The Daily Drift

Welcome to Today's Edition of Carolina Naturally.

Serves the Englisher right ...!

 

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Today is - Balloon Ascension Day

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Today in History

1719		Philip V of Spain declares war on France.
1776		Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense, a scathing attack on King George III’s reign over the colonies and a call for complete independence.
1792		The Ottomans sign a treaty with the Russians ending a five year war.
1793		Jean Pierre Blanchard makes the first balloon flight in North America.
1861		Southern shellfire stops the Union supply ship Star of the West from entering Charleston Harbor on her way to Fort Sumter.
1861		Mississippi secedes from the Union.
1908		Count Zeppelin announces plans for his airship to carry 100 passengers.
1909		A Polar exploration team lead by Ernest Shackleton reaches 88 degrees, 23 minutes south longitude, 162 degrees east latitude. They are 97 nautical miles short of the South Pole, but the weather is too severe to continue.
1912		Colonel Theodore Roosevelt announces that he will run for president if asked.
1915		Pancho Villa signs a treaty with the United States, halting border conflicts.
1924		Ford Motor Co. stock is valued at nearly $1 billion.
1943		Soviet planes drop leaflets on the surrounded Germans in Stalingrad requesting their surrender with humane terms. The Germans refuse.
1945		U.S. troops land on Luzon, in the Philippines, 107 miles from Manila.
1947		French General Leclerc breaks off all talks with Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh.
1952		Jackie Robinson becomes the highest paid player in Brooklyn Dodger history.
1964		U.S. forces kill six Panamanian students protesting in the canal zone.
1974		Cambodian Government troops open a drive to avert insurgent attack on Phnom Penh.
1992		The Assembly of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaims the creation of a new state within Yugoslavia, the Rupublika Srpska.
1996		A raid by Chechen separatists in the city of Kizlyar turns into a hostage crisis involving thousands of civilians.
2005		Mahmoud Abbas wins election to replace Yasser Arafat as President of the Palestinian National Authority.
2005		The Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end the Second Sudanese Civil War is signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
2007		Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, unveils the first iPhone.

Pagan and Wiccan Festival Etiquette

How to Make Sure You're Invited Back Next Year

 

Want to have a great time at a festival? Follow some basic guidelines!.

by Patti Wigington

It's no secret that Pagans love a good festival. At certain times of the year, there are public events all over the world for Wiccans, Heathens, Druids, and other Pagans to attend. However, just because there's no set of Pagan rules doesn't mean there aren't a few basic guidelines you should follow when you attend a public event. After all, the organizers went to a lot of trouble to put this thing on -- the last thing they need is a bunch of people creating problems simply because common sense got left at home!
Let's break it down into the Do and Don't categories. Naturally, some of these may be flexible, depending on the nature of the festival itself, but the bottom line is if you're in doubt about something, check with the organizers of the event.

Festival Do's

• If you're asked to do something by a festival or event coordinator, please do it. These people are volunteers, and if one of them asks you to help out in the kids' area (assuming your kids are present and enjoying the festivities too) for an hour, or carry a bag of trash to a dumpster, help out and take care of it. It will free them up to do what they're supposed to be doing - coordinating.
• Bring your own supplies. If you know ahead of time you're going to be attending a workshop or class, bring your own craft supplies, magical tools, divination materials or notebook/pencil when possible.
• Be respectful of presenters. If you're attending a seminar or lecture, bear in mind that the presenters often are giving their time as a donation -- or that the organizers had to shell out a good amount of money to book them -- and many drive long distances to come share their knowledge with you. Don't monopolize their time, and don't talk during their class. Save the chit-chat for afterwards.
• Make a donation or a "love offering" if the opportunity presents itself. Nearly every Pagan festival is put on by non-profit groups, which means they have to pay for the site rental, food, entertainment, and presenters all out of donations. If you have a chance to toss a few dollars in a pot, do so.
• If you're attending a multi-day event, be sure you bring enough food for yourself. No one wants to have to go around begging the last three days of a campout because they've run short. The bigger problem is that other people will have enough for themselves, but if they share with you, then THEY run short. Plan ahead and bring a little more than you think you'll need.
• Pay attention to rules regarding nudity. Some events are clothing-optional, and if they are, they'll say so. However, just as many festivals take place in locations that forbid nudity, such as public parks or beaches. Also, in many cases organizers don't want any nudity because they're trying to promote a "family friendly" atmosphere. While there's nothing wrong with nudity, not everyone wants their child to see total strangers naked.
• Be respectful of others' beliefs. You may be pretty certain that your version of Wicca is the best one, but you don't have to belittle the beliefs of other paths in the process. That includes being respectful of non-Pagan paths such as christianity.
• Do practice safe sex. If you're going to hook up with someone you met at a festival, please do so responsibly.
• If you bring your children, please keep an eye on them. It may be difficult and you may have to miss a couple of workshops, but they're your kids. If you can't watch them at the event, find a sitter.



Festival Don'ts

• Do NOT take pictures of someone without their permission. Many Pagans are still in the broom closet, and that's their choice. If you want to take a photo of a friend, make sure there's no one in the background who can be identified, unless you've checked to make sure it's okay first.
• Don't touch other people's stuff. Most people are very particular about the handling of their magical tools. To pick up someone's wand or athame and gush about how nice it is... well, it's a HUGE breach of protocol. This rule also applies to drums and other musical instruments - many drums are consecrated as magical tools by their owners. Ask permission before touching anything.
• Don't argue with vendors about the worth of their merchandise. Believe me, there's nothing worse than knowing a person spent literally weeks crafting a beautiful object, and then seeing someone haggle because they don't think it's worth it. It's one thing if you're short on cash, but don't ever tell an artisan that their time and skill is valueless.
• Don't be late. Unfortunately, the notion of Pagan Standard Time has become more and more of an issue -- the idea that all Pagans show up twenty minutes late. That's unacceptable if you're attending a scheduled workshop or class. When a presenter is in the middle of a session and half the group saunters in late, it's practically a guarantee that the organizers won't get that person back next year.
• Don't throw anything into a ritual fire unless you are specifically invited to do so. It's not a place for you to toss your trash, and certain herbs can cause allergic reaction in some people. If there's something you'd like to add to a fire, ask one of the fire handlers if it's okay to do it.
• Don't complain about a lack of volunteer personnel. Volunteers are just that -- volunteers! If an event is short of them, then it's because not enough people were willing to donate their time and energy. Instead of complaining, offer to help out with future events.
• Don't interrupt people who want privacy. It's not uncommon to see someone meditating, alone, at a huge festival. If you stumble across such a person, don't bother them. Respect their need for solitude.
• Don't show up intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. If an event is held in a public place, you could find yourself ejected for disruptive behavior. Remember, you're entitled to have a good time, but you're not entitled to ruin everyone else's fun.
• Don't disregard personal hygiene. A number of readers have commented that a gallon of patchouli oil is no substitute for a shower and a bit of deodorant. If you're at a multi-day campout, in particular, try to be considerate and wash up regularly.
So there you have it -- a few simple, common-sense guidelines that will not only allow you to have a great time at a festival, but that will also allow others to enjoy it as much as you. Now go forth, go to your event, and may it be a wonderful experience for you!

Pair Aims to Scrap the Gregorian Calendar by 2017

Pair Aims to Scrap the Gregorian Calendar by 2017

Two Johns Hopkins professors hope we’ll all be using a new calendar soon.

 

10 Easy Ways to Retire 10 Years Early

10 Easy Ways to Retire 10 Years Early

Play it smart, and you won’t need a fortune to leave the office behind

US Repeals Meat Labeling Law After Trade Rulings Against It

US Repeals Meat Labeling Law After Trade Rulings Against It

25 Bacon Porn Photos to Make Your Day

25 Bacon Porn Photos to Make Your Day
It's just so good...

The Best Steak Ever Does Not Involve an Outdoor Grill

The Best Steak Ever Does Not Involve an Outdoor Grill
No really.

6 Foods that Fight the Flu

6 Foods that Fight the Flu

What You Should Eat to Be Healthy

Michael Pollan: What You Should Eat to Be Healthy 

14 Foods You Should NEVER Eat

14 Foods You Should NEVER Eat

Here's All the Motivation You Need to Clean Your Coffee Maker, Like, Immediately

Here's All the Motivation You Need to Clean Your Coffee Maker, Like, Immediately

Would you like some coffee with your bacteria?

8 Reasons You Can’t Stop Coughing

8 Reasons You Can’t Stop Coughing

Find out what’s been causing your coughing so you can silence it for good

The top 9 social media hoaxes of 2015

From 'Gay pride ISIL flag' to celebrities who didn't really die: The top 9 social media hoaxes of 2015

Copyright on Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' expires

Copyright on Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' expires

Wonder which lunatic fringe wacko will claim copyright now?

2016 Bounce Back Stocks

2016 Bounce Back Stocks: Bond, loan-based ETFs could surprise

Sipping Champagne on the Titanic

Sipping Champagne on the Titanic: Twenty Billionaires Own More Than the Bottom Half of Americans

2016: The Year of the Billionaire

2016: The Year of the Billionaire 

Mexico Mayor Slain A Day After Taking Office

Mexico Mayor Slain A Day After Taking Office

Brazilian city proposes levying fees on controversy-plagued rideshare service Uber

Brazilian city proposes levying fees on controversy-plagued rideshare service Uber

'Christian' Family Kills 41-Year-Old Mom During Attempted 'Exorcism'

A second victim, suffering from hypothermia and dehydration, was later found in a garage.

Read more 

Remembering Rosewood

Remembering Rosewood: The racist lie that set off the destruction of a black Florida community

On New Year’s Day 1923, a white woman told her husband “a nigger” assaulted her, a false claim that precipitated a week of mob violence that wiped the prosperous black hamlet off the map, and led to the near lynching of Aaron Carrier.

Top 10 Stories of the Year, According to You

Top 10 Stories of the Year, According to You

From alien megastructures to smart bees to female viagra, 2015 kept science on its toes.

The 15 Most Ridiculous Things Said About Climate Change In 2015

The 15 Most Ridiculous Things Said About Climate Change In 2015

In the parallel universe of wingnut media, media figures went to ridiculous lengths to deny climate science.

Police hope sketch will help identify man

Police in Charleston, South Carolina, have released a sketch of a suspect in an armed robbery. The victims were robbed at gunpoint of their wallets on Sunday by two assailants, police said The incident was reported at 11:18pm in front of the Carolina Yacht Club. A couple in their 50s and their 29-year-old son, all from Moore, were walking when a man and woman walked up behind them.
The man pulled out a gun and started yelling, “Give me your cash or I’ll kill you.” The woman also threatened to kill them but didn’t show a gun. The male suspect was described as black, about 6 feet tall, 180 lbs, wearing a bandanna on his head.
The female suspect was described as black, 5 feet 4 inches tall, with short hair, heavyset, and wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with dark writing on the sleeves. If you have information on the suspects, please contact police.

Investigation into whether shooting 'ding dong ditching' teenager multiple times was justified

A 14-year-old boy from Pryor, Oklahoma, is out of surgery after being shot several times by his neighbor who has not been arrested. Police said the teen and two of his friends were ringing doorbells and running off early on New Year's Day when the homeowner came out to his front yard and started firing. The case has been handed over to the district attorney who is looking into whether the shooting was justified.

Naked man wearing Ronald Reagan mask caught on camera

A couple from Vestavia Hills, Aabama, got quite a surprise on New Year's Eve when a nude man wearing a rubber mask was creeping about outside their home. The man, who was naked except for what appeared to be a Ronald Reagan mask covering his head and a sock covering his private parts, ran off when Danielle Yancey and her husband spotted him. The ordeal, however, was caught on their home security video.

"I got a chuckle from it later, but at the same time, it was  very concerning,'' Danielle Yancey said. "I don't know what he was planning on doing." Yancey's husband, Bart, had just taken out the trash and returned inside when he caught a glimpse of a shadow. The trespasser had already open the gate and entered when Bart Yancey yelled to him. He then followed him briefly while he called 911 from his cell phone. Vestavia Hills police responded to the scene, but weren't able to find the man.
"It was so cold outside,'' Yancey said. "The police said he wouldn't last long outside nude like that." She said multiple theories have been discussed, including that it was a dare, a lost bet, or teenage New Year's Eve party gone out of control. "He could have been messed up on drugs or alcohol, and in that mindset you don't what he would do to someone else," Yancey said. "I don't think he had a gun on him, but he could have potentially hurt us or we could have hurt him,'' she said.

YouTube link.

"Even if it was a prank, it could have become very scary and dangerous quickly." Vestavia Hills police Lt. Kevin York said they received another call at about 11pm about a teenager streaking through the neighborhood. They were unable to locate the streaker as well. Yancey said she just wants her neighbors and the community to be aware and safe, and hopes that the trespasser also is safe, if indeed he meant no harm. "I hope he never does it again because he could have been unlucky," she said. "Maybe we spooked him off enough not go to another house and not do it again."

New way to measure gravity’s pull at surface of distant stars

New way to measure gravity’s pull at surface of distant stars

Researchers have found a new way to measure the pull of gravity at the surface of a star. For distant stars with planets orbiting them, this information is key in determining whether any of those planets can harbor life. The new method is described in a study...

Heartbreaking Cries From An Abused Puppy As She Is Shown Love For The First Time

If we treated all creatures in this manner, including each other, one can only imagine how wonderful the world would be.

Read full story 

Animal Pictures