American Statesman - St. Valentine's Day

*** Happy St. Valentine's Day *** Copied from: http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.#### **American Statesman Round Table** **The GOP Supports Patriot Act - Not the Constitution** They could not pass the extension of the unconstitutional Patriot Act last week, so they are going to try again this week. GOP Hypocrites. **Fiscal Accountability - Show Us the Money What are they doing with our money? American Statesman will help identify some "no-brainer" ways to cut the federal budget and restore state rights at the same time. **Is there a FUDS in Your Back Yard? Formerly Used Defense Sites. What you should know about FUDS and what our government does not want you to know about FUDS. **Transportation-Congressman John Mica Promotes Progressive Agenda Again! Mica acts like he is opposing Obama's wasteful spending while he promotes the same "trains to nowhere". Will FL GOPers ever learn or will they keep re-electing this "Porker of the Month"? **Crisis in Egypt - General update and discussion about the recent events in Egypt.