12.03.2007

It's got potential...

Well...energy is the 'driving force of life' according to the one University of Illinois' Science & Engineering department. There are many different types of energy. Wiki lists kinetic, potential, thermal, electromagnetic, chemical, nuclear, and mass.

As I'm sure every knows from their high school science classes that energy can't be created or destroyed. [Law of conservation of energy]

Outside of that, I'm not sure what we are supposed to be writing about...Energy is a force, or perhaps more realistically a property of objects that can be transferred between all objects and is the key force behind all actions.

Life without Mommy...

My topic for our higher education blog has to do with the differences from your life at home.

The most obvious difference to me was the idea of being your own boss in a way. There is no one to tell you what time to get up, go to bed, what to eat, or when to do your homework. A life with no wake-up calls and no curfews. While initially the freedom might feel good, the reality is that it's up to you to manage your time, and if you don't do it properly your not going to have such an happy-go-lucky life.

With the newfound freedom comes the cliché of responsibility. In addition to the class-work you need to be able to feed yourself, do your laundry, etc.

Perhaps your social life will be affected by the move to a college campus from your friendly neighborhood. I'd say on a Friday night there are a few more drunks wondering around campus than there are wondering my neighborhood at home.

11.27.2007

Logging into Blogger is starting to really tick me off...


So here's what I've got on 'Faith Healing'...

One of the most famous faith healers over the past one hundred years is "Sister" Aimee McPherson. After she gave birth to her second child, a son named Rolf, she suffered from postpartum depression. While on her deathbed, she recommitted herself to a life of service to God, then she reportedly got all better. This miracle healing due to her faith in God confirmed her call to service.

She left her home and began "evangelizing and holding tent revivals". Evidently people were pretty convinced that this lady had it right. According to Wikipedia, there was often standing room only at her revivals.

She also rode around the country in an old Packard with religious slogans painted on it, and would give sermons through a megaphone out the back. (Above)

She reportedly was kidnapped and taken somewhere into the desert of Mexico after disappearing after a day at the beach. However, she came back fully dressed, with no signs of her 13-hour walk through the desert, wearing a watch her mother had previously given to her. While at the beach all she had was a bathing suit, and she didn't have said watch. Amazingly, though she continued her career, she fell out of favor with the press. Probably because she's a fraud...

11.12.2007

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus is a Latin term meaning "that you have the body". In 'common law' countries it is used as a writ protecting individuals from being held captive unlawfully. When a writ of Habeas Corpus is issued, the captive person is brought before a court and the captor is required to show sufficient evidence that the detainee should be in custody.

According to William Blackstone, the first recorded use of a writ of Habeas Corpus was under King Edward in 1305. Yet, other writs with similar meanings had been issued in the 12th century. Additionally, the Magna Carta (1215) dealt with the issue of false imprisonment. Regardless of when it officially popped up, it has been around for hundreds of years. In 1679 the Habeas Corpus Act was passed in by the Parliament of England under King Charles II.

Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution reads:

"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it."

So, it gives a loophole for whatever can be interpreted as a 'case of rebellion or invasion'. The forefathers were very, very smooth with their loopholes. In the 50's, decisions by the Warren court expanded the use of Habeas Corpus, but in recent times it has been narrowed.

1865 Days, 3 Hours, 48 Minutes and 20 seconds left!!!

According to the Mayans, my younger sister will be graduating college sometime during 'The Golden Age'. It begins on December 21st, 2012. Many people have interpreted this date as the end of the world, yet according to the Mayans (who should know, since it is their date...) it has nothing to do with any kind of an Armageddon or rapture. It is simply the end of the current calender. The Mayan calendar stretches 5125 years from 3113 B.C. until 12/21/12.

The Mayans are known for having a very good grasp on the solar system and its movements. According to their prophecy, on 12/21/12 the following will occur:

"The Sun, having received a powerful ray of synchronizing light from the center of the galaxy, would change its polarity which would produce a great cosmic event that would propel human kind to be ready to cross into a new era, The Golden Age."

Supposedly during the last 20 years of the calendar, 1 KatĂșn, the population will realize how the universe works. This will enable us the ability to leave 'behind superficial materialism and liberating ourselves from suffering'. Hopefully the Mayans were right...

11.05.2007

Introducint the new mascot for the University of Maryland...


Currently the Terrapin handles all mascot duties for University of Maryland athletics. However, after doing a little research I think that there is a much better option: the Maryland Goatman. According to unknown-creatures.com, the Maryland Goatman first appeared in the 1970's. He is purported to roam near the area of Prince George's County in Maryland, which borders the east side of Washington, D.C.

According to legend, the goatman's first appearance was to a young, love-making couple innocently parked along a dark country road. He jumped onto the hood of their car, startling them. When they looked up, they saw a goat-looking man wielding a double-edged axe.

In a different report, the goatman appeared in the backyard of a lady's house. Her dog was making a ruckus in the backyard, and when she looked out the window, she saw the figure lurking around where her dog was tied up. When she went outside in the morning to investigate, she found that her dog had been beheaded. High-pitched squeals are the commonly reported sound from the goatman.

10.29.2007

She doesn't like being ridiculed for being...

Patricia Gardner is the "High Priestess of the Coven 'The Dragon Warriors of ISIS'". Sadly, she doesn't like being ridiculed. Imagine that. Patricia is a demonologist from New York that has "embarked on the life-long study of demonology". She began having experiences when she was 14 years old, including her television turning on and off randomly. Maybe she shouldn't have been sitting on the remote...

When talking about her investigations as a demonologist, Patricia claims that the dangers lie in poor pre-planning. Namely that trespassing can get you arrested. As the interview continues, she discusses the dangers of the Ouija board and seances. When it comes to the requirements necessary to become an investigator or a demonologist she is fairly vague. Mostly it seems that you have to read a lot of publications on the paranormal until you convince yourself that the occult surrounds us daily.

Patricia and her team offer free investigations in the tri-state area of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Her website is located here:

http://isisinvestigations.com/