HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: heimberg@pacific.mitre.org (Jeff Heimberger)
Subject: Re: "Are you ready for the Rapture?"
Keywords: Weird flick!
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 17:02:18 GMT

In article <3220045@hpcc01.corp.hp.com> radzy@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Lynne Radzykewycz) writes:
>
>Yet another Rapture forecast bites the dust.  Our local newpaper had
>a short article about it today (Oct 29th).
>
>My suggestion:  check out the newly released video "The Rapture",
>starring Mimi Rogers.  It's a dark drama about a women who is looking
>for meaning in her life, latches onto Christianity, and is let down 
>by it.  Then the Rapture really occurs, and it the remainder of the 
>movie deals with her repsonse to it:
>    Daughter: "Mommy, tell God that you love him."
>    Mother:   "I *can't*."

Yeah, I saw this one, and it's a really strangE movie.  It does, of
course, have the Christian context, but it is definitely not a
Christian movie.  It makes you think, however.  It has great special
effects, too.

Rent it on a cold night with your sweetie.

BB,

Jeff H...

==============================================================================
 Jeff Heimberger                                 If I want your opinion, I'll
 heimberg@pacific.mitre.org                         read it in your entrails.
==============================================================================
From: dhardin@bbn.com (Dawn Hardin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: DAMN THIS LIE!!!!
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:47:49 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

In article <-1364863255snx@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au>, gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick) writes:
> 
> In article <lfdj1jINNnat@news.bbn.com> dhardin@bbn.com writes:
> 
>  > > Teenagers over there are just shooting people with machine guns at
>  > > random, aren't they? You get *REALLY* fucked full of lead, eh? Is that
>  > > how they return your courtesy?
>  >  
>  > You really do watch too many movies, you know that, don't you?
> 
> Well, actually most of what we get here are reports from the press and
> diplomatic corps on the Washington neighbourhoods. I would be very
> relieved indeed to be proven wrong, although in the meantime nothing
> I read or hear from any source about North America encourages me to
> visit the place.

I stand corrected.  You don't watch too many gangster movies.  You watch
too much TV news.  If your TV is at all like ours, you've probably already
suffered irrevocable brain damage.  To test, hold a flashlight to one ear.
If the light comes out the other ear, it's too late.  Condolences to your
children.

> Just as one example among many, we all know what you did to Vietnam,
> whatever reason you might have come up with for doing it, which gives
> me some insight into just how far you will go in simply obliterating
> people right off of the planet you don't happen to like, and what
> morality might be influencing your younger generations today.

Whoops, you saw me do that, did you?  Well, it was an accident, I was 
only 7 years old.  It won't happen again.  Unless I get into one of those
moods again.  PMS, ya'know?

> Or perhaps you are fed something different there from what we get? That
> would go some way toward explaining our different perceptions of what
> the Good Ol' US of A stands for.

After reading all the pre-election paranoia on this group in the past few
months, what do you think that we think the Good Ol' US of A stands for?
I just don't think that I'm terribly likely to get machine gunned by
teenagers when I run out to buy diapers, that's all.  Knifed, now, that's
a different story.  But machine gunned?  Naaa-aah.

I think I'm beginning to catch on here.  I was originally going to ask you
to please get two accounts, one to post all the great stuff about aborigines
and the other one to abuse people when you're soused, so that we could all
put the second account (dickhead@oz, perhaps?) in our kill files.  But I
think I'm beginning to get the joke.  So please get the second account 
anyway, but it won't go in my kill file.  We'll read it when we get into 
one of those moods to invade small countries and then we'll just take our
agression out on you.  You can return the favor, and we'll all be happy.

Dawn
"Hello death, goodbye Avenue A.  I'm getting tired of waiting, tired of
being afraid.  Joseph Campbell gave me hope and now I have been saved.
So I sing hello death, goodbye Avenue A."  "Folk Song" by Bongwater.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: stave@apollo.hp.com (Joel H. Stave)
Subject: Spruce, pumpkin, hay and cornstalks...?
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 19:22:40 GMT
Reply-To: stave@apollo.hp.com (Joel H. Stave)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA
Followup-To: alt.pagan 


Greetings,

I have a question about the following newspaper article.
(summary: someone planted a spruce tree in front of a public
building this past Halloween.  They also left a pumpkin, a
bale of hay and some cornstalks - A more complete version
follows this message.)

I applaud the deed, but I'm curious about some of the intent.
I suppose the pumpkin could just be because it was Halloween
and the hay could have been left there in the hopes that someone
would put it around the little tree to protect it this winter,
but the cornstalks make me wonder.  Was this a Pagan offering?

Assuming the extra items weren't just for gardening purposes, can
anyone out there tell me what they symbolize?

Conversely, can anyone think of a practical reason for the corn
stalks?

just curious,
Joel Stave
stave@apollo.hp.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Article from the 11/8/92 Nashua Telegraph follows:

"The Little Tree on Library Hill Remains a Mystery"

  NASHUA - It may have been a Halloween prank, a goodwill gesture
or a combination of both.

  Shortly after Halloween, a little surprise appeared in front of
the Hunt Memorial Building on Library Hill.

  A tiny Spruce tree was planted in the spot where a 30-foot tall
Colorado spruce had stood before it died and was removed in June.

  That spruce, a gift from the LaLiberte family of Nashua to the
city last November, was decked outfor Christmas last year.  It
died, according to the city Parcks and Recreation officials,
because it was transplanted too late in the season and because a
windy winter proved too much for it.

  The LaLibertes had donated the tree after the old tree in front
of the Hunt Building had died.

  The "Halloeen tree" is small - about two feet tall.  It was
planted right in the spot the LaLibertes; tree used to stand.

  Next to it the anonymous donor also placed a pumpkin on top of
a sawed off tree stump, as well as a bale of hay and some
cornstalks...



Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: crime@grind.cheme.cmu.edu (W. Scott Shannon)
Subject: Re: Curiosity
Organization: Grind Systems, Inc.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 08:24:57 GMT
X-Posted-From: grind.cheme.cmu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <1992Nov6.125300.1112@dct.ac.uk> aesba1cph@dct.ac.uk writes:
>
>
>	Greetings, my most excellent friends.
>			Just recently, I wrote a small poem and entered it into
>this newsgroup. (see Gen.View).  This is not the first one I've written, and
>whenever I do I find myself putting a felling onto paper, without actually
>thinking conciously about it.  It has been said that it is a gift, and i can
>accept that as far as it goes.  The one thing that I'm curious about is why can
>I only write work like that when I am writing on subjects that are personal
>and/or emotional.
>			There isn't one slightly feasable and logigal answer
>for this that I can come up with!
>			I would really like some views upon this aparant
>phenomina! (Not that it will stop me writing or anything so drastic)
>
>		Blessed Be!
>		Taran.


Well... I like to think of myself as a writer... and I can tell you
about why *I* tend to write about things that are emotional to me...
First and foremost... It's BECAUSE it is emotional.
You feel strongly about it... so the words come more easily.
You don't have to sit and think as much.
No worrying about things like "What rhymes with orange?"
When you feel strongly about something ... the words just flow
from your mind on to paper/monitor/whatever.
That flow enables you to write something far more
thought provoking than say... an english essay about
Medieval plumbing..
Second.. It could be, that for the negative emotional experiences..
You are looking for a release. A way to get out bitterness/depression/
whatever.
Or, in the cases of positive emotional experiences...you are seeking
to share the joy/happiness you feel.
The same can go with poetry.. stories.. songs.. whatever...
If you look into it... you'll find some sort of emotion in anything you 
read..
You have to feel something for what you write (except maybe english essays
about medieval plumbing) in order for it to be any good (in your own
mind in the very least)
Does that help at all?

Scott
Live for now. The past is gone, and the future's too far away.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: How the hell can religion and action not be related?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 08:04:29 GMT

pharvey@mipos3.intel.com (Paul Harvey) writes:
: 
: That's right. Christianity teaches that man has dominion over the earth and
: non-Christians are doomed to Christian Hell and all other religions are
: Christian Devil worship and a good Christian must seek to convert the world
: to the "Absolute Truth" of Christianity. When Jesus became blond, Europeans
: adopted Christianity as justification that they should rule the earth and
: all should be converted to European culture. "Convert or die" is the motto.
: Luke 14:26 is the justification. "Fair trade" meaning the right to rape.

No, all Christianity does not teach that. The fundamentalist sects certainly
do so - many others do not.

Bill
From: un032233@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Return of the Azure Mage
Date: 5 Nov 92 05:21:09 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

Greeting All,
				I do not know if any of you remember me.  I am the Azure Mage.
I was on the system during the beginning of the year and am just now getting
back on.  I hope all is well and that my friends will get in touch with me as
soon as possiple and that New freinds will come to say hi.

Blessings of the Goddess to all
The Azure Mage
From: cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Subject: Re: Druid Human Sacrifice
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:52:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.034107.28696@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> mongoose@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Conrad Leviston) writes:
>Chris Lilley (lilleyc@cs.man.ac.uk) wrote:
>: 
>: Interestingly, there was a custom in the Scottish Highlands of burnt
>: bannocks (scones, bread cakes) at Samhain. In fact, many traditional
>: Samhain folk rituals involve selecting someone - nuts jumping on a
>: fire, sticks moved by the fire, whatever. The usual folklore
>: interpretation was that they would die 'before the year was out' or in
>: a 'year and a day'.
>
>	I believe that there is a ritual of burning a bonfire, and getting
>cows to pass through the smouldering remains. One account (C.Squire)
>claims that this is a throwback to old traditions of burning livestock as
>a sacrifice. There is another tradition of people jumping over bonfires,
>this also being symbolic of burning. Sorry I can't be a little bit more
>specific, but it's been a while since I checked up on this stuff.

This is also found in Africa, where women used to hike up their skirts
and leap over a ROARING fire.  They called it "burning the bride's
hair."  Sorry I can't be more specific as to WHERE in Africa; it's a big
place . . .  

Blessings,
Janis
From: pharvey@mipos3.intel.com (Paul Harvey)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: a prophecy come to pass . . . maybe
Date: 5 Nov 92 21:10:57 GMT
Organization: so i'm jus lettin' jah know, if yah plan to take a trip to the bay keep your hand on yo clip

In article <2AF89FC8.7156@news.service.uci.edu> 
cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
>Maybe it has . . .
>I just heard on the news that Perot and his group of hangers-on (I'm not
>crazy about the guy, but I like him fine) are pondering perhaps forming
>their own party.
>Looks like the schism may have come to pass; TMM has been predicting this
>along political lines for a while now, and you guys have stated it along
>religious lines.  The two appear to have met nicely.  If Perot starts
>his own party and it catches on (as all signs appear to indicate), the
>Republicans will be left to the fundie-anti-everything crowd, and the
>moderate conservatives will go for Perot.  
>Religion and politics are rarely if ever separate; if this comes to
>pass, it will amount to the religious schism you peepuhlz have been
>predicting, I'm sure of it.
>Blessings, huh?
>Janis  

The republican party is schisming, particularly in light of the loss. Expect
to see Kemp represent the moderate and conservative republicans and Buchanan
represent the radical religious right led by Robertson. I don't think you'll
see the religious right give up the title of republican, so that means the
fight will be a good one. Perot, on the other hand, well there you've got
a *wild* card. His greatest support comes from a group formally refered to
as Reagan democrats. But, I don't think he wants the presidency. He is pushing
an agenda that we all would be wise to be aware of and will most likely line
up with the Concord Coalition (Rudman/Tsongas) as an independent lobbying
effort, not a political party. If no budgetary progress occurs in the next
four years, expect to see an independent run for the presidency by this
group, perhaps Perot, perhaps not, I wouldn't discount Tsongas, after all that
is where Perot got most of his financial plan. Predictions for 96, 
Clinton/democrat runs for re-election with a record of some
accomplishments but unable to solve the growing ills and discontent,
Perot/Tsongas/Rudman/independent ticket based on budgetary responsibility
and *radical* government reform, perhaps another constitutional convention,
*MAJOR* war over Buchanan vs. Kemp in republican party, since Robertson will
never relinquish control, expect to see Kemp and other traditional republicans
split off to form their own party. Bye-Bye!
From: GC.GGG@forsythe.stanford.edu (Gwyn Gordon)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: How the hell can religion and action not be related?
Date: 4 Nov 1992 15:59:18 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

In article <-1365033276snx@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au>,
gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick) writes:

>misunderstanding the joke (another case of cultural differences I do
>feel the Americans can learn to respect more before lashing out in
>knee-jerk reaction),

You know, Gil, you seem like such an intelligent person. But talk
about knee-jerk reactions: your American-bashing is REALLY tiring.
I know that ALL Aussies are wonderful, open-minded saints, and that
ALL Americans are narrow pig-headed assholes...but do you have to
say this kind of stuff?  Americans get a terrible rap all over the
world (and for good reason, I will be the first to admit) but we're
not ALL that way.  And certainly, most people who are on this net
are here because it's a place where folks on the fringes of
white-belted, golf-shod America can talk about oddball stuff without
being ostracised. You mention respect, yet I see very little from
you, Mr. Tolerant.

Please, give us a break.

Of course, now I'M going to be a target for your flame-thrower, but
oh well....and shoot, my asbestos suit is at the cleaners....

=gwyn
From: mmussell@fmgu25.intel.com (Morgan Mussell ~)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Gods for jobless people?
Date: 5 Nov 92 16:45:48 GMT
Organization: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA USA

Hermes comes right to mind, having to do with communications, merchandise,
trickery, magic, being light on his feet, and a patron of thieves.  We recall
that the day he was born he stole his brother Apollo's cattle, and when the
big guy caught up with him, bought off his wrath with the gift of the harp,
which he had invented in his spare time, that first day.  Somehow I don't
think he'd be out of work for too long.

Morgan Mussell                mmussell@mcd.intel.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "Nice things are nicer than nasty ones."   -----  Kingsley Amis

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: barry@netcom.com (Kenn Barry)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: How the hell can religion and action not be related?
Date: 5 Nov 92 04:47:39 GMT
Organization: QQQCLC

In article <1992Nov5.021836.17857@trl.oz.au> banerjee@titan.trl.OZ.AU (Arindam Banerjee) writes:
>Perhaps I was under a mistaken impression. I thought that paganism
>included Hinduism, and I wondered why as I earlier wrote no mention was
>made in this newsgroup about Hinduism. Since then, I consulted the
>Britannca and I now find that this is a definition for pre-Christian
>European belief systems.

	S'OK, Arindam, you still get to be a "heathen", and that's just
as good :-).

						Kayembee
From: ptrei@bistromath.mitre.org (Peter Trei)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Millenium Mead
Date: 13 Nov 92 14:36:47 GMT
Organization: The MITRE Corporation

In article <1992Nov10.230326.24243@radian.uucp> markbr%radian@natinst.com (markbr) writes:
>Hmmmm. I *can't* resist this one. I'm a long time member of the Beaker
>People Libation Front (yes, it's *all* spelled right), an organization
>dedicated to celebrating our descent from the prehistoric traders of
>Europe by emptying bheer surpluses, whereever found. To join, one needs
>to drink with one of the founders, and be of the proper ethnic heritage.
>To be of the proper ethnic heritage, one must either be of British or
>Celtic ancestory, or be able to fake it. To be able to fake it, one must
>be able to speak English, or know someone who does....

>(I'll drink to that)	mark

    Any other BPLF members out there?

						Peter Trei
						(Member since ~1980)

  PS: I still have a tattered membership card in my wallet.
From: idfraser@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Ian Fraser)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Host/Priest Communication:  What should I expect?
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 92 14:51:00 MST
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems #1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

clr@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Christi Rockwell) writes:

 <Stuff deleted>

- normally i would expect to be consulted on things occuring in my
- apartment, but i've gotten the impression from the priest that i had
- no right to question things (or question the lack of communication)
- and that any questions would be seen as sabotage.  is this what i
- should expect in the future, or with other priests i might work with?

I certainly wouldn't be willing to put up with this sort of bullshit. I don't
care who the 'elder' is, you are entitled to the same basic courtesy from them
that you expect from anyone else. I would expect to be consulted on all aspects
of any ritual performed in my house (although, if it were an initiation, I
might not require the same level of detail, assuming that I was the one being
initiated) At the very least, I would expect to have the right to seee a script
for the proposed ceremony, and to be consulted about who I was expected to
welcome into my home. As to locking up some poor defenseless animal just
because sommeone told me to,... well I think you can probably guess my opinion
of that. (and I don't even like cats!)

Just one priest's opinion....

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
 
Bright Blessings to you and yours!  
 
Hawk
 
Circle of Ashtoreth, 
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: mimir@stein.u.washington.edu (Al Billings)
Subject: Re: DAMN THIS LIE!!!!
Organization: The Friends of Loki Society
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 09:56:20 GMT

In article <-1364599636snx@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au> gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick) writes:
>
>What is Reality Chex?

 Rice Chex and Corn Chex are a brandof cold cereal (you know, put it in a
bowl and por milk on it?) here in the U.S. You are being informed of a
need for a dose of reality.

Wassail,
Al

=============================================================================
|     O     |  Hammar I COMPUTER, Helga Ve Theta Ok Hald Vordh!             |
|    /|\    |                                                               |
|   O-O-O   |  "Praise the day in the evening,      mimir@u.washington.edu  |
|   |\|/|   |   a torch when it is burned,          Anthropology Undergrad  |
|   | O |   |   a sword when it is tried,           Admin for Troth-L       |
|   |/|\|   |   a maid when married,                System operator of      |
|   O-O-O   |   ice when crossed,                     The Sacred Grove BBS  |
|    \|/    |   ale when drunk."                      (206)634-1980 V.32    |
|     O     |                  - Havamal, verse 81                          |
=============================================================================

Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: michael@albert.bu.edu (Michael Chaplin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: that goddamned Measure 9
Date: 5 Nov 92 21:12:13 GMT
	<Bx92tG.AzH@access.digex.com>
Organization: Boston University
In-reply-to: corun@access.digex.com's message of 5 Nov 92 15:53:40 GMT

In article <Bx92tG.AzH@access.digex.com> corun@access.digex.com (Corun MacAnndra) writes:
   My sister is from Colorado, and I had a long talk with her before the
   election about CO 2. She was going to vote yes, and I had her read the
   bill to me. It was written in serious Weasel Speak. It was so twisted
   that it made people think that voting no would allow MORE than eqaul
   rights to gay/bi/lesbians. I was able to translate it for her and make
   her see what voting yes would really do, so I managed at least one no
   vote out there.

   In speaking to a few lawyers I know, they seem to think that it'll get
   challenged in court and be kicked out as unconstitutional. One can only
   hope. Good luck, Colorado.

In looking over the question (It's reprinted in the NY Times of
5 Nov. 92 (Today))- It *is* worded such that not passing it would
disallow "preferential treatment" to gays, bi's, and lesbians, as opposed
to them receiving equal treatment. However, its wording is structured
such that passing it *would* deny them _equal_treatment_.
In other words: it was a lose-lose situation.

It certainly does seem as if Colorado has been good at shooting itself
in the foot, what with denying its congressional delegation any chance
of gaining seniority, and pulling other stupid stunts like #2.
I, too, wish it luck. Not everybody there deserves what it might get.

Chaplin.
--
=========================================================================
Michael A. Chaplin           If you want *their* opinions, ask *them*.
michael@albert.bu.edu ....The Einstein Papers Project, Boston, Mass., USA
chaplin@husc.harvard.edu ....Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., USA