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The first ever video game Easter Egg
In the early days of Atari, programmers weren't given credit for the games they designed for fear of other companies trying to steal them away, but Adventure designer Warren Robinett felt that credit was due. He included a hidden object in the game that lead to a secret room that displayed the words, ""Created by Warren Robinett," which was the first known video game Easter egg. Not exactly the most exciting example, but the first deserves credit. In the early days of Atari, programmers weren't given credit for the games they designed for fear of other companies trying to st... more
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Ostara, The Pagan Equinox, And The Season To Shop
by Marisa
Our clocks are adjusted, and we're enjoying the perfectly balanced day and night of the spring equinox. Total coincidence that Easter is just around the corner, right? Well, not entirely...
While to Christians this weekend is most closely associated with Jesus' resurrection (well, that and chocolate-bearing rabbits, but more on them in a couple days), Easter traditions, like many contemporary religious holidays, have a rich Pagan history. Specifically, the struggles of various figures to return from the Underworld, be they Greek Mythology's Orpheus or Persephone, the Norse Odin, or Jesus Christ, have long been intertwined with the seasonal rebirth of trees and flowers at the Vernal Equinox, known to Pagans as Ostara.
Ostara gets its name from "Oestre" (which also morphs into "Easter"), the Teutonic Goddess of spring and dawn. Within the Pagan Wheel of the Year, in which the Goddess and God figures transition through the stages of life with each holiday, Ostara marks the Goddess in her maiden bloom, as she's courted by the now virile young God.
In ancient Greece and Rome, where seasonal lilies adorned the Ostara altar, young men mirrored their lusty springtime God by presenting the lilies to young women in courtship, which served as a symbol of commitment tantamount to an engagement ring today. Even the Easter bonnet is steeped in Ostara lore, as ancient Pagans considered it bad luck to wear new clothes before the Equinox. They therefore worked secretly through the winter months on the elegant finery they could parade on Ostara day.
Ostara isn't purely a springtime holiday, however, it is also inextricably tied with the Equinox, as represented by the Sun Wheel in its perfect balance of a cross within a circle. Having trouble drawing a mental image? Just think of the pattern atop a traditional Anglo hot cross bun, long a symbol of the Easter holiday.
So now that you have a sense of Ostara's history, how best to honor this year's Equinox? One ritual is to burn a list of Ostara aspirations, hopes you wish to birth in the coming season, by the light of a purple candle. Then bury the ashes in the ground with the springtime seeds, so your dreams may bloom with the flowers. Too much effort for your liking? There's always that proud tradition about new clothes and hats...
http://www.dailymantra.com by Marisa ... more -
Easter, Eddie Izzard, And The Egg-Laying Rabbit
by Marisa
Crucifixion, resurrection... chocolate-bearing bunny rabbits? In the immortal words of Eddie Izzard (from his "Church of England Fundamentals" rant in Dress To Kill), "Kids eat chocolate eggs [at Easter] because of the color of the chocolate and the... color of the wood on the cross? Well, you tell me!" Agreed, Mr. Izzard, it's a quandary, but the following background may shed some light.
To ancient Pagans, the Vernal Equinox (or Ostara, later "Easter") celebrated the fertility and rebirth inherent to the coming spring. As an obvious symbol of fertility, eggs were a significant part of this celebration. In France, decorated eggs were given to new brides in the hope of a fertile marriage, while Pagan Celts incorporated eggs into their magical fertility rituals. In Germany, farmers' wives distributed bowls of eggs among the field workers to attract a rich harvest, while in Russia eggs were decorated to symbolize abundance and good fortune. The coloring of these eggs can be traced as far back as ancient Greece, where red eggs symbolized rebirth, and green eggs represented the budding plants and flowers.
So how did the eggs and the bunnies intertwine? (I mean, beyond the amazingly fertile sex-lives-of-rabbits thing.) According to legend, the Pagan goddess Ostara, for whom the Vernal Equinox is named, saved the life of a bird with frozen wings by turning the bird into a rabbit. Having once been a bird, however, the rabbit continued to lay eggs, which he decorated and presented to Ostara in gratitude.
As perhaps Eddie Izzard said best, "Bunny rabbits are for shagging, eggs are for fertility, it's the spring festival!" We at Daily Mantra, hope you enjoy. by Marisa ... more -
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of The Chocolate Rabbit
by Marisa
From Ostara to Easter, the holiday weekend is upon us. For some, this means Easter services at their favorite church, for others it means a Pagan springtime ritual, and for still more it's just a great excuse for baked ham and some pretty strange candy. I mean, chocolate rabbits? Marshmallow Peeps? The bizarre candied yolks of a Cadbury Egg? If only there were some way to tie it all together...
Fortunately, the Paganism hostess over at About.com has crafted this delightful (and delightfully absurd) union of rituals, symbols, and heavily sugared tradition: All you'll need to partake is a bag of jellybeans, some Marshmallow Peeps, and a chocolate rabbit and a glass of milk for each participant. Mix in a sense of humor, about twenty minutes of your time, and enjoy! Go to www.dailymantra.com for full details. by Marisa ... more -
Holiday Gifts: A Variety of Easter Delights
"Holiday Gifts: A Variety of Easter Delights." Yes indeedy, this is a wonderful package of Easter goodies for you. This enjoyable giftee includes a handsome Easter photograph, a very humorous video, a music video (Bright Eyes: First Day of My Life) and a delightful photo-gallery (A Holiday Album: Fancy Easter Egg Photographs). Enjoy!! "Holiday Gifts: A Variety of Easter Delights." Yes indeedy, this is a wonderful package of Easter goodies for you. This enjo... more
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Why do we eat eggs at Easter?
I'll let BBC schools handle this one...
“For Christians, Easter eggs symbolise new life. They believe that, through his resurrection, Jesus defeated death and sin and offers people the promise of eternal life if they follow his teachings. This is why there is a tradition for Christians to be baptised at Easter, which celebrates new life in God." I'll let BBC schools handle this one... ... more -
How to Color Easter Eggs
Tom Baker demonstrates how to color Easter Eggs in less than two minutes. Made from 1,285 photos. (go ahead ... count 'em)
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Google Earth Flight Simulator
New version of Google Earth includes Google Sky and a hidden flight simulator.
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Easter Eggs
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Easter Eggs
