Comments on: My Post C-SPAN Life http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:34:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: April http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135609 April Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:55:27 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135609 Two different zodiacs are commonly used in astrology - one tropical (a metaphorical system which places 0 Aries at the Vernal Equinox) and one sidereal (which factors in the precession of the equinoxes). Most Western astrologers use the tropical system, most Eastern astrologers use the sidereal system. Any ephemeris (a book showing the daily position of planets) calculated for the sidereal system indeed shows the accurate current positions of planets relative to the ecliptic. There is room for debate about whether the tropical system is legitimate, but in any event, the signs of the zodiac are only one tool in the astrologer's arsenal. Of much more interest to me, for instance, is the geometric relationship between the planets relative to earth, which is consistent from one system to another. I've been a professional astrologer for eighteen years and have yet to encounter an astrologer who subscribes to a causal explanation for astrology. By and large, we don't believe moonbeams radiate down and activate humanoids. I'm not saying there are no astrologers who believe this, but they seem to be few and far between. The philosophy behind astrology seems to be, simply, "A thing born in a moment in time has the qualities of that moment in time." Most Western astrologers seem to resonate with a view akin to Jung's idea of synchronicity - that there is a meaningful but acausal connection between the movements in the heavens and the affairs of man. In many ways it's not unlike choosing a random card from a tarot deck and drawing conclusions between its symbolism and the circumstances of the person sitting across from you. Two different zodiacs are commonly used in astrology - one tropical (a metaphorical system which places 0 Aries at the Vernal Equinox) and one sidereal (which factors in the precession of the equinoxes). Most Western astrologers use the tropical system, most Eastern astrologers use the sidereal system. Any ephemeris (a book showing the daily position of planets) calculated for the sidereal system indeed shows the accurate current positions of planets relative to the ecliptic. There is room for debate about whether the tropical system is legitimate, but in any event, the signs of the zodiac are only one tool in the astrologer’s arsenal. Of much more interest to me, for instance, is the geometric relationship between the planets relative to earth, which is consistent from one system to another.

I’ve been a professional astrologer for eighteen years and have yet to encounter an astrologer who subscribes to a causal explanation for astrology. By and large, we don’t believe moonbeams radiate down and activate humanoids. I’m not saying there are no astrologers who believe this, but they seem to be few and far between. The philosophy behind astrology seems to be, simply, “A thing born in a moment in time has the qualities of that moment in time.” Most Western astrologers seem to resonate with a view akin to Jung’s idea of synchronicity - that there is a meaningful but acausal connection between the movements in the heavens and the affairs of man. In many ways it’s not unlike choosing a random card from a tarot deck and drawing conclusions between its symbolism and the circumstances of the person sitting across from you.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135581 Susie Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:27:46 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135581 Frank, we don't use books. We use very accurate software programs. Frank, we don’t use books. We use very accurate software programs.

]]> By: Frank http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135571 Frank Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:51:16 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135571 er, the books Astrologers use are so out of date that the positions they say the stars are in are, well, not the positions the stars are in. And the magnetic field of your monitor is far stronger than the pull of the stars. That's an idea! Monitorology! It should apply to the Younger Generation. But astrology certainly has more going for it than Bushonomics. Tarot, now, that's another story. No one has ever touched my tarot deck except me. er, the books Astrologers use are so out of date that the positions they say the stars are in are, well, not the positions the stars are in.

And the magnetic field of your monitor is far stronger than the pull of the stars.

That’s an idea! Monitorology! It should apply to the Younger Generation.

But astrology certainly has more going for it than Bushonomics.

Tarot, now, that’s another story. No one has ever touched my tarot deck except me.

]]> By: Ron http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135568 Ron Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:33:11 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135568 I don't know which moon is in what house or if Mercury's aligned with I-35, but you go girl. Keep up the good work. I don’t know which moon is in what house or if Mercury’s aligned with I-35, but you go girl. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: frizzy http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135559 frizzy Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:04:47 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135559 Astrology is the only vice I have left, since I won't even entertain the caffeine thing. I was pleasantly surprised when you so brazenly tossed out reference to it. And as a cancerian, I want Merciless to know it's been a terrible struggle these past 8 yrs. I remember when he was running in 2004, the second time he stole it, and I was finishing graduate school. I got the first 4.0 in the history of that particular dept of the university I was attending and a cash prize that went with it, and I was crestfallen because it meant he'd "win" something too. But surely there is some decoupling that should be allowed the 1/12 of the population that share the sign with him. Astrology is the only vice I have left, since I won’t even entertain the caffeine thing. I was pleasantly surprised when you so brazenly tossed out reference to it.

And as a cancerian, I want Merciless to know it’s been a terrible struggle these past 8 yrs. I remember when he was running in 2004, the second time he stole it, and I was finishing graduate school. I got the first 4.0 in the history of that particular dept of the university I was attending and a cash prize that went with it, and I was crestfallen because it meant he’d “win” something too.

But surely there is some decoupling that should be allowed the 1/12 of the population that share the sign with him.

]]> By: Izquierdo http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135553 Izquierdo Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:31:53 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135553 Harry Truman was born on the same day as my wife and daughter. And they are always gving me hell. Harry Truman was born on the same day as my wife and daughter.
And they are always gving me hell.

]]> By: skippy http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135552 skippy Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:18:41 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135552 susie, you know i was just yankin' your chain on my blog... we in blogtopia (and yes, i coined that phrase) are proud of you! susie, you know i was just yankin’ your chain on my blog…

we in blogtopia (and yes, i coined that phrase) are proud of you!

]]> By: merciless http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135532 merciless Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:58:42 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135532 I read that too, Susie. I know Teddy Roosevelt was, but I'd have to look up the rest. I read that too, Susie. I know Teddy Roosevelt was, but I’d have to look up the rest.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135520 Susie Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:18:08 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135520 I think we've had more Scorps in the White House than any other sign. (Hillary is a Scorp.) I think we’ve had more Scorps in the White House than any other sign. (Hillary is a Scorp.)

]]> By: merciless http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135519 merciless Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:14:02 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135519 Well, I may indeed be delusional (I have an awful lot of company there, so no big deal) but I'll never vote for another cancerian. Well, I may indeed be delusional (I have an awful lot of company there, so no big deal) but I’ll never vote for another cancerian.

]]> By: Strudel & Shotguns http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135514 Strudel & Shotguns Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:31:02 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135514 Awww, naw, not really. My mom swears by the astrology too. ;-) Much of the time we humans enable each others' delusions, which is occasionally fun. As Carl Sagan wrote, it's a demon-haunted world. No offense intended, actually. I didn't subject myself to the Simpering Chimperor's bloviations last night -- not even astrology can explain his dead, lifeless heart and eyes. Evil needs no editorializing. Awww, naw, not really. My mom swears by the astrology too. ;-)
Much of the time we humans enable each others’ delusions, which is occasionally fun. As Carl Sagan wrote, it’s a demon-haunted world. No offense intended, actually. I didn’t subject myself to the Simpering Chimperor’s bloviations last night — not even astrology can explain his dead, lifeless heart and eyes. Evil needs no editorializing.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135509 Susie Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:49:44 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135509 Hostile much? Hostile much?

]]> By: Strudel & Shotguns http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135507 Strudel & Shotguns Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:23:12 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/29/07/15/my-post-c-span-life/#comment-135507 If I choose to believe that the position of my car outside the house in relation to my writing desk here inside affects the quality of my prose, does that make me crazy? I DON'T THINK SO! But then again, what others think doesn't matter. If I choose to believe that the position of my car outside the house in relation to my writing desk here inside affects the quality of my prose, does that make me crazy? I DON’T THINK SO! But then again, what others think doesn’t matter.

]]>