Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
7,500 Online Shoppers Unknowingly Sold Their Souls
A computer game retailer revealed that it legally owns the souls of thousands of online shoppers, thanks to a clause in the terms and conditions agreed to by online shoppers.
The retailer, British firm GameStation, added the "immortal soul clause" to the contract signed before making any online purchases earlier this month. It states that customers grant the company the right to claim their soul.
"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."
GameStation's form also points out that "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction."
more at Fox News
h/t
Rita
The retailer, British firm GameStation, added the "immortal soul clause" to the contract signed before making any online purchases earlier this month. It states that customers grant the company the right to claim their soul.
"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."
GameStation's form also points out that "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction."
more at Fox News
h/t
Rita
Cavewomen had huge expensive wardrobes
Jonathan Leake, Science Editor
London Times
Raquel Welch's fur bikini has been cast aside. Archeologists have condemned Hollywood's crude portrayal of Stone Age women to the midden heap of history, with research showing that many maintained extensive wardrobes of fine fabrics, linens and evening wear.
The research, partially inspired by the stereotyping of cave women in films such as One Million Years BC, has shown that, while skins and furs may have been acceptable day wear, palaeolithic women had plenty of seductive alternatives.
Studies on statues and other artefacts dating back between 27,000 and 20,000 years show that in central Europe cave women would flaunt themselves in low-slung revealing linen frocks and that others, in what is now the Czech republic, created the first "boob tubes" made of strips of fabric wrapped around their chests. In France, fine string skirts were the height of fashion in 23,000 BC.
"Those skirts were to die for," said Olga Soffer, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, who co- wrote the research. "We always imagine Stone Age man as dressing in smelly animal hides, but this was fine clothing. It was a far more sophisticated culture than many imagine."
Their conclusions are based on an analysis of the Venus Figurines, small hand-sized carvings of women that were popular among Stone Age cultures across central Europe. Hundreds have been found, mostly portraying women with huge breasts, bulging thighs and big bellies.
Most studies have focused on their uses, with suggestions ranging from prehistoric erotica to fertility fetishes or even teaching devices to explain sex to Stone Age adolescents. Soffer, who spent 10 years in the fashion business before becoming an academic, decided to stop the theorising. Instead she subjected the carvings to microscopic analysis - and found that they showed clothing, jewellery and body art, often in great detail. She says that the fine textiles were the Stone Age equivalent of clothing by Donna Karan or Calvin Klein. The difference was that such skills would have been common among Stone Age women.
Most palaeolithic people lived nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles in small groups of up to 25. Males probably hunted animals, while females sought out edible plants. In winter, however, smaller groups would congregate so that youngsters could meet potential mates. It was at these gatherings that religious and other rituals would take place - where the women could replace animal skins with the palaeolithic equivalent of a cocktail dress.
"These events could be the equivalent of a debutante's ball, held to mark a girl's coming of age," said Soffer.
London Times
Raquel Welch's fur bikini has been cast aside. Archeologists have condemned Hollywood's crude portrayal of Stone Age women to the midden heap of history, with research showing that many maintained extensive wardrobes of fine fabrics, linens and evening wear.
The research, partially inspired by the stereotyping of cave women in films such as One Million Years BC, has shown that, while skins and furs may have been acceptable day wear, palaeolithic women had plenty of seductive alternatives.
Studies on statues and other artefacts dating back between 27,000 and 20,000 years show that in central Europe cave women would flaunt themselves in low-slung revealing linen frocks and that others, in what is now the Czech republic, created the first "boob tubes" made of strips of fabric wrapped around their chests. In France, fine string skirts were the height of fashion in 23,000 BC.
"Those skirts were to die for," said Olga Soffer, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, who co- wrote the research. "We always imagine Stone Age man as dressing in smelly animal hides, but this was fine clothing. It was a far more sophisticated culture than many imagine."
Their conclusions are based on an analysis of the Venus Figurines, small hand-sized carvings of women that were popular among Stone Age cultures across central Europe. Hundreds have been found, mostly portraying women with huge breasts, bulging thighs and big bellies.
Most studies have focused on their uses, with suggestions ranging from prehistoric erotica to fertility fetishes or even teaching devices to explain sex to Stone Age adolescents. Soffer, who spent 10 years in the fashion business before becoming an academic, decided to stop the theorising. Instead she subjected the carvings to microscopic analysis - and found that they showed clothing, jewellery and body art, often in great detail. She says that the fine textiles were the Stone Age equivalent of clothing by Donna Karan or Calvin Klein. The difference was that such skills would have been common among Stone Age women.
Most palaeolithic people lived nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles in small groups of up to 25. Males probably hunted animals, while females sought out edible plants. In winter, however, smaller groups would congregate so that youngsters could meet potential mates. It was at these gatherings that religious and other rituals would take place - where the women could replace animal skins with the palaeolithic equivalent of a cocktail dress.
"These events could be the equivalent of a debutante's ball, held to mark a girl's coming of age," said Soffer.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Directly From the Healthcare Bill
IRS agents verify if you have “acceptable” health care coverage;
IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;”
IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
IRS audits are likely to increase;
IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)
from Dan Riehl
IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;”
IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
IRS audits are likely to increase;
IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)
from Dan Riehl
TRANSPARENCY UPDATE
Federal Reserve must disclose bank bailout records. “The Federal Reserve Board must disclose documents identifying financial firms that might have collapsed without the largest U.S. government bailout ever, a federal appeals court said. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the Fed must release records of the unprecedented $2 trillion U.S. loan program launched primarily after the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. The ruling upholds a decision of a lower-court judge, who in August ordered that the information be released.”
Instapundit
Instapundit
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thomas Woods to speak at Trinity
American historian and best selling author Thomas Woods will be speaking at Trinity
College tomorrow. At 4pm he'll talk about Catholic social teaching and the market
economy, and then at 8pm he'll talk about Austrian business cycle
theory, the financial crisis, and issues like that. Both events take
place in Rittenberg Lounge, Mather Hall.
Thomas Woods' website
College tomorrow. At 4pm he'll talk about Catholic social teaching and the market
economy, and then at 8pm he'll talk about Austrian business cycle
theory, the financial crisis, and issues like that. Both events take
place in Rittenberg Lounge, Mather Hall.
Thomas Woods' website
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Archaeologists find crucifixion-style nail from the time of Christ
A 4-inch crucifixion-style nail dating from the time of Christ has been discovered in an ornate box at a fort that may have been a stronghold of knights who occupied Jerusalem during the Crusades, The Daily Mirror reports.
[...]
The newspaper quotes Christopher Macklin of the Knights Templar of Britannia as calling last summer's find "momentous."
He said evidence the nail had been handled a lot "indicates it was of great interest to many people" and that he believes the original Knights Templar thought it was a genuine artifact from Christ's crucifixion.
USA Today
[...]
The newspaper quotes Christopher Macklin of the Knights Templar of Britannia as calling last summer's find "momentous."
He said evidence the nail had been handled a lot "indicates it was of great interest to many people" and that he believes the original Knights Templar thought it was a genuine artifact from Christ's crucifixion.
USA Today
Friday, March 5, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Hebrew University archaeologist discovers Jerusalem city wall from tenth century B.C.
Jerusalem, February 22, 2010 – A section of an ancient city wall of Jerusalem from the tenth century B.C.E. – possibly built by King Solomon -- has been revealed in archaeological excavations directed by Dr. Eilat Mazar and conducted under the auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The section of the city wall revealed, 70 meters long and six meters high, is located in the area known as the Ophel, between the City of David and the southern wall of the Temple Mount.
Uncovered in the city wall complex are: an inner gatehouse for access into the royal quarter of the city, a royal structure adjacent to the gatehouse, and a corner tower that overlooks a substantial section of the adjacent Kidron valley.
[...]
"The city wall that has been uncovered testifies to a ruling presence. Its strength and form of construction indicate a high level of engineering", Mazar said. The city wall is at the eastern end of the Ophel area in a high, strategic location atop the western slop of the Kidron valley.
"A comparison of this latest finding with city walls and gates from the period of the First Temple, as well as pottery found at the site, enable us to postulate with a great degree of assurance that the wall that has been revealed is that which was built by King Solomon in Jerusalem in the latter part of the tenth century B.C.E.," said Mazar
"This is the first time that a structure from that time has been found that may correlate with written descriptions of Solomon's building in Jerusalem," she added. "The Bible tells us that Solomon built -- with the assistance of the Phoenicians, who were outstanding builders -- the Temple and his new palace and surrounded them with a city, most probably connected to the more ancient wall of the City of David." Mazar specifically cites the third chapter of the First Books of Kings where it refers to "until he (Solomon) had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about."
[...]
"The jars that were found are the largest ever found in Jerusalem," said Mazar, adding that "the inscription that was found on one of them shows that it belonged to a government official, apparently the person responsible for overseeing the provision of baked goods to the royal court."
In addition to the pottery shards, cult figurines were also found in the area, as were seal impressions on jar handles with the word "to the king," testifying to their usage within the monarchy. Also found were seal impressions (bullae) with Hebrew names, also indicating the royal nature of the structure. Most of the tiny fragments uncovered came from intricate wet sifting done with the help of the salvaging Temple Mount Sifting Project, directed by Dr. Gabriel Barkai and Zachi Zweig, under the auspice of the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ir David Foundation.
full article at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's website
h/t
Jungle Trader
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
On St. Valentine's Day
For most people, St. Valentine's Day is a day of affection and confectionary, a day of kisses, candy and flowers. But just as Christmas is about more than gifts, so too does Valentine's Day have a deeper meaning.
The true romance of the celebration begins with the legend of St. Valentine in roughly 270 A.D.
St. Valentine was a holy priest who was arrested and imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and for aiding Christians who were being persecuted during the reign of Claudius the Goth (Claudius II).
He was brought to prison where he was tortured in an attempt to make him renounce his Christian faith. When Valentine instead tried to convert Claudius, he was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on Feb. 14, in about the year 270 A.D.
One legend says, while awaiting his execution, couples for whom he had conducted marriages brought him flowers and gifts to show their respect and admiration.
This led to today's tradition of presenting your Valentine with gifts. It is also said that, while imprisoned, he restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter and that this miracle led to his eventual canonization.
In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius marked Feb. 14 as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. The legend of St. Valentine is a tale of true love that transcends mere sentiment.
From a letter to the editor written by Paul Kokoski
The true romance of the celebration begins with the legend of St. Valentine in roughly 270 A.D.
St. Valentine was a holy priest who was arrested and imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and for aiding Christians who were being persecuted during the reign of Claudius the Goth (Claudius II).
He was brought to prison where he was tortured in an attempt to make him renounce his Christian faith. When Valentine instead tried to convert Claudius, he was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on Feb. 14, in about the year 270 A.D.
One legend says, while awaiting his execution, couples for whom he had conducted marriages brought him flowers and gifts to show their respect and admiration.
This led to today's tradition of presenting your Valentine with gifts. It is also said that, while imprisoned, he restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter and that this miracle led to his eventual canonization.
In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius marked Feb. 14 as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. The legend of St. Valentine is a tale of true love that transcends mere sentiment.
From a letter to the editor written by Paul Kokoski
Saturday, February 6, 2010
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