Astrology

George Bolton, co-owner of Astrology and Baltimore County native, said his colt will arrive Wednesday in Baltimore by plane from Louisville, Ky., for the 2011 Preakness. Bolton will arrive later Wednesday at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness draw. Astrology, from the late Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables, galloped a mile Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. He went 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 on a fast Churchill track on Monday. “If the horse runs the way he looks and stays healthy, the sky’s the limit,” Bolton said.

Linda Furiate's saga began when she noticed her head drifting to the right. The odd and uncomfortable sensation began shortly after a car accident whose date -- Nov. 13, 1995 -- is forever etched in her memory. The awkward positioning of her head led to her losing her balance and running into walls since she couldn't look forward as she walked. Soon she was regularly experiencing jerky movements and abnormal posturing that made people stare and steer clear. Cervical dystonia, a painful and incurable condition triggered by the trauma of her accident and marked by contracting of the neck muscles, was Furiate's diagnosis -- a fate that would eventually derail a number of her professional and personal relationships.

His partnership with the late Jess Jackson put George Bolton in the Triple Crown spotlight in 2007 when Curlin won the Preakness. Two years later, Bolton returned to his hometown of Baltimore to celebrate with Jackson another Preakness victory, this one by the remarkable filly Rachel Alexandra. Now Bolton wants to do it again with a colt named Astrology — after another two-year interval — and he's going to retrace as many of his steps as he can in pursuit of the 136th Preakness.

All week, George Bolton told anyone who would listen that Astrology was better than a 14-1 long shot in the 136th Preakness, even if he had run only two races as a 3-year-old, and even if he smashed his head on the starting gate last time out. Bolton, co-owner of the Kentucky-bred colt with Barbara Banke, did not tell them why, though. "We knew one thing the bettors didn't know," the Brooklandville native said. "We knew he had the best work he ever had as a horse 12 days ago. We knew … that he was really coming into this race thriving.

All week, George Bolton told anyone who would listen that Astrology was better than a 14-1 long shot in the 136th Preakness, even if he had run only two races as a 3-year-old, and even if he smashed his head on the starting gate last time out. Bolton, co-owner of the Kentucky-bred colt with Barbara Banke, did not tell them why, though. "We knew one thing the bettors didn't know," the Brooklandville native said. "We knew he had the best work he ever had as a horse 12 days ago. We knew … that he was really coming into this race thriving.

As fans of Calvin and Hobbes know, the ever-resourceful Calvin recently tried astrology in his unceasing efforts to get his way.Although his horoscope said the time was right to implement his "key policies" (no bedtime, no homework, no baths), Calvin's mom wasn't buying it. But some parents do buy into astrology. They say it's helpful in figuring out their own little Calvins and Calvinettes.Gloria Lochrane, for example, periodically consults with Maitland, Fla., astrologer Kelly Lowe about the Lochranes' 11-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son."

A faded Roman coin bearing images of a ram and a brilliant star has threatened to dash centuries of belief that a comet, supernova or other spectacular object lighted the sky at the time of Jesus' birth.New evidence suggests the Magi -- ancient wise men -- followed not a star but an astrological chart into Bethlehem, believing a regal horoscope had predicted the birth of a Messiah.Scientist Michael Molnar, whose theory was inspired by an ancient coin, has created a stir worldwide among astronomers whose sophisticated computer models and detailed studies of ancient tracts have never conclusively identified the biblical portent called the Star of Bethlehem.

George Bolton, who won the 2007 Preakness as co-owner of Curlin, announced today that he's bringing Astrology to the 2011 Preakness next week. It will be Astrology's third start of the year. Bolton, from Brooklandville, in Baltimore County, and Stonestreet teamed up for Curlin's thrilling victory, and Stonestreet saw success in 2009 when Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years. Astrology worked a strong six furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs track on Monday in 1:12.40, according to the news release that announced his decision to run in the Preakness.  Starting the year at the $800,000 Grade III Sunland Derby at Sunland Park on March 27. Astrology finished second.

It may or may not have been because the planets were in perfect alignment when Julia Lupton Skalka sat down at her computer and began writing, but her newly released book, "The Instant Horoscope Reader," has found astronomical success.Nearly 4,000 of the first 7,500 copies of the book have been sold since its release last month. Julie Paxton, publicist for Llewellyn Publications, said the book will be reprinted within six months.The book was also featured for the holidays in Walden Books' "Preferred Reader," a mailing the company sends to customers.

Linda Furiate's saga began when she noticed her head drifting to the right. The odd and uncomfortable sensation began shortly after a car accident whose date -- Nov. 13, 1995 -- is forever etched in her memory. The awkward positioning of her head led to her losing her balance and running into walls since she couldn't look forward as she walked. Soon she was regularly experiencing jerky movements and abnormal posturing that made people stare and steer clear. Cervical dystonia, a painful and incurable condition triggered by the trauma of her accident and marked by contracting of the neck muscles, was Furiate's diagnosis -- a fate that would eventually derail a number of her professional and personal relationships.

His partnership with the late Jess Jackson put George Bolton in the Triple Crown spotlight in 2007 when Curlin won the Preakness. Two years later, Bolton returned to his hometown of Baltimore to celebrate with Jackson another Preakness victory, this one by the remarkable filly Rachel Alexandra. Now Bolton wants to do it again with a colt named Astrology — after another two-year interval — and he's going to retrace as many of his steps as he can in pursuit of the 136th Preakness.

George Bolton, co-owner of Astrology and Baltimore County native, said his colt will arrive Wednesday in Baltimore by plane from Louisville, Ky., for the 2011 Preakness. Bolton will arrive later Wednesday at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness draw. Astrology, from the late Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables, galloped a mile Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. He went 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 on a fast Churchill track on Monday. “If the horse runs the way he looks and stays healthy, the sky’s the limit,” Bolton said.

George Bolton, who won the 2007 Preakness as co-owner of Curlin, announced today that he's bringing Astrology to the 2011 Preakness next week. It will be Astrology's third start of the year. Bolton, from Brooklandville, in Baltimore County, and Stonestreet teamed up for Curlin's thrilling victory, and Stonestreet saw success in 2009 when Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years. Astrology worked a strong six furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs track on Monday in 1:12.40, according to the news release that announced his decision to run in the Preakness.  Starting the year at the $800,000 Grade III Sunland Derby at Sunland Park on March 27. Astrology finished second.

Margie Herskovitz, a retired railroad worker who was also an astrologer and water aerobics instructor, died Feb. 7 of complications from cancer at a Las Vegas hospice. The longtime Mount Washington resident was 83. Born Margolia Levine in Pittsburgh, she moved to Baltimore to marry Irwin M. Herskovitz, who owned a dry cleaning business. Mrs. Herskovitz had been an administrator at the Randallstown Convalescent Center and also worked for the Chessie System, later CSX, in downtown Baltimore.

What do your birth order and astrology sign say about your career? A lot regarding your compensation and career choices, according to a recent survey by job site Careerbuilder.com. Being the firstborn has its privileges. (Disclosure: I am the firstborn in a family of two children.) More firstborn employees earned $100,000 or more annually, while their siblings often earn less. The baby of the family was least likely to earn a six-figure salary. OK, I'm not even close to earning $100,000 or more.

The Sun takes fixing the mistakes it makes almost every day very seriously. The newspaper's policy is to publish a correction as soon as possible after the discovery and confirmation of an error. The seriousness of errors varies. Most common are relatively simple "black and white" mistakes - misspelled names, historical inaccuracies and erroneous geographical locations. Some are the result of inaccurate material provided by an outside source. Others come when writers or editors fail to add vital details.

If I can develop my "own lovely illusion" and communicate it well, "powerful people will perk up their ears." So says my horoscope as I work on editing this week's column. That's the way it is every day with horoscopes -- predictions of riches, romance, ruin and guidance on how to deal with it all. Do you read them? I often do. So do many of my most learned friends. They can be entertaining, or simply absurd in a world suffering from shortages of silliness. But if you find yourself or someone you care for taking astrology seriously, you would be prudent to read The Secrets of the Vaulted Sky: Astrology and the Art of Prediction, by David Berlinski (Harcourt, 320 pages, $27)

What do your birth order and astrology sign say about your career? A lot regarding your compensation and career choices, according to a recent survey by job site Careerbuilder.com. Being the firstborn has its privileges. (Disclosure: I am the firstborn in a family of two children.) More firstborn employees earned $100,000 or more annually, while their siblings often earn less. The baby of the family was least likely to earn a six-figure salary. OK, I'm not even close to earning $100,000 or more.

Let's get one thing straight. I don't believe in astrology. But the daily horoscopes seem harmless enough back there with the funny pages, offering sensible, all-purpose advice. For example, The Sun's syndicated astrologer recently urged those born under Pisces to "back up computer files, and make sure your cell phone battery is charged." No argument there. That said, I confess that I can't wait until the next time somebody asks my astrological "sign." That's because I've been spending a lot of time with a computer program for backyard stargazers called Starry Night, published by Imaginova.

The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill: The Hidden Magic and Meaning, by David Ovason. HarperCollins. 208 pages. $18.95. Even for those of us who look upon astrology and other mysticisms as blathering balderdash, there is fascination in ostensibly magical symbolism that manages to reign enduringly in public view. There are no more dramatically evident examples of that than the ornamental bits and pieces of the Great Seal of the United States and thus of the dollar bill, whose design is derived from the seal.