Category: Products

The Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot

by Administrator, posted in Magic/Occult, Products, Reviews

In 1936 The Brotherhood of Light, the parent organization to the current, self-described, non-profit, religious, altruistic organization founded upon Hermetic Traditions, The Church of Light, published “The Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot”. It was a black and white deck featuring designs by Gloria Beresford. Unlike many tarot decks that exist solely for use in divination, “The Brotherhood of Light” deck acts as a companion to “The Sacred Tarot” by C.C. Zain, the founder of “The Brotherhood of Light”.

Why am I talking about a 74 year-old tarot deck? Because in 2003 Vicki Brewer redrew the original black and white images and in 2009 she redesigned the cards into a full-color Egyptian tarot deck. In 2010 U.S. Games Systems was kind enough to send me the deck to take a look at.

First, because let’s face it, it’s the thing most people want to know, how does the deck look. As an amateur at best in things tarot and Hermetic, I would call the design Egyptian art deco. The images are striking, the colors sharp without over powering the art, and the cards are in the standard tarot size making them no harder, or easier (Am I the only one who has trouble wrapping their hands around a tarot deck?), to handle than any other deck. Of course this is the description from an untrained eye. In reading the 48 page booklet that comes with the deck, you discover how much thought and consideration was given to every single thing you see on the card. The meticulous attention to “Brotherhood” detail is amazing and I assume greatly appreciated by The Church of Light.

Now let’s talk mechanics. Let me give you some info from the booklet:

Following in the tradition of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light, these tarot cards are an integral part of an internally consistent exposition of occult science in which astrology, alchemy, and magic (the tarot) are integrated.

Unique to this system is the correspondence of the twelve zodiacal signs and thirty-six ultra zodiacal decanate constellations to the Major and Minor Arcana.
The booklet goes on to explain the importance of the color with regards to focusing the unconscious mind and the correlation between these colors and astrological correspondences and the tarot itself. Also, the booklet explains interpreting the cards with regards to divination and offers a few spreads to try with them.

“The Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot” booklet features excerpts from “The Sacred Tarot” by C.C. Zain. It is interesting reading. For those of you with interest, I checked the current Church of Light website, and you can order “The Sacred Tarot” as a hardbound for $21.95 before shipping and handling. The site also lists an ISBN number, so you may be able to have it ordered through your favorite local bookstore. As a dabbler, the content in the 48 page booklet is good enough, but I figure some of you guys out there would be interested in it.

The good news is that U.S. Games Systems is handling “The Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot” so you should be able to find it anywhere that carries tarot cards, or have it ordered.

After some thought, I have to say, this deck would make a great addition to any tarot enthusiast’s collection. With it’s attractive art, roots reaching back to 1936, and it’s unique perspective, it would be at home in the hands of many different tarot readers/collectors.

The Sixties Were Awesome: Morgan’s Tarot

by Administrator, posted in New Age, Products

I’m enchanted by “Morgan’s Tarot”. I had never heard of this deck before getting an email from U.S. Games Systems, but after seeing it first hand, I don’t know how I hadn’t heard about this before. “Morgan’s Tarot” was originally published in 1970; created by Morgan Robbins and illustrated by Darshan Chorpash. It was republished again in 1983, and it has just been brought back again. Anyone who has seen this deck in any of its printings knows what I mean, once you see it, you can’t possibly forget.

Morgan Robbins created a 1970’s counterculture/new age deck of cards. Despite being called “tarot”, the cards are not hippy reinventions of the traditional Major and Minor Arcana. Instead, they’re fun, thoughtful, and mind bending cards that force you to look within to find their true meaning. I suspect the format would be called an “oracle deck” these days, where you draw a card and reflect on it’s meaning. And yes, there will be reflection with this deck, it’s impossible to avoid. With cards that say things such as, “It is not what you do that counts, it is…where your head is at.”, “There is no you.”, or “I come from a different planet.”, there is nothing to do but look within for a meaning. Of course it does come with a little booklet that offers some ideas about the cards. However, even those require their own bit of personal interpretation. For example, the “I come from a different planet.” card has a blurb in the booklet that reads, “Psychologically, the card might express the individual’s feeling of alienation or separation from the environment.” But that’s straight forward you say to yourself. What on earth is Rebecca talking about? Well, the second part of it’s blurb goes on to say, “In reality, of course, having come from Arcantmycin, the sixteenth planet in the Wycloxian systems of Andromeda, you are having great difficulty acting like an earthling, especially since your memory was wiped out at birth and you don’t realize you’re an alien. Still, knowledge of your origin might enable you to adapt to the ways of the natives.” The 60’s must have been awesome! Speaking of the 60’s, a warning for you squares, you will find cards such as “Grass”, “Mushroom”, and “Drug Dragged” in this deck. The 60’s were awesome!

The booklet does give you instructions on how to basically do a tarot spread with “Morgan’s Tarot”, and I’m sure that would be a good time, but what I really love is the second suggestion given for a use of the cards. “With two or more players, shuffle and deal an appropriate number of cards (five or seven are excellent numbers). The first player leads any card he chooses. The second player lays a card on top of the first, perhaps as an appropriate comment on this card. The play continues with the remainder of the cards. The object of the game is for everyone to win!” This does deserve another round of “The 70’s really were awesome!”, but I have to say in all honesty I thought this was rather clever. Certainly not for everyone’s taste, but I found it appealing. Very Zen after a fashion.

I can’t let this review end without taking a moment to discuss the art by Darshan Chorpash. All the cards are done in black and white in a very freehand ink style. Imagine the most endearing, darling art images you can muster from the 1960’s, times it by two, and you’ll get the illustrations for this deck. The exact words I uttered, the moment I pulled the “Morgan’s Tarot” box out of the mailer envelope, after seeing the “Love” card on the back were, “Oh my God, that is so cute.” Not what my husband is used to hearing around the house he looked over at me, so I showed him the back of the box. Even he had to admit that it was charming.

When it comes to tarot, I’m a bit of traditionalist, which is hysterical since I’m horribly ignorant about the meanings and symbolism found in tarot. Yet I remain oddly snobbish. That said, maybe that’s why I would call “Morgan’s Tarot” my favorite deck, after the obvious “Universal Waite Tarot” and the “Smith-Waite Tarot” decks. It’s an entirely different beast. It’s whimsical and fun, but also makes you ask yourself difficult questions like “Who am I”? Or harder still, “Tomato, Potato, Eggplant.” That’s it, the 60’s were awesome.

More of Obama’s Promises

by Administrator, posted in Politics, Products

Last night was President Obama’s State of the Union address. There has been no shortage of people analyzing every word, every gesture, and every possible reaction. YAWN! I thought the State of the Union would be a perfect time for some real random fun. That’s right; it’s time for the triumphant comeback of “President Obama’s 500 Promises”!

You may remember the fun I had with these cards back in April 2009. It’s a box of 510 cards that compile promises Obama made in interviews, debates, speeches, and on his website while campaigning to become President. Then you go to www.PolitiFact.com (remember, the one with the Pulitzer bitches!) and find out how Obama is doing at fulfilling that promise. Instead of watching all the media spin I opted to open up my box of 500 Promises and draw 3 cards at random. I then went to www.PolitiFact.com to see how the President is doing on fulfilling them.

1. Promise 48: Close the “donut hole” in Medicare prescription drug plan. Eliminate the “donut hole” in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program that limits benefits for seniors with more than $2,250 but less than $5,100 in annual drug costs, meaning they end up paying full price for drugs while also paying drug plan premiums.

PolitiFacts says: In the Works. After months of talking about health care reform, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced major legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system. House Democrats unveiled the 1,000-plus-page bill, called America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, on July 14, and it includes most of President Barack Obama’s key proposals on health reform.

One of Obama’s campaign pledges was to close the “doughnut hole” in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program, a coverage gap that affects some seniors who have to pay for drugs that might otherwise be covered. The health care bill aims to slowly eliminate the gap, beginning with a $500 reduction in 2011 and completing phase-out by 2023. Under the House bill, that move would be paid for by requiring drug manufacturers to pay new rebates involving the Medicaid program.

We should be clear that there’s a long way to go — maybe months — before this bill becomes law. It has to get through the Senate, where many an ambitious House bill has seen its hopes dashed.

Nevertheless, the bill marks significant, measurable progress on Obama’s promise, and we rate it In the Works.

Promise 111: Allow all veterans back into the Veterans Administration. Sign an executive order ending the unfair ban on healthcare enrollment of certain groups of veterans, including ‘Priority 8’ veterans who often earn modest incomes and have no service-connected disability.

PolitiFacts says: Compromise. This promise had its roots in a government decision in 2003 that, due to limited resources and a mandate to provide quality and timely health care, the VA would prioritize those veterans who would be eligible to receive health care benefits. Priority was given, for example, to veterans with service-connected conditions, people with low income or those with special health care needs. The VA decided, however, to stop enrolling nondisabled “Priority 8” vets whose income exceeded some set thresholds.

During the campaign, Obama promised he would do away with those income thresholds. All veterans, he vowed, would be allowed back in the VA.

In May, President Obama proposed a $113 billion Veterans Affairs budget for 2010 that would make significant progress toward restoring eligibility to VA health care benefits for many “Priority 8” veterans.

According to the budget plan, “For the first time since January 2003, VA expands eligibility for VA health care to nondisabled veterans earning modest incomes. This expansion will bring nearly 550,000 eligible veterans into the VA health care system by 2013. The 2010 budget request provides the resources to achieve this level while maintaining high quality and timely care for lower-income and service-disabled veterans who currently rely on VA medical care.”

While 2013 is the longer-term goal, the 2010 veterans budget approved in July by the House Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee included $533 million to expand eligibility for health care services to non-service disabled veterans. That amount would allow the VA to increase the income limit by 10 percent (to about $30,000, depending on where you live). The VA estimates it will translate to an additional 266,000 veterans who will enroll in the VA health care system.

The White House plan calls for relaxing the income thresholds more and more over the next several years.

That’s a big commitment. And by and large, it appears veterans leaders are pleased.

“The president is taking care of veterans,” said Joe Davis, national spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars. “He is following through on this provision.”

Still, Davis said, it will be interesting to see if the VA system is equipped to handle the additional people made eligible this year.

“It’s going to be difficult because of capacity,” Davis said. “But you have to start somewhere. Only time will tell if you can open it further.”

Testifying before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department, said the VA is up to the task.

“The president’s decision to relax income thresholds established in 2003, which froze Priority Group 8 enrollments, has enabled many more veterans to access the excellent health care available through our Veterans Health Administration (VHA),” Shinseki said. “It has increased VA’s workload, but we are prepared to accommodate up to 500,000 enrollees, who are being phased in over the next four years.”

Clearly, Obama has made strides toward keeping his commitment on this promise. But in the campaign, he didn’t say he was going to phase in the changes. Look again at what Obama’s position paper stated:

“When troops serve, they are not divided by income classes or priority groups. Yet, today the VA is picking and choosing which veterans to serve. Barack Obama is committed to ending the unfair ban on health care enrollment of certain groups of veterans, including ‘Priority 8’ veterans who often earn modest incomes. He has voted to end this unfair policy, which has resulted in the VA turning away nearly one million veterans since 2003. As president, one of Barack Obama’s first acts will be signing an executive order reversing this ban.”

But it was not one of his first acts. Indeed, Obama has not signed an executive order reversing this ban, as he said he would. Instead, he has outlined a budget plan to relax income thresholds to allow more and more Priority 8 veterans to be eligible for health care benefits over time. And Obama didn’t make the change in one fell swoop as promised.

Perhaps Obama concluded that it was more sensible to roll out the changes over time so as not to overwhelm the VA system. And some would certainly argue the president is making steady progress toward keeping the substance of this promise. Nonetheless, Obama didn’t do it on the timetable he promised. And so we rule this one a Compromise.

Promise 255: Expand teacher mentoring programs and provide incentives for more planning time. Expand mentoring programs that pair experienced teachers with new recruits. Also provide incentives to give teachers paid common planning time so they can collaborate to share best practices.

PolitiFacts says: In the Works. President Barack Obama has packed a number of his campaign promises related to education into his “Race to the Top” program, which seeks to encourage innovative approaches to teaching and learning by having states compete for $4.35 billion worth of grants from the Department of Education. The program was funded through the Obama-backed economic stimulus package approved by Congress in February.

In a speech in Madison, Wis., on Nov. 4, Obama announced the criteria for states to win the grants. One of the goals, Obama said, is to create “alternate pathways to teaching for talented young people,” and he specifically cited as an example a program in Boston “where aspiring teachers work side-by-side with effective mentors in a yearlong residency.”

A notice from the Department of Education inviting applications talks about priority being given to states that provide effective support to teachers, and specifically mentions as examples “professional development, time for common planning and collaboration.”

That sounds to us like what Obama promised he would encourage if elected president.

Competition for the grants will be conducted in two rounds — the first starting this month and the second in June next year — with winners announced in April and September next year.

But by establishing a competitive grant program that encourages teacher mentor programs and paid planning time for teachers so they can collaborate to share best practices, we think that moves this promise to In the Works.

Two “In the Works” and one compromise. Not too shabby. It’s not too late to get your own box of “President Obama’s 500 Promises” and play along at home! We still have a few years left to track how he’s doing.

Crafting the Runes: A Venture into Self-Publishing

by Administrator, posted in Guest Authors, Magic/Occult, Products

by Alaric Albertsson
Also appeared in The Heartland Spiritual Alliance newletter.

As I explained to my acquisitions editor over lunch last year, I needed a set of Anglo-Saxon runes for my next book, “Wyrdworking: The Path of a Saxon Sorcerer”. In addition to the book’s outline and a few sample chapters, I gave her several illustrations for the rune cards I hoped would be sold with the book.

Why cards instead of runes carved into little pebbles or bits of wood? Well, why not? The use of divinatory “rune stones” dates back to the early 1980’s – hardly what anyone would consider an ancient tradition –and I am pretty sure the early Saxons and Scandinavians would have made use of cardstock if they’d had it. Cards suited my purpose. Each rune card would include an illustrated conception of the corresponding passage of the 10th century Old English Rune Poem. One of my goals is to make the runes and their mysteries more accessible for people, and a significant percentage of my target audience is already familiar with the Tarot deck as a divination tool.

The illustrations were provided by Pagan artist Taren Martin. I wanted to work with him on this project not only because of his previous work, but also because he understood my vision. At least a dozen or more rune decks have been published over the years, but the overwhelming majority of these have been decks of the Elder Futhark, which lacks nine of the Anglo-Saxon runes. The decks frequently have illustrations which cannot be supported by the rune lore preserved in any of the Rune Poems. I wanted to create a deck that includes all of the English runes and, more importantly, a deck that remains true to the extant lore.

My acquisitions editor took my proposal back to Minnesota and I returned to Pittsburgh. For the next several months Taren and I continued working on the rune deck. I would send him a vague idea of what I wanted. Sometimes I was not sure of what I wanted, which was extremely frustrating for him. He would put together an image and send it to me, and I would then send it back explaining why that was not quite right. It is a testament to our friendship and to Taren’s enduring patience that I am alive to share this story today.

Meanwhile I continued working on the text for “Wyrdworking”. This book will present traditional Anglo-Saxon magic for our modern world. The chapters will cover herb magic, scrying, galdor and other magic techniques in addition to rune magic. At that time I was focused on the latter, and so the book and the rune deck were parallel projects.

In late spring I learned that the publishing house had rejected the deck. They wanted my book, just not the rune cards.

“But I can’t sell this book without the runes,” I protested to my acquisitions editor. “Thirty years ago I could do it. Maybe twenty years ago. But today every new age store in the United State sells the Elder Futhark. Most people are not going to the trouble to make their own runes when they can buy a set, even if that set is lacking almost a third of the symbols.”

My acquisitions editor, Elysia Gallo, understood and was sympathetic to my plight. In fact, hers was the most lovely rejection letter I have ever received. Unfortunately it was not within her power to overturn the decision. If the rune deck was to become a reality, Taren and I would have to pursue another course.

I was afraid Taren would be discouraged by the news but, if anything, he became even more determined to finish the rune deck. While he moved forward with the remaining cards, I talked to a few fellow authors about the problem. A publisher provides two essential things: capital and distribution. It soon became apparent that the publishers who could give us the distribution we wanted were unacceptable for other reasons. A couple of friends suggested we look into self publishing. The idea was not unreasonable. If we had to distribute and promote the deck ourselves, self publishing would generate much more income per deck sold.

While figuring all this out, I began to realize something else. It was time for me to turn the project over to Taren. I would still help him, but without the accompanying book, the rune deck was his baby. And so the cards became not just “the rune deck”, but the Martin Rune Deck.

In June, while I was at a book signing for “Travels Through Middle Earth” at Aquarius Books in Kansas City, my friend Barbara Criswell showed me Toby Evans’ Chakra Labyrinth Cards. Toby had decided to self publish when she created her chakra deck. I’ll readily admit that I know next to nothing about chakras, but I know a well crafted product when I see one, and Barbara told me that Toby had been very pleased with her printer.

Barbara Criswell is one of modern Paganism’s unsung heroes, so I’m going to sing a bit about her now. This woman has consistently supported the Kansas City metropolitan area’s Pagan community for decades. Twenty years ago when the Heartland Spiritual Alliance and other area organizations were trying to buy a Pagan campsite, Barbara offered space and promotion for fund raising projects to help bolster this monumental project. Around the same time she offered a meeting place for a discussion group known as Spirit Circle, which still convenes to this day. “When Travels Through Middle Earth” was published she threw a cake-and-lemonade party for me at the Heartland Pagan Festival to help promote the book, and then later invited me to speak at Aquarius Books where she showed me Toby’s Chakra Labyrinth Cards. She is a woman who puts her community first, and it is a great honor to be numbered among her friends.

So Barbara put me in touch with Toby Evans, I then introduced Toby to Taren and she introduced him to her printer in Hong Kong. This, of course, was not the end of the story.

The next thing Taren needed was investment capital. Notice how this has become “Taren” instead of “we”? Although I was still involved with the project and deeply supportive, I turned my attention back to “Wyrdworking” and began to devote most of my time to the book. I had signed a contract for the book now; I had a deadline. For the most part, the Martin Rune Deck was in Taren’s hands.

Scott DeRousse provided the investment capital. We had also considered soliciting multiple investors, but making a single payment each month is far preferable to paying back loans to a dozen different people. We now had another partner for the project. Anyone who knows Scott at all knows that he is the ultimate silent partner, but Taren acknowledged him in the accompanying booklet as a man “whose warmth and generosity knows no bounds”. That’s not entirely true; Scott’s generosity does know a few bounds. Fortunately the capital needed fell within that parameter.

I authored the aforementioned booklet. If you have ever bought a Tarot deck, you know the booklet I mean; the tiny brochure with an even tinier font that’s tucked into the box along with the cards. It was a challenge to describe the essential mysteries of the runes on pages only slightly larger than a business card. I do think the booklet gives the average customer enough information to get started, and he or she can always buy “Wyrdworking” when it’s released next year for a more comprehensive coverage of rune magic and divination.

It was just before Yule when Taren received five boxes of the Martin Rune Deck from the printer for his approval. If they were satisfactory, the entire order would be printed and delivered. To describe them as satisfactory would be an understatement; they were all that we had envisioned and more. Taren and I both felt that the final product validated the work and time we had invested in the deck.

The Martin Rune Deck can be used for divination or as a meditation tool. It is now available online through WolfDen Designs. Retailers should contact Taren Martin through the website under the Contact Us link for information about wholesale pricing.

About the Alaric:
Alaric Albertsson is the author of “Travels Through Middle Earth: The Path of a Saxon Pagon”. To learn more about Alaric visit his website.

Imperial Dragon Oracle

by Administrator, posted in Products, Reviews

A while back Lynn, my friend at U.S. Games, asked if I have any interest in dragons. Of course I do, because really, who doesn’t? I’m glad I said yes because I got the wonderful surprise of a copy of the new “Imperial Dragon Oracle” by Andy Baggott and Peter Pracownik. Does the name Pracownik ring a bell for some of you? It should.

That’s right, if like me you were around for the big collectible card game boom, you’ll remember the game “Wyvern” (also done by U.S. Games). Pracownik was the artist who did all those beautiful cards. I never even played the game, but I still bought a few packs of the cards, just for the art. With that said, you now know why as far as I’m concerned this deck is worth owning just to look at. But for those of you who need more than that information, let’s talk specifics of the “Imperial Dragon Oracle”.

What we have is a 22 card deck of over-sized (when compared to the standard tarot deck) cards featuring the beautiful dragon artwork of Pracownik. I consider this oracle deck to be all killer, no filler. By that I mean you get 22 cards that coincide with the traditional tarot card deck’s Major Arcana. No Minor Arcana here, which is fine because honestly, just between you and me, I find the Minor Arcana a little boring. I mean the Major Arcana is where all the tarot coolness is found: The Fool, Death, The Emperor, The Hanged Man. So as much as I wouldn’t mind even more cards illustrated by Pracownik, I don’t feel as if I’m being deprived. (Before I get emails from people who are actually knowledgeable about tarot, unlike myself, I’m sure that all kinds of bad assedness abounds in the Minor Arcana, but I’m a rube so I focus on all the Major Arcana shininess. All better now?)

With the deck comes a nice little booklet that has a whole lot of information about dragons; history, myth, folklore, etc. That’s followed up with a very thoughtful, practical guide about how to prepare and begin working with the “Imperial Dragon Oracle”.

When everything is said and done, this is a great item for anyone who is interested in dragons in any way, shape, or form.

Happy 100th!

by Administrator, posted in Books, Magic/Occult, Products

Happy 100th birthday “Rider-Waite Tarot Deck”! Hmmmm….how do you celebrate the 100th birthday of such an important piece of occult history? Could I suggest with the purchase of the “Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set”?

This massive set pays homage to Pamela Colman Smith, the artist behind the “Rider-Waite” deck. First, this set includes the “Smith-Waite Centennial Edition Tarot Deck” reproduced directly from the original 1909 “Rider-Waite” deck. Since the “Rider” part of the name was merely there because they were the publishers of the original deck, U.S. Games Systems (the current publisher) dropped the “Rider” and added “Smith”, now giving credit to the two people behind the creation of the deck, Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite.

Another part of the Smith tribute is the book “The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith” by noted tarot expert and all around bad ass Stuart R. Kaplan. This book is a fascinating look at the life and works of Smith. For someone like myself, who only is familiar with Smith through her contribution to the tarot world, this book gave me an eye-opening look at not only a talented artist, but also a gifted writer and storyteller.

Just to make the set complete, “The Pictorial Key to the Tarot” by Arthur Edward Waite is included in an updated format. To round out the tarot side of things there’s also a tarot spread sheet guide and an organza bag to hold the tarot deck in.

In case that wasn’t enough to dazzle, you’ll also get a 5”x7” photo of Pamela Coleman Smith (who is adorable), three more 5”x7” reproductions of Smith’s art, and six postcards featuring even more of her artwork!

All of this comes in a beautiful, double-sided display case that carries the heft of a serious collection of stuff.

This impressive set is an absolute must for anyone who is serious about tarot, but would also make an interesting gift for an art lover.

To learn more, click here.

Is Obama Keeping His Promises?

by Administrator, posted in Politics, Products, Reviews

Shortly after President Obama was elected I thought it would be cool to try to track his progress at keeping his campaign promises for The Magical Buffet website. However, then I thought about the time and research that would require and went, never mind. But then I received a copy of “President Obama’s 500 Promises” from U.S. Games Systems.

This box is really neat. It contains 510 cards that compile promises Obama made in interviews, debates, speeches, and on his website while campaigning to become President. It gives the promise, such as Promise 37 “Extend tax cuts for lower incomes” and then provides a bit of explanation. In this case, “Extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 (couples) or $200,000 (single).”

What’s the big whoop about that, you may be asking. Well, if I’m curious as to what is going on with this promise I can just go to www.PolitiFact.com, type Promise 37 into their search engine, and bam! I can find out what’s going on with it. In this case, the Promise is “In the Works”. The website tells me where the Promise came from originally and provides updates as to what is going on with the Promise to justify its “In the Works” rating. How freakin’ easy and sweet is that?

Also, the information isn’t from some hack at a computer, like yours truly, it’s from PolitiFact, who just won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the 2008 election. A Pulitzer bitches! (I apologize. I just really wanted to say “Pulitzer bitches!”, like I had a Pulitzer of my own.) And it’s because this great group won a Pulitzer that I will forgive them for having the horribly named, “Truth-O-Meter”, “Flip-O-Meter”, and, wait for it, “Obameter” sections on their site. Great sources of information, well presented, and easily read….but silly names.

So, back to this box of awesome I received called “President Obama’s 500 Promises”. What can one do with a box like this? I think any group of politically minded friends would have fun with this. Each person draws a card. Read the Promise to the group. Everyone vote as to whether Obama has kept the promise, broke the promise, compromised, is it stalled, in the works, or has no action been taken. Then go to the website and see who is right. (Perhaps whoever is wrong has to drink. I haven’t quite fine tuned this into a proper drinking game yet. You might just have to play for the entertainment and educational value alone.)

Or perhaps if, let’s say you had an eclectic blog and wanted to occasionally mention to readers various promises that the President has made and let everyone know what is going on with them, you could probably use it for that too.

Promise 122: Expand the Family Medical Leave Act to include leave for domestic violence or sexual assault.

And how is that coming Mr. President?

No action? Get on that.

This Review is Rated X

by Administrator, posted in Products, Reviews

On October 19, 2008 I made the bold declaration that Roger von Oech’s Ball of Whacks is “the greatest fidgety widget of all time”. I invited readers to comment on favorite fidgets or perhaps suggest something better than the Ball of Whacks. Since no one said anything I’m free to assume that I have revealed one of the great universal truths of our time, that when it comes to fidgeting, the Ball of Whacks is the only way to go. Imagine my surprise and excitement when offered the opportunity to play with the follow-up to the Ball of Whacks, the X-Ball.

Obviously this wasn’t going to be any ordinary review. Roger von Oech’s X-Ball was going to have to go head to head with the Ball of Whacks. It seemed simple enough, what ball was the better fidget? Ready, set, fight! Oddly, comparing the Ball of Whacks to the X-Ball is a bit like comparing apples to oranges.

The Ball of Whacks is simple in design. You can mindlessly fidget with that bad boy for hours (ask me how I know) without it even registering. The X-Ball on the other hand, is made up of little x shaped pieces. This allows for a much wider range of designs and also causes you to think more when playing with it. Just like the Ball of Whacks, the X-Ball comes with a 96-page booklet loaded with creativity exercises and examples of the things you can construct with the X-Ball.

After hours of play and passing it around to my friends I feel I can say that both balls are great fidgets, but the X-Ball requires more thought and, in my opinion, that probably makes it a better fidget for inspiring creative thought. Of course, when it’s just me sitting around, working my way through the shows recorded on the DVR, it is, and will always be, the Ball of Whacks that I fidget with.

Why choose? Get them both.

When It’s Just You and the Prince of Darkness, Only an Acme Will Do.

by Administrator, posted in Magic/Occult, Products

That’s the tagline for the company Acme Wand Supply, LTD. This is truly a website for the spellslinger. Any wand company that has a cowboy wielding a wand on its homepage is going to get me to take a peek.

(from their website)
We here at Acme have been fashioning magic wands, magicsticks, varitas magicas and sceptres since well into the last millennium. We have outfitted some of this world’s most powerful and prestigious wizards and sorcerers, passed and living. Sadly, we cannot reveal the identities of any of our customers, as confidentiality has been key to maintaining the sterling reputation that this establishment possesses in the thaumaturgical realm. Suffice it to say that you have observed the fruits of our labor time and again.

We employ or may contract with craft persons of a broad spectrum of wand-wielding disciplines. For practitioners of Wicca, we are more than happy to supply Wiccan ceremonial objects. If you fly the Faerie path we can outfit you as well.

Our state of the “dark” arts facility is and has been located outside of Lyons, Colorado since its genesis.

While market pressures have forced us to take the regrettable but inevitable step of “going online”, you may rest assured that we will steadfastly resist this insidious trend towards digital wandage. All of our products are and will always remain analog.

Every magic wand piece is built by hand by a single craftsman, and no two are ever alike. Our handcrafted wands are constructed of the finest exotic hardwoods and hardwood burls, sterling silver (with the occasional gold accent,) precious and semiprecious stones, expertly tuned crystals and any other material that the builder or the buyer might specify.

Not only do these guys have a wonderful way with words (“All of our products are and will always remain analog.” Ha!), but they have a way with the “wandage”!

Check this out!

Sorry, I need a moment to catch my breath after partaking in those totally bad ass images. I want one!

Buddhafuls: Buddhafy Your World

by Administrator, posted in Art, Products

Yes, the name is too cute. I hear ya’. But this website has some awesome stuff!

(from their website)
Meditation on sacred images has long since been used in Buddhism, and other spiritual practices, to increase health, inner peace and bring one closer to enlightenment. Buddhafuls provides unique and beautiful sacred fine art prints and gifts, from Buddhist and other traditions, intended to not only beautify your space, but create a space that serves to enlighten the soul.

Everyone visit the Buddhaful website! Feel free to purchase any of the following things for me! I thank you in advance for your generous gifts!