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Atheists file suit over National Day of Prayer
A Wisconsin-based group of atheists and agnostics has filed suit against President Bush over the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which urges a strict separation of church and state, also names White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, and National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairwoman Shirley Dobson in the lawsuit filed Friday.
"The point is to stop the National Day of Prayer," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation, in an interview Monday.
The law, created in 1952 by Congress and signed by President Harry Truman, establishes an annual prayer day. In 1988, President Reagan amended the law, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of May.
"Designations of an official Day of Prayer by presidential and gubernatorial proclamations ... create a hostile environment for nonbelievers," the complaint says.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation maintains the law violates the First Amendment's prohibition against an official establishment of religion.
"We hope to buttress the wall of separation of church and state," Gaylor said.
Last year, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit by the same group that criticized Bush's faith-based initiative.
The recent suit charges that the National Day of Prayer Task Force has ties to James Dobson's Focus on the Family, a nonprofit evangelical organization. Shirley Dobson is James Dobson's wife. The task force also rents office space in the Focus on the Family headquarters.
"Presidents throughout our history have called for a national day of prayer," said the task force's vice chairman, Brian Toon. "This is an act of Congress."
"They can sue if they want to, but they're going to go against some pretty heavy people in our nation," Toon said.
The foundation, which is based in Madison, Wis., is also suing Doyle as one of 50 governors to issue a proclamation for the prayer day.
Blair Jones, a White House spokesman, said U.S. presidents since George Washington have invoked God's "continuing protection and favor... without offense to the Constitution."
"Two hundred-plus years of constitutional history teach that this lawsuit has absolutely no merit," Blair said, "and we expect the Justice Department will defend it vigorously." A Wisconsin-based group of atheists and agnostics has filed suit against President Bush over the federal law designating a National Da... more -
America, from the outside
This is an interesting article about a British historian and his analysis of how the US is perceived from the outside, as well as America's perception of itself. This is an interesting article about a British historian and his analysis of how the US is perceived from the outside, as well as Amer... more
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Celebrating Women's History: 100 Amazing Libraries and Collections on the Web
There are numerous sites on the web, many through libraries and archives, that can provide you with access not only to information but to documents, photos and first hand accounts of women as well. Check them out... There are numerous sites on the web, many through libraries and archives, that can provide you with access not only to information but... more
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Vincent
I was introduced to the art of Vincent van Gogh at the movies, specifically the incredible performance of Kirk Douglas as Vincent in Vincente Minnelli's film version of "Lust for Life", the novel by Irving Stone.
Vincent's life is well-known not only for the film but also his often poignant letters to his brother Theo. Vincent was Born in Groot-Zundert, Holland. He was the son of a pastor and grew up in a cultured, religious atmosphere.
His decision to become an artist was complicated by two unhappy romances, his lack of self-confidence, and his unsuccessful, short careers as bookstore clerk and art salesman. His career as a 'preacher' in the Borinage, a grim coal mining district in Belgium, ended in his abrupt dismissal for 'being overzealous'.
He remained in Belgium to study art. His works of this period are oftern crude and somber, a style bestd exemplified by his 'masterpiece' of the period: 'The Potato Eaters'.
Joining his brother in Paris, Vincent met Pissaro, Monet, Seurat and Gauguin. At first, his brush strokes were short ala the impressionists but lengthened as his own style developed.
He had hoped to establish a school of art in Arles where he was joined by Gauguin. The results were disastrous. The infamous episode in which he is said to have cut off part of his ear may have resulted from either an epileptic fit, a quarrel or both. From that point, Vincent suffered periodic madness.
While under 'treatment' by Dr. Gachet, Vincent shot himself --as he had written --"for the good of all."
Vincent produced his finest work in a period of only three years and sold only one painting in his life. Now --his paintings are priceless and his letters to Theo are preserved as literature. I was introduced to the art of Vincent van Gogh at the movies, specifically the incredible performance of Kirk Douglas as Vincent in V... more -
On this date in history October 8
876 charles the bald defeated by louie the young, franklin pierce u.s. president 1869 died, john hancock died patriot 1793, born klaus klinski 1926, reverend jesse jackson 1941 born, chevy chase born 1943 actor, khristanna loken born 1979, don larson pitched perfect world series game 1956, 1871 mrs o'leary's cow kicked the bucket started great chicago fire, emergency nurses day 2008, on this date in history october 8 876 charles the bald defeated by louie the young, franklin pierce u.s. president 1869 died, john hancock died patriot 1793, born klaus... more
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Oct. 8, 1582: Nothing Happens ... in Catholic Lands
"1582: Nobody does anything, anything at all. In fact, nobody does anything whatsoever between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15, 1582, because the 10 intervening days have simply been declared out of existence by the pope. (This offer may not apply outside Italy, Spain and Portugal.)
Where did those days go?
By the mid-1570s, the Julian Calendar established in 45 B.C. was 10 days behind the real seasons of the year. The spring equinox was actually occurring on March 12 or thereabouts, and Easter (set by a formula based on an arbitrary March 22 equinox date) was falling too late in the real springtime.
All this happened because the Earth year is about 11 minutes short of the 365¼ days set by Julius Caesar. It's really 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds. If the drift kept up, Easter would eventually have been observed in the summer, and Christmas in the spring.
So Pope Gregory XIII appointed a commission to tweak the Julian Calendar. Under the leadership of physician Aloysius Lilius and Jesuit astronomer Christopher Clavius, the commission consulted with scientists and clergy. After wrestling with various ideas for half a decade, the commission proposed eliminating three leap years in every 400 (years ending in 00, unless they are divisible by 400).
That would prevent further creep of the calendar against the seasons (except for a minuscule under-correction). But resetting the calendar so the equinox would come in late March needed a more drastic solution: 10 days would have to be skipped, erased, eradicated, obliterated, wiped out of existence.
The commission sent its report to the pope Sept. 14, 1580. He issued a papal bull on Feb. 24, 1582, declaring that the new calendar would go into force in October (when there were few holy days), and that 10 days would be skipped. The day after Oct. 4 would be called not Oct. 5, but Oct. 15."
More at link... "1582: Nobody does anything, anything at all. In fact, nobody does anything whatsoever between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15, 1582, because ... more -
Could The Star Of Bethlehem have been the DOG Star of the Egyptians known as SIRIU...
The Star Of Bethlehem was said to have shined in or from the east. For the Egyptians The Rising of Sirius in the East preceded the annual flooding of the Nile River which for them was a magical event. It was also the time when the Goddess ISIS would appear to give birth to Horus the divine child of the Egyptian Trinity.....Hmmm, sounds like Mary giving birth to Jesus, the divine child of the Christian trinity....hmm The Star Of Bethlehem was said to have shined in or from the east. For the Egyptians The Rising of Sirius in the East preceded the ann... more
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This will CHANGE your LIFE, and HELP EMPOWER you to MAKE a DIFFERENCE in ~OUR~ WO...
Zeitgeist: Addendum !!!
The video posted is a trailer for what you are about to watch.
This is one of the most powerful and informative films ever !!!!
Watching the FULL VERSION will definitely IMPACT the way you THINK and will give you the info NEEDED to understand OUR WORLD TODAY !!!!
Take the time to watch it !!!! I truly believe that we can Save our race and our planet by finding out the truth of what is going on....and THE LAST HOUR OF THE FILM IS ABOUT SOLUTIONS !!!!!!
If you doubt, or think you know about this topic.... then watch it, and then we'll debate...
Here is the Link for the FULL VERSION !!!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=706520527769592... Zeitgeist: Addendum !!! The video posted is a trailer for what you are about to watch. ... more -
Sarah Palin's Pasto&r was a Witch Hunter in Kenya Video Proof
Her Pastor Thomas Muthee Made a documentary about his trip to Kenya in the 80's, its how he "found his calling from Jesus" and basically blamed all of Kenya's bad problems on some poor lady who was telling peoples fortunes, he said she was a witch and forced her out of her home onto the streets by Police force, here's a clip on everything you need to know about this palin's insane ass witch doctor, everything from him praying for the witches to not harm palin, to his video footage of kicking out this lady of her home...shits insane, this is from MSNBC because it somes most of it up in a nutshell
Updated link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nz7_LyobMA
some more video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwkb9_zB2Pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAWM7E_WMfo Her Pastor Thomas Muthee Made a documentary about his trip to Kenya in the 80's, its how he "found his calling f... more -
Most interesting UFO encounters
Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., aliens… these words bring up images of flying saucers and little green men with big ears. For years, we have been hearing of other life forms in our universe which visit our planet from time to time. Hundreds of people claim to have experienced it first hand and relate stories of their encounters. Many people disperse the notion that aliens exist, but one thing is for sure - any talk about UFOs and aliens draws a huge amount of interest from everyone.
There are thousands of such encounters and we picked a few that made news.
*******LIST FOLLOWS AT LINK Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., aliens… these words bring up images of flying saucers and little green men with big ears. For yea... more -
On This Date in History - October 7
movie ratings started in 1968, christopher columbus changed course 1492, edgar allen poe poet died 1849, 1st us railway quincy mass 1826, vladimir putin russian president born 1952, afghanistan 2001, leo durocher baseball manager died 1991, desmund tutu archbishop born 1931, john cougar mellencamp musician born 1951, 1913 first moving assembly line, on this date in history october 7 movie ratings started in 1968, christopher columbus changed course 1492, edgar allen poe poet died 1849, 1st us railway quincy mass 18... more
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Latin: 'Dead' language returns to school curriculums
More and more students in the US are embracing Latin. a language that was once rejected as outdated and useless.
Many students seeking to increase SAT scores or to stand out from their friends choose to study Latin while others simply harbor a fascination for the ancient language after reading Harry Potter’s Latin-based chanting spells.
The number of students in the United States taking the National Latin Exam has risen steadily to more than 134,000 students in each of the past two years, from 124,000 in 2003 and 101,000 in 1998, with large increases in remote parts of the country like New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont. The number of students taking the Advanced Placement test in Latin, meanwhile, has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, to 8,654 in 2007.
Latin is also thriving in New York City, where it is currently taught in about three dozen schools, including Brooklyn Latin, a high school in East Williamsburg that started in 2006. Four years of Latin, and two of Spanish, are required at the new high school, where Latin phrases adorn the walls and words like discipuli (students), magistri (teachers) and latrina (bathroom) are sprinkled into everyday conversation. “It’s the language of scholars and educated people,” said Jason Griffiths, headmaster of Brooklyn Latin. “It’s the language of people who are successful. I think it’s a draw, and that’s certainly what we sell.” More and more students in the US are embracing Latin. a language that was once rejected as outdated and useless. ... more -
Is TBN related to the British Monarchy?
Just a little observation I made, and It's quite a suspicious discovery indeed. I recently observed TBN"S Emblem or Logo, which consists of A lion and Unicorn to the left and right of a shield, with a crown above and various inscriptions, if you are familiar with symbolism you would know that such a logo is not a logo but is what would be considered a ''Coat Of Arm's'' which is usually associated with Royalty and the Military...Hmmm, why is a Christian Network employing a ''Coat Of Arms''? and are the similarities between the TBN logo and the British Royal coat Of Arms just a coincidence? make your own observations....
The Lion and the Unicorn are time-honoured symbols of the United Kingdom. They are properly speaking heraldic supporters, appearing in the full Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland. The combination therefore dates back to the 1603 accession of James I of England who was already James VI of Scotland.
The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion. Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the British Government in connection with the administration and government of the country. In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the Scotland Office. Just a little observation I made, and It's quite a suspicious discovery indeed. I recently observed TBN"S Emblem or Logo, wh... more -
US BASE 'REFERENDUM' SPLITS CITY
ANSA) - Vicenza, October 6 - An unofficial referendum
against the planned expansion of a US air base in Vicenza has
left the city split.
Opponents of the plan hailed the 95% No vote on Sunday
but supporters derided the low turn-out and called for the
resignation of Mayor Achille Variati.
Variati decided to go ahead with the informal poll in
the face of a state court's ban on an official referendum on
expanding the Dal Molin base.
Despite its lack of legal force, the mayor hailed the
poll as ''an extraordinary example of democracy''.
''It shows how wrong it is not to let people have a say
in things that affect them,'' he said.
Cinzia Bottene, a city councillor and member of the No
Dal Molin Committee against the plan, said ''the referendum
was a great response to the authoritarians who want to impose
something on the local community''.
But the Yes Dal Molin Committee pointed out that the
28.5% turn-out meant fewer people voted on Sunday than they
did for the mayoral election two months ago.
The committee also criticised the funds spent on what it
called a ''useless'' consultation.
''Despite strong campaigning from the No committee,
backed by the mayor with the investment of significant
amounts of money,'' said No Committee member Roberto
Cattaneo, ''fewer citizens voted on Sunday than those who
backed Variati in the municipal elections''.
''Out of intellectual honesty, he should resign,''
Cattaneo added, calling the mayor's drive against the
expansion plan ''isolationist and extremist''.
Opponents of the base were dismayed last week when the
referendum was banned by Italy's highest administrative
tribunal, but then they decided to hold it anyway.
The Council of State said a referendum would be
''superfluous'' because publicly elected officials had
already ruled on the planned purchase of land for the
expansion.
The referendum asked residents whether they thought the
city government should acquire the land at the Dal Molin base
to stop the expansion and maintain the area's ''environmental
integrity''.
Variati was elected this spring on a platform
opposed to the base being expanded to accommodate
2,100 US soldiers and thus unite the 173rd Airborne Brigade,
which is currently divided between Vicenza and Germany.
The Dal Molin airfield is across town from the main
Ederle military base that hosts the headquarters of the
Southern European Task Force (SETF), which has been in Italy
since the early 1950s and includes a rapid reaction force
that has seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last month the Council of State overturned a
regional court's ruling against the expansion of the base.
Upholding an appeal from the Italian government, the
Council of State said the TAR of Veneto, which came out
against the expansion on June 20, had no remit for political
questions involving Italy and the United States.
It also stressed that there was no legal requirement to
sound out the local population, which is believed to be
largely against the expansion. ANSA) - Vicenza, October 6 - An unofficial referendum against the planned expansion of a US air base in Vicenza has ... more -
On This Date in History - October 6
866 first train robbery, 1889 edison moving picture, 1981 anwar sadat assassinated, lord tennyson 1892, betty davis 1989 died, carole lombard 1908, elizabeth shue 1963 born, mad hatter day 2008, on this date in history october 6 866 first train robbery, 1889 edison moving picture, 1981 anwar sadat assassinated, lord tennyson 1892, betty davis 1989 died, carole ... more
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Orwell Rolls In His Grave: Documentary-- Featuring interviews with former media pr...
Using Orwell's "1984" as a backdrop, this documentary presents a rarely seen analysis of the mainstream media, its ownership structure, its true size and nature, and its undeniable influence over today's society. Features interviews with former CNN, MSNBC, and Fox mainstream media producers along with communications and media professors...
The day of Reagan's inauguration, the medOia reports the release of Iran's American hostages. On September 11th, 2001, the media does not report on literally dozens of firefighters hearing explosions in the towers prior too and during their collapses. The media completely ignores the thousands of protesters on Wall Street last week protesting the bailout. and that's just the beginning... Using Orwell's "1984" as a backdrop, this documentary presents a rarely seen analysis of the mainstream media, its owne... more -
RFK: 'What we need in the United States'
It's interesting and incredibly 'coincidental' that seven hundred billion dollars is what the US spends annually on oil. Having made that point last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr dropped by NBC to promote his book: Robert Smalls: The Boat Thief, the story of an African-American Civil War hero.
At the outset of the interview, Matt Lauer demonstrated why big media continues to lose the respect of its audience.
As he is quoted on the RFK website, Matt Lauer gushed: "So --I just gotta ask: How's your Dad doing?"
Excuses for Lauer were forthcoming. He had mistaken RFK Jr for Ted Kennedy's son. Though still a gaffe, the excuse might have been credible if Lauer had not already introduced him as "Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the son of former attorney general and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
According to the Kennedy website, NBC is not alone when it comes to 'keeping their Kennedys straight". ABC News blew it in May when that RFK Jr. was the son of the former President John F. Kennedy. What if he had been? Would ABC have asked: "Well...how's your dad?"
Perhaps some history is in order though there is little hope the MSM will avail themselves of it.
It was upon the death of Dr. Martin Luther King that Robert Kennedy, JFKs younger brother, addressed the issue of what we need in the United States. One can be sure that upon that tragic occasion, Kennedy had not intended to lecture or proselytize. He was not on the stump. He wasn't trying to get any one elected. His intention, I think, was one of consolation in the face of tragic loss. But, in it, is found our nation's only hope. It's about what we need in the United States. It's as true now as it was the night Martin Luther King was murdered in Atlanta. It's interesting and incredibly 'coincidental' that seven hundred billion dollars is what the US spends annually on oil... more -
An unconventional analysis of women.
This discourse is an alternative analysis of the feminine, it borders an almost esoteric like observation while maintaining easy to understand terminology and plausible conclusions.
There are two critical periods in the life of woman, one, at puberty; the other, at the menopause. On reaching puberty there is a natural excitability of the sexual system, and unless girls are properly instructed by their parents as to the care of themselves, and the restraint of their impulses and passions, they are led into. many dangers, and sometimes into self-abuse, thereby retarding the true development of womanhood; for all. the life forces at that period are needed for the development of their physical systems to fit them for the performance of the maternal function; and if that development is checked in consequence of abuse, then, as soon as they are called upon to perform this most important function in woman's life, they will suffer. from various weaknesses consequent upon this early abuse, such as prolapsus, spinal weakness, nervous debility, etc., which will render their whole life miserable, if not helpless, and perhaps entail incalculable misery upon their offspring. Read More >>> This discourse is an alternative analysis of the feminine, it borders an almost esoteric like observation while maintaining easy to un... more -
Staring At Hopper
The American painter, Edward Hopper, is among the few artists who truly captured the soul of an era. HIs paintings --of lonely lighthouses, nude women staring into space from nearly empty rooms, brick store fronts the color of dried blood --capture, as few other artists have captured, both the spirit and the alienation of an age.
It could be a still-frame from an Alfred Hitchcock movie –a stately lighthouse towering above eye level. Were not the blues so beautiful and rich it would be bleak. A window lit interior would be reminiscent of Vermeer but for the missing tapestries. There are no virginals, no Sixteenth Century maps. Just a young woman staring blankly out the open window at nothing at all.
Hopper's most famous painting is Night Hawks of 1942 --a depiction of three people together, at night, but alone in a near empty diner in Greenwich Village in the wee, small hours of a morning. It's American "film noir" set against an imagined sound track, perhaps a sax.
A parody of this painting is almost as famous as the original. In it, the diner is peopled by Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Humphrey Bogart. If the street outside is not wet, it should be and will be, soon; if not tonight, some night! Hopper is relevant today in the same way as is Casablanca --also a product of the war year 1942. Both capture the frustration of people alone in an uncaring world. As Rick might have put it then or now, the problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans in a crazy, mixed-up world, nor our world on the brink of WWIII, another great depression, a police state.
Hopper himself claimed no such intention. His purpose --he says --was merely to capture the play of light and shade. He wrote: "The picture is an attempt to paint sunlight as white, with almost or no yellow pigment in the white. Any psychologic [Sic] idea will have to be supplied by the viewer."
Hopper never intended to develop an “American” style but did so in spite of himself. His goal was more modest. 'All I really want to do is paint light on the side of a house.'"
He succeeded admirably. His "House by the Railroad" of 1925, is a study of sunlight on the side of a house, to be sure, and much more besides. For a younger generation, it was the Bates Motel. We are curious but not enough to want to go inside. Like his silent, lonely human observers, the façade stares back at you!
In 1951, Hopper returned to the open window theme. This time he left out the staring woman. We are left with an open window to an open, flat sea.
Stare at a Hopper long enough and you will find yourself in Hopper’s universe beside the young woman staring out the open window, among anonymous souls together but alone in a diner, beside like the stately lighthouse regarding a vast but empty ocean. It was Friedrich Nietzche who said that if you stare into the abyss long enough, it will stare back at you. Is that what it means to be alone? The American painter, Edward Hopper, is among the few artists who truly captured the soul of an era. HIs paintings --of lonely lightho... more -
Darrow, Darwin, and Dayton
Recently, VP Candidate Sarah Palin made an extraordinary claim. "Yes", she said, "I have seen images of dinosaur fossils with human footprints in them!", a statement consistent with her attempts to get 'creationists' put on school boards. By definition, a 'creationist' believes that human beings were contemporary with dinosaurs.
A 'creationist' believes that human beings were contemporary with dinosaurs because 'creation' —they believe —took place just 6,000 years ago. Palin has long espoused 'creationism', a belief that Genesis is a literal history. If so, all creation took place over a period of seven days about 6,000 years ago, thus: the creationist believes that humans and dinosaurs co-existed. And not just in Jurassic park or Alley Oop comic strips.
The 'footprints' that were said to be human were not. That determination was made back by 1989. Claims that human tracks had been fossilized in pre-Tertiary rocks from other localities are "not considered credible by ... mainstream scientists' or 'major creationist groups". [See: The Paluxy Dinosaur/'Man Track' Controversy, Glen J, Kuban]
The idiotic idea that the universe is but 6,000 years old is easily refuted. Consider the known, proven distance to the Andromeda galaxy --some 2 million light years. That means that when we look up into the night sky and see Andromeda, we see it as it was two million years ago. We see the Magellanic Clouds as they were some 195 thousand years ago. If the Earth were but six thousand years old, the number of stars visible to Earth might be counted on our fingers and toes.
It comes down to this: if we can look up at the sky at night and see Andromeda, 'creationists' are wrong! Guess what! We can SEE Andromeda. It is the only Galaxy that is visible to the naked eye. If we had discovered no other object, we must conclude, therefore, that the universe is at least two million years old. Of course, there are many more objects that are much more distant than Andromeda and they are easily discerned by the Hubble telescope. Recently, VP Candidate Sarah Palin made an extraordinary claim. "Yes", she said, "I have seen images of dinosaur fossil... more
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