bone-fire, is said to have grown from this practice.
As the morning sun rose, portions of the dwindling fire were distributed to re-kindle individual hearths and protect the journey home. (The moan of the Bean Sidhe or banshee, foretelling a death in the family was, after all, a threat up until morning.) The Samhain ashes were then sprinkled over the fields for protection during the winter months.
So this year, as you light your fire or place a candle in your Jack-o-lantern, maybe take a moment to toss your own hopes for the coming season upon the flame. At a minimum, youll know your dreams are well-protected.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Marisa
Haunted houses and horror films, zombies and ghouls, Halloween traditions... more
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by Nicole
A $25 million study, funded by the European Union, has found that organic food really is better for you. Lead by Newcastle Universitys ecological agriculture professor Carlo Leifert (who has also spoken out against genetically modified or GM food), researches grew fruit and vegetables, and reared cows using both organic and non-organic methods on adjacent sites over a four-year period. They found that the organic produce contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids that their non-organic counterparts.
Levels of antioxidants in organic milk were between 50% and 80 % higher, with levels reaching a peak during the summer months when the organic cattle stock grazed on fresh grass. Levels of vitamin E were also found to be higher in organic milk, which produced cheese with twice a many nutrients. Organic vegetables such as wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce had between 20% and 40% more nutrients.
For those taking their first step towards a healthier organic lifestyle, Organic Rx's Dr. Geene lists the top five organic food essentials in an interview published by the New York Times. He lists organic foods in order of priority, based on nutritional value, pesticide contamination, and environmental considerations, as well as the average intake of a specific food, since it makes sense to go organic on the foods we eat the most of to maximize their impact.
Milk According to the New York Times, one recent United States Department of Agriculture survey found certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples and low levels in only one organic sample.
Potatoes They make up 30% of our overall vegetable intake, and are one of the most contaminated foods. A 2006 U.S.D.A. test found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Peanut Butter More acres are devoted to growing peanuts than any other fruits, vegetable or nut, according to the U.S.D.A. More than 99 percent of peanut farms use conventional farming practices, including the use of fungicide to treat mold, a common problem in peanut crops.
Ketchup About 75 percent of tomato consumption is in the form of processed tomatoes
Recent research has shown organic ketchup has about double the antioxidants of conventional ketchup.
Apples Apples are the second most commonly eaten fresh fruit and are also one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Nicole
A $25 million study, funded by the European Union, has found that organic... more
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by Nicole
Have you ever wondered how Popes get the top job? Do you think you have what it takes to be a pontiff? Well now you can find out thanks to the Vatican Board Game, which is an accurate simulation of the papal election process, and was developed to reveal the mysterious inner workings of The Roman Catholic Church.
The brain behind the board game, Stephen Haliczer, is one of the worlds leading early modern historians, appearing earlier this year on the four-part PBS docudrama, Secret Files of the Inquisition. Since we have papal aspirations ourselves (we just need to change those pesky rules that dont let chicks become popettes), we called Haliczer and asked him for some tips. Turns out Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown shouldve done the same thing, since Haliczer says his book Angels and Demons, which is set against the backdrop of a papal election, is riddled with factual inaccuracies, though he does concede that is a great read.
DM: What did Dan Brown get wrong?
Haliczer: For example, Dan Brown tells us that the papal election turns on four specific candidates. He says these are the four candidates for which the cardinals can cast their votes. Well thats not the case, they can vote for any cardinal they want. Theres no specific number of candidates or specific candidates. The press identified as many as fifteen possible candidates before the election of 2005, and Dan Browns telling us there are only four actual candidates, thats completely untrue.
DM: Why did you create the game?
Haliczer: The Vatican board game really is an effort to dispel some of the mythology surrounding the Catholic Church. In popular culture theres not only a great deal of curiosity about the inner workings of the Catholic Church, theres also a great deal of confusion because of the secretive nature of some of its deliberations and processes.
DM: It does seem so much is done behind closed doors, which in a democratic society is not necessarily seen as a very good thing?
Haliczer: But the church is not a democratic society. Ironically, at the very apex it is, because you do have an election for the supreme leader, but otherwise its not democratic its hierarchical like an old fashioned monarchy.
DM: So in understanding how it all works, do you think people will have more or less respect for the institution?
Haliczer: I think if they play the game theyll understand a great deal more about it, and theyll see that the process involves a careful nurturing of talent over a long period of time. In other words the cardinals that do emerge as possible papal material are cardinals that are seasoned. They have a distinguished record in a pastoral sense as archbishops. For example Pope Benedict XVI, as Archbishop of Munich, was very widely respected in his role as pastoral leader. And then they have experience in two very important areas, serving in episcopal organizations like bishops conferences and synods on the one hand, and serving the central administration of the church, the curia. My game reflects that.
DM: I think from the outside, thats where some of the criticism lies; Its not the Mother Teresa types, who have seriously served the poor, that get to be pope, its the people that are good at playing politics.
Haliczer: Youll probably find it curious but I dont like to use the word politics. There is a political dimension to it, but I think its more a matter of service and experience, thats what one finds, and thats whats reflected in my game, and in the reality. My game is based on a deep study of the careers of dozens of leading cardinals.
DM: What would you do if you had the power to change the rules of the real game?
For full story go to: http://www.dailymantra.com
by Nicole
Have you ever wondered how Popes get the top job? Do you think you have... more
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Inspired by true events, this film is a must see for those interested in film and/or politics including terrorism, Bin Laden, George Bush, 911, etc.
I don't know why the video isn't playing on current (I did upload it) but you can see it on my website.
http://www.charlesdewandeler.com/id68.htm Inspired by true events, this film is a must see for those interested in film and/or... more
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by Marisa
Whether messily scooping out your pumpkin at home, admiring this years carvings around the neighborhood or, ok, using your computers mouse to scrawl a pumpkin mask on Facebook, Jack-o-lantern season is upon us. But have you ever wondered how this unusual tradition began?
Jack-o-lanterns were brought to the United States by Irish immigrants during the potato famines of the mid-1800s. In keeping with the ancient Celtic belief that the veil between life and death is thinnest on Samhain, the earliest Jack-o-lanterns were designed both to welcome deceased loved ones and frighten away less welcome spirits. The carving of faces, as opposed to other symbols, stemmed from the Celtic belief that the head housed a persons immortal soul, and was therefore sacred. Hence, if you must venture out on Samhain night, a Jack-o-lantern (or kail-runt torch in Scotland) was intended to fool any spirits that might cross your path. In Ireland, Jack-o-lanterns were carved from hollowed turnips, but as pumpkins were more plentiful in America, the tradition quickly adapted.
So whos Jack? While the specifics of his legend vary wildly, in essence Jack was a lazy, yet shrewd, Irish farmer who had the poor judgment to try to trick the devil and by extension, death. (This legend likely arose after Christianitys arrival in Ireland, as earlier Pagan traditions would have been unlikely to include a devil figure or to see a harbinger of death as evil.) Of course, the devil, being quite crafty himself, knew that, as all living beings must die, Jack was actually denying himself an after-life. And so the devil threw Jack an ember from the flames of hell, and Jack placed it inside a carved-out turnip to light the path of his purgatory, as he wandered the earth in search of a resting place. (In fairness, theres also the less creative, mid-eighteenth century definition of a Jack-o-Lantern as simply a night watchman but what fun is that?)
So this year, as you bring knife to pumpkin (or cyber-knife to Facebook screen), consider the rich history behind your carving and maybe think twice before forfeiting the traditional protective face for a more contemporary scene or symbol. After all, poor Jack is still roaming!
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Marisa
Whether messily scooping out your pumpkin at home, admiring this years... more
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by Nicole
James Blunt has been forced to return an experimental electric Mini Cooper he was loaned after he ran it into the ground. "It was the fastest car I've ever been in - totally silent, like a stealth Mini. That was part of the problem, said the singer to a reporter from the World Entertainment News Network. "I didn't crash it but I did break it and I was going too fast. I'm sure they've learnt from my mistakes."
One of only two prototype cars in the world, the ultra-eco Mini, which runs on two hi tech Lithium-ion batteries, was developed by engineers from NASA. Earlier the Daily Mantra reported that the regular U.K. production diesel version of the vehicle beat out Toyotas hybrid Prius in terms of its all round eco-friendliness, making the stylish Mini Cooper a beautiful car both inside and out.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Nicole
James Blunt has been forced to return an experimental electric Mini Cooper... more
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by Nicole
Were not wanting to give you nightmares, but beware of naked sleepwalking zombies next time you visit the UK (who are likely to be pastier and less buff than our model pictured above). According to a press release issued by British budget hotel chain Travelodge, there was a seven-fold increase in sleepwalking customers over the last year, 95% of which were apparently naked men.
The survey spanned 310 of the chains hotels, and was conducted in July 2007. Approximately 400 sleepwalking cases were reported, with night crawlers often turning up naked in reception in a zombified state, asking such innocuous questions such as: Where is the bathroom, Can I check out as I am late for work and Do you have a copy of todays paper.
Following the surprising results of the survey, the hotel chain has issued a guide to staff advising them on how to deal with the issue. One of the key recommendations being that they keep a stack of towels handy at reception to preserve their sleepwalking customers modesty. (It seems Douglas Adams was right when he told travelers to always carry a towel.)
Further research on a pool of 3,000 British adults has shown that the massive increase in sleepwalking is in evidence in the general population too. Experts estimate 3 million Britons sleep walk at least once a week. The top five nocturnal activities are: opening curtains, watching TV, getting dressed, eating and drinking, and going for a walk. Furthermore 11% of respondents reported injuries, such a bruising, cuts and grazes and broken bones, received during their somnambulant activities.
"Sleepwalking is a serious disorder that can develop for a variety of reasons. It can be triggered by a stressful lifestyle, sleep deprivation, alcohol abuse or not breathing properly during the night. Sleep walking is most likely within an hour or two of going to bed, when first slipping into a deep sleep, explains Chris Idzikowski, a sleep expert from the Edinburgh Sleep Centre. "Part of the brain switches into auto pilot and can manage well-learned movements such as walking, bending or sitting despite other parts being in a deep sleep. Sleepwalkers will awake quite unable to recall any of their actions and can be quite distressing. Other forms of 'sleepwalking' involve acting out dreams."
It would be interesting to know if Britain is alone in being increasingly a nation of sleepwalking zombies, or whether the condition is spreading beyond the countrys boarders like a nightmare scenario from Return of The Living Dead. Answers on a postcard please, and happy travels!
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra
by Nicole
Were not wanting to give you nightmares, but beware of naked sleepwalking... more
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That age old question that crossed many of our lips...to go west or not to go west. Where do you stand on the east vs. west debate?That age old question that crossed many of our lips...to go west or not to go west.... more
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