Many of you know that I have been looking for new ways to bring in new sales. Maybe I should sell fresh Donkey meat?

Seriously, different countries have different cultures and eat different food. Here is an article about a Chinese man advertising fresh donkey meat using a real live donkey. The locals have no concern about selling donkey meat but have concerns over the problems with donkey dung.

The article states: Animal rights are still a strange concept to many Chinese, who enthusiastically consume donkey, horse, dog and even cat and think little of keeping those meant for the pot in terrible conditions. This statement seems to show how different we here in the states look at animals and the way animals are viewed in China.

The article also states: Last year though, banner-wielding animal rights protesters swarmed into a restaurant serving cat meat in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and forced it to shut. After reading this statement I thought about how many jokes I have heard about going to the local chinese restaurant and being served dog and cat. Little did I realize that in China they served cat in restarants. We would call that messed up but the the Chinese call it normal.

Loki

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I found this ‘Disgust’ over white stag death and it hurt my heart.

I have been around a while and I have grown a hard skin and a cynical nature towards the human race but I am still surprised at what some people will do for money.

I would of liked to seen this magnificent animal. His picture was impressive. A gift from creator.

Loki

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Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious ‘colony collapse’ of bees By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross Published: 15 April 2007

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world’s harvests fail.
They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees’ navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive’s inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.
The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all American states. The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast.
CCD has since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. And last week John Chapple, one of London’s biggest bee-keepers, announced that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned.
Other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west England, but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted: “There is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK.”
The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world’s crops depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, “man would have only four years of life left”.
No one knows why it is happening. Theories involving mites, pesticides, global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks.
German research has long shown that bees’ behaviour changes near power lines.
Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a “hint” to a possible cause.
Dr George Carlo, who headed a massive study by the US government and mobile phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, said: “I am convinced the possibility is real.”
The case against handsets
Evidence of dangers to people from mobile phones is increasing. But proof is still lacking, largely because many of the biggest perils, such as cancer, take decades to show up.
Most research on cancer has so far proved inconclusive. But an official Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset.
Equally alarming, blue-chip Swedish research revealed that radiation from mobile phones killed off brain cells, suggesting that today’s teenagers could go senile in the prime of their lives.
Studies in India and the US have raised the possibility that men who use mobile phones heavily have reduced sperm counts. And, more prosaically, doctors have identified the condition of “text thumb”, a form of RSI from constant texting.
Professor Sir William Stewart, who has headed two official inquiries, warned that children under eight should not use mobiles and made a series of safety recommendations, largely ignored by ministers.

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I found this great article on Stonehenge.

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/lost-city-apollo-found-at-stonehenge/weird-scien\
ce

I though it was interesting. For many years I have been curious about
stonehenge. It’s mystery attracts many of us. I thought the idea of
Vespian’s Camp being the city of Apollo is plausible.

I love the speculation because we will never know the exact truth.

Loki

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Check out the high cost of Iraq

http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

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I have always been interested in Stonehenge.  I found this article interesting.  I have always believed Stonehenge is much older than most scientists have put it.  This article puts a new light on things.

Check it out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6311939.stm

Loki

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Druids become gay civil partners

After more than 20 years together, two Druid priests exchanged vows during Wrexham’s first gay civil partnership ceremony on Wednesday.

Wearing white robes, Philip Main and David Girvan made their promises to each other on the day of the Winter Solstice, a pagans-are-nature-oriented/">pagan celebration.

More than 30 friends and family gathered to witness the event.

A small party is being held but the couple will later take centre stage in their local pantomime production.
The 20-minute partnership ceremony at Wrexham’s register office was an emotional event and as the pair walked down the aisle to classical music, their guests moved in their seats nervously.

Mr Main, 49, and Mr Girvan, 53, held hands as they exchanged their vows and swapped wedding rings.
There was a round of applause as an emotional registrar named them civil partners.

Speaking after the service, the pair, who held a commitment ceremony as Druids more than 16 years ago, said they were “elated”.

“It means that we’re legally recognised as a couple together, that should anything happen to either of us we have that weight of the law behind us,” said Mr Main.
‘Special day’

“For me it’s about being relaxed….as much as people have assumed we were together, now we’re together officially and it’s a grand feeling, a lovely, warm feeling,” added his partner David.
The pair were the first couple to take part in the civil ceremony in Wrexham and in a twist of fate, Wednesday also marked a special day in their faith.

“It’s the mid Winter solstice, it’s the day when we recognise that the light comes back to the land, the days start getting longer and the summer sun starts arriving,” said Mr Main.

“It’s a special day for us anyway and to have special people around us is wonderful.

“Since we registered our intent, life has been hectic as usual, we’re both involved in pantomime and we’ve had performances every night as we will tonight,” he added.

Mr Main is playing a wood elf and his partner is the Sheriff in the amateur production of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at Grove Park Little Theatre in Wrexham.

“I won’t be getting drunk tonight - unfortunately!” laughed Mr Girvan.

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I agree with the Rev. Haley Dossor of this article: Political correctness has gone to far.

School deems hot cross buns ‘offensive’

England, Feb. 6 (UPI) — A school in England has decided that hot cross buns are religiously offensive, and demanded the supplier start making them as simply cross-less currant buns.

Traditionally served at Easter time, the buns have been around since 1361, when a monk reportedly made small spiced cakes stamped with the sign of the cross, to be distributed to the poor visiting the monastery at St. Albans on Good Friday.

Head teacher Tina Jackson of the Oaks Primary School in Ipswich says that might offend some religious minorities like Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are not allowed to worship things of a pagans-are-nature-oriented/">pagan nature.

But the Rev. Haley Dossor told the Suffolk Evening Star political correctness has gone too far.

“All religions have particular traditions, habits and customs and this is one of the traditions of the Church of England,” he said.

One parent who asked not to be identified told the newspaper it was an absurd move.

“I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. Since when have hot cross buns been offensive?” the parent asked the Star.

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I thought this was interesting.-L

Kolkata tortoise, Clive’s pet, dies at 250 years

KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant aldabra tortoise thought to be around 250 years old has died in the Kolkata zoo of liver failure, authorities said on Thursday.

The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clive, the famous British military officer in colonial India around the middle of the 18th century, a local minister in West Bengal state said.

Local authorities say the tortoise, named “Addwaitya” meaning the “The One and Only” in Bengali, was the oldest tortoise in the world but they have not presented scientific proof to back up their claim.

“Historical records show he was a pet of British general Robert Clive of the East India Company and had spent several years in his sprawling estate before he was brought to the zoo about 130 years ago,” West Bengal Forest Minister Jogesh Barman said.

“We have documents to prove that he was more than 150 years old, but we have pieced together other evidence like statements from authentic sources and it seems that he is more than 250 years old,” he said.

The minister said details about Addwaitya’s early life showed that British sailors had brought him from the Seychelles islands and presented him to Clive, who was rising fast in the East India Company’s military hierarchy.

On Thursday, the tortoise’s enclosure wore a deserted look.

“This is a sad day for us. We will miss him very much,” a zoo keeper said.

Wild Aldabra tortoises are found in the Aldabra island in the Indian Ocean Seychelles islands. They average about 120 kg. It is believed that tortoises are the longest lived of all animals, with life spans often surpassing 100 years.

Original Article can be found here

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Lost World

When I was a boy I enjoyed reading fantasy novels.  I loved Edgar Rice Burroughs and reading about other worlds.  Some of my favorites were the stories about the Lost Worlds.  I thought the idea of hidden worlds fascinating.  I imagined going to places no man had ever gone, world’s full of dinosaurs an Ape Men.

It seems that fiction has now become reality. Scientists have now found a lost world in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia.  There are several articles to read.  I really enjoyed these articles at Forbes and Headline News.

In an isolated part of the Jungle Scientists have found a place that has been untouched by man.  New species have been discovered.  Animals that have never seen man and had no fear.  No sign of civilization.  There were no dinosaurs or ape men but none the less a lost world that was previously unknown to modern man.

I think this is a marvelous find.  It gives me hope to know that there are still wildernesses in the world that have been untouched by civilization.  Now that they have found this lost land I wonder how long it will take to begin exploitation?  I hope they to choose to leave well enough alone.  I wonder if they can?

Loki

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More Churches Burn in Alabama

There have been 4 more churches burned in Alabama. It looks the burnings are believed to be related. There are 9 Churches in all that have been burnt. Thefederal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency are now involved. There are more than 50 agents here in Alabama trying to solve these crimes. You can read about it here.

We send out our condolences to the victims of these hate crimes.

Hate and intolerance come from fearful people. When people are secure with themselves it does not matter how others worship or what they believe in. When we are secure with ourselves and our own beliefs we are not threatened and do not have to lash out either verbally or violently. We can live and let live. Whoever is burning these Churches may have an agenda or trying to prove a point. In reality the only point they are proving is giving us evidence of their small simple minded, fearful lives.

I found another interesting article from Witchvox, on the burnings that was printed in the UK. This article is a prime example of sensationalism and poor journalism. It uses the racism of Alabama’s past, the KKK, and fear to these Church burnings. This article has little to with the truth and has no facts to back it up. The writer has taken these crimes and interwoven them with his own agenda. He has done the good people of Alabama a disservice. We know that the Alabama we know today is not the Alabama that this writer wrote about. It is sad how the media milks these events.

I hope that we can learn, Christians and Pagans alike, that it is ok to disagree but when it comes down to the law we all have the right to practice our religion in this country free from fear and violence. More and more of us from all religions need to learn that we can learn to disagree agreeably. Freedom of Religion means Freedom for all Religions and equal rights means that if it is ok for one person it should be ok for all persons. Hate only brings more hate.

Loki

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Blair-Bush deal before Iraq war revealed in secret memo

This is an article from the UK that says thier is a memo that the Uk and the United States were committed to the Iraq invasion nearly two months before the invasion. You can read the whole article here .

What I find interesting in this article is that the memo states that the US was going in whether or not thier was a UN resolution or whether or not there was proof of a weapons program.

I believe in our constitution and I believe in protecting our country but this war in Iraq seems to be seated in dishonesty and lies. I don’t like that. I feel duped by this administration that seems to be controlling this country with fear. This memo just confirms what I have believed all along that this war is more about Mr. Bush’s personal agendas as opposed to what we hear in the media.

I was hoping to get a few riled either way by this post. Your comments are welcome. After all this is what freedom of speech is all about.

Loki

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