two Ohio election workers convicted

Ohio election workers convicted of rigging '04 presidential recount 24 Jan 2007 Two election workers were convicted Wednesday of rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election to avoid a more thorough review in Ohio's most populous county. Ohio gave President [sic] Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the close 'election' [2nd GOP coup d'etat] and hold on to the White House in 2004.

Mark Twain said

"In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.": Mark Twain (Samuel Clemons 1835-1910)

From my old favorite, Mark Twain. But even if the resolution passes, will it stop the madman?

David Petraeus Nov 7, 1952

It's been said that if anyone can improve the situation in Iraq, it's Gen. David Petraeus.

Here's his solar/sunrise chart for Nov 7, 1952. Wikipedia gives him as 'growing up in Cornwall on the Hudson, NY' but doesn't say he was born there. Of Dutch-American parents, his father was a 'sea captain' which may be inferred from Saturn (father) conjunct Neptune (the sea), among other things.

And with the sunrise's Sun/Moon 18Vir11, he will surely be an early mention in tonight's SOTU address by Bush, the man who appointed him with a hail-mary pass. And after wondering several weeks ago here on SO'W just who Jupiter was representing--Jupiter, the General--it is fairly safe to assume--given how things have played out with Bush's isolation and the Iraq War--that Petraeus, on some level, is Jupiter.

This may be supported by his natal Sun/Jupiter opposition--which certainly makes Petraeus a Jupiterian--but unfortunately, a Sun/Jup opposition indicates someone who tends to promise more than he can deliver.

Yet unless he was born a minute or so prior to midnight, his natal Sun-Moon personality blend is Sun Sco/Moon Cancer which may help him rein in his out-of-bounds tendencies (which include having Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars out-of-bounds making him exceptional--perhaps a thinker-out-of-the-box extraordinaire.)

With natal Mars exalted in Capricorn--an efficient and appropriately controlled placement for Mars to be--military authority has been his desire--now satisfied with promotion to General status.

And so we see that the mailed-fist-in-a-velvet glove combo of Sun Sco/Moon Can gives him resilience, courage, and an ability to "feel where things are at" and then to take appropriate action to do something about helping restore harmony.

Sounds great but rescuing Bush's Iraq mess will be the miracle of the century if he can help there--and will Bush take his advice? Will US politics will be more important in Washington?

And it must be the 'velvet glove' people respond to so easily since he seems to be well-liked by all who know him.

Here are the Images for Sun Sco/Moon Can:

A mother eagle defends her babies with immense courage...A mother passionately defends her delinquent child and pleads for a compassionate verdict...A surgeon develops life-saving methods. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas. and Suzy Harvery.)

Sounds like he's in the right profession and SO'W wishes him well in this massive save-America's-bacon task...just hope his overconfidence doesn't mirror that of George Bush.

Outside Petraeus' chart I have scribbled the transits for Jan 4, 2007, Sun conj Mc--when his commandership was announced and okayed by Bush. The operative midpoint of the day, however, was speculative, dreamy, philosophical Jupiter/Neptune....

Jup/Nep = Sun: speculation; irresponsibility; squadering of physical strength; the act of deceiving or being deceived; following a dream; potentially misguided states; feeling the spirit.

Jup/Nep = Mc: a visionary; a fortune-hunter; a speculator; a squaderer or spendthrift; harm or damage through thoughtlessness; potential for all kinds of self-indulgence.

(Note: there is some indication in his natal chart of alcoholism but hopefully that monkey resides the appropriate cage.)

Some of the above midpoint pictures may apply to Petraeus--or to those around him.)

Well, time is short today, m'peops, so I'll pick up later on Gen. Petraeus, plus, I'm sure you'll find more details on him in the blog entries of my esteemed colleagues!

There is, too, the SOTU address this evening...and the state of the union is deteriorating (whether Bush admits it or not--will he begin with the usual "strong" boast? Gerald Ford didn't!),...deteriorating just as bin Laden hoped it would...do you ever wonder just which side Bush and pals are really on?

Midpoints pictures from: The Combination of Stellar Influences, Reinhold Ebertin; and Natal and Midpoint Directory, Dr. Noel Tyl.

SOTU 2007: drawer full of diamonds?

Tony Snow said that picking out the best part of Bush's SOTU address Tuesday evening would be like looking through a "drawer full of diamonds."

Now what Sabian Symbol do we know that relates to such a poetic image? It's the last Great Conjunction of Jupiter (Rs) and Saturn (Ds) on May 28, 2000..."23Tau": "A jewelry shop filled with the most magnificent gems." We are still in that cycle (since a conjunction begins any planetary cycle) and are now past their square/blockage stage and heading for the helpful, cooperative trine stage. Yippee...the rich get richer.

But as for Tuesday night's show...I've set this chart for 9 pm--at 9:02 and 9:03 pm, the transiting cusps will conj Bush' secondary progressed cusps...if you click chart to enlarge, you will see his sec (secondary) planets scribbled 'round the outside of the chart with nebulous, delusional Neptune first to rise.

Everyone knows it easier to deceive others if you've first deceived yourself.

You'll also see a few asteroids such as tr Sun conj ICARUS of the melted wings. Wounded Chiron is conj PALLAS, keywords: strategy; wisdom.

Chiron/PALLAS' degree "10AQ": "A popularity which proves ephemeral." Does this describe Bush limping through his second term--or perhaps the tarnished "popularity" of his 'surge' plan? That would have to be among the few Rs who still give it lip service, of course.

Moon in Aries = "I AM the People" so he'll suppposedly be connecting with the unwashed masses on his usual psycho-detached level we're accustomed to suffering through and from.

The forward-looking and radically-viewed Sun AQ/Moon Aries combo gives us these Images:

A court jester mocks the social injustices of the realm...Robin Hood and his band of merry men outwit the evil King John once again. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas. and Suzy Harvey.)

Chart-ruler Mercury, the communicator, is applying to conjunction with wool-gatherer Neptune and its only other applying aspect is a trine to Mc, the Aspiration Point of the chart. There will be, of course, a lot of magical spin to this one by media types and others who bought stock in the neocon war portfolio.

The Mc's degree 17Gem07 you may remember from the Sea Island GA G-8 Summit of June 8, 2004...it's the Venus Occultation degree: "18Gem": "Two Chinese men speaking in Chinese in a Western crowd."

Venus occulting the Sun is an indicator of the formation of unusal alliances--previously unheard of associations...and I'm sure we've not heard the truth of them yet.

Consulting Bil Tierney's Dynamics of Aspect Analysis we see Uranus as focalized Apex planet in a Mutable T-square using Mc as part of the formation--and since Mc = Public Status/Career, I think it's safe to consider it. First the midpoint picture:

Jup/Mc = Uranus: optimism; ability to utilize the right moment (including a tv cue!); a fortunate adjustment to changing circumstances.

Apex Uranus = the impractical and blunt communicator. Mutable Apex Uranus relates to spreading oneself too thin (as he's done with the US military and to our tax coffers), and if mismanaged, indicates the social misfit who is willfully out-of-tune with society (ya think?)

This person is a law-unto-himself--a radical thinker who defies the traditions of society with his idiosyncracies. He may unpredictably overthrow his previously-held ideals with no real explanation as he acts as social catalyst for collective reforms.

Mutable energy being unstable and changeable, Uranus, the rebel/revolutionary/reformer will be evident, if not during the address, then it will surely be on people's minds if not on their lips.

Bush will be expressing his communal sense Tuesday night with his usual engaging manner (he hopes) but his mojo, as we know, is seriously damaged.

And as I've posted previously, I don't wish for his end to be a trainwreck--mainly because he takes America--and the world--down with him as he goes.

Guess I'll watch him squirm and dissemble once again while his sec Moon is conjuncted by tr Pluto...

Moon/Pluto: exaggerated new plans; zeal without regard for other people.

Transiting asteroid, Niobe, the grieving mother is conjunct Moon/Pluto and nearing 9/11/01's Mars, god of war. More grieving mothers bwo George Bush who insists he loses not the first wink o'sleep at all.

It's been said the 2007 SOTU address will be shorter than usual...but will it be enough time to tout one of his more pathetic accomplishments in Iraq...the hanging of Saddam Hussein?

Yes, President Widow-maker requests your rapt attention Tuesday night. RSVP--if you can stand to hear that voice one more time.

Litvinenko's poisoner caught on video tape

The London Times Online has the story...here are some highlights:

Seems the polonium-210 was slipped into a hot cup of tea after all--in a cold drink polonium would've shown up.

Poisoned in a Millenium Hotel room with a cup of tea in the morning...assassin Pluto arose on November 1, 2006 at 11:07 am London...with a crisis 29 degree Mc/Ic.

If anyone finds the leak of the approximate--or exact--time for the fatal tea please inform me...Pluto's rising time is my best guess so far. More on this chart asap.

The culprit may be seen on tape arriving at Heathrow Airport from Hamburg--supposedly on the same flight as former KGB agent Dmitri Kovtun who is being investigated for trafficking in the radioactive material that did the job.

This 30-something man with Central Asian features is described by Mars (Mars = male, 25-35 age range) with close-cropped hair, tall stature, and a powerful build. He's the 'mystery man' who was brought in to the 4th-floor hotel room be introduced to Litvinenko as "Vladislav" in the meeting with Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy concerning a "security" business venture.

A false EU (Lithuanian or Slovak) passport was used to fly into London and he had a spare EU passport to fly back out.

And who hired him? Why, the Kremlin, so they say...and several witnessess in the Yukos trial are under threat as well bwo Mercury poisoning.

Mr. Putin, Mr. Putin, I'm disputin' your humanity. But your Machiavellian methods are never in dispute at all.

Shooter has Black Sea connections

Ogun Sama, caught on tape as the shooter of Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor, Hrant Dink on Friday, has been apprehended in the Black Sea city of Samsun. His father and ten other people have been detained for questioning in the Black Sea city of Trabzon.

Above title links to AP article.

See previous posts just below--On Snake Island (Jan 17) and Comet McNaught and the Eagle (Jan 16)--concerning this area of the world...

Congress' Saturn Return

Just a Shout-Out on my recent post concerning the ongoing Saturn Return of Congress which now has been updated from Jan 17.

One quick addititon: the Sabian Symbol for the Return Moon "21Sco" may be instructive:

"A soldier derelict in his duty."

Well of course, one first thinks of George Bush's past AWOL status, but I believe it refers to the current stand-off on Bush's war escalation, don't you? Not that our troops are derelict--the valiant majority of them have been anything but--so it may refer to withdrawal--which is underscored by the US Mars (military) now Rx since July '06.

And the Saturn-Neptune T-square pointing to this Moon may describe the grievous and untenable situation our troops have been placed in by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfled, Perle, and the rest of the warhawks.

Please read the Saturn Return notes below, if you wish...

Bernanke back in warn mode today

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress today that the U.S. economy could be seriously weakened if Medicare and Social Security weren’t revamped. John Dimsdale reports. --MarketPlace Jan 18 2006

You may wish to read my Feb 14, 2006 post on Bernanke's '1st Shout Out as Fedhead' linked above as Ben warns on Social Security and Medicare "revamping"--or is that discontinuance?--on Capitol Hill today. How about revamping instead such things as exorbitant war spending to benefit warmongering profiteers, kickbacks, graft, and governmental greed and incompetence?

Hasn't George Bush "weakened" the country and the economy enough for ya?

What other undermining activities do the lot of you have in store for America and the world?

Is the World Banking System the devil incarnate? How do you tout for liars and cheats as you do? Can you count? Are you accountable unlike your shadowy bosses?

As I've paid 100% of my FICA taxes through these several years, I'd like to know what you miscreants in Washington did with my money and the interest acrued.

Tell me that, Mr. Bernanke. Then we'll have something to tout about.


7:05 pm note: have decided to postpone update on Congress' Saturn Return...had my fill of the dumbleheads today!

Wild Storm in Europe

Makes me wonder about disruptive comets and their connections to horrific storms given the carnage in northern Europe Thursday....esp Comet McNaught's first appearance August 7, 2006--see previous post....only a smidge of scrolling required...

Hope all my friends there are okay.

Congress' ongoing Saturn Return

Congress' Saturn Return Rx #2 of 3, Jan 13, 2006 with #1 having occurred Oct 28, 2006, and #3 upcoming July 13, 2007.

Here's the article from Wednesday on the Senate's theatrical snit which now postpones their doing anything about ethics and lobbying reform...9 votes short...big surprise, isn't it?

Partisan Dispute Derails Ethics Reform because the Judd Gregg (R-NH) amendment would've given the President (if we had one) the chance to stick his nose into the legislation and pull out a plum.

Dave Letterman just debuted a new segment: "George W. Bush: Inappropriate Smiles" with a bit from his interview with Jim Lehrer--and there's Bush smiling like a psychopath about Iraq's recent "botched" executions and Iraqi comments against his handling of the war....and on that happy note it's time to get my fuzzy slippers and my sleeping cap on...back when circumstances allow...stay snug, all!

2.19.07 Friday UPDATE: As you know, the Saturn Return is a time of confronting past failures and learning what you can from them. When dutious Saturn returns to his spot in a chart there is a serious attempt made to change or terminate current relationships, plans, and situations that do not allow for future growth or for envisioned plans.

Whatever is satisfactory is affirmed and the rest should be jettisoned. The November Elections took care of much of this responsibility, didn't it?

Now in the Rx phase of the Return (until the next conj July 13 which is also the date of Congress' Mars Return, a new 2-year cycle of activity) they are on track to review, reconsider, and 'return' to their traditions--also a Saturnian keyword. Congress is at least giving lip service to the idea of their own Oversight Function originally envisioned for them.

Here's a recent excerpt from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's blog with Saturnian keywords italicized:

Bettering the nation we love in ways both big and small are (is) becoming reality. Democrats promised a New Direction for America, and in these first 100 hours we are all discovering that turning (Rx) our promises into reality is much more than an obligation, it is our duty. Thanks to all of you for helping to make it happen.

Commitment reaffirmation is part of a Saturn Return also and the current Rx phase is working well for that--we hope it isn't all rhetoric for the Democrat's stated long-range goals.

With Saturn in 12th house of Behind-the-Scenes much has been done in private with Saturn and the Capricorn Sun in mutual reception--aiding one another--the clunker is the Scorpio Moon near Ic--the Foundation of the chart--and being squared by Saturn. Squares are blockages and obstacles and a Scorpio Moon indicates changes--also a function of Saturn which more usually changes by way of loss.

Still we must appreciate the sky-high pile of messes the 110th needs to clear up so naturally it won't be easy. Scorpio can be a sign of betrayals so I want to keep a squinty eye on this chart until July when the new and final Saturn Return chart becomes active and the Moon will be in Cancer and just past conj with the US (and Geo Bush's) natal Sun.

It goes without saying that deals have been made behind the door (12th house)--haven't they always been? My concern is that the glowing promises we've been hearing will entail more blockages to the American people (Moon) than we know of currently and will be disillusioning when the other shoe drops, for drop it will.

With the forming Saturn-Neptune opposition, a T-square is patterned and pointing to the Moon...

Sat-Nep = Moon: emotional drain; feeling inhibited; a low character.

Ebertin gives the Saturn-Neptune combination as suffering, renunciation, ascetism. The Nov Elections renounced many culprits on Capitol Hill, but that was described by the 1st return of Saturn, Oct 28, '06. That this difficult T-square is in the current chart gives some cause for concern which I hope the 100th Congress will handle responsibly as they say they will.

This is a Fixed T-square so things are entrenched and rigid--yet an apex Moon in T-square suggests emotional stability on the positive side. But there's a 'stuck in the past' quality to it, and there may be an emotion-venting explosion that interfers with security, a concern of the Moon and of the Ic. (Perhaps Speaker Pelosi has already expressed that for us!)

The Capitol Hill Theater is under notice and the box office receipts are in danger of being blocked by opponents who care more for their political careers than for anything you or I have need of (Moon at Ic.)

And it remains to be seen whether the passage of the lobbying reform bill by the Senate

will make any real difference to their pocket-lining, influence-peddling pasttimes.

Even the proposed 5-day work week is Saturnian! So taxpayers may get more work for their money--and hopefully we'll like the work that we get.

Election 2008

Are you thinking ahead to the 2008 Election? If so, check out the latest post at AstroFutureTrends with its details on the perfecting (on Election Day!) of the now-forming Saturn/Uranus opposition.

Saturn = the past, Uranus = the future...an elemental conflict. Plus, the Saturn-Uranus pair relates historically to Israel.

SO'W will be posting more on the 2008 Election, natch--but AstroFutureTrends has some excellent analysis you won't want to miss--and it saves me typing time for now as well--it's a win-win for moi, for an abundance of blogs in the fire have I, m'peops.

And there's always drawing to be done for Secret Moon Art, Cosmic Persona Designs, and for Dreamyfish Art too.

1.17.07: Bush's loose-canon domestic spying proclivities are now to be somewhat (and hopefully) overseen by courts after all...Bush is isolated and fading fast as...as a bright Comet or something...and don't forget the Saturnian Scythe over Bush's head now as you read about the Saturn/Uranus opposition as recommended above.

Today the Dems on Capitol Hill have been reversing roles with the Rs on college tuition relief--proposing bills that Rs don't like but can't help voting for--touche, Pelosi, touche!

Then there's the Doomsday Clock being moved ahead as announced today from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists--Stephen Hawking and the Gang--the descendants of the same Manhattan Project scientists who brought the world the atom split and da bomb in the first place.

If you've managed to dodge this little nugget today read the jolly news that the'Doomsday Clock' to Move Nearer Midnight. Thanks, fellas.

tags: AstroFutureTrends Saturn Uranus Doomsday Clock Pelosi Stephen Hawking Political Astrology

On Snake Island

East of the mouth of the Danube, Snake Island lies in the Black Sea, coordinates: 45N15:18, 30E12:15.

The nearest Romanian city is Sulina, the nearest Ukrainian city: Vilkovo.

Snake island has appr 100 inhabitants who are mostly frontier guard servicemen, their families, and tech personnel.

In 2003 a permanent scientific expedition from Odessa University was established so there's a helicopter platform, a pier built in 2002, and harbour construction is under way. The helicopter platform makes for quick get-aways and refuge-taking, doncha know (see previous post on Stymphalian birds, Hercules, and the raid at Arbil by US forces.)

Sounds like a rockin' place with a 150-year-old lighthouse, electric power, post office, satellite tv, phone service and cell phone tower, internet linkage, and a branch of Aval, a Ukrainian bank.

The lighthouse was built in 1843 by the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Empire and the Greeks called it 'White Island' because of its marble formations. You'll find several submerged ruins of Thracian temples dedicated to APOLLO who was god of the sun, as his sister, Diana, was goddess of the moon.

Apollo was aka god of music and poetry, archery, and prophecy, and was son of Jupiter and Latona.

Snake Island is also thought anciently to be the resting place of Achilles of heel fame--son of Thetis, at whose marriage the apple of Discord was thrown among the goddesses. Seems to be an apple that keeps on giving, doesn't it?

On Feb 27, 1961, Soviet possession of Snake Island was signed in Bucharest, and there is now a dispute concerning the Island before the International Court of Justice...seems Royal/Dutch Shell signed prospective contracts with the Ukraine while Total (a company I'm unfamiliar with) signed with Romania.

Sounds like a discordant tussle over Snake Island and wouldn't you know? Oil rights are involved.

tags: Snake Island Russian Empire Apollo Achilles Odessa University Political Astrology