Topic: News

A new analysis of genetic variation among more than two dozen native populations bolsters the theory that the ancestors of modern native peoples across the Americas came via a northwest land bridge some 12,000 years ago.

Did a relatively small number of people from Siberia who trekked across a Bering Strait land bridge some 12,000 years ago give rise to the native peoples of North and South America?

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The U-M study analyzed genetic data from 29 Native American
populations. It suggests a Siberian origin is much more likely
than a South Asian or Polynesian origin.

Or did the ancestors of today’s native peoples come from other parts of Asia or Polynesia, arriving multiple times at several places on the two continents, by sea as well as by land, in successive migrations that began as early as 30,000 years ago?

National vote underway for the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards; $100,000 charitable contributions awarded to finalists; winner receives Volvo car for life.

At age 13, Matthew Sanford from Duluth, Minn., now aged 42, was involved in a car crash that took the lives of his father and sister, and left him paralyzed from the chest down. Advice from his doctors to "forget his lower body," however, was what really crippled Sanford, leading him to ignore his once-athletic body, until he discovered yoga at age 25 and the power of the mind-body connection. Now a nationally recognized yoga teacher, author and renowned expert in mind-body integration who has inspired and enhanced the lives of thousands, Sanford is in the running to be named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero." He has been identified as one of the nation's top 40 heroes in the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards -- an annual, nationwide search for real-life heroes across America.

Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions in the United States and globally, and Magick TV, the two-year-old Internet television station is covering it all. The hunger for metaphysical and pagan information is insatiable. Magick TV is answering that demand, helping Wicca go mainstream, and offering an open window into the hidden world of witches.

Magick TV is celebrating its 2nd anniversary this month. Magick TV is part of the video revolution that exploded in 2006 with the expansion of Youtube.com but began as a way to expand Wiccan and Pagan video offerings on the net. Today, they have different videos on the net, from short glossary lessons, to pagan prayers, to Living the Wiccan Life Interview Show. Magick TV is helping the Pagan community to not just wait for mainstream news and entertainment outlets to report, but to create a platform for them to report their own news and provide much needed information.

Sukhvir Singh, a Seattle cab driver, was attacked by a passenger in what is being called "a vicious hate crime" on Saturday night.

A Sikh cab driver was assaulted by a passenger over the Thanksgiving weekend. Sukhvir Singh's attacker threatened to kill him, calling him a "terrorist" as he punched and bit Mr. Singh, pulling clumps of hair from his head. Seattle's Sikh community is outraged, and calls on the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to prosecute the incident as a hate crime.

Yogeesh Ashram, a center of spiritual teachings, has launched a new website to provide access to videos, talks, lectures and conferences by Acharya Yogeesh.

Yogeesh Ashram, a spiritual center for higher learning, has launched a new website, Total Transformation Talk, to provide access to spiritual truth seekers a source of spiritual videos, lectures, talks, and conferences by world-known spiritual teacher, Dr. Acharya Yogeesh.

After recording the CD "In Times Like These" with Guthrie, the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra is now set to play Carnegie Hall with the folk icon.

Does today's college musician's "To Do List" look something like this: make orchestra, record CD, book Carnegie Hall with music icon? For some University of Kentucky student musicians it does. The University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will appear this weekend at New York's famous concert hall at the invitation of legendary folk artist Arlo Guthrie. The concert performance is only the most recent major accomplishment garnered by the talented student musicians.

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Folk legend Arlo Guthrie returned to Kentucky in early November to perform with the University of
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of John Nardolillo. The concert at UK celebrated
the CD In Times Like These and offered Bluegrass audiences a preview of the Carnegie Hall concert
scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend.

James Garner is speaking out about the import role farmers are playing in providing a secure food and energy future. While news reports abound about increasing food prices, many do not realize that Americans still enjoy the cheapest food supply in the world.

James Garner is calling on America to recognize the import role farmers are playing in providing a secure food and energy future.

"Many Americans don't realize that we enjoy the safest, most affordable food supply in the world, thanks to our country's farmers," Garner says. "This year, our corn growers are helping us to solidify a more secure energy future by also producing corn for cleaner-burning renewable ethanol. I hope others will join me in thanking corn growers for helping fill our grocery shelves and still filling our cars with renewable fuel."

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U.S. Food Prices Most Affordable in the World. While corn prices
have increased in recent months, economic analysis shows that
when adjusted to real dollars without inflation, corn is a bargain
at prices cheaper than 20 years ago.

When presented with ambiguous visual data, like an M.C. Escher drawing, how does our brain decide which shape to "see?"

M.C. Escher’s ambiguous drawings transfix us: Are those black birds flying against a white sky or white birds soaring out of a black sky? Which side is up on those crazy staircases?

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Rudiger von der Heydt, a neuroscientist and
professor at The Johns Hopkins University's
Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute

Lines in Escher's drawings can seem to be part of either of two different shapes. How does our brain decide which of those shapes to "see?" In a situation where the visual information provided is ambiguous -- whether we are looking at Escher's art or looking at, say, a forest -- how do our brains settle on just one interpretation?

The entire old gang is back, including some new faces to the series, including Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn and Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy.

Casting has been completed on the much-anticipated sixth installment of the Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter film franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The announcement was made by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

New "Wizard of Oz" themed SCI FI Channel miniseries sponsors Kansas City Habitat home, challenges others to get involved through online fundraiser.

The SCI FI Channel, along with its newest original miniseries production Tin Man, is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to help a Habitat partner family in Kansas discover "there is no place like home." The partnership will see the network and the newly re-imagined incarnation of L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard Oz support the dreams of one Habitat family by fully funding a new homebuilding project. Additionally, SCI FI is raising funds through the channel's Brick by Brick online fundraiser to help make additional affordable housing opportunities possible.