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Researching music, we discovered sean-nos, an "old style" of Gaelic singing. Watch this mesmerizing video of Iarla Ó Lionáird singing in a pub.
The late Irish poet and philosopher, John O'Donohue, is beloved for his book Anam Ċara, Gaelic for "soul friend," and for his insistence on beauty as a human calling and a defining aspect of God. In one of his last interviews before his death in 2008, he articulated a Celtic imagination about how the material and the spiritual, the visible and the invisible worlds intertwine in human experience.
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was a poet and philosopher who wrote several books, including Anam Ċara and Conamara Blues. He died on January 4, 2008.
Pertinent Posts
Selected Poems
Since many of O'Donohue's recitations didn't make it into the final, produced show, we wanted to offer them for download.
SoundSeen (our multimedia stories)
We've woven together the late Irish poet's reading of his poem with his friends' photographs of the Celtic landscapes of the Connemara landscape he loved.
About the Image
John O'Donohue walks in the countryside near his boyhood home of Connemara, Ireland.
Share a Reflection
Thank you for the lovely broadcast with John O'Donohue. I was actually moved more by Krista's interview with him than by reading his Anam Cara.
In the interview, Celtic music was briefly highlighted. Have any of you delved into the music of Loreena McKennitt? I find her work to be deeply thoughtful and spiritual. Pieces such as Skellig and Dark Night of the Soul keep drawing me back for their moving musicality as well as their lyrics. I think an interview between Krista and Loreena would be awesome!
Just running in to let you
Just running in to let you know you have a brand new fan! Reading one post on your blog made
me enamored immediately. Really, you are great!
The invention of the digital
The invention of the digital audio player, commonly known as mp3 had revolutionized the music world.
This very portable, lightweight and affordable music gadget is overflowing the music industry.
In many places and instances, you will see people wearing earphones while walking,
doing workouts or traveling and these people are
surely listening to good music from their mp3 player 8GB.
These are no longer the gadgets specific to geeks, nerds and tech-savvy people.
It seems to be a must-have for everyone who has ears for music.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the piece on John O'Donohue, who ranks among Rumi and Hafiz in the spiritual resonance of his poetry. I have never, until today when I received the S.O.F newsletter, read anything written by O'Donohue, and I have been transformed by this single exposure.
Your work is vital.
Thank you.
-Lulu Steinberg
I am one of those who have been searching for a long time for my God. Left the Catholic faith at 18 and been on a search ever since. Ten years ago I found " A Course In Miracles." It wasn't until the past year, however, that I applied myself to the 365 day workbook and now am halfway through that.
This morning because of John O'Donohue it all finally crystallized for me. I wept for portions of the show because finally, finally it all started to make sense. It has been a long journey these past 40 years but I now believe that I do know God --Can now be comfortable that indeed--God is simply--Self--Not body--Not mind--Self.
It's been a long road. I am glad I took it----
Thanks for sharing so
Thanks for sharing so beautifully about your search and your discovery. This painful search which so many of us have to make is part of the process of becoming what we have always really been but have not been able to grasp until the scales have been lifted from our eyes. Grace be always with you.
John O'Donahue's reflections on beauty and landscape - inner and outer - this is where we intersect the divine. Thank you! I will read more of O'Donahue's writing.
It helped me to remember the spirit.
Thank you.
It helped to defuse some horrible anger and fear.
Krista Tippet is wonderful. But my goodness John O' Donohue is a
life saver.
How strange he died so young in his sleep. What a beautiful voice
and words he is responsible for.
Thank you again.
The program with John O'Donohue was especially inspiring since I have embarked on a journey toward love and wholeness. Being a poet myself,
and listening to "speaking of faith" has taken me deeper into myself and others. Listening to how others view faith and love enables me to have a more open and positive attitude toward my family and to the wider world. Thank you.
Thank you SoF for having John Odonahue on your show. For the past couple of years I have been in a search for my higher power and my purpose in this life.
After listening to this program I was enlightened and had my faith strenghthened to a much higher level. One of the reasons is something Mr. Odonahue said about inner strength. He reflected on a place deep inside every one of us where no outside forces can penetrate. He said that this part of us has never been wounded with any of lifes problems. I think he said that this is where our higher power lives within us.
I am sure that I am not remembering exactly how Mr. Odonahue put it but that is the way my heart took it. It has given me a new place within that I can draw strenght from.
Another wonderful thing I loved was his bringing together nature with his faith. I have always been one who can see the beauty in almost any landscape.
I have also recently been on a spiritual quest to find what my purpose is while I am here in this time. Right now I am in sales and for many many years I have been told that I have a way with people and a deep understanding of how people are feeling. Moreover I have been told that I have a way of comforting and service that is above and beyond. Sounds a bit like I am bragging on myself, I am only tring to say that maybe they are right and my purpose is to help people with this gift of understanding.
I am married with three children. My wife supports what is happening inside me but frankly is a bit apprehensive to me making any sudden career choices. So we (my wife and I) are trying very hard to become debt free in the next couple of years so that my choices in service might not be a burden on my family.
Well again thank you for putting Mr. John Odonahue into my life. I believe nothing is a coincedence.
Slowly searching,
Chi migwetch, thank you! What a wonderful discussion of language and meaning. I am a Native woman, mother, wife, and storyteller. I have long pondered the question of the connection between culture and language. How do they influence and inform each other? People who have lived for thousands of years in an arid, desert climate will by default develop language with completely different references, nuances, stories, and expressions of spirituality than those who live in an arctic or woodlands region. I believe that our stories are a kind of living energy that yearn to be told, and they wait for us to come along; we who will give them voice. What happens to those stories when they cannot be told in the language in which they were created? What is lost 'in translation'? Our stories, songs, and prayers contain deeply significant teachings that are subtly layered so that they unfold in accordance with each listener's path, experience, and desire to understand. So often, I have told a story-one that I have told many times-and I am struck with that "aha" moment; some previously unrecognized lesson is illuminated for me. I do programs for a wide variety of audiences, and it has been such a challenge to try to retain the essence of the stories while making them acceptable to audiences that are primarily non-Native. Traditional stories often involve scatological humor, death, sexuality...all of which are unacceptable in mainstream (non-Native) school programs, libraries, scout troops, etc. Krista speculated as to whether or not the loss of languages is a natural process and part of progress, technology, and a more unified world. I believe that the loss of languages is a consequence of cultural imperialism. Forbidding the use of native language is an effective means of wiping out indigenous culture. There is a deeper subtext to this process. Words are powerful and ancient, and they contain the knowledge and wisdom of a people. If you take away my language, in a way you take away my history, my foundation, my connection with my ancestors, my deepest identity.
I am a long time listener, and I have to say that I really, really enjoyed listening to, and using the amazing messages and themes contained within your program on Inner Beauty very recently.
I am involved in the Lutheran Kairos prison ministry in Southern California, where we conduct at our own cost what is effectively a three day Cursillo retreat for residents who seem ready to commit to changing their lives, and engaging in a program of self renewal and spiritual revival. In this program, groups of 35 Christian male volunteers from all denominations, work together with residents within the prison facilities to help them develop and achieve a new vision of their future lives, and see their past life more clearly.
I used the 'threshold' concept that was articulated in the interview, that of coming to and gradually moving into a new consciousness of the ever-present, unwounded self, as the theme of one of the fifteen talks and four meditations that are offered to the residents.
I just wanted to say an enormous "Thank you" to you all for the program, and to let you know how wonderfully useful and valuable your conversations with all of these diverse spiritual people can be. And in fact are. Your teams work on these programs is "invaluable" to me, and in my work with prison residents, has helped to save and profoundly change some lives, many of whom have now committed to dedicating part of their futures to being active in the future, helping other younger offenders to stay out of trouble when they get out
As a group of men after the Kairos weekend, we go back into each prison several times over the next year to re-affirm our commitment to the residents and give them an on-going and stable confidence in the sincerity of our mission and validity of their own efforts to change.
Thankyou, many times over
Geoff COrnish
I listen to it over and over again on my Ipod. I feel that it really helps me to feel peaceful. I listen over and over to other shows of yours but this one is amazing. Thank you for being there. You are the very best the media has to offer.
I learn something new from each new show and person you introduce to us out there in the land. I feel like it is spiritual time when I relax on the train and put this one show on espcially!
I'm 66, I work full-time as manager of a mental health program/volunteer project. www.compeer.org.
Will write more another time.
Fond regards to all staff, Sarah Nathan
-------------- keep up the good work.
I feel like it was years ago when I was on a car trip with my parents and we stumbled upon an interview with John O'Donoghue. My father was intrigued, I was captivated and my mother was suspicious. She said "Irish accents are so wonderful that they could sell anything and it sounded like poetry" so her heart was not set alight as mine was, listening to talk of the invisible mysteries. Today I was in a bookshop and though looking for another title I picked up Eternal Echos. Reading it and the back of Anam Cara I had the strong sense that this was the man I had heard speak years before. I sought out a recording so I could check this feeling I had and listened to your program Krista. Certainly it was him and I loved listening to you both. Such thoughtfulness, such beauty in the interview! Such wonderful use of words and descriptions of delicate and elusive ideas. Thank you. This makes my heart sing and weep with the knowledge of what is real and what is illusion.
For me, God is in the ocean that surrounds us all. As a child, being raised on an island, it transported me, literally and figuratively. I swam in its warm waves as early as I could walk. My home floated on it, for a time, and it provided my family's income. My father, the sailor, taught me to understand its tides and depths. I learned how to stay afloat on its surface and what lived in its depths below. He was married to it, somehow, and when his union with my mother ended, it was to the ocean that he returned to live, testament perhaps to his first true love. As I grew older, and moved from it, the mere picture of it reminded me of its omnipresence and endurance. I returned to it whenever I could, standing on its edge, eyes closed, recharging my soul with its smell and sound. I took my children to it, bathed them in its salty brine, teaching them to trust, love and respect it. We spent hours watching it froth with fury one day only to be crystalline calm the next. Ultimately, it claimed my father for its own, pulling him to its depths. It made sense somehow that he would become one with the sea, embraced eternally by her strength and beauty. I was not angry with it, because he loved the sea and so I released him to her care. When I stand on the shore now, it is with a deeper sense of understanding about the ebb and flow of the divine.
Gorgeous-thank you. A dark
Gorgeous-thank you. A dark beauty there.
I have to say just listening to John O'Donohue's story I was touch by
his connectiveness that I have felt many times with in
my life but have not always found a like avenue to explore
it even more. I will have to get his book Anam Cara and
see where it takes me.
When I first encountered John O'Donohue's Anam Ċara I had no name to give it and stumbled along until I discovered "Paraclete" which is Greek and literally means "called to one's side". But it has also come to mean "comforter", "other counselor", "advocate", etc.
God is revealed every night when I look into the limitless expanse of starry sky above me. Each day when I look into the soulful eyes of my fifth grade students I see God. When my faithful dog rests his head upon my knee, I feel God's heartbeat. My life is enriched with the beauty of music, nature, and human creativity. I live in beauty every day and feel blessed to be able to appreciate it.
To have beauty elevated beyond glamour, as this poet has expressed, was exhilarating to me. Hearing his much more authentic, comprehensive understanding of beauty and the importance of it in our daily lives gives me great hope for a more truly civilized world. Nothing makes me feel the presence of the Divine (?God) more fully than the beauty of the elements ~ wind, rain, sunshine, snow. Feeling my breath, seeing laughter, hearing compassionate connections between people, the soulful depth in the eyes of animals ~ all these beautiful "scenes" render me awestruck with the wonder of the Divine:) !
With another birthday approaching in a few days, 51 to be exact, I am reminded of the many mountains I have been around to gain the wisdom of God's unconditional love. We as humans are often so stubborn and fall into selfish desires. Beieving "our way" will bring us a favoured outcome. It is this attitude that creates a division in our soul. Not of God from us, but rather us from God.
They say wisdom comes with age, but I believe wisdom comes from experience. If it weren't for these mountains I wouldn't have been on my knees praying for guidance and strength. The challenges God has allowed in my life have not only kept me close to Him, but dependent on prayer.
I choose to take this uncondtional love into my lifes calling as a bodyworker. For 23 years I have been touching lives and creating change one body at a time. I receive more than I could ever give and THAT continues to reveal to me the beauty of divine love.
I still fall on my knees, but it is there that I feel the tallest. Age is relative. I am still a child in God's eyes with a few more mountains to climb. The beauty is that I am no longer afraid to admit I need help. Wisdom...or experience?
I LOVED Krista Tippett's interview of John O'Donohue. It touched my heart in so many ways and inspired me to learn all I can about him. Thank you so much for bringing his deep wisdom to life for me.
With deep love, respect and gratitude,
Angela mandato
Thank you VERY much for today's show, "The Inner Landscape of Beauty." I've been a fan of Ms. Tippett and her work for several years now, but have not heard a show for a number of months, maybe years, and in fact, listen to public radio much less frequently than I have in the past, more often listening to recorded books on my long commute. But, as fate would have it(?), I just happened to turn on WBEZ (Chicago) this morning, on my way to work, and after catching 15 minutes of BBC news, was so, so fortunate to hear Ms. Tippett's interview with John O'Donohue. I'd never been aware of Mr. Donohue, but his work, his insights, his answers to her terrific questions were truly remarkable, coming to me at a time when I'm wondering about my role and place in life, aka middle age. His poems, her questions, his thoughts, the music, the format...wow!! It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear, a wonderful inspiration, a reminder of what life is, why I'm hear, and where to re-focus my energies.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You've won back an ardent supporter, and now, subscriber.
This Sunday 28nov2010 right after thanksgiving day sunday. I heard part of Mr. Donohue's talk with the host. This is so much resonant with what I had reflected during this past year. Although my life is less in terms of dollar value since the change of the econonmy but I felt much richer and happier. In fact to have time to spend a holiday on the ground instead airport somewhere to find the right country currency for a payphone to call home; listen radio or reflect; and to have time to know the blessing I have. And most of all to experience and actually live to appreciate every moment and not to take anything for granted is best thing that ever happened to me in my life. Many thanks to you for the program. Thank you for today's talk. Sincerely, Rebecca guo
Hello, I would like to share how moved I was at this mornings program featuring the late poet John O'Donohue. I am not sure where to begin. Several of your recent shows have resonated with me. I am currently a PhD Student in Expressive Therapies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I will be researching the use of mandala as a reflective, visual narrative with adolescents who have a difficult time managing the complicated, emotional elements in life that throw them off balance. I would like to cite excerpts from the transcripts of this interview in a paper I am writing on creativity and development. I have been struggling with this topic because I often feel we try so hard to quantify and explain things in the West. We try so hard to put them in boxes so the explanation is neat and tidy. I work with children and adolescents who have acute psychiatric needs. As I listened to Mr. O'Donohue's comments of urban life and its bleakne ss, its lack of beauty, I came to wonder about this. I have several children who are truly able to find beauty and balance in their urban worlds. I have other who cannot and suffer in their world, often becoming victims because well, I am not sure why. I am curious about this and hope to explore this in the future. The essay I am writing will challenge the analysis of creativity, and ask why we cannot accept the mystery that is creativity in art, music, writing and craft. Are we uncomfortable with this? Ah I am so inspired by this podcast, thank you for making the transcript available so that i may ponder it further. I will credit On Being, Ms. Tippet and Mr. O'Donohue in the unpublished essay for my course work in accordance to APA guidelines, if that is okay. Thank you.
I found the Anam Cara discussion interesting.
Long before the concept of Anam Cara there was" Spiorad an Leanabh ata isteach"
Translated: the Spirit of the Child within, I.e. before we became the slave of Time.
Reference: go to dg-one.com
click on Child of the Ice
click on Look for short preview.
Beannacht De leat,
Tadhg Mac Carthaigh
I have been listening to John
I have been listening to John O for 20 years. I am a Sheehan with recent Kerry roots. I sensed that he channeled our elegant and earthy Irish spirit. He gave the world what he grew up with. So now you've helped me with one of his (our)well springs. Bless you. I will check it out.
I look for Beauty in the people around me, I smell The Presence in the fresh scent of pine, I delight in the taste of warm soup, shared; I see God in relationships between individuals, within the power and delicacy of Nature, in brilliant and subtle colors, in music heard and delivered. My religion is one of Beauty, and I seek it daily....
I am a middle aged white southerner from North Carolina and my friend is a decade younger native Beijing woman working on her dissertation in Los Angeles, California. Five years ago, we traveled together for our work, ate all our meals together and worked together for six months. We became close friends. So three years later when she mourned the loss of her father and then two years after that, she discovered she was three months pregnant while writing her dissertation, I could only think one thing: "Go to her". It made absolutely no sense. I live on the other side of the country and we are so different, but all I could do was make it so. I rearranged my work and it was much easier than I thought it would be. My husband was so supportive and then finally when the time came four months later to make arrangements, I tried to wriggle out of it by asking her if she really needed me? Her reply was an adamant YES! So I arrived November 26 at 10 PM supposedly a month before the baby was due to help complete her "nesting phase" and to attend birthing classes, when she awoke me on Sunday morning, just 30 hours after my arrival and still jet lagged, with "I think my water broke".
First off, I have never given birth and just had a hysterectomy in June. I thought my life would end without me catching a glimpse of the miracle of birth. "Push" will never mean the same thing to me! I was so privileged to be in the inner sanctum of that delivery room, I am moved beyond these words.
One week later as I listen to downloaded podcasts back in the real world, I am again pulled back to the miracle of life after changing diapers and cooking and cleaning non stop for a new mommy and baby for a week. Tensions can run high which is understandable, but we talk and share hopes and fears and tears. Then this morning, John O'Donohue's interview rang in my ear and I found this on the website: "I have spent time since pondering a wonderful statement he made, so true for me right now, that beauty isn't all about "nice, loveliness like" but a "kind of homecoming for the enriched memory of your unfolding life."
God as beauty is alive and well in LA today. Thank you God.
Cheers to love, gratitude and forgiveness!
Vivian Fulk
This Podcast was about a man named John O'Donohue who was formally a Catholic Priest for 19 years and by the sounds of things according to this podcast, he is now a Buddhist and a philosopher. He is also a poet and an author of a book called Anam Cara, which is Gaelic for "soul friend." Throughout this podcast, I did notice that this man believes in the Greek trait of the soul. This man believes that we are in the soul rather than the soul is in us. He says we can reach our soul through prayer, spirituality and love. These three things help us visit that sanctuary.
From what I can decipher from this podcast is that this guy is kind of about how we should just seek our own inner-vision about things because that is what this guy was talking about, his own ideas on life. Like one opinion he had was that he doesn't believe we are less capable of love and relationships compared to a hundred years ago. The idea behind this is that he says we desperately hang on to things that make us miserable. On the other hand he says children today go through a lot more question zones on just religion in general compared to years ago. This kind of goes against Kierkegaard's idea that we are all equally at a disadvantage of seeking Jesus and God, but maybe John is talking about the grand scheme of things as in religion as a whole. He also talks about spiritual guidance can help us unlock the invisible world which that idea right there proves that this man is all about seeking your inner-vision as in seeking for the truth. But you can also say that everybody basically seeks their own inner-vision. After all the man says that we are all artist. He says this because we are all ex babies that can dream and those we have a very imaginative mind. The reason why we probably do this is because of the statement he says in his book that we probably can all relate to, "It's strange to be here, the mystery never leaves you."
I listened to this interview while i ran by our little lake decatur today, in the stark, clear 20 degrees of a central illinois morning. my surroundings and the interview really hit just the right note, a true harmonic. I consider myself to be a Buddhist Witch (neopagan, wiccan whatever name one chooses). I'd never heard of Mr. O Donahue before this listening, but his sensibilities, struck me as things i've thought of before. From a young age, i recall being mesmerized by the local wilderness near our house- spending hours in the forest preserves in our far northwest chicago suburb.
From a Buddhist persepctive there is no 'God' or "prime mover,' but i do have, from the Tibetan Buddhist teachings i practice, a sense of the Divine; something that is beyond us, yet part of us and yet we are a part of it. This is what i see as the inner beauty and the beauty manifest in our world, about which Mr O Donahue was speaking. And of course, as a modern Witch or 'Wiccan,' i see, feel and experience the magick of the divine around us daily.... it all flows together for me, whether i'm running at the lake, working in my office or being with my family
Blessed Be
Dear Ms. Tippett, First - thanks for many an enlightening and thoughtful program. Now, I was just referred to your site by the Episcopal Church Publishing site while looking at Advent stuff - specifically your John O'Donohue interview, et al. I may have to spend the whole day here -- AND THAT MUSIC! So - my next April birthday being my 65th, it's high time this retired Episcopal priest hied himself off to Ireland and a retreat centre somewhere wherein to sit and absorb Celtic Spirituality. Perhaps you have some suggestions, please - or some contact suggestions? Thank you very much and seasonal blessings to you and yours, Courtney Shucker
Before listening to this Being broadcast, I had never heard of John O'Donohue or read any of his poetry or philosophy. I had also never thought of his idea which now, having been exposed to it, seems so simple and natural to me. The notion that beauty is an aspect of God, and an essential one at that, makes so much sense to me when considered in the context of my own life. Beauty found in nature is especially significant both in O'Dononhue's explanations and my personal interpretation. Although I have never been blessed with the opportunity to visit Ireland and experience the landscape, I understand from the natural beauty that I have experienced that it is really nothing other than an expression of God. I believe this true not only of landscape but of plant and animal life, lakes and rivers, and even of humans in a way. The part of this broadcast which stood out to me the most was the question that Krista Tippett asked of O'Donohue about people who do not have the type of beauty that he described "at hand." John's explanation was powerful to say the least, that urban landscapes and inner city surroundings "doubly impoverish" the poor. I could not agree more with Tippett's desire to "transport" people who have never seen the true beauty of nature, so that they can see and understand how much more there is to life and God than what they see on a daily basis. I believe that, as a person living in an aesthetically undesirable setting, taking a break from the monotony of daily life to go out and experience the outside world even for a short time can truly have healing and revitalizing results. I can relate O'Donohue's descriptions of the Irish countryside with my own experience of the clear skies and clean waters of Northern Minnesota and the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. Having been able to see even this amount of beauty in nature has truly been a blessing, and now having heard the incredible insight of the late John O'Donohue, I can appreciate this in a way that I never could have imagined before.
Thanks for the program on John Donohue. I particularly appreciated the discussion of the Greek word, "kaleo." In my studies, I discovered the connection between "kaleo" and the English word "holy." I expected John to go on to this connection, which would have fit with his words about "calling." He may do this in the extended interview, which I have not yet heard.
I have listened to Krista's interview with John ODonohue every morning since it first aired and every morning I hear yet another tidbit of wisdom which moves me to some insight or perspective of my world that I hadn't ever considered.
I especially appreciated ODonohue's comments on landscape and how beautiful landscape brings us to a deeper meaning in and of our lives. I spent 25 years living in the cold and emotionally barren landscape of New Hampshire. Then I moved to a cottage by the beach here in South Florida. Walking the beach every day has profoundly changed my life on many different levels. This is, in part, because the beach is my sacred place. We each have our sacred places where our hearts grow full and our souls rejoice.
Thanks Krista for your excellent show. I listen every week.
Jackson Dunes
Pug At The Beach
Delray Beach, Florida
One bright autumn day in 2009 I walked my dog through the hardwood forest behind my home and beyond through treed neighborhoods, drinking in the splendid colors on display. As i passed particularly remarkable trees I slowed my walk and remarked to myself, "Oh, it's so beautiful!" and "Ah, so beautiful." After many such comments, a response welled up within me, "Yes, my child, all for you!" My first reactions were fear of this presence within my mind, nakedness, shock! Gradually, i understood this to be an expression of divine love back to me - beauty pierced the fog of my existence and brought me in contact with God. The very next day I saw a stunning sunset and recognized it as a wink from God. These experiences proved to me God's manifestation through beauty. I feel blessed!
i was driving back to baton rouge from my sister's ranch in texas when i turned on the radio - which i never do anymore. i hit "scan" and i heard Krista's voice. i pushed "scan" again and did the full circle - in case i'm missing something else scan, which again led me back to Krista's voice. and John O'Donohue's voice - like a lullaby. and i listened. as i drove. i had never heard of "speaking of faith" or John O'Donohue so i was really soaking the whole program up, hanging on to every word, not wanting this to end, EVER. and i listened. and, in between, in the breaths, i reflected on my present life... being in recovery re seeking the spiritual connection with my higher power and having a relationship with a man who i love very much but who is unhealthy. and i thought about the photo he had recently sent to me via email - an enormous and gorgeous, serene sea turtle swimming along in a blue ocean. turtle = home. and then John said, "spirituality is the art of homecoming" and i smiled and gave a little prayer of thanks to the universe, to the people (like Krista) who follow dreams, to the men like John who bless our hearts. THANK YOU! OM!
What is spoken of as God by some, is beyond words for others. For me, a soaring hawk can be the voice of Our Creator. Beauty is not always easy to find... esp. in our war torn times. However, it is in the hardest of times that I stretch to find signs of The Creators gifts. And when I truly open myself to the possibilities, I find God is alive in a fist full of sand. A droplet of water on a blade of grass in a pristine alpine meadow, or an industrial vacant lot. It is in the act of asking to find beauty that I have found the Voice of Creation.
I discovered John O'Donohue after stumbling across a PBS special about him a few St. Patrick's Days ago. I began to look for more info on him and found The Inner Landscape of Beauty episode here - I've listened to both the edited and unedited versions a few times each now, as the topics and discussion have a wonderful flow that asks to be re-heard.
I find John O'Donohue's meditations and blessings to be very grounding and thought provoking, especially in his own voice. My only wish is that I discovered works earlier.
I've even named my genealogy blog Currach, with the words of his Beannacht in mind.
Dear Krista;
I have been a long time listener. Seasonal requirements of my employment require me to work on Sunday during winter, so I regard this show as my time for church during those dark months in particular. While many of your shows have moved me and given me much to contemplate, this show and this conversation moved me to tears of thankfulness,complex emotions and resonated with something very deep and sleeping in my soul. Thank you for such a wonderful time of thought, feeling and reflection. At the end, I looked to the heavens and said an "I love you" to those I have loved and lost in a way I have never done before, and as a sixty year old man, that is remarkable all by itself. I am very thankful that having missed the original broadcast, I had the good fortune to be where I was when this show aired a second time. Thank you for attempting to bring the light of our inner being always to the surface.
I wrote the following after listening to your interview w/ John O'Donohue this morning. An amazing blessing! Thank you
Thank you John!
I reflect on beauty..
on leadership...
on life..
in the workplace..
in the market
Beginning to put it all together,
leaving it all open..
cultivating love,
cultivating awareness,
cultivating wisdom...
the art of being in the presence
walking in it..
being absorbed.
leaving meaning
...while finding meaning.
mdg 1/29/2012
This was so incredibly moving. There's so much to take from this conversation, and I think I need to listen at least one more time to take from all that I could. There are two things I want to share that caught my attention in this listening.
The term "Anam Ċara" was a complete gift. In the tradition of Judaism that I practice, we have concept called a "chevruta," which is a spiritual partner. Sometimes a particular person is your chevruta for only a moment, and sometimes for life. I've wanted to bring this practice into my pantheistic spiritual community, Becoming, but the specificity of the Hebrew word was a barrier. They are very open to respectful incorporation of tools and techniques from different traditions -- but for some reason I decided that a "chevruta" was something that should not be borrowed into non-Jewish tradition. Now I have the word, Anam Cara, and it explains so closely the same idea. I am thrilled to bring the practice of "chevruta" into the Becoming community packaged in a wrapper that better fits the ethos of the community!
Somewhere in the interview, there was also a discussion of something from Meister Eckhart explaining that G!d/dess is always becoming and unbecoming. That too, was highly resonant with my work with the Becoming community.
Honestly, I was so moved that I posted this to my Facebook community for Peeling a Pomegranate (the umbrella under which I do most of my spiritual work and teaching), and asked them to listen and engage in a conversation around the core concepts.
I had the opportunity to listen to him read the poem - "Beannacht".
This poem - "Beannacht" was shared with me by a dear colleague of mine who knows my story - challenged life full of carrying much, weariness, and deep sadness. Every time I read this poem (it hangs next to my computer), I feel this hope rise within, strength from on High, an encouragement that I cannot describe. I feel enveloped by and with Grace and Love; and I am able to go on.
As the granddaughter of Irish immigrants, I've long loved the prose and poetry of John O'Donohue, and felt as if his placing of words, like the careful stacking of ancient stones in the walls his father built, were so familiar because of some shared Celtic DNA. But hearing his voice during Krista's interview was almost more than I could bear. It felt like home. It sounded like the echoes of a sea I've never tasted, but long for. Thank you Krista. Your questions were lovely, your gentle probing perfect for a conversation with this deeply spiritual visionary thinker. I have listened to your interview (broadcast and un-cut) many times now and have visited each link, music selection, and back story...I feel so blessed by this program. Although I never miss On Being (or the formerly SoF), and each one is inspiring, this program was deeply sacred for me. Thank you.
I first heard your interview with John O'D a few years (?) ago while going through a tough transition. His soothing words helped me to look out with eyes wide open and see immense beauty everywhere. I was inspired to write poetry and have sent his "Beannacht" poem paired with meaningful imagery to friends in need. He became my best friend that day, and his was the beauty that I have kept in my pocket. I have listened to his "Beauty" innumerable times and will never tire of this interview. Thank you for this and all that you do.
"Draw alongside the silence of stone
until its calmness can claim you..."
― John O'Donohue
They hover
over the sea
like ancient godmothers -
each stone,
each pebble,
each grain of sand,
find its
way home
to their
i wake from
a dream,
arms still wrapped around
a looming granite knee,
mist shrouded shoulders,
my heart
ebbing and
in and out,
bouncing like a small
child against the hip of
someone safe and
touching, touching,
touching to be
just to be sure
in my dreams,
they are mine
the cliffs
of moher
their undulating
curves hugging the edge of
a northern sea,
giving shape to the
face of
something beautiful,
fluid, mercurial, and as
tempermental as the colors
of slate, and
storm, and a blue without
a name,
only a sound...
it is the sound
of the primeval,
the weeping of the sea,
the keening of
a people
whose dreams are
woven in a
poet's words...
stacked like the granite stone walls
which sing of their
hope for boundaries that
hold them near...
for hearth and
home and the
right to
something deeper
than a name...
a granite
place of shale
and sandstone where
ancient mothers
dig their toes into
the core of
the earth
and the
sound of their
drop like
lullabies upon
the cliffs of
a place of
still water
center of
their souls
a place
where children with
eyes the color
of deep water
their cousins
sleep against
of knowing
they are
to the cliffs
of Moher
"you have traveled too fast
over false ground;
now your soul has come
to take you back...'"
― John O'Donohue
Kate Christie Mullane
Listening to Krista and Joh talk and explore and share on spirituality, aesthetics, music and so much more is a post-graduate course and a celebration of the mind all at the same time. I had heard the produced version of the show back when it was first broadcast, and today I listened to the unedited interview, which had it's own essential cadence and pace. John O'Donahue has become a passion and a favorite for me. And Krista is this senior citizen's mentor and guide and model of what a life of the mind can be. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am a Quaker, a religion with one simple idea - that there is that of God in everyone. I am an artist. I experience the God that I seek in everyone as their inner beauty. I am a teacher, so I create a safe space for people's unique beauty, for the Creator within them, to be expressed. I have been doing this for 30 years with 2 year-olds to 90-year olds, in inner cities and rural countrysides. Everyone I've worked with has created unique, soul-filled images. In 2011, I made a mural called "We Must Care for the Earth" with special needs college students at Grant Grover School of the College of Marin in Kentfield, California. I asked the young people what they loved and cared about the most and incorporated their ideas into an 8' x 12' painting that we created together. Some of these young people will never walk or talk. To be with them is to be in the heart of the mystery of God's creation. Why are some of us able to be Olympic athletes and others wheelchair bound for a lifetime? What does it mean to be human? In co-creating with these young people, we made an image that was bigger than all of us, reflecting their inner beauty. We made a movie of the project, filmed by the students. One autistic boy loved the Beatles and wanted "Here Comes the Sun" as the soundtrack. EMI gave us permission to use the song. I hope you experience God as beauty when you watch it.
As I had a glorious walk in the desert, I listened to this conversation with John O'Donohue. As I listened, I was reminded, uplifted, inspired and transformed. My heart opened. My experience is hard to describe as it transcended words. I am very grateful for this conversation and appreciate the gifts that Krista brings to the world.
I have listened to this interview many times and am drawn to it especially when I miss my homeland! It is powerful,moving and transforms you, one of the most powerful elements of it for me was the discussion of "ainm chara" soul friend...one whom you can share the most innermost self.
Is beauty not in the eye of the beholder? I think it is. I agree that the West coast of Ireland and Scotland is my style of beauty. What about those who love the look and feel of steel and concrete in the city? Could they not find surreal comfort there; Just a thought. I think of yesterday morning; there was fog the night before and the morning brought this beautiful frost to the trees. My drive this morning was amazing. I would relate the feelings I felt and the calmness I had on my drive to work and the 7 days that the lady Mr. O'Donohue talked about, spent to recover her stress and physical troubles she was having. I felt refreshed, at ease, and ready to take on the world.
It will be interesting to read John O'Donohue's book. He seems to have an open idea for many religious beliefs. He mentions Christianity and Buddhism and what he likes about them. I kind of felt that he grew up with one set of beliefs, had them for many years, and then had his eyes opened to other possibilities and what else the world and philosophy had to offer him.
Is beauty not in the eye of the beholder? I think it is. I agree that the West coast of Ireland and Scotland is my style of beauty. What about those who love the look and feel of steel and concrete in the city? Could they not find surreal comfort there; Just a thought. I think of yesterday morning; there was fog the night before and the morning brought this beautiful frost to the trees. My drive this morning was amazing. I would relate the feelings I felt and the calmness I had on my drive to work and the 7 days that the lady Mr. O'Donohue talked about, spent to recover her stress and physical troubles she was having. I felt refreshed, at ease, and ready to take on the world.
It will be interesting to read John O'Donohue's book. He seems to have an open idea for many religious beliefs. He mentions Christianity and Buddhism and what he likes about them. I kind of felt that he grew up with one set of beliefs, had them for many years, and then had his eyes opened to other possibilities and what else the world and philosophy had to offer him.
One bright autumn day in 2009 I walked my dog through the hardwood forest behind my home and beyond through treed neighborhoods, drinking in the splendid colors on display. As i passed particularly remarkable trees I slowed my walk and remarked to myself, "Oh, it's so beautiful!" and "Ah, so beautiful." After many such comments, a response welled up within me, "Yes, my child, all for you!" My first reactions were fear of this presence within my mind, nakedness, shock! Gradually, i understood this to be an expression of divine love back to me - beauty pierced the fog of my existence and brought me in contact with God. The very next day I saw a stunning sunset and recognized it as a wink from God. These experiences proved to me God's manifestation through beauty. I feel blessed!
As the granddaughter of Irish immigrants, I've long loved the prose and poetry of John O'Donohue, and felt as if his placing of words, like the careful stacking of ancient stones in the walls his father built, were so familiar because of some shared Celtic DNA. But hearing his voice during Krista's interview was almost more than I could bear. It felt like home. It sounded like the echoes of a sea I've never tasted, but long for. Thank you Krista. Your questions were lovely, your gentle probing perfect for a conversation with this deeply spiritual visionary thinker. I have listened to your interview (broadcast and un-cut) many times now and have visited each link, music selection, and back story...I feel so blessed by this program. Although I never miss On Being (or the formerly SoF), and each one is inspiring, this program was deeply sacred for me. Thank you.
Hearing O'Donohue speak so
Hearing O'Donohue speak so lovingly of the Western Irish Landscape threw me back in time to my own experience with that gorgeous and ethereal landscape. He spoke with such simplicity, and everything he said make perfect sense. I was saddened to hear that he has passed from this world, but am grateful he has left such a profound and poetic beauty behind in his works. Truly an inspiring and amazing poet.
This Irish poet was unknown
This Irish poet was unknown to be before I met him here. This interview has blown me away; what a beautiful, wise, passionate man he was. Thank you for bringing him to your audience.
I am a fan of your interviews, they offer me a lot, most of all solace and a sense of kindred spirits.
Thank you.
Ria from Belgium
Had the good fortune to hear
Had the good fortune to hear this unbelievably beautiful exchange of ideas and wisdom in a drive on Thanksgiving day, yesterday! Completely enthralled by the gorgeous, melodious sound of someone who knows so well his own inner promptings, and share with such ease a spiritual awareness we can only hope to obtain.
I love John's writing and
I love John's writing and documentary. I miss his presence with us. Has he any other books besides the wonderful "Anam Cara"? Is there another person like him anywhere where a similar way of seeing the world, the soul, life? Thanks you.
Robert, he definitely wrote
Robert, he definitely wrote more books! I recently saw that you can find most of them at www.johnodonohue.com in either print or audio. I personally love hearing him narrate the books more than reading them as he's such a wonderful speaker. Not sure if you will see this message, but if not, I hope you've at least tried looking him up at any online bookstore and found more of his writing to enjoy. I know what you mean about how unique his vision was. Thomas Merton was a very different person/writer, but he comes to mind as another refreshing person with depth and generosity of spirit. I think one could say he was sort of a kindred spirit. Also, as you probably know, John O'Donohue was greatly inspired by Meister Eckhart's old writings. I discovered those a few years before discovering John O'Donohue, and I can see that they, too, were kindred spirits, so to speak. Hopefully the book John was writing on him will eventually be published.
I love John O'Donohue Thank
I love John O'Donohue Thank you for this and helping keep his beautiful spirit alive
John O'Donohue's poetry
John O'Donohue's poetry touches me like no other words have done. I resonate with his words, and, the sound of his deep, and loving voice.
I found this through a link
I found this through a link had on Facebook. She had posted it as a memorial to John. Thank you Kirista for the beautiful interview. Hearing his beautiful voice speaking the wisdom of the ages was so moving and inspiring. I felt "lifted" after the interview was over and wanted to consciously move forward to help others do what they love; to use their gifts. It's so important to choose to make time to go to that quiet place within and revitalize our spirits so that we can be beauty in this world through our small acts of kindness and love. Remembering a soul of a beauty.......
Thank you for this broadcast.
Thank you for this broadcast. I'm just getting into listening to John O'Donohue on audio (complete collection on Audible) after discovering and exploring the teachings of his good friend, David Whyte. John O'Donohue is really giving life to my inner world. What a blessing to find the On Being recording amidst my other listening. Much appreciated!
It's funny, I discovered
It's funny, I discovered David Whyte after hearing his intro to the John O'Donohue collection (which I caved to and downloaded after having tried to get all John's recordings previously but missing a few). He says nothing about himself or his own work, but I appreciated the profound things he said and could see what a kindred spirit he was. Actually, he'd be an excellent guest for On Being, no?
Exquisite poetry by John O
Exquisite poetry by John O'Donohue....love listening to him......lovely interview.. Thanks.
I met John three times in
I met John three times in three years ... once in Belfast - as he took part in a Saturday talk. It was just after lunch ...before he started his afternoon talk. I so wanted to say hello but didn't want to bother him. I sat on one of the seats towards the side of the small stage area. I was aware that someone was sitting just to my right ...thinking it was a friend of mine. I felt a hand resting on my shoulder and smiled and turned around...it was John O'Donohue .. he smiled ..and so did I ... he then got up to do his talk! I smile even now when I think of that ... so so special! :)
I met John in Ireland in 1995
I met John in Ireland in 1995 when he led the first 5 days of our 19 day group with David Whyte. John took us to the Burren, to the house where he was born, we met his mother, climbed Maumeen, to the edge of Inis Mor Dun Aengus...and to his cottage which was being renovated in Connemara where we gave him a house warming...from that time, John has shaped and changed my life -- in workshops, retreats, and especially the time he spent with my by a lake in the Catskills, when I was in deep grief after my husband died. He continues to shape my life each day. What a true blessing in my life.
I have read and re read John
I have read and re read John O'Donohue's To Bless the Space Between Us, and continually discover new insights into the tides of our human experiences.
I keep his book on my nightstand, looking forward to ending my day with this nourishment for my soul. His prayerful prose and poetry, continues to open my eyes and lifts my spirit. His keen sense of holiness seems to permeate and infuse each line with a reminder that, to be still and listen, is to hear the spirit speaking to our soul.
My heart sings when I listen
My heart sings when I listen to this program. I will never grow tired of it


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A new platform for digital comics is exploring the world of Tolkien while expanding the very idea of what a comic book can be.
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Marcelo Errera's curator insight,
August 17, 2014 11:12 AM
Trees emerged everywhere. They continue to amaze us by its design.
Mario Pires's curator insight,
December 24, 2014 9:53 AM
"What is also remarkable about the "Flickr strategy" above is the implicit understanding that images contain a single, direct message, and that what is photographed, and how it is photographed, will determine whether an image is "successful" in supporting the US Army "mission". In other words, photographs can only be understood in one manner: the intended manner." |
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January 26, 1:19 PM
"Lance Weiler explores how technology is transforming the art of storytelling."
Kajsa Hartig's curator insight,
January 26, 3:08 PM
'Together storytellers, game developers, makers, creative technologists and experience designers will experiment with new forms and functions of storytelling. '
Vivalist's curator insight,
January 26, 4:50 PM
Columbia joins the MIT and Duke University in the search for 21st century storytelling. It is interdisciplinary, that's one thing. There are probably a lot of other academic programs in other universities as well. It's exciting to see interdisciplinary programs such as Duke' GreaterThanGames initiative give birth to awesome projects. |


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Chelsea Collection
The Chelsea Collection brings the modern/contemporary look of today without losing the quality and craftsmanship of the past. This set is made from fine solid oak in a midnight finish and is built to last unlike many modern products today. All case pieces feature full extension ball bearing drawer slides with fully finished interior and exterior drawers, and are topped off with stylish brush nickel hardware. A storage bench, vanity and under bed storage unit are also available with this collection.
- Color: Midnight #17
- Wood Species: Oak


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What Is Hib Disease? | What Is the Hib Vaccine? | Who Should Be Vaccinated and When? | What Are the Risks Associated With the Hib Vaccine? | Who Should Not Be Vaccinated? | What Other Ways Can Hib Disease Be Prevented Besides Vaccination? | What Happens in the Event of an Outbreak?
Haemophilus influenzae type B, or Hib, is a bacteria that can cause infections. It usually occurs in children under five years old. Hib can lead to:
People can carry Hib bacteria and not know it. These germs can spread from person to person. They usually spread through droplets from an infected person. Sickness will probably not occur when the germs stay in the nose and throat. They can cause serious problems when they spread into the lungs or the bloodstream.
Before the vaccine, severe Hib disease affected about 20,000 United States children under age five.
Symptoms include:
The Hib vaccine is made from inactive parts of the bacteria. It is injected into the muscle.
In general, children should get doses at:
In some cases, your child may only need three doses. This depends on which brand the doctor uses.
If a dose is missed, talk to the doctor. There are different catch-up schedules depending on the brand and your child's age.
This vaccine is not routinely recommended for children aged five years. However, it may be given if your child was not vaccinated before and your child has certain conditions, such as:
Like any vaccine, the Hib vaccine can cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. Most people do not have any problems. Some people have redness, warmth, or swelling near the injection site, as well as a fever.
Acetaminophen is sometimes given to reduce pain and fever that may occur after getting a vaccine. In infants, the medication may weaken the vaccine. Discuss the risks and benefits of taking acetaminophen with the doctor.
The following people should not get the vaccine:
Antibiotics may be given to certain infants and young children who have not been vaccinated and have been exposed to the disease.
In the event of an outbreak, public health officials will determine who is at risk and vaccinate people.


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The term "metabolism" encompasses far more than simple weight gain, weight loss, or calorie burning. It refers to chemical reactions occuring within the body that ultimately provide it with the components required to sustain life.
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Join other enthusiasts for a fun-filled, lively evening.
New players are always welcome - please stop by! Non-instructional; no registration necessary.
Family Read Time - read the award-winning book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick. This program is for children in Grades 3-5 with an adult. Read the book together at home and come to the Library on Weds. evening Nov. 6 at 6:45 for a discussion about the story and its characters. Return on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6:00pm to watch the movie and have some pizza. Is it true that the book is always better than the movie?
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Do you love to knit, crochet, sew? Share your crafts, inspiration, and tips with others! Non-instructional.
Welcome novelists, sci-fi enthusiasts, dreamers, and anyone else who has a story to tell. Write, illustrate and relate your fictional work in any way you are inspired by the theme "Tell a Story to the Community". Pick up your notebook at a brief informational session. All Marble Fiction books created will be added to the Library's collection for the community to borrow.
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Tyler Seguin extended his point streak to six games on Saturday.
Mike Fisher (lower body) won't play in game three against Chicago on Sunday.
Antoine Vermette will play in game three of Chicago's best-of-seven series against the Nashville Predators.
Craig Anderson was the first goaltender off the ice during Ottawa's morning skate on Sunday.
Nicklas Backstrom found himself back on the first line in practice Saturday.
Jakob Silfverberg netted the game-winning goal in a 2-1 triumph against the Jets on Saturday night in Game 2 of their first-round series.
Adam Pardy scored the lone goal for the Jets in their 2-1 loss to the Ducks in Game 2 of their first-round series Saturday night.
Sidney Crosby scored twice to lead the Penguins to a 4-3 win against the Rangers in Game 2 of their first-round series Saturday night.
Mathieu Perreault is in the lineup for the Jets on Saturday night in Game 2 against the Ducks.
Sabres general manager Tim Murray said that he is "disappointed for our fans" in not landing the first-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
The Edmonton Oilers have have won the NHL Draft Lottery, likely meaning Connor McDavid will go there with the first-overall pick in June 26-27 draft.
The buzz is starting to get louder around Mike Milbury's name as a coaching fit in Boston, according to HNIC's Elliotte Friedman.


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Kilbuck Creek
Located in the heart of the mid-west in Monroe Center, Illinois, just a 20 minute drive south from Rockford, a quiet, majestic dwelling sits among the trees that seclude Kilbuck Creek from sight of even its closest neighbors. This secluded sanctuary in the wilderness could be the location of your upcoming wedding, family reunion, church or business retreat or romantic getaway.
CITY:Monroe Center
Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Camp Resort
412 sites 219 W/E/S, 165 W/E, 12 primative, 10 rustic cabins, 6 rental trailers, open all year, 2 heated pools, spa, hayrides, store, snackbar, laundry, firewood, ice, lp gas, gameroom, minigolf, etc. Free wireless Internet. 20 mi sw of Aurora.
Shabbona Lake State Park Campground
Shabbona Lake State Park Campground is a semi-wooded area with 150 Class A sites with electricity, showers, vehicular access, boat launch, playground, kid's fishing area, and The Camp Store. Bring your own poles or use The Camp Store's loaner fishing poles! We also have paddle boats that you may rent to enjoy a scenic view of Shabbona Lake. Each campsite has a gravel parking space, picnic table, and a campfire ring. Shabbona Lake State Park has two cabins available for rent. The cabin consists of two rooms that total approx. 200 square feet. Cabins are located near the shore of the lake and are fairly secluded.
Stonehouse Park - RV & Campground
The park has approximately 100 water, electric and sewer hookups. Each electric hookup has 20amp, 30amp and 50amp service. These hookups can be used with RV's, vendor vehicles, booths, tent or camp setups, and other purposes. Ample space is available for open or primitive camping. Rates may vary depending on group size and facility requirements.
Rochelle Railroad Diamond Lodge
The Rochelle Diamond Lodge is a charming lodge located just 50 yards from the Rochelle Train Park. Three Guest Suites are currently available and an actual caboose is on site and being renovated and will be available to stay in soon! The Lodge's comfortable and tasteful decor will make you feel right at home. It's all about relaxation, and who would want it any other way? Picnic tables in the back are the perfect spot to barbeque or enjoy a nice tall glass of lemonade in the summer and enjoy your privacy taking pictures in front of the on-site caboose! RAILFANS: Enjoy your day at the Railroad Park and then just walk back across the tracks to your Suite!
Sycamore RV Resort
Sycamore RV Resort offers water, electric and sewer hookups on shaded and open sites. Picnic tables and fire rings are at each site. Some other amenities are clean restrooms, hot showers, laundromat, Campground Store, two fishing lakes, swimming beach, paddle boats, row boats, pedal karts, sand volleyball and more!
Lord Stocking's Bed & Breakfast
Thee-story, Victorian home decorated with original antique furnishings. Mendota has parks and three museums. Starved Rock State Park is close by. Please call for reservations.
Mendota Hills Campground
Rustic, laid back family campground. Hayrack rides, horseshoes, swimming, frog jumping, convenient store, and church.
O'Connell's Yogi Bear Jellystone Park
287 acres of clean camping. Large pull-thru site with 50 amp electric available. Daily activities June-August. Swimming, mini golf, water slide, 5 comfort stations, laundromats, and Yogi Bear. Rustic cabins and furnished park model trailers, and cindy's deluxe cottage in a clean family campground.
Holiday Inn Express
The Holiday Inn Express Rochelle is conveniently located to many of Rochelle area attractions and cities. We are the choice of many visitors who want to be near the cities of Rockford, Sycamore, Dixon and DeKalb, Illinois, which are only a short drive away. The hotel is also only minutes away from many area attractions including Northern Illinois University, Kishwaukee College, Magic Waters Water Park, Rochelle Rail Fan Park, and some of the best golf in Illinois.
Super 8 Rochelle
63 rooms are available. CableTV with HBO, queen and king size beds and air conditioning . Restaurants nearby. Reasonable rates.
Comfort Inn and Suites Rochelle
The only deluxe-service hotel in the charming city of Rochelle, Illinois, the refreshed Comfort Inn & Suites delivers a unique blend of friendly Midwest personality and fast-forward hospitality. For business and vacation, our contemporary lifestyle hotel offers a comfortable and convenient setting for all your travels in Northern Illinois. Whether planning a corporate connection, a romantic getaway or a train spotting adventure, you'll find our Rochelle hotel is perfect for working and playing.
Hillcrest Motel
Featuring 10 rooms with new electric heat and air conditioning for very reasonable prices. TV in each room.
Hide-A-Way Lakes Camping & Recreational Park
Open all year. Nestled on 150 acres are wooded and secluded campsites with Morgan Creek meandering throughout, surrounded by several lakes. There are more than 5,000 feet of frontage on the beautiful Fox River with primitive camping, trailer rentals, yearly sites and full hook-ups for rigs of all sizes.
Best Western Timber Creek Inn & Suites & Convention Center
This property is perfect for the business and leisure guest. They offer 100 mid-scale guest rooms and over 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. A variety of spacious guest rooms are available, including luxury suites and whirlpool rooms. Dine in their Top Shelf restaurant. Enjoy their indoor swimming pool and spa, arcade and their 24-hour fitness room. They also offer a free continental breakfast and free high-speed Internet. Their multi-functional convention center is ideal for weddings, parties, reunions, conferences, and corporate training. They are located minutes from major attractions such as the Farnsworth House, the Sandwich Fairgrounds, the Historic Opera House, Antique Market, the Old Barn Museum, and Silver Springs State Park.
Hampton Inn Yorkville
77 guest rooms, including single-room and whirlpool suites, indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness room, business center, On the House™ hot breakfast, meeting space and free wired and wireless Internet. Near Raging Waves Waterpark, Yorkville canoe/kayak chute and more.
Red Roof Inn
Red Roof Inn located in Rochelle offers 59 spacious rooms, whirlpool suites, cable and movie channels, coffee makers, free high-speed wireless internet, microfridge in every room, voicemail and pet friendly. Continental breakfast, large indoor pool area featuring a whirlpool, exercise room, outdoor patio area. For small meetings and intimate receptions we offer facilities for groups of up to 25.
Sandwich Fairgrounds
200 RV parking spaces, 110, 50 and 30 amp hook-ups, water and dump station. RV camping $15 per night April 1-Aug. 14 & Sept. 16-Oct. 30 and $30 per night Aug. 15-Sept. 15. Tent camping is allowed. Grills allowed but no open fires.
Parkside Bed and Breakfast
A contemporary bed and breakfast located in the heart of historic DeKalb County. The cottage has been newly renovated and features carefully chosen furniture, decor and attention to detail. Relax into the cushy softness of the luxurious queen bed. Settle into the soft, leather recliner or love seat and watch a movie. Walk outside and enjoy the coolness of the shade from the tall Maples and explore the lovingly tended gardens. The Parkside Bed and Breakfast is the perfect destination for travelers looking for a weekend getaway or just relaxation and comfort while on an extended business stay. Amenities include: Breakfast included, kitchenette, walk-in shower, Wi-Fi Access
Jane Fargo Hotel
In the tradition of a small, comfortable hotel, all of their guests feel like executives. They are located in beautiful downtown Sycamore making them within walking distance of attractions, dining, and shopping. Jane Fargo Hotel's guest rooms include, master, corner and lofted bedroom suites. Featuring whirlpool baths. Meeting rooms up to 10. Amenities include: Free Continental Breakfast, Banquet Facilities, Mitchel Lounge, Wi-Fi Access, Meeting room space up to 300 people
Super 8 - Yorkville
The Super 8 has 42 rooms, some with whirlpool tubs. Complimentary continental breakfast, free local calls, cable TV. Major credit cards accepted.
Red Roof Inn & Suites
Conveniently located near Northern Illinois University, offering attractive accommodations with a country inn setting. Kitchenette facilities available for long term stays. Many restaurants and entertainment facilities within walking distance. Meeting room available for up to 220. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Outdoor Pool, Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Sauna, Pet Friendly, Banquet Facilities, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center
NIU Holmes Student Center
Located on the Northern Illinois University Campus. Everything from twin rooms to suites. Stay the night, or extended stays. They provide their guests not only a clean, quiet & friendly atmosphere, but also a variety of In-House Restaurants. Meeting room available for up to 2,200. Amenities include: Handicapped Accessible, Compact Refrigerator & Microwave in all rooms, Free Continental Breakfast, Banquet Facilities, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Guest Laundry
Quality Inn
The Quality Inn is ideally located one mile from historic downtown Sycamore. Your free continental breakfast is the perfect way to start your day! After along day, enjoy a refreshing swim in their indoor heated pool and a relaxing soak in the hot tub. Business travelers will welcome additional conveniences like free high-speed internet access to copy and fax services. The meeting facilities are capable of handling up to 25 people for events and banquets. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Indoor Pool with Spa/Hot Tub, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center
Motel 6
At Motel 6, they welcome their guests 24 hours a day with a comfortable, pet friendly environment at the lowest rates of any national chain. Relax and enjoy all that Motel 6 has to offer like a free continental breakfast, kids stay for free, conference rooms for up to 10 people, and more! Amenities include: Fitness Center, Handicapped Accessible, Pet Friendly, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Guest Laundry
The Homestead Bed & Breakfast
Situated on beautifully landscaped grounds featuring a labyrinth and hedge maze this 1854 Italianate country cottage is reminiscent of rural Tuscan villas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guests can choose from five bedrooms, with each room/bath combination offering a different level of amenities. The Homestead is ideal for small executive, group and personal retreats, a weekend getaway, an intimate wedding, commitment ceremony, renewal of marriage vows or other special events, bridal and baby showers, romantic getaways, girls weekend escapes, honeymoons, reunions with friends and family, and for business travelers. Our unique property provides the ideal setting to inspire creative minds and rejuvenate tired bodies. Group tours and catered lunches & dinners can be arranged.
Country Inn & Suites - Sycamore
The Country Inn & Suites hotel in Sycamore is less than two minutes from beautiful downtown Sycamore and just five minutes from Northern Illinois University. Our hotel's location in Sycamore provides quick and convenient access to area shopping, dining, entertainment, business and more. With its charming staff, modern services and convenient amenities like free breakfast, indoor pool and complimentary high-speed internet access, the Country Inn & Suites provides guests a carefree stay. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Guest Laundry
Super 8 DeKalb
Built in 1993 located just off the toll-way. Two minute drive to golf courses, downtown and historical DeKalb. Very convenient location with a friendly staff eager to help guests. Spa suites make a perfect weekend getaway. Amenities include: Indoor Pool, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Pet Friendly, Wi-Fi Access, Guest Laundry
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Sycamore
69 rooms, all queen and king beds for your comfort. Located close to Northern Illinois University, Texas Roadhouse, and Walmart. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Refrigerators & Microwaves in all rooms.
Baymont Inn & Suites - DeKalb
Feel right at home when you stay at the Dekalb hotel. They offer an inviting atmosphere and friendly service, and their comfortable hotel rooms help you get plenty of rest. Stay connected to home and the office with free Wi-Fi Internet access throughout their hotel. Keep up your workout routine in their gym, and enjoy a refreshing swim in the indoor heated pool. Free continental breakfast awaits you each morning in our Baymont Breakfast Corner, and kids 17 and under stay free with an adult at our pet-friendly hotel. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Pet Friendly, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center
Esther's Place - A Fiber Arts Studio
Handmade items from local wool - classes, gifts and more. Bed and breakfast service available.
CITY:Big Rock
Hampton Inn & Suites - DeKalb
Located just moments from Northern Illinois University, with easy access to I-88 and the Historic Lincoln Highway (Route 38), the Hampton Inn hotel in DeKalb, IL, offers a comfortable base for guests traveling on business or vacationing in DeKalb, Illinois. The hotel is near golf courses and shops, restaurant and pubs in quaint downtown DeKalb and Sycamore. Stay connected with free WiFi, work in comfort at the ergonomic desk or watch movies on the HDTV. Sleep soundly on the clean and fresh Hampton bed® before waking to Hampton's free hot breakfast buffet, offering a variety of hot and cold favorites. Exercise at this hotel in DeKalb, IL, in the free fitness center or relax in the indoor swimming pool. Buy snacks from the 24-hour Suite Shop, and enjoy free tea and coffee, and information about what to see and do in DeKalb, in the welcoming lobby any time of the day or night. Stay connected with useful services and amenities in the free 24-hour business center or hold a successful event for up to 30 people in the 627 sq. ft. meeting room. Amenities include: Suite Shop, Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Complimentary Continental "On the House" Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Meeting Room up to 32, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Guest Laundry, Refrigerators and microwaves in every room
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- Attorney General Brad D. Schimel
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MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ellen K. Berz, after presiding over an evidentiary hearing, found probable cause that Anthony Jones, 54, is a sexually violent person. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a petition under the state's sexual predator law against Jones on August 9, 2013.
Chapter 980 of the Wisconsin Statutes relates to the control, care and treatment of sexually violent persons. Under Wisconsin law, a person may be subject to a civil commitment when the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has a mental disorder, and is dangerous to others because the mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence. A civil commitment is defined in Wisconsin law as commitment to the custody and care of the Department of Health Services for control, care, and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.
According to the DOJ petition, Jones was convicted of three counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault/Use of Force with increased penalty for Habitual Criminality in Dane County on November 29, 1993. Jones was sentenced to 15 years probation, sentence withheld. Following the revocation of his probation, Jones was sentenced to 10 years in the Wisconsin State Prison System on Count One, consecutive to his parole revocation in another case, and 10 years in the Wisconsin State Prison System on Count Two and Count Three, concurrent, on November 14, 2001. Jones was released from the Department of Corrections on August 13, 2013, and is now detained at a Department of Health Services facility to await trial on the petition.
The state's petition alleges that Jones suffers from a mental condition that predisposes him to engage in acts of sexual violence. The petition also alleges that Jones is dangerous as his mental disorder makes it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence. A petition is only an allegation and a finding of probable cause only allows the state's case to move forward. Jones is legally presumed not to be a sexually violent person unless and until the state proves him to be a sexually violent person at a trial.
Assistant Attorney General Rebecca R. Weise represents the state in this case.


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Years Archived:
Recurring Themes: Fake Viral Images, Photojournalism Fakery, Digital Plastic Surgery, Politics, Very Large Animals
Techniques of Fakery: Color Adjustment, Composites, Cropping, Deleted Details, Misleading Captions, Staged Scenes
Recurring Themes: Fake Viral Images, Photojournalism Fakery, Digital Plastic Surgery, Politics, Very Large Animals
Techniques of Fakery: Color Adjustment, Composites, Cropping, Deleted Details, Misleading Captions, Staged Scenes
The Hoax Photo Archive — A Gallery of Photo Fakery Throughout History
Recently Added Photos
The Ultimate Houseboat. (2014) The boat is a VARD Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel. In real life it does not carry a house on its helipad. The composite image was created by a Norwegian construction firm as a humorous way to illustrate its campaign urging people to "Realize your dream home in the New Year!" The image subsequently began circulating online, captioned as the "ultimate houseboat." More…
A Man's Portrait Retouched. (1895) In their 1895 work Photography: Artistic and Scientific, authors Robert Johnson and Arthur Brunel Chatwood offered an example of how retouching could improve a portrait. They also defended the practice, writing: "that judicious retouching is a very great advantage we have no doubt whatever; it is an absolute necessity, in our opinion, in order to obtain the best result, which is admittedly the object of all art." More…
Orphaned Syrian Boy Sleeping Between his Parents' Graves.. (Jan 2014) The photo, as captioned, tugged at the heartstrings. So it was no surprise that it quickly went viral. But it was soon revealed to be a staged shot taken by a photographer in Saudi Arabia as part of a conceptual art project. The graves were fake, and the boy was the photographer's nephew. More…
Angolan Witch Spider. (2011) The Internet claims this spider was spotted on the side of a house in Texas and "it took several gun shots to kill it." In reality, this image is the creation of artist/photographer Paul Santa Maria, who took a photo of a normal-sized wolf spider outside his Florida home and then used Photoshop to expand it to gigantic proportions.
Brady Yawning. (2011) Circulating online since early 2012, with captions such as "Dogception" and "Perfect Timing Picture". Many assume the framed picture of the dog yawning in the background was digitally added. It wasn't. The shot was taken by photographer Jill Maguire in late 2011, who explains on her Flickr account that it's an unphotoshopped photo of her dog Brady yawning in front of a framed print of himself yawning. More…
Roosevelt Rides A Moose. (1912) Roosevelt ran for President in 1912 as the candidate of the Progressive Party, popularly known as the "Bull Moose Party." This image of Roosevelt appearing to ride a moose ran in the New York Tribune several months before the election. It was intended as a humorous photo fake depicting the "Race for the White House." In the 21st Century this image has circulated widely online, where many people have mistaken it for a photo of a real-life scene, which it is not. More…
Hercules, the World's Biggest Dog. (2007) The massive dog in this photo is not named Hercules. It hasn't been deemed World's Biggest Dog by Guinness World Records. Nor is it an English Mastiff. However, all this incorrect info often circulates with the image. The identity and owner of the dog remains unknown. Its size here is presumed to be a result of image manipulation. However, other images show the same dog massively large. So there's a chance the dog's size is genuine. More…
The Cottingley Fairies. (1917-1920) Two young girls used paper cutouts to create a series of images of "fairies" while playing in the garden of a Cottingley village home. Photographic experts examined the pictures and declared them genuine. Spiritualists promoted them as proof of the existence of supernatural creatures, and despite criticism by skeptics, the pictures became among the most widely recognized photos in the world. It was only decades later, in the late 1970s, that the photos were definitively debunked. More…
Giant Squid in Santa Monica. (2014) This photo accompanied an article that ran on the site lightlybraisedturnip.com in January 2014, claiming that a giant squid (grown to mutant size because of Fukushima radiation) had washed ashore near Santa Monica. The article was intended as satire. Nevertheless, the image soon began to circulate online. The image was a composite of a squid washed ashore in Spain and a beach scene in Chile. More…
Long Exposure of a Tree Struck by Lightning. (2013) Photographer Darius Twin created this image using the technique of 'light painting,' which involves moving a hand-held light source in front of the camera. After he posted it on his Facebook page in October 2013, it soon went viral. However, the Internet recaptioned it with the claim that it was an actual image of lightning striking a tree. In its original context, it was clearly an art photo. More…
Fireworks Over Europe. (2013) This photo is often said to show a satellite's view of the fireworks over Europe at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. It first circulated in Jan 2013 and returned in 2014. Of course, Europe isn't all in the same time zone, so the New Year's Eve fireworks don't all go off at the same moment. Nor do they create such intense illumination. This is actually a color-coded NOAA image showing changes in illumination in Europe from 1993-2003. More…
Lottery winner finds love of his life after big win. (2009) The photo shows Swedish glamour model Natacha Peyre posing with a fan. But the Internet has recaptioned this image to give it a more amusing story. Of course, this story is false. It's not known who the man in the photo is, but he's definitely not the winner of a $181 million lottery. The photo first surfaced with the false caption in 2009 and has been resurfacing periodically ever since. More…
What happens when lightning strikes sand. (2013) When lightning strikes sand, it can fuse the sand into long glassy tubes called fulgurites. However, the structure in this photo, despite the caption which the internet has given it, is not a fulgurite. It is a piece of driftwood with sand piled on top of it. This is a case of 'real picture, fake caption'. More…
Jennifer Aniston gets a buzzcut. (2013) Originally posted to the site "Daily Makeover" on April 1, 2013 as an April Fool Day joke, this photoshopped picture of Jennifer Aniston with a buzzcut began circulating widely in Dec. 2013 along with a caption claiming that Aniston had cut her hair to show sympathy for a niece with cancer. A rep for Aniston stated that Aniston had no such niece, and the claim was "nonsense". More…
Cow on hood of car. (Jan 2013) This image achieved internet fame when, on 18 Nov 2013, the Surrey Roads Police department posted it on its twitter account accompanied by the message: "Remember as days get colder animals are attracted to the warmth of cars so check wheel arches or other hiding places." However, the image had been circulating since early 2013. Its creator is unknown. The cow on the hood of the BMW is, of course, a product of digital manipulation. More…
Santa's Identity Revealed. (Dec 2013) This set of images circulated widely accompanied by captions such as "Santa's identity revealed" or "an unexpected plot twist." The images were not fake, but they were taken out of their original context. They came from a Dutch ad campaign to promote awareness of Alzheimer's disease and were accompanied by a third image showing the rabbit fully unwrapped, revealing a message: "Alzheimer's patients are coping with this feeling daily." More…
Snow-Covered Sphinx. (2013) In early December 2013, it snowed in Egypt for the first time in 112 years. Soon this photo of the Sphinx covered in snow began to circulate online. Problem was, the photo doesn't show the Egyptian Sphinx. It shows a miniature Sphinx located in the Tobu World Square theme park in Japan. This theme park features miniature models of many famous attractions from around the world. More…
Cat Drinks From a Bottle. (1911) Unfortunately there's not a lot of information on where this photo comes from. It's listed on the website of the French National Library as having been created in 1911 by the "Agence Rol." photo agency. It's an amusing example of early twentieth-century photo fakery. Included in the same series are photos titled "cat peers through binoculars" and "cat looks through a telescope." More…
Paris Hilton Says 'Stop Being Poor'. (Nov 2013) The original, undoctored version of this photo, taken by photographer Vince Flores at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas on April 15, 2005, showed Paris Hilton wearing a t-shirt that said, "Stop Being Desperate." The altered version began circulating in late 2013. The reworded message played on Hilton's reputation for being somewhat shallow and spoiled by her inherited wealth. More…
Fairy Pools. (Oct 2013) As this photo circulated online, identified as "The Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland," it attracted comments such as "oh my this is beyond beautiful." There are waterfalls on the Isle of Skye known as the Fairy Pools, but that's not what this photo shows. It shows the Shotover River in New Zealand, where the vegetation is a normal shade of green. The vivid purple color is a digital effect, achieved by means of a color filter.
Digital Glitch Furniture. (2013) Web postings of this image often claim it shows "an actual piece of carefully carved furniture" created by designer Ferruccio Laviani who used computer-aided machine tools to make it appear as if the cabinet had been deformed by a "digital glitch". Laviani did create a line of "glitch" furniture for a 2013 exhibition. But this photo was a mock-up used to illustrate his concept. It doesn't show one of the finished pieces. More…
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All text Copyright © 2014 by Alex Boese, except where otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.


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If it regress like a duck, it must be the shibs.
If Aldridge/Eaton are seniors next year then they will be a non factor. They were majorly gifted with scores at nationals. They're in no danger of beating the Shibs or any of the top senior teams any time soon. If there's any of the top 5 that need to call it a day it's Lynn and Logan, talk about a road to nowhere. The Shibs were no more gifted scores than anyelse was. H/D hadn't reached those scores all season and suddenly they're breaking 100 at nationals, that won't happen anywhere else, neither will C/B's scores.
Hubbell/Donahue are "in your face" skaters, not a lot of subtlety there. Wouldn't worry about the Shibs, they just need to find better programs. Best ice dancer coming up by far is Jean-Luc Baker. He has deep soft knees and wonderful musicality. Too bad he is so short, but perhaps with time his new partnership will gel.
I thought Madison Chock's Russian snow bunny dress was cute.
Wow this thread. I guess nobody cares that Davis and White won their fifth title.
Anyway, I find these regression arguments amusing because it seems like they come with little context. Yes, I guess it's easy to say "The Shibs have regressed because they used to be third in the world and now they dropped to third in nationals."
Here's some context: We're not seeing a regression in ability of the Shibutanis technical skills. They still have some of the quietest blades in Ice Dance (something noted by Tracey Wilson yesterday). Tanith and Tracey both commented about how you can take a photo at any given moment of their dance because their lines and extension are so well-matched. The struggle this season has been in getting levels. Even Davis and White and Virtue and Moir have struggled to get levels, but you don't see anybody saying they have technically regressed. But all season long, as far as grades of execution, they have scored well.
The problem is that places 4-10 are actually quite crowded, with the teams all having similar levels of skating in the eyes of the judges. The Shibutani's bronze in 2011, clearly came with a tons of stars aligning -- a solid set of programs, mistakes from the others in front of them, etc. Judging by the Grand Prix from the previous fall nobody would have expected this -- they didn't even make the GPF that year.
Ice Dance, thankfully, has not stay static. A number of the teams have improved on the technical side, which is where the Shibs have done well historically. So as a result you have the shuffling of placements based on who best rises to the occasion that day. As we learned later, Alex was dealing with injury and couldn't train fully, so we weren't even dealing with a 100 percent Shibs teams at Worlds last year.
That said, the challenge for them -- besides getting those levels -- is improving that PCS score. Which provides less concrete feedback. And that's why you see them doing this style exploring they've done the last year. And they haven't found something that sticks.
As I mentioned before Maia and Alex look quite young for their age. They look like they're the same age as some of the U.S. junior dancers. That's not their fault -- as I noted Asians (I am one) look young for their age. You think the judges would not mix up youth with maturity, but the programs they did previously only enhanced that youth (and garnered the low scores with it), and as a result they got lower PCS scores. So I don't blame them for trashing the Mary Poppins SD and going for something abstract.
When you think about it's a lot to process in one year -- so it certainly makes sense if they struggle in the short term while they figure this all out.
The Shibs continue to have technical qualities to keep them a top team, however, I don't dispute the fact they now have to work on a whole other things - artistry, style, etc.-- if they want to stay competitive and rise up the ranks. And that takes more time for some teams for others.
Well, I can't disagree with Tonichelle - I thinks something so unspeakably often would have had to happen for D/W not to win, and it was amazing what the other teams brought to their final positions. That said, OMG (and for Mrs P) Davis and White - 5 time US national champions with two spectacular programs. Their SD had me from the first outing - but my goodness, their FD has grown on my and I had chills and was just 'open jawed' watching their FD performance.
Way to really rock it! My goodness they are so talented, and so gutsy, and so well trained, and they performed the heck out of that one. I really can't wait to rewatch it several times.
For me that's amazing about it. D/W didn't really have to go all out to win the title - they could have been at 70 percent and still won. But no, they were at 100 percent (as they always are) and did with two AMAZING programs. But yes, I agree the FD has been an amazing progression, just like their FD from 2011. Worlds is going to be a big treat for Ice Dance fans!
I really don't understand all this hate for the Shibutani's...my goodness!
^first, sorry for the typos above (note to self: don't try to text on phone with one hand and post on computer with another).
Oh but you are so, so right. They are stunning in their commitment to going full out, not holding an ounce back. Again, for me, that is an example of their gutsy-ness - its pure commitment and courage.
After worlds last year (well after rewatching and reading some things), I felt really, really badly that D/W didn't win (and I kind of wish V/M had won the GPF); but this year, I think I am just going to sit back, with jaw dropped of course, and enjoy the heck out of watching these two teams (and a number of other stellar teams) and just thank the skating gods for such amazing ice dancers.
If the Shibs have been dumped, it was a most gentle dumping. They lost the silver by less than 2 points, and they would have won silver if not for their lift deduction in each program. They also get to keep their spot on the World team. If anything, I think the judges are nudging them to up their game in terms of programs. Their short dance is weird, and not in a fun way. Their free dance is beautiful, but not terribly exciting. It got a little lost between H/D and D/W. C/B were technically on, and no doubt benefit from being Igor's number one US team. The Shibs and C/B now get to slog it out before two panels of international judges. It will be really interesting to see what happens there.
W/P were supposed to pass P/B this year and threaten D/W. We have seen how much that came to pass. I think news of the Shibs's demise is similarly premature.
Actually USFS gave that feedback (for upping their dance programs) at Champs Camp, when they said they were overskating to Mary Poppins, so that's why we have this abstract SD. I actually don't think it's that bad -- it's just that, honestly, it's was a bigger dance than their performance skill ability. I actually could see other teams doing this dance quite easily. But I think this SD is like the FD for D/W from 2011 -- something they had to grow into over the season. I hope they will be able to perform it well at 4CC and Worlds!
Actually I think their FD is fine. It's quiet and subtle and not in your face. I think actually the dance, highlights their quiet blades even more, which is a good thing.
Maybe they aren't dumping the Shiboo's but trying to get them to get a different coach? LOL
I don't see it as dumping the Shibs but more about hyping up C/B. They need to build momentum for a potentially strong new team that's definitely getting the spot for Sochi. I just think it's not going to matter. If we are talking about Sochi, the podium is pretty much set. Everyone but the top 3 are just playing for rep points. Shibs should be happy to get something like 8th in Sochi.
It's no small triumph for an Asian looking team to get that far in ice dance. As a matter of fact it can be said to be unprecedented.
Last edited by noidont; 01-27-2013 at 07:02 PM.