HeartsEase

A Liquor of Legend Makes a Comeback: Absinthe Now Legal in the United States

By Pete Wells
The New York Times

EARLIER this year, when Lance Winters heard that absinthe was being sold in the United States again for the first time since 1912, he shrugged it off. Then he reconsidered. He’d spent 11 years perfecting an absinthe at St. George Spirits, the distillery where he works in Alameda, Calif., and considered it one of the best things he’d ever made. Why not sell it?

Moonstruck flock to Arizona Light Collector

By Tim Gaynor THREE POINTS, Arizona (Reuters) - Financial advisor Jaron Ness stands in the cool desert air waiting for the clouds to clear and the moon to rise. As the conditions come into alignment, he steps into the path of a cool blaze of blue-white light bounced off a wall of highly polished parabolic mirrors five stories high.

A Winter Party As Old As The Sun And Stars

By SARAH THOMAS
People who go to the Bible looking for explanations of decorating evergreen trees, singing songs for snacks at neighbor's houses, and red-clad gift bearers making late night stops to good children's homes are sure to come back disappointed.Despite the fact that it is the most celebrated holiday in the world, very few of the traditions we associate with Christmas have a root in the Christian religion. In fact, the reference to shepherds bedding their flocks down in caves when Jesus was born seems to suggest a celebration in spring, not winter. And holly and ivy are conspicuously absent.

Footprints seen around Mt.Everest stoke Yeti mystery

By Gopal Sharma
A U.S.-based television channel investigating the existence of the legendary Yeti in Nepal has found footprints similar to those said to be that of the abominable snowman, the company said on Friday.

Power struggle to control ancient bones

By MATTHEW DALY
Scientists hoping to study the ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man are protesting efforts that they say could block them from examining one of the oldest and most complete set of bones ever found in North America.

Eighth wonder of the world?

The stunning temples secretly carved out below ground by 'paranormal' eccentric
by HAZEL COURTENEY

Nestling in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy, 30 miles from the ancient city of Turin, lies the valley of Valchiusella. Peppered with medieval villages, the hillside scenery is certainly picturesque.

But it is deep underground, buried into the ancient rock, that the region's greatest wonders are concealed.

Real witches don't ride brooms

Shop owner works to dispel some of the myths surrounding the nature-based religion of Wicca

By LESLIE PALMA-SIMONCEK

ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- About a fifth of the people who wander into Practical Magick are just curious.

The other 80 percent are "hard-core into Wicca," said Mark Eadicicco, owner of the Port Richmond store that caters to pagans and others with an interest in alternative spirituality.

NHS gives its blessing to Paganism

MURDO MACLEOD

FOR some NHS hospital patients it would seem the help of one god is just not enough. Pagan chaplains are, for the first time, to offer counselling and prayers to the sick in Scottish wards.

Death stares old women in their faces

Deep-Seated superstitious beliefs have produced internal refugees in Shinyanga Region: elderly women who flee from certain death in their home villages and seek an uncertain future as beggars in the town.

Swiss get ready to pardon last witch they executed

BOJAN PANCEVSKI

THE execution in the 18th century of the last European witch to be sentenced to death by a court of law has plunged Switzerland into a debate over whether she should now be pardoned.