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Book Review: "Rooted in Detachment: Living the Transfiguration" by Kenneth Stevenson, Darton Longman and Todd, London 2007, ISBN 0-232-52692-3, 175 pages.
The biblical story of the "Transfiguration of Jesus" has been acknowledged by the author of this textual and personal analysis as a pivotal point, which is located in pivotal positions within the first three Gospels. These locations are in Mark 7:1-9, in Matthew 17:1-9 and in Luke 9:27-36, where Luke places this depicted event in a context of prayer. Mark presents the ministry of Jesus as lasting for one full year, so this Transfiguration Story, in the context of the northern hemisphere, fits in very well between the rebirth of Nature in the season of Spring and the following death and darkness, which is associated with Fall or Autumn and the cold Winter solstice in December. This context therefore places this solar epiphany story within the sunny and hot mid-year months of Summer.
This Transfiguration has also been featured and celebrated within Christianity's liturgical or Church Year. The traditional dates for such a celebration have varied and have resulted in a moving feast, being located variously in Epiphany, on a pre-Lenten Sunday in Spring or on 6 August in late Summer. Perhaps this sort of variability implies that this biblical story, which combines extra-ordinary Heavenly and Human dimensions, has proved to be rather problematic and has tended to be placed on the back-burner, overlooked and even ignored.
Mark's Story of the Transfiguration
The author Kenneth Stevenson, who, at the time of writing his book, was the Bishop of Portsmouth in England, explores in particular, two aspects of this story. He is fascinated by the literal and surface-level Transfiguration Story with its terrestrial and celestial imagery and he presents the full texts of each of the Gospel versions in his Introduction. The author presents this story as being pivotal within these three Gospels, especially within its seasonal temporal context and within its spatial location between its heavenly, metaphysical and supernatural dimensions and its earthly, material and naturalistic dimensions. Such contrasting dimensions leads the reader to seek some sort of resolution in this relationship between two such conflicting and paradoxical Realms.
In brief, the story in Mark's Gospel tells its readers that three of Jesus' disciples, Peter, James and John, were led up a high mountain by Jesus, who then changed or metamorphosed in his appearance and nature. His clothes became dazzling white and, according to Matthew, his face shone like the sun. Elijah and Moses then came by for a friendly chat with this heavenly or celestial Jesus, while the very human and fallible Peter, in his usual confusion, panic and lack of comprehension, suggested that three tents or tabernacles be erected, presumably for these heavenly visitors. Perhaps Peter took into account that the Tabernacle, which accompanied the Israelites during the earlier Exodus from Egypt and which was associated with Moses the Law-giver and with the later majestic Jerusalem Temple of Yahweh, the Jewish Deity, were both considered to be dwelling places for this Yahweh. Yahweh's physical presence here was confirmed for the Jewish worshippers by the light of Yahweh's Shekinah in the temple, which entered from the east at dawn as sun rays and in the electrical sparks created by the large and almost touching wings of the Cherubim, acting as conductors, which were located on the top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple's Holy of Holies. Perhaps Peter had these situations in mind when he expressed his helpful suggestion to erect a Tabernacle.
As this succinct story comes to its climax, a cloud then arrived and settled over this celestial scene and a voice from this cloud, presumably thought to be coming from their deity Yahweh, was then heard, which confirmed that this now heavenly Jesus, meaning in English "Yahweh Saves", was "my own dear Son". This has in turn helped to attach to Jesus the title of the "Son of God" or the "Son of Yahweh". The two heavenly visitors then departed from the scene and disappeared into thin air. Elijah, who had earlier been depicted in 2 Kings 2:11 as ascending after his death up into heaven in a whirlwind while riding in a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire, was familiar with such air-travel and heavenly departures, ascensions and arrivals. After all, Elijah's name is based on and is formed from "El" and from "Yahweh", both of which are the names for the Deity of the Hebrews and the later Jews. Elijah's association with the flame-enhanced, solar chariot and its fiery horses help to add to his Yahwistic and solar aspects. Moses, whose bodily location after his death, according to Deuteronomy 34:6, was unknown, was a hero of the Hebrew, who was already shrouded in mystery. Taking into account Moses' earlier contacts with his Yahweh on Mount Sinai, along with the thunder and lightning, this Transfiguration Story simply presents one more Mosaic Mystery.
This enigmatic story concludes with Jesus remaining on the scene alone. He presumably reverted back to his more humanized form and then he gave instructions to his three, first-chosen disciples, to keep their mouths tightly shut in relation to what they had seen or experienced and to tell others about this combined celestial and terrestrial event only after Jesus as the Son of Man has risen from the dead.
No doubt, a sermon or homily based on this story is for many ordained or self-proclaimed Christian preachers, a difficult challenge. Ignorance is often said to be bliss, so perhaps the frequent ignoring of the Transfiguration Story is also bliss. In contrast to such traditional treatment of this story, its author Kenneth Stevenson in his book devotes 175 pages to his theological and spiritual personal exploration, exegesis, and exposition of this tantalizing story. The author's main concerns are [1] the literal articulation of the story's interesting contents and [2] his literary and personal application and appropriation of this story to his own life and to his concept of "Living the Transfiguration", which he includes in his book's title. However, I will extend these two concerns with a third consideration, which entails a liberal, rational and scientific analysis and a critical academic assessment of the possible sources of the concepts, which may reveal what are the realities or facts which lie behind this Transfiguration Story.
Author's Acute Ailment
This transfiguration story has been a long-time preoccupation of the author and the vital importance to Stevenson of his personal appropriation of this theme, lies in his own life story and in his doctor's diagnosis in September 2005 of his illness as "acute myeloid leukemia. His treatment involved sessions at the Hematology Unit of the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, England and his required bone-marrow transplant was performed at the South Hampton General Hospital. The author affirms that his experience of this illness "has left a lasting mark on me" and that his time, which in his busy life was "always a precious commodity", was now "at a premium" (p. viii). The writing of this biblically-based book has therefore been somewhat unique. His textual analysis includes the expected articulation and academic assessment but the author's acute ailment and incapacitating illness has also made this book a personalized transfiguration for the author. His book's title includes the concept of "Living the Transfiguration", so the author has applied and anagogically appropriated this story's Earthly, terrestrial and material, as well as its heavenly, celestial and invisible dimensions. This has involved him in the spiritual or soul-based ascension skywards up the mountain, the experience of mystical, spiritual bliss on top of the mountain and the eventual descent down again to the soil of the earth and to its more mundane realities.
Sky Pilots or Soul Navigators?
A usual condemnation of such mystical and celestial talk is that such writers are "Sky Pilots", travelling through the heavens as it was depicted back in the first century with its heaven and heavenly bodies above, its human realities on earth and an underworld of darkness and death below. However, the author has also internalized these concepts and has applied them in the context of the traditional view of the five levels of Existence, Experience, Being or Human Reality, which relate to each human being. These five Levels of Human Being include [1] the physical or physiological body; [2] the instinctual and autonomic systems; [3] the mental, intellectual and scientifically-apprehended realm; [4] the spiritual, imaginative and symbolically-oriented realm and [5] the celestial level of integration and wholeness. In addition, there are the three stages of Human Becoming, including {1} the birth-stage of unconscious wholeness; {2} the life-long stage of conscious un-wholeness, which is also the main theme of the Bible's Subsequent Fall into Sin, the differentiation of polarities and the promises of a soul-based Redemption, and finally {3} the conscious wholeness of the Salvation, Integration and Wholeness of the human beings five levels of Human Being mentioned above.
Some of these concepts have been condemned from a strictly rational and logical perspective but, as psyche or soul-oriented symbolical concepts and processes, they have always been accepted as necessary for the life of the Soul or Psyche. From this perspective, the Bible emerges as a profound, multi-level, symbolically-based and spiritually therapeutic Soul-Book. This was recognized in the title "Seel Sorger" or "Soul Carer", which has sometimes been bestowed on Pastors in Germany and in the recent book title of "Care of the Soul". The author Stevenson appears to accept the universality of the above expressions of the inner life, which for him can apply to all humans on earth, and on a personal level, he repeatedly applies and accepts them into his own spiritual self-analysis in the face of his acute medical ailment.
In this regard, Christianity's concept of Mother Nature and of our Natural World may now be based on out-of-date and obsolete, first-century historiography, cosmology, cosmogony, astronomy, historical analysis and a supernaturally-based theological interpretation, assessment and personal appropriation. However, the biblical perspective on and our analysis and assessment of Human Nature and the structure, functions, levels and stages of development of the intuitive and a-rational human psyche or soul, tend to reveal that the biblical insights and symbolical expressions of such needs of the psyche or soul cannot be deemed to be obsolete or out-of date. Natural Science may reject as rational explanations and as sign-based, semantic correspondences, Christianity's depicted super-human entities and super-natural events but Human Spirituality and the human psyche can move beyond such surface, semantic signs to the deeper, sub-surface, soul-sustaining symbols. Christianity's many symbols and symbolical stories like the enigmatic Transfiguration, all of which are both celestial and terrestrial, should not therefore be discarded and dumped into the trash-bin but re-examined as the treasure for which the Soul or Psyche is seeking.
The Exploration of Icons and Images in the Transfiguration Story.
The author has presented ten aspects of the Transfiguration as his ten chapters in this exploration:[1] Icon as Narrative, [2] Promise, [3] Ascent, [4] Change, [5] Visitors, [6] Enthusiasm, [7] Cloud, [8] Voice, [9] Descent and [10] Discipleship Transfigured.
The Icon of the Transfiguration, which is displayed on the front cover, was painted by Theophanes the Greek in about 1403 C.E. It is now located in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The word "icon" originally meant a "picture", but the use of stylized figures, haloes and the contrasting colors of white and gold for illustrating the condition of glory of the celestial and mostly invisible realm and shades of brown to illustrate the terrestrial and visible realm, have modified this meaning to sacred picture of special people.
This icon depicts both a static and a sequential aspect. The top half of this icon, which is colored white and gold, displays Elijah and Moses on their own mountains, talking with Jesus. The figure of Jesus is floating in the sky, within a background of a white oval-shaped mandorla, a white four-pointed star and a round disk emitting rays from its centre, presumably depicting the sun. Below are the three disciples lying on the ground. James and John are looking in the opposite direction, away from the heavenly scene, but Peter in contrast, is looking intently up at these three heavenly beings. He clearly did not want to miss out on anything at such an epiphany and manifestation from another realm of existence.
The static aspect of this powerful icon is supplemented by the sequence of small pictures or vignettes, with the left-hand picture depicting Jesus as he leads the disciples up the mountain and with the right-hand picture presenting their descent from the mountain-top. The second feature in the sequence is the depiction of Jesus' Transfiguration, Metamorphosis or changing status between his human and his divine nature or state, which was described earlier. Such a change in state or nature is clearer when Jesus is given his earlier appellation of "Yahweh Saves" or "Yehoshua", which reveals Jesus as an aspect of the Hebrew and Jewish deity, whom they named "Yahweh". Also widely acknowledged is that the title "The Lord", which in Hebrew is "Adonay" and in Greek is "Kyrios", applied equally either to Yahweh and to Jesus. Yahweh was called by the Christians the "Heavenly Father" and Jesus meaning "Yahweh Saves" was called the "Beloved Son". Such linguistic and conceptual aspects of early Christian thinking should not be ignored or denied.
Is the story historically factual?
Several issues emerge from this narrative for the author. Is this story historically true, semantically realistic and scientifically factual? Did Jesus really float up into the sky, against the back-drop of the brightly-shining sun? Stevenson appears to want it to be so. However, he also applies the concepts and events symbolically as images and stages for his own journey of his soul or psyche. The results of a more scientific analysis will be referred to later in this review.
The theme of "promise" relates to Jesus' prediction of the coming of the "Kingdom of God" which, in the reviewer's opinion, should also include the aspect of "Queen-dom" and which could be better depicted as the "Rule of Yahweh". The author is interested in the meaning of the word "some", relating it to people who will be alive when this Rule arrives. Jerome hints at the importance of the image of the sun or solar disk in the transfiguration when he attempts to deny what some were affirming, namely, that Jesus lost his human form, his arms and legs and "suddenly began to roll along in a round shape like that of the sun or ball" (p. 28). Readers may wonder whether Jesus was commonly depicted as the sun or solar disk, an idea in need of Jerome's denial and polemical denunciations. On the other hand, Jerome is presented as an early supporter of Mount Tabor, which is located near Nazareth in Galilee and which is 1,843 feet high, as the Mountain of the Transfiguration (p.29).
The ascent of mountains has been used to depict a departure from the ground-level of planet Earth and an arrival at the peak or top of the mountain, where for believers, Earth and Heaven meet. Traditionally, churches and cathedrals and been erected on the highest elevation of the land, where this has been possible. Folklore remembers the conquest of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing and some Christians still like to recall the Gospel's conquest of Mount Tabor by the hill-climbers Jesus, Peter James and John, albeit a climb of only 1,843 feet, which did not require oxygen masks! More important is the reputation of these three disciples, with Peter known for his supernatural, marvel-arousing Miracles; James for his experience of murderous Martyrdom and John for his metaphysical Mysticism in the fourth Gospel (p.44). Stevenson highlights the need for perseverance and for the will not to give up trying when engaged in mountain-climbing. He applies both of these ideas to his own sessions of chemotherapy treatment and the need here to pursue such treatment to its conclusion.
Photo-realism and Portrait-romanticism.
Change is implied in the aspect of the prefix "trans", which in Latin means "across" or "over". Transport is movement or the carrying of something over the surface of the Earth. A photographer's photo which is taken by a camera tends to take a static scene which displays objective "photo-realism". The photo, if it is not digitally modified, is an exact likeness and a reproduction of the photographed scene or person.
On the other hand, a portrait or painting by an artist of a scene or figure can be very subjective and can incorporate interpretations and intuitive impressions of the object depicted in the artistically-painted and romantically-presented scene or figure. This subjectivism is an important feature of the creation and appreciation of a sacred icon. A reader may conclude that an icon therefore subjectively resembles a dogmatized or imaginary scene, which does not reproduce realistically any objective historical events, real people as they actually were and geographical locations. In this context, the author tends to affirm "that the Christ of Transfiguration is at one and the same time the earthly man and the Son of God, the two natures of Christ coexisting, indivisible" (p.51). Such a conflicting paradox may well be adding to the unpopularity of this story as a sermon text.
The author's appropriation of such a series of changes or such a metamorphosis in his own life and illness, is relevant to his uncomfortable disfigurement and change in appearance during the course of his chemo-therapy. It also inspires him to recall other mountain top encounters by such figures as Moses up on Mt Sinai, as depicted in Exodus 34:29-35; to recall other resurrections in the Gospels, such as when it is claimed that the tombs of the departed opened up in Jerusalem and "many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised", as narrated in Matthew 27:51-52.
Transfiguration Hymns and Sculptures
In his discussion of hymn-writing, the author highlights the many Transfiguration-inspired religious hymns of the Danish poetical Lutheran Pastor Nikolai Grundtvig (1783-1872). Being a citizen of Europe in the 1800s, Nikolai found himself "rebelling against the shallowness of Pietism and the aridity of Rationalism" (p.61). Being a creative poet-preacher, his concern lay in preserving a living tradition in his hymns, in contrast to the common "ecclesiastical triumphalism" which was being displayed by some other composers in the interests of expanding Christendom. For Grundtvig however, "the Transfiguration is no feast, but an essential part of Christian discipleship" (p.62).
In addition to painted Icons, the author draws attention to the majestic sculptured figures of the twelve disciples and of a large Christ created by Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) and erected in the Lutheran Copenhagen Cathedral in Denmark. The large Christ-figure in white marble was placed there in 1837 and depicts the status of Jesus as depicted in the Transfiguration words: "This is my Son, the Beloved" (p.62).
Characters Celestial and Terrestrial
The contrasting characters in this story have received much attention in various commentaries on these Gospel stories and as presented in the colorful and meaningful Icon of Theophanes the Greek. The central position is given to the glorified Jesus as the Cosmic Christ or Metaphysical Messiah, who is clothed in white garments, is surrounded by the sun disk and is floating in the air above a mountain. The re-appearing Elijah and the resurrected Moses both have their heads level with Christ's head but in contrast to Christ, their feet are planted firmly on their own individual mountains, which are probably Elijah's Mt Carmel and Moses' Mt Sinai.
The very human disciples on the mountain below are lying on the ground, with James and John looking away from the mountain-top scene in apparent fear, but with Peter facing Jesus and busily viewing everything, including this celestial but astronomically-based solar epiphany. This is appropriate for Peter as the Rock of the Church, possessor of the keys to the Kingdom/Queendom and performing his vital role as possibly the foundation figure of Christianity. He certainly is depicted as the disciple who in Mark 8:29 recognized Jesus as also being the Metaphysical Messiah or the Cosmic Christ, which had been foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was Peter, who is presented as both witnessing this Transfiguration or solar epiphany and who affirms that Jesus is the Messiah. He is also listed as the Disciple who first or at a very early stage, witnessed or interpreted a scene involving the Resurrection of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15:5 passes on the tradition that Jesus "appeared to Peter and then to all twelve apostles". Matthew and Mark on the other hand had noted in Matthew 26:56 and in Mark 14:50 that the disciples had fled from the Garden of Gethsemane, so Peter's role as a resurrection witness has not been included.
The Resurrection or Assumption account in the Gospel of Peter, which includes two celestial helpers and guides for the trip up to heaven, indicates that Peter was involved in these concepts. The interesting account of a Transfiguration, which was witnessed by Peter, is depicted in 2 Peter 1:16-18 as occurring on "the holy mountain', where Jesus is described as being given glory by God the Supreme Glory and where Peter, with his own eyes, saw Jesus' greatness. This indicates that, even though the disciples had fled from being involved in Jesus' trial, condemnation, crucifixion and resurrection in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Peter was involved with epiphanies and manifestations, which were probably solar-related and which eventually found their way into various Transfiguration and Resurrection Stories. After all, every human being on earth daily can witness the sun rising or resurrecting in the East at dawn each morning and each year, after its shortest day at its mid-winter solstice, they can witness the sun being reborn and its day-light hours gradually increasing. This is part of astronomy and the changes of the annual seasons and zodiacal paths. The traditional Christmas, Winter Solstice or Yule-tide celebration has always highlighted this increasing solar darkness and death at the approach to Christmas and its natural rebirth or resurrection on 25 December as a crucial stage in the sun's annual seasonal and zodiacal cycle. In such a context, the Writer of Mark depicted Peter as mentally a dim-wit and as intellectually rather dense and mostly uncomprehending, perhaps intentionally, in order to minimize Peter's actual decisive impact on the founding of Christianity. However, in my view, Peter's real impact and influence in the founding and formation of "The Way" or "Christianity" in the first century was immense and should not be underestimated.
At this stage of his book, the author continues to reveal insights, which he has gained from aspects of such epiphanies or manifestations in the context of his own serious illness. This has occurred when he has experienced encouragement from his friends to persevere and to "go for it". He likes to describe such experiences as "a kind of mini-Transfiguration" (p.79).
The author's exploration of this story reveals further highlights. Peter's suggestion that they build some tabernacles, is related to the building of churches for worship (p.93); the cloud which appears both conceals and reveals, especially in its association with the "Shekinah" or the feminine aspect of the Deity (p.102); and "the blessed vision" is to be experienced, not with our eyes of sensual seeing, viewing, external perception or out-sight but with the eyes of spiritual introspection, of meditation, of contemplation and of in-sight (p.109).
This book concludes with the inevitable descent back to grounded reality on earth and with some very "down-to-earth" questions and concerns. Stephenson expresses the desire to make sense of such a story historically, geographically and cosmologically (p.131). This includes the equally inevitable movement of Jesus from the Crown of Glory at Mount Tabor in Galilee as his Mountain of Transfiguration to the Cross of Gore at Mount Calvary in Jerusalem, which has become Jesus' Hill of Torment and Torture. However, over and beyond this Hill of Torment lies the miraculously-depicted Tomb of Triumph over death and the miraculous and supernaturally-depicted Resurrection Jesus. Of interest is that the Gospel of Peter extends this miraculous context by depicting the two heavenly visitors at Jesus' grave as the celestial escorts of Jesus straight up into Heaven, as described in the Gospel of Peter. This seems to indicate a conceptually simultaneous resurrection, ascension and assumption of "Yahweh Saves" into Heaven.
No separate bibliography is provided but the relevant and important books and articles are included in the fourteen pages of useful end-notes.
The Scientiufic Perspective
In relation to a more scientific perspective on the Transfiguration Story, it has given rise to the idea that this apparent solar-epiphany may be a misplaced resurrection appearance and that it would make a suitable ending for the Gospel of Mark, where the ending appears to have been accidentally lost or perhaps deliberately removed. I prefer the latter. This Resurrection would then be viewed in the context of the daily solar cycle of darkness at night and the light of dawn, day-time and dusk each day. It could also be viewed in the context of the annual decline in the day-light and the inter-connected increase in the darkness from mid-Summer to mid-Winter, and then the reverse process of increasing light and decreasing darkness from mid-Winter to the mid-Summer solstice. Both daily and annual sun-cycles provide on-going sources for solar epiphanies and solar viewings on Galilean mountains and hills. Dawn services were an acknowledged aspect of early Christian worship. From this perspective, Peter experienced hill-top solar epiphanies, which he interpreted rationally as the presence in the sky or on a hill-top of the sun and which he viewed theologically as a manifestation to earth-based humans of his Hebrew deity "Yahweh". Mathew's version in chapter 17:2 even mentions Jesus face as appearing like the sun and Paul's conversion in Acts 22:6-11 stresses that his viewing of a bright light at mid-day was also witnessed by his friends. Such a view would see in this sort of epiphany, manifestation or transfiguration in the experience of Peter, a connection with the foundation moment of Christianity. Some of the books listed below explore this further and it is an issue which should be discussed and not swept under the Christian carpet or put into the trash-bin.
With the help of much-need intellectual honesty and a critical perspective, we may yet determine the degree of facticity and of fantasy in the first century literature available to us and to discover the actual and scientifically-supported origins of Christianity. This book may not provide definitive answers to the issue of Christianity's origins but Stephenson's various challenges certainly help its readers to continually bear in mind his wider issues, as well as this more specific, historically and spiritually important first-century-related question of origins. In my view, readers who are prepared to study both the surface, semantic or literal level and the sub-surface, symbolical or literary level of this enigmatic and multi-level Transfiguration Story, will greatly enjoy their intellectual and spiritual encounter with this rather unusual yet very insightful and very personalized book.
Some Relevant Literature:
Andreopoulos, Andreas, "Metamorphosis: The Transfiguration in Byzantine Theology and Iconography", St Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood NY 2005.
Armstrong, Karen et al, "The Once and Future Faith", Polebridge Press, P.O Box 6144 Santa Rosa California 95406, 2001, ISBN 0-944344-85-2, 187 pages.
Anderson, Janice Capel and Stephen D Moore, Editors, "Mark & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies", Second Edition, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2008; ISBN978-0-8006-3851-1, 288 pages.
Bauckham, Richard "Jesus and the God of Israel: 'God Crucified' and Other Studies on the New Testament's Christology of Divine Identity" Paternoster, Milton Keynes UK 2008. ISBN 978-1-84227-538-2 (Paperback); $39.95 285 pages.
Bourgeault, Cynthia, "The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind-a New
Perspective on Christ and His Message" Shambala, Boston and London, 2008.
Casey, Maurice, "Jesus of Nazareth: An Independent Historian's Account of His Life and Teaching", T&T Clark International, A Continuum Imprint, London and New York 2010; ISBN 13: 978-0-567-10408-3 (hardback) $183.95; 978-0-567-64517-3 (Paperback), $59.95, 560 pages.
Conzelmann, Hans "The Theology of Saint Luke", Faber and Faber, London 1960.
Darlison, Bill: "The Gospel and the Zodiac: The Secret Truth about Jesus", Duckworth Overlook, London, 2007.
Fullmer, Paul M. "Resurrection in Mark's Literary-Historical Perspective", T&T Clark London, 2007; ISBN 0-567-04553-6; 256 pages.
Heil, John Paul, "The Transfiguration of Jesus: Narrative Meaning and Function of Mark 9:2-8, Matt 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36", Analecta Biblica 144, Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Roma 2000
Henderson, Timothy: "The Gospel of Peter and Early Christian Apologetics: Rewriting the Story of Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection"; Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen, Germany, 2011; ISBN 978-3-16-150709-0; 258 pages.
Hoffmann, R. Joseph, Editor, " Sources of the Jesus tradition: Separating History from Myth", Prometheus Books, Amherst New York, 2010, ISBN 978-1-61614-189 (hard cover), 287 pages.
Leaves, Nigel "The God Problem: Alternatives to Fundamentalism", Polebridge Press, Santa Rosa, California, 2006.
Leaves, Nigel, "Odyssey on the Sea of Faith: The Life and Writings of Don Cupitt", Polebridge Press, Santa Rosa California, 2004; ISBN 0-944344-62-3 $28.95, 140 pages.
Lee, Dorothy, "Transfiguration", New Century Theology, Continuum, London, New York, 2004.
Licona, Michael, "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach", Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove Illinois USA, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8308-2719-0 (paperback) , 718 pages.
McGuckin, John Anthony "The Transfiguration of Christ in Scripture and Tradition", Studies in the Bible and Early Christianity 9, Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston Queenston 1986.
Ramsey, A.M. "The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ", Longmans, London, 1949; 2nd edition Libra Books, 1967.
Taylor, J. Glen "Yahweh and the Sun: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sun Worship in Ancient Israel", JSOT (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament) Press Sheffield 1993.
Thatcher, Tom, Editor, "Jesus the Voice and the Text: Beyond the Oral and the Written Gospel", Baylor University Press, Waco Texas 2008, ISBN 978-1-932792-60-7, $69.95, 317 pages.
Winn, Adam: "The Purpose of Mark's Gospel: An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial Propaganda", Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen Germany, 2009.
John Noack, June, 2012. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
John Noack (BA DipEd) has been a Lutheran clergy-person at Rainbow in Victoria, Australia. He has been a Tutor in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Melbourne Victoria and he has been a Teacher of History and World Religions at Trinity Grammar School in Kew, Victoria. He has conducted archaeological research at the Australian Institute of Archaeology and he has produced archaeological and text-related book reviews, which have been published in its Journal "Buried History". He is at present engaged in an academic investigation into the many enigmas in the Gospel according to St Mark.


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My Lists
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School Library Journal
Reviewed on May 1, 2003
Gr 5-10 Fans of Horowitz's Stormbreaker (2001) and Point Blank (2002, both Philomel), and newcomers to the series alike, will not be disappointed with this rip-roaring escapade featuring the 14-year-old spy. Trying to return to a "normal" life as a schoolboy after a mere four weeks since his last MI6 adventure, Alex Rider is recruited right off the soccer field to check out some suspicious goings-on at Wimbledon. This assignment catapults him into a series of life-threatening episodes, such as coming face to face with a great white ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Horn Book Guide
Reviewed on October 1, 2003 | Older Fiction
Fourteen-year-old spy Alex Rider is once again called upon to assist Great Britain's intelligence agency. Alex is sent to an island near Cuba ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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hey all
i just had my frame repainted and Ted did the rear triangle silver. so in a fit of vanity i am interested in swapping my black fork for your silver fork.
my fork has about 6.5" of steertube. I would like a fork with a little more than that, at least 7" of steertube. i will double check my fork if you are interested.
otherwise, i would just outright purchase someone's silver reba fork. then you can upgrade to a fox or something.
PM me


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Lodhi Gardens
Such a fantastic idea to build a beautifully landscaped garden around heritage monuments, as a way to protect and yet keep open to the public. Not to mention, such a huge open space in the heart of the capital city. A Xpro film in the Diana, a few light leaks, sunset time, magnificent architecture and a walk with dad - PERFECT !!!
This photo was shot on film. Taken by ishifishy with a Lomography Diana F+ (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Lomography X-Pro Slide 200 (120) film (available in our Online Shop) in New Delhi, India. These tags describe this photo: squares, crossprocess, xpro, 120mm, diana, lightleaks, india, capital, love, fun, muslim, moghul, architecture, monuments, heritage, garden, lodhigarden, lodhi, marathon, weekend, travel, trip, newdelhi, dilhi, and delhi. Date: 2013-12. This photo can also be found in the album The Diana in Delhi .Please login to get more out of this site
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125 people like this photo
Liking photos helps us to present the best ones to you and others. 125 people like this photo. 125 people like this photo: wil6ka, herbert-4, heyfrida, bravopires, koduckgirl, sommarboken, sinema, remyleblanc, ravimistry, duffman, kibs, freakoftheweek, nia_ffm, mackaywill, aton, deepfried_goodness, weleasewoger72, beths, aliceinchains, pauline_wildwind, fadjaradiputra, _smg_, mkb, tak_nie, disdis, tall_bastard, 4ene4s, olga_primavera, mayprodrigo, betterthanelvis, billybillybilly, poepel, fotohelmut, castiana, fruchtzwerg_hh, mcrstar, akula, bomboniera, donnalibera, mczoum, xaviru, aanum, frenchyfyl, gatokinetik-o, prairydog, zorzyo, andrejrusskovskij, kostas, juano, marcosnava, ciricc, devildi, sobetion, dida, coca, horstler, juansupergen, simonesavo, jangeisen, sara81, gepo1303, triky76, emkei, stonerfairy, jrcolville, atropaworkshop, llcooldawe, novotao, _haustor, naiseta, chud_tayor, mapix, miki_almaraz, pangmark, realrampage, kangiha, purepaty, oldheathen62, taliathemuse, lostlittlekid, filipdr, vivie, slackyuser, peterpan61, crazy_little_red_riding_hood, zorki, waggrad00, julea, sudhashunmu, he-mo, pavel_px, modern_nmt, ricoinbrooklyn, grazie, tsingtao, rik041, olivier_g, goonies, ihave2pillows, mafiosa, robertofiuza, aka_papu, mingkie, mnella, alcastan, candee2104, rewd, oldstandby, dopa, yago56, zaruki_zanogi, timolomo, clickiemcpete, theoclunk, nudels, uncle_jay, chourique, alexyz, opon21, kasta72, un_peu_de_soleil, nanigo, trip-35, ug_a, and kmonk.
4 comments
Here it comes
When I hear them 808 drums
It's got me singing ! :) -


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Retired educator, born in Berlin, Germany , left East G. age 18 and spent 16 years in London "bringing up" myself further:
Reg.Nurse, B.Sc.Hon. Zoology, M.A. Educational Librarianship - all Lond.Univ. , M.A. Learning Handicapped.
Creative, many interests which include:painting, swimming, handwriting analysis (2 certifications), photography, bookbinding, sewing, etc.etc.
Actually, COOKING IS NOT A GREAT INTEREST of mine, but since I have lived in many different parts of the world, including 5 years in East Africa and am married to a Punjabi, I enjoy any dish that's a bit different. When I have guests, they are served very international fare.


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Persistence of Memory
I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as the facts are shown to be opposed to it.
— Charles R. Darwin
I'm getting old: 50, almost 51, and that's over 350 in dog years. As a result of my advancing age there are things I do not get: tattoo's, hip hop, visible undergarments, and those rectangular, square plastic glasses that seem so popular and look hideous on everyone. It gets harder to change.
I have been able to stick MD after my name for almost a quarter century now (175 dog years for those keeping track), and it does give a sense of perspective to the ebb and flow of medical therapies. Medicine for the last hundred years has been all about change. Dogma from last century is nonsense this century, all due to that damn science. It gets so tiresome having to learn something new.
Last month's New England Journal of Medicine was another in a seemingly endless series of plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose moments.4 They published the results of the CORTICUS study, a trial that looked at Hydrocortisone therapy for patients with septic shock. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jan 10;358(2):111-24. PMID: 18184957 Return to text
Dickman R, Schiff E, Holland A, Wright C, Sarela SR, Han B, Fass R. Return to text
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text: L'cHAIM: Introduucing…HAIM! Bradley Stern February 12, 2013 HAIM, Introduucing... 5 Comments 522 Alright, so: I've been feeling this band for a while now, but I haven't gotten around to doing a formal "Introduucing…" post because I'm too busy being the absolute worst. Time to change that. HAIM is a LA Valley-bred Jewish sister act, consisting of Este Haim, Danielle Haim, Alana Haim and drummer Dash Hutton, which sort of sounds like I'm reading off the names from my graduating class at Brandeis. Though the group's been getting Fleetwood Mac comparisons ever since their debut (which are entirely accurate), HAIM also brings in a distinctly rhythmic twist to their tunes, resulting in a unique blend of early '90's R&B-meets-classic rock brilliance. And given the R&B/nu-soul revivalism coming out from acts like Jessie Ware and Solange lately, it's the perfect time for HAIM to make their move. They've gone on tour with Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons, and most recently, they've won a spot on the BBC's prestigious, almost-always-indicative-of-amazingness Sound of 2013, meaning the pressure to deliver is on in a big way. Lucky for HAIM, they're only getting better. HAIM's already released a handful of songs, including their debut "Forever" off of 2012's Forever EP, as well as the st-stuttering, brilliant rock'n'roll anthem, "Don't Save Me." (Video above.) This week, the troupe's released their new single: "Falling," produced by one of my very favorites of the moment, Ariel Rechtshaid. (He's the same genius who helped craft Sky Ferreira's "Everything Is Embarrassing" and "Lost In my Bedroom," Charli XCX's "Stay Away" and Usher's "Climax," among other faves.) "Don't stop, no, I'll never give up /And I'll never look back, just hold your head up/And if it gets rough, it's time to get rough," the girls call out in unison. It's all one mesmerizing, genre-blurring swirl of warm beats, disco bass plucks, crashing drums and almighty, echoing vocals. There's something very magical buried in the sun-soaked production, and slightly melancholy at the same time–not unlike last year's big obsession, Frank + Derol. The nice thing about HAIM is that they're making "real" music (in the Pitchforkian/Legendtina sense, in that they are multiple instrument-playing, songwriting musicians who grew up in a musical home, surrounded by all things music.) At the same time, they're putting out music that's highly listenable and highly singalong-able with strong hooks and catchy beats–making HAIM digestible for fans of pretention-free pop and "authentic" enough to keep the snobs at bay. Bottom line: I love HAIM. I'd say I'm going absolutely H.A.M. for HAIM at the moment, but that wouldn't be very kosher. "Falling" was released on February 12. (iTunes) Share this Muusing:TwitterTumblrFacebookGooglePinterestEmailPrintMoreStumbleUponRedditLinkedIn yeasty You really don't like P4K, do you? Well, I can't say I blame you. Thanks for this great little write-up, I have been meaning to get into HAIM for a while now but I haven't taken the time to sit the fuck down and really immerse myself in their music. http://www.muumuse.com Bradley Stern It's not so much that I dislike Pitchfork itself (the writing–especially in recent years–has been excellent), but the attitude that it so often breeds. It's the idea that one can't simply enjoy a pop song without bemoaning the use of Auto-Tune/the death of 'real music', or trashing musicians for being too "commercial." (Heaven forbid they make a living!) yeasty I know what you mean and I agree but I think they've improved vastly recently. They have been promoting Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira and Solange and they're going crazy about the new JT stuff. But yeah, they often ignore the 'fun' aspect of pop music and get all anal about authenticity, completely missing the point… which is why I love your blog so much (and ever since I found it, I have distanced myself from the 'cool kids' and embraced my inner pop bitch, so thanks) http://twitter.com/psantos25 Paul Santos finally a blogger is realizing their greatness! if you have a chance to see them live, hop on that chance. The west I have had the song "Falling" stuck in my head for a week now and didn't know who it was. Thank you :)


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Have you ever wanted to increase your knowledge of the world around you? Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in a different culture and expand your horizons? If so, learning a new language can be a great way to start.
Just recently I became very interested in Italian culture. I decided the best way to better understand Italy was to learn the Italian language. I thought this would be simple until I found out how much it would cost for me to get the best help available. I will have to pay for language programs, personal tutors, and classes if I am to become fluent in Italian, and all those things come with a huge price tag. This is when I started thinking about getting a personal loan for learning Italian. With a personal loan I can pay for the things I need upfront and be well on my way to visiting Italy instead of waiting around saving up for things one at a time.
I need Singapore moneylender to accomplish my goals, and because of this I did some research about unlicenced moneylender information from the Singapore Police Force.
There are many options for getting a personal loan. Learning Italian is only one of the reasons people may need a personal loan, and that's why they are so great; you can spend them on whatever you need. In my case I will be getting my loan from a bank, but many other financial institutions offer them. Over time the loan will have to be paid back with interest, so it is important to only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The amount you can borrow is usually a percentage of your monthly income, and in some cases you can borrow up to 4 times your monthly income. I am going to take out a short term personal loan that I can pay back within 12 months, because while I am learning my new language I am still able to work and earn money. However, if you need longer to pay off your loan, often times you can get personal loans up to and over 48 months.
As for interest, I plan on getting a loan with a variable interest rate. This means that the interest has the possibility of fluctuating over time, but will start off a bit lower than a fixed interest rate. For those who are taking out personal loans for longer periods, a fixed interest rate may be better for you. Fixed interest rates are "fixed" on a certain percentage that will not change over the course of your loan.
With a personal loan from moneylender, you can learn a new language anywhere you are. Although I am in Singapore, that doesn't mean that I can't learn Italian, and with the help of a personal loan this is exactly what I will do. If you need some extra money to learn a new language, then a money lender Singapore for learning Italian may be just what you need.


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Senate confirms Huerta to head FAA
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Michael Huerta as FAA administrator for a five-year term. Huerta had been appointed acting administrator on Dec. 5, 2011. He had previously been deputy FAA administrator since June 2010.
Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, applauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation Huerta.
"Michael Huerta's proven leadership and clear grasp of the imperatives of NextGen make him the right choice to continue leading the FAA, and we applaud the members of the U.S. Senate for taking this decisive action on his confirmation," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "Administrator Huerta's commitment to safety and improved efficiency of our nation's airspace will benefit the traveling public and ensure we continue to build a more vibrant aviation industry that is so important to our nation's economy and workforce."
The appointment also garnered approval from the Air Line Pilots Association Int'l.
"The confirmation of Michael Huerta as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, together with a stable source of long-term funding, puts the FAA in a powerful position to safely build capacity and foster airline growth in this country," said Capt. Lee Moak, president of the ALPA.
"Mr. Huerta's formidable transportation policy experience has already enabled him to achieve remarkable progress during his tenure as the FAA's acting administrator. ALPA is eager to continue this positive action at an accelerated pace to ensure the United States maintains a world-class air transportation system."
What Are Your Thoughts?
* Disclaimer: Please note that libellous or offensive comments are not allowed.


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Portuguese Timor
I asked Cruz this morning if he had had any advice from Atauro about the press report that Australians were actively assisting FRETILIN forces. Cruz replied 'no' but that Macao had reported that the statement had been issued at the request of the Government of Timor. I said that there now seemed little doubt that the statement had been authorised by Pires.1 If the allegations about Australian involvement were true, I could understand Pires reporting the facts to Lisbon and perhaps suggesting that Lisbon should take the matter up with the Australian Government. What I could not understand was why Pires had instead chosen to release the information in the form of a press release. This seemed not only irresponsible but positively mischievous. Cruz agreed and said they were as puzzled as we were as to why Pires had acted as he did. Cruz undertook to get in touch with me as soon as they received an explanation from Pires.
- Cruz asked me about this morning's reports of an Indonesian 'invasion' of Timor. Were they true? I said that since we had no official observers in the area we, like Portugal, were dependent on press and radio reports which of course had been officially denied by the Indonesians. We were however concerned about the whereabouts of five Australian T.V. personnel and we were making urgent enquiries in Jakarta about them. Cruz said they likewise were concerned about the two Portuguese T.V. men who were reported to be in the area.2
- Cruz said they had heard 'absolutely nothing' from their Embassy in Jakarta about allegations of Indonesian military involvement in Timor which had added a new dimension to the situation.
- I asked Cruz if the reports turned out to be true, would it prejudice the prospects for the Rome talks? Cruz replied: 'Probably. I don't see how Melo Antunes could go to Rome to negotiate with Indonesia over Timor if meanwhile the Indonesians had decided to resolve the question by force.After all, the Portuguese Government had enough domestic problems without inviting further criticism by going to Rome. As it was, pro FRETILIN supporters were planning a demonstration in front of the Foreign Ministry at 1500 hours today, and such pressures on the Portuguese Government would undoubtedly increase if Indonesia had in fact decided to pursue its objectives in Timor by military means'.
- Subsequent midday radio reports from Dili speak of invasion by Indonesian troops involving '199 armoured cars, 3 helicopters, and bombardment by 9 naval vessels', and quotes a FRETILIN spokesman as criticising 'the silence of the Portuguese Government in the face of the Indonesian attack and the violation of territory still under Portuguese sovereignty'.
- As seen from Lisbon, Indonesia may now be on the way to winning the war in Timor but of losing the diplomatic battle. Despite President Soeharto's restraint, as Indonesian military involvement becomes more and more obvious Indonesia is likely to be accused of aggression in Timor and of violating its professed support for self determination. (However, as Jakarta has made clear, the Indonesians have taken this into account and presumably are prepared to ride out the international consequences.) As for the Portuguese, Indonesia's action may provide Lisbon with an excuse to abandon Timor to its fate on the ground that Indonesia has pre-empted any possibility of self determination for the people of Timor.


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Dee Ann's Recipes
(2 Recipes) Created by DATE93
Recipes in this Collection
Cookbook creator says: I've made this. It's easy and quick. It's delicious with a bright taste of lemon and a slight bite from the cayenne pepper. I served it on rice but, it would be better with vegetables and angel hair pasta. Jerry loved it. Submitted by BSING46 Carbs: 4.5g | Fat: 16.3g | Fiber: 0.5g | Protein: 30g | Calories: 291.1
Cookbook creator says: It's not sweet but, rich and satisfying. I think due to the cream cheese. It's very good on raw veggies or reduced fat wheat thins. Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 1.6g | Fat: 1.7g | Fiber: 0.2g | Protein: 2.3g | Calories: 30.7
Send this recipe collection to a friend - http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=631538


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The Audiophiliac covered U-Turn's Kickstarter project last year, and now he's listening to this remarkable turntable.
Audio-Technica's AT LP60 turntable typically sells for under $100, but it's a great way to discover the joys of analog sound.
Turntable phono cartridges' miniscule voltage output needs high quality amplification, NAD's nifty little PP2i will transform your analog sound.
The Rega RP1 turntable will change to the way you hear music, for the better.
That's what a group of talented twentysomethings are promising on their recently launched Kickstarter project, we'll see.
HTC will stop throwing in Beats-branded headphones with its phones, despite a high-profile tie-up.
A prominent Android hacker working on the CyanogenMod software has been sent a Galaxy S2 by Samsung. "You will not hear me bad-mouth Samsung again," he says.


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If you like the itinerary below please quote REF SRI LANKA 410 when enquiring for further details.
Alternatively you may like modify this trip with your own Holiday Wish List
Welcome to beautiful Burma! Upon your arrival into Yangon this evening we will transfer you to your hotel where you can spend a restful night after your flight.
This morning we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival visit the ancient city of Amarapura and the Mahagandaryone monastery - the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar. Then enjoy the great serenity of U Bein wooden Bridge before visiting the Mahar Myat Muni Buddha Image - the most ancient Buddha image castled in bronze in Myanmar. Stop at local handicraft workshops before driving to Innwa to see Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, the Mainu Brick Monastery and old watch tower. Tour continues to picturesque Sagaing Hills a retreat for Buddhist devotees with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Your hotel is the Rupar Mandalar Resort
This morning we go to Mayanchan jetty to take a day return private chartered boat trip to Mingun. Here we'll visit the Mingun Pagoda - the biggest unfinished pagoda, Mingun bell - the biggest ringing bell in the world, and Mya Thein Tan pagoda - The Taj Mahal of Myanmar. Then return by boat to Mandalay for touring of Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, and Kuthodaw Pagoda - often called the world's largest book (a set of 729 huge stone slabs on which the Buddhist scriptures are inscribed). Finish the tour by visiting Mandalay Hill for sunset over the city plains. Today you will enjoy a New Year's dinner at your hotel.
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to the jetty to take a full day down stream boat trip on the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from Mandalay to Bagan. Enjoy the extraordinary scenery and interesting sights along the picturesque Ayeyarwaddy River on Shwe Kein Nayee boat or Malikha boat. In the evening, we arrive at Bagan Jetty. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed again by local English speaking guide then transferred to your hotel for check in.
Bagan is home to more than 2000 temples! This morning enjoy a visit to Nyaung-U local market and the golden pagoda of Shwezigon pagoda. Spend the rest of the day with our expert guide exploring as many temples as possible. Highlights include the key temples including Htilominlo, Manuha Temple and Thatbuinnyu, and a Burmese lacquerware factory before an evening climb to the top of Shwesandaw stupa to enjoy magnificent views over Bagan's temples and the Ayeyarwady River.
Early morning visit to Sulamani, one of Pagan's great two-storied Bamar style temple which has 4 seated Buddha images. We'll also visit Lemethna temple, topped by an Indian-style spire similar to Ananda, and the three shrines of Payathonzu, which are connected by passages adorned with Mahayanist or Tantric mural paintings. Visit Nandamanya temple with fine frescoes and an unexpectedly erotic mural. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for return flight to Yangon.
Today marks the end of your adventure with On the Go Tours. After breakfast and hotel check out we will transfer you to the airport for your onward departure flight. End of services.


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UK Government Wants "Unsavory" Web Content To Be Removed
samzenpus posted about 10 months ago | from the won't-somebody-please-think-of-the-children? dept.
250An anonymous reader writes "The UK minister for immigration and security, James Brokenshire has called for the government to do more to deal with 'unsavoury', rather than illegal, material online. 'Terrorist propaganda online has a direct impact on the radicalisation of individuals and we work closely with the internet industry to remove terrorist material hosted in the UK or overseas,' Brokenshire told Wired.co.uk in a statement."


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Keeping it clean: reflections on EU regulations on CO2 emissions for automotive manufacturers weblink
A $100m US settlement may be of only passing interest to the UK auto industry, but parallels can be drawn with increasing levels of regulation in Europe.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards weblink
The government is consulting on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), which must be met before a property in the private sector can be let.
The EU imposes new sanctions against Russia weblink
Following the continued tensions in Ukraine and Russia's suspected military involvement, the EU has imposed new sanctions against Russia.
New energy audit requirement for large organisations weblink
Larger companies and non-public-sector organisations will be required to carry out mandatory energy-saving assessments.
Petrol storage: a change in the law weblink
The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 will come into force on 1 October and replace existing petrol storage legislation that will be withdrawn.
Shoosmiths advises KBC Advanced Technologies on £11.2m acquisition
Shoosmiths has acted for KBC Advanced Technologies in a multi-million-pound acquisition. KBC has purchased FEESA for a value of £11.2m.
New Part L of the Building Regulations: clarifying compliance weblink
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published amendments to Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.
Sale-of-goods exclusion clauses: don't miss out on a bargain weblink
Shoosmiths considers exclusion clauses in sale-of-goods contracts in light of the recent Commercial Court decision of Glencore Energy Ltd v Cirrus Oil Services.
Shoosmiths advises on sale of majority shareholding in Cleartrade Exchange
Shoosmiths has advised Singapore-based Freight Investor Services on the strategic sale of a majority shareholding in Cleartrade Exchange to European Energy Exchange.
Shoosmiths appoints Tye and Jump as partners in its planning team
Lisa Tye and Kathryn Jump have joined Shoosmiths' Manchester office, where they will be working alongside Melaine Grimshaw and Marcus Woody.
Real estate: what's on the horizon for 2014 and beyond? weblink
Shoosmiths takes a look at the changes that anyone working in real estate can expect to see in 2014.
Plans to simplify petrol storage legislation weblink
The Health and Safety Executive is consulting on changes to legislation concerning the storage of petrol with the aim of simplifying and modernising it.
New Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations weblink
The Department of Energy & Climate Change has published a response to its consultation on the implementation of the Recast WEEE Directive 2012...
Initial phase of CRC: have you registered? weblink
Registration requirements for the initial phase — which runs from April 2014 to March 2019 — are different to those for the first phase of CRC.
Rory Tait joins Shoosmiths as partner to head up energy group
Shoosmiths has announced the appointment of Rory Tait as a partner to head its energy group.
Supply agreement for combined heat and power systems weblink
It is a common feature with new developments that combined heat and power systems may be included.
First charges by SFO under Bribery Act weblink
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has brought proceedings against three individuals under the Bribery Act 2010.
Energy savings opportunity for larger companies weblink
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is currently consulting on proposals for a new Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
Shoosmiths partners attend opening of UK's largest biorefinery
Partners from Shoosmiths were among the guests invited to the opening of the UK's largest biorefinery.
State aid: green light for UK's Green Deal weblink
The European Commission has given the green light to a £600m funding package to support the UK's Green Deal.
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First videos from the NY Toy Fair
Posted by Huw,If video is your thing, Jason and the Brick Show team have started uploading videos from the NY toy fair. Here's the first one, of the Council of Elrond, and here's the playlist where they'll be adding them throughout the day.
17 comments on this article
Looks to me like the new Gothic arches are made of two half-arch pieces - yay even more useful! This will be such a boon for church MOCs!
Awesome! Thank you Brick Show, you guys did an excellent job!
The black gate set looks to have a locking mechanism and also thanks for the videos (the MOS figure looks great)
Thanks so much! Arwen looks really bad :( Elrond looks great :)
Arwen has HUGE ears!
Orange leaves are new?
I looks like a NON-STICKER set... :-)
And we'll not need to worry about runing short of Frodo's, Gimli's and Gandalfs...
Black Gate, Wizard Battle, and Council of Elrond all look great. They all appear to balance appearance, play features, and figures perfectly. I'm not terribly enthused about the Corsair ship, but that's a really good thing for my wallet.
Hard to tell if those leaves are regular or dark orange. From the way a brick separator looks so bright in one of the photos, I really hope they're dark. I've been trying to nag people at LEGO for a long time for dark orange.
Re: Stickers, I'm thinking the chair backs are actually stickered pieces ala Helm's Deep. Would annoy me less in a larger set, but in these small to mid-range ones, the sticker sheets are just thrown into the box with the curled up instruction book. (Yet one more reason I'm not liking these new "econo-boxes"...)
I just notices there are orange leaves! (And that someone above noticed too...) At any rate, either color would be fantastic alongside the dark red leaves of the Mirkwood set!!!
Arwen does have giant ears. I can't not see them.
Is Elrond's cape two different colors? Appears to be gold inside and red outside. Perhaps it's just the lighting, but that sure would be convenient :).
It could be a double cape (layered)- that's been done before (just looks like two different colors).
i was hoping for more minifigures
I am really enthused about the Elrond minifig.
Council of Elrond is imperative so I can finish my Hobbit collection. Elrond was a huge part of the movie. But it looks like I need the Wizard Battle for Saruman as well. Gahhh!!! So many sets, so little money and time!
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Whale & Wildlife Watching
Magical. Awe-inspiring. Stunning. Amazing. Unforgettable.
Count on your sighting of whales in the waters of the San Juan Islands to be the experience of a lifetime.
Most of the whales seen in the San Juan Islands are orcas—three pods, the "Southern Residents"—are typically in the area from mid-April to early October, but your best chance to see them is from late May through mid-October. One of the pods is often seen year round, as are transient orcas. You have a great variety of whale watch boat tours to choose from.
On your whale watch tour, you may see not just orca whales, but different species as well: gray, minke, and humpback whales also visit these waters. Not to mention seals, porpoises, sea lions, otters, bald eagles, and numerous seabirds. And you'll pick up a whole new whale-related vocabulary—spyhops, breaches, and single and double tail lobs. On some whale watch tours, you'll hear via hydrophone the whales calling to one another. Most boats have an onboard naturalist to explain what you're seeing.
Local whale watch operators adhere closely to state and federal guidelines developed to ensure the whales' behavior and life cycles aren't disturbed. Our "Southern Residents" are endangered and protected by state and federal law, and there is a strong local culture of respect for the whales. Boats must not approach closer than 200 yards—but that's plenty close enough when you're looking at a 30-foot mammal.
You can also consider trying your luck at shore-based whale watching at "Whale Watch Park" (Lime Kiln Point State Park) on San Juan Island, or along the Whale Trail at www.thewhaletrail.org.
Experience premiere whale watching with San Juan Excursions aboard the 65-foot, twin-engine, classic motor yacht "Odyssey". The largest whale watching boat in the islands, the "Odyssey" offers guests excellent, comfortable indoor and outdoor viewing with heated cabins, lounge-style seating, a snack bar, two restrooms, padded outdoor seating, and wrap around decks. We see orca whales on a high percentage of our tours and if you do not see an orca, then you are welcome to come out another day -- free of charge. [more...]
Adventure awaits you! Join Western Prince Whale Watching on an intimate sized tour (limited to 32 passengers on the Western Prince II and 15 passengers on the Western Explorer) as we explore protected waters and discover the islands' abundant wildlife and spectacular beauty. [more...]
Whale watching and wildlife tours. Sea kayaking tours and custom adventure tours from Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Tours depart from the best locations in the San Juan Islands. See killer whales, seals, eagles and porpoise. Join our expert staff for a unique adventure. [more...]
Experience the islands with a cruise on the "Bee"! A proper little yacht, the Bee is a Grand Banks 32 and is one of the most comfortable boats in the harbor. A sunny flying bridge or a heated cabin offer all weather comfort as we see wildlife in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Captain Greg's stories of the colorful history of soldiers, smugglers, and the wildlife in this corner of the world will keep you entertained and informed. Try a sunset cruise or our "Round the Rock" day trip that circles the island with a lunch stop at Roche Harbor. [more...]
Half & Full Day Sails, Whale Watching & Nature Sails, Sunset Sails, Private Charters and Schooner Adventures on the Salish Sea and beyond! Step aboard with San Juan Classic Day Sailing and take your opportunity to let go of the hustle and bustle of the daily grind and and connect with the the natural rhythm of the sea, traditional maritime heritage and our pristine marine environment. We offer a variety of sailing charter opportunities, giving you the chance to experience the joy of being on your own classic yachting adventure in the Islands! [more...]
Whether you are looking for a premier whale watch tour, quality family adventure, or a fun-filled fishing excursion, Legacy Charters is here to make it happen. Offering whale watching and fishing charters for groups of six or less assures the most authentic and personalized charters available. [more...]
Join us on a 2 ½ to 3 hour tour to view the orcas and other wildlife. We take only 6 people at a time aboard our beautiful catamaran, Peregrine. Capt. Jim not only informs our guests with his experience and knowledge, he will also entertain you! [more...]
Why Choose Captain Carli's Whale Watching Tours? Captain Carli has lived on San Juan Island for over 30 years and first started driving whale watching boats professionally in 1995. Small boats are personal and offer direct access to Captain Carli, (have a question…just ask him). Walk off the Washington State ferry in Friday Harbor and two minutes later you are on-board "Soulmate," Captain Carli"s boat. He belongs to an orca whale spotting network located on Vancouver Island. If the whales are in the area he will know about them. [more...]
Located steps from the Friday Harbor ferry terminal, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours has an excellent reputation for respectful wildlife viewing. On the water since 1995, this company is known for providing high-quality, small-group size whale watching & wildlife tours. [more...]
Professional guided whale and wildlife tours. Boat departs next to the Orcas Island ferry landing. See abundant wildlife and 172+ islands. 56-foot Orcas Express offers heated cabin with seats and tables inside, and top and lower viewing decks. Historic guided lighthouse tours, too. Celebrating 25 years in the whale watching and wild life business! [more...]
Join owner Captain Hobbes aboard "Natsilane" for an intimate whale & wildlife tour of a lifetime. Limited to only 6 passengers, come discover the unique ecosystems of the Salish Sea in a comfortable and stable boat with a heated cabin, indoor & outdoor seating, and a restroom. Tours depart one or two times daily depending on the season. [more...]
Outer Island Expeditions offers whale watching tours -- see whales or ride again free! -- from Orcas Island, Lopez Island, San Juan Island and the Bellingham area. Last year we saw orcas on over 95% of our summer tours, and whales on 97%. [more...]
Enjoy an informative, narrated cruise through the San Juan Islands in search of orca whales and minke whales. The thrill of seeing one of these majestic creatures will be an unforgettable experience. Discover the other abundant marine life and wildlife that call these waters home. You'll pass by unspoiled, pristine islands and historic landmarks. Established in 1988. [more...]
For 27 years, Puget Sound Express has provided thousands of travelers with fun-packed and fascinating tours on the waters in the San Juan Islands and around the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend, Washington. Three generations of the Hanke family work to make your trip a lasting memory. We began wildlife tours long before there was a wildlife watching movement and with that experience comes knowledge that puts us on the right spot, at the right time, every time. [more...]
The Clipper Vacations whale watching tour includes round-trip transportation from Seattle to the San Juan Islands, a 2.5 hour Orca Whale Watching and Sealife Search with an onboard naturalist, a 2.5 hour stop in historic Friday Harbor, plus a souvenir guidebook to the San Juans for a fun and family-friendly educational day trip or overnight getaway. Daily departures aboard the Victoria Clipper high-speed passenger vessel from downtown Seattle's Pier 69 to Friday Harbor are mid May – September. [more...]


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Possible Thanksgiving Ideas
(6 Recipes) Created by WINTERBREEZY
Recipes in this Collection
Very Good 4.8/5
(8 ratings)
Submitted by JLCOSTELLO7 Carbs: 57.7g | Fat: 16.9g | Fiber: 1.6g | Protein: 3.7g | Calories: 380.9
Very Good 4.4/5
(32 ratings)
I make this at thanksgiving time and its simply delicious and healthier and a lot less soduim than stove top or other boxed stuffing with seasonings Submitted by MSSBETTYBOOP6 Carbs: 20.3g | Fat: 1.4g | Fiber: 3.9g | Protein: 2.8g | Calories: 106.1
Very Good 4.6/5
(5 ratings)
Carbs: 22.9g | Fat: 1.3g | Fiber: 1.6g | Protein: 3.9g | Calories: 117.1
Cheesy, rich, delicious--just what you expect in macaroni and cheese. What you won't expect? 2/3 the fat and half the calories of the original! Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 39.5g | Fat: 7.9g | Fiber: 4.1g | Protein: 12.6g | Calories: 259.6
The perfect way to make mashed potatoes for a large gathering. Submitted by DOWN2SEXY Carbs: 28.5g | Fat: 3.9g | Fiber: 1.9g | Protein: 4g | Calories: 162.5
Sweet and tasty! Submitted by RMNUSE Carbs: 14.2g | Fat: 3g | Fiber: 1.9g | Protein: 1.2g | Calories: 86.1
Send this recipe collection to a friend - http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=594166


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Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto are receiving buzz during awards season for their dramatic transformations in "Dallas Buyers Club." Take a look at some of the other most dramatic actor transformations ever seen on film.
For the drama "Things Fall Apart," the usually buff rapper took to a liquid diet to lose weight in order to play a football player battling cancer. He reportedly dropped more than 50 pounds over nine weeks.


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The Gorilla Genome Falsifies Another Evolution-Inspired Idea
Posted by jlwile on March 21, 2012
There is a vast gulf between humans and the great apes. While we share some superficial similarities with them, they are dwarfed by significant differences. For example, most (but not all1) evolutionists think that our closest living relative is the chimpanzee, because our genomes are the most similar (72%-95% similar, depending on how you make the comparison). Nevertheless, there are distinct anatomical and behavioral differences between humans and chimpanzees. Indeed, nearly every bone in the chimpanzee body is individually recognizable as chimpanzee and not human simply by its shape and size. Humans and chimpanzees also have different postures, different means of moving around, and different methods of obtaining food. Of course, the biggest difference between chimpanzees and humans is that of intelligence. People have a level of intelligence not seen anywhere else in creation, and it is apparent through our ability to create amazing technologies, produce breathtaking works of art, develop philosophies, and communicate across the generations.But wait a minute. Haven't experiments shown that apes can communicate in a very sophisticated way? If you read too much of the popular press, you might think that's true. However, consider the words of Dr. Jonathan Marks, Professor of Anthropology at UNC-Charlotte and an expert on communication in apes:2
For all the interest generated by the sign-language experiments with apes, three things are clear. First they do have the capacity to manipulate a symbol system given to them by humans, and to communicate with it. Second, unfortunately, they have nothing to say. And third, they do not use any such system in the wild…There is in fact very little overlap between chimpanzee and human communication. (emphasis mine)
So what is it that produces the remarkable difference between apes and humans when it comes to communication? Evolutionists thought they might have at least a partial answer to this question. If you look in detail at human genes and chimpanzee genes, you see some remarkable differences among those genes that deal with hearing. As a result, it has been widely suggested that the human lineage experienced "accelerated" evolution in its hearing genes, which in turn produced our ability to utilize language, which in turn produced our ability to communicate in a sophisticated way.
Not surprisingly, additional data have falsified this evolution-inspired notion.
The genome of the western lowland gorilla was recently sequenced. According to most evolutionists, the human and chimpanzee lines split roughly three million years ago, but the gorilla line split from the human/chimpanzee line seven million years before that. As a result, it was expected that the gorilla and chimpanzee would be more similar in their hearing-related genes than the human and chimpanzee, since neither gorillas nor chimpanzees have a sophisticated means of communication. However, quite the opposite was found. In fact, the human and gorilla hearing genes are significantly more similar.3 As one of the authors explained it to the press:
We found that gorillas share many parallel genetic changes with humans including the evolution of our hearing. Scientists had suggested that the rapid evolution of human hearing genes was linked to the evolution of language. Our results cast doubt on this, as hearing genes have evolved in gorillas at a similar rate to those in humans.
How do evolutionists explain this issue? They do what they always do when structures or genes don't fit the evolutionary pattern. They chalk it up to "convergent evolution," the idea that evolution often comes up with remarkably similar structures in distantly-related species by sheer coincidence. As another press outlet reports:
Scally [the lead author of the study] adds that it could well be that there has been a parallel acceleration in these genes for two entirely different reasons – that human hearing has developed because of speech and gorilla hearing has developed to serve an entirely different, but as-yet-unknown, purpose.
As I have mentioned previously (here, here, here, and here), the constant need for the concept of convergent evolution is a serious problem for the hypothesis of evolution. After all, when two structures (or genes) are similar in different species, how can you tell whether it is the result of common ancestry or convergent evolution? First, you check the hypothesis. If evolution can accommodate the common ancestry explanation, then the similar structures (or genes) are the result of common ancestry. If not, they are the result of convergent evolution.
This practice definitely preserves the hypothesis, but it does so with absolute disregard for the data themselves. Some might call that "science." I most certainly do not.
1. John R. Grehan and Jeffrey H. Schwartz, "Evolution of the second orangutan: phylogeny and biogeography of hominid origins," Journal of Biogeography 36:1823–1844, 2009.
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2. Jonathan M. Marks, What It Means to Be Ninety-Eight Percent Chimpanzee, University of California Press 2009, pp 182,184
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3. Aylwyn Scally, et al., "Insights into hominid evolution from the gorilla genome sequence," Nature 483:169–175, 2012.
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25 Responses to "The Gorilla Genome Falsifies Another Evolution-Inspired Idea"-
'First they do have the capacity to manipulate a symbol system given to them by humans, and to communicate with it.'
I take from this that the Apes learn causes and effect relationships with the symbols that they learn. This way they are able to respond appropriately but have no actual cognitive recognition of what the symbol means.
Is this correct, or does the statement mean something else? -
When I learned about the Savage-Rumbaugh study in psychology I got a very different impression from that.
The pygmy chimps were not only able to recognize both lexigram symbols and diverse sentences in spoken English, they could also creatively form simple sentences out of those symbols. They could refer to objects that were absent, form sentences directed at others (Give X to Y) instead of (give X to me), and even employ metaphor and figures of speech. Moreover much of their initial learning was by watching their relatives using the machines, and they didn't need treats to learn new words.
I have a question concerning animal language.
We all have seen (probably) movies that portray animals talking in their own language but all we hear is 'quack,' 'moo,' 'woof,' etc.
To the animal, what do these noises mean? I assume that a duck just does not wander along 'quacking' thus giving its position away to a predator but rather it has some purpose. -
I can train my dog to obey commands (Verbal, sound and sign), shake hands, my dogs offspring can learn from my dog by watching and observing, adult sheep dogs "train" juvenile sheep dogs by example and repetition.
I've had dogs that can point out objects and live animals, show happiness, sadness, etc etc.
As far as I am aware, no scientist thinks that we came from dogs because they can communicate in a sense with humans.
So the question has to be asked, why on earth would such common features of response to humans found throughout so many animals be evidence of anything other than everything has a common connection of conscience response through intelligence.
I think the blatant evolutionism present in ape behavioral studies is a slur on the intelligence of those conducting the studies.
Technically, humans make animal-like noises, such as growling and screaming. Of course, you might not growl, but I find it expresses my feelings rather well sometimes. But we also have a higher level of communication, so it would appear that there is a major difference between sounds meant to communicate emotions and intelligent conversation.
I didn't think so highly of the tests done on Kanzi's vocabulary, but on the anecdotal evidence. Language command may be tested, but the complex communication it conveys can't really be.
Perhaps my favourite example is Kanzi being locked indoors for trying to eat mushrooms in the wild. He went to the lexigram and signed "Kanzi No Eat Mushroom". Sure enough he was released and didn't repeat the offence. To me that is much more significant for this situation than picking out the photo of a banana to match the sign for a banana in a double blind trial.
Differences in their vocal chords clearly prevent chimps from talking, but they don't necessarily stop them from conversing.
No, it indicates an ability to use that vocublary creatively. This wasn't a phrase that Kanzi had been taught to say. Skinner showed that you can teach a pigeon to push a button with a symbol on when it sees food and to associate the food with that button. In the same way Kanzi was perfectly able to push the mushroom button to say he wanted to go out to where mushrooms grew in the forest. But to attach meaning to the symbol and be able to combine symbols so as to modify the meaning, conveying not a basic desire but as complex a concept as understanding his offence and promising not to commit it again…that to me is a much more impressive feat.
Besides, don't you fill your whole house with clever creatures? Your kitten probably has an IQ of 237 or something.
It cracks me up that you would name your kitten Curie. Of course, I love literature and I named my fish Peaceable Sherwood, so I suppose it's kind of the same.
Hello Dr Wile,
For whatever it's worth, I would just like to point out that regarding the data the research has gathered, what it disproves is the hypothesis that hearing-gene development was/is the cause of higher-level communication.
To provide a hypothesis of why changes in human and gorilla "hearing-genes" were so similar, let me just suggest that it was merely driven by a need for better hearing. The most direct impact of a change in a "hearing-gene" would be with regards to a physical structure of the ears – And where would the pressure for better hearing come from? I would point out that both humans and gorillas are primarily ground-dwelling creatures – this places them at greater threat to ground based predators as well, which would necessitate better hearing, to increase the survivability of the being by providing better situational awareness. The chimpanzee has far less need of such advanced hearing – its defense is its ability to take refuge in the foliage of the forests chimps are typically found in.
I would like to just raise this point – absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.. Especially if you are looking for evidence of communication. To raise Savage-Rumbaugh is poor form in my opinion – looking for ability for language command, in our context, is especially poor. Why should we expect chimps/gorilla/apes to be able to grasp the framework in which human communication works? Although I am far from an expert, I think it is evident that the human mind is different from that of apes – and in those differences lie the secret to grasping human language. And also why mankind has been able to create so much "art, literature etc. etc."
My regards to curie, she sounds like a marvelously intelligent cat..! Perhaps you would like to reconsider your example of Curie-and-the-kitchen-table in light of behavioral training ie. negative reinforcement? She doesn't communicate anything in her subsequent action, but she learns that getting on the table is bad (for her) – so she doesn't. Even children at a young age understand that doing certain things will incur penalties (often painful ones, like a good spanking), and as a consequence simply refrain from doing such things. This is a simple cause-effect relationship that really shouldn't be used to indicate "communication" of any kind.
Many thanks for reading my comment good sir,
God Bless, and good day. -
Kanzie used words. I have no issue with that as I have had pets that spoke that could not write. As an example: I had a cat that would call me when he came to the door to get in, in english, and by the name i used with him. Animals of all kinds communicate very clearly. I have owned snakes, ferrets, cats ,dogs, cockatiels, lizards, turtles, monkeys, squirrels and more and could go on endlessly telling you of how the communicate their desires, thoughts, regrets, irritations, anger, hurt, affection, and wants as well as needs. Animals are intelligent creatures, all of them. No one is greater than another in it ability to communicate. We do not study dogs or cats when they speak (and they can), or birds who speak because the scientist call it mimicry. Even the trained responses that are random and show the intelligence of the animal behind the use of a verbal communication. Why is that? Because it doesn't support evolution. The chimps do no more than an over trained animal can. The difference is that they of all animals come closer to the evolution believer's model. Their faith demands they look only there and not take their eyes off their prize of justifying their religion. If they looked honestly at their own evidence (and many have which is why we have disbelievers now) they would realize how much they have missed in their "scientific" quest. So yes, Kanzie could communicate and understand correction. I have yet to meet an animal that couldn't. Even up to using the human language in verbal or written form.
"How do evolutionists explain this issue? They do what they always do when structures or genes don't fit the evolutionary pattern. They chalk it up to "convergent evolution," the idea that evolution often comes up with remarkably similar structures in distantly-related species by sheer coincidence."
That's the thing with evolution/evolutionists that REALLY bugs me as a science major- it feels like typically when the data don't fit their hypothesis they just come up with some other reason that clearly supports evolution, or some reason that the data is wrong. Not that I would ever hear anything like that in a bio class in college. *Ahem*
A sort of tangent idea to that is- it must be so incredibly depressing to believe in evolution and to think that it all is chance. The bleakness of going through life thinking that there is no God is incomprehensibly awful to me.
Guess I should have been a little clearer. I have no problem either with coming up with a reason that the data doesn't fit the hypothesis, but agree with you that if you have to do it all the time there might be something wrong. That's what happens when you write comments when very tired!
Well, it really doesn't matter tremendously whether or not a worldview is depressing. After all, that doesn't affect its veracity. "Depressing" is quite relative, considering the miserable view of life in general taken by many Christians, i.e. gnosticism.
This comment really belongs on the post "I No Longer Work for Apologia Educational Ministries" from August 14, 2010, but it's far too late to post there! I just discovered your blog and it's neat to see your voice on the internet again.
I was a homeschooled highschool graduate in 2008 and had worked through nearly all your books by then. I'm graduating from college in the spring and will be pursuing a PhD in physics in the fall.
Back when Apologia Educational Ministries was yours, I frequented the site often. The "Lounge" forum was such a good hangout. Thanks for offering a way for homeschooling science geeks from around the world to connect. I was very sad when the forum went away, but still remember the usernames and stories of many of the regulars there. I don't know if there's any such forum for highschool homeschooled "geeks" in existence today (there's not one at apologia.com), but there definitely should be.


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What's New
New tracks, new tractors, updated icon and more.App Description
Select your favorite tractor, based on true models and get ready for the big Farmorama tractor race. Easy to drive and challenging to win. As in the real world, correct speed is the key for success.New Holland, Case IH, Valtra or Claas. The choice is yours. All fitted with cab suspension, CVT transmission and four wheel drive. Five different tracks will challenge you with steep hills, jumps, drive through-barns, stones and mud holes. Pick fuel cans during your ride, and get bonus points.
Save your scores on your mobile to challenge yourself. Share your scores on Facebook to challenge your friends.
App Changes
December 04, 2012 New version 1.17
March 28, 2012 Initial Release