I’m looking forward to making this for Lughnasadh. I’ve never made it before, but it looks pretty easy. If you get the chance to make it, let me know how it turns out. Enjoy!
Scariest Movies
Over the history of cinema there have been many films that have been called the scariest movies. Many of these movies are horrific, gory and frightening on many different levels. Some people are scared by monsters while others are frightened by real life horrors, but all these movies scare people in many different ways. Read full story from screenjunkies.com
The program is funded for five years and is intended to:
improve young Native American students’ skill acquisition
prepare them for grades K-12 and post-secondary education
improve the quality of early childhood teachers in Native communities
bridge early childhood and K-3 education
integrate Native language and culture into early childhood curriculum
empower Native families and communities as change agents in education for their children
In March, AICF started looking for someone to administer the program, and they finally found someone who fits the bill. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com
News:
War Widow’s Truck Targeted By Vandals
SPARKS, NV – The wife of a Nevada National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan woke Monday morning to find her husband’s truck vandalized.
Sadly, it was only the latest in a series of incidents which have marked Roberta Stewart’s life since her husband’s death.
The truck was to have been Sgt. Patrick Stewart’s coming home gift, a purchase he and Roberta, had planned together.
In 2005, he and Chief Warrant Officer John Flynn, both Nevada Army Guardsmen were killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
Monday morning, the truck he had wanted, the one she bought, now bearing new Gold Star license plates as a tribute to their sacrifice, was parked outside her Sparks apartment, it’s windshield smashed by a large brick. Read full story from kolotv.com
Paranormal:
Children of the paranormal
I have been doing paranormal research now for over 11 years now. I have written four books on the subject and dozens of articles. I have also been to dozens of places around the US in nearly 20 states. To this day, in spite of many attempts and visits to notoriously dangerous locations, I have never been attacked or injured by a ghost, spirit, demon, entity, evil energy, ifrit, jinn or anything similarly supernatural. I am starting to feel a bit left out. When is my hair going to be pulled? When am I going to be poked, kicked or prodded? When is my immortal soul going to be in danger? I mean, if you watch some of these shows on television you would think this sort of thing happens all the time. Well, at least once or twice a week and maybe more on “sweeps week” and Halloween. Read full story from examiner.com
Paranormal Activity Found At Terror Mansion
SAN ANTONIO — At Halloween, you pay your money and take a scary tour through Terror Mansion, a popular haunted house in San Antonio.
But now the house is the subject of a paranormal investigation after ghostly orbs and other phenomena were caught on camera.
Photos of Nancy Alanis’ dog, Jenny, taken at Terror Mansion the day before the dog died, gave the first clues of paranormal activity. Read full story from ksat.com
Religion:
Atheists pick the wrong ground to fight
It is so common that zealous individuals take actions that seem wholly against what they claim they stand for it is almost a cliche; those who object to abortion as murder commit murder to get their point across, the heinous mass killing in Norway was meant to “protect” traditional values, Republicans claim to be defending US soldiers while they cut their pay and strip them of benefits, and multiculturalists out to protect “free speech” want to ban objectionable words and phrases. Neither left or right is free from this hypocrisy, and it continues to hamper public discourse and objective consideration of opposing viewpoints, and a group here in NYC that I agree with in principle has done something I wholly disagree with, attempting to force the removal of a “cross” at the Ground Zero memorial. Read full story from examiner.com
Media:
Montreal First Peoples’ Festival: Fun!
Montreal is North America’s festival city during the summer, and one of the most exciting is the First Peoples’ Festival. This year’s festival—the 21st annual event—takes place August 2–9.
The year’s theme is “And now, the world,” according to Andre Dudemaine, Innu, the co-founder and director of Land InSights, a nonprofit organization that organizes and sponsors the event.
“Artists from First Nations of the whole planet will come to meet their North American counterparts and showcase their works. It is an opportunity here on Native land to reaffirm messages of welcome and peace they left as sovereign peoples to all the world’s peoples,” Dudemaine says on the festival website. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com
Jasmine is a woody perennial. The shrub climbs up to 50 feet, with green stems and leaves. J. grandiflorum is mostly used in herbal remedies, while J. officinale is used in aromatherapy.
In Europe, jasmine was used to aid in childbirth. The oil would facilitate birth by “warming the womb.” Burning Jasmine leaves would attract wealth and bring money. If the leaves were burned in the bedroom, it was believed that it would result in prophetic dreams.
Medicinal Uses: TheJasmine flower is used as a cardiac sedative, and also helps with anxiety, cancer (bone, lymph nodes and breast), migraines, paralysis, wounds, ulcers, constipation, dry skin, insomnia, hysteria, hypertension, exhaustion, easing depression and so forth.
Magical Uses: Jasmine is used for love and protection. Dried Jasmine flowers are added to sachets, charms and incense to attract a spiritual love. (as apposed to a physical love) The flowers will also bring wealth and money if carried, burned or worn. It’s beautiful aroma is soothing and helps to lift spirits. Dreaming of Jasmine is said to foretell good fortune and good news for lovers. (Perhaps an early marriage) It will also cause prophetic dreams if burned in the bedroom and helps with insomnia. Storing Jasmine and Quartz crystals together promote new/creative ideas.
Ritual Uses: Use in rituals when you wish to conjure the feminine properties of the Moon. It is also excellent to burn during meditation.
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or a certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!
Why Pagans Need Community Centers
In response to the Sacred Paths Center’s financial situation, opinions have been circulating that Pagans don’t need community centers. I realized that we assume the reasons for community center projects are obvious.
In some of the conversations online, the feeling that we get is that some folks are looking at just what they need instead of the needs of other people and the whole of the Pagan community. If your first response is that you don’t need X (be it a building or whatever) to practice your religion, so that X isn’t a valid reason for Pagans to have a center, ask yourself this… Are there are a lot of other folks who would benefit from that function of the community center? What would having X mean for the Pagan community. Just think of all of the Pagans in just the DC region. What about the regions with large numbers of Pagans? Think of all of the Pagan groups and all of the Pagan event organizers. Just because you don’t feel that you’re in need of a community center doesn’t mean that the Pagan community wouldn’t greatly benefit from a community center. Read full story from openhearthfoundation.blogspot.com
Arts & Entertainment:
10 Creepy, Sexy Fairy Tales That Should Be Films Kelly Faircloth — If there’s one thing we learned this past week at Comic-Con, it’s that Hollywood is obsessed with fairy tales. They’re magical, they’ve got instant recognition… and they’re public domain. But Hollywood keeps hitting on the same five stories.
With all due respect to both Emma Watson and Guillermo del Toro, the absolute last thing we need is yet another take on Beauty and the Beast. We also don’t need a Sleeping Beauty or SnowWhite, and god forbid someone try again with Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood. Rather than returning to the same well-worn stories, here are ten slightly lesser-known fairy stories worthy of Hermoine and the Hellboy director, as well as anyone else in Hollywood. Read full story from io9.com
News:
S.African ‘corpse’ wakes up, scares off morgue staff: report
A 50-year-old South African man thought to be dead woke up in a chilly morgue on Sunday and shouted to be let out, scaring off two attendants who thought he was a ghost, local media reported.
“His family thought he had died,” health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo told the Sapa news agency.
“The family called a private undertaker who took what they thought was a dead body to the morgue, but the man woke up inside the morgue on Sunday at 5:00 pm and screamed, demanding to be taken out of the cold place.”
This caused two mortuary attendants on duty to flee the building in the small town of Libode in the rural Eastern Cape as they thought it was a ghost. Read full story from yahoo.com
When the severed head of a wolf wrapped in women’s lingerie turned up near the city of Tabouk in northern Saudi Arabia this week, authorities knew they had another case of witchcraft on their hands, a capital offence in the ultra-conservative desert kingdom.
Agents of the country’s Anti-Witchcraft Unit were quickly dispatched and set about trying to break the spell that used the beast’s head. Read full story from jpost.com
The “government enshrinement of the cross was an impermissible mingling of church and state,” the American Atheists say in a press statement.
The group says it filed the lawsuit this week in state court in New York and posted a copy of the lawsuit on its website. Read full story from cnn.com
Anders Behring Breivik: Christian terrorist? Right-wing extremist? Madman? When news broke about the bombing in Olso, many commentators assumed links with Islamic extremism. When reports came of the massacre on Utøya island, perpetrated by a “tall, blonde, Nordic, man,” speculation quieted down until Anders Behring Breivik was identified. News reports first described Breivik as a “Christian terrorist,” largely on the basis of his Facebook profile and his postings to Christian fundamentalist Web sites. After his manifesto became public, Breivik was characterized as a “right-wing extremist.” To most, the Christian terrorist/right-wing extremist distinction makes little real difference: Only a madman could engage in such wanton killing. REad full story from washingtonpost.com
Science:
The Science Behind Dreaming
For centuries people have pondered the meaning of dreams. Early civilizations thought of dreams as a medium between our earthly world and that of the gods. In fact, the Greeks and Romans were convinced that dreams had certain prophetic powers. While there has always been a great interest in the interpretation of human dreams, it wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century that Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung put forth some of the most widely-known modern theories of dreaming. Freud’s theory centred around the notion of repressed longing — the idea that dreaming allows us to sort through unresolved, repressed wishes. Carl Jung (who studied under Freud) also believed that dreams had psychological importance, but proposed different theories about their meaning. Read full story from scientificamerican.com
One of the best shooting star events of the year is the annual August Perseid meteor shower. (See Perseids pictures.) However this year’s peak, on August 12, happens to coincide with a bright full moon—drastically cutting down the number of meteors visible to the naked eye.
Yet while the main event might be blocked out by the blinding moonlight, the opening act promises to be much better. Read full story from nationalgeographic.com
Where House Cats Roam: Researchers Compare the Mysterious Wanderings of Pet and Stray Felines
Anyone who has ever owned an outdoor cat knows that it tends to disappear for hours, sometimes days, at a time. Where do cats go when they are lurking out of sight? The question is of interest not just to pet owners but also to conservation scientists who study the impact of free-roaming cats on wildlife populations. Scientists at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Natural History Survey recently attached radio transmitters to the adjustable collars of 18 pet and 24 feral cats in southeastern Champaign-Urbana and tracked the animals by truck and on foot for more than one year. Read full story from scientificamerican.com
Media:
Norway attacks show why you can’t blame the muslims
In the immediate aftermath of 1995’s Oklahoma City bombing, much of the news media rushed to suggest that a Muslim, or at least a Middle Eastern connection, was behind the attacks.
News reports on television and in print featured Middle East terrorism experts claiming the Oklahoma City attack echoed a World Trade Center bombing two years earlier and that it contained parallels to recent Mideast attacks.
The FBI picked up Ibrahim Ahmad, a Jordanian American, for questioning in an initial dragnet.
Clematis (also called Traveler’s joy or Old man’s beard) is a flowering vine of the Ranunculaceae family. The vines can grow up to 100 feet long and can completely blanket trees and other plants. Each blossom is made up of 4 greenish-white fluffy sepals and feathery filaments that turn silvery and thread-like in the fall.
Clematis can be a great remedy for someone who tends to live in a dream world, and takes little interest in day-to-day events. It also helps with people that may be frustrated with life and have unrealistic ideals. It can stimulate creative potential and encourage a person to envision their dreams and become focused.
Taking the remedy
Add a few drops of clematis-flower essence to a glass of non-sparkling spring water, sip throughout the day.
Pour a few drops of the clematis water into a small dropper bottle. (preferably glass) Put a few drops under your tongue several times a day.
Wildflower medley
For those who live in the past, a flower-essence mixture of clematis and honeysuckle is helpful.
Add 2 drops of each to a bottle filled with 1oz. of non-sparkling spring water. Put a few drops under your tongue 4 or more times a day.
The clematis temperament
In a daze all the time
Avoids activities
Becoming addictive to reading or watching TV
Daydreaming about the perfect future, but not taking action
Feeling you are artistic and creative, but wont take action because you are more concerned with home and family
Uninterested in practical matters
When you are ill, you don’t try to regain your health
Children who need Clematis Clematis increases a child’s attention span and promotes endurance and focus.
Sleeps too much
Absentminded
Falls a lot
Can get stuck and tear clothing
Supportive measures
A fertile imagination is a special one, but illusions can leave you feeling empty
Set a reasonable goal, find a way to achieve it
Have down to earth hobbies (i.e. cooking, gardening)
Have creative activities (i.e. painting, drawing, knitting)
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world! – Joel Barker
Sign of clematis state
Daydreaming & Lethargic
Neglectful & Absentminded
Lack of Sleep & Tired
Always in a Fantasy World
Poor Memory
Poor Vision and Hearing
Lack of Creativity
Signs of transformation
Renewed Creativity
Grounded
Energy
Concentration & Focus
Spirited & Enthusiastic
Realistic Thinking & Attitude
Clear Minded
Able to Find Solutions to Problems
Tip: Clematis helps relieve postpartum depression. It can also help bring you back to reality when you feel as if you are outside of yourself.
References:
The Complete Guide To Natural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
Prep Time: 14 minutes
Baking Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients:
1 (10-ounce) can refrigerated pizza dough (See below for homemade dough recipe)
1/3 cup pizza sauce
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced green bell pepper
1/3 cup coarsely chopped onion
1/3 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup sliced black olives
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Grease a baking sheet or pizza stone
Unroll pizza dough on prepared baking sheet and shape. (I like shape in a to 14 × 10-inch rectangle
Evenly spread pizza sauce on the dough.
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the pizza sauce.
Arrange toppings on top of the cheese. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes.
Homemade Pizza dough:
Total Time: 1 hr 45 min
Prep Time: 15 min
Baking Time: 15 min
Ingredients
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
Pinch sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for coating bowl
2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if necessary
Cornmeal, as necessary, for dusting pizza peel
Preparation:
In a large bowl combine yeast with water and sugar, stir well. Set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add salt, olive oil and half of the flour, mix well.
Add all remaining flour, except 1/2 cup, mix with your hands. working to incorporate flour little by little. Dough should be slightly sticky.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 up 7 minutes, adding enough additional flour as necessary to form a smooth , elastic dough, not sticky.
Transfer dough to a lightly oiled 2 or 3 quart bowl, turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp towel and let rise (in a warm place) until doubled in size. About an hour.
Preheat over to 500 degrees F, Place on baking sheet or pizza stone on the bottom rack.
Divide dough into 2 portions (For 2 (12 to 14-inch thickness) pizzas and shape into balls. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let stand for 15 minutes.
Transfer to a lightly floured surface, shape as desired and roll out. (1/8-inch thickness)
Transfer dough to a pizza peel (Sprinkle with cornmeal to help facilitate moving dough) and top with toppings.
Transfer to a preheated stone and bake until golden brown, about 12 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Tip: Cooking time on broccoli can be hard to determine. To make sure it is cooked properly, chop into small pieces. Cook in water for 2 to 3 minutes before hand. Drain and dry before topping pizza.
Native to North America, Indian Paintbrush is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants.
According to Native American legend, a young brave became frustrated in his attempts to paint a sunset with his war-paints. He then asked for guidance from the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit gave him paintbrushes laden with sunset colors. With these gifts, he painted his masterpiece. He then left the spent brushes in fields across the landscape. The brushes sprouted into the vibrant reds, scarlets, yellows and purples of the Indian paintbrush.
Medicinal Uses: Indian Paintbrush is known to treat skin diseases, kidney disorders and leprosy. It is also effective in treatment of excessive menstrual discharge, and also to prevent conception. During pregnancy, a decoction of the plant is used to keep the baby small, which leads to an easier labor. It is also used as a blood purifier. Taken over a long period of time, it is said to be an effective treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. It is also used to treat stomach aches.
Magical Uses: To attract love, Wear a few petals in an amulet or carry it in a sachet. It is excellent if you want to connect with your spirit, repel fear, and release negative thinking.
Ritual Uses: The flowers can be used as a symbolic broom, “sweep” your house clean to remove negativity and fill your home with both happiness and love. A flower on your altar will help remind you of the loving nature of the universe, as well as connecting you with your divine nature.
Other Uses: The Ojibwe made a hair-wash from Indian Paintbrush to make their hair shiny and full. It is also used as a treatment for rheumatism. Nevada Indians would use the plant to treat sexually-transmitted diseases and to strengthen the immune system.
References:
The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or a certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is primarily cultivated in Provence, in the south of France. It usually grows in open fields and stony mountain slopes. Today, it can be found throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States. Lavender is a short shrub that grows to a height of roughly 24 inches. When in bloom, lavender’s blue-violet flowers gives the herb its aromatic scent. The flowers are aligned in spirals of 6 – 10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.
The finest oil is distilled from Lavandula officinalis, a species of lavender that grows only at altitudes above 3000 ft. Lavender contains a mixture of gerniol, cincole and coumarin, which produce the most potent medicinal form of the oil. These ingredients are also valuable for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and pain, as well as relief from digestive problems and various skin irritations. It is a powerful antiseptic containing more than 200 compounds that are active against fungi, viruses and other microbes. The oil is also beneficial for balancing emotions. It has a calming effect on people people who are agitated or have sleep disorders, as well as restoring the vitality in people suffering from nervous exhaustion.
For breasts:
Lavender oil can be rubbed onto breasts to help tone and tighten the skin.
Add 2 drops of lavender oil to 3 tbsp. of a base oil, such as sweet almond. (apply to breasts daily)
For insomnia:
Lavender oil has a calming effect, it can be used to induce sleep when you are stressed or anxious.
Put a few drops of lavender oil on an aromatherapy stone (available in most herbal stores) and place it in your bedroom. Its soothing effects will help you sleep soundly through the night.
For skin irritations:
Lavender water promotes good circulation in the skin, and prevents infections of the sebaceous glands.
For a facial lotion, add 3 drops of lavender oil to 1 quart of distilled water, dab on daily.
For nerve pain:
Lavender oil helps to relieve pain and inflammation due to neuralgia.
Mix 10 drops of the oil with 2 tbsp. of St. John’s Wort oil, gently rub it into the affected areas for pain relief.
For sunburn relief:
Add 10 drops of lavender oil to 4 ounces of water. Store the liquid in a plastic spray bottle and spritz on sunburned skin as needed.
Applications:
External Use
For middle ear infections, saturate a cotton ball in olive oil, drip 5 drops of lavender oil onto it and place it on the outer part of the infected ear. The lavender oil will help relieve the pain and inhibit the inflammation that often accompanies ear infections.
For stomach aches, cramping or colic. Combine 30 drops of lavender oil, 10 drops of chamomile oil and 3 ½ oz. of cold pressed olive oil in a bottle and shake vigorously. Massage this essential oil mixture gently onto the abdomen for 10 min, using broad circular movements. Rest for a brief period and then apply a hot water bottle to the affected area for 30 mins.
Around the house:
Add several drops of lavender oil to the washer’s final rinse cycle, or scent a cloth with a few drops of lavender oil and throw it in the dryer to freshen a load of newly laundered clothes.
Place a handful of lavender buds in an old sock, knot it and store it in a drawer with your linens.
To purify Indoor air:
4 drops lavender
2 drops bergamot oil
2 drops lemon oil
Place this mixture of essential oils in a simmer pot to help freshen the air. The oils have a powerful cleansing action. The fresh scent also exerts an uplifting effect on the mind, body and spirit. Lavender combines well with citrus oil.
Tip: For an aromatic lavender bath, use a natural emulsifier to help the oil blend well with the bathwater. Mix 5 drops of lavender oil with 1 cup of heavy cream or 1 tsp. of honey and add it to the tub.
Lavender oil is one of the few essential oils that is safe to use “neat” or undiluted, on the skin. Keep a small bottle in your kitchen cabinet to treat first degree burns. One to two drops directly on the burn will relieve pain and reduce the risks of blisters.
References:
The Complete Guide To Natural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the information listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
I plan on doing a lot of grilling this weekend, which also means Potato Salad and Deviled eggs. I can never get enough of those yummy little eggs. So simple and fun to make, I had to post both recipes. :)
Potato Salad
Ingredients:
1 5 lb bag of potatoes (red or white, I prefer the red)
4 eggs
1 small onion
1 celery
2 tsp Relish
2 tsp mustard
4 tbsp Miracle Whip
A pinch of Salt & Pepper
1 tsp Sugar
Preparation:
Rinse potatoes thoroughly. Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with at least two inches of cold water. Bring water to boil and cook until tender. Don’t allow the water to boil out. Remove from heat, pour out water and allow to cool, then dice into squares. (I don’t usually peel the potatoes, but it’s up to you)
Boil eggs in a large pot, (See chart below for boiling time) make sure eggs are in a single layer. Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove and let stand for 10 minutes before chopping.
Dice the onion and celery.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and gently mix together. Serve Warm. (Sprinkle with Paprika if desired)
Deviled Eggs
Ingredients:
12 large eggs
Ice water
6 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper
Paprika
Preparation:
Boil eggs in a large pot, (See chart below for boiling time) make sure eggs are in a single layer. Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove and let stand for 10 minutes. Drain, then cover with ice water, Let stand until cool.
Peel eggs, then cut in half. Scoop the yolks into a medium bowl, set egg whites aside. Mix the yolks with the mayonnaise, mustard and cayenne; season with salt and black pepper. Spoon the yolk mixture into the egg white halves and sprinkle with paprika.
Use the following cooking times as a guide for the desired firmness for the yolk of each egg size (the whites will be firm).
Study Sheds New Light on Archaeology of the Dura-Europos Expedition
A recent study of the photographic archives of one of the 20th century’s most sensational archaeological excavations and discoveries lends powerful credence to the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Tucked away carefully within the archival collections of the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, more than 5,000 unpublished photographs taken between 1928 and 1937 recount a story in visual detail that cannot be fully told in the printed words of excavation reports, site journals or the popular press of the time. Read full story from popular-archeology.com
Native American:
Cherokee Nation becomes First Tribe to receive Electronic Health Records Incentive
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation recently received the first incentive payment from the Oklahoma State Medicaid Electronic Health Record incentive program for its implementation and use of electronic health records at W. W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. The tribe started using electronic records in its nine health centers and the hospital more than seven years ago but recently certified its system, enabling Cherokee Nation to become the first tribe eligible to receive the incentive payment.
The first installment of the incentive payment was $21,250 and was presented to Dr. Greggory Woitte, a provider who qualified for the incentive at Cherokee Nation’s Hastings Hospital. Woitte qualified by having a specified percentage of his patients on SoonerCare, Medicare and Medicaid while utilizing the electronic health records system. Read full story from cherokee.org
News:
Gay Couple Told to Move to Back of Bus
Singer Ari Gold and his boyfriend were told to move to the back of the bus for holding hands, he said Sunday on Facebook.
When Gold refused, the Shortline bus driver pulled over and called the police.
Gold said “we were both listening to Whitney Houston on an iPod double jack and loving her love songs,” and holding hands, when the driver pulled over to tell us to “stop sitting in the front.” Gold said no, “and that’s when the driver called the state trooper.” Read full story from advocate.com
The pledge by the Family Leader calls on candidates to support marriage between a man and a woman and to reject same-sex marriage, pornography and Islamic sharia law, among other issues.
The conservative group, which plays a key role in the Iowa presidential caucuses, removed controversial language from the pledge’s preamble that suggested black children born into slavery had a better family situation than black children today. Read full story from usatoday.com
Photography:
7 Conservation Photographers Saving The Planet Through Amazing Pictures
Conservation photography may be a discipline you’ve never heard of. While the foundations have been around since the beginning of photography itself — using images to make people aware of, and respond to, environmental issues — the genre has only been given a name in the last few years. And yet, it is one area in which some of the best photographers in the world are spending their energies, using the power of photos to conserve natural spaces. Meet seven of the best in the business, and see their stunning shots. Read full story from treehugger.com
Religion:
Irish report damns Catholic Church abuse response
The Catholic Church in Ireland did not take serious steps to stamp out child abuse by priests even after the scandal blew up worldwide and the Irish bishops put rules in place to stop it, a new report says.
The Cloyne report demolishes claims by the Catholic Church there that policies it put in place in 1996 have enabled it to get a handle on the problem. Read full story from cnn.com
A pledge, not prayer, for politicians
Congratulations to the Salisbury City Council for doing something that President Barack Obama and the Republicans can’t seem to do: come up with a compromise. Where congressional Republicans seem to think compromise constitutes collaboration (alliteration alert!), members of the Salisbury City Council see compromise as the hybrid fruit of the democratic process.
And huzzah to all that!
Of course, the matter on which the Salisburians compromised has no place in an American government setting, but you still have to appreciate their regard for accommodation.
The Salisburians had to decide if it’s appropriate to open City Council meetings with the Lord’s Prayer. Read full story from baltimoresun.com
Why we’re drawn to Harry Potter’s theology
It’s been 13 years since the first Harry Potter book landed on store shelves and provoked some Christian conservatives to begin voicing opposition to J.K. Rowling’s world of wizardry.
“Let me say something about Harry Potter. Warlocks are enemies of God,” said Becky Fischer, a Pentecostal pastor featured in a documentary called Jesus Camp. “And I don’t care what kind of hero they are, they’re an enemy of God.”
“Had it been in the Old Testament,” Fischer continued, “Harry Potter would have been put to death. You don’t make heroes out of warlocks.” Read full story from cnn.com
Atheists and agnostics make up the organization and say Perry is violating the constitutional ban on the government establishing a religion. They have also asked the court to keep the governor from participating in the meeting or using his office to promote or recognize it. Read full story from kxan.com
Extremely Rare Leopards Caught on Film in Russia
Catching a glimpse of just one critically endangered Armur leopard is enough to wow any nature lover, but spotting a dozen is rarity indeed. Film footage released today by WWF, obtained from camera traps in the remote forests of the Russian Far East, is offering a welcome indication that the imperiled leopards may be making a comeback. With fewer than 50 of the big cats thought to be in existence in the wild, the appearance of 12 individuals in the latest video survey has wildlife experts feeling a bit more optimistic about the leopards’ future. Read full story from treehugger.com
