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reetings from Australia.
Welcome to
this Red-Letter Day. Below you will find today's global celebrations,
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Lord, into Thy
hands I commend my spirit. Last words of Lady Jane Grey, executed on February 12,
1554
The mystery of the beginning of all things is
insoluble to us; and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic. Charles Darwin, English naturalist, born on February 12, 1809, The
Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Nothing is more remarkable than the spread of scepticism
or rationalism during the latter half of my life. Before I was engaged
to be married, my father advised me to conceal carefully my doubts,
for he said that he had known extreme misery thus caused with married
persons. Charles Darwin;
ibid
Teaching biology without evolution is like teaching chemistry without the periodic table. John Schweinsberg of Alabama Citizens for Science Education; quoted in the
Montgomery Advertiser,
February 10, 2005
Source
Farewell Australia, you are a rising
infant & doubtless some day will reign a great princess in the
South. But you are too great & ambitious for affection, yet not
great enough for respect. I leave your shores without sorrow or
regret. Charles Darwin; journal while returning to Britain aboard the Beagle,
March 14,
1836
... when I think of the future I very
often ardently wish I was settled in one of our Colonies. Tell me how
far you think a gentleman with capital would get on in New South
Wales.
Charles Darwin; letter to his former assistant on the Beagle, Syms
Covington, c. 1852 (?)
My friend planted a row of Indian corn
that was colored red and blue; the rest of the field being planted
with yellow, which is the most usual color. To the windward side
this red and blue so infected three or four rows as to communicate
the same color unto them; and part of ye fifth and some of ye sixth.
But to the leeward side, no less than seven or eight rows had ye
same color communicated unto them; and some small impressions were
made on those that were yet further off.
Cotton Mather, American clergyman, born on February 12, 1663; from a
letter that shows he was an early experimenter on
hybridization
Charles
Darwin
You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was. Abraham Lincoln, US president, born on February 12, 1809
The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my
profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of
Christian dogma.
Abraham Lincoln
Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I have always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow. Abraham Lincoln (assassinated on April 14, 1865)
Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. Abraham Lincoln
I
am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the
social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not,
nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of
qualifying them to hold office, nor to inter-marry with white people ...
and I am as much as any other man in favor of having the superior position
assigned to the white race. Abraham
Lincoln, September
18, 1858, two months after declaring he was opposed to
'inferiority' of races; on January 1, 1863, Lincoln signed the
Emancipation ProclamationSource
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. Abraham Lincoln
The ballot is stronger than the bullet. Abraham Lincoln; in a speech on May 19, 1856
Those who are ready to sacrifice freedom for security ultimately will lose both. Abraham Lincoln
Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember. Abraham Lincoln
Too many piglets not enough tits. Abraham Lincoln
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? Abraham Lincoln
... I see in the near future a crisis
approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of
my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of
corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the
country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the
prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands
and the Republic is destroyed. Abraham Lincoln; letter to Col. William F Elkins,
November 21,
1864. Quoted in The Lincoln Encyclopedia, Archer H Shaw,
Macmillan, NY, 1950
Source
These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece
the people, and now that they have got into a quarrel with themselves,
we are called upon to appropriate the people's money to settle the
quarrel. Abraham Lincoln; speech to Illinois legislature, January 1837.
Quoted in John G Nicolay and John Hay (Eds), Lincoln's Complete Works,
Vol. 1, p. 24 1905
Source
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself. George Meredith, born February 12, 1828, Vittoria
Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living. American
labor activist Mary Harris
'Mother'
Jones (1837 - 1930), arrested on February 12, 1913
My address is like my shoes. It travels with me. I abide where there is a fight against wrong. Mother Jones
The employment of children is doing more to fill prisons, insane asylums, almshouses, reformatories, slums, and gin shops than all the efforts of reformers are doing to improve society. Mother Jones
I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator. Mother Jones
No matter what the fight, don't be ladylike! God almighty made women and the Rockefeller gang of thieves made the ladies. Mother Jones
To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war.
Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent – ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing.
We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war.
And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in
US foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world.
This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of
pre-emption – the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future
– is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our
– or some other nation's
– hit list. High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. US Senator Robert
Byrd (b. 1918); Senate Floor Speech, Wednesday, February 12, 2003, 'Reckless Administration May Reap Disastrous Consequences'
Feast day of the divine huntress Artemis (Greece) or Diana (Rome)
"She was the virgin
moon
goddess of the hunt, wild animals, healing, wilderness, chastity, and
paradoxicallychildbirth
(she was worshipped as a fertility/childbirth goddess mostly in cities),
since she assisted her mother in the delivery of her twin. Early in her
development, she was identified with
Hecate, the
primal, pre-Olympian feral goddess. She later became more identified with
and eventually supplanted
Selene as the
moon
goddess to complement her twin's identification with and supplantation
of Helios
as the sun
god. Artemis also assimilated
Caryatis
(Carya) …
"On this day the
Greeks, and many Romans, would celebrate the Festival of Artemis,
Goddess of the Moon. She had been known to the Romans as Luna from
antiquity but came to be called Diana in her earthly manifestation as
the Goddess of Hunting. Diana was often called Diana Lucifera, Diana the
Bringer of Light. The Greeks knew her as Artemis, the twin sister of
Apollo, and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was born under Mount Cynthus
in Delos and hence was also called Cynthia and Delia. She carried a bow
and quiver like her brother, and was especially fond of music and dance.
Diana was never conquered by love, and submitted to no man, hence she
was the goddess of a 'chaste' moon and, except for her family, tolerated
only female companions. Her priestesses were all chaste and this
festival was celebrated with daily music and dance until the kalends of
June. The hunter Actaeon happened across her bathing one day and became
the only man to ever see Diana naked. He paid with his life."Source
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From Wikipedia: Darwin
Day is the name used by a set of loosely associated events whose aim
is to acquaint the public with the theory of natural
selection and its importance to biology. The events are usually
organized locally and take place on or about February 12, the
birthday of Charles Darwin
(1809 -
'82), who
provided the first coherent theory of evolution by means
of natural selection.
The first
event using the name Darwin Day appears to be one organized by The
Humanist Community of Palo Alto, California
in 1995.
It featured a lecture by anthropologistDonald Johanson
on Darwin and Human Origins. Starting in 1997, a series of
larger events were organized at the University
of Tennessee at Knoxville by members of the biology department.
This came about in reaction to the consideration by the 1996Tennessee
legislature of a bill aimed at restricting the teaching of evolution
in the public (state) schools.
Some advocates would like to have a public
holiday declared for February 12, 2009. That
day will be the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, and the year
will also mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the
Origin of Species.
"A 2007 Gallup Poll found that more
Americans accept the theory of creationism than evolution. When
those surveyed were asked about their views on the origins of
life, 66 percent said creation, defined as 'the idea that God
created human beings pretty much in their present form at one
time within the last 10,000 years,' is probably or definitely
true. In comparison, 53 percent said evolution, defined as 'the
idea that human beings developed over millions of years from
less advanced forms of life,' is probably or definitely true."
Source: Because the Bible Tells Me So?
Runic half-month of Sigel commences "It represents the power of
the force of good throughout the world and is the harbinger of victory
and ascendancy over darkness." Nigel
Pennick, The
Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA,
1992
Borrowed, or borrowing days (February 12, 13
and 14,
and March 29, 30 and 31)
"The
last three days of March are said to be 'borrowed from April', as is
shown by the proverb in Ray's Collection:
'March borrows three days of April, and
they are ill.' One old rhyme says:
March borrowed frae Aprile
Three days an' they were ill;
The first o' them was wind and weet,
The second o' theem was snaw an' sleet,
The third o' them was sic a freeze,
That the birds' legs stack to the trees.
"In Scotland, February also has its
'borrowed days', the 12th, 13th and 14th, which are said to be
borrowed from January. If these prove stormy the year will be one of
good weather; if fine, the year will be foul. They are called Faoilteach."
This
saint is the patron saint of travellers, innkeepers,
ferrymen, circus people and some others. In the Middle Ages, he was
regarded as the epicure of saints.
Chaucer says his Franklin was:
An house holdere, and that a greet was he;
Seint Julian in his contree. Canterbury Tales, Prologue, 339
Once while hunting, the saint caught a stag, who foretold
that he would kill his parents. Julian moved far away to avoid his
parents, but they came to his home on a surprise visit. His wife
gave them her and Julian's bed, and Julian mistakenly killed them,
thinking they were his wife and another man. The saint
devoted his life to helping strangers by way of atonement.
Yuki Matsuri, or Snow Festival, Sapporo,
Hokkaido, Japan (dates vary in early February)
Hokkaido's largest festival. Snow images are made in the main
street, and a costume parade and skating contests are held. See February
7 for more.
Shiwasu Matsuri, Mikado Jinja, Nango,
Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan (Jan 20 - Feb 20)
Sounkyo Ice Festival, Sounkyo Onsen
(spa), Hokkaido, Japan (Jan 29 - Mar 5)
Powamu, Pueblo/Hopi purification ceremony, (Feb 12 - 28) Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992
Calendar
"POWAMU, the Bean Dance is the
most complex of all ceremonies. This is the third of the
ceremonies of Creation which purifies life. Life manifests in its
full physical forms, growth is consecrated. These ceremonies are
not open to the public.
"In anticipation of the coming growing season to
promote fertility and germination, the initiated males grow
beans in the kivas. Kachinas appear in the villages carrying the
bean sprouts and bringing gifts for the children. Young children
are initiated at this time into their societies. Historical and
mythological events are given as dramatic presentations. The
ogres, guards, whippers appear as disciplinarians, reminders to
follow the Hopi way of life."Source
The Book of Day's
contributing editor, Diana Schuetz, writes (February 11, 2007):
"No secular activities may be entered into during the period of
these rites. Knowing that the Hopis could not attend meetings
during these ceremonies, the federal government scheduled
hearings on the matter reported below for exactly this time
period."
Lincoln's
Birthday, United States
(traditionally)
This was first formally observed as a holiday in Washington, DC, in 1866 when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address in honour of the late
president.
The
Australian people, in great wisdom, named Darwin,
one of their capital cities after him.
Did Darwin convert to
Christianity?
It is a common myth, often promoted by
some fundamentalist Christians, that Charles Darwin became
a Christian on his death bed. This story can be traced to one Lady
Hope. However, Darwin's son Francis put paid to this
supposition:
"Lady Hope's account of my father's views on
religion is quite untrue. I have publicly accused her of
falsehood, but have not seen any reply. My father's agnostic point
of view is given in my 'Life and Letters of Charles Darwin,'
Vol. I., pp. 304-317. You are at liberty to publish the above
statement. Indeed, I shall be glad if you will do so. Yours
faithfully, Francis Darwin. Brookthorpe, Gloucester. May 28,
1918."Source
Project Steve from the National Center for Science
Education
"NCSE's
'Project Steve' is a tongue-in-cheek parody of a long-standing
creationist tradition of amassing lists of 'scientists who doubt
evolution' or 'scientists who dissent from Darwinism.'
"Creationists
draw up these lists to convince the public that evolution is somehow
being rejected by scientists, that it is a 'theory in crisis.'
Most members of the public lack sufficient contact with the
scientific community to know that this claim is totally unfounded.
NCSE has been exhorted by its members to compile a list of thousands
of scientists affirming the validity of the theory of evolution, but
although we easily could have done so, we have resisted such
pressure. We did not wish to mislead the public into thinking that
scientific issues are decided by who has the longer list of
scientists!
"Project Steve mocks this
practice with a bit of humor, and because 'Steves' are only about 1%
of scientists, it incidentally makes the point that tens of
thousands of scientists support evolution. And it honors the late
Stephen Jay Gould, NCSE supporter and friend."
Lincoln
was born on precisely the same day as Charles Darwin. On March 10, 1849, he applied for a
patent for a device for "buoying vessels over shoals". On
June 9, 1864, in an
address, he said that "it is best not to swap horses while
crossing the river", perhaps coining the phrase.
Lincoln did not deliver the
Gettysburg Address "Most Americans
have forgotten, or never knew, that the real Gettysburg Address
was delivered that day, November 19, 1863, by the featured
speaker on the program, the famous orator Edward Everett.
Lincoln's speech was listed as "Dedicatory Remarks by the
President of the United States" and was intended as a brief and
formal follow-up to Everett's two-hour address dedicating the
opening of a new Civil War cemetery at Gettysburg."Source
"Leibsohn
seeks to portray Lincoln as a pro-life hero. He must have missed
the body count from the war – over 600,000 killed. Lincoln used
those bodies; he used those lives, as tools, as resources,
for what? The preservation of an abstraction – 'the union'.
And not even the abstraction the framers intended to create. No,
this union was not a voluntary union of free states, but a
sentence of perpetual imprisonment of the small and weaker states
by the larger and more numerous ones. This union was Abe's own
megalomaniac invention. Abe was a very smart man, and he knew it,
and he wanted to leave a legacy and he did, the almighty federal
government which has killed 2,523,625 people in the last 150 years
and which now controls virtually every aspect of our lives. 'Every tree is known by his own fruit.' (Luke 6:43) …
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kick when they hear their own name being sung in 'Happy Birthday'!! You can schedule your singing cards in advance, and even add your
own face to funny animations. (Pay cards)
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"During the Hundred Years
War, Sir John Fastolf was conveying provisions to the English besiegers of
Orleans and was unsuccessfully attacked by superior French forces seeking to
intercept the supplies. The English used the barrels of herrings with which
their wagons were loaded, as a defence; hence the name." Ivor
H Evans, Brewer's
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Cassell, London, 1988
1912China's
267-year rule of the Qing dynasty, and 3,000 years of monarchy, came to an end
as the abdication was announced of the five-year-old boy-emperor Pu Yi. The
nation adopted the Gregorian calendar.
1913 USA: Labor
activist Mary Harris 'Mother'
Jones (1837 - 1930) led a protest against the appalling conditions in the West
Virginia mines and was arrested.
God, if You had but the moon
Stuck in Your cap for a lamp,
Even You'd tire of it soon,
Down in the dark and the damp.
Nothing but blackness above
And nothing that moves but the cars …
God, if You wish for our love,
Fling us a handful of stars.
At the age of 83, Mother Jones was convicted by a military court of conspiracy
to commit murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The event created such
a furore that the US Senate formed a committee to look into conditions in the
West Virginia coalfields.
1976 Gay American actor Sal Mineo (b.
1939) was found
stabbed to death in the alley behind a
West Hollywood apartment building. A career criminal
named Lionel Ray Williams was later sentenced to life in prison for killing the
actor.
1990 Dr
Carmen Lawrence became the first woman premier of an
Australian state.
1999USA President Bill Clinton was
acquitted of charges of lying under oath.
"Clinton
was impeached on December 19, 1998 by the House of Representatives on
grounds of perjury
and obstruction of justice, becoming the first
elected U.S. President to be impeached (and the second since Andrew
Johnson). The Senate, however, in a trial that started on January 7, 1999, voted not to
convict Clinton of the charges on February 12,
allowing Clinton to stay in office for the remainder of his second term. The
impeachment cited abuse of powers and for perjury –
lying under oath to a grand jury regarding matters related to his sexual affair
with Monica Lewinsky (uncovered by an investigation into
the unrelated Whitewater scandal). The perjury charge was
defeated with 55 'not guilty' votes and 45 'guilty' votes. On the
obstruction of justice article, the chamber was evenly split, 50-50. A
two-thirds majority, 67 votes, is necessary to convict the President on
impeachment charges.
"Clinton was charged with lying under oath about
his affair with Lewinsky to gain advantage in a sexual harassment case brought
by Paula Jones, a case he later settled paying Paula Jones $850,000. A Federal
judge found Clinton also to be in contempt of court for lying in a deposition
and ordered him to pay a $90,000 fine. This contempt citation led to disbarment
proceedings similar to Richard Nixon's. To avoid these Clinton surrendered
his law license."Source:
Wikipedia
Launch Date: February 17, 1996 - 20:43 UT (3:43 PM EST) Launch Vehicle: Delta II Planned on-orbit mass: 805 kg (includes 318 kg propellant) Power System: Solar panels of 1800 W
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