27 Jan 2005
Pagan Public Rites

Last October I mentioned the modern revival of the ancient practice of pouring libations for the dead. But we've had a thinly disguised pagan divination ritual for many years in this country - Groundhog Day. It was known as Imbloc to Celts and Wiccans, Disting or Charming the Plow to Heathens and Lupercalia to the Romans. After the advent of the Eastern Stranger, the Catholics appropiated it as "Candlemas" - but the ancient rites lived on.

February 2nd (one week from today) is the midpoint between the Winter Solistace and the Spring Equinox - it's still a "Quarter Day" in Scotland, when baronial courts are open and debts are settled.

I find it fascinating that the good citizens of Lexington, North Carolina, have decided to add a sacral feast to the proceedings - after the divination rite, of course. What could be more heathen than that?

AP - A 65-pound pot-bellied pig will be called into forecasting duty when Lexington celebrates "Groundhawg's Day" on Feb. 2. The city is famous for its pork barbecue.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

00:00 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link

US staff lose jobs over smoke ban

Thank the gods I'm self employed! At this point, there is no way I would want to reenter the corporate world: they don't want workers anymore, they'll be satisified with nothing less than serfs.

And lest you are beguiled into thinking that this is about smoking:

According to Reuters news agency, Mr Weyers wants to turn his attention next to overweight workers.

And after that? Maybe people who ride motorcycles? Think of the extra risk of injury (and subsequent health care costs) they impose! Why, how dare they!

Four workers are forced out of a US firm after they refuse to take a test to determine if they are smokers.

(link) [BBC News | World | UK Edition]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy

If you want to get a good grasp of the ethical issues raised by advances in biology, especially cloning technology, go read this article. Or just wait 'til Friday.

Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.

(link) [National Geographic]

via Slashdot

00:00 /Technology | 0 comments | permanent link

Been there, done that

Here's a quote for you, cribbed from a very nice little post over at Dispatches from the Culture Wars:

The national government will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built up. They regard Christianity as the foundation of our national morality and the family as the basis of national life.

Sound strangely familiar? Heard some talk just like that in the recent past? Wonder who I'm quoting here?

It's from Hitler's first speech to the the German nation after becoming chancellor in 1933.

00:00 /Politics | 1 comment | permanent link