In the first half, author and radio host Michael Olson discussed the food chain, and the advantages of living closer to the source of our food. There is a disconnect between urban dwellers and the agricultural community, he said, noting that "only 2% of us now live and work on farms," which diminishes the farmers' influence in political discourse. Highlighting the potential of small-scale farming in urban settings, he argued that efficiency and creativity can lead to significant profits, challenging the notion that only large farms can succeed. He advocated for a "warrior" mindset in farming, encouraging producers to confidently dictate prices rather than accept whatever is offered.
Olson introduced three essential laws regarding food and agriculture. The first is that "agriculture is the foundation upon which we build our sand castles," and modern civilization often overlooks the importance of farming. "Without a surplus of food, we will all have to spend our time turning over logs, looking for things to eat," he stated. The second law asserts that "the farther we go from the source of our food, the less control we have over what's in our food." He encouraged listeners to connect with local farmers and farmer's markets.
His third law critiques the notion of cheap food, explaining that while "we have cheap food thanks to our industrial agriculture," it comes at a cost, including hidden expenses associated with food production, and health care issues stemming from poor nutrition. Olson also raised concerns about food security, referencing incidents involving bioterrorism threats to the food supply.
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In the latter half, documentary filmmaker and supernaturalist L. A. Marzulli discussed his latest film, "Holy Shroud, Holy Fire" (view trailer & images), which explores the enigmatic Shroud of Turin, the Sudarium of Oviedo (another relic related to Jesus' death), and the 'Holy Fire' that has been manifesting at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Marzulli emphasized the shroud's uniqueness, stating, "It's not a painting... it's forensic evidence of the greatest event in all history, the resurrection." He described the shroud as "God's calling card" and noted that no one has successfully replicated the image on it, despite a million-dollar challenge for anyone who can.
Marzulli elaborated on the shroud's historical journey, mentioning its presence in Jerusalem and subsequent travels through Turkey, France, and finally Italy. He argued that the carbon dating, which suggested the shroud was a medieval fake, was flawed due to a potential reweaving in the 15th century. He also reported on the shroud's scientific intrigue, citing its three-dimensional properties and the distinct frontal and dorsal images of a crucified man.
His film aims to connect the shroud with the miraculous phenomenon of the Holy Fire, which has been reported at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem for centuries. Marzulli described it as "mystical" and "supernatural," recounting how the fire spontaneously ignites lamps without any apparent source. The Sudarium of Oviedo, housed in Spain, is a bloodstained linen fabric, believed by some to be the cloth that covered Jesus' face after his death. "When you take the sudarium and overlay it over the face on the shroud, "there's 120 points of congruency between the two artifacts," he marveled.
News segment guests: Howard Bloom, Mish Shedlock