Connie back -- with Newsflash!

Back with a vengeance and some news to fill in the spaces while I get back on track.

First, if you are planning a vacation, keep in mind The Holy Land Experience, a tourist attraction just a few miles from Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Here you can witness Jesus's crucifixion, complete with roman soldiers, whippings, and other Passion of the Christ-like activities. Here you won't find rides, only lectures on Biblical times (and apparently, a few living dioramas). Why is this place in business? Well, aside from being in the good old USofA, Trinity Broadcasting Network (a Christian broadcasting company) is funding it after the project almost tanked. Check it out at Savior emerges for attraction simulating Jerusalem in Orlando.

Still not as good as the Golgotha Mini golf Course that used to grace my fair home state of Kentucky.

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Just to prove that the USA is not the only country full of alarmist fundamentalists, a UK toy store has banned all Harry Potter merchandise. Why? Oh, because the owner doesn't want any children getting sucked into the "dark arts." Alert Severus Snape! Seriously, folks, if you think your kid is going to start worshiping Satan because of reading Harry Potter, do you also think they are going to turn into a pirate from reading Treasure Island? You can read all about it here: Don't Wand Them!

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And here you can read about a bookstore near Tehran getting in trouble for selling the latest Harry Potter novel. Why? Because the publisher of the book is partially supported by Zionists, of course. Wait....what? Harry Potter and Zionism, the Untold Story. Harry is just copping it from every direction.

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And finally, on a more serious note: South African Witches (as in the Western, wand-waving, moon loving, tree hugging variety) get ready to fight a Witchcraft Suppression Bill that is currently being drafted in the Mpumalanga legislature. Witches in South Africa want to fight it, but are also afraid to reveal themselves. Western witches set out to defeat new law.

That's the news folks -- did you miss me? Stay tuned for the creation for Charmed: Books to Run To.

Connie

Newsflash

A few posts ago, I was complaining that there wasn't any news. Now I'm inundated. Everyone, we can stop our war on reality to read these articles.

Remember earlier today when I was babbling on about the possibility that the dead animals slung on the doorsteps of Salem, MA psychics may have something to do with the legal shenanigans the local psychics are going through in order to prevent traveling psychics from stealing their bizznezz? Well, I was right. *pats self on back*

Here's the latest on the situation, courtesy of The Boston Herald: Road kill spells trouble: Dead raccoon casts strange light on Salem’s fortune-tellers.

If you want a really lovely and detailed description of the situation, head over to The Wild Hunt blog for this post. Psychic Wars in Salem. (It's a grown-up blog on Pagan affairs and this blog wants to be just like it if it ever grows up. *nods*)

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Oh noes! A Kentucky library is allowing a Magic: The Gathering game to take place on it's premises. Some parents are not pleased: Game causes controversy

To quote a much-loved song by Justin Connor, aptly called Kentucky, "Oh Kentucky, what have they done to you?"

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Meanwhile, the psychics in this Florida town seem to be getting along together a little better than their counterparts in Salem: Seeking Spirits in a Psychic Town

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And to top it all off, more on the Harry Potter bru-ha-ha. This time, a teaching assistant that quit because she didn't want to listen to a student read from a Harry Potter book, since HP promotes witchcraft, which is, of course, "an abomination." Teaching assistant quit in protest at Harry Potter.

Whew -- it's late -- bed time for little Connie. G'night folks.

Newsflash

From Georgia's Cake and Eat It Too department, Laura Mallory both wants to remove Harry Potter books from the school public library because they "convert children...to Wicca," which violates the right of freedom from religion...while simultaneously stating "I guess I have a dream that God would be welcomed back in our schools, again. I think we need him." Wait, what?

You have to love it when people think freedom of religion applies only to their own religions. Anyway, the Judge told her to get lost. Read all about it heah (Georgia accent): Judge Upholds Harry Potter Books.

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And from the "No! Say it aint' so!" department, Vivienne Westwood, the woman who got famous dressing the Sex Pistols, has reinvented herself as a "thinker" and is warning people that propoganda in the popular media is both lying to us and distracting us. Looks like Viv finally caught on. Read all about it here, old chap (English accent): Punk queen Westwood rails against magazines and the 'sea of clones'.