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The Ayurvedic Practitioner course
– built for your lifestyle
New World Ayurveda is leading the movement to create a healthier world by making online Ayurvedic studies accessible to all.
As the only Ayurvedic school led by a licensed medical doctor we offer a comprehensive approach in training practitioners throughout the world to transform and heal as many lives as possible.
Our fast-track curriculum covers Ayurvedic assessment, treatment, and practice with the added medical perspective, Vedic astrology, and spiritual counseling. We also teach you how to build a successful practice.
5 reasons to study with us:
Online Study.
Become an Ayurvedic Practitioner from anywhere in the world. Learn at your own pace. Join a holistic community.
Experiential Learning.
Attend clinical intensives to experience herb samples, massage oils, pulse diagnosis, daily routines, and Ayurvedic cooking.
Clinical Focus.
Each class is case-based so you can learn the principles of Ayurveda through real life examples.
Consciousness Model.
Build up a strong inner practice through a required 200 hrs of meditation.
Fast-track Learning.
Learn about pulse diagnosis and herbal formulas from day one through real life case-studies.
Book your Informational Appointment
Paul Dugliss, M.D.
My experience as an Internal Medicine Physician has not been without its tragedies. I have seen people cut down in the prime of their lives by cancer, leaving young children and successful careers behind. I have seen everything from men in their forties die of heart attacks to losing a three-year-old to complications of a tonsillectomy. Time and time again I was reminded of how incredibly precious and delicate life truly is.
I've since devoted my life to doing everything in my power to prevent such tragedies from occurring, and to finding less invasive, more natural ways of healing. Based on the success my patients have had with Ayurveda, I have moved my focus to it almost exclusively.
"What would you give to have knowledge that can save and transform lives?"
10 years ago I developed New World Ayurveda School to share what I have learned and to train practitioners throughout the world to help save and transform as many lives as possible.
I encourage you to book your free Program Information Appointment with us now, and learn more about the different ways you can study with us to learn this great knowledge of Ayurveda.
Dr. Paul
Meet the team delivering Ayurveda to the modern world
Our Faculty of Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners are the energy and passion behind the movement to improve the health of the planet through the time-tested modality of Ayurveda. We are committed to teaching students around the world the principles of nature that create balance within themselves and others. Our convenient online programs are built to deliver optimal wellness and longevity to the practitioner, client, and greater community.
"I enjoyed the flexibility of the program which made it realistic to add into my full life. Even though it was a "distance" training, the course felt very personal and intimate."
Sally Raspberry
Massage Therapist, Educator, Ayurvedic Practitioner
Our Mission:
To transform health care and prevent diseases by training at least one person in Ayurveda in every community across the western world.


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Gabby Young and Other Animals at Koko (Camden)/
Last night I was invited to a Bloggers' Event at a Gabby Young and Other Animals gig. Firstly, let me warn you that I don't really ever go to live music events, but she is a lady who intrigues me so off I went!
Here I am posing cheesily with a G cupcake......it quickly disappeared after the picture was taken!
Gabby started the night in a white and black dress, which I loved. Her hair was almost sculpture like, and it looked stunning. I wish she had worn some beautiful shoes to compliment the fab dress.
I loved the brass instruments, and the songs that really allowed them to shine were my favourites I think. At one point there was also a choir on stage, and the sound was stunning.
Gabby has a voice that is a mixtue between Kate Nash and Florence and the Machine. That is as musical as my description gets! The music has a nice ska feel through out.
The only bit I really didn't like were some 'swing dancers' (note the inverted commas there) who came out while Gabby changed into this blue number (I personally preferred the first outfit by far!). Perhaps I have seen too many swing dancers, or too high of a standard of swing dancers, but I found them hard to watch. They could clearly dance.....but lacked the style of swing dancers. I cringed.
The crowd adored her, and she certainly makes an effort with her staging, costumes and direction. Gabby has one of those voices that I was convinced her recorded voice would perfectly match her live voice.
The song that stood out for me, had this simply delicious banjo sound running through it, and I found it on youtube and it has a cute video too.
All photos are mine. Please respect my copyright and don't steal them.

subset: commoncrawl


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Irrespective of the exact nature of freelancing services you provide, you're most likely to struggle with the financial sides of operating such a business. Handling finances properly is mandatory if you're to run your business successfully. Preparing and sending invoices to clients is one financial side of the business you must handle well. You can learn to do that by observing what is in any freelance invoice sample.
What can you learn from the sample?
Determining Business Policies
If your business operates in an ideal world, clients would settle the invoices on time. The truth is that you have to get used to receiving late payments. Sometimes, you might have to deal with clients who end up not paying at all despite receiving all services. Therefore, you need to be ready for any eventuality with the right company or business policies, which you can learn and copy from a good freelance invoice sample. Share the policies with your clients beforehand.
Be Wary of Surprises
Inform clients of your business policies. Inform them of your payment and invoicing policies too. Clients should know when to expect payments from you. Don't include any item or charge on the invoice that leaves clients dumbfounded. The amount due, payment terms and hourly fees should be items the client know in advance. According to Simon Speirs of The Accounting minute, one should be able to scan the invoice very fast. The purpose of the invoice should also be clear to your clients early before they receive it via regular mail or email.
Sending Invoices as Attachments
Email is the best tool to use in sending invoices to clients. Emails allow you to save money on paper and postage. Emails speed the process up since clients receive them immediately. If clients receive the attachments early, they are likely to send payments in good time instead of keeping you waiting for long. Attach the invoice as PDF, which is easier for your clients to open and read. Look for apps or software that can create PDF.
Send to the Right Person
According to e2b Anytime Apps, it's very important to have the correct billing address. If the invoice ends up in the inbox of the wrong person, you would have to wait longer to receive your payment. Sending the email to the wrong individual or company displays a hint of unprofessionalism on your part. Therefore, study the address well. Ask the client to provide the exact email address to send the invoice. Remember to do this while negotiating with the client. Check that the email address is in the contract.
Therefore, use a freelance invoice sample to formulate best practices for your business to follow.


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Quick links
Tagged: heathier diet
Nestlé UK help employees make healthier choices
Service Level Agreements including Minimum Nutrition Standards have been agreed by site caterers. These standards underpin the daily menus provided and stipulate cooking methods, ingredient standards, menu planning and daily provision of healthier choices. They are actively working with their … Read more → – Nestlé UK help employees make healthier choices
Published: 21 August, 2012
Morrisons Healthier Staff Canteens
Morrisons commitment to offering healthier choices covers both our customers and our 131,000 colleagues. In collaboration with Unilever Food Solutions we have developed a new menu for our staff canteens across the country. This expands the healthy choices on offer … Read more → – Morrisons Healthier Staff Canteens
Published: 21 August, 2012
Morrisons launches healthy range
Launching nationwide in summer 2012, NuMe offers a wide range of healthier products across all meal and snacking occasions. It supports the calorie reduction pledge and has been developed in response to our customers, who told us they wanted healthier … Read more → – Morrisons launches healthy range
Published: 21 August, 2012
H4. Healthier Staff Restaurants
"We will implement some basic measures for encouraging healthier staff restaurants/ vending outlets/buffets for staff, including: Ensuring the availability of healthier foods and beverages in all available channels to employees Working with caterers to reformulate recipes to provide meals which are … Read more → – H4. Healthier Staff Restaurants
Published: 7 February, 2012
F3. Artificial Trans Fats Removal
"(a). We do not use ingredients that contain artificial trans fats." "(b). We are working to remove artificial trans fats from our products within the next 12 months." The following provides background and supporting information to help organisations understand what … Read more → – F3. Artificial Trans Fats Removal
Published: 3 February, 2012
F2. Salt Reduction
"We commit to the salt targets for the end of 2012 agreed by the Responsibility Deal, which collectively will deliver a further 15 per cent reduction on 2010 targets. For some products this will require acceptable technical solutions which we … Read more → – F2. Salt Reduction
Published: 3 February, 2012
F1. Out of Home Calorie Labelling
"We will provide calorie information for food and non alcoholic drink for our customers in out of home settings from 1 September 2011 in accordance with the principles for calorie labelling agreed by the Responsibility Deal." The following provides background … Read more → – F1. Out of Home Calorie Labelling
Published: 3 February, 2012


text: Trot for the Troops Walk/Run 5k will be on Friday, November 10th at 5:30pm starting at the Hammerhead parking lot.The cost of the event is $5.00 and all proceeds will go towards benefitting the troops through care packages. T-shirts will be given out to the first 50 participants on the day of the event while supplies last. Participants can pre-register at the Dugan Wellness Center up until 5:00pm on Thursday, November 9th through cash, check or credit card. On-site registration will also be available for participants paying cash or check only at 4:45pm at the Hammerhead lot.


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On-demand services are now in vogue, from ride-hailing service Uber to streaming video company Netflix. So Richard Wolpert pondered, why not also revamp Best Buy's Geek Squad into a "need it now" support service?
The former Apple and Disney exec created " Buy Your Parents" after chatting with millennials and hearing that their folks always fumbled around with remotes. Wolpert figured that he could quickly create a knowledgeable task force of tech-savvy students and dispatch them into the homes of people looking for tech help.
Buy Your Parents will be a service arm to Wolpert's larger company, HelloTech which also employs a young workforce.
"Buy Your Parents services run the gamut from tech support to providing brand new tech for the home," Wolpert told Business Insider. "We could, for example, install a thermostat in someone's home and show them how to fully use it."
The Buy Your Parents service is catered towards adult children who have long left their homes and their empty-nested parents who might not feel up to date on the latest tech and how to install it. On the site, the younger customers can enter in their parents' address and contact info — on the receiving end, there would be a message saying "Your son John just bought you two hours of tech support."
Wolpert says that the startup, unlike Geek Squad, features an on-demand promise to help within 24 hours or even on the same day. It is also significantly easier on the wallet.
"If we wanted someone to come out to do a virus scan, while Geek Squad would ask for more than $200 an hour, we cut down that price to say, around $70," Wolpert said. "We're also using trained college students who are digital natives and have grown up with this technology their entire lives."
Buy Your Parents could also be a financial cushion for students who want to make some side cash. The more training a student gets, the more they will be paid. The average wage is $30 an hour.
Right now, Buy Your Parents is based in California, but Wolpert is making plans to hire young techies along the East Coast.
"Buy Your Parents is part of our bigger strategy [at Hellotech] that will drive a lot of e-commerce and support that gets tech experts in a flash," Wolpert said. "We're excited to hire younger people and see them make money as well as keep up with the on-demand economy."


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I adopt abused Shih Tzus and those with health problems. I now have had 2 unneutered males about 10 yrs old who raise their legs on any vertical surface. I also have a 5 yr old who constantly licks the sealed hardwood floors. What I seek is a cleaner for the hardwood floors that won't harm my 'licker' or the finish on the floors. Thanks for any suggestions. I can't afford to have the floors refinished any time soon.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
A cup of distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water should do the trick. Test in an inconspicuous spot first.
I have cats and feel the same way you do. I don't want them walking, licking or near chemicals that can harm them. I use white vinegar and water to clean my hardwood floors. I normally splash it in the water bucket but I guess its about half a cup to the bucket of water.
I am actually thinking of purchasing one of those steam floor cleaners in the near future. You might want to consider that. But if you have a pet that 'spritzes' in a corner the vinegar will remove the 'scent' and they won't return to the spot.
Plus, if you want more cleaning power you can add more vinegar to the water w/o hurting your floor or pet. It is nontoxic....natural...inexpensive way to clean everything in your home.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!


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'I want to be like you…' is part of an ongoing research which will become part of a visual book entitled "Elephant and Tea Cup". This particular aspect explores issues around consumerism and the ways in which western ideology merges with Iranian sensibilities. Shiraz recently became home to the world's largest shopping mall, boasting 2,500 individual shops under one roof!
img title="I Shop I am" src="" alt="slider" width="595″ height="395″ />img title="I Shop I am" src="http://memarzia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/I-shop-I-am-12.jpg" alt="slider" width="595″ height="395″ />img title="I Shop I am" src="http://memarzia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/I-shop-I-am-13.jpg" alt="slider" width="595″ height="395″ />


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Contact us if you're looking for an opportunity to volunteer or if you'd like to know more about our projects.
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Huckabee, Portman and the morality of single mothers
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee stepped into the culture wars Friday when he commented on Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman's plans to have a child out of wedlock, recalling the debate between Vice President Dan Quayle and fictional character Murphy Brown 19 years ago.
Beyond the social or political motivations for taking on this debate, we're interested in what the public thinks of single motherhood. The Gallup poll asked about this issue last spring among a variety of moral issues.
They found 54 percent saying that "having a baby outside of marriage" is morally acceptable and 40 percent morally wrong. In relation to other moral issues tested by Gallup, single parenthood ranks in the middle - eighth out of 16 items on their acceptability scale. Numerically it ranks just below sex between unmarried men and women (59 percent morally acceptable) and just above "gay or lesbian relations" (52 percent morally acceptable).
Huckabee's position is not out of step with his base. Fewer than half of Republicans - 41 percent - said that having a baby out of marriage is morally acceptable. But his statements may not appeal to many Democrats or independents (or presumably Portman fans). Fully 61 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of independents said this is morally acceptable.
The Gallup data speak to another storyline in the morality play Friday. Brandon Davies, a star collegiate basketball player for nationally ranked Bringham Young University, was kicked off his team because he admitted to having premarital sex with his girlfriend. BYU's Honor Code forbids this, but 59 percent of the public believes premarital sex is morally acceptable.
See the full Gallup list for the ranking of virtues and vices.
Percent who say each is morally acceptable or morally wrong:
Gallup poll, May 3-6, 2010
Morally acceptable
Morally wrong
The death penalty
Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur
Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos
Medical testing on animals
Sex between an unmarried man and women
Having a baby outside marriage
Gay or lesbian relations
Doctor assisted suicide
Cloning animals
Cloning humans
Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time
Married men and women having an affair
Peyton M. Craighill
| March 4, 2011; 3:44 PM ET
Save & Share: Previous: Tea party anger with government subsides
Next: Poll: Deficits haven't changed public priorities
Unwed mothers are filling the prisons with their spawn.
Posted by: johntu | March 5, 2011 1:58 AM | Report abuse
They think they are a blessing if they are white. If they are minorities then they are shiftless and lazy and having babies just so they can live off the government. They are blamed for all the problems and crime in this country if they are black. If they are white they are featured in movies, MTV's 16 and Pregnant and on Dancing with the Stars.
Posted by: catmomtx | March 5, 2011 12:18 PM | Report abuse
I wish Gallup had asked whether these actions are morally acceptable or not:
1. Ending the Women's Infants' Children's (WIC) food support program for pregnant women and small children to help finance tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of the nation
2. Trying to ban abortion and wipe out contraceptive access via Planned Parenthood while taking the food out of the mouths of pregnant women and small children. Republicans, I'm talking to you.
Posted by: ankhorite | March 5, 2011 9:45 PM | Report abuse
It sounds as if Mike Huckabee prefers that poor pregnant women get an abortion and that rich pregnant women like Natalie Portman should, also, because they're in the public eye and could influence other single pregnant women not to get an abortion.
The poll should, also, have asked these questions: Is it morally acceptable to allow a pregnant woman to die whose life would be saved if she had an abortion? Is it morally acceptable for legislators to pass laws that interfere with the doctor/patient relationship between women and their doctors regarding women's reproductive health care? Is it morally acceptable to force poor women to give birth to babies that will die of starvation? Is it morally acceptable for the government to force poor women to give birth then not provide food, clothing, shelter and health care for the baby and mother?
Posted by: BettyW1 | March 6, 2011 4:23 PM | Report abuse
Morality is subjective with most moralist taking exception with the sin they are not committing while being understanding of the sin they are. The most moral position is to not judge anyone. That job is taken.
Posted by: GabsDaD | March 7, 2011 4:49 PM | Report abuse
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Bon Jovi
Sponsored By
Jon Bon Jovi Surprises Long Island Grocery ShoppersJon Bon Jovi dropped by Stew Leonard's supermarket in Farmingdale and met the 19-pound lobster who bears his name.
Bon Jovi, Nina Simone, The Cars, Dire Straits And More Are 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame InducteesNew Jersey rockers Bon Jovi lead the 2018 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, which includes four first-time nominees.
Bon Jovi Launches Opening Act Contest Ahead Of 2017 TourIf you've ever dreamed on being on stage with Bon Jovi, this is your chance -- if you've got what it takes.
New Jersey Native Jon Bon Jovi Opens Up About Newest Album & Long-Lasting MarriageIt's hard to believe Bon Jovi has been making hits for 33 years. Now, the band is back with its 14th studio album, which has a theme of "integrity and re-birth."
Bon Jovi Or The Boss? Residents Divided Over Which Rocker Rules New JerseyBoth artists have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, but only Springsteen has made into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame so far.
Jon Bon Jovi, Charities Open Hunger Center At Jersey ShoreRock star Jon Bon Jovi and local charities are opening an anti-hunger center in a section of the New Jersey shore devastated by Superstorm Sandy.
Richie Sambora Takes Anti-Drug Message To Toms River EventLongtime Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora debuted a new song Tuesday night at a New Jersey forum on drug abuse.
'The Way I Got A Record Deal Was Different Than Most' - Jon Bon JoviEvery band has their own "big break" story; Categorize Bon Jovi's as one of a kind.
Jon Bon Jovi Wants To Become NFL Owner Someday, But He's Not Pursuing BillsJon Bon Jovi's publicist tells The Associated Press that while the New Jersey rocker is interested in becoming an NFL owner one day, he's not currently pursuing the Buffalo Bills.
Music's Biggest Stars Turn Out For Sandy Relief; Millions Raised In Ticket Sales AloneThe sold-out show was televised live, streamed online, played on the radio and shown in theaters all over the world with up to 2 billion people experiencing the history-making event live.
Music Legends Come Together For Sandy Relief Concert At MSGThe charity concert for Sandy victims has been billed as the biggest one ever staged at Madison Square Garden.
Bon Jovi Announces 'Because We Can' U.S. Tour Dates!Much to the delight of their fans, Bon Jovi finally announced U.S. tour dates for 2013′s "Because We Can" Tour!
Police: Jon Bon Jovi's Daughter Stephanie Recovering After Heroin OverdoseFans of Jon Bon Jovi were feeling especially heartbroken for him Wednesday after learning his daughter, Stephanie, was facing drug charges, after apparently overdosing on heroin at her college in upstate New York.
Jason Aldean Debuts New Songs During Live On Letterman ConcertDuring his hour-long Live on Letterman concert webcast last night, Jason Aldean mixed his biggest career hits with brand-new songs from his upcoming album, "Night Train." Stream the entire concert free on demand.
Jon Bon Jovi Plays Key Role In Big & Rich's 'Hillbilly Jedi' Album And TitleWhat do George Lucas, Jon Bon Jovi, and country duo Big & Rich have in common? More than you might think.


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Former 'Bachelor' Juan Pablo Galavis Stars In Music Video For 'The Voice' Runner-Up
The Bachelor meets The Voice!
Former Bachelor star Juan Pablo Galavis flexed his acting muscles in the new music video for The Voice runner-up Meghan Linsey, "Exes and Friends"! In the video, Juan Pablo plays Meghan's ex. It's kind of surreal to see the two reality shows collide like this, but it's also pretty amusing. And the song is catchy as hell. I honestly don't get why she's releasing music independently. I feel like a major label really ought to have picked her up by now. Then again, maybe it was all her choice. Either way, you can learn more about Meghan's independent release here. And you can watch the music video for "Exes and Friends" below:
"I have never been so proud of a video," Meghan told ET in a statement. "Everything came together so effortlessly and I got to work with some incredibly talented people."
For his part, Juan Pablo is proud of the video as well, posting a shoutout to Meghan on social media.
"THANKS for making me PART of your project @meghanlinsey… Your VOICE blows me AWAY," the message read. This implies it was Meghan's call to get Juan Pablo in the video, which would seem to indicate she might be a secret Bachelor fan! (Well, maybe not so secretly anymore)
What do you think of the music video? Sound off in the comments!
And for more news on The Bachelor franchise, find out the latest alleged scandal to hit the Bachelor Nation, this one involving Ben Higgins and JoJo Fletcher!


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FiDO is a family of SDI/Optical Fiber converters. FiDO allows the transport of SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G SDI over distances up to 10km using standard single- mode fiber optic cable, with your choice of LC, ST, or SC connectors, depending on the converter model. FiDO converters meet all relevant SMPTE specifications and are rugged, versatile, and suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
With 9 models, FiDO offers unmatched flexibility and cost efficiency. FiDO dual channel models allow the conversion of 2 channels - perfect for 3D, dual- link SDI, or 2 completely independent SDI channels (for example, SD, HD, and 3G can be mixed in any combination). Also, FiDO converters offer electrical isolation useful for eliminating ground loop problems.
FiDO converters come in a compact, low-profile enclosure for use in tight spaces around and behind equipment racks, trucks and crowded facilities.
- Transport of SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G HD-SDI over single mode optical fiber
- Auto-detection of video format
- All SDI Ancillary data including embedded audio is passed
- LC, ST OR SC fiber connectors
- Simplex or Duplex models available
- All inputs, either SDI or fiber, are equalized and re-clocked
- ASI compatible
- Useful for eliminating ground loop problems
- 5-20VDC power supply (included)
- 5 year warranty
- DWP-U-R1: Universal power supply (Note: As of Nov. 1, 2012 a DWP-U-R1 is included with the purchase of any AJA Mini-Converter)
- Rack mount bracket
- 4 pin XLR power cable
Universal Power Supply
All AJA Mini-Converters ship with a Universal Power Supply that includes international plug connections for use around the world.
Compact and Portable
AJA Mini-Converters are small enough to fit behind a monitor, in the back of a rack or directly on a camera rig. A locking power connector can't accidentally pull loose and an optional P-TAP power cable allows for battery power in remote locations.
AJA Quality - Guaranteed
All AJA Mini-Converters are covered by a 5-year warranty and AJA's advanced replacement policy. If a replacement is necessary, AJA will ship a new unit immediately without the need to send the original unit back first, ensuring you are up and running again as quickly as possible.
AJA Mini-Matrix
Information on the complete line of AJA Mini-Converters is now available as a mobile app on iOS. The Mini-Converter product line is extensive and this app helps you find the right converter for any situation, wherever you are.
Individual products have links back to the main AJA website for more details and you can email product information directly from the app. The free AJA Mini Matrix app for iPad and iPhone is available now in the Apple iTunes Store.
- Supplier website AJA
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This may come as a shock to those Treasure Valley citizens who may have never eaten a hamburger from a place that doesn't have its own string of television commercials, but before there was Sonic and Carl's Jr., before there was Jack in the Box or Wendy's or Burger King or even that joint with the golden arches ... there were burgers.
Oh my ... glistening, luscious burgers, for which the faithful would park in an asphalt lot on a summer's night, watching the flying bugs' aerial circus perform around the yellow lights, waiting for a teenager to hop up and take their orders. Never—not once in the half-century that has passed since those un-jaded drive-in jaunts—has this writer had a meal that satisfied his anticipation with more completeness than those first, glistening, luscious burgers.
To most of the postwar generation, it's likely that our first experience with commercially prepared food came at one of these roadside eateries, with Dad handing out the goodies from the window tray and Mom handing out warnings of the consequences should you spill the catsup cup on the upholstery. Like knotty-pine motels, full-service gas stations and outdoor movie screens, the eat-in-your-automobile establishments arose from the dust and fields that flanked U.S. highways and state routes, placed there to accommodate a nation bewitched by Detroit steel on Akron rubber.
Fortunately, we needn't rely solely on the afterglow of nostalgia to recapture those pre-chain delights. My intention is to identify those places that were born during (or before) the happiest days of drive-ins, and I apologize if I've overlooked any establishments that deserve to be included. The limits of print space constrain me to Boise and Meridian—which isn't to say there aren't drive-ins in neighboring towns that deserve not only our attention, but our patronage.
The ubiquitous joints with the golden arches (not to mention the horde of imitators that followed them into every nook and cranny of America) may have edged out most of the locally owned competition, but not all. Herein, I will conduct burger aficionados on a tour of area drive-ins that have weathered the franchise storms, stood against a hail of corporate patties and industrialized fries, and survived the devastation of whirlwind service and dollar-menu come-ons.
BIG BUN drive in
It is without doubt a "big bun." Six ... maybe seven inches across, with a patty to match. I watch Tom grill the meat, watch it turn from red to gray to dark chocolate brown. On top of the ground beef go two slices of ham, then the vegetables—a handful of lettuce, the tomato. "You like onions?" Tom asks. I sure do, and he throws on a red onion—that kind with the lilac-colored outer skin, the kind from which you can actually feel the sweet juice spurt when you crunch down. But it's the sauce that makes the burger. Tantalizingly tangy? Subtly sweet? I consider asking Tom what he puts in his sauce, but it would be unfair to put him on the spot like that. This formula was handed down from his parents. Every family should have a secret or two.
Like most of the other early drive-ins, the Big Bun went up (in 1955) on what was then the fringes of the city, just that side of the town ... just this side of the farms. Today, it's well within Boise's frantic traffic zone, and from its second-bench perch west to Meridian, there are few farms left.
"We've had our ups and downs," says Tom Randel. "When my dad first got into it, it was about the only place up here. We had a lot of business from Borah High School kids when the lunch hours were longer. They aren't anymore. The business from the kids is always important, but not as important."
The Randel family bought The Big Bun in 1960. When Tom was but a sprout, he'd sit on the counter and watch cars and customers through the plate glass as his parents scribbled orders. He and his brother Bob became partners in the business in '84, and then eight years ago, Tom bought Bob out. While he answers my questions, his sister Sue is chopping lettuce and slicing tomatoes. Should you wonder why the menu carries such enigmatically named entrees as the "Baldy Bob," the "Cafferty Special" and the "Lopez Burger," you need look no further for an answer than Tom's family and friends.
The Big Bun has added to the menu over the years—lighter items, items for the calorie-concerned—but everything on the menu in 1960 is still there in 2008. Tom continues: "We make our own finger steaks, our own halibut, our own sauces. We do a lot of things ourselves because we just feel we can do better."
Still, it's so easy to whiz by such an unimposing place on your way to the glossy big-name outlet up the street. After all, there has never been a 30-second spot for the Big Bun during the Super Bowl. No one has ever strolled down the street whistling a "Big Bun" jingle. "When you have four or five stores, it's easier to put money into advertising," says Tom. "But when you're advertising for one place, the cost really increases. Word of mouth is very important.
"We have a lady who's come to the Big Bun for as long as I've been working here and gets a cherry Dr. Pepper every time. Another lady ... she passed away recently ... we know her family ... one of her grandchildren has worked for us off and on for 15 years ... and she would come up every day and order either a halibut dinner or a small hot dog. I could go on and on [about our regulars]. God bless 'em, you have to keep them happy."
5816 Overland Road—open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends). 208-375-5361.
GOLDEN WHEEL drive-in
While plotting out this article, I commit myself to picking that burger which best represents, either in name or spirit, the establishment, and describing the experience of eating it. At the Golden Wheel, I choose the Golden Wheel Burger. In its natural state, it comes as a combo meal, with a choice of fries or tater tots, and a drink. I pass on the combo. Life is complicated enough without cluttering it up with combinations. It is the essence ... the very heart ... the raison d'etre of vintage drive-ins I seek, and such truth won't be found at the bottom of a waxed paper cup of Pepsi or under a tangle of fries. Incidentally, the Golden Wheel Burger is very good ... not that I ever doubted it would be.
Cheri Desaro believes the Golden Wheel opened in 1955, but she can't be entirely sure. (To one thing this Meridian writer can personally testify: the Golden Wheel was in the area well before the joint with the golden arches. As a teenager, I used to stop there for a mid-Boise-to-home nosh whenever I felt I couldn't make it without further nourishment.)
The Desaro family purchased it in '77, and Cheri spent most of her youth working there. "It was fun. I wish our daughter could experience it too. My family, we all grew up there ... We would sit around after work and laugh about something that happened that day. Then we'd go to bed, get up and do it again the next day."
For the past 11 years, the business has been in the hands of Cheri and her partner, Jill Erdley. The location between Meridian and Boise is experiencing some of the most intense and rapid growth in the Treasure Valley, and the Golden Wheel is threatened with becoming lost among the car dealerships, the rows of town houses, the never-ending development that has made Fairview Avenue. the busiest slap-dash in all of Idaho. Barely a block down the road, the newest chain to invade the Boise Valley (the Zip Drive-In) has recently opened up shop. None of this seems to worry Cheri and Jill.
"You can't compete with their dollar menus and the way they price their food," Cheri says. "They buy it in such bulk. In order for us to be in business as long as we have, you have to give quality ... We buy everything that we can possibly buy top of the line.
"We use the same mayonnaise we've used since 1977. We use the same catsup we've used since 1977. We're very particular about those things or else our taste, our flavor, would be changed."
Of all the drive-ins covered herein, The Golden Wheel is the only one with an inside dining area, which provides Jill and Cheri with the wall space to hang the pictures of their truest, bluest patrons. One such portrait is of a family that once lived in Ada County but moved to Ontario, Ore. They still drive back, and regularly, for their Golden Wheel fix.
"We're very thankful to our loyal customers. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have what we have."
11100 Fairview Ave.—open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (not open on Sundays). 208-375-4262.
Hawkins Pac-Out
In the interest of full disclosure, I must say here that Hal won't let me pay for my "Hungry Boy" (another double patty, double cheese, tasty ham, bacon, tomato and enough lettuce to keep a rabbit happy.) I have bust in on him an hour before opening time, asked him a bunch of ignorant questions about his business, gotten him to turn on his grill so I could get myself his biggest burger, and then he won't take my money. I say, "Sure I'm gonna pay for it," and he says, "Nope ... 's on me. I'm just glad someone is giving these old places a little attention." I say, "Yeah, but ..." and he says, "No," again. I say, " ... but ..." and he says, "No way." It is rapidly approaching that point where one of us is going to get mad. So I give in. "But," I tell him as I leave, " ... just because I'm getting this huge, delicious, freshly cooked burger for nothing, that doesn't mean I'm going to give you any special consideration. You know, like, that I'm going to make a big deal out of how huge, delicious and freshly cooked this burger is. That would be unethical."
Above the "Hawkins Pac-Out" lettering on the sign is a big-eyed, buffed-up cartoon burger, flexing enormous biceps. It's as though he's saying, "Ain't no Big Mac gonna push me around." And he's right, if Hal Zimmerman is correct in his assessment of the situation.
"The market for independent drive-ins is as good or better than it ever has been. People seek out independent restaurants. I meet people from out of town who want to know where to eat, but they don't want to go to a chain because they've been to the same place in their hometown. So there's still a great need for independent restaurants. The difficulty is in the ability to compete on the cost of doing business. The chains can get a discount from distributors while the independents pay the full ticket. The ability to buy in order to keep your prices right is more critical than ever. Just in the last 18 months, the cost of doing business has risen at a rate faster than I've seen in 40 years."
That's how long Zimmerman has been in the restaurant biz—40 years. He and his wife, Janie, bought the Pac-Out in 1994.
I ask if they have adapted their menu to current trends. "For us to try to become something we're not, it dilutes what we are. We just try to make quality burgers, in great portions, at a reasonable price, and do the best we can. We don't precook. There are no heat lamps. We cook everything to order ... You get what you pay for."
Earl Hawkins built the Pac-Out in 1958. His family went on to establish the Red Steer chain that satisfied much of the Boise area's taste for burgers throughout the '60s and '70s. Even the Pac-Out spent time as a Red Steer Drive-in.
Hal relishes the history of his place. "There's hardly a person I run into who hasn't been here in the parking lot at one time or the other, in high school, at pep rallies, car rallies, hanging out ... just cruising.
"Ladies on vacation come by. They bring their families, grandkids, and they say, 'Yeah, I used to work there,' and they're, you know, 50 ... 60 years old. This was the hangout in the North End."
As to the future, are there any little Zimmermans itching to take over the store?
"Our boys are not in the restaurant business. When we purchased this from the Hawkins family, that was the end of their era. And when we decide to get out, I don't see my boys taking it over.
"I think the public wants the independents to survive. But when current owners step aside, there's nobody to replace them. One by one, the old drive-ins finally die out."
2315 Bogus Basin Road—open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. summer hours). 208-338-9627.
Hungry Onion drive-in
The "Big Hungry:" First impression, first bite, is the pickle. Does that make sense, that a pickle can cut through the ganged-up flavors of a quarter-pound of ground beef, a hefty slab of ham and a slice of hot cheese? I guess it does if it's a good-enough pickle. I'll bet there's never been a pickle that good in any burger you get from one of those yellow-arches joints. Come to think of it, I've hardly even noticed the pickles in those yellow-arches burgers. They're there, I know. I've seen 'em. But they must be shy.
In smaller towns—isolated towns—drive-ins often became the center of a community's social life, particularly for the young.
"We still get some kids," Pam Haws says, "but not like we used to. Oh m' gosh, they used to park back there (behind the drive-in) and stay forever. It's not like that anymore. It used to be so sweet and innocent and just a lot of fun."
(More full disclosure: The Hungry Onion was a teenage haunt of mine. It's entirely possible that the very first time I was alone behind the wheel was on a Hungry Onion jump. I watched many a bug bang their heads on those yellow lights on many a summer night, and I can personally testify that not everything that happened in that parking lot was so sweet and innocent.)
Pam is perky proof that the family ties of drive-in culture extend beyond who owns the place. She's car-hopped at Hungry Onion off and on since 1970. Her aunt managed the Meridian store for 20 years. Her mother, two cousins, three sisters, and all of her children have worked there.
Sandy Gingrich manages and co-owns the Hungry Onion along with the rest of her family. Her dad and uncle bought it in 1962, a few years after it opened. The menu has remained virtually unchanged in the 46 years the Gingrich family has owned it, and like the owners of every other drive-in included, she is proud of what they accomplish themselves.
"We make our own onion rings, we make our own tartar sauce ... if it's not broke, don't fix it," Gingrich said.
"Once people go to those other places and then come here, they see the quality that we have. The food's better, so they just keep coming back. There are some customers that drive up and just wave. We know what they want."
In two years, if municipal planning proceeds as intended, Meridian's downtown core will convert to a one-way grid. Along with other small business owners along the Main Street strip, the Gingrichs tried to fight it, but lost.
So has Sandy or her family ever been tempted to give up and sell out?
"There are days when you want to just wring your neck and throw your hands up," she said. "But in the long run, no. Not as long as we have someone in the family to run it. I'm going to train my niece, so the next generation will be taking over this summer."
334 N. Main, Meridian—open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 208-888-0051.
I go for the Giant Burger. It has three patties. A half-pound of hamburger. They sell one there with four patties, too—the Kaady Burger—but I figure three's enough. I'm not out to get into the Guiness World Book or nothing like that. I take it back to Meridian so I can eat it in front of the television. It's Sunday so my wife is home, and I make the mistake of leaving the burger, still warm after the trip, on the kitchen counter while I go downstairs to do something. The next thing you know, she comes down and announces, "Now that's a good hamburger!" My heart races, and it has nothing to do with the quantity of ground beef I've ingested of late. "You didn't eat my Giant Burger ,did you?" I ask, wondering at the same time if there are any divorce lawyers who work on Sundays. Turns out, she only took a couple of bites. I calculate I still get a good two and a half patties out of the deal.
"I've thought about putting up a sign out next to the road that says 'If you're on a diet, just keep on driving,'" laughs Doug Garton, who bought the Fanci-Freez three years ago. He's remodeled the place extensively, from top to bottom, from out to in, from the equipment to the paint on the walls. With all the trim new landscaping, the bright new colors and the sparkling new deck furniture, his establishment is now the freshest-looking among those covered in this survey. Ironic, considering it was built at least eight years before the next-oldest place.
"Nineteen-forty-seven ... that's what I was told," he says. "And I've had 80-year-old customers tell me they've been coming here since they were young."
As Doug tells it, the Fanci-Freez was strictly an ice cream parlor for almost three decades, until sometime in the mid-'70s when a previous owner added a grill and expanded the choices to include more than just desserts. Doug and his manager/daughter, Meagan Bauer, have added "value meals" —(those combinations that take the work out of deciding what to eat with the sandwich)—but other than that, they've left the menu intact.
"We get a lot of people from the local businesses," Doug says. "Albertsons, Idaho Power ... Dirk Kempthorne comes here for lunch when he's in town."
Being within an easy walk of Boise High—three blocks away—makes it a busy lunch hour for the Fanci Freez when school is in session. I ask Meagan how the time constraints of a high school schedule allow the kids to get there and back before the bell rings. "They call ahead and put in their orders on their way here," she explains. You know ... cell phones."
Doug intends to hand over the place his daughter eventually. At age 22, Meagan could conceivably be found at the Fanci Freez throughout its next 60 years.
1402 W. State—open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays: Noon to 8 p.m.), 208-344-8661.
No way is the Daddy-o Burger a complete meal. Uh-uh, it's at least four complete meals. Out of what goes into one Daddy-o, you could make a BLT, a ham-and-cheese sandwich, a salad complete with dressing, and with what's left over, I believe you could make the better part of a cow. A man my age has no business trying to pick up that much, let alone eat it. It should come with a label. Something like, "Warning. When eating a Daddy-o Burger, be sure to lift with the knees, not with the back."
Lou Aaron's office walls are crowded with Westside memorabilia—the full-color frontal pic of the drive-in with the carport wings spread out like a goose coming in for a landing, the newspaper photo with Mayor Bieter presenting Lou some distinction or other, BW's glowing food review—all framed and under glass. There is also proof that Aaron is no ordinary short-order cook. Between the time this Bishop Kelly boy graduated in the '70s and bought the Westside in '94, he made a name for himself in the culinary arts, and his personal credentials hang on the wall next to those of his establishment. Of the Westside's two slogans, one of them says it all: "The Only Drive-In With A Chef."
The other slogan—"There's Nothing As Nifty As Food, Fun & Fifties"—reflects that American Graffiti vibe Aaron has worked hard to achieve.
"It's still a hangout," he says. "We get a lot of people walking or on bicycles who come here and just sit on the patio."
The Westside was built in 1957, and except for the bright white and cuddly pink color scheme, little has changed. Lou knows better than to mess with nostalgia.
"I came here when I was a kid. I grew up right over here on 27th ... We've thought about changing stuff, but our customers would freak out," he said. "You know, you go to drive-ins now and everything is computerized and they all have their headphones on, and we actually tried that about three years ago. Our customers did not like it. They want that eye-to-eye contact and the writing on a little pad and the old-style speakers. We can't get rid of that even if we wanted to."
For all the older drive-ins, the formula for staying in business in a competitive field is pretty much the same. As Lou puts it, "We buy everything fresh and make everything from scratch. And we really drill customer service into our employees. We have to be better than those other guys. People have so many choices these days. There are chains all up and down State Street, so when they drive by the Westside, we gotta make 'em think, 'I want to stop there. I don't want to go on down to Burger King.'
"My mom had a bunch of old cookbooks from the '50s. I went through and picked out all the best recipes I could find, like all of our floats and special sauce recipes and that kind of stuff. I went back to the old way of doing things. Like, real ice cream milkshakes ... you know, (other places) use 3-percent butter fat in their shakes. We use 12 percent. Heavy-duty stuff."
(Good thing this author didn't order a shake with the Daddy-o. They'd have had to move me out of there with a forklift.)
1929 W. State St.—open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on Sundays), 208-342-2957.
Viking drive in
The interview is about to wrap up, so I ask Jerry about an oddly named entree on his menu.
"The Henderson? Oh, that's named for a guy that used to work here."
His daughter Julie provides the details: "It's double everything ... double patties, double cheese, double ham and bacon." I say, "Jeesh," and Jerry nods, "Yeah, it's so big we came up with the 'Baby Henderson' for people who can't eat that much." I tell them of my intentions to get the most distinctive burger from every drive-in, and Julie offers to fix me a Henderson then and there. It's only 9:30 in the morning, but I take her up on it anyway, explaining I'd save it for lunch. A few minutes later, she's back with a brown paper sack exuding about the most scrumptious aroma I've ever smelled coming from a brown paper sack. Julie says, "You don't have to eat it now, but you have to look at it, at least." I peek in and the ham, hanging out from around the bun like a frilly fringe, smiles up at me. The bacon winks with come hither naughtiness. Suddenly, I am considering taking an early lunch.
Julie Moore is adamant that I don't forget to mention the Viking is a great place for dogs, too. "Whenever we see a dog in the car, we throw in a treat for it."
Her dad, Jerry, was instrumental in forming The Independent Drive-In Association, to which many of the local mavericks belong. "About 15 years ago, I was concerned about us dying out because we didn't have the ability to compete with the chains in purchasing and marketing," he said. "So I called (the other independents) to form this association. At the first meeting, I asked 'What can we buy that we all use, something that we could get a break on?'''
As it turned out, they could agree on virtually nothing, not even a variety of ketchup they might purchase in bulk or the method they should use to advertise in common. "There's a good reason they're called 'independent,'" sighs Jerry.
Jerry's parents were among the earliest drive-in entrepreneurs in Boise, having opened one of the Two Boys In & Out establishments in '58. (The original Two Boys In & Out on Vista was started in 1955 by two Montana transplants. Legend has it that Earl Hawkins, the man who owned the Pac-Out, carefully measured that original "Two Boys" and used those same dimensions to build his own place.)
The Viking goes back to 1964. Shortly after Jerry and his folks acquired it in 1975, they bought two other places (one of which was the Westside). Until recently, his sister operated a drive-in on the south side of town. One can only marvel at the quantity of burgers the combined Moore clan must have provided to Boise appetites over the past half-century.
Teens are still an integral part of any drive-in business, if not so heavily as customers anymore, then as employees. Jerry talks about the ups and downs of being reliant on young employees: "They're good kids. They work hard ... they go to school all day ... then they come here and work 12 to 20 hours a week. If we get to 20 hours a week, we're working them too much. If we get under 12, we're not working them enough to stay proficient. But there's some great young people out there. They're just inexperienced, and they're on their way to someplace else."
I ask Julie, 28, if she's happy enough with this work to carry on the business. "I love it. I left it for a while, but I came back."
And will the Viking (the Big Bun, the Golden Wheel, the Pac-Out, the Hungry Onion, the Westside) be around for future generations? Will they be ground under by the corporate patties and industrialized fries of Sonic and Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box and Wendy's, Burger King and that joint with the golden arches?
Or might they succumb to the demands of a younger, health-obsessed America, determined to drive cholesterol from their veins and cellulite from their hips?
Jerry doesn't seem overly concerned.
"You know, we sell a lot of bacon. They might take a diet Coke with it, but they like that bacon, I don't care what they say," he said.
"We've added chicken and the veggie burger. And there are other (health-oriented) things we discussed adding ... briefly. But ya know, we are what we are."
3790 W. State St.—open 10 a.m.. to 9:30 p.m., 208-342-7289.
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Below I am copying some correspondence between myself and a dear Protestant friend. He is currently in a Protestant Evangelical seminary and is grappling with the difficult problems raised by modern, historical-critical exegesis. Just in the case that some casual reader may benefit from this correspondence, it follows. Elipses below indicate that personal, identifying material has been removed:His email:I've been here . . . going to seminary , hoping to find some of the answers to all of the questions that had been bombarding me at liberal universities . . .. Most arguments I believed were invalid because they relied on the assumption that God does not exist and that prophecy is impossible. But a lot of arguments sounded extremely logical and difficult to refute. Those types of questions multiplied when I went to [a graduate school in theology], but I always assumed that just because something looked suspect and hard to account for didn't mean that there was not an answer.So when I got here, I couldn't wait to hear how conservative scholars handle these types of issues, but surprisingly there were not many explanations I had not encountered before. When I took a class on the history of doctrine, it just left me wondering why it took so long to formulate the canon, and why so many people, believing themselves to be Christians, believed so many different things about Jesus early on.I've taken a special interest in Christian origins and NT textual criticism, looking closely at theological development and textual variants. When I started to read each book of the Bible independently, as they no doubt originated, I began to notice how much of my "orthodox" theology I have to import into each one on order to make it also sound "orthodox." For 11 years I've had the same view of the scriptures, and so I went kicking and screaming into a realization that something might be wrong with that view. Just reading the two birth narratives again (Mt and Lk), I could see that there were problems in thinking that both of them could be historical. I started considering the evidence for identifying the pastoral epistles as pseudonymous, and it was very convincing.And after taking all of the problematic issues into account, it was impossible to still think of the Bible as the inspired, infallible, word of God. So I was tempted to do what my theology had taught me to do, which was just junk it all. If you can't trust one part, you can't trust any of it. But that seems extreme. So now I'm trying to reconstruct a theology around a view that sees scripture as a witness to revelation, rather than absolute, undiluted revelation straight from the mouth of God.I just wondered if you had come to terms with any of the findings of historical criticism in this respect, but I have a sense that you might have the same views I had up until about 2 months ago. I agree that there is everything wrong with reconstructing historical events, but what if the events that were recorded were not historical? For 11 years I refused to consider the possibility that the Bible could be wrong about anything, but why? Is there a scripture that says that all Christians must believe that every book that would eventually come to be placed in the NT canon must be believed in its entirety? Or is that something that has been developed later? It's comforting to think that God superintended the formation of the canon, and inspired all of scripture contained therein, but there seems to be too many problems with that view for me to continue with it honestly.My response follows:First off, as I'm sure you recall, my response to this question will be different from yours simply because I'm a Roman Catholic. (Although, I'll add, part of the reason I became Catholic is because of the problems you raise. I found that Evangelical Protestantism proved to be a dead-end in answering the questions posed by modern secularism, whereas only Catholicism (in my experience – if there's another church that does, I'm not aware of it) provided answers). In sum, I have (historical, biblical) reason to believe that Christ, while on earth, founded an authoritative Church, built on the foundation of the apostles, to teach in His name, and that the Pope and bishops of the Catholic Church are the legitimate successors to these apostles, and hence hold their authority. Thus, I do believe that the Scriptures are 'inspired' and 'inerrant' (without error), and I believe this on the authority of the Church, since the Pope and bishops have always proclaimed these doctrines. To quote St. Augustine, the 4th century African Father of the Church, 'I would not have believed the Gospels themselves, unless the authority of the Church moved me to do so'. Naturally, you haven't been convinced by the Catholic arguments, so your approach would be different, but I wanted to state right out (without getting into an argument over this, since I'm not terribly interested) that I'm in a very different position than yourself when it comes to this. My position is, as it were, easier than yours. I don't have to bother with refuting each and every argument posed by the historical-critics, because I have it on a higher authority that they are simply wrong. (Naturally, the truth is much more complicated than this, but I'm simplifying.)For the Protestant, who is reluctant to allow for the authority of an institutional church, as I see it, you have two routes to securing biblical inspiration and inerrancy:1. The easy way: accept by way of an 'inner testimony' of the Holy Spirit that the Scriptures are true; God speaks in my heart that they are true and I will not doubt God – just as God testifies to my eternal salvation (as most Evangelicals believe), He testifies to the authority of Scripture. And not only the authority, but the contents of the canon. As my roommate . . . (you'll remember him) told me, 'I cannot accept that God would allow me to be deceived as to the contents of the Scripture'. This sounds good as far as it goes, but there are obvious problems. How do you distinguish between the 'inner testimony' of God and a mere psychological confidence? I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things I thought God was telling me that later proved out to be 'mis-readings' on my part of His will. And as I told my roommate, as far as the canon goes, the Protestant has to believe that God allowed every Christian from the 5th century to the 16th, including all Catholics to the present day, including Mother Theresa herself, to be deceived about the contents of Scripture, since all these Christians accepted a different canon than you. (The Catholic canon, of course, is different than the Protestant's.) So, if God would deceive these gazillion Christians, why would He treat you any differently? (Unless, of course, you take the route that none of these people were 'true' Christians, and Mother Theresa is burning in hell. Fine then, that's a way out. But also, to rest the inspiration of Scripture on an inner psychological sentiment (which sounds Mormon to me) proves remarkably weak when you begin to confront the hard challenges posed by historical critical scholars. As in your case – you have to set the self-evident proof of errors on the page against your inner certainty that they are not really errors. You're not going to win that fight.2. The hard way: Do the historical critical work better than the scholars do, and disprove them. Every ball they toss at you, bat it back at them. Every error they point out, prove that it's not an error. This has been the 'labor of love' performed by countless Evangelical scholars over the years, and has typically been the route they've gone. Admittedly, they've been pretty good at it, and most of the errors proposed to be in the Bible have been pretty handily resolved by Evangelicals. Most. Not all. The problem is that, again, this is harder than it seems, and requires a great amount of faith. Some problems in Scripture, like the discrepancy between John and the Synoptics as to which day Jesus died on (John has it on Saturday, the Synoptics on Friday, as I recall) can be resolved in historical critical ways, such as pointing out that John and the Synoptic authors used different calendars. Fine. Others are not so easy. I needn't point out examples to you, but there are some problems (in the genealogies, e.g., or in the Genesis stories) which appear intractable, and for which I have yet to read a satisfactory response. And who knows, other problems could be pointed out in the future, or others may be out there I haven't heard yet. So I have to have faith, that these seemingly intractable problems do indeed have a solution, and that every problem posed in the future will have a solution, but again, that's not resting on empirical evidence, but on faith (back to the 'inner testimony'), and the longer you stay in the game, the harder the fastballs keep coming. This seems to be what you hoped to find in Dallas – better batters who could return the fastballs – but the hard truth is that most of the batters have long since given up.Those are the only suggestions I've been given by Protestants. As you can tell, I'm not terribly sanguine about them in retrospect, and they didn't convince me at the time. The other possibility:3. As the liberal Protestant concludes, we can just abandon the doctrines of inspiration and inerrancy. Admit that the Bible does have errors in it, or find a compromise, that the Bible is inerrant on 'matters of faith and morals', but not on historical/scientific matters. (Many liberal Catholics take this route.) Or deny inspiration, and claim that the Scriptures are simply the historical testimony to the faith of specific historical people, and is 'inspired' only in the loose sense, that it 'inspires' faith in the reader. That is, not 'inspired' but rather 'inspirational'. The trouble is, as you know, this is simply the first domino in a long stack. For the Protestant, whose faith rests on 'sola Scriptura', the authority of Scripture alone, once you abandon the notion that Scripture has any authority, what else do you have? Or once this authority is admitted to be full of errors, then its authority has to be qualified – it is authoritative, but only when it has been 'vetted' by historical critical scholars to remove the erroneous parts. And this gives biblical scholars a kind of 'Magisterium' or authority over Scripture, and they get to pick and choose what parts are authoritative. Don't you know what parts they will remove? I teach a class on Paul's letters, and can you take a guess at what parts of Paul's letters most scholars think are illegitimate, i.e. not by Paul? 1 Corinthians 11, which says women ought to submit to their husbands, Romans 1, which condemns homosexuality, etc. . . . . In the Catholic Church we complain about 'cafeteria Catholicism', where people pick and choose what doctrines they like and don't like, as though they were in a cafeteria. Once Protestants accept that Scripture includes errors, prepare yourselves for 'cafeteria Protestantism'. Should it be any surprise to you that the liberal Protestant denominations, which abandoned biblical inerrancy in the late 19th century (Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans) are now ordaining homosexuals and approving divorce, abortion, and all the rest? You ask if there is a scripture that suggests that everything in the canon must be believed in its entirety – well, no, of course not. There is, of course, 2 Tim. 3:16, but this hardly says that. But, naturally, once you suggest that parts of the canon need not be accepted, you can hardly call yourself a self-respecting Protestant. (I think the absence of any such passage speaks more of the weakness of the Protestant doctrine of sola Scriptura than of errors in the canon, but that's another matter.)There is another path, of course. You speak of Scripture being a 'witness to revelation', rather than revelation itself. Well, yes, fine – this is, of course, the Catholic position, more or less. But I'd ask you – what exactly is this revelation you speak of? What, exactly, does Scripture testify to? Here's the problem. If Scripture is not revelation but a witness to revelation, then Scripture itself has no direct authority – revelation does, and Scripture only has authority INASMUCH as it testifies to revelation, and if (as the scholars tell us) Scripture does a rather poor job of testifying to revelation (since it is, supposedly, full of errors), then Scripture only has a very limited, qualified and mitigated authority. In other words, one can play off Scripture AGAINST revelation – I have heard these arguments used to justify gay marriage. God's Revelation is of absolute, unconditional love for all, and Scripture is only meant to testify to this; if parts of Scripture do a very poor job of this, since they are written by bigoted, hatemongering sycophants (such as whoever wrote Romans 1), they we ought to defy or ignore such passages, and in the name of our holy obedience to God's Revelation, we should accept the holy sanctity of gay sodomy. In other words, in the name of our obedience to Revelation, we ought to defy Scripture. There's a sick kind of logic there, but that's the slippery slope you get on. So, I'm find in following you in saying that Scripture is a testimony to revelation rather than the sum total of revelation itself. (I happen to believe Scripture is an inspired, inerrant, authoritative testimony, but we'll save that discussion for later.) But if you don't specify exactly what you mean by revelation, but leave it up to the vain speculations of individual Christians to define for themselves, you see where the slope slides. Is this revelation some vague idea, or is it concrete, historical, flesh & blood revelation? If you can't actually point to what this revelation is, then your only solution is to abandon any notion of Scriptural authority and part ways with the Reformers. This is, of course, exactly the service which the Catholic provides, which is to:4. Identify God's revelation with 'Tradition'. 'Tradition', in the Catholic meaning, does not refer to a collection of 'secret doctrines' which are not found in Scripture (I strongly suggest this article by a convert to Catholicism). Rather, Catholics speak of God's full revelation as consisting in the Incarnation of His Son and the sending of His Spirit. Thus, while on earth, Jesus showed us not only a fragmentary revelation of God (Hebrews 1), but the Full Revelation of God Himself, i.e. the very face of God. He left all of this revelation to His apostles, subsisting in the giving of the Spirit as the 'guarantee' or 'deposit' of truth, which would bring to their minds what He taught them. This truth, then, was 'handed on' from Christ to the apostles, which they 'handed on' to the Christians after them. ('Tradition' – Latin 'traditio', Gk. paradosis- literally means 'to hand over'). Some of these teachings are enshrined in Scripture, but not all (Jn. 21:25 – the world count not contain the books which would include everything He taught), and thus St. Paul (2 Thess. 2:15) urges his churches to obey all the traditions (paradosis = 'what is handed on') which he taught them, whether by word of mouth or by letter (e.g., not only the Scriptures he wrote, but also his preaching). 'Tradition' is not a set of secret doctrines but rather the whole life of the Church, which is the teaching of Christ – doctrine, creeds, worship, prayer, songs, virtues, stories, practices, the whole kit & caboodle. As the Catholic teaching puts it: Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes...So, this 'revelation' which Christ brought is simply the life and teachings of the community of the Church. Scripture is simply a witness to this revelation. Scripture itself, after all, is a work of tradition, a part of that which is 'handed' on, but hardly the whole thing. (Even if it is, of course, the central thing.) Catholics, for their part, are happy to agree that all doctrines are found in Scripture, as long as we maintain that Scripture is never to be read 'in a vacuum', but only within the community of the Church, taking into account the larger 'tradition', including the creeds of the early Church. This, of course, also allows for some authority of church leaders (bishops or what not) to preside over this tradition and distinguish true from false traditions. Does it bother me that the canon was not formalized until the 5th century? No, of course not. It bothered me as a Protestant, since I had to wonder what it was that the early Christians used as their authority in the first 400 years – naturally, it was 'tradition'. And how did Church authorities know which books to include in the canon? They tell us themselves (read Jerome) that they chose those books which best embodied the 'tradition' which came from the apostles. Does it bother me that Christians very early on came to different interpretations of the Bible? No, of course not. Because I believe that God has provided a means, outside the canon, as a guarantee of a right interpretation of the canon – that is, the tradition, as interpreted by Church authority. Arius, who denied Christ's divinity, misinterpreted the canon because he denied the tradition of the Church and was condemned by a church council. But if one believes in NO authority outside the canon, one is sort of up a creek, for the history of doctrine will be bewildering. Find me any thinker in the early Church, before Luther, who believed that the Bible alone was an exclusive source of authority, and that tradition had no authority.I don't mean to get detained with Catholic arguments. That wasn't, as I said, my point, and I'm not much of a debater on these things. But, when you deny that the Bible alone is an adequate and exclusive source for authoritative revelation, and suspect that there must be some source of authority outside the canon, of which Scripture is a partial but not exclusive witness, you should be aware that this is exactly the position of the Catholic Church, and I am unaware of any other Christian denomination (save perhaps the Orthodox, and maybe the Anglicans) who will tolerate such conclusions. And, again, it was exactly this logic which led me to consider the Catholic Church in the first place. I did not find #1, #2, or #3 above to be viable options, and simply couldn't find a fifth. Obviously, again, you have (so far, at least) found a different route than mine, so more power to you.As a final comment, a word on the Catholic view of Scripture, which may prove helpful. You might peruse, just as a supplement to your own studies, the Catholic document on divine revelation, Vatican II's Dei verbum. Chapter 3, in particular, speaks of Scripture. You'll note that Catholics believe in 'inspiration', defined as the notion that the human authors of Scripture wrote only those things which God wanted them to write, so that the text can be considered 'divinely willed', with God as its primary author. Also, Catholics believe in 'inerrancy', since the texts are held to teach 'solidly, faithfully and without error' divine truth. Note, however, that in the Scriptures God speaks to us 'in a human fashion', and that the human authors spoke of things using their own free wills and minds, and from their own points of view (so, e.g., they speak of the sun 'rising and setting', which is 'true' as it goes, from a human point of view) – so we don't expect the Bible to be a 'ready-made encyclopedia' of scientific knowledge. In particular, 'anything asserted by the human authors' is asserted by the Holy Spirit, who cannot deceive or be deceived, and so exactly this is inerrant. Thus, the importance of historical-critical study, to determine exactly what the human authors 'asserted'. We should allow that in cases of metaphor ('God is a rock') or 'hyperbole' ('the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds'), or poetry (Job's reference to sea monsters, or leviathans; perhaps the six days of creation?) we should understand that what the human author is 'asserting' should not always be taken literally. This alone accounts for a good number of so-called 'problems' of Scripture, and is a healthy 'balance', I think, between the need for historical-critical study and the authority of the text. But, in the end, whatever the human author can be identified as asserting is believed by the Catholic church to be inerrant and trustworthy. On that I tow the line.
Contact me:adliminaapostolorum [at] hotmail.com
Ad Limina Apostolorum: An ecclesiastical term meaning a pilgrimage to the sepulchres of St. Peter and St. Paul at Rome, i.e., to the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles and to the Basilica of St. Paul "outside the walls".
"Augustine of Hippo Refuting Heretic" (illuminated manuscript, 13th century)
"Jamie . . . I could kill you in three seconds."
-Bishop Sheridan
Books Recently Read or Currently Reading
John Milbank's Theology & Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason (next in stack)
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"Augustine of Hippo Refuting Heretic" (illuminated manuscript, 13th century)
"Jamie . . . I could kill you in three seconds."
-Bishop Sheridan
Books Recently Read or Currently Reading
John Milbank's Theology & Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason (next in stack)
Colson Whitehead's Zone One (reading)
Michael Wyschogrod's Body of Faith: God and the People Israel (reading)
J. B. Schneewind's Invention of Autonomy: A History of Modern Moral Philosophy (reading)
Paul Hacker's Ego in Faith: Martin Luther and the Origins of Anthopocentric Religion (finished: 3 stars)
Edward Peter's Modern Guide to Indulgences: Rediscovering this Often-Ministerpreted Teaching (finished: 1 star)
Blogs I Read
Books Recently Read or Currently Reading
John Milbank's Theology & Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason (next in stack)
Colson Whitehead's Zone One (reading)
Michael Wyschogrod's Body of Faith: God and the People Israel (reading)
J. B. Schneewind's Invention of Autonomy: A History of Modern Moral Philosophy (reading)
Paul Hacker's Ego in Faith: Martin Luther and the Origins of Anthopocentric Religion (finished: 3 stars)
Edward Peter's Modern Guide to Indulgences: Rediscovering this Often-Ministerpreted Teaching (finished: 1 star)
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Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote
We've made brief mention of the Logitech Harmony 550, with a suggested retail price of about $129, in an eBay Scavenger post and in Kevin's Buildout Tech Tour--but the 890 is serious business. With a range of over 100 feet, from anywhere around--or outside, with no line-of-site needed--your place, you can control your music, home theater system, and even lighting, the 890 is best used with electronics that can maximize it's functionality.
We could see this as being the one piece that completes a whole-apartment/home set-up, including outdoor speakers for gatherings on the patio, even if the components aren't as high-end as the 890 is capable of.
"Smart State" technology means that you can adjust what your system is doing with a touch of a button: go from watching a movie to raising the house lights and focusing the sound outside on the patio when the party moves there with the press of one button. (This type of functionality is not specific to the 890, but the whole Harmony line.) When it switches from one set-up to the next, it also powers down anything not in use, saving electricity.
The colorful background also features customizable icons and buttons, making it easier to recall what does what when. The 890 allows for the integration of 15 different devices, practically becoming a portable, whole-house computer system.
We recommend that, unless you need to be a first-adopter, to wait a bit as the price will most likely decline, just as has happened with other Harmony models.


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Hotel Altis Avenida
Check-in at the hotel was smooth and efficient. Within a few minutes, Jorge, one of the front desk employees, was escorting us to our room (507). The Superior Room had an excellent view overlooking the Praça dos Restauradores. Our main focus of the room were the two twin beds, both of which looked very inviting since we had been up for more than 24 hours. We decided, however, to explore the Rossio restaurant on the 7th floor before taking a much needed nap. Rossio is located on the roof of the hotel and offers an amazing view of the city. Rossio's terrace may be the best place in Lisbon to enjoy a cocktail or meal in the evening while enjoying the lights of Lisbon. It is also the venue for an amazing breakfast served buffet style with eggs cooked to order.
The terrace offers amazing views of the city
Neither of us were in the mood for a heavy meal, so the Caesar Salad was the perfect choice for me while Rickee had a bowl of vegetable soup. The Caesar Salad was delicious, with large slices of roasted chicken and thin slivers of crispy pancetta.
Caesar Salad
We decided to enjoy a glass of Portugese rosé wine with lunch, and that may be what put us right to sleep! We wasted no time after lunch heading back down to our room and crashing for a much-needed nap. The sun was just beginning to set behind the hills when we woke up. Without the bright sunlight, the temperatures outside became much more pleasant and perfect for a walk around town. We headed out with no destination in mind, just looking to explore the area.
Large walkways filled with shops and cafes just steps from Altis Avenida
Because the Hotel Altis Avenida is located in the heart of Lisbon, near Rossio, Restauradores and the Avenida da Liberdade, it is the perfect spot to discover Lisbon on foot, as you are surrounded by theaters, museums, restaurants, traditional Portuguese outlets as well as recognizable luxury brands and local shops. We took full advantage of Altis Avenida's location by walking to local shops, restaurants and sights. If you are looking for a comfortable, quiet hotel in a great location, you will have a hard time finding a better choice than the Altis Avenida.
Twin beds were comfortable and linens were top-quality
When it comes time to sleep, the biggest priority for us is a quiet room and a comfortable bed. Altis Avenida scored a 5- out-of-5 on both requirements. Even though our room overlooked the busy Praça dos Restauradores, the room was completely insulated from the hustle and bustle of the crowds of people and traffic. The mattress was extremely comfortable and top-quality linens made for an excellent night's sleep.
Altis Avenida is a perfect pre-/post-cruise hotel based on its location, comfort and proximity to the port of Lisbon. A taxi ride to the port will take less than 10 minutes! We consider this a premium 4-star hotel and would not hesitate to recommend it to our friends and followers.
For more information, visit their website at: http://www.altishotels.com/EN/HotelAltisAvenida/Boutique-Hotel-Lisbon/


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There is one aspect of the older men/younger women question I never see mentioned. It's about what happens 10 and 20 years later. The younger women who are the flattered recipients of attention from older men should look ahead before they leap.
My father, then at the height of a glamorous career, married a very solid woman about 20 years his junior, but only a few years older than his oldest children. This of course has dramatic effects on their "expectations" from his estate, a potential source of jealousies and rivalries within the family of ugly dimensions that requires maturity and self-sufficiency beyond the characters of some of us.
But more personally painful to the couple involved is his failing health. His younger wife has gradually become the prisoner of a fading though much-loved old man. I often wonder whether either of them would do it over again, when looking back they see the first few fun years eclipsed by the heart attacks, strokes, incontinence and lost freedoms.
Personally I am involved with a man my own age, and, yes, it has involved some of the compromises mentioned. He's not a raging financial success and we've had some battles over his personal habits, but I do feel cherished, wanted and emotionally secure. Out there is my former, very successful husband who did not produce at any of these personal levels, and all in all at age 50 I like what I've got, which is love.
Santa Barbara


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Had a chance to chat with a former coworker friend who is off doing the New York actor thing. A couple days ago, spoke with a newlywed college friend I haven't talked to in over a year. Last week, I talked briefly with another college friend I hadn't seen or spoken to in even longer. You know what the common thread running through all three conversations was?
They all seemed genuinely excited to talk to me.
Now, I'm not saying this to say, "Gee, I'm surprised. I thought they'd alllll forgotten about me. Oh my, it looks like rain." I know these people as friends so the fact that the conversations were pleasant isn't the surprise. The revelation came in the fact that I think I really made these peoples' day just by checking in to say, "Hi, how are you doing? I've been thinking about you." One even told me how encouraging it was to be reminded that people "back home" are interested in her career and cheering/praying for her. And here I'm thinking, "Wow! I really cheered her up! And it was SO SIMPLE!"
The Internet has revolutionized long-distance friendships. We know everything everybody is doing these days. We read their blogs, we check out their flickr pics, we see the statuses and the hilarious new profile pictures, etc. And with as busy as we are from day to day, it kinda saves us the trouble of actual correspondence. We poke, we like, we comment, we're done. Best Friends Forever.
Now obviously, I'm not opposed to social media sites. We all know I Facebook and Twitter (though I'm contemplating shutting that one down), and I blog every freaking day for crying out loud. I want to see who has new pictures and who's working on what project. I think that's all great. However, in spite of (and perhaps because of) all of that, nothing compares to taking the time to talk to one another. Or even "chat." (When I was a kid, "chat" was actually just another word for "talk." Unbelievable!)
So: FOMW homework. Catch up with an old friend today. Or tomorrow, if you don't have ten minutes to spare today. Let 'em know you're thinking about 'em. Tell 'em what you're up to. It's fun, it's easy, and it just may be the encouragement they (or you) have been needing.


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Didn't post the last few days. Went home to spend Father's Day with my dad in Rochester.
After seeing the Stephen Foster Saturday at Churchill Downs, there is no question that Curlin is the best horse in the world. Does anyone really think that Big Brown would be able to bring down Curlin?
I don't. Not right now


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Got kids? Got a good-sized debt, like a mortgage? Then life insurance is a no-brainer. Not an "I'll think about it soon" kind of activity, like cleaning out the mess in the garage; it should be at the top of your To Do list.
But should you choose the default life insurance option in your super fund? Or choose individual insurance inside super, or insurance completely separate to your super?
The answer will depend on the type of policy that is required, whether you're a young healthy adult, and what you are able to spare from your take-home pay.
Common 'wisdom' previously said that default life insurance through super was usually cheaper because the super fund buys the cover in bulk ('group insurance'). However, this is not always the case as many group insurers have increased their premiums in recent years.
There may be many times when individual life insurance inside super is a less expensive (and a more comprehensive) option. While most super funds have a default level of cover which you can change depending on your particular needs, the maximum amount available may not be enough. This is why you may want to think about individual insurance cover inside super instead.
A strain off the hip pocket
There are good reasons for having life insurance through your super, especially if you have a hefty assortment of financial commitments. (Mortgage and young family, anyone?) With insurance through super, the premium is paid out of the funds in your superannuation account. So you won't feel it leaving your pocket.
However, life insurance outside super provides a simple solution if you can afford to pay the full premium from your take-home pay.
The upshot? Don't just accept the default cover that's on offer in your super. Do your homework.
Making a claim
While it's usually pretty straightforward, there are some potential pitfalls when insurance is owned inside super come payout time.
If your super recipients are not dependants, there may be tax implications. For example, if you pass away and your nominated beneficiaries are your adult independent children, then they could be hit with a large tax bill on the money they receive.
On this note, it's important to nominate your beneficiaries very clearly to ensure that insurance proceeds are paid to the correct people and in the most tax effective way. Your financial adviser can help you with this.
Also be aware that you might have to wait some time for the super fund to release the insurance proceeds once they are received from the insurance company.
Don't forget about income protection
Income protection can also be taken through your super but it may make more sense to consider such a policy outside super if you can afford it.
Don't dismiss income protection as an unnecessary expense. One in five families will be impacted by an insurable event in their working lives such as being unable to work for an extended period.
So the argument for at least some level of cover is strong. After all, who's paying the mortgage, and the school fees (and the rest) if a major chunk of your family income disappears for an extended period?
So, if you have debts and commitments you should consider life insurance, no question. Whether it's in or out of super depends on you – just make sure you are paying a competitive rate on insurance that delivers the right cover for you. And then you can deal with the mess in the garage.
For more information on all things life insurance, check BT's protection plans pages.
1 THE LIFEWISE / NATSEM underinsurance report Understanding the social and economic cost of underinsurance February 2010.
This information is current as at 15/08/2016.
The Insurer of BT Protection Plans is Westpac Life Insurance Services Limited ABN 31 003 149 157, AFSL Number 233728 ('the Insurer'). BT Protection Plans are issued by the Insurer, except for Term Life as Superannuation and Income Protection as Superannuation which are issued by Westpac Securities Administration Limited ABN 77 000 049 472 AFSL 233731 as trustee of the Westpac MasterTrust ABN 81 236 903 448. Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 distributes the insurance, but does not guarantee the insurance.
This information is general information only. It does not take into account your personal circumstances. Before making a decision in relation to BT Protection Plans, you should consider the BT Protection Plans Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and consider whether the product is right for you. © BT Financial Group - A Division of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233 714.


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Sub-zero temperatures didn't stop hundreds of competitors taking part in the biennial Cold Water Swimming Championships (CWSC) in south London.
The participants, some dressed in nothing more than a pair of swimming trunks, braved the freezing conditions to compete in the SW16 event at Tooting Bec Lido.
An array of weird and wonderful fancy dress costumes and spectacular swimming caps were also on display in the capital at the well-attended spectacle.
'The CWSC celebrates the fun and camaraderie of cold water swimming and the competition is often just friendly but can also be fierce,' explains the lido's official website.
'To help the competitors recover there will be a Finnish sauna available after the races as well as good food, a host of stalls and entertainment going on throughout the day.'
Those who wrapped up warm to attend the championships appeared to be having fun watching the day's events unfold.
'Tooting lido open water swim champs,' wrote one on Twitter. 'Haven't been in such excitable snowy/ sunny atmos since winter olympics 2010!'
Another added: 'Heading up to cold water championships at #tooting lido this morning. Hog roast and milled cider awaits. No swimming for me! '
Officially opening to the public in 1906, Tooting Bec Lido is one of the oldest and biggest open air swimming pools in Britain.


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Posts Tagged 'Meditation'
Brain Scan
This is the family email I sent after having my head examined. Hi everyone: I'm in Madison for the brain scan. On the way into town I stopped to get some groceries. The woman taking my credit-card looked at it and said, slowly, "Steve Tibbetts. From Memorial High?" I said, "Yes! Who are you?" She told…Read More


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Faculty Resources
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Our technology resources page provides a list of relevant software and hardware to help faculty members enhance classroom and online instruction.
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The Alabama Course of Study School educates and trains local pastors in The United Methodist Church. The Alabama Course of Study School is sponsored jointly by the North Alabama and the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church with campuses at Birmingham-Southern and Huntingdon Colleges.
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year liberal arts institution founded in 1856 and operating under the auspice of the North Alabama Conference. Birmingham-Southern College is located in the western section of Birmingham and is served by six major airlines, AMTRAK, and Interstates 20, 59, and 65.
Huntingdon College operates under the auspice of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and is centrally located on the edge of one of Montgomery's most beautiful neighborhoods, Old Cloverdale, and is bordered on one side by the Montgomery Country Club. The campus is easily accessible from Interstates 65 and 85.
Alabama Course of Study School
Walter R. Cash, Director
615 Main Avenue SW
Cullman, AL 35055
256-747-3329 (Office)


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My Goodnight BookReviewing: Golden Books Golden Sturdy Shape Book My Goodnight Book | Rating:
If you are looking for picture books that will take your breath away, look no further than those illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. The one I am reviewing here is My Goodnight Book, a Golden Sturdy Shape Book.
My Goodnight Book was originally published by Little Golden Books in 1981. The irresistable little girl on the cover was the first thing that caught my eye when I first purchased this book in the 1990s. I had to know what was inside. And what a feast for the eyes this book is!
I find this to be a delightful little book in every way. The words are simple and perfect for each illustration. It is a pleasure to read and kids love it. My Goodnight Book takes us through a little girl's evening as she gets ready for bed. The first page is adorable as she is removing her sock. A breeze flows through an open window and sheer white curtains billow softly against a big fluffy bear.
The drawings are so delicate and pretty. One scene shows the little girl brushing her teeth in the cutest pajamas. On the following page, daddy reads our little girl a story. Next, the little girl says her prayers before Mommy tucks her into a pink patchwork quilt covered bed.
And finally, on the last page, when our little girl is nodding off to sleep, I want to crawl into the storybook and be part of the most breathtakingly beautiful little girl's bedroom.
This book stands about 11" high. It is almost one-half inch thick. The pages, being the strong board book type, can withstand many page turnings by sleepy and not so sleepy little hands.
I can't say enough good things about this book. I very highly recommend it. My Goodnight book is a real treasure.