News Of The Day August 1 2013

Paganism growing in the Hudson Valley (Philpstown.info) "It may not come as a surprise to many in the Hudson Highlands that "earth-based spirituality" is practiced in the area; nature-worshippers would find plenty of nature to worship, from rivers and mountains to forests and ponds. In Philipstown, residents may know of larger celebrations like the Maypole Dance in the spring, but they may not know that pagans, as they often refer to themselves, may meet regularly as small communities for spiritual growth and personal development, much like more well-known faith communities do. Pagans form a wide-ranging group that seeks to revive pre-Christian, earth-based religious traditions, from the more structured denominations of Wicca (or "Witchcraft") and the worship of ancient gods and goddesses to Druids, shamans, and self-initiated witches." Did Zeus exist? (New York Times) "I asked the kids if they had thought that Zeus was real. "Well," one said, "I knew he didn't exist anymore, but figured that he did back in ancient Greece." This set me thinking about why we are so certain that Zeus never existed.... Most of us do not find our world so filled with the divine, and we may be inclined to dismiss the Greeks' "experiences" as over-interpretations. But how can we be so sure that the Greeks lived in the same sort of world as we do?" Man goes on shooting spree, rants about witchcraft (USA Today) "The South Florida man who went on a shooting spree at his apartment complex, killing six people, called 911 to report he was being followed and threatened by people doing witchcraft on him hours before the attack.... In the call, Vargas spoke briefly and vaguely about how he was being "victimized. They're doing witchcraft and things to me," he said." Malawi traditional healers say witchcraft does exist (All Africa) "The Malawi's southern region Taomboledwa Traditional Healers Association of Malawi Central Africa (TAOTHA) has bashed claims that witchcraft does not exist in the country.... Furthermore, Matemba said they respect the constitution of the Republic of Malawi as it does not approve the existence of witchcraft." How Europe was conquered by the milk drinkers (Nature) "But as farming started to replace hunting and gathering in the Middle East around 11,000 years ago, cattle herders learned how to reduce lactose in dairy products to tolerable levels by fermenting milk to make cheese or yogurt. Several thousand years later, a genetic mutation spread through Europe that gave people the ability to produce lactase - and drink milk - throughout their lives. That adaptation opened up a rich new source of nutrition that could have sustained communities when harvests failed." Significant find at Ness of Brodgar (Orkneyjar) "...perhaps the finest piece of art we have recovered from the site, and one of the finest from the UK EVER - amazing and awe inspiring!" Alabama official stands by controversial prayers at official meeting (Americans United) "Yesterday, Twinkle Cavanaugh, the elected president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, said she stands by a prayer that was delivered last month at a service commission meeting... "We've taken you [God] out of our schools and out of our prayers," Jordan said. "We have murdered your children. We've said it's okay to have same-sex marriage. We have sinned and we ask once again that you forgive us for our sins." Japanese plastic surgeon will burn more favorable palmistry lines into your hand for a fee (Daily Beast) "Missing a marriage line? That can be fixed. Wedding bells may ring. Need some good fortune? Add a money-luck line and you might win the lottery or be promoted to vice president in your firm. For the smart shopper-one willing to undergo palm plastic surgery-the future isn't what it used to be. "Doctor, I want you to change my fate. Please change my palm."