HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 19:18:01 EST
Organization: Ailanthus Project

cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:

> In article <1992Aug13.013628.20129@sunova.ssc.gov> jasmine@sscux1.ssc.gov (Ka
> >
> >My favorites include anything by Charles de Lint and right now I'm addicted
> >the author who wrote _Gossamer Axe_ and _Strands of Starlight_.  I will post
> >others as I remember them
> >
> >Karissa
>
> Well, of COURSE _The Mists of Avalon_ is great, and so is just about
> anything by Ursula LeGuin.  James Tiptree (Alice Sheldon) is also very
> good, though she leans to science fiction (she's won a Hugo).  I don't
> know if she'd be considered P/pagan, though . . .
>

the unnamed author above is Gael Baudino, who is also a good read cos her books
contain lesbian sensibilities.  (good read for me, anyway.  ymmv)  and i LOVE
james tiptree junior, r.i.p.  B(

i like gillian bradshaw's arturian trilogy (hawk of may, kindom of summer, in
winter's shadow).  that's pretty pagan, expecially the first book, where
gwalchmai meets lugh.

terry pratchett's books often have a wiccan undertone to them, especially _wyrd
sisters_ which is about three witches.  they're also fun, and while he might
not be perfect on the anti-sexism front, he is certainly trying to be
even-handed, as witness _equal rites_, whihc ALSO has wiccan references in
it...

hmm...  i post on pagan kidbooks as i find them, so i don't need to repeat
myself about _grandfather twilight_ (but i will anyway - it's beautiful).

and then there's _widdershins_ which is a story of a bunch of wimmin forming a
coven on an island in maine, and scaring away some evil developers at the same
time.  it's not exactly perfectly written, but it is much fun, and developers
WERE a terrible problem in the eighties.  never thought i'd bethankful for a
recession, but at least it has those landmurderers sticking to their OWN states
and not trying to muscle into MINE.  (as you might gather, i consider
developers to be right up there on the Forces of Evil list.)

no other pagan fiction comes to mind...  maybe i shoudl get off my butt and
WRITE some...  oh yeah, and one of the wimmin in the _dykes to watch out for_
comic series is a dianic.

                                          -ailsa

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
     ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com                   ________
        I don't need a hero                Silence \      / Action
        I don't need a soldier                =     \    /    =
        I did when i was younger            Death    \  /    Life
        But now i'm so much older.                    \/
From: amanda@INTERCON.COM (Amanda Walker)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: I have returned...
Date: 19 Aug 92 07:35:41 GMT

I'm back.  At least, if you can read this, I'm back :)...


Amanda Walker
amanda@intercon.com

Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: bear@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU (Bear Giles)
Subject: Re: Hey, Coyote!
Organization: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Adminstration / Boulder Labs
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 02:03:52 GMT

In article <24650@castle.ed.ac.uk> loki@castle.ed.ac.uk (A Kashko) writes:
>In article <1992Aug6.152652.24071@lmt.mn.org > ciaran@county.lmt.mn.org (Ciaran Benson) writes:
> >  Hey, Coyote, who teaches us through our mistakes!
> >
> >  I just wish she didn't always use a 2-by-4.
>
>	In my experience a rapier through sensitive parts of the anatomy
>is what she uses most often. Like I realise the answer to a problem just after
>talking to user support, who are baffled :)

How odd.  I like the 2-by-4's.

Sometimes when I'm particularly balanced Coyote lets me help teach someone
else.  It is _e_x_t_r_e_m_e_l_y_ hard to keep a straight face when you see
her hand in a lesson another person is about to receive.

(No, it's not because I am trying to keep from laughing, although that is
part of it.  Rather, it is because of a feeling analogous to the Christian
rapture, the sense that you are integral to something much greater than
yourself....  But unlike the rapture, you're an _active_ participant).

The big question, though, is have you learned how to challenge her yet?
Like the time I was in a bar, unimpressed with what I saw, when I asked
her something like "Is this the best you can do?"  Less than a minute later
a pretty tall brunette in an incredible outfit reminiscent of _Casablanca_
walked in... and Coyote was definitely involved!  Maybe I'll tell more,
later.

Of course, anyone who takes on a trickster on her own turf can be expected
to like the 2-by-4 style :-)


Bear Giles
bear@fsl.noaa.gov
From: shava@hermes.oit.unc.edu (Shava Nerad Averett)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: jet
Date: 16 Aug 92 19:21:43 GMT
Organization: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

In article <CMM.0.88.713559996.fannin@pons.cis.ohio-state.edu> fannin@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (elizabeth a fannin) writes:
>there is some test for it that i can't remember. (to differentiate it from
>glass, that is.)

If you are buying beads:

	Grab a handful of beads, and see if they feel heavier than plastic.
		If they are featherweight, they are plastic.  If they are
		heavier than glass, they are probably dyed onyx...
	Buy one bead, string it on a pin or a piece of wire, and put it
		over a candle flame.  If it doesn't burn, it's glass.  If
		the surface turns brownish, it's dyed onyx or somesuch. 
		If it burns up, it's jet.  If it melts and turns gooey on
		the pin, then it's resin or plastic.

-- 
Shava Nerad Averett				shava_averett@unc.edu
/*  all materials (c)1992, Shava Nerad Averett, and have nothing significant
    to do with the University of North Carolina, a mostly owned subsidiary 
    of the NC Legislature, a mostly owned subsidiary of the DOT.      */
From: cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 16 Aug 92 04:14:18 GMT

In article <1992Aug16.034655.17541@u.washington.edu> mimir@milton.u.washington.edu (Al Billings) writes:
>In article <0aBJPB1w164w@ailanth.UUCP> ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy) writes:
>>
>>unless, of course, you happen to be one of those "poor pathetic inverts," who
>>really don't feel like having the Great Michael "grok a wrongness" in us.
>>
>>heinlein was a sexist homophobic unimaginitave dickhead.
>
> The poor, poor man. He is *so* horrible! I think he did pretty well
>considering when he grew up and his background and when the book was
>written but I'm a man so what do I know?

That's not an excuse.  You think that the gay people who get bashed and
threatened with their lives are thinking, "Well, I suppose I can't hold
it against these poor people that they grew up with oppressivecr sexual
mores"?  More likely they are thinking, "Get your foot out of my ass,
you slob."

I don't excuse anyone bigotry and condescension just because that's what
they grew up with.  *I* grew up in the same anti-gay/les culture he did,
and I don't think I'm that handicapped.  What was his problem?

And pardon me, but what the hell does your being a man have to do with
ANYTHING?

ailsa thinks he's a potzer, I agree with her.  Why is this a problem? 

Blessings,
Janis


Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim)
Subject: Re: jet
Organization: California State University: Sacramento
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 16:34:47 GMT

>fannin@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (elizabeth a fannin) writes:
>>
>> More stuff about jet.
> 
>May your travels be shared in good company.
>Elizabeth

I want to here and now thank all those involved in the jet sales conspiracy,
as it worked! I went out to a local new age crystal store locally and found
a very simple 82 bead jet necklace for $24, which I consider a bit high, 
but certainly not unreasonable. Whether you like it or not, jet necklaces 
ARE on the rare side, just by nature of nobody in the general public really
even knowing what jet is. In the few days I've had the necklace, I've gotten
quite attached to it. Like amber, it FEELS GOOD. I don't want to go much 
farther than that with regards to its spritchewal properties; it does feel
a lot different than equivalently sized glass or ceramic beads. I thought
about cutting it apart and interleaving some amber beads, but I kinda like
its all-black look (and I'm not a all-black wearing kinda guy). It's kinda
threatening in that pagan.goat.head.silver.pentacle.crescent.moon.howling
kinda way -- I've had a couple folks look at me funny. Of course, with my
long hair and little gold glasses they probably just think I'm some throw-
back to the 60's.  Oh well.  :-)

As for it being legit, I could be misled, but the source was fairly reliable.
Unfortunately, it was the last one. I'm going to call the owner:  if she
can get more, I'll post the business address and phone for those interested.

Whammy to all,

Murray

-- 
Murray M. Altheim      "Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
Instructional Consultant    La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
CSU, Sacramento          Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
altheimm@csus.edu       Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict."
From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: I have returned...
Date: 19 Aug 92 13:13:11 GMT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

amanda@INTERCON.COM (Amanda Walker) writes:

> I'm back.  At least, if you can read this, I'm back :)...
> 
> 
> Amanda Walker
> amanda@intercon.com
> 
Amanda! Merry Meet! Good to see you again.
Well, I finally acheived humanity... see my new address?? :)


--------------------
Donal, Sysop of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
From: ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: S'mores (was: New Thread: Pagan Fiction)
Date: 22 Aug 92 05:23:33 GMT
Organization: Ailanthus Project

boylan@sltg04.ljo.dec.com (Steve Boylan) writes:

> Of course, if one is desperate, a toaster oven set on "Top Brown"
> works very well.  Be sure to put foil on the tray, under the
> marshmallows, or you'll make a HORRIBLE mess!
>
> Naturally (pun intended), on the beach with a fire and a bunch of
> friends is far better, and is far better for one's spiritual
> development.
>
> However, I must disagree with Janis the BG#W1O2DOWNAW on one point -
> the purity of the all-white marshmallow, toasted to a rich dark brown,
> with just a HINT of crispiness, is a much more richly spiritual for
> me - the colors detract from my enjoyment of the ritual.
>

the best s'mores are made with four or more squares of a hershey's chocolate
bar, one marshmallow, and a graham craker split in half.  these are wrapped in
foil and cook at 350 degrees until mooshy.  they are very messy and taste
heavenly.  the campfire ones are more traditional, but the chocolatre doesn't
melt into the proper gooey mass, and it isn't a TRUE s'more unless you have to
(or someone else has to!) lick the spilled chocoalte and marshmallow from your
fingers, face, and wherever...

marshmallows aren't vegetarian, however B(  B(  B(

                                               -ailsa

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
     ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com                   ________
      No visible means of support          Silence \      / Action
      and you have not seen nothing yet.      =     \    /    =
      Everything's come together.           Death    \  /    Life
                                                      \/
From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Date: 19 Aug 92 13:09:41 GMT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

> n9140397@henson.cc.wwu.edu (Michael J. Hamilton) writes:
> >_Mists_of_Avalon_ by Marion Zimmer Bradley was
> >by far the best peice of pagan fiction I've ever
> >read.  There's a lot of philosphy packed into a
> >great stroy.

I hate to bring this one up, and it is NOT in my list of favorite books...
Has anyone here read MZB's "Witch Hill" and what did you think of it.
I still think that it was ghost written and MZB was forced somehow to put
her name on it... it just isn't her style.


--------------------
Donal, Sysop of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
From: system@korova.uucp (razorback)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 15:56:45 CDT
Organization: VHF void tube of the mind (713) 492-2783

radzy@ICSI.Berkeley.EDU (T. O. Radzykewycz) writes:

> system@korova.uucp (razorback) writes:
> > as for unimaginative...well..i dont think [Heinlein's] called 
> > "the father of sci-fi" for the HELL of it...:>
> 
> Ahem.  I've always heard that Verne was the "father of sci-fi".
> Not some young upstart like Heinlein.
> 
> As a squid, you should *know* better.  :-)
> 
> Blessings for 20,000 leagues!


hah! told you i was biased. :>

squid

--
              VHF void tube of the mind (713) 492-2783
        "where you can find the Zeta Greys SAFEWAYING themselves
                into the WONDERBREAD *heart* of America!"
From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Chocolate (was Re: "gangway, folx")
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 11:11:47 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy) writes:

> cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
> 
> >
> > Everything BUT blue.  I guess you'd call `em hazel.  They're sort of a
> > light brown, with gold bits in them (lots of that), grey rims, and look
> > green in certain weather, though not nearly green enough for me.
> >
> > Basically think of the one color of eyes that has never before been seen
> > by the OTHER eyes of humanity.  That's it!
> 
> they sound lovely!  my dad had eyes like that, as did my exhusband...  B)
> could there be a pattern here?
>                                                    -ailsa
I don't know. Are you saying that you are falling in love with Janis?
:)


--------------------
Donal, Sysop of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
From: ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Tarot: What's the blank card for?
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 18:57:37 EST
Organization: Ailanthus Project

ceci@lysator.liu.se (Ceci Henningsson) writes:

> I bought a book that relates to the deck: _Inner_Landscapes_ by
> Dolores Ashcroft-Novicki. It is a pathworking manual for the major
> arcana. It seems to contain most of the practical information I need
> to get started, but if someone in this group has tried pathworking
> with the major arcana, I'd be very interested to hear about your
> experiences. I haven't tried pathworking before.

i bought that book, but have never gotten around to reading it.  what's it
like?  what is "pathworking" anyway?  (i bought it cois it looked interesting,
brought it home, put it on a shelf, and forgot it existed.)

                                             -ailsa
                                              charter member Bibliophiles
                                              Anonymous

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
     ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com                   ________
        I don't need a hero                Silence \      / Action
        I don't need a soldier                =     \    /    =
        I did when i was younger            Death    \  /    Life
        But now i'm so much older.                    \/
From: ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Pagan music
Date: 22 Aug 92 04:51:33 GMT
Organization: Ailanthus Project

rap@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Roger Powell) writes:

>
> How about some actual Pagan musicians?
>

you mean like stevie nicks?  *grin*  she's wiccan, last i heard...

                                          -ailsa



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
     ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com                   ________
      No visible means of support          Silence \      / Action
      and you have not seen nothing yet.      =     \    /    =
      Everything's come together.           Death    \  /    Life
                                                      \/
From: krikket@meltdown.chi.il.us (D. 'krikket' Krick)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Amber...Jet.
Date: 15 Aug 92 22:03:52 GMT
Organization: The Meltdown - A Team Star BBS

In article <1992Aug13.103331.42315@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>,
kumagic@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Stephen R. Figgins) writes:
>
>My lover makes Amber and Jet necklaces, and sells them exclusively to
>pagans.   In fact much of the amber and jet she uses to make the
>necklaces she buys from pagans.  She has plans to tour the pagan
>festivals and sell her goods someday, maybe in a few years.  
>
>E-mail me for more information.  I don't really want to be advertising
>here, but she does do mail-order on jewelry and other things. 

I'm officially requesting infotmation....

Krikket               ! krikket@meltdown.chi.il.us ! USnail:3 Danada Square E.
a.k.a Doug Krick      ! Team Star Charter Member   !        Suite 246
Data ph# 708/665-9732 ! #include<std.disclaimers>  !        Wheaton, Il 60187
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Just another commentary on the sad state of affairs on our nation today.
From: jack@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Jack Campin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Date: 19 Aug 92 16:59:12 GMT
Reply-To: jack@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Jack Campin)
Organization: COMANDOS Project, Glesga Yoonie

Some rather different suggestions:

- Christoph Ransmayr's "The Last World", which makes an imaginative
  transformation of Ovid's cosmology;

- "The Satanic Verses", which has an intriguing subtheme of pre-Islamic
  Arab paganism;

- Vladimir Arsenyev's "Dersu Uzala" (the book Kurosawa's film derives from;
  I haven't read this yet but have heard it's every bit as good as the
  movie);

- Robert Graves' "King Jesus", which is almost a pagan Life of Christ
  (not quite as intentionally offensive as "the Satanic Verses", but
  I suspect the main reason Christian bigots haven't gone after it is
  that nobody's tried to turn into a movie and people like that don't
  read books).

-- 
--  Jack Campin    room G092, Computing Science Department, Glasgow University,
17 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, Scotland   TEL: 041 339 8855 x6854 (work)
INTERNET: jack@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk or via nsfnet-relay.ac.uk    FAX: 041 330 4913
BANG!net: via mcsun and uknet     BITNET: via UKACRL    UUCP: jack@glasgow.uucp
From: cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Subject: Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 16 Aug 92 19:15:47 GMT

In article <1992Aug16.145320.26772@lmt.mn.org> ciaran@county.lmt.mn.org (Ciaran Benson) writes:
>>"He was a misogynist, homophobic right-wing asshole with his
>>thumb up his ass.
>>
>>Just one person's correct opinion,
>>Janis"
>
>  And that thumb, by his writing at least, was usually up
>someone else's ass ...
>
>  I made the mistake of promising myself I would finish
>ANY ONE of Heinlein's books written after "Puppet Masters"
>(which I thought, at the time, was pretty good -- although
>I'm now convinced if I went back and re-read it I'd barf
>body parts).

That's kind of the way I felt. 

>  So anyways, I get a copy of "Time Enough For Love", and,
>with the continued encouragement of my Heinlein worshipping
>friends of the time, and over the course of a summer, manage
>to ram it down my throat.
>
>  I'm still trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

I gave up after page twenty.  The guy had a wonderful turn of phrase and
certainly COULD have written very well, but he had the even more
difficult handicap of being a dork.  Made for some lousy books. 

>  Heinlein had one good book in him, and he kept writing and
>publishing rough draft after rough draft after rough draft without
>ever reaching that one good book.

I like this!  After thinking about this sentence, I realized it was dead
on target. 

Blessings,
Janis


From: ijd@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Ian J Dickinson)
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 11:23:57 GMT
Subject: Re: Pagan Music (Was Re: New Thread: Pagan Fiction)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol, UK.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan


A couple more that I have not seen mentioned yet: _Bride of the Spear_ and
_Ghost in the Sunlight_ by Kathleen Herbert (hope I've got that right, my
bookcase is at home and I'm not :-).  Both set in post-Roman Britain, and
feature some nice pagan scenes, especially an account of the Beltane fires
in one of them.  Herbert addresses the Pagan vs Christian thang much better
in these two books, imho, than Bradley does in _Mists of Avalon_.  But then,
equally imho, that wouldn't be difficult.

Happy reading, and keep those references coming (looks like my book budget
is accounted for until about '96!)

Blessings,
Ian.


|Ian Dickinson    HP Labs Bristol (Knowledge Based Programming Dept)   England|
|Email: ijd@hplb.hpl.hp.com    | Enough if something from our hands have power|
|   These opinions are mine,   | To live and act and serve the future hour    |
|  and not (necessarily) HP's  |                                 - Wordsworth |
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: boylan@sltg04.ljo.dec.com (Steve Boylan)
Subject: Re: I have returned...
Reply-To: boylan@sltg04.ljo.dec.com (Steve Boylan)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 18:24:06 GMT


In article <199208190638.AA03111@intercon.com>,
amanda@INTERCON.COM (Amanda Walker) writes:

> I'm back.  At least, if you can read this, I'm back :)...
> 
> 
> Amanda Walker
> amanda@intercon.com

Oh, goody!  (No smiley, NO sarcasm!)

Welcome back!

				- - Steve
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: holzman@fnalno.fnal.gov (Daniel B. Holzman)
Subject: Subject?
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 22:45:11 GMT
X-Posted-From: fnalno.fnal.gov
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

Cthulu saves... in case he's hungry later.

Jesus saves... and trades with his friends.
-- 
Daniel B. Holzman                    | Eight Words the Witch's Rede Fufill:
HOLZMAN@FNAL.BITNET                  | An It Harm None, Do What You Will
HOLZMAN@FNALC.FNAL.GOV.INTERNET      |
                                     | All Acts of Love and Pleasure are
Love doesn't subtract,               | Her Rituals
   it multiplies    - Heinlein       |
                                     | Speak the Word.
Disclaimer:  Fermilab's far too large to have an opinion, let alone mine.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: acarr@pell2l13.alleg.edu (Amelia Carr)
Subject: Re: Amber...Jet.
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 14:26:28 GMT

The information on jet (and amber) is much appreciated.  Somewhere back in  
this thread somebody talked about a test for distinguishing jet from black  
glass.  The only one I know is that glass and stone fracture differently,  
so you have to chip the piece to distinguish.  This is most inconvenient  
in many stores.  My Victorian-jewelry-fanatic friends say that for  
decorative purposes it probably doesn't matter much--it all looks the  
same.  But for magical and meditative purposes it should make a big  
difference.  I would be curious if meditators (my powers here are weak)  
can sense a difference.
Iage