ganked from <lj user="smokeytwat"> September 29, 2006

Big Five Test Results

Extroversion (54%) medium which suggests you average somewhere in between being assertive and social and being withdrawn and solitary. Accommodation (68%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly kind natured, trusting, and helpful at the expense of your own individual development (martyr complex). Orderliness (52%) medium which suggests you are moderately organized, structured, and self controlled while still remaining flexible, varied, and fun. Emotional Stability (72%) high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic. Inquisitiveness (68%) moderately high which suggests you are intellectual, curious, imaginative but possibly not very practical.

Take Free Big Five Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Global Personality Test Results

Stability (63%) moderately high which suggests you are relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic. Orderliness (46%) medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun. Extraversion (76%) high which suggests you are overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense too often of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Take Free Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

ganked from <lj user="wikkidraven"> September 29, 2006

IF YOU'RE ON MY FRIENDS LIST,
I want to know 28 things about you.I don't care if we've never talked, never liked each other, or if we already know everything about each other. I really don't. You are obviously on my list, so let me know with whom I am friends!

1.Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:

1. Do we know each other outside of LJ?
2. Whats your philosophy on life?
3. Would you have my back in a fight?
4. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
5. What is your favorite memory of us?
6. Would you give me a kidney?
7. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
8. Would you take care of me when I'm sick?
9. Can we get together and make a cake?
10. Have you heard any rumors of me lately?
11. Do you/have you talk(ed) crap about me?
12. Do you think I'm a good person?
13. Would you drive across country with me?
14. Do you think I'm attractive?
15. If you could change anything about me, would you?
16. What do you wear to sleep?
17. Would you come over for no reason just to hang out?
18. Would you go on a date with me if i asked you?
19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
20. Will you repost this so i can fill it out for you?

ganked from <lj user="bruhinb"> September 27, 2006

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today warned the Department of Veterans Affairs that litigation will become unavoidable if it continues to discriminate against Wiccans by denying the right to include the Pentacle, the Wiccan emblem of belief, on government-furnished headstones, plaques, and other memorials for fallen veterans. In a letter issued today, Americans United gave the VA fourteen days to approve the Pentacle or face litigation.

Americans United represents Circle Sanctuary, a prominent Wiccan congregation, and two of its members, Roberta Stewart and Karen DePolito. Stewart’s husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was killed in action a year ago in the War on Terror in Afghanistan. DePolito’s husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a Korean War veteran who died last year.

On June 7, Americans United sent a letter to the VA insisting that the agency allow the Pentacle to be included on Sgt. Stewart’s memorial plaque at the Northern Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Fernley, Nev. Circle Sanctuary also filed applications in 2005 and earlier this year on behalf of DePolito requesting that the Pentacle be added to the list of approved emblems. On July 27, the VA responded to Americans United, claiming that the VA could not issue a decision on the Wiccan symbol because it was preparing new regulations on the process of approving emblems of belief.

Although the Nevada Office of Veterans Services announced in September that the Wiccan symbol would be inscribed on Sgt. Stewart’s plaque, the VA has remained obstinate in its refusal to recognize the Pentacle.

“It’s unconscionable that the VA refuses to recognize religious liberty for all the nation’s veterans,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “When the VA selectively honors only some religions, while ignoring Wiccans, it is an affront to equal justice and an insult to religious pluralism.”

In a five-page letter sent today to Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson and Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs William F. Tuerk, Americans United Litigation Counsel Aram A. Schvey wrote that the VA’s continued refusal to recognize the Wiccan symbol violates the Constitution, noting that many other emblems of faith have been allowed on government-issued markers, headstones and plaques.

“The VA has pursued a path of discriminatory delay for the past nine years, refusing to add the Pentacle while simultaneously adding the symbols of other faiths, in plain violation of the Constitution, well-established administrative law, and common decency,” wrote Schvey.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Web site lists approved emblems, including ones for Buddhists, Atheists, and Hindus. In addition the VA has approved emblems for smaller groups, such as the Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii, Soka Gakkai International-USA, and the Eckankar faith.

“More than nine years after the first Wiccan congregation applied to have the Pentacle added to the list of approved emblems of belief, the VA continues to claim that it needs additional time to approve new regulations.” Schvey continued, “In the interim, it has approved the emblems of six other religions and belief systems.”

In light of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Schvey wrote, “it would be utterly inequitable and morally disgraceful to force grieving widows and widowers to wait indefinitely to lay their loved ones to rest while the VA claims to engage in yet more rulemaking.”

Schvey concluded that the VA’s continued violation of constitutional rights of veterans must not be allowed to continue. Litigation, Schvey wrote, is unavoidable if the VA continues to exclude the Wiccan symbol from its list of approved emblems.

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=8577

weird dream… September 27, 2006

so i am at the ram's house hanging out with ettel and sheila. we're were standing there talking about stuff. all of a sudden, ettel gets very upset and excited. she tells me that it's snowing and she's going to canada because it's safer there. i want to go because i want to be safe too, but i'm worried because it's a monday and i'm supposed to work the next day. we go to the window and everything is ice and right in the middle of all of the ice is a giant ice particle. i mean something like 10'x10' and i realize that she's right. at this point several things go through my mind. 1)i have to call mike and ashley. 2)ashley was right. 3)i'm not sure where ram is 4)i wonder how raghavan is and 5)all i have is what i'm wearing and it's not very warm. the end

Friday the 13th September 24, 2006

On Friday, October 13, 1307, hundreds of Knights Templar in France were simultaneously arrested by agents of King Philip, later to be tortured into admitting heresy in the Order. Over 100 charges were issued against them, the majority of them identical charges to what had been earlier issued against the inconvenient Pope Boniface VIII. The dominant view is that Philip, who seized the treasury and broke up the monastic banking system, was jealous of the Templars' wealth and power, frustrated by his debt to them, and sought to control their financial resources for himself, by bringing blatantly false information against them at the Tours assembly in 1308; it is also likely that, under the influence of his advisors, he actually believed many of the false charges to be true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Knights_Templar

Electrical error apparently to blame for afternoon chaos September 22, 2006

WPVI by Bob Monek, Sarah Bloomquist and John Rawlins

PHILADELPHIA – September 21, 2006 – Only one business is still reported without power. Crews have been working underground since 6pm but had to wait until the area was secure and cooled off before they started to make repairs. Crews will be working through the night so that the City can return to normal by Friday.
Only one business is still reported without power. Crews have been working underground since 6pm but had to wait until the area was secure and cooled off before they started to make repairs. Crews will be working through the night so that the city can return to normal by Friday.

PECO trucks take up most of the space in the narrow ally off 15 Street. Crews will spend most of the night underground where a raging fire paralyzed the City earlier Thursday.

PECO crews have been making repairs and restoring power outages caused by Thursday's explosions all night. Around dinnertime there were still four businesses along Chestnut Street without power. Five Bros Burgers opened just a month ago and lost an entire day of business. The owner told Action News by phone it was a financial hit for the new restaurant that does a strong lunch business. And lunchtime Thursday was certainly chaotic.

It happened around 1:30 p.m. near 15th and Ramstead Streets. PECO spokesman Michael Wood told Action News that they believe a customer incorrectly tried to switch cables, which overloaded the system sparking the fire. Wood said gasses built up causing the explosion. Several manhole covers around 15th Street blew off.

“We walked over to the side and saw black smoke coming out of one of the manholes,” Boris Vanynblat told Action News reporter John Rawlins. “While we were standing there, the manhole closer to us exploded and shot up into the air.”

Bernie McAndrews, a witness, said the explosion “sounded like a building fell over it was so loud.”

Thousands spilled onto the streets. Firefighters and police pushed their way through a paralyzed Center City. Workers were confused about what happened and unsure of what to do next.

A street vendor described the chaos as “911 all over again”.

Crews got control of the underground electrical fires in a couple of hours, but the gridlock that followed frustrated weary workers anxious to get home.

Commissioner Lloyd Ayers described the fire as “very dangerous.” He said, “It's an electrical grid with secondary lines that involve tiles, wood, things like that.”

Fire officials declared the situation under control at 3:39 p.m.

The fire eventually consumed about a block of cabling and transformers. Officials said about five thousand people were evacuated from nearby buildings. One person was taken to the hospital with apparently minor injuries.

Workers who were evacuated told Action News reporter Sarah Bloomquist that the events of the afternoon were scary. Thousands of them streamed out of Center City high-rises. Some of their offices lost power. Many had heard or felt the explosions.

“We were in the lobby and it was just a huge explosion,” said Erika Ramos. “We felt the ground kind of move. That was it, and then somebody said we got to leave immediately.”

Evacuated workers stood on street corners using their cell phones. Many had left their keys in their offices and they could not get home. Many had stories to tell about where they stood when the Center City buildings shook.

“It was this big explosion,” said Frank DiMauro. “A little while later there was a smaller one. I went downstairs and I saw in the alley way that goes between 15th and 16th black smoke coming out of the ground.”

Authorities evacuated two buildings, Center Square and the Graham building. Several other high rises lost power, and thousands of people left those buildings on their own. Authorities did close streets in the area.

Power was lost hundreds of commercial customers. PECO crews restored power to all but a handful by late Thursday afternoon.

The area is also near an underground subway and commuter rail station, but officials with SEPTA said those services were running normally.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4584969

i usually listen to 1060 for traffic reports on my way in to work, just in case. yeah, the one day i don't this is what happens. gah. the traffic sucked!!!!

google quotes… September 22, 2006

i have my home page set to a personalized google page. one of the things i have set up is a quote of the day type of thing. this is what it read today:

Guns are always the best method for a private suicide. They are more stylish looking than single-edged razor blades and natural gas has got so expensive. Drugs are too chancy. You might miscalculate the dosage and just have a good time.
P. J. O'Rourke
11/14/1947 -
US humorist & political commentator

WHAT the FUCK!?

mmm. aspartame September 20, 2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4898488.stm
http://www.wnho.net/bbc_letter_inventing_diseases.htm
http://aspartametruth.com/
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question536.htm

expect editing. too tired to think now.

edit: i grabbed a few links for to see as a starter. he mentioned drinking diet-something-or-other leading to a brief interaction about it… hence this post. i figured would add a bit of her knowledge and i'm fully expecting to add her two cents as well (as long as she's not drowning in group projects).

meme tag… September 19, 2006

List seven songs that you're into right now. No matter what genre, whether they have words or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Then tag seven other people and see what they're listening to.

persian love song – dead can dance
only time – enya
keep it dark – genesis
human behaviour – björk
oak cliff bra – edie brickell & the new bohemians
one step ahead – split endz
miss gradenko – the police

i do hereby tag , , , , , and

Wiccan Mabon / Fall Equinox / Autumnal Equinox Ritual September 19, 2006

Wiccan Mabon / Fall Equinox / Autumnal Equinox Ritual Guide For Covens

This rite should be held outdoors if possible and the altar appropriately decorated for the season with autumn fruits such as pumpkin and squash, grains such as corn and wheat, as well as with leaves and flowers in red, gold, brown and green. Earthenware cups and bowls should be used to contain water, fresh earth and incense. Wine, cakes and other refreshments should be appropriate to the season. There should be a candle for each person taking part in the ritual. Other candles should encompass the circle. Coveners should bring an offering of thankfulness.

Priestess welcomes all with:

“Friends, I bid you now to strike your lights which you hold for this season of bounty and joy. A season worthy to be celebrated in honor of the God and Goddess.”

All light their candles and the Priest and Priestess light the ones surrounding the circle.

Cast The Circle
Coveners stand around the altar. First one looks to the left, takes the right hand of the next covener, and says: Hand in hand I cast this circle. Each one repeats the process until we have gone completely around once, back to the beginning. First covener continues:

“The circle is cast. In this time that is not a time, this place that is not a place, this day that is not a day, we stand at the threshold between the worlds.”

Close your eyes. Visualize the faces in this circle. As you inhale, draw the energy up from the earth. Hold the breath for a count of three and let the energy fill your heart. Feel it opening as the energy flows into it from the earth. Imagine your heart is a red rose, and as you inhale, feel its petals opening one by one.

Now, as you exhale, send the energy that you are feeling down your left arm and through the palm of your hand into the right hand of the one to your left. This time as you inhale, draw the energy that is coming to you from the one on your right through the palm of your right hand and up your arm into your heart.

Let it fill your heart until you feel it opening and expanding, then send this gift of energy to the one on your left as you exhale.

Continue breathing deeply and fully, using the movement of your breath to send the energy around. Give and receive. Feel the energy moving around and around our circle. In your mind's eye, see the spinning circle of color and light…

Call The Quarters
East:
“In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Air in the East. Far winds, blow clean and clear, sweep free through the skies to be with us here. Bring us the fresh breath of Fall. Refresh us after the long Summer. May your winds clear our minds. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!”

South:
“In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Fire in the South. Blessed sun and lands of warmth give comfort and brightness and strength and be with us here. Bring us the brilliant colors of Fall. Warm our hearths and our hearts. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!”

West:
“In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Water in the West. Oceans, lakes and streams, wash clear and bright and fresh and be with us here. Bring us the cool rains of Fall. Wash away the old to prepare our Spirits for the new. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!”

North:
“In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Earth in the North. Mountains, meadows and forests, bring forth life, richness and beauty and be with us here. Bring us the harvest of your soil. Build our Circle in your strength and goodness. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!”

Invoke The God And Goddess
Priestess:
“We call upon the blessed Lady, queen of the harvest, giver of life, be with us and give us thy joy and beauty. Holy and nurturing Mother Goddess, we join in these rites to honor You in this time of thanksgiving. We invite Your presence with open minds and hopeful hearts.”

Priest:
“We call upon the Lord of the harvest, sacred King, giver of riches and protection. Be with us here and give us thy strength, laughter and power. Holy and protective Father God, we join in these rites to honor You in this time of thanksgiving. We invite Your presence with open minds and hopeful hearts.”

Mabon Celebration
Priestess:
“This is the time of harvest, of thanksgiving and joy. Now day and night are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow in our own lives. The Sun King has become the Lord of Shadows. He sleeps in the womb of the Goddess. Let us now make an offering, a gift of the harvest, to mark here the fullness of the season. Life does fulfill its cycle and leads to life anew. In the eternal chain of life it has stretched and bent but never broken.”

Priestess takes an ear of corn and presents it to the heavens:
“O great and timeless Goddess, we give thanks for this, the season of the harvest. We can give nothing that is not already thine, yet we ask you to accept with our love this offering.”

Priestess takes the corn and offers it to someone in the circle:
“That the season of plenty shall return once more, in celebration of life springing ever new from death, I charge you now to bury within the earth this offering we make with love to our Lady.”

Priest:
“This is a time of joy! Let us now eat and drink and each within ourselves, invite the Gods and Goddesses to be with us here. To enjoy this time of celebration with us now.”

All:
“We have sown. We have tended.
We have grown. We have gathered.
We have reaped a good harvest.
Goddess, we thank You for Your gifts.
God, we thank You for Your bounty.”

Each, in turn:
“I thank You for _______________.” (Each tosses their offering into the fire after naming at least one thing for which s/he is thankful.)

Feast
Priest opens the wine and pours cups as Priestess passes out the cakes. This is the time to sing, talk and enjoy.

All:
“All life is Your own,
All fruits of the Earth.
God and Goddess, we thank You
For blessings and abundance.
Join us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us. Blessed Be!”

Opening The Circle
Priest:
“Friends, let us now give thanks to the Goddess and the God as this celebration ends. For this time of richness and time of magic and for all given to us with love, we thank you. Watchers call farewell now to the far Quarters!”

East:
“Watchtower of the East, element of Air, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing your cooling Winds. Go if you must, stay if you will.”

South:
“Watchtower of the South, element of Fire, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing the renewing Fires of Fall. Go if you must, stay if you will.”

West:
“Watchtower of the West, element of Water, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing your healing waters. Go if you must, stay if you will.”

North:
“Watchtower of the North, element of Earth, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing your strength to our hearts. Go if you must, stay if you will.”

Priestess and priest in unison, holding arms aloft in salute:
“O Lady of magic and beauty, O King of strength and power, creatures of all wild places and beings of all far realms we give you thanks, love and farewell. Blessed Be!”

All:
“Blessed Be! Our Circle is open but never broken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry shall we meet again. Go in peace and love, return in peace and love. Let us keep with us the lessons of life, death, rebirth, and thanksgiving. So mote it be!”