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Da Vinci Code triggers rise in freemason membership
June 19, 2006
Mason mania
freemasons on the rise again. A 'Da Vinci Code' connection triggers interest in fraternal group.

Like many fraternal organizations, the Freemasons suffered from shrinking numbers for decades.
But a controversial novel has suddenly made one fraternal group hip -- and is bringing in some new members.
Dan Brown's book "The Da Vinci Code" was propelled by references to the Knights Templar -- a group Freemasons say has a connection to their group.
"The short version of the story is that the Knights of Templar were kicked out of France and went to England," says Brian Johnson, general lodge administrator in Burlington, N.J. "And there's no doubt there's a connection between the Knights of Templar and the Freemasons."
Some people are just curious about the Freemasons. But others who ask questions ultimately become Masons, Johnson said.
And that may increase next year when Dan Brown releases his follow-up to "The Da Vinci Code." It's reportedly a thriller centered around the Freemasons and is set in Washington, D.C.

American cornerstone
That's good news for the Freemasons who were once a cornerstone of American society, counting among their members nine signers of the Declaration of Independence, 14 presidents, and 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices.
The organization is a fraternity, social club and "brotherhood" that, using the ancient craft of stonecutting as a metaphor, seeks to instill morality and upright behavior in members.
But to be sure, Freemasonry is at a crossroads. Popular with the World War II generation, the Masons hit their peak in 1959, with more than 4 million U.S. members. Now, membership is about 1.5 million.
"Modern-day people, especially younger people, just don't have as much time to devote to social and fraternal organizations," said Ward Guffey, president of the Masonic Temple Corp., which owns the downtown Dallas temple.
At the same time, though, Masons do seem to be making a cultural splash. The release of the film version "The Da Vinci Code" has piqued interest in secret societies and ancient rituals.

Pop-culture connections
And "Da Vinci" author Dan Brown's next book, "The Solomon Key," is rumored to be about Masonry and the Founding Fathers. Masonry also figured prominently in the 2004 Nicolas Cage adventure film, "National Treasure" -- even with its Hollywood tinted plot.
"I thought it was pretty far-fetched, but it was fun and did get people asking questions," says Andrew Zellers-Frederick, executive director of the Masonic Library and Museum in Philadelphia.
Many Masonic leaders see the spike in interest as an opportunity to re-energize Freemasonry and its various subgroups -- which include, in addition to the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Shriners.
The fraternity has a lot of history on its side -- and legend, precisely the kind that is so fascinating to eager consumers of tales like "The Da Vinci Code."
"People are very interested in history, especially of historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, who was Grand Master of the Freemasons twice," Zellers-Frederick said.
There are different theories about the origins of the Masons. In the most popular narrative, the fraternity looks back on two historical moments in particular.
One is the building of King Solomon's Temple, which Masons say was completed in the 10th century B.C. by stonemasons of three skill levels -- entered apprentice, fellow craft and master mason.
The second dates to medieval times, when a group known as the Knights Templar, or the Poor Knights of Christ, was sent to protect Crusaders on their way to Jerusalem. Legend has it that the Knights were actually on a different mission, having learned that treasure had been buried by the builders of Solomon's Temple, which was destroyed in 587 B.C.
Scholars agree that around 1717 Freemasonry emerged in England as a fraternal order, distinct from the medieval craft guilds. Masonry arrived in America by 1730, when Benjamin Franklin became a member in Philadelphia.

Symbolic nature
Freemasons today view the tools of the Masonic craft as metaphors: They see their lives as "spiritual and moral edifices," and they try to fulfill the fraternity's motto, "We make good men better."
Masons advance through the ranks by "degrees." To move up, a participant must undergo a ritual in which he learns secret handshakes and words, as well as moral and ethical lessons.
Knights, secret rituals, and treasure aside, Masonry is, its leaders say, fundamentally about giving back to the community and being a force for good in the world.
Although Freemasonry requires a belief in God or some higher power, the fraternity is adamant that it is not a religion, and it welcomes members of all faiths.
However, some religious groups, leery of the Masons' focus on rites, vows and rituals, warn members to steer clear. In particular, the Roman Catholic Church has famously objected to Masonry since the 1730s.
No one, however, questions the Masons' devotion to charitable works. In most states, Masonic charities fund hospitals, old age homes, and other philanthropic activities.
The fraternity, charity and community the Masons represent will keep the group strong, said Frank Brown of Dallas.
"It's something I would recommend to anyone who is striving for relationships with people who they know they can trust -- and who they want to be trusted by," he said.
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Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 23:01:59 -0700 (PDT)
Israel warns NASA about double asteroids
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Israeli scientists have been invited to present important new research on "double asteroids" at a US National Aeronautics and Space Administration workshop in Colorado. The paper, to be presented this week by Tel Aviv University researchers at the "NEO [Near-Earth Object] Detection and Threat Mitigation" workshop, discusses the discovery of a high incidence of double "Aten-type" asteroids and the danger of their potential collision with Earth. TAU runs a national information center (supported by the Israel Space Agency and the Science and Technology Ministry) on near-Earth asteroids and comets that are liable to cause our planet harm. At the TAU Wise Observatory in Mitzpe Ramon, researchers monitor these celestial bodies and study the light coming from them. As part of his doctoral work at TAU, David Polishook investigated Aten-type asteroids that transverse the Earth's orbit but most of the time are located between the Earth and the Sun so that they are difficult to observe.
Out of eight bodies investigated, five were found to be double - a main asteroid several kilometers in diameter and a smaller "moon" that revolves around it. These moons are apparently several hundred meters in diameter and located only a few kilometers from the asteroids they circle.
This discovery is important because the presence of the moon disrupts scientists' plans of eliminating the danger to Earth posed by double asteroids either by changing their orbit or destroying them in a nuclear explosion.
Following the presentation on the discovery by TAU researchers, NASA workshop organizers are to write a report for the US Congress on the subject. Since only American citizens are permitted to present their research in person, the Israeli scientists were asked to send their data as a "white paper" for discussion. (yahoo.group

Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 11:28:18 -0700 (PDT)
Top Secret UFO Report
Last month British Defense Ministry released a top secret report which came to the conclusion that UFOs had no basis in reality. With over 70 crash retrievals, millions of sightings each year many of which involved prominent people and the photographs and video tapes that followed one would have to come to one of two conclusions. One it is a cover-up most likely inspired by the "Honorable" Paul Hellyer former defense minister's public comments concerning the undeniable reality of UFOs. The second option is these inept investigators are totally out of the loop and do not have a clue as to what is going on in the black opps around the world. A six year old could get on the internet and do a better investigation
especially if they typed in UFOs over Mexico where literally
hundreds of ships have been sighted and filmed over major cities.
The report is an open display of ignorance and very embarrassing when one takes into account these people are in charge of gathering information and defending their country. I would be insulted if I were a citizen of the crown and demand these people are replaced by
honorable, competent intelligent servants of the people.

The cover-up is not just in America. By the way all those crop
circles some up to a mile long which show extremely high physics and
geometry made in seconds did not even factor into the report. I am
sure they have an answer for them such as renegade bugs, gophers,
smart wind or swarms of whacky surveyors with antigravity suits
leaving no footprints. Yes these are the men/women we depend on to
protect our boarders and skies and keep us safe. These are the best of the best, cream of the crop elite top gun men and women which stand between us and those that threaten the civilized world, truth, justice and the American way.

The truth of the matter is a Times/CNN poll stated that over 80% of the people believe UFOs exist and there is a government cover-up.
NASA, SETI, and other agencies are under government constraints and all information concerning UFOs has a higher clearance than nuclear weapons all of which must be cleared through NSA before release to the public where it dies. There are good honorable people within all the agencies which want this information to come out yet the
consequences of speaking about it will lead to dire consequences. Death bed confessions like General Corso and other top officials with high clearances are the only way the truth will come out.
Judging by the Times/CNN poll and other polls the truth is already out and the cover-up is over. Any further denial only takes away what ever credibility these men/women and agencies have left within our governments.
The Exopolitics and Disclosure projects with a list of top officials with the highest clearances are waiting for public hearings and a release from their oaths of secrecy concerning UFOs, It is a very
impressive list along with their stories of a long history of UFO
encounters and crash retrievals. For our government and its
agencies to save whatever credibility they have left it would be
wise to end the cover-up, allow these courageous individuals to testify in open hearings. It is what the majority of the people want and majority rules in a true republic or democracy. If you want to know the truth about UFOs go to the ancient Vedas. They describe the ships in detail; some are physical ships, some energy, while others consist of magnetized light or consciousness. According to these ancient texts there are over 400,000 humanoid species throughout the universe. The frescos with UFOs on churches throughout Europe and almost every culture have records of interactions with the heavens and heavenly ships. This is nothing new.

The Tibetan Lamas are very aware of the off world visitors and their remote viewers said in the future these benevolent, spiritually and technologically advanced off worlders will be instrumental in saving humanity from total self destruction. Reason this; it is only logical to assume these off world visitors known as the greater family of man are interstellar, interdimensional and millions if not billions of years ahead of us in evolution. They have transcended all disease, have the clean fueless technology to restore the environment and obviously have found a way to live peacefully throughout the cosmos. In the interest of National Security is it wise to try to shoot them down and steal the technology to use it in the war industry on manufactured threats? They are far superior, come and go as they wish, can blink in and out of existence make right angle turns at several thousand miles and hour and if they wished could turn this planet into a cinder. One ship could take out all of our military bases in moments. Would it not be in the interest of National Security to make peace with them, ask for their protection if there was a malevolent ET out there and use their vast knowledge and technology for peaceful means?

Universal Peace, the ending of disease and the restoration of the environment are in the interest of National Security. Everything else is in the interest of profit and greed at the expense of humanity and the Earth. It is a disservice to the people and serves only a select few, the elite. Yet does it serve the elite considering the karmic backlash and their light review in their passing where they will stand before a higher authority and observe all of their actions and feel all the pain, suffering and suppression meted out to others. I would not want to be in their shoes upon their passing or in the days to come when the unknown is made known, no rock is left unturned and all will be exposed to the light of truth. There is but one choice of wisdom and that is to serve in the awakening and healing of humanity and the Earth.
Disclosure will come from the skies, it is already underway and it is Gods plan that we live in harmony with each other, the
environment and the greater family of man throughout the cosmos. Be well James Gilliland www.eceti.org
Lets see if the press will release this report, pass it far and
wide. (yahoo.group)

How the Telecoms plan to kill the internet

Telecom bill would leave U.S. lagging behind rest of world
June 29, 2006
By Michael Weisman
Special to The Times

The new telecommunications bill before Sen. Ted Stevens' Senate Commerce Committee this week has been touted as reform of the cable-franchise laws. But it is much, much more. The bill is really a wholesale rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1934, the world's oldest existing telecom law. It is probably the most important piece of legislation the Congress will take up this session.

Living in the Silicon Forest, we've come to take certain things for granted. Our tech startups and venture-capital firms have learned to assume that Internet and telecom networks will be a platform for innovation open to anyone who can pay the freight for success. Workers have come to rely on fast and plentiful Internet access open to any type of device or application. Major retailers like Amazon, REI, Powell's Books and PC Connections have come to rely on the Internet as a route into the living rooms of customers all over the world.

Under Stevens' bill, all that will change. The telecoms will be able to split Internet access into premium lanes, segregating access to customers based on the content, origin and purpose of the data or bits. Amazon will have to pay the network operator for access to customers, finally legitimating the dream of telecom executives to tax the eyeblinks of every user. Apple will have to pay the networks to allow its customers to download iTunes music and video. If it chooses, the network can simply block iTunes music or Amazon book purchases, redirecting customers to another service the network operator prefers. In fact, there is no guarantee that Internet access, as we know it today, will continue to exist at all.

The thousands of startup visionaries living in the Northwest might want to find their passports, because creating new business models in the U.S. will become much more complicated, and expensive. In the rest of the developed world, it won't be a problem, because every developed country has a strong network-neutrality law in place, extending not just to the Internet, but also to mobile networks, cable TV and television. Stevens' bill puts the U.S. out of step with the rest of world, a world that is fast passing us in productivity, the knowledge economy and broadband connectivity.

The telecom and cable duopoly argues that it's necessary to impose a monopoly business model on the Internet in order to generate enough profits to upgrade the existing infrastructure and roll out new advanced services to the public. To date, the U.S. government has provided more than $200 billion to these companies as an incentive to upgrade their networks to the international norm.

We haven't seen much in return for this "free lunch." The duopoly enjoys below-market rates for tunneling under the sidewalks and streets, or hanging its wires in front of views. Still, the public has seen no competition to speak of, and the network operators shut out the many thousands of companies that tried to provide competition in the past 10 years.

The purpose of Stevens' bill is not to bring competition in cable TV or the Internet. There has never been any barrier to local competition, except the desire to compete. The purpose of the bill is to roll back the middling efforts at competition that Congress has enacted over the past two decades.

Leaders of the telecom and cable duopoly tell us to trust them, because this time they really mean it, competition and advanced services will come ... in 10 to 12 years. After all, their Astroturf Web sites and push polling tell us, you can't trust the government, so you are left with the cable and phone companies as your only friends. This means we're in big trouble.

The telecom and cable duopoly will find its respective monopolies enshrined in the law, with no obligation to play fairly with new entrants to the market (there can't be any under Stevens' bill), no requirement to carry traffic for "freeloaders" like YouTube, iTunes, Amazon, Real Networks or MSN, and no fear of future entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin or Craig McCaw horning in on the action.

Local franchising is only a small piece of this bill, and, yes, it needs reform. But it is dead wrong to claim that local franchising authorities have stifled competition. Any company that wishes to enter any community may do so at any time, and that has been the law for decades.

It would be a waste of valuable ink to reiterate the virtues of a free and open Internet. They are demonstrated every day in the pages of this newspaper, and in its excellent Web site and online news services. But we stand a very good chance of seeing these important democratic tools disappear, or at least be far less effective than the alternative.

The alternative is real. Every other major developed country has strong network-neutrality laws in place, far stronger than anything the Congress is considering in any of the many amendments to Stevens' bill.

Because these countries have strong laws, keeping the networks open to competition and free for any budding startup to use, they have far surpassed the U.S. on the information highway. They have faster networks, lower fees and more-advanced services like IPTV, distance learning, and remote medical and security monitoring. Their networks are more reliable and secure, because reliability, security and speed are built in.

While not as tangibly exciting as the space race, or with the threatening specter of Sputnik circling overhead, our national efforts to move into a 21st-century knowledge economy are every bit as important. This is a race we do not want to lose; it is a race we cannot afford to lose.

Michael Weisman is a Seattle attorney and expert in telecommunication law and policy. He is a policy adviser to Reclaim the Media and other public-interest groups.
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