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This is Topic: General Interest
Following are the News Items published under this Topic.



Announcements: A Phamily Passing
posted by Wade on Feb 28, 2008 - 10:01 AM

General Interest
Dear Phamily,

It is a task that I would rather not have to share that our Phoenix Phamily has lost a very cherishe sister. This morning at 11:00 our dear Dana Cavellero passed quietly into the next steps of her journey towards the One. She left two well-loved cats, who have been placed with close friends, and many of us who love and laugh at her ongoing antics and joy in life.

If you had the honor of knowing Dana, you will remember her silvery hair, her infectious laugh, her amazing intellect, and her Dragons. Through her art, she shared a wonder-filled life of dragons, fairies and other creatures that appeared from tubes of paint on everything from small boxes to canvases to chalices! She painted up until about four weeks ago.

She shared with me that two of the Phoenix Crones had saved her place at Hoggtown Fair this year by being her shoppe watchers, selling more of her work than she ever expected to sell. These two wonderful women where very cherished by Dana. They know who they are, but I don't know if they knew how she felt about them coming forward to help her in a very stressful time. Makes one even more proud to say they are part of the Phoenix Phamily.

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Announcements: Lets Bring Silverwitch home!
posted by Wade on Aug 23, 2006 - 01:35 PM

General Interest An auction to benefit Ken's family is online at www.e-witch.com<http://www.e-witch.com/> with
the banner ""Let's Bring Silverwitch Home".

All proceeds go directly to his wife so please check it out. So far Trish, MR Sellars, Dorothy Morrison, Kristin Madden, Florida Pagan Gathering, Phoenix Festivals, and a couple of Ken's dear friends are donating items. If you'd prefer to donate rather than bid, that would be great too!

The auction is to help fund bringing Ken's body home from Colorado, Ken was self employed for most of his life, and did not have any savings or insurance to cover the costs of getting his body home or funeral expenses. We as a community are coming together to help his family in their time of need.


http://e-witch.com

If you click on stores in the upper menu bar, you will see one called
Let's Bring Silverwitch Home.

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Announcements: Phamily News.
posted by Wade on Aug 18, 2006 - 02:26 PM

General Interest Friends,

It is with a soul-torn heart that I bring you this news. I'll get
straight to the point. Last night, Rianna Winchester, the 16 year-old
daughter of Chuck and Lara Lee Winchester was killed in a car accident.
I have attached at the bottom a link to a news article for details. I am
asking that you help me get the word out to the community and that you
send all the love and healing you can to the family of Rianna. She is
also survived by her older sister Larissa and her younger brother Evan.
This is without a doubt a family's worst nightmare and they are living
it.

There will be a candle light vigil tonite at 7:00 PM at Hope United
Methodist church.

The church on Dallas 120 between 92 and Highway 6 there is a website and
directions below. Parking will be a challenge so please carpool if
possible. It is alright if folks want to get there early. If parking
becomes a serious problem, the church will be able to shuttle people
from additional outlying parking on their buses.

There will probably be a viewing tomorrow and services on Sunday.

I will send details as I get them.

For now, if you want something to do, just light a green candle for
Rianna and her family and hold them softly in your thoughts.

with bright blessings and deepest sorrow,

Talyn Songdog

I copied quite an assortment of folks on this email. Believe me when I
say that I was simply channeling my way through my eddress list. If you
do not want to be on this impromtu notice list, then please let me know.
If you know someone that should be on it, please let me know. If you
have a different contact info that you would like for me to use instead,
just let me know. I will be switching to my home eddress of talyn777 at
bellsouth.net for the weekend, so if you need to get ahold of me by
email that is the better choice for now. I can be reached by phone at
home (770) 565 - 0946 or cell (404) 518 - 0946.

Church Info:

http://www.placeofhope.org/

HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 770-505-8720
1970 MARIETTA HIGHWAY, DALLAS GA 30132

http://www.placeofhope.org/directions.shtml
>From I-20 at Thornton Road...
Go west on state route 6 (Highway 278, Thornton Road) for about 15
miles. Turn right onto state route 120 (Marietta Hwy). Drive
approximately two miles and Hope Church will be on the right.

>From downtown Douglasville...
Take state route 92 north approximately 11 miles to Macland Rd. Turn
left on Macland road. After about 1.5 miles turn right onto state router
120 (Marietta Hwy). Drive approximately one mile. Hope church will be on
the right.

>From Marietta Square...
Go west on state route 120 for about 13 miles. Hope Church will be on
the left.

News details:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0818teenfatal.html

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Tropical info: Hurricane Season 2006 - Hurricane Names
posted by Wade on Jun 10, 2006 - 10:43 AM

General Interest The 2006 Hurricane name list is as follows:

Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William

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Soapbox: A New Name for Changing Times
posted by Shayshayni on Nov 22, 2005 - 10:47 AM

General Interest This is but a simple opportunity to share my experiences with the never ending awe of magick.

When I was first introduced to the concept of choosing a magickal name, I was empowered. I thought long and hard about my first name and finally decided upon Silverfox. This name seemed appropriate as my wisdom is well beyond my years, as those who know me and have met me can attest to. At a tender age of 15, I could easily rival the maturity and worldly knowledge of those three times my age.

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Tropical info: The Storms of the Season: 2005 Atlantic Hurricanes
posted by Wade on Oct 18, 2005 - 12:42 PM

General Interest WILMA
Wilma is the 12th hurricane of the season, tying the record for the most hurricanes to form in an Atlantic season.
There were 12 hurricanes once before in 1969 since record keeping began in 1851.
Wilma is also the 21st named storm of the six-month hurricane season, which ties another record set in 1933.
VINCE
The former Category One hurricane weakened to a tropical storm October 9 and became a tropical depression October 11.
The National Hurricane Center says Vince was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Spain.
Vince was the 11th hurricane of the season, and the 20th named storm.
TAMMY
Tammy was downgraded to a depression last week, spreading moderate rain across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
Tammy was the 19th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
STAN
Stan was downgraded to a tropical depression October 5.
NORMA
Norma was downgraded to a tropical depression September 28.
RITA
Rita was the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
PHILIPPE
Tropical Storm Philippe was downgraded to a tropical depression on September 23.
Maximum winds were 30 miles per hour.
Philippe was named a tropical storm on September 17.
It became a hurricane on September 18.
It weakened into a tropical storm again on September 20.
KATRINA
Tropical Storm Katrina was named on August 24.
Katrina makes first landfall August 25th, north of Miami.
The Category One hurricane caused flooding and 1,069 deaths across the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Katrina strengthened to Category 5 storm on August 28.
Hurricane Katrina came ashore at the Louisiana-Mississippi border around daybreak Monday, August 29.
Flooding August 30th from hurricane and breached levees in New Orleans swamped the city.
Hit South Florida earlier in August.

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Katrina Relief Links
posted by Wade on Sep 03, 2005 - 09:59 AM

General Interest

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Networking: Reminder
posted by Wade on Aug 23, 2005 - 10:36 AM

General Interest First - signing up for a user account means that you not only get access to the member only portions of the website - it also means that you will occasionally get emails from the system ( in 2004 we sent 5 emails from the site - all were Festival Notifications) in 2003 we sent 6, 2 were site updates, the rest were festival notifications.

If your email bounces when we send one of the notes, or when we send you a happy Birthday (which is NOT automated by-the-way, wade and / or dianne contacts you by hand, we felt that a personal touch is important on this special day.), we delete your account. We send out emails through the system to notify you of information of importance, if your email bounces we treat that as an indication you are no longer interested (the assumption being that it wasn't important enough to keep us updated when your email changed).

When we delete an account, we may also delete the information associate dwith the account (your weblink, or calendar entries, for example).

To repeat our mission statement - Phoenix Festivals is about networking. We support a community that has developed and grown for over 13 years, your participation in the growh of that community is voluntary, but is does require you to take enough responsibility to let us know how to contact you, particularly when you change email addresses. Frankly, We prefer a few interactive Phamily members rather than a lot of passive ones. Of course a lot of proactive community members is better still!

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Dennis Upgraded to Category - three
posted by Wade on Jul 07, 2005 - 04:40 PM

General Interest Hurricane Dennis has been upgraded to a category 3 storm. The storm track three days out has been shifted slightly to the east of the forcast points from the last two days.

The storm has a very good chance of reaching category 4 status within the next 12 hours.

Hurricane warnings have gone up for all of the keys, from the seven mile bridge west, tropical storm warnings have been issued for the remainder of the keys and parts of southern florida, a hurricane warning has also been issue for those areas. Virtually all of Florida is in the potential Strike zone at this time. The storm is large enough that if it stays on the current track, all of the Gulf coast will experience Tropical storm conditions or greater, beginning on friday.

Northeast Florida has the least risk, it is under the protection of a Bermuda High pressure zone. Phamily members in that area are standing by with crash space. If the storm decides to turn earlier than expected any location between Naples and Pennsacola could potentially be at risk. I need not remind you all that Charlie took a similar path last year, it made a small change in direction to the right, and the storm went inland in Punta Gorda, instead of Cedar key. The point being that you need to watch the updates and pay attention to the entire track, not just the black line in the middle of the graphic. Forecast accuracy will be much greater within 24 hours.

-- 5:00p 7JUL forcast follows:

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Tropical info: Hurricane Season 2005 July 5th, 2005 - Evacuation Plans
posted by Wade on Jul 05, 2005 - 12:27 PM

General Interest TS Cindy and TS Dennis - interim updates.

Use the sidebar on the home page to get the latest news about current tropical Atlantic Information.

As of this writing (Tuesday, the 5th, early afternoon) TS Cindy will make landfall within 24 hours near the LA / Mississippi boarder. the Phamily evacuation plan does not need to be implemented at this time.

The forcast for TS Dennis may be of a little more concern. The long range forcast (3 - 5days) currently indicates that there is a chance of Dennis affecting Southern Florida, and the Florida Gulf coast, including Ft. Meyers, Naples, Tampa, Clearwater, and the surrounding communities. Whats more the forcast is for Dennis to be a Hurricane, and the potential exists for it to be a major hurricane.

We have Phamily willing to take evacuees in Central, East, and Northeast Florida (out of the affected areas) if it is needed. those of you who think you might be heading away from home, or those of you wanting to join the Phamily network and offer space, please contact us, as soon as you make the decision, so we can help make arrangements and get directions for you.


--- 11 am Dennis Forecast from NHIC follows -------

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Tropical info: NOAA: 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook
posted by Wade on May 31, 2005 - 05:44 AM

General Interest NOAA PRESS RELEASE

NOAA: 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook
Issued: 16 May 2005

Atlantic Hurricane Outlook & Seasonal Climate Summary Archive

SUMMARY
NOAA’s 2005 Atlantic hurricane season outlook indicates a 70% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, a 20% chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. This outlook is produced by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), Hurricane Research Division (HRD), and National Hurricane Center (NHC). See NOAA’s definitions of above-, near-, and below-normal seasons.

The outlook calls for 12-15 tropical storms, with 7-9 becoming hurricanes, and 3-5 of these becoming major hurricanes. The likely range of ACE index is 120%-190% of the median. This prediction reflects a very likely continuation of above-normal activity that began in 1995.

The predicted 2005 activity reflects 1) an expected continuation of conditions associated with the tropics-wide multi-decadal signal, which has favored above-normal Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, and 2) an expected continuation of warmer sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean than can be accounted for by the multi-decadal signal alone. The outlook also reflects the expectation of ENSO-neutral conditions (no El Niño or La Niña) during August-October, the peak months of the hurricane season. An updated Atlantic hurricane outlook will be issued in early August.

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Tropical info: Dr. Gray's Outlook for Hurricane Season 2005
posted by Wade on May 10, 2005 - 08:52 AM

General Interest issued April 2005

According to Colorado State University's William M. Gray and Philip J. Klotzbach, the upcoming "hurricane season" will be busier than usual in the Atlantic Basin. They also see an above-average probability of a major hurricane making landfall in the U.S.

"Information obtained through March 2005 indicates that the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season will be an active one. We estimate that 2005 will have about 7 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 13 named storms (average is 9.6), 65 named storm days (average is 49), 35 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 3 intense (category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3) and 7 intense hurricane days (average is 5.0). We expect Atlantic basin Net Tropical Cyclone (NTC) activity in 2005 to be about 135 percent of the long-term average. The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be 140 percent of the long-period average. We expect this year to continue the past-decade trend of above-average hurricane seasons".

PROBABILITIES FOR AT LEAST ONE MAJOR (CATEGORY 3-4-5) HURRICANE LANDFALL ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING COASTAL AREAS:

* Entire U.S. coastline - 73% (average for last century is 52%)
* U.S. East Coast Including the Florida Peninsula - 53% (average for last century is 31%)
* Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville - 41% (average for last century is 30%)
* Expected above-average major hurricane landfall risk in the Caribbean

Full Outlook Follows

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Tropical info: 2005 Hurricane Names
posted by Wade on Apr 27, 2005 - 10:30 AM

General Interest Names for the 2005 Hurricane Season - The Season Begins on June 1!

Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma

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Humor: New Office Slang
posted by Wade on Feb 10, 2005 - 12:50 AM

General Interest 404 - Someone who is clueless. From the Web error message, "404 Not Found," which means the document requested couldn’t be located. "Don’t bother asking John. He’s 404."

Adminisphere - The rarified organizational layers above the rank and file that makes decisions that are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant.

Alpha Geek - The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. “I dunno, ask Rick. He’s our alpha geek.”

Assmosis - The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.

Batmobiling - putting up emotional shields. Refers to the retracting armor that covers the Batmobile as in “she started talking marriage and he started batmobiling”

Beepilepsy - The brief siezure people sometimes suffer when their beepers go off, especially in vibrator mode. Characterized by physical spasms, goofy facial expressions, and stopping speech in mid-sentence.

Betamaxed - When a technology is overtaken in the market by inferior but better marketed competition as in “Microsoft betamaxed Apple right out of the market”

Blamestorming - A group discussion of why a deadline was missed or a project failed and who was responsible.

Note: Not Strictly Pagan - But we have so many Pagan Geeks, Nerds, and the like that I felt it was worth the post.....
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Soapbox: Atop my Caudron - January 2005
posted by Ardy on Dec 30, 2004 - 11:51 AM

General Interest I was reading about fakery in Biblical-era artifacts in museums, and one museum director said that Christians and Jews have a deep need for physical artifacts that re-enforce their faith . . . and I want to ask, "Why?"

Why would anyone need a piece of the "True Cross of Jesus" to strengthen their belief in Him? According to what they tried to teach me, the Holy Ghost is supposed to come to His followers and fill them. Why would they need a bit of wood to strengthen that? What could be more powerful than being filled by the Spirit of God?

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Announcements: Energy Work for Indonisia and the Indian Ocean
posted by Wade on Dec 30, 2004 - 09:52 AM

General Interest The Phamily has decided to perform communal Energy work for supporting Strength , healing and rapid recovery of those who were caught by the Earthquake and Tsunami's.

We will start at 8:00pm on Friday, December 31st, 2004.


I will be using a green candle as a focus. After the energy work, I intend to leave my focus burning through the night, carrying that strength and healing energy through into the secular new year.

--Wade

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With great sadness
posted by zephyr on Dec 13, 2004 - 12:03 AM

General Interest I just wanted to let the phamily know that on December 9, 2004 my ex and my stepfather came from Ohio with an order from the courts to take LunaStar (my daughter) back with them. We know face a great legal battle to get her back once again. Please keep LunaStar in your prayers and send her energies to stay strong. She loved festival and was looking forward to the next meet. I want to thank everyone for making our little family feel so loved and making her especially welcome after such a long absence. She will be back sooner or later!

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Networking: Chance Comings
posted by Ladyolake on Nov 24, 2004 - 09:24 AM

General Interest Today is my birthday, and this is a great present. I usually go to the Goddess web site, but for some reason it is down, so I opted to go to witchvox instead, thats when I saw a segment about this site, so here I am, I have been asking several people if there were any events around this area and no one knew.
I tried getting in contact with the only coven (not that I nesecarily want that but oh! well). Here I am, and you bet I'll be at the next fest. even if I have to pull my teeth out(ouch!). If there is anyone from the Lehigh Acres(Fort Myers) area please E me. May the mist of the lake protect you

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Announcements: it is with a heavy Heart
posted by Wade on Oct 03, 2004 - 05:12 PM

General Interest Waterkin,

It is with sadness that I pass along the information that my close
friend and CAW & Spirit Weavers Priest Jim Looman passed over early
this morning. He is survived by his life-partner, Candy DeTray, Jenn
and Raven as well as many others in his extended family.

In addition, Candy's younger brother passed over last night.

Please send your prayers, love, rèsonce and magic to Candy, Jenn and
Raven as well as the others who deeply feel the loss.

More information will be forthcoming. I can be reached by telephone at
419-842-8383.

Drink Deeply, Ron

PS: Pass this along to others who would like the information.

Note: Jim had become a great friend to the Phoenix Festivals Phamily in recient years. He will be sorely missed.
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Tropical info: Jeanne Hits Florida Hard
posted by Wade on Sep 26, 2004 - 02:48 PM

General Interest

It looks like thater are going to be more people in need after this storm than with the others (certainly this is a result of damage already sustained from the previous storms). Attached is a list of agencies and locations for up-to-the-minute relief efforts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site offers suggestions for preparing for a hurricane and remaining safe after a hurricane hits.

The American Red Cross Web site includes tips for hurricane preparedness and a list of chapters in Florida. There is also a link for donations.

The U.S. government's National Hurricane Center offers updates on active storms every three hours at 2, 5, 8 and 11 a.m. and p.m. Eastern time. The site also includes projected paths and current satellite and radar images.

A real-time road tracker from Florida's emergency management division gives information on congestion, closures, accidents and lane reversals.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, a nonprofit organization, has safety tips to help owners of damaged homes stay safe and protect against further damage. It also offers tips on how to file insurance claims for flood damage.

MyFlorida.com, the state government Web site, offers the latest official announcements, status updates, and links to other online resources.

Floridadisaster.org is the home page of the state's emergency management division, and includes telephone numbers of relief organizations and links that allow users to donate or volunteer to relief efforts.

Florida Jaycees Disaster Relief Foundation Upon receiving word of the severe amount of devastation and the lack of immediate assistance to the area, the Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce took action. Over 160 chapters from Panama City to Key West, with hundreds members, banded together to bring relief. Within twelve hours of this natural disaster, semi truck loads of food, water, ice, and blankets were being distributed, not at centers, but on the streets where they could do the most good. For many weeks the Florida Jaycees fully supported the victims of the worst hurricane our state has known in years, and Jaycees from as far as Iowa sent load upon load of supplies, while many other Jaycee state organizations sent funds.

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Tropical info: Hurricane Jeanne - Update 14:00 24SEP04
posted by Wade on Sep 24, 2004 - 02:23 PM

General Interest Hurricane Jeanne apparently has made a decision as to where she's headed. And it's the east coast of florida. We have about 48 hours to finish preparations, about 36 hours from now Northeast Florida will be gin to feel the effects of Jeanne, weather will degrade rapidly after that.

More southern areas of Florida (in particular, the areas near where Frances made Landfall, and just to the north of that) could see effects beginning Saturday morning.

the forcast tract has the storm affecting (and travelling) along the entire florida east coast, northward. Currently there is a Hurricane Watch extending from florida city in the south north to St. Augustine. The watch areas will likely be extended at 5 pm, and some warnings may go up either at 5 or at 11pm tonight.

Attached is the 2 pm advisory

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Tropical info: Be Prepared for The Next Hurricane
posted by Wade on Sep 09, 2004 - 03:00 PM

General Interest Know What Hurricane WATCH and WARNING Mean

* WATCH: Hurricane conditions are possible in the specified area of the WATCH, usually within 36 hours.
* WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in the specified area of the WARNING, usually within 24 hours.

Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan

* Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places--a friend's home in another town, a motel, or a shelter.
* Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map of your locality. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged.
* Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
* Take these items with you when evacuating:
o Prescription medications and medical supplies;
o Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
o Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
o Car keys and maps
o Documents, including driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Note: Reprinted from the American Red Cross Website

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_587_,00.html
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Tropical info: Hurricane Ivan
posted by Wade on Sep 09, 2004 - 02:26 PM

General Interest Newest Hires image of Ivan available. There is no dening that it's a pretty storm - and a deadly one (click image for a larger view)




The links to the right of the Phoenixfestivals.com / jaxpagan.com home pages have the current National Hurricane Information Center Advisories. As of this writing, the long - distance forecast is for Ivan to hit Mainland florida as a Cat-4 storm on Tuesday or Wed. The Keys could be impacted as early as Sunday.

Mandantory Evacuations of all the Florida Keys began for Tourists this morning, for Residents in Manufactured homes (including Mobile homes and R.V.'s) this evening at 6:00 pm EST and for all residents beginning 8:00 am tomorrow morning (Friday the 10th of September)

Winds as of 2:00pm September 9th were at 160 mph, location was approx 360 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaca. Traveling west - Northwest at 13 mph.

The Storm is expected to hit Jamaca on Friday, then track northwest into Cuba, and on into the Florida keys after that.

This will be the Fourth Named storm to Impact Florida this season, and follows very rapidly on the heels of Frances, which dropped a lot of water (up to 12 inches of rain in some areas.) The potential strike area includes areas already hit hard by hurricanes Charlie and Frances. Storm preparations shold be made by everyone in the strike area now, as supplies are already strained due to the prior storms.

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Tropical info: Hurricane Names - 2004 Season
posted by Wade on Aug 30, 2004 - 08:38 PM

General Interest 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Names
[Storm Name] - (highest SS Rating) - Area endangered or Initial impact location
Alex - (Cat 3) Hit North Carolina
Bonnie - (TS) Hit Florida
Charley - (Cat 4) Hit Florida
Danielle - (Cat 3) No US Hit
Earl - (TS) No US Hit
Frances - (Cat 4) Hit Florida
Gaston - (TS) Hit South Carolina
Hermine - (TS) Hit Mass
Ivan - (Cat 5) Hit Mississippi, Alabama and Florida
Jeanne - (Cat 3) Hit Florida
Karl - (Cat 3) No US Hit
Lisa - (Cat 1) No US Hit
Matthew - (TS) Hit Louisiana
Nicole - (TS) No US Hit
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter

Note: I'm updating these periodically - WATCH THE NEWS, it's a very active season this year. last update 10OCT04
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Tropical info: First Tropical Storm of the Season Forms
posted by Wade on Aug 01, 2004 - 02:31 PM

General Interest Not a threat to Florida - The southern coast of South Carolina is forcast to take the hit. Current Advisories for tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin are posted on the front page (bottom of the right hand column) of the Phoenixfestivals website.

--Wade


TROPICAL STORM ALEX INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT SUN AUG 01 2004

...THE FIRST TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON FORMS...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE FEAR TO CAPE
HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO SOUND. A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM EDISTO BEACH SOUTH
CAROLINA TO CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
INDICATE THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE HAS STRENGTHENED INTO
TROPICAL STORM ALEX...THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE 2004 NORTH
ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

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Stories: Phoenix Chose Her Name
posted by BellaMoon on Jul 13, 2004 - 01:45 PM

General Interest The Gift of Phoenix....This is the True Story of Phoenix... she came to me by way of friend, a distance of 45 miles. She was just a baby with long floppy ears, color of pure white and blonde, nothing more. What a sweet puppy she was! My friends were hiking in the woods and a pack of dogs ran up to them and left her behind. My friends waited for them to return, but hours later, they never did. My friend called and I accepted her living gift of friendship...

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Soapbox: Cool Cat Calling Community
posted by cbolt_toak on Jun 11, 2004 - 03:39 PM

General Interest Hmm...look at the entire planet. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute or two.

Done yet? Ok, if you are, you may have noticed a few things. If memory serves me correctly, last time I checked, Naturalism was the thing on this planet. Of course I get updated as often as the ecological status of Antartica, so I may be a few thousand years behind the times.

What happened? A few wars, an Inquisition or two, about a million young people betraying the traditions of their elders, and poof, the belief in this planet going the way of parachute pants.

Why? Now thats up to interpretation. Maybe the whole "I'll cut your hands off if you don't worship." and the "Hey, look, when we die there isn't an abyss of lost dreams, there's some crazy place full of mutant trees and Romanesque buildings where all your ancestors play Backgammon." finally weeded out all the scared little sissies into faiths other than their grandparents'.

Maybe they just outnumbered them and took all the resources, like some plague of upper-middle class neighboorhoods. That Social-Darwinism thing might have happened and the people who knew how to abuse the natural order the best got to live while all the people who knew how it worked died out. (Meh, they'll get there vengence when those people turn the planet into Venus 2. Haha, hey look, acid rain...in a flashflood...roflmao)

Maybe they just gave up. I could see that.
"Hey Earmere, do we really need to fight these Roman guys?"
"You talking about the guys with the big swords, Gogai?"
"Yeah, them, the phalanx guys."
"Meh, nah, that'll teach Maradin to break up with me."
"Haha, yeah, but what about my wife Hesa?"
"Beats me, guess you can go and try asking nicely or something."

But I digress, about time too cause this could be considered a boring tangent by now. WE are not those piss-ant sissies of long ago. (Except you spoiled brats who are just in this to get attention from your parents, and you know who you are.) WE are people who have lived in the nightmare they created.

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Announcements: Venus Crosses the Sun June 8
posted by Wade on Jun 07, 2004 - 02:37 PM

General Interest On June 8, Venus will cross in front of the Sun for the first time since 1882, and backyard skywatchers can see the spectacle [Overview]. The best view will be from Europe, but parts of America and most of Asia and Africa can witness the historic passage, weather permitting.

What Will Happen
Earth, Venus and the Sun will all be in a direct line in space. Venus will make contact with the outer portion of the Sun early in the morning in Europe (and before dawn U.S. time). It will appear as a small black spot about 1/32 the diameter of the Sun.

Safe viewing techniques must be employed.

One of the curious aspects, called the "black drop," will occur just as Venus gets fully in front of the Sun's disk at ingress, and again just before it egresses about six hours later from the other side. Venus' black disk will appear to remain linked to the edge of the Sun for a moment, stretching into an apparent pear shape.

There are two causes for the black drop: The Sun is less bright at its visible edge, and there is a natural blurring effect in telescopes.

Note: just remember when looking up the timetables that FLORIDA IS -4 HOURS (EDT) from the listed times (Universal time)
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Soapbox: Paying Our Debts
posted by ArdeithCarter on May 31, 2004 - 03:59 PM

General Interest I read that the President, in a Memorial Day speech, said that we owe a debt we cannot pay.

Yes, we can, but it is a debt we must pay "forward," not "back."

We owe a debt to the people who fought and died in the Revolutionary War; and we pay that debt "forward" by defending the freedoms that war was fought to gain for each of us.

We owe a debt to the people who fought and died in the War Between the States; and we pay that debt "forward" by our work to keep our country whole and strong.

We owe a debt to the people who fought and died in World War I, and II, and we pay that debt "forward" when we oppose tyranny and genocide any- where in the world.

Note: We must never forget...... Wade
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Soapbox: Defending Fluffy Bunnies
posted by Wade on May 14, 2004 - 12:18 PM

General Interest by Morgan Willowmoon
Email: fluteangel78@hotmail.com


"Come, come to the dark side." That is a statement holding little appeal for many Pagans. In this controversial essay, I will argue that the term "fluffy bunny Wiccan" should be seen as a term of endearment, not one of disrespect, because they may have slightly altered views of Pagan concepts such as Nature, deity, negativity, and death. (Disclaimer: I am not referring to "weekend Pagans" who exhibit uncivilized behaviors and disregard rules at gatherings, having the immaturity to call themselves Pagan because it's cool.)

I don't intend to change any attitudes, but rather to raise questions and viewpoints for consideration. If you choose to read this, I politely request that you do so with an open mind until I have spoken. Afterwards, you are free to state your case, since we all have a right to our opinion.

Clarification of Terminology: Here are some words and the definitions I will use when referring to them...

Fluffy Bunny - Pagan, Wiccan, or Witch who chooses not to acknowledge, work with, or honor the darker aspects of their religion.
Negativity - Any situation or emotion that we don't enjoy experiencing.
Dark Side - Undesired self-discovery of our imperfections and challenges.
Perfection - The absence of negativity.


Bearing all this in mind, let's begin.

Note: Posted Curtasy of Morgan Willowmoon and the Witches Voice - original witchvox article location:
http://www.witchvox.com/words/words_2004/e_bunny04.html
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Soapbox: Witch Hunt on the Web - A Pagan's Personal Journey to the Cyber-Stake
posted by Tagni on Apr 18, 2004 - 01:30 PM

General Interest Having been a member of the Pagan Community for nearly two decades has taught me how to fly beneath the radar when needed. However, never had I dreamed it possible, that a business would discriminate against me strictly because their quasi-Judeo Christian beliefs estimate pagans to be hooded figures who dance around a fire chanting and preparing sacrifices. Even more outlandish, is the fact that this profiling occurred on the Internet, a veritable Dodge City of everything that the FBI controls like bestiality and water-sports to things they should control, but dont - like child pornography.

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Announcements: Listen to my new collaborative elektronik pagan trakk "Elemental Call"!!!
posted by Savvy1007 on Mar 18, 2004 - 09:30 PM

General Interest Hola...

Listen to my new collaborative elektronik pagan trakk "Elemental Call" is up on my site @ http://geocities.com/savvy1007/listen.htm... I just finished it with my friend Mark Sklawer - a fellow New Yorker - (who I also did my two older trakks with)...

Mark Sklawer is part of an amazing event he cooperatively puts on
=>=> "Body Temple - a holistic celebration of life - http://www.bodytemple.info <=<=...
Check it out!!!

Tell me what you think @ savvy1007@yahoo.com about my cooperative elektronik musik aka pagan techno... Feedback helps me grow musically and it is appreciated...

- Amor y Paz - Savvy aka Savannah Skye...

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Announcements: In Memorial
posted by Wade on Mar 08, 2004 - 12:03 PM

General Interest To our Phamily,

With deep regret, I must pass along that Bobbi Dresser, cherished mate of Nybor and Elspeth of Haven, has passed on. Nybor and Elspeth have asked that no gifts be sent until she they have spoken to Bobbi's children

We will be scheduling a memorial service at PhoenixPhyre 2004.

Energy to help those left behind with their grief is greatly appreciated.

Update on March 10,2004 from Nybor:

One third of our life is gone. Bobbi died on Monday morning peacefully in her own bed. We will be holding services at 11AM on Saturday March 13th at the Hines-Renalti funeral home on New Hampshire ave. just north of the White Oak shopping center in Silver Spring MD. Rather then send flowers, you might make a donation to the ACLU. She felt strongly about personal freedom.

Elspeth and Nybor

Note: More information, as it becomes available, will be posted here. Blessings, Wade Berlin, Phoenix Festivals
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Announcements: Help needed
posted by Wade on Feb 14, 2004 - 06:52 PM

General Interest Nybor and Elspeth need your help- in a major power raising. As most of you know, we are 2 parts of a triad. The other person in our marriage is Bobbi Dresser.
Last year, on Feb 14, Bobbi had breast cancer surgery. We did a power working in the hospital during the surgery. Tho the surgery was fairly extensive, It seemed complete. This was followed by chemo and radiation lasting into July. All seemed well at this point.
However, in late November, Bobbi began to have problems with digestion, and her gall bladder was removed on Jan.21 . Upon testing the gall bladder was found to have cancer cells in it. In early February continued testing determined that the cancer had spread to the liver. She is now undergoing the first set of chemo for this.
At 12 noon on Sunday, February 15 we will be doing a healing power raising. Your part of this, if you can take part, will be to link with us to send healing energy into her body. Remember to ground and center first. We are at bobbi's house in Silver Spring, Md. (about 10 miles north of the center of D.C.)
The focus of this working is: SHRINK THE SPREADING CANCER, WHEREVER IT MAY BE; AND DESTROY IT.
This will be equally effective whether you are alone or with a group.

We give thanks to all of you --and to the Lady and Lord for such a caring and powerful family.

Namaste'

Elspeth and Nybor

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Announcements: New Places to Find Us!
posted by Dianne on Jan 30, 2004 - 07:41 PM

General Interest We've made several new friends over the past week who will have Registration Packets for PhoenixPhyre 2004 in their shops. Please visit these varied and friendly Pagan folks.

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Guardian: Suggested Household Medical Supply List
posted by Rowan on Jan 22, 2004 - 06:04 PM

General Interest Greetings, all!

Here's a list of medical supplies that I consider important to have in one's home...

An asterisk (*) denotes herbal-related suggestions; a pound sign (#) denotes magical-related suggestions:

--rubbing alcohol
--hydrogen peroxide
* witchhazel
--liquid antibiotic soap
--sterile water
--electrolyte solution (like "Pediolyte", or some sports drinks)
--epsom salts

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Environmental: Bush Opens Part of Alaskian Forest
posted by Wade on Dec 24, 2003 - 10:43 AM

General Interest From CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/12/23/tongass.log.ap/index.html


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Reversing a Clinton-era policy, the Bush administration on Tuesday opened 300,000 more acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest, to possible logging or other development.

The administration will allow 3 percent of the forest's 9.3 million acres that were put off-limits to road-building by former President Clinton, to have roads built on them and perhaps opened to use by the timber industry. The Tongass comprises 16.8 million acres.

"The people of Alaska benefit," said spokesman Bill Bradshaw of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the Agriculture Department. "What's behind this is the legal challenge by the state. The main point is that it brought a resolution to the Alaska challenge."

Note: From CNN.com - use the link at the top of the article to read the whole thing
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Announcements: PRESS RELEASE FROM EMERALD ROSE
posted by Emerald Rose on Dec 09, 2003 - 12:33 PM

General Interest PRESS RELEASE: 12/07/03 FROM: EMERALD ROSE
www.emeraldrose.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 706 864-0882

Command Performance: "Return of the King" Oscar Party will feature Georgia band Emerald Rose

TICKETS GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC DEC 10

Hollywood is abuzz in anticipation of the upcoming release of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". Plans are being made for this year's Academy Awards presentations and trade news magazines have noted the possibility of Oscar gold for the third installment of Jackson's fantasy epic. Along with the Oscars come the Hollywood parties to celebrate the victories, and the Lord of the Rings cast will celebrate in style at a massive party in Hollywood's celebrated American Legion Hall. "The Return of the One Party" will sponsored by Tolkien fan web site The One Ring.net (www.theonering.net). The organization has produced parties for the movie's Oscar celebration for the past two years and are planning the biggest celebration yet for February 29, 2004, immediately following the Academy Awards.

Note: They rocked at AutumnMeet 2003 - I'm sure they will bring the house down in LA
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Site Upgrades: Moon names - Selections
posted by Wade on Dec 02, 2003 - 01:35 PM

General Interest I'm compiling a list of moon names Here is the current list. I Pulled these from a variety of sources mostly online: Additional Suggestions are welcome and appreciated - leave a comment..... or send me a weblink

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Site Upgrades: The New Lunar Calendar
posted by Wade on Nov 25, 2003 - 10:19 AM

General Interest I am working on a lot of calendar and calculation events to fill a request made on the eGroups. Unfortunately, to fulfill this request, I have to make some assumptions about a calender and the Year.

The first and most important was "When Does the year start?" the Julian (Gregorian) calendar is the one we use day to day separately from the Pagan world. It starts on January 1st. - okay - that is a no-brainer... buit when does the PAGAN New year occur?

For Some it's Samhain - October 31st that more or less is based on a year and a day principal. (29 lunar months per Solar year, plus the day that is not a day - Samahin itself.) The problem with this usage is it's sort of arbitrary.... Why The end of October? Why not a new or Full moon after harvest, or a Solar event? What's more tat Day that is not a day makes it hard to decide if Samhain Ends the Year, or Begins it. So I decided a different way:

Note: I'm writing a new lunar calendar - this resulted in a lot of reseach, so I thought I'd post my thoughts and assumptions for all - feel free to comment, I'm happy to incorporate new and different ideas into the project!
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Announcements: Website and Where to go from here!
posted by Wade on Nov 17, 2003 - 01:15 PM

General Interest Well. 300 plus images from AutumnMeet 2003 later, a bunch of fixes, and a few addons later, and here we are. First - The thanks!

Cephlian, Pappa John, Kristan, Thom, Todd, Dragon, and I all contributed to the current AutumnMeet 2003 image gallery, I hope you enjoy it! There is Full coverage of the Faux Fairy slaying, and followup autopsy, and investigation..., Images and memories from Music night, Maya's Croning, Merchants row, Staff camp, Band Camp, the group shots from us to Rowan on Sunday, and Phamily Members from one end of the site to the other. Note that you can Rate each shot, and post comments for each, which is a great way to help share your memories, and point out the things you particularly liked!
Also, all the bugs I know of are fixed in the website as of this writing. And I added a little widget that lets Phamily members post their current mood (it's on the Front page, above the random image), try it out!

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Announcements: Hall Family Homepage
posted by Walker on Oct 14, 2003 - 11:40 AM

General Interest Hey Ya'll!

We've finally gotton the "beginnings" of the HallFamily Homepage back on-line!!!! I've at least got the "index" page updated!! More will come...I promise!

Love Ya'll
Walker

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Soapbox: Two Years
posted by Wade on Sep 11, 2003 - 10:57 AM

General Interest It's been Two years.

We have managed to come together as a country, then split apart further along traditional party lines. We've managed to go to war with two countries, and pick a fight with at least two more. We argue about whether the men who sent us to Iraq have are heros or villians We continue to argue about what is "right", about whether America is liberating the people or imposing our values. We will continue to do so in the future.

But on this day, at this time, we, as Americans, can stand as one.

We can Honor those Policemen and Firefighters buried under tons of steel and concrete that was once a pair of magnificent towers, while trying to do the job they commited their lives to. We can Honor the brothers and the sisters of those men and women, they that make that same pledge every day.

We can Honor the men and women of our armed services who have given their lives to defend our country. We can Honor their brothers and sisters who are, even now, defending yo