goodgoth

NO ZOMBIES

2009-10-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Goodgoth has been 100% Human owned and operated since 1996.
We will never, ever be controlled by zombies and you have our pledge. Every order at Goodgoth is filled by living, breathing people.

How to Spot a Zombie Company

-company is manned by zombies

-company kept afloat through large government bailouts

-Emails not answered by humans

-company located in cemetery

Follow us on Twitter and get a coupon
for $5 off your next purchase of $15
If you have any concerns about zombies, please See http://science.howstuffworks.com/zombie.htm

-The humans at GoodGoth.com

Orphan: The case for breaking your kids of their goth habits early

2009-07-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

Orphan: The case for breaking your kids of their goth habits early
By Bradley Ouellette
July 24

Much like “The Shining” before it, “Orphan” is one of those horror movies that really messes with your head by playing on our perceptions of innocence and trust, only in this case instead of a loving, trustworthy father who goes batshit insane, it’s the sweet, innocent little girl that no one would suspect could be so evil.

“Orphan” is surprisingly entertaining, with plenty of suspense to get you on the edge of your seat, as well as shocks and frights to make you jump for cover. Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) is creepy enough to give us nightmares for a few nights to come at least.

Torn apart by the recent loss of their baby, John (Peter Sarsgaard) and Kate Coleman (Vera Farmiga) decide to adopt to fill the void. When they encounter the seemingly special, angelic Esther at the orphanage, it looks to be a perfect match. However, as the movie’s tag line goes, “there’s something wrong with Esther,” and when they bring their little bundle of joy home, things begin to change.

Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written by: David Johnson (screenplay), Alex Mace (story)
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard
Rating: R
Running time: 123 mins
Seen at: Oak Tree Cinema, SeattleFarmiga portrays Kate brilliantly, displaying enough craziness to hint at her troubled past, and she shines in this film, especially when supported by the three children. Sarsgaard, on the other hand, plays an unconvincing John, though to be fair he is just playing the role he was given. Throughout the film, John is presented with the choice of who to believe as strange things keep happening, and Esther’s false innocence gets the best of him every time, despite some situations that make the viewer wonder how he could be so myopic. Of course, one must suspend disbelief for a movie of this nature, but one still wants believable characters.

Without doubt, the toughest role, and best filled, was that of Fuhrman’s Esther. Switching between being the perfect little Victorian princess to the brilliant yet deranged monster is done with an impressive talent for someone of her age, complemented by the old-fashioned clothes she wears. The mannerisms and the way she speaks, and even the way that she carries herself, show off the abilities of this young actress, and the lack of sound and use of subtitles at times really draws you into her world as a deaf child.

Once again referring to that old classic, the setting of the story also reminds one of “The Shining.” It’s winter time, in a house that’s off the beaten path, which gives a sense of seclusion and entrapment. The film doesn’t simply rely on blood and gore or cheap tricks to achieve its thrills. It starts building suspense and momentum early on, slowly revealing more of the story, and the histories, of both Esther and the mother.

If you’re up for a good horror movie, this is definitely one to check out, and it has something for fans of all sub-genres. It may not be a masterpiece, but it’s worth the cash to get the adrenaline pumping, especially if you’re one of those people who enjoys a sleepless night or two. If you’re thinking of adopting a child any time soon, though, you may want to hold off.

(Blast doesn’t have anything against orphans in general, just this one.)

Bradley Ouellette is a Blast staff writer who's been with us since the bitter beginnings when we were an attic and basement operation on Mission Hill.

Nightmare inspired Tragedy at Hand Mini skirt

2009-07-27T06:10:00.001-07:00

Blitzkreig Bop Top

2009-07-27T06:09:00.001-07:00

Plus size red plaid and black funky corset style top

New Goggles

2009-07-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

Just a Peek

2009-07-27T06:06:00.001-07:00

border=0>

Sinthyia Darkness Wants to Be Miami's First Goth Mayor

2009-04-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Sinthyia Darkness Wants to Be Miami's First Goth Mayor
By Kyle Munzenrieder in News
Monday, Apr. 13 2009 @ 11:34AM
via Sinthyia's Youtube
We wanted to find a better picture, but this one is quite paranormal and fitting, no?
Last week, a new candidate entered Miami's mayoral race on a platform of health-care reform and mosquito control. Riptide isn't sure if running on those issues alone will win a mayoral race, but they're pretty standard political fair. The lady behind the ideas, though, isn't your standard politician.

Coconut Grove resident Sinthyia R. Darkness is a paranormal activity expert, founder of the Miami Center for Paranormal Research, horror author, and now 2009 mayoral candidate, according to an announcement on her official website.

Considering talk show host Enrique Santos won 26 percent of the vote in the last mayoral race in the city, and frequent school board meeting audience member Helen Williams won 35 percent of the vote in the past race for county mayor, we're not sure if we should totally write her off just yet.

New goodgoth Lipcolors

2009-04-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

New Moisturizing formula
Not Tested on Animals

New Granny style combat Boots

2009-04-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

These boots are great. They're kinda Victorian and kinda steampunk and kinda combat

Chinadoll Prom Gown

2009-04-21T14:02:00.001-07:00

Asian inspired Red Prom gown

Miss Adventure's Dress

2009-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

In black or natural

Steampunk Accord Jacket

2009-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

black or brown cordoroy jacket with dual front zippers and lots of pockets

src="http://www.goodgoth.com/4200902thc.jpg">

New Steampunk Legwarmers

2009-04-21T13:58:00.001-07:00

Absinthe Bracelet Cuff

2009-04-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

New tribal Tattoo Prom Gown

2009-04-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Empire Gown

2009-04-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

New Formal Gown
The Empire Gown
<

New Arrivals

2009-04-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Turbinia Steampunk Skirt in black

2009-03-29T07:29:00.001-07:00

This polular skirt style is now available in black/gray. Wool blend. Grommet Belt included. S-L $24.95

Embers coat with Skull print Brocade

2009-03-29T07:28:00.001-07:00

$140.00
S-XL

New Arrivals

2009-03-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

Cashcrate

2009-03-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

I am a member of pinecone surveys. Pinecone is a good survey co- they pay $3.00 per survey but you only get a couple per month and it's only open by invitation. I am trying out Cashcrate now. You get 2 surveys everyday- they pay .80 ea. But they are kinda long- like 5 min long. 10 min at $1.60 =9.60 an hr -not horrible for free- I'm not doing anything else- money. There are other ways to make $- offers- which I usually avoid, an affiliate program and contests

Swagbucks

2009-03-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Remember that internet advertising program from the last century- it put a toolbar thingy on the bottom of your screen and you got paid per ad? It ended up being a ponzi scheme and died. Since then there have been several -make money doing X things to come and go- here's a newish one called swagbucks- you use it to search and earn "bucks" you can redeem for junk- including Amazon gift certificates.

I found it listed on a coupon blog- so far I have 6 swagbucks- you need 45 to get a $5 amazon gc. Kinda lame but we'll see. It has a firefox plugin and uses google search so...who knows.

r

2009-02-25T11:08:00.001-08:00

Goth is in- prepare to be popular

2009-02-25T11:07:00.001-08:00

Fashion turns to gothic in sign of the times
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Jasmin Lill

February 22, 2009 11:00pm

BLACK really is the new black.

It's the gothic trend sweeping shopfloors from chainstores to boutiques and is destined to infiltrate our wardrobes in months to come.

Soft or romantic goth might be mostly black but it's not complete without lashings of opulent trimmings.

And it seems we have the gothic subculture to thank for the haunting look that's skulked into the mainstream for the winter.

Goth is something Violet Vex has channelled from a very young age, and she hoped to source more of her wardrobe from conventional stores for a while at least.

"For as long as I can remember, my parents gave me white tu-tu skirts and little pink tops, and I've gone out of my way to go find some black velvet and lace," she said.

"It's a little bit frightening seeing this become mainstream when it's always been something I've been an outcast for."

Ms Vex said colour wasn't a complete no-no, provided it was restricted to tiny pops of purple, red or green with silver accents and lace.

Brisbane boutique Bessie Head already is stocking key winter pieces including a Morticia Addams-inspired floor-length creation by Manning Cartell.

Store buyer Marnie Byrnes said she believed the global economic gloom was driving fashion back to basics.

"If people want to go goth, look for chains, corset-style, frills, tulle and obviously a lot of black," she said.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25093264-5013173,00.html

Gothic Kittens

2009-02-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

Woman accused of piercing 'gothic' kittens will face charges in county court 1:47 p.m.

By Bob Kalinowski
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:48 PM EST
A woman accused of animal cruelty for piercing the ears of kittens, cutting off their tails, and marketing them as gothic will face the charges in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Holly Crawford, 34, of Sweet Valley, was in Luzerne County Central Court today for a preliminary hearing.

“This was tying a rubber band around a cat’s tail so tight that it falls off,” said Deputy District Attorney David Pedri. “She caused the cats pain. She did this to sell them to make money.”

Crawford’s defense attorney, Demetrius Fannick, argued state law “goes on and on” about specific acts of animal cruelty, but nothing about piercing cats and docking their tails.

Prosecutors said a part of the cruelty included Crawford tying rubber bands around the tails of the cats so they would fall off. She’d then pierce the nub.

“There’s nothing in the statute that expressly says you can’t pierce your cat’s ears or necks, or even crop their tails,” Fannick said. “It’s a case that you will be for or against as an animal owner. Let the legislature say you can’t pierce or tattoo your animal, and it will be different.”

Magisterial District Judge Paul Hadzick said the case was a gray area in the law and predicted it might one day cause for a clarification in the law. At the very least, he said it’s a case that should be decided by a jury or a higher judge.

“I don’t think that the decision is for me to be made here,” Hadzick said.

Charges were dropped against co-defendant William Blansett, 37, after Crawford admitted she was solely responsible for piercing the cats. The charges stem from a search warrant executed Dec. 17 at Crawford’s 71 Dobson Road home, where the business was based.

Animal control officers and state police located three pierced kittens and two others. The kittens had their ears pierced with 14-gauge jewelry, a standard size for eyebrow and belly piercings in humans. It caused their ears to flop. Their necks were pierced with submission rings. One cat’s tail had fallen off and another had a rubber band tied tightly around its tail.

Arrest papers say Crawford and Blansett bragged they would put “a rubber band tightly around the base of the tail to stop circulation to the tail, which eventually falls off.” Blansett, of 188 Gordon Road, Sweet Valley, described it as a “castrating band,” police said.

Crawford told the official “the kittens cried when she pierced them, but seemed fine afterward,” arrest papers say.

Members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals brought the case to the attention of local investigators after seeing an advertisement for “Gothic kittens” on the online auction site eBay. One PETA official, acting as a possible buyer, visited the home on Dec. 16. The suspects displayed the mutilated kittens and told the official about how they planned to obtain and disfigure more of the cats to sell, arrest papers say.

http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2009/02/17/news/doc499b064a67cd3862028437.txt

Gothic Fashion sparks Brawl

2009-02-25T11:01:00.001-08:00

Gothic fashion sparks brawl

12:00a.m. 3rd February 2009

| By Rae Wilson
Gothic fashion sparks brawl

Kelly Owen was injured after a brawl on the Sunshine Coast.

Gothic clothing has been revealed as the spark for a brawl near a Mooloolaba coffee shop on a Sunday night last July.

Gregory Paul Gallagher, 37, and Stacey Louise Hober, 34, both from Parrearra pleaded guilty in Caloundra Magistrates Court on Monday to common assault.

The couple were expected to face a summary trial but changed their plea after charges were downgraded from assault occasioning bodily harm.

Kelly Owen, who had been celebrating her 21st birthday, received a cut under her eye and facial bruising in the assault about 10pm on July 6, 2008. Her 14-year-old friend had a lump to the left side of her forehead and bruising to her face.

The young women, who were out for a quiet dinner and coffee on the tourist strip, did not know the couple who attacked them.

Police prosecutor Stephen Winstanley told Caloundra Magistrates Court the couple had made slurs about the girls’ clothing and then made threats to hit them.

He said the situation became an all-in brawl where Ms Hober hit one of the girls in the forehead and then jumped on top her.

The girl received two further punches to the temple and jaw.

Sergeant Winstanley said another girl tried to pull Ms Hober away but she was overpowered and had several punches thrown at her. It was not suggested those punches made contact.

Sgt Winstanley said the girl pulled Ms Hober’s hair in retaliation and then Mr Gallagher punched her in the face.

He said ambulance and police were called and the girls were treated at the hospital.

The couple’s defence team submitted the whole incident could have been handled better.

Ms Hober was fined $250 for two counts of common assault.

Mr Gallagher was fined $200 for one count of assault.

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/feb/03/gothic-fashion-sparks-brawl/

Gothic Lace up Top

2009-02-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

$29.95
Regular and plus sizes

Laced Up Lolita Socks

2009-02-25T10:58:00.001-08:00

Tabitha's Oracle Necklace Set

2009-02-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.goodgoth.com/ladiesnecklaces.htm

Steampunk Key Necklace

2009-01-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Death's Keyring necklace

Steampunk Skirt

2009-01-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Gaslight Skirt

Wide Calf Boots

2009-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Exotica 2020 boots with wide calf

New Neo-Victorian boots

2009-01-09T09:52:00.001-08:00

Splendor-130 boots by Funtasma/Demonia

New glitter Mascara

2009-01-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

New Glitter Mascara at goodgoth.com

Amuse brand. Only $1.99 ea.

Skull Bracelets

2008-07-08T13:50:00.001-07:00

border=0>

Goodgoth new styles

2008-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00


Cafe Top +plus size+ click photo for more info and ordering	Death's Garden Top +plus size+ click photo for more info and ordering	Tartling Top +plus size+ click photo for more info and ordering

Fallen geisha Top click photo for more info and ordering	Skull Bangle Set of 5 click photo for more info and ordering	Appropbation Top click photo for more info and ordering

Luna Park Cami click photo for more info and ordering	Black victorian Lace Bag click photo for more info and ordering	Frozen charlotte Top click photo for more info and ordering

Devil Dolls Dress click photo for more info and ordering	Mind Games Dress click photo for more info and ordering	Tudor top click photo for more info and ordering

Rainbow Skull Bangle click photo for more info and ordering	Floral Scroll Bangle click photo for more info and ordering	'Poker Chip' Skull Earrings click photo for more info and ordering

Velvet Headbands click photo for more info and ordering	Corset Lacing Messenger bag click photo for more info and ordering

Black Victorian Lace Purse

2008-07-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Black Victorian Lace Purse
Beautiful black velvet and lace bag with ribbon roses and sequens trim.
11" wide. 7" tall, not including handle. Lined interior with inner zipper pockets $19.95

Goths! in Catholic school!

2008-07-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

ST DAVID’S High School in Dalkeith was a place where most parents felt secure in the belief their children were being educated in a moral environment which protected them from some of the more disturbing aspects of youth culture. But the trial of Luke Mitchell for the gruesome murder of Jodi Jones has rocked that assumption to its foundations.

The police investigation into the killing exposed a culture of drug taking, violence and Satanism among some pupils which raised disturbing questions for the authorities that run the Roman Catholic secondary school - one of 59 such schools in Scotland.

Midlothian Council has refused to reveal what action, if any, was taken to tackle Mitchell’s behaviour, but senior school sources admit teachers were "not in control" of the teenager.

Now parents and politicians have demanded an investigation into why a pupil with a history of violence, drug dealing, underage sex and a fascination with Satan was allowed to continue his damaging behaviour seemingly unchecked.

Mitchell’s criminal activities and his attempts to corrupt other pupils with drugs and Satanism were no secret at St David’s. But at a time when the Scottish Executive’s policy was to avoid excluding troublesome pupils, he was allowed to remain at the school, mixing with other youngsters - one of whom would pay for her relationship with him with her life.

One school source said:

"Luke’s problem at school was indiscipline. He had control over a group of pupils who were scared of him. But he would also defy teachers. If he didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t do it.

"I don’t think the teachers had control of him. I think he was in control."

Mitchell was recognised as the ringleader of a group of pupils who were involved in "Goth" culture, fascinated with Satanism and the occult. Yet sources at the school say his behaviour was not brought to the attention of the school board.

One parent close to the school management team said: "It’s very worrying it wasn’t picked up and dealt with earlier. Parents were not told there was any problem with Satanism and I don’t remember hearing Luke Mitchell’s name raised. If teachers had worries, but these weren’t acted on sufficiently because of the local authority, that would be very concerning."

There were signs of serious problems with pupil behaviour at St David’s even before Jodi’s murder. In 2001 13-year-old Emma Robertson hanged herself in her bedroom at the family home in Dalkeith. Fellow pupils claimed she had been the victim of bullying, which some said was rife in the school. The then headmaster, Joe Boyd, denied bullying was a serious problem. Just one month later a further scandal hit St David’s when four 14-year-olds were reported to the police after being caught with cannabis in the school gym. All four were suspended, but none were permanently excluded.

Given such incidents, a report by government school inspectors in September 2001 makes remarkable retrospective reading. The inspectors not only failed to uncover any serious problems at St David’s, they praised the "good standard of education within a very caring and supportive atmosphere".

The report noted that "the guidance team, although containing mostly new and acting guidance teachers, managed their respective responsibilities well" and there were "very good" arrangements for supporting children’s welfare.

Yet some teachers were concerned about Mitchell’s obsession with violence and the occult. He was referred to an educational psychologist after an assault on another pupil when he was in primary school, aged 11. By January 2003 some teachers at St David’s were also growing concerned.

English teacher Geraldine Mackie received an essay from Mitchell on the subject of the end of the world. In it, he described himself as violent and Satanic. "It was quite worrying," Mackie told Mitchell’s trial. "There were quite a few things in it I found a little bit disturbing. I thought he needed to have a little chat with someone - perhaps he was in need of support."

A spokeswoman for Midlothian council refused to confirm what support Mitchell received, saying Jodi’s murderer was entitled to have that information kept confidential.

But what is clear is that Mitchell’s behaviour continued to spiral out of control. At one point he carved the Satanic number 666 into his arm with a school compass, and it has been reported that a music teacher intervened as Mitchell throttled another pupil. On that occasion it is believed that he was referred to an educational psychologist, but refused treatment. A spokeswoman for Midlothian council refused to comment on whether police, social workers or mental health professionals had been approached by the school about Mitchell. Asked if the school had tackled Mitchell’s drug dealing, she insisted it "was not happening inside the school".

Fiona Hyslop, SNP education spokeswoman, said failures in communication between agencies responsible for children was a common feature in tragic cases such as Jodi’s death.

She added: "The Executive does have a responsibility to review and reflect whether the support agencies could have worked better together."

Hyslop also criticised the Executive policy, abandoned last September, of giving head teachers targets to cut the number of pupils excluded, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Councillor Peter Boyes, education leader for Midlothian Council, suggested a review of what had happened at St David’s would now begin. "Questions are going to be asked on Monday," he said. "We will have a look to see if we need to make any changes. We will examine our policies to see if they are successful or whether we have to change certain aspects, such as more checks in the corners of the playground. We have policies against drugs and knives and will examine whether they need to be improved."

A spokesman for the Catholic Church said the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) had not been aware of any concerns about Mitchell, who is not a Catholic.

He said issues such as drug dealing and violence in schools were a matter for the council.

Shortly before Jodi’s murder, a new headteacher was appointed at St David’s, Marian Docherty, and since then the school has moved to a new building on a shared campus with Dalkeith High school.

At a service to remember Jodi on July 3 2003, Mrs Docherty said that she had been impressed by the way youngsters at St David’s had helped one another after the tragedy.

Many in the local community have seen these changes as a chance for a positive new start for the school’s staff and pupils following the tragedy.

Donald MacKay, Midlothian’s director of education, said staff from St David’s had attended drug training sessions and added: "St David’s take this issue very seriously and has a robust anti-drug policy which follows council and Scottish Executive guidance".

He also stressed that Mitchell’s carrying of knives did not reflect the general situation in Midlothian schools.

He said: "This is not an issue within Midlothian schools but if there was a suspicion that a pupil was carrying a knife staff would take immediate action and pupil and staff safety is paramount."

A spokesman for the Scottish Tory party said: "People in Dalkeith and the surrounding areas will want to know that the local authority, the education authorities and the school have in the past done everything they could and will if necessary learn any lessons there are from this tragedy."

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Safe-Catholic-school-that-let.2597261.jp

Dangerous Cargo Skirt

2008-07-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Black Drawstring cotton skirt has two rip cord drawstrings to cinch it up.
97" cotton 3% spandex
Made in U.S.A
$19.95

New Corset Lacing Messenger Bag

2008-07-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

Canvas Messenger bag with front corset lacing
Click image for more information

'Emily the Strange' conjures movie deal

2008-06-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

'Emily the Strange' conjures movie deal

submitted by: Antonello Blueberry

June 1, 2008

According to the Hollywood Reporter on Friday, Rob Reger's 'Emily the Strange' is headed for the big screen.

Dark Horse Entertainment president Mike Richardson is set to produce a feature film that would tell the origin of the gothic figure and her four mysterious cats.

Reger created Emily as a graphic design for use on stickers and skateboard in the early 1990s. The designed spawned a multi-million dollar empire that lead to comics published by Dark Horse in 2005.

"Emily herself is very appealing little girl, there's an edge to her," Richardson said to the Reporter. "There is something very alluring to her image; people see it and respond to it immediately."

Reger has come up with a story for the film that will offer insights into the origins of Emily and her four cats Sabbath, Nee-Chee, Miles and Mystery. It will also have 13 new characters with names like Earwig, Umlaut, McFreeley and Officer Summers.

"In their life, everybody has, especially in the teenage years, looked to find themselves and felt like they don't fit in," said Reger. "Emily represents that person, but in a positive light. She prefers to be different and to look at things in her own way. She's a great role model for people to think for themselves."

Parasitic Twin

2008-05-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

Girl's twin is found inside her stomach

Doctors in Greece removed embryonic growth from 9-year-old

Demons Like Goths

2008-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ontario archdiocese appoints two new exorcists

Exorcisms on the rise, especially in Italy

Jennifer Green, Canwest News Service

Published: Saturday, April 05, 2008

OTTAWA -- Ottawa's Catholic archbishop has appointed at least two new exorcists, one for the English and one for the French community, replacing the region's last exorcist who retired five years ago.

The archdiocese will not name the priests, or say exactly how many there are for fear of a flood of phone calls.

Msgr. Kevin Beach says all the men are experienced clergy with overseas experience, some in areas of the world where belief in demons is more robust than North America.

Email to a friend Printer friendly

Font:

He said it wasn't easy to find men with the right qualifications, nor was it easy to persuade them to take the duties.

"I think they had to give prayerful consideration. If they are looking for the job, that's not the person you want."

The archdiocese doesn't receive any more than seven or eight calls a year about exorcism.

But exorcism has always been part of the Catholic ministry, even if it has fallen by the wayside.

Under Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor John Paul II, talk of Satan and his minions has made a comeback.

In the past two decades, Italy alone has increased the ranks of its exorcists from 20 to 350.

Just before Christmas, Rome's chief exorcist, Gabriel Amorth, indicated the pope wanted an exorcist in every diocese in the world.

The Vatican press office later toned down Amorth's statement, saying the pope had no intention of "ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists."

But Benedict XVI clearly supports their work, and an Ash Wednesday homily from Vatican City reminded the faithful Satan still stalks our world, whatever modern rationalism may say. Exorcists describe the ideal candidate as a priest's priest, who prays and celebrates mass daily.

He believes in demons but almost never believes they have someone in their clutches, at least not at first.

He is not someone who sees himself as a hero, battling Satan single-handedly.

"There are those in our society, even within the church, who have a kind of lust for this topic," an American specialist told a 2007 seminar on exorcism.

"And I would advise you, if that is part of your motivation, either get rid of it or get out. It has nothing to do with helping the people who need it and it's a vulnerability in front of any demon."

Most important, an exorcist is a good listener who can lend a sympathetic ear, administer the sacraments, and, if necessary, nudge someone toward psychiatric help as well.

Jeffrey Grob, exorcist at the archdiocese of Chicago, and a former doctoral student at Ottawa's Saint Paul University, says an exorcist in a large, ethnically diverse diocese might get 100 calls a month, mostly from women.

The callers complain of bad luck, or they hear or see things they believe are evil.

But those who think they are possessed usually aren't, says Grob.

He adds that people can sin with gusto but it doesn't mean demons are at fault.

In fact, ordinary sinning doesn't seem to interest demons much; they go for people reading horoscopes, playing around with New Age spiritualities, lonely, alienated kids getting into a Goth lifestyle, and especially anyone having a fun night with a Ouija board.

Exorcists talk about "opening a door" to the demonic, meaning that not everyone who reads their horoscope will tumble to the depths of hell, but that anything that loosens a Christian worldview loosens the soul.

Almost all demonic activity is in the milder forms of simple temptation, moving through oppression, obsession and finally, full-blown possession, a very rare phenomenon marked by superhuman strength, a strong aversion to church and the sacraments, and knowledge of foreign languages or esoteric information that the victim could not have otherwise known.

Any priest can administer simple prayers of deliverance for the lesser problems.

For a full exorcism, the parish must eliminate any medical explanation and get permission from the bishop.

The priest conducts the liturgy, with lay assistants answering and holding the afflicted if need be.

The ceremony itself is about an hour or so, but it may have to be repeated several times.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

Astral Body leaving physical body

2008-03-31T18:02:00.000-07:00

A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (commonly known as a myoclonic twitch) which occurs during the transition into hypnagogia. It is often described as an electric shock or falling sensation, and can cause movement of the body in bed. Hypnic jerks are experienced by most people, especially when exhausted or sleeping uncomfortably.

Hypnic jerks are usually felt once or twice per night. More regular, and usually less intense, hypnic jerks often occur during normal sleep. In extreme cases, this may be classified as a disorder called periodic limb movement. The person with the disorder will usually sleep through the events.

Although the ultimate cause of the hypnic jerk is unknown, a common hypothesis is that the brain misinterprets relaxation as the sleeping primate falling out of a tree .
When a subject is deprived of sleep and is trying to fight sleep, hypnic jerks can occur more often. This normally happens to subjects who have deprived themselves of sleep for longer than 24 hours, or to those who have recently woken up from insufficient amounts of sleep.

i.e Let's make it even MORE illegal to kill someone. Yeah.

2008-03-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sophie's brutal murder unites Goths against 'hate crime'

The brutal murder of Sophie Lancaster led to a huge outpouring of grief and anger within the online Goth community.

Thousands of web users from around the world logged on to www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie to post messages of sympathy and to share their experiences of abuse suffered due to their appearance.

A memorial fund, Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere (Sophie), was also established by her family and friends to raise money to teach young people about alternative cultures and to respect everyone.

Ironically, the first seeds of the campaign were planted a week before the 20-year-old Goth was kicked to death.

Her mother, Sylvia Lancaster, told how Sophie and her boyfriend, Rob Maltby, also a Goth, were subjected to abuse in a local KFC restaurant.

"As soon as we walked in there were comments," she said.

"'Oh look dad, there's some Goths there' or 'oh look he's got make-up on'.

"If kids do that when their parents are with them what do they say when they are not there?

"You would even get people tutting and saying 'God's sake'.

"It's a steady build-up of this type of thing they have to put up with which is quite nauseating really."

That incident triggered the idea to highlight prejudice against Goths but within days her daughter was lying in a coma in hospital. She never regained consciousness and died two weeks later..

"We were with her all the time (during the coma). We weren't aware of anything going on outside.

"It was only two days before she died that I thought 'oh my God, they've killed her'.

"You hope she's going to get better. On the day she died I knew there was no chance but you still hope she's going to pull through."

Ms Lancaster said the website - which was launched while she was in hospital - has given her a lot of comfort.

"It's been wonderful. People have been really supportive.

"When people say a card gives them comfort you think that's a load of rubbish, but it does give you support because then you think you're not on your own.

"The attack on Sophie has been a catalyst. I feel angry and the website has given me a way to channel that, otherwise I don't know what I'd do."

More than 4,000 people signed an online Downing Street petition urging the Government to widen the definition of hate crime to include offences committed because of a person's appearance or subcultural interests.

Sophie's myspace website was inundated with accounts from Goths worldwide of being physically assaulted from an early age.

"Random attacks on youngsters from the age of 13 onwards appear quite common everywhere," Ms Lancaster said.

"I think it's been a hidden problem for a number of years and we want to bring it to people's attention."

When asked why these assaults take place, Ms Lancaster said: "When I was younger it was mods and rockers who fought it out between themselves.

"Now there are alternative cultures and there are so-called chavs. The Goths are seen as easy pickings as most of them are not going to fight back as they are a non-violent community.

"Making it a hate crime would change things as the attacks and abuse suffered would be taken more seriously."
*******************************************************

(eyeroll)

In 2002, Murray was not allowed to continue his participation with Youth with a Mission after he played a song at the YWAM Christmas banquet from Mari

2008-03-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Police report reveals secret, dark life of church shooter
written by: Paula Woodward , 9Wants to Know Investigative Reporter
and: Jace Larson , Investigative Reporter
posted by: Sara Gandy , Web Producer

# YWAM Timeline
9NEWS is not responsible for content on any 3rd party website
KUSA - An Arvada Police report shows Matthew Murray's hidden life involved books on Satan, more than a half million computer images of pornography and downloads of school shootings.

The investigative report, released by Arvada Police on the murders of two people at Youth with a Mission last December, includes a timeline of killer Matthew Murray's activities between the shootings in Arvada and the shootings at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

It also includes statements from Murray's parents that he exhibited signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a child. It also states that when he was a teenager and a member of Youth with a Mission, Murray claimed he was "bipolar" and openly talked about hearing "voices."

In 2002, Murray was not allowed to continue his participation with Youth with a Mission after he played a song at the YWAM Christmas banquet from Marilyn Manson. Manson is a well-known Goth singer. The staff of YWAM contacted Murray's parents and informed them of their decision.

Murray, according to the Arvada Police supplemental report, contacted another religious group, King's Kids. He also began "researching" other theologies including satanic organizations and occult groups.

His best friend was his father, according to the report, and they would often have theological discussions.

On December 7, 2007, Murray created the posting, "You Christians brought this on yourself." The posting was created on December 7, but Murray did not post it until Dec. 9 at 10:03 a.m. after he had shot and killed two people at the YWAM building in Arvada shortly after midnight on Dec. 9.

Murray was seen by his mother at their home at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, just hours before the killings in Arvada. According to his mother, Murray was in good spirits. He told his mother he was going out with friends and not to fix him dinner.

According to cell phone records, Murray left Denver Saturday night and drove to Arvada. He arrived at about 10:30 p.m. Around midnight on Saturday, Dec. 8, Murray knocked on the door of the dorm room of YWAM, walked in saying he was a former member and was going to stay the night.

In the next 30 minutes, Murray was confronted by two members of YWAM in what is described as a "cordial" conversation and told he could not stay for the night or for a couple of hours while waiting for friends.

Murray was escorted to the end of the hall to the door. It was then that he turned and fired 15 rounds from a 9MM handgun. The shots hit four people, killing two and injuring two. The exterior door was closed and Murray was locked out, but he continued to bang on the door to try to get back inside.

Arvada Police received the first 911 call at 12:29 a.m. on Dec. 9. The first officer arrived on the scene one minute and four seconds later.

Murray had already run from the scene. He received phone calls from his father at 12:31 a.m. and 12:51 a.m. At 1:25 a.m., Murray spoke with his father for approximately two minutes by phone. He was out of breath and anxious and told his father he had been in an altercation in a restaurant.

He then drove home and was on his computer for 15 minutes beginning at approximately 3:30 a.m. His mother last saw him at about 9 a.m. That was about nine hours after the Arvada shootings and three hours before the Colorado Springs shootings. They talked while scraping snow off the windows of their cars. Murray seemed to be in "good spirits," according to his mother. His father was out of town.

Murrary started driving to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs at 10:19, Sunday morning, Dec. 9. During his drive, he spoke with his father by phone at around noon. His father had changed his airplane flight so he could come home and be with his son because of the "alleged altercation" at the restaurant the night before. Forty minutes later, after talking with his father, Murray killed two sisters at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. He then took his own life after being shot by a security guard.

Murray was armed with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition which he was either carrying or had inside his car. Murray did not leave a note as to why he killed the four people at YWAM in Arvada or New Life in Colorado Springs.

During the resulting investigation, Murray's computer revealed in excess of a half million images which consisted of adult pornography, child pornography and homosexual pornography. Murray had numerous computer downloads with information from school shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech and the Platte Canyon school shooting. Police photos of his room show disarray and chaos with boxes, clothes and books stacked on top of each other. He had several books on witchcraft, Satan, Practical Homicide, and how to survive a tactical shooting. He spent more than $2,700 on ammunition and guns and charged it to his own credit card.

The report concludes Murray acted alone in both the shootings in Arvada and Colorado Springs. The report from Colorado Springs police on the shootings at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs was released on March 12.

(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)

they saw a handful of “goth” girls, dressed in all black

2008-03-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Four teenage girls have been charged in a Thursday fire that damaged an East Brainerd landmark, a Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman said.

Bruce Garner, a fire department spokesman, said the North Georgia girls — two 15-year-olds, one 14 and one 13 — were charged with arson, reckless endangerment and reckless burning. They were booked into the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center on Monday. They are not identified in accordance with Chattanooga Times Free Press policy on not naming juvenile suspects.

The mother and father of two of the girls voluntarily brought them in for questioning after learning of the fire at the old Narrowbridge restaurant, Capt. James Whitmire said. The girls’ mother said she took the pair, along with two friends, to Heritage Park on Thursday night.

The mother told investigators she sat in the car reading while she thought the girls were playing, Mr. Garner said. Investigators said that’s when the four teenagers started the fire inside the abandoned structure. The building is next to Heritage Park. The other two girls were located and arrested Monday, Mr. Garner said.

Two 16-year-old friends, who also were in the park that evening, said they saw a handful of “goth” girls, dressed in all black, playing with matches inside and around the building.

“They all had matches, and they were lighting them on the side of the house,” said Brittany Carden, 16. “They’d light a fire and then stomp it out with their feet.”

Miss Carden and her friend left the building to sit by a creek behind the building, she said.

“We came back, and it was on fire,” Miss Carden said.

All that happened around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire damaged two rooms in the abandoned building at 7801 East Brainerd Road. It took firefighters about an hour and a half to beat back the flames, which had moved up walls into the attic and onto the roof, Mr. Garner said.

Eight Chattanooga fire companies responded to the incident along with police, emergency medical services and county rescue units. No one was injured, but Mr. Garner said the fire endangered many people.

“It’s not just a risk to the emergency responders, but sending our trucks down East Brainerd Road at rush hour presents hazards,” Mr. Garner said. “It endangered motorists’ lives, not to mention the firefighters.”

Ten years earlier the Narrowbridge, with a red-brick facade and white columns, was one of Chattanooga’s nicer restaurants, several former patrons said.

Late in 2007, the city entered a deal with Tim Hennon, the building’s former owner, to swap parking spaces downtown for the surrounding property and restaurant building, which will be demolished and turned into a botanical garden, said Richard Beeland, a spokesman for Mayor Ron Littlefield.

CHARGES

Four North Georgia teenage girls have been charged in connection with Thursday’s fire at the former Narrowbridge restaurant. Here are their charges:

* Arson

* Reckless endangerment

* Reckless Burning

Fleurs du Mal gown

2008-03-24T15:43:00.001-07:00

The new Fleurs du Mal formal Gown
at Goodgoth.com

2008-03-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

When good girls pretend go bad, they go to Camden Town. Yes, I am Guilty. I have never seen Goths in my entire life and I wanted to go to Camden Town to ‘see’ them.

GOD HATES GOTHS

2008-03-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

'GOD HATES GOTHS . COM' IS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE 'PARENTS AGAINST GOTH' ORGANIZATION
GOTH IS A SICK, DEPRAVED AND VIOLENT SUB-CULTURE. IT IS A SUB-CULTURE IMMERSED IN THE OCCULT, VAMPIRISM, WITCHCRAFT, DEATH, HORROR, RAPE, SUICIDE AND PERVERSITY.

WHILE ALL SUB-CULTURES ARE INHERENTLY BAD, GOTH IS THE WORST OF THESE SUB-CULTURES. BY DEFINITION THEY ARE “SUB” (ie. LOWER OR INFERIOR) TO NORMAL HARD-WORKING CULTURES. AS IN ‘SUB-STANDARD’ CULTURE. THEY DO NOT PROMOTE ANY VALUES THAT BENEFIT SOCIETY. THEY DO NOT PROMOTE ANY VALUES THAT MAKE FOR STABLE FAMILIES. THEY DO NOT PROMOTE VALUES THAT POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS FIND APPEALING. NO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES WANTS TO EMPLOY SOME DRUGGED-UP LOSER WITH PAINTED NAILS, NOSE-PIERCINGS, TATTOED ARMS OR GREEN HAIR.

THE GOTHIC LIFESTYLE CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD - REBELLION. THE GOTHIC LIFESTYLE IS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF REBELLION. IT IS A LIFESTYLE DESIGNED TO SHOCK AND DISGUST, TO REPULSE AND HORRIFY. IT IS A REBELLION AGAINST SOCIETY, REBELLION AGAINST THE NORM, REBELLION AGAINST PARENTS. IT IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD.

This wasn’t a Goth girl or a bad kid

2008-03-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

Heroin Use Hits Home
Westfield grad’s death shocks school.
By Bonnie Hobbs
March 20, 2008

Until last week, the recent, heroin-related death of a 19-year-old Westfield High grad was known only to her family, friends, some students and Fairfax County police.
But news of the tragedy burst forth during a March 13, drug-and-alcohol forum at the school, when parents who’d heard the rumor asked Principal Tim Thomas, point-blank, "How bad is the heroin problem at school and what are you doing to address it?"
He answered them honestly, and then the girl’s uncle stood up, faced the 100 or so parents in attendance and said the victim was his niece. To protect her identity, Centre View is not identifying him; but he spoke from the heart and pulled no punches.
"I’m the uncle of the girl who died, and the anger I feel is intense," he said. "This wasn’t a Goth girl or a bad kid. She used to be a cheerleader at this school, and a golfer."
He said she suffered a traumatic incident at age 13, but didn’t tell her parents until she was 17. "She had traumatic-stress syndrome, and her parents got help for her," he said. "But she started ingesting heroin last August."
"Little groups [in the community] have it," said the uncle. And, he continued, "The night of Wednesday, March 5, "My niece and her boyfriend went to a dealer and purchased heroin. But he had to get home, so she came into her house with the heroin and went downstairs to her bedroom in the basement."
She and the boy phoned each other during the night and, eventually, "Something about her didn’t seem right," said her uncle. "But the boy’s mother wouldn’t let him leave the house so — instead of calling my brother and his wife — he called the dealer and asked him to go to her house and peek in her window."
"So he did and, when he saw how she was laying, he panicked and went to Safeway and called 911," said the uncle. "The police came to the house and found my niece dead."
He then pleaded with anyone who knows someone using drugs to try to stop them. "Kids have problems," he said. "And for every well-grounded one, there may be one not so well-grounded — and they need good friends to support them. Secrets have to be coughed up."
The uncle said his family is devastated and upset by the loss of a young girl with so much promise, and he warned parents that it can happen to anyone. "If you have a hunch [your children are using drugs], go with it," he said. "Talk to them. Keep the lines of communication open; this is a serious situation. Don’t let things go by you because they’ll go by you so fast that they’ll knock you down."

AS FOR THOMAS, he said the heroin problem at Westfield is "real bad for about 10 or 15 kids. The most significant impact is that it has hundreds — if not thousands — of students scared. We’ve spent the last week interviewing well over 100 students about their friends [who might use heroin or know others who do] — some voluntarily, some not."
Thomas said the 10-15 heroin users already identified "are from middle, upper-middle and upper-class families — all white students — and I’m very concerned about a small number of students. I think we’re dealing with kids with too much time and too much money."
However, Westfield’s principal said he was especially impressed by "our kids’ willingness to rat each other out. The police are also dealing with some criminal investigations." Earlier in the forum, student moderator Kent Bailey had praised the school security staff, and Thomas reiterated to parents that "our security staff, headed by Ray Clements, is great. Your kids are safe and secure."
According to Thomas, the numbers and range of students who’ve talked to school officials and other authorities after the tragedy is widespread. Said Thomas, "It ranges from those who’ve never used [drugs] before, to those who do marijuana infrequently, to those who snort coke, those who do marijuana frequently and those who use heroin."
Thomas said some of the most difficult expulsions he's had at Westfield this year have begun with him saying, "I never thought I'd be here with you." So, he told parents, "If you think your kids aren't doing anything, think again. And any high-school principal who says it's not happening [in his or her school] is a liar."
He urged parents to "check their room, look through their stuff — be nosy — and communicate. Of those students we're most concerned about, we've had conversations with them and their parents and they're in some kind of intervention."
But, warned Thomas, "Kids are snorting it — and the line of heroin they're snorting is no larger than a staple. It's mixed with other things, sometimes, and they're hooked. It's in our community, folks; if you want it, you can get it."

"IN THE LAST couple weeks, the school's been through a lot of difficult incidents," he said. "A family's house burned down, on Wednesday [March 5] a graduate passed away and, Friday night [March 7], there was heroin action in the community and a close call with a Centreville student. Former and current students were involved and paramedics were called. And this week, another student [got into trouble]."
With all that happening, said Thomas, "Our students are stressed out and extremely vulnerable — and spring break couldn't come at a worse time for them. Keep an eye on your kids, know what they're doing and know who they're hanging out with."
The Westfield grad who died was buried Saturday in Manassas, near other relatives, including her grandparents. At the time of the tragedy, she was taking classes at NOVA. Memorial donations may be sent to Menninger Clinic, 2801 Gessner Drive, Houston, Texas 77080 — where she was treated in November.
"The autopsy isn't back, yet," said her uncle. "But we feel it could have been the combination of her prescription drug for depression, plus the heroin, that killed her. We were all shocked to find out she was using heroin, but I don't want Westfield to suffer [a stigma] because of this. We're just typical of what's happening in society."
The student panelists at last week's forum also defended their school. "I went for three years not knowing people did drugs at Westfield," said Lindsay Thomas. "Now, what's happened is mind-boggling and shocking."
"But there are good kids that don't do this, and you can surround yourself with them," said Emily McClelland. "The stuff that goes on shakes you up and makes you nervous," added Lindsay Thomas. "But most of all, I'm proud to go to Westfield. There are a lot more good things going on here, than bad."

List of inventors killed by their own inventions

2008-03-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is a list of inventors who have been killed by inventions they designed or were involved in.

* William Bullock, born 1813, died 1867, Bullock had his foot crushed while trying to repair a rotary printing press that he had invented. The resulting infection would later prove fatal.
* Otto Lilienthal died August 10, 1896 from injuries sustained two days earlier in a crash of one of his hang gliders.
* Thomas Midgley, Jr. accidentally strangled himself with the cord of a pulley-operated mechanical bed of his own design in 1944.
* Alexander Bogdanov, a physician and scientist, conducted an experiment for a "rejuvenation" technique wherein he deliberately gave himself a transfusion of blood from a student who suffered from malaria and tuberculosis. He died of the subsequent infections.
* Franz Reichelt. "The Flying Tailor" jumped off the Eiffel Tower while trying out his combined overcoat/parachute invention. The parachute failed to open and he died from the fall.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

2008-03-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Celebration on ice, with morbid twist
Joey Bunch
The Denver Post

NEDERLAND — Frozen Dead Guy Days heats up to its finale today with events including frozen beach volleyball and the awards ceremony.

The festival is a three-day celebration of "Grandpa" Bredo Morstoel, the resident who is not quite here but not quite gone. The frozen dead man stays in a crate of dry ice just outside town until science can figure out how to wake him up. Each year, more than 50,000 of the most irreverent people show up in Nederland to be cool with Grandpa.

"It's the most unique festival you'll ever go to," said Julie Ward of Orlando, Fla., the daughter of town administrator Jim Stevens. "Where else can you possibly go where they have anything like this?"

Frozen Dead Guy Days coordinator Teresa Warner said the festival appeals to the oddball in all of us — celebrating the afterlife of a guy on ice.

To get to the festival, take Colorado 119 (Canyon Boulevard in downtown Boulder) 18 miles up into the mountains. RTD is offering bus service from the Boulder Transit Center, with stops at Eldora Mountain Resort, Nederland High School, the Nederland park-n-Ride and at Magnolia Street at Colorado 119. Joey Bunch, The Denver Post

Screaming Maud Ghost in CT

2008-03-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

Nooks And Crannies: Hell Hollow Road
By Kenton Robinson ,
Published on 3/15/2008

What: Hell Hollow Road, a twisty track through the darkling woods of Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown.

Why you should know it: Word has it, it's haunted. This is where, more than 300 years ago, British soldiers killed a little Pequot girl. To this day, hikers and hunters say you can hear her screams.

“Screaming Maud”: She is known by this name (or Maude), though no one can say how an Indian girl would come by such a moniker. But then, as with so many local legends, what really happened here is lost in the mists of time.

Another Maude? And, in fact, there is another story of another Maude, a witch, who was hanged and buried here.

Investigations: Several teams of ghost hunters have visited this place and what is believed to be the site of Maud's grave. Some have filed reports of their findings online. Check out the Web sites of Creepy Connecticut or PIG-NE, the Paranormal Investigations Group of New England

Being watched: Mike of Rhode Island, who prefers his last name not be printed, led a team there in the dark of night. “We didn't hear any screams,” he says, but he and a friend felt “an ominous presence” as they walked through the woods in the dark. It was, Mike says, as if someone were following and glaring at them.

Night lights: Mike's team also took a lot of pictures of strange orange lights in the branches of the pitch-black forest. He can offer no explanation for these.

The “goosebump factor”: Mike and his friends assigned the place a goosebump factor of 65, which places it somewhat above “moderate goosebumps on the arms” but slightly below “goosebumps all over the body.” A goosebump factor of 100 would be “full-blown spine-tingling dread.”

EVPs: When members of PIG-NE visited Maud's grave, they reported mysterious drops in temperature (down to minus 4 degrees) and several “EVPs” (Electronic Voice Phenomena) in which the dead whispered into their tape recorders, saying such things as “Wait a minute” and “It's OK, Mommy.” Also, several members reported feelings of ineffable sadness and shortness of breath.

Some debunking: Another visit to Maud's grave, by a group called GHOST (for Grim Hauntings Or Skeptic's Truth) determined that Maud's tombstone — a shattered thing on which the date 1647 (or 1654) is barely legible — was made of modern poured concrete. (Goosebump factor: 0.)

Other apparitions: Several visitors to this place have reported seeing specters of “a lady,” “a hooded figure” and a Civil War soldier. Also, a small yellow ball that looked like a flame. Some have said that if you stand on Maud's grave and say her name, your car will break down.

Off the record: This reporter, being a weenie, visited Hell Hollow Road in broad daylight and so can report no screams. He did leave his digital tape recorder on to capture voices from the grave, and even invited Maud to comment, but the recorder captured only the immense silence of the woods — not one bird song — and his footsteps crunching through the snow. Which raises the question: Are ghosts nocturnal? Do they sleep?

Where's Maud? Maud may haunt this place, but to find her grave, you have to follow Hell Hollow Road into Sterling and cross Route 49 onto Cedar Swamp Road. Just down on the right is a small cemetery, and just beyond that, a path into the woods. Follow this path. Shortly after you cross a stream, you will see a massive, gnarled dead tree on your right (very spooky) and, on your left, the stone foundations of a small shed. Maud's grave is at the center of this. Treat her with respect.

'Close To The Divine': Wiccans aren't so different from other faiths

2008-03-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

'Close To The Divine': Wiccans aren't so different from other faiths

BY GRETCHEN MURRAY
Local columnist

TRAVERSE CITY -- While Christians prepare to celebrate the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter, a lesser known religion is preparing for a major celebration of its own.

As the Earth's axis tilts the northern hemisphere back toward the sun, followers of Wicca, a nature-based religion, will celebrate Ostara, a holy day of seasonal rebirth and renewal, during the vernal equinox on Thursday. In Traverse City, the Rev. Harry C. Dorman is eagerly awaiting the seasonal change.

Dorman is an ordained Wiccan priest and minister affiliated with Circle Sanctuary of Barneveld, Wis. His ministry encompasses spiritual and life counseling, healing work and officiating and supporting various Wiccan spiritual and life rites-of-passage. He also advocates for the freedom of all religions as guaranteed under the Constitution and the need for building tolerance and respect between faiths.

"Rebirth is a part of most religions. Regardless of the specific faith, life is cyclical, seasons are cyclical and really the entire universe and its mechanics are cyclical in some way," Dorman said. "Wicca and nature spirit religions focus on that in a more narrow context than some other religions."

Dorman said that typically, Wiccans observe Ostara with worship conducted in a circle outdoors, weather permitting, but indoors works, too. A flat surface is set within the circle. For Ostara it is placed in the east section of the circle because the spring equinox on the wheel of the year is in the same eastern direction as on the Compass Rose.

An altar is decorated with objects such as flowers, acorns, herbs, eggs and other items preparing to come forth in the spring growth cycle.

"The altar also includes a pentagram, a five-point upright star with each point representing air, fire, earth and water, parts of the divine union of what makes up creation from a Wiccan standpoint. The top point represents spirit," Dorman said. "That is the divine element. It is the same divine element that all religions touch."

He feels the pentagram requires clarification because it is often connotes devil worship or other negative images people or institutions inaccurately associate with Wicca.

"Wiccans don't have a belief in the devil or Satan or any of the anti-Christ images people associate with pagan religions. Any suggestion of that is misinformation, and unfortunately has been fanned by the media and movie makers," he said.

It's myths like this that lead Dorman to believe communication is key for developing tolerance and understanding of the Wiccan faith.

"Wiccans worship in circles because of the cyclical deity being the nature of the seasons. It has no beginning and no end, and it also represents everyone equal within the worship area. There is no elevated person who controls the worship environment," Dorman said.

In fact, Dorman feels that misconceptions about pagan religions in general need some myth busting.

Although frequently maligned, the word pagan comes from the Latin "paganus," referring to people who live in the country.

"When early organized religions began to make their presence felt, the word was used as a joke like 'country bumpkin,'" Dorman said. "As mainstream religions began to take hold, the term pagan was used to describe all religions that weren't part of the prevailing one."

He said that since many of the pagan religions were driven underground, the practices were secretly passed on, adding to the mystique. Dorman said that the myth that "witchcraft" is somehow associated with the black arts is totally wrong; in fact, he said, witchcraft is the term for the prayer side Wicca.

Paganism is a general category, just as in Christianity there are a number of traditions.

Within Paganism there is Druidism, a form of worship more focused and organized than Wicca, and within Wicca there are several traditions people follow. Dorman said the religion holds a lot in common with Native American traditions and has similarities to Celtic and Egyptian, Greek, Scandinavian and other ancient faiths dating back thousands of years.

He estimates that in northern Michigan, several hundred pagans either worship solitarily or meet regularly in groups, especially during the holidays.

"Wiccans greatly value the opportunity to develop relations with other religions. We need that in our society," Dorman said. "I would love to see Traverse City have a religious diversity day, or an interfaith respect conference, where people of all faiths could come together and say, 'These are the things I've heard about you,' and 'This is what we're all about.'"

Since Wicca is not an assertive religion, members tend to avoid making public statements about their faith. Dorman admits that sometimes, it's misunderstanding that breeds confrontations.

"There are some Wiccans who are sensitive to mainstream religion's take on our faith -- that it's not the real McCoy, not acceptable," Dorman said.

But even though they're not vocal, Wiccans tend to be sensitive to hot button social topics and welcome those struggling with issues such as race, ethnic background and sexual orientation.

Although they don't actively recruit members, people seek them out through word of mouth, curiosity or interest. Dorman, who studied three years to become a Wiccan priest, said between 10 and 20 people attend his local Wiccan circle.

And membership is growing. He's always open to constructive discussion on the topic and said the majority of people he talks to tend to be, in their heart of hearts, pretty much middle-road, fair-thinking folks.

"In the end, it's all about being close to the divine," he said.

Hundreds of Gravestones form Garden Wall

2008-03-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Military gravestones found in Burlington garden

By Maya Rao and Sam Wood

Inquirer Staff Writers

Federal authorities are trying to solve an unlikely mystery:

How did hundreds of gravestones that once marked the final resting places of military veterans come to form a garden wall in a 90-year-old man's Burlington Township yard?

Earlier this week, investigators went to the man's Columbus Road home, served a search warrant, removed the stones with a backhoe, and hauled them off to be crushed at a recycling plant.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, which the Department of Veterans Affairs said is handling the investigation, declined to identify the name or address of the man.

No charges have been filed.

"It's hard to characterize, but I think it's fairly uncommon," said Phil Budahn, a spokesman for the Veterans Affairs Department.

The stones, some dating to the Spanish-American War, came from the nearby Beverly National Cemetery, where 48,000 veterans are buried.

While some panicked visitors have been streaming the grounds after hearing about the garden wall made of tombstones, cemetery director Mary Hendley said all of the graves there are properly marked.

Headstones in national cemeteries are routinely replaced when they become damaged or illegible. Because most national cemeteries do double burials of a veteran and spouse, headstones are also replaced for the veteran when the spouse dies to include both names, according to Mike Nacincik, spokesman for the National Cemetery Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The odds are that these are replacement headstones that weren't properly disposed of," Nacincik said.

The department's policy is to shatter the old headstones so they are no longer readable, he said.

Yesterday, an 88-year-old Tabernacle woman turned in a fresh lead to cemetery officials.

Doris Nixon, who identified herself as a lifelong Burlington County resident, said in an interview that her first husband was one of a legion of men who replaced cemetery headstones in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration. The Great Depression-era program offered public jobs for unemployed people.

When the men finished the work, officials gave them the option of taking the old headstones, Nixon said; her husband declined.

"I used to walk over and watch them do all this," said Nixon.

Hendley said she has asked federal officials to check historical records that would corroborate Nixon's story. The records would be held by the U.S. Army, which oversaw the national cemetery system until it was transferred to the Veterans Administration in the 1970s.

the victim had a lip ring and was “goth” in appearance.

2008-03-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

WOMAN FALLS FROM FIVE-STORY GARAGE
WITNESSES SAY SHE WAS DAZED BUT CONSCIOUS AFTER FALLING FROM ROOF OF PARKING GARAGE IN WEST CHESTER
By DAN KRISTIE, Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — A young woman fell five stories from the parking garage at Chestnut and Walnut streets at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, according to witnesses. After the fall, she was conscious, although “dazed,” and her legs were badly broken, according to Sherry McNeely, a borough resident who saw her fall and took care of her until ambulances and police arrived. Police are not releasing the victim’s name until her family is contacted. According to West Chester police Sgt. Marty Deigham, who investigated, the victim was on the roof with three people. Two were male and both were taken to the station for questioning. Advertisement Deigham said he does not suspect foul play, but the investigation is still open. He said that the woman, who is at least 18 years old, was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center for treatment. McNeely, the witness who helped the victim, said that, upon leaving Rite Aid and walking into the parking lot that borders Prescott Alley, she saw the victim and two males behaving suspiciously on the roof of the Mosteller Parking Garage. The victim was standing on the roof ledge with her back to the Rite Aid, McNeely said, and two males were facing her. McNeely said she then called the police. A police news release states someone called them about people who were behaving suspiciously on top of the garage. Shortly after McNeely made the call, she said, the victim fell straight down and landed feet-first on the sidewalk that lines Prescott Alley. McNeely said she was not sure if the victim was pushed or if she fell. When she went over to help, the victim was conscious and complaining about the pain in her legs, McNeely said. “She’s a lucky girl,” she said. “That’s a long way to fall and still be alive.” One of the men taken from the garage was young, and another was older and heavy-set, according to Stephanie Thomas, a borough resident who was on her way to Rite Aid when she saw a crowd gathering outside the garage. Thomas said the young man was screaming, “She fell! She fell!” after the fall. The victim was young, had black hair, and was wearing a lot of makeup, Thomas said. Stephen Swift, a Bayard-Rustin High School student who was standing with his friends by the garage just after the fall, said the victim had a lip ring and was “goth” in appearance. Swift and his friends were at Fenario’s, a nearby café, when they heard about the fall, and, thinking the victim was one of their friends, went to check it out, several of Swift’s friends said. But none of them said they knew the victim, and no one at the garage said they had any idea who she was. The garage is about 60 feet high. The roof is a white lot surrounded by low, red walls. It was empty at 4:20 p.m., 35 minutes after the fall.

Hot Topic's Slow Burn

2008-03-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hot Topic's Slow Burn

By Alyce Lomax March 13, 2008

Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT) hasn't actually been hot for some time. The Goth-inspired retailer reported an increase in fourth-quarter profit, but the fact that its sales are still flagging doesn't give investors much reason to celebrate.

Fourth-quarter net income increased 34% to $11.9 million, or $0.27 per share. Total sales, however, decreased by 8% to $220.7 million. Same-store sales fell 6.3%. Inventory increased 8.7%, so that wasn't really a great piece of news from the balance sheet.

Hot Topic only earned $16 million, or $0.36 per share, for the entire year, so a large chunk of the year's profit came from Q4. As far as guidance goes, in Q1, Hot Topic will be back to the losses -- it expects a net loss of $0.03 per share to $0.06 per share, with comps down in the low-single-digit range.

Long, long ago, back in 2001, it looked like Hot Topic would be the next Gap (NYSE: GPS). But now the trend is not its friend; in hindsight, kids who embrace the Goth/punk lifestyle might not have been the wisest target for a mall-based retailer.

One interesting element from Hot Topic's conference call is that its focus on emerging music instead of major releases is working with customers. Its music segment has gone from a double-digit decrease in the first half of 2007 to positive comps in the second half. Moving away from the mainstream does make more sense -- kids can get major releases anywhere these days, including online, at store such such as Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iTunes.

Happily, Hot Topic recognizes that its edgy brand demands that the company appear credible and authentic; focusing on less well-known bands is a good strategy in that regard. Hot Topic's also working on a digital strategy for music sales as well. (I thought these were important ideas last year this time.)

Of course, caution's still in order. Hot Topic may be trading at just 9.5 times this year's earnings, but you can find less niche-driven, risky retail stocks are trading at similar levels or even cheaper -- consider American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO), which has a price-to-earnings ratio of just 9. Hot Topic still has a lot of turning around to do, and it could still burn investors, even at this price.

Goth beaten up by group of men

2008-03-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Goth beaten up by group of men

A teenage boy who was punched and kicked as he walked home from school, was picked on because of how he was dressed, police believe.

The 16-year-old, who described himself as a Goth, claimed he was attacked by three men in Windmill Road, Whitstable.

The men came up behind him after he passed by them and assaulted him, before he managed to escape. Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack, which was on Thursday, March 6, at about 4.30pm.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable John Tharp on 01227 744786.

Gang took photo of murdered goth

2008-03-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

Gang took photo of murdered goth
By Stephen White

A gang who kicked a goth to death and left her boyfriend in a coma posed for a picture with their victims before the attack, a court heard yesterday.

A witness, who gave the pair first aid, said Sophie Lancaster, 20, and Robert Maltby, 21, posed happily with the five youths.

The boy of 16 told the jury at Preston crown court that one of the five attackers told him they were going to attack Sophie and art student Robert in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, Lancs, last August.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "A friend was taking a picture of the boy and girl and everyone was in it. The defendant was in front of the boy and after the picture I think he punched. Then they all started slapping him.

There was blood everywhere."

A boy of 15 is on trial for Sophie's murder. He and four others have admitted GBH with intent on Robert.

A 16-year-old has already admitted murdering Sophie.

The trial continues.

2008-03-08T15:42:00.001-08:00

The Love Me not Necklace Set
"Ah, sweet pas du tout,
your tricks are ever painful."

Genuine black Austrian crystal flowers and matching earrings
$24.95

Lethal injection gothic buckle jacket

2008-03-04T15:04:00.001-08:00

The Lethal Injection Buckle Jacket

This just arrived and is already almost sold out. If you have been eyeing it, get one now because I don't think they will last the week. Only $24.95

steamjane steampunk mary jane shoes

2008-02-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Just in;
Steamjane Granny style Mary Jane heels.
Only $29.95 per pair

Bohemian Memories Bracelet

2008-02-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

src="http://www.goodgoth.com/1310802.jpg" width=263 height=200>

This Endless War

2008-01-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

There is only ONE PERSON running for President who voted against the Iraq War; RON PAUL.

Congressman Ron Paul
U.S. House of Representatives
October 8, 2002

Statement Opposing the use of Military Force against Iraq

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. The wisdom of the war is one issue, but the process and the philosophy behind our foreign policy are important issues as well. But I have come to the conclusion that I see no threat to our national security. There is no convincing evidence that Iraq is capable of threatening the security of this country, and, therefore, very little reason, if any, to pursue a war.

But I am very interested also in the process that we are pursuing. This is not a resolution to declare war. We know that. This is a resolution that does something much different. This resolution transfers the responsibility, the authority, and the power of the Congress to the President so he can declare war when and if he wants to. He has not even indicated that he wants to go to war or has to go to war; but he will make the full decision, not the Congress, not the people through the Congress of this country in that manner.

You can read the rest of Dr Paul's statement here

A Message from Ron Paul

2008-01-28T15:46:00.000-08:00

January 28, 2008

When I started this campaign more than a year ago, I was a somewhat reluctant candidate. I knew our message of freedom, peace, and prosperity was the right one for our country, but frankly, I didn't know how many people today would have ears to hear it.

Well, did I learn a lesson! Millions of Americans understand what ails our country, and what is needed to fix it. So, with you at my side, I am in this effort to win. Not only by building the ideas of liberty, but by getting the nomination. Our opponents would call that nuts -- you know, the advocates of more inflation, more spending, more taxes, more war. But let me explain why they are, as usual, all wet.

For one thing, for the first time since 1952, we are headed towards a brokered convention. Instead of a coronation of one of the establishment candidates, the delegates, influenced by the people, will decide. And I am afraid that this will take place in a time of heightened economic crisis. That means even more Americans will be ready to hear our message. But it also means I am really going to need your help.

One would never know this from the mainstream media, but we've only had a few primaries and caucuses, and even after the extremely important date of February 5th, we will still have more than half to go. And the Republican nominee will not be decided by the popular vote among the "leading candidates" in a few states also handpicked by the media. The nominee will be decided by the delegates. So let me tell you a little about our "under-the-radar" strategy to get those delegates.

On "Super Tuesday," February 5th, there will be 22 primaries and caucuses. I have a hunch that we're going to do very well. But, of course, the media and the rest of the establishment refuse to recognize that. It's the attitude of the small child who covers his eyes to make something scary go away. But we are not going away.

While the media focus on the couple of states they claim are important, we're competing everywhere. And the reason that we're able to do that is because of your grassroots support. You all are an asset that no other campaign has: donors, and activists who want no special deals from the government, just the Constitution.

We're competing very strongly in all the caucus states, and in all other states where delegates are up for grabs. And we're going to keep picking up delegates. Our strategy's already working.

And we're committed to winning states. I have little doubt that if we can double our efforts in this coming week, we're going to grab many delegates from other candidates. Then we'll start getting ready for the biggest moment of all - the convention in September.

The path to the convention is twisty, however. When we were in Iowa, we got 10% of the vote. But no delegates were awarded that night. That's because voters didn't directly choose national convention delegates; they selected the county and state delegates who will make that decision. And if another candidate like Mike Huckabee is no longer in the race at the time of the state convention in June, his delegates are free to support whomever they want. If we work extra hard, we can convert them into delegates for our campaign!

A similar thing happened in Nevada. We won 14% of the straw poll vote that the media reported on, but what they didn't tell you was that we may have gotten up to a third of Nevada's delegates to their county conventions! I always laughed when I heard some people say Nevada didn't matter. Nevada chooses more delegates to the national convention than South Carolina.

So, while the media will focus on the results from Florida, and probably take down the campaign of my friend Rudy in the process, those results are less important to you and me. Let them fight in Florida while we bring our message to Americans in other areas, like the economically hard-hit state of Maine.

We want to win as many delegates to the Republican National Convention as possible, even if other campaigns don't see some areas of the country as "important. But in this work, I need your help. Help me get many, many delegates to this historic convention, by these three methods.

1. Donate. Your generous contributions are essential if we're going to keep going until September. We need, frankly $5 million by February 5 to run more TV and radio ads in the Super Tuesday states. Your help means everything: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

2. Canvass. You can help us identify those who support our message in your precinct. You can help us to convert others, too. After all, your neighbors pay attention to you. I am going to visit as much of the country as I can, but I need you as my partner in your area: https://voters.ronpaul2008.com.

3. ASK others to sign-up on our website. I meet so many people on the campaign trail who don't even receive my letters! I've told my campaign to make communication with you, the engine of all this, much better. But if people don't sign up for my e-mails, that won't happen. If you could just get one extra person to sign-up, that would be great. More would be tremendous.

Help me by forwarding this e-mail to every other Ron Paul supporter you know, and urging them to join our efforts! https://www.ronpaul2008.com/join.

We've come so far, but now the fun is really starting! I have a feeling the mainstream media will move from ignoring us to attacking us. But that will be a sign of our success. Join me as we continue this great movement into year two, and to a hot convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. We can do it!

Sincerely,

Ron

Romney fed answers via earpiece during debate

2008-01-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

2008-01-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

Ennis Del Mar is dead.

New Corset Style gothic Prom Gown

2008-01-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

This is the Cordelia gown. It's available in sizes 6-20 and comes in black/Gold or black/red

Goodgoth $5.00 coupon

2008-01-20T15:42:00.001-08:00

Subscribe to our Email list and get a $5.00 coupon!
Get Exclusive Good Goth
offers!

http://www.goodgoth.com

2008-01-11T14:31:00.001-08:00

"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong. " -Ayn Rand

2008-01-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

Find out what you hate to do and stop doing it.

Mad Scientists Lab Coat

2007-12-31T14:38:00.000-08:00

"Please, would you tell me," said Alice, a little timidly, ... "why your
cat grins like that?"

"It's a Cheshire cat," said the Duchess, "and that's why."

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're
mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.

"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Alice didn't think that proved it at all: however she went on. "And how do
you know that you're mad?"

"To begin with," said the Cat, "a dog's not mad. You grant that?"

"I suppose so," said Alice

"Well, then, " the Cat went on, "you see a dog growls when it's angry, and
wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my
tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad."

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where –" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

"– so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

$19.95

100% cotton lining 100% cotton shell

Made in China

A President who will eliminate the Patriot Act

2007-12-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

Would you like to have a President who tossed out the entire Patriot Act?
Would you like a President who called Fox News War Propagandists?
Do you want a President who immediately pulls our troops out of Iraq?

So do I. That's why I'm supporting Ron Paul.

Why Goths should Support Ron Paul

2007-12-23T13:20:00.001-08:00

(even though it may mean registering as (shudder) a Republican to vote in the primaries.)

Why is it in your self interest to support Dr Ron Paul, a Republican, for President?
Reasons aplenty exist as to why we should support Ron Paul One of these is economic. At present, America is pursuing a path of economic suicide. Our dollar is plummeting, energy is the most expensive it's ever been, and our budget deficit is enormous. Americans spend more than they earn, have tapped out the equity in their homes, and now due to the subprime meltdown, may owe more than their homes are even worth.

Yet the status quo politicians continue to spend spend spend, on wars, on pork barrel projects, on elections. Our monetary policy is being dictated by an unconstitutional Federal Reserve who devalues our currency every time they lower interest rates.

We've been at war in Iraq now for 5 years. Over 3000 American soldiers have died, surpassing the U.S toll on 9-11; in a war based on lies. And now the administration is turning to Iran, despite evidence that Iran discontinued any Nuclear weapons program years ago! Haven't we read this book before?

No member of Congress or national politician has been more outspoken in opposition to the ever-expanding police state that has taken root in the United States over the past few decades than Ron Paul. The progressively escalating wars on drugs, crime, guns, gangs and terrorism have had the effect of establishing repression and incarceration as major growth industries, with these sectors being larger in the United States than in any other nation, including such supposed arch-tyrannies as Iran, China or Hugo Chavez's Venezuela. Recently, I came across an article in a business journal that casually and plausibly stated that one in four Americans are now employed in security work, rivaling the percentage of East Germans employed by the Stasi. It is surely a sign of the utterly degenerate and depraved nature of the present political class that such matters as the legalization of torture of suspects, coerced confessions, indefinite suspension of habeas corpus, whether or not "waterboarding" actually constitutes torture, detention without trial, secret tribunals and development of the legal framework for martial law are all considered just another matter of public policy debate in the same manner as traffic safety, tax policy, education or Social Security reform.

Some Americans may see the expansion of the police state as occasional nuisance, worth the inconvenience for added "security". That is, until for any myriad of events, they find themselves caught in the government's web. Rest assured the legitimation of such police state methodology will result in such tactics being used to fight not only the "war on terrorism" but the "war on drugs" as well. The waterboarding of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay will eventually bring about the use of such tactics in domestic American prisons. After all, it's just like swimming.
The suspension of habeas corpus and other basic procedural rights will eventually result in the elimination of such rights for drug suspects, those who run afoul of gun laws, petty criminals, proponents of alternative medicine, antiwar protesters, anti globalists, environmental and animal rights activists.
Ron Paul's program of constitutional, limited and decentralized government with respect for private property offers you and me the means of achieving the personal and collective freedom envisioned by our Founding Fathers. Who cares if your Christian fundamentalist neighbors don't like your sexual preferences or fashion sense so long as you can do what you want on your own property? So what if real estate or business associations don't like goth clubs or tattoo parlors so long as your property rights and freedom of association are respected? So the people in Kansas have a restrictive abortion law. And the people in Massachusetts have legal Gay Marriage. In both cases, the citizens of the state decided, not the Federal government! You decide!

Ron Paul on Meet the Press

2007-12-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Tim Russert: What would you do if Iran invaded Israel?
Ron Paul: Well, they're not going to. That would be like saying 'What if Iran invaded Mars.'

Ron Paul on Iran

2007-12-16T16:06:00.001-08:00

As I have been saying all along, Iran indeed poses no quantifiable imminent nuclear threat to us or her neighbors. It is unthinkable that despite lack of any evidence of a threat, some are still charging headstrong into yet another war in the Middle East when what we ought to be doing is coming home from Iraq, coming home from Korea, coming home from Germany and defending our own soil. We do not need to be interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and waging war when honest trade, friendship, and diplomacy are the true paths to peace and prosperity.

Ron Paul on Freedom

2007-12-16T16:03:00.001-08:00

We’ve all heard the words democracy and freedom used countless times, especially in the context of our invasion of Iraq. They are used interchangeably in modern political discourse, yet their true meanings are very different.

George Orwell wrote about “meaningless words” that are endlessly repeated in the political arena*. Words like “freedom,” “democracy,” and “justice,” Orwell explained, have been abused so long that their original meanings have been eviscerated. In Orwell’s view, political words were “Often used in a consciously dishonest way.” Without precise meanings behind words, politicians and elites can obscure reality and condition people to reflexively associate certain words with positive or negative perceptions. In other words, unpleasant facts can be hidden behind purposely meaningless language. As a result, Americans have been conditioned to accept the word “democracy” as a synonym for freedom, and thus to believe that democracy is unquestionably good.

The problem is that democracy is not freedom. Democracy is simply majoritarianism, which is inherently incompatible with real freedom. Our founding fathers clearly understood this, as evidenced not only by our republican constitutional system, but also by their writings in the Federalist Papers and elsewhere. James Madison cautioned that under a democratic government, “There is nothing to check the inducement to sacrifice the weaker party or the obnoxious individual.” John Adams argued that democracies merely grant revocable rights to citizens depending on the whims of the masses, while a republic exists to secure and protect pre-existing rights. Yet how many Americans know that the word “democracy” is found neither in the Constitution nor the Declaration of Independence, our very founding documents?

A truly democratic election in Iraq, without U.S. interference and U.S. puppet candidates, almost certainly would result in the creation of a Shiite theocracy. Shiite majority rule in Iraq might well mean the complete political, economic, and social subjugation of the minority Kurd and Sunni Arab populations. Such an outcome would be democratic, but would it be free? Would the Kurds and Sunnis consider themselves free? The administration talks about democracy in Iraq, but is it prepared to accept a democratically-elected Iraqi government no matter what its attitude toward the U.S. occupation? Hardly. For all our talk about freedom and democracy, the truth is we have no idea whether Iraqis will be free in the future. They’re certainly not free while a foreign army occupies their country. The real test is not whether Iraq adopts a democratic, pro-western government, but rather whether ordinary Iraqis can lead their personal, religious, social, and business lives without interference from government.

Simply put, freedom is the absence of government coercion. Our Founding Fathers understood this, and created the least coercive government in the history of the world. The Constitution established a very limited, decentralized government to provide national defense and little else. States, not the federal government, were charged with protecting individuals against criminal force and fraud. For the first time, a government was created solely to protect the rights, liberties, and property of its citizens. Any government coercion beyond that necessary to secure those rights was forbidden, both through the Bill of Rights and the doctrine of strictly enumerated powers. This reflected the founders’ belief that democratic government could be as tyrannical as any King.

Few Americans understand that all government action is inherently coercive. If nothing else, government action requires taxes. If taxes were freely paid, they wouldn’t be called taxes, they’d be called donations. If we intend to use the word freedom in an honest way, we should have the simple integrity to give it real meaning: Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating more government action or less.

The political left equates freedom with liberation from material wants, always via a large and benevolent government that exists to create equality on earth. To modern liberals, men are free only when the laws of economics and scarcity are suspended, the landlord is rebuffed, the doctor presents no bill, and groceries are given away. But philosopher Ayn Rand (and many others before her) demolished this argument by explaining how such “freedom” for some is possible only when government takes freedoms away from others. In other words, government claims on the lives and property of those who are expected to provide housing, medical care, food, etc. for others are coercive-- and thus incompatible with freedom. “Liberalism,” which once stood for civil, political, and economic liberties, has become a synonym for omnipotent coercive government.

The political right equates freedom with national greatness brought about through military strength. Like the left, modern conservatives favor an all-powerful central state-- but for militarism, corporatism, and faith-based welfarism. Unlike the Taft-Goldwater conservatives of yesteryear, today’s Republicans are eager to expand government spending, increase the federal police apparatus, and intervene militarily around the world. The last tenuous links between conservatives and support for smaller government have been severed. “Conservatism,” which once meant respect for tradition and distrust of active government, has transformed into big-government utopian grandiosity.

Orwell certainly was right about the use of meaningless words in politics. If we hope to remain free, we must cut through the fog and attach concrete meanings to the words politicians use to deceive us. We must reassert that America is a republic, not a democracy, and remind ourselves that the Constitution places limits on government that no majority can overrule. We must resist any use of the word “freedom” to describe state action. We must reject the current meaningless designations of “liberals” and “conservatives,” in favor of an accurate term for both: statists.

Every politician on earth claims to support freedom. The problem is so few of them understand the simple meaning of the word.

BLACK WEEKEND at Goodgoth.com Free Shipping on $25

2007-11-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

border=0>

The End of Empire. Dollar in freefall.

2007-11-08T14:01:00.000-08:00

Loonie's rise signals end of American era

The euro surged to a record high against the U.S. dollar yesterday, touching $1.4731, a 65 per cent gain since the end of 2001.

Analysts say the euro has become the main threat to the U.S. dollar's dominance; while political leaders worry its rising value is hurting European exports.

The euro made its debut as an accounting currency in 1999 and was put into wide circulation as physical money in 2002.

It is the currency of the 13-country euro zone, which includes Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Finland.

In December 2006, the combined value of all euro notes in circulation exceeded that of the U.S. dollar for the first time.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday currency "disarray" – including a weak U.S. dollar and overvalued Chinese yuan – could lead to "economic war."
Nov 08, 2007 04:30 AM
Thomas Walkom
National Affairs columnist

The story of the soaring Canadian dollar is no longer just about shopping in Buffalo or the troubles faced by domestic exporters. It is no longer just about Canada at all.

Rather, the story of the soaring Canadian dollar is now about something far more dramatic and dangerous. It is about the decline of the American dollar as the world's currency of choice. It is about the end of a world financial system that has been in place, in one form or another, since the 1930s and that has given the developed world unprecedented wealth. It is about America's economic chickens coming home to roost. It is about the end of empire.

And for Canada, which has prospered from its privileged position near the heart of this empire, it is potentially very bad news.

At the heart of the problem is a development that Canadians have difficulty getting used to: The American dollar, which we tend to see as a fixed star in the firmament of currencies, is falling. It is falling relative to every major currency – the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound. It is falling relative to gold. It is falling relative to oil.

The fact that a barrel of oil now costs about 40 per cent more than it did in August is tied in large part to the depreciation of the currency in which its value is measured: The U.S. dollar.

Every successful empire brings with it an imperial currency. In Roman times, the denarius dominated trade in what is now Europe. At the height of the British Empire, the pound sterling was literally as good as gold.

Similarly, when empires wane, so do their currencies. As Rome overextended itself with military adventures, it devalued the denarius. In 1931, depression-torn Britain officially served notice that its empire was on the rocks when it decoupled the pound from gold.

Since then, the U.S. dollar has been the world's currency of choice. Arab princelings demanded dollars for their oil. So did Colombian cocaine dealers.

When China abandoned Maoism, it was dollars that Communist authorities wanted in exchange for the exports they sent abroad.

So it was perhaps appropriate, yesterday, that it fell to Chinese central banker Xu Jian to announce officially what economists have been saying for years: the dollar is "losing its status as a world currency." China, he explained, would no longer keep just American dollars in its reserves but would diversify its holdings to include other major currencies.

Given that China's central bank holds $1.43 trillion worth of U.S. dollars, that was not an insignificant statement.

The reasons for the dollar's decline are familiar. Like the Romans and British before them, the Americans have overextended themselves. As a country, they import more than they export. As individuals, they spend more than they earn.

Up to now, these excesses have been balanced by the rest of the world's willingness to hold dollars. China, for instance, was willing to take dollars in exchange for useful manufactured goods because it believed the U.S. currency would hold its value.

In a sense, it was like a giant pyramid scheme. As long as everyone believed the dollar was strong, it remained strong.

But as soon as a crack appeared, the edifice shuddered.

If the American dollar were just America's dollar, none of this might matter. Indeed, a lower U.S. dollar, by boosting American exports, will help the U.S. get through any downturn sparked by that country's housing and mortgage crises.

But the U.S. dollar is not just America's. It is the world's currency; it provides a platform of stability on which other countries can operate.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy sounded the alarm yesterday in his address to the U.S. Congress. For America to stand by and let its dollar collapse, he said, is to risk a trade war of global dimensions.

What he meant was that Europe would not let the U.S. engage in competitive devaluation without retaliating.

And this is the danger for Canada. As a small trading nation, Canada is sure to be sideswiped in an all-out trade war. As a small trading nation, Canada also depends on a stable international financial system based on a stable international currency.

So forget the minor ups and downs of the loonie. Sure, it matters if the Canadian dollar sits at $1.08 (U.S.) or $0.88. But it matters more if the U.S. dollar itself is under stress. The key development yesterday was not the fact that Canada's dollar closed down slightly from the day before. It was the fact that, relative to the euro, the U.S. dollar hit a record low.
http://www.thestar.com/Article/274630

Blue Cyber Mesh Top

2007-11-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

This cool top has long fishnet sleeves and front zipper. Only $14.95 at Goodgoth.com

Black Lollypop Gothic Lolita Jacket

2007-11-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

Black cotton twill jacket with boatneck and wide Lolita collar. Snap closure,
front pockets
$19.95
Made in China
Get it at Goodgoth.com

Spirithalloween 50% off

2007-10-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

SpiritHalloween.com
Is doing their Halloween clearance right now- 50% off.

$10 off $75 at Goodgfoth.com

2007-10-30T15:04:00.001-07:00

Today's Toothy Tile news comes from JJ (again)

2007-10-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Someone is GAY and Story is to Come SOON....

___________ and his long time secret partner, _________, finally became parents of a baby boy last Wednesday night through a planned cesarean via a surogant. The baby was born at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Hollywood, CA. While ________ is off jet setting promoting his current film, _________ is home with a nanny tending to the new born.

My first blind item. :P Names to come soon. I have another really good story that I will tease with a blind item tomorrow. This sh*t is getting good. You won't believe what we have in store in the next 24 hours, news wise!!!

K Mart addl 50% off Halloween

2007-10-22T05:51:00.001-07:00

K Mart is taking an additional 50% off all Halloween. You have to put the items in your cart to see the discount. There is also Free Shipping over $49

More' Jake is Gay' from Jonathan Jaxson

2007-10-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

From JJ's blog
As if I haven't told the story before...Jake Gyllenhaal is GAY!!!

Here is a photo of Jake & Reese Witherspoon, looking extremely uncomfortable together while attending the "Rendition" photocall at the 2nd Annual Rome Film Festival today.
The NY Post ran a 'blind item' today which only adds to what I have said previously...

“WHICH movie studio is desperately trying to hide its latest star’s homosexuality? They have made him pair up with his leading lady, whom he couldn’t care less about.”

There is a small chance that the NY Post maybe talking about Zac Efron, but my bets are on Jake & Reese. Especially considering the flood of emails from 'insiders' I have recently received on this story.

It takes balls to actually speak the truth on the rich, famous and powerful. There is always those very scary lawyers that come after you and threaten you and your life thinking you won't ever speak out on it again. That is exactly why the NY Post, Perez and others only place the outings and such as 'blind items' as they are afraid of lawsuits and backlash. For me, I say "BRING IT ON!"

Skeleton Keys

2007-10-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

If you're me, and you're not, you already use a skeleton key at your house because the lock hasnt been changed in 130 years. But since you are not me, you can make do with PerpetualKid's Skeleton keys.

How to Make a Charred Corpse

2007-10-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

http://imakeprojects.com/content/view/46/32/

Illuminations Halloween up to 75% off

2007-10-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Illuminations has Halloween at up to 75% off right now, including these popular Bat and owl lanterns. The Owl is 75% off. Use coupon 999201321 for an additional $14 off a $60 purchase.

But wait! There's More! You also get...

2007-10-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

Digit Dig-It

Textually active celebs such as Carmen Electra and Jeremy Piven hit the Sidekick LX Launch Wednesday night. Shanna Moakler and Travis Barker worked the pink carpet, hand in hand (rather Jake Gyllenhaal and Austin Nichols-esque, too divine!) and told us they’ve both dumped someone—presumably each other—via text messaging.

Hello Toothy?

2007-10-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Has Ted Casablanca of E online just outed Jake Gyllenhaal? (finally?)

Bumps in the Day:

Jake Gyllenhaal sure as hell lives to get the gossies in gonzo overdrive. Why, just this week, right after J.G. did Letterman, all shy 'n’ stuff, he pulls the same don’t-look-at me routine down in the Village—almost.

Desk Stealth just followed J.G. and his gorgeous amigo, a dead ringer for Austin Nichols (would just go ahead and say it was A.N. here, but, like, maybe Jakey’s pullin’ a Natalie Portman, choosing to hang with an Austin doppelgänger just to throw us snit-snoops off the mark?) for several blocks. Too fun for the ab-perf tum! D.S. embarked on an intrepid block-by-block Jake-athon, stealing close behind just for us, too kind.
“They could have walked to the ferry, and I still would have followed them,” admits our pavement detective, so refreshingly honest (see, always loved those NY types, this is only one reason why). “All the while, they kept walking close to each other, like they were purposely trying to bump into each other, ya know what I mean?”

We do, you baddie bro, we do! So, do continue:

“At one point they had their heads briefly touching each other,” D.S. practically breathlessly relayed. “A short time after that came the friend's arm around Jake and the whisper to the ear. Then, the whole block before they got to West 12th Street," said the onlooker, J.G. & A.N. did a little digital dance. "Oh so cute!”

Deliciously so! But wait. We simply have to get ahold of ourselves here. See, before you nasty naughties out there start cackling, like, totally inappropriate things here, can’t two guys show affection for each other (just like women do) without people going to all sorts of kooky conclusions? Not to mention their publicists' speed dials…

I mean, John Travolta does it all the time! What’s the biggie?

Dead Girl's Coffin Lining Dress

2007-10-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

This is the Dead Girl's Coffin Lining Dress.

It's an above the knee velvet strapped dress with back zipper closure and acres of front gathered wrinkles. The last dress you'll ever neeeeed!

$34.95 at Goodgoth.com

Oriantal Trading Company Halloween sale

2007-10-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Oriental Trading Company knocks up to 70% off its selection of Halloween candy, costumes, décor, and more during its latest sale. Plus, take 20% off orders of $60 or more via coupon code "RETPY08B". Or, get free shipping on orders of $60 or more via coupon code "RLS100"

eBay Listing Sale

2007-10-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

ebay
is having a listing sale starting tomorrow. From the website; "When is it?
Limited time offer! This promotion starts at midnight Pacific Time on Thursday, October 18, 2007 and lasts until Monday, November 5, 2007. Technically speaking, that's between 00:00:01 PT (12:00 AM plus one second) on Thursday, October 18, 2007 and 23:59:59 PT (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds) on Monday, November 5, 2007.

What are the fees?
For any auction-style or fixed price listing, the insertion fee is discounted by 33%. This offer applies to Auction-style and Fixed Price listings on the U.S. www.eBay.com and Motors www.eBayMotors.com (including Parts & Accessories, Passenger Vehicles, Motorcycles, Powersports, Other Vehicles) sites as reflected in the fee table below. This includes listings created prior to the promotion and scheduled to start during the promotional period October 18 - November 5, 2007.

Stupid Man outside courthouse blames Gothic fashion

2007-10-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Handcuffed man was using goth fashion

Published: 15, 2007 at 5:10 PM

Font size:

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Sheriff's deputies in Tulsa, Okla., said a man who was spotted wearing handcuffs unescorted outside a court house was making a fashion statement.

Deputies were called to the scene outside of Tulsa County (Okla.) Courthouse after a passerby reported a man in handcuffs outside the building was unescorted by police or other authorities, Tulsa World reported Monday.

Sheriff's Sgt. Jody Britt said deputies discovered the man was wearing the handcuffs as part of his gothic fashion ensemble.

"I guess he had one end attached to his arm and the other dangling, which to us looks like he escaped from custody," he told the newspaper.

The man was released after authorities checked that he had no outstanding warrants, Britt said.

"Wearing a set of handcuffs near a courthouse is not exactly the most intelligent thing you could do," he said to the World.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2007/10/15/handcuffed_man_was_using_goth_fashion/3927/

Goodgoth Halloween Shipping options

2007-10-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Halloween's tricky this year, being on a Wednesday. We are still offering Holiday shipping by the 26th, but we've added a "By the 31st" option which costs less.

CVS Halloween deals for 10/14-10/20

2007-10-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Halloween costumes 25% off regular price w/ card
Halloween Barbie 9.99 w/ card
16" fiber optic wreath w/ LED lights 12.99 w/ card
Animated skeleton hand candy bowl 9.99 w/ card
Full moon window sculpture 5.99 w/ card
14" animated singing motorcycle monster 19.99 w/ card
Peanuts figure 4.99 w/ card
Peanuts music and motion pumpkin patch 14.99 w/ card
Color changing pumpkin light or pumpkin push-in deco. kit 2.99 w/ card

2007-10-13T16:28:00.000-07:00

Homevisions has these crystal pumpkin salt and pepper shakers half off with free shipping. Only $8.99
The candy bowl is also half off with free shipping, too. It is $18.99
Hallloweeney and Thanksgivingy, too

Treat Buckets at PotteryBarn

2007-10-11T16:54:00.001-07:00

Potterybarn has these adorable soft Treat buckets which have great potential as Goth purses or are a cute way of storing stuff around the house. They are half price and have free shipping.

"We’ve designed our new collection of puffy treat bags to coordinate with all our Halloween costumes! Sized to stow a trove of treats, each bag is sewn of sturdy fabric with cotton batting and a comfortable arched handle. After Halloween, use them to store collectibles or small toys. Spot clean. 14 x 5 x 10” h. Imported. Cow, Ghost and Tiger are Catalog/Internet Exclusive."

First:
Last:
Amt.: