text:
Steven P. Hopkins
Education and Background
After a B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1976, I remained in the Santa Barbara area, working in a coffee house and in restaurants, pursuing the writing of fiction and poetry, organizing poetry readings and co-hosting a poetry radio show at UCSB. Later, after meeting the theologian and philosopher of religion, Raimundo Panikkar, I returned to UCSB to pursue an M.A. in Religious Studies in 1981-82. After three years (1984-1987) at the Graduate Theological Union and UC Berkeley doing initial Ph.D. and language studies (Sanskrit and Patristic Greek), and working with Mark Juergensmeyer in Religious Studies, I shifted to the east coast and in 1995 I received my Ph.D. from Harvard University in the Comparative Study of Religion.
I first came to Swarthmore in 1993, and have been teaching here ever since. Along with my work as a scholar and translator of South Indian devotional poetry, I have published poetry in literary journals over the years, and a book of fiction, The Leaving: Three Stories, appeared in 1978, published by Mudborn Press, Santa Barbara, and received the Eisner Prize in Literature (for poetry) at UC Berkeley.
My major academic field is South Indian devotional literature in Sanskrit and Tamil, with special attention to the work of a medieval (14th century) South Indian saint-poet Venkatanatha, best known by his honorific title Vedantadesika or "Preceptor of the Vedanta." Over the years I have received fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Institute of Indian Studies, a Lang Fellowship and a George E. Becker Faculty Fellowship at Swarthmore College to begin and complete various projects focused on the work of this saint-poet. In the spring of 2010 I was awarded the South Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies A.K. Ramanujan Book Prize for Translation for An Ornament for Jewels: Love Poems for the Lord of Gods (Oxford University Press, 2007). In addition to Singing the Body of God: The Hymns of Vedantadesika in Their South Indian Tradition (Oxford University Press, 2002) and An Ornament for Jewels: Love Poems for the Lord of Gods by Vedantadesika (2007), I have co-edited a book with John B. Carman entitled Tracing Common Themes: Comparative Courses in the Study of Religion (Scholars Press, 1990). I am currently at work on a long-term project on space, time, love, and memory in Sanskrit sandesa-kavyas or "messenger poems" in medieval South India and Sri Lanka, and a comparative book on women's laments in Greek, Sanskrit, and Tamil literatures. I have also developed a particular interest in the poetry, designs, and "prophecies" of William Blake, and have published on the theme of women's laments in Blake's prophetic books.
Important themes in my research on the poetry and poetics of Venkatanatha include the play of divine absence and presence in the world of religious emotions; the power of temple icons as the "living bodies" of the god; the exchange of eyes and human-divine contact, darsan, seeing and being seen by the god; the telescoping of time past and future in the eternal present of the religious lyric; love, human vulnerability and the impassible perfected body of god; the devotional experience of a "beauty that saves," and the paradoxical coexistence of asymmetry and intimacy of lover and beloved at the heart of the divine-human encounter.
I have traveled and done research in South India (primarily Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), and have also traveled in areas of North India, Sri Lanka, Japan, North and South Vietnam, and Cambodia.
2007, An Ornament for Jewels: Poems for the Lord of Gods by Vedantadesika (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007).Winner of the 2010 SAS AAS A.K. Ramanujan Prize for Translation.
Available also on Oxford Scholarship Online.
2002, Singing the Body of God: The Hymns of Vedantadesika in Their South Indian Tradition (New York: Oxford University Press). Oxford Delhi edition, 2003. Available also on Oxford Scholarship Online.
1990, Editor, with John B. Carman, Tracing Common Themes: Comparative Courses in the Study of Religion. Atlanta, GA (Scholars Press)
Selected Articles, Reviews, Chapters in Books
2013, "Bodies of Desire, Bodies of Lament: Marking Emotion in a South Indian Vaishnava Messenger Poem," in Refiguring the Body: Embodiment in South Asian Religions, edited by Barbara A, Holdrege and Karen Pechilis. CRSI Publication Series. New York: State University of New York Press (forthcoming).
2013, a review of David Shulman, More Than Real: A History of the Imagination in South India. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012, for the journal South Asian History and Culture, 4:3, pp. 424-426.
For longer version of review in Thuppahi's Blog, "Shulman's Exploration of the Imagination in the South Indian Cultural World" (http://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/10217/)
2011, "Patterns from Particularities." In Review: Books. Harvard
Divinity Bulletin ( Winter/Spring 2011), pp. 68-71.
2009, "Sanskrit in a Tamil Imaginary: Sandesakavya and the Hamsasandesa of Venkatanatha," in Passages: Relationships between Tamil and Sanskrit. Edited by Kannan M. and Jennifer Clare. Tamil Chair, DSSEAS, University of California, Berkeley and Institut Français d'Indologie, Publications Hors série n. 11: Pondichéry, South India: IFP, 2009, pp. 281-312.
2009, "'I walk weeping in pangs of a Mothers torment for her Children:' Women's Laments in the Poetry and Prophecies of William Blake," Journal of Religious Ethics 37: 1, pp. 31-81.
2007, "Extravagant Beholding: Love, Ideal Bodies, and Particularity," History of Religions, Vol. 47 No. 1 (August 2007), pp. 1-50.
2007, "At Play in the Forests of the Lord: The Gopalavimshati," in Krishna: A Sourcebook, ed. by Edwin Bryant. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, pp. 285-306.
2004, "Lovers, Messengers, and Beloved Landscapes: Sandesa Kavya in Comparative Perspective." International Journal of Hindu Studies 8, 1-3 (2004), pp. 29-55.
2002, "Loving God in Three Languages: The Vedas of Vedantadesika," Journal of Vaisnava Studies, Vol. 10, No.2 (Spring 2002), pp. 51-79 (a special issue devoted to the work of John B. Carman).
1996, "Singing in Tongues: Poems for Visnu by Vedantadesika," in The Journal of Vaisnava Studies, Vol. IV, no.4 (Fall 1996), pp. 159-187.
1993, "In Love with the Body of God: Eros and the Praise of Icons in South Indian Devotion," in the Journal of Vaisnava Studies, Vol. 2, No.1 (Winter 1993), pp. 17-54.
1985: "El símbolo, la palabra y el mito del pluralismo. Reflexiones sobre la metodología intercultural de R. Panikkar," in Anthropos. Revista de documentación científica de la cultura. N.53-54, Barcelona, Spain, pp.79-86.
MSS in Progress (2010-2011):
The Flight of Love: A Messenger Poem of Medieval South India by Venkatanatha.
A full translation and comparative study, with introduction, notes, and afterward, of Venkatanatha's Hamsa-sandesa (The Goose Messenger), a Sanskrit "messenger poem" (sandesa-kavya). I will situate this 14th century religious adaptation of a secular genre of love poetry within a wider comparative context of South Indian Tamil and Sanskrit traditions of "messenger" poetry. I will look closely at the significance of messenger poetry in the literary construction of regions and sacred landscapes ("beloved places" as "geo-cultural and social/political imaginaries") and explore the ways in which Venkatanatha re-envisions the pan-Indian story of Rama and Sita (both god and goddess, king and queen) in his sandesa, using motifs of vulnerable love and violent emotion present in his own South Indian Tamil devotional tradition -- the agonies of separation, lament, loss, keening desire and anticipated bliss, written into the living particularized bodies of lover and beloved, in the "messenger" goose, and in the landscapes surrounding them.
I Walk Weeping: Witnessing Women's Laments in Religious Literatures.
A comparative study of lament, with specific focus on women's ritual laments and their transformations in literature, from ancient and contemporary rural Greece, early Late Antique Christian literature, pre-modern (medieval) and contemporary Sanskrit and Tamil literatures of South India, to the poetry and prophecies of William Blake.
Course Themes
My classes at Swarthmore range widely, and are often comparative: I teach courses on the History, Religion, and Culture of India, with an emphasis on Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Islamic traditions; on Buddhist Traditions of Asia, along with a comparative course, "Patterns of Asian Religions," that touches upon South and East Asian traditions, including units on Confucian and Taoist traditions in China and Shinto and Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan. I also teach a comparative course on "The Power of Images" that includes materials from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and a comparative seminar on "Love and Religion" that includes themes that bear not only upon medieval Sanskrit and Tamil devotional traditions of South India, the poetry of Kalidasa and Bengali saint-poet Ramprasad, but also on the Hebrew and Greek Song of Songs and its Jewish and Christian commentaries, Plato's Symposium and Phaedrus, the work of Cappodocian Father Gregory of Nyssa, Dante and the Occitan troubadours, the love lyrics of the Sufi poet-philosopher Ibn 'Arabi, and the poetry and autocommentaries of San Juan de la Cruz. Other core courses include seminars on the poetry and prophecies of William Blake and "Poet, Saints, and Storytellers," a thematic survey of various South Asian religious literatures and their performance traditions in translation, from the Tamil and Sanskrit poems of medieval Hindu saints in the South, Hindi and Bengali poems from the North and Northeast, Sinhala narratives of the life of the Buddha fron Sri Lanka, to mother's birthing songs in Rajasthan, Hindu women's folktales in Himachal Pradesh, and praises of the Prophet Muhammad in Urdu, Sindi, and in the Tamil children's songs of the deep South.
Core Courses
- Buddhist Traditions of Asia
- Patterns of Asian Religions
- Hindu Traditions of India: Power, Love, Knowledge
- Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh in India
- Religion and Literature
- The Power of Images
- Love and Religion
- Poets, Saints & Storytellers
- The Poetry and Prophecies of William Blake
First-year Seminar
- The Poetry of Religion


text:
Pronunciation: mi vergogno
Added on: 2012-05-17 Listened: 63 timesin: Add categories to mi vergogno
Pronunciation in Italian [it]
- Pronunciation by marukosan (Male from Italy)
0 votes
Could you do it better? different accent? Pronounce mi vergogno in Italian
Accents & languages on maps
- Random word: palmeto
Not satisfied?
Modify word:
· Add languages
· Add categories
Report word:
Is there anything wrong with this word?
Please report it here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pangilinan, his abortive POC run and the sports news cycle
SACRAMENTO—Talk about dominating the sports news cycle.
Business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan is no publicity seeker. But by titillating sports reporters and junkies alike recently, he guaranteed himself of an almost round-the-clock sports coverage without really trying.
Known in sports circles as MVP for his initials and for a track record as the country's most valuable patron for sports, Pangilinan inserted himself into a significant event. He vacillated between running and not running for the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for the longest time.
Manila's major daily newspapers I monitor without fail went to town plotting the mogul's every move in the morning. I was told that sports talk radio dissected his thinking during the day and the networks wrapped it all up on the evening news.
It all started when MVP's supporters anchored his possible run for the POC presidency to rescue local sports from mediocrity on a simple premise:
That a sizable number of national sports association leaders have had enough of current and reelectionist Olympic chief Jose Cojuangco Jr., they would break away for the telecom magnate if only to try something new at the POC.
MVP, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and benefactor to six more NSAs, was coasting on that wave of enthusiasm. Why a visionary like him chose not to build upon that clamor and challenge Cojuangco is befuddling, to say the least.
His eventual decision effectively broke the traditional news cycle, although the discussion that followed opened a lane for Facebook and Twitter traffic on the Internet.
It won't be surprising at all if even at this point, the story of MVP's abortive candidacy is kept alive around the office water fountain and by social media addicts who relish sharing it, twisting it and reacting to it.
So what really happened?
Did the fire wall that Cojuangco built by announcing his full slate of candidates just as the deadline for filing neared appear unbreakable? Did it foretell of a slugfest at the POC elections on Nov. 30 with President Noynoy Aquino's uncle?
After navigating a minefield of office politics in the NSAs during a so-called "unity dinner" with their leaders, did Pangilinan sense a wobbly candidacy in the making?
Did the fate of a kabalen, Arthur Macapagal, four years ago figure in MVP's decision?
Art, half-brother of ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thought he had the magic number of votes in the bag against Cojuangco in 2008, only to suffer betrayal at the polls.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theorists are on a feeding frenzy out there. I am quite certain they have a weird take on Pangilinan's judgment call, but I won't dare ask.
An MVP sports lieutenant said the boss was "truthful" in his statement. "It's really difficult for him to attend to the POC at this time," the aide said. "He was just pressured into considering (running) by the so-called clamor, but eventually decided it wasn't feasible… I assure you that was it."
The aide said that at the unity dinner, some attendees attempted to switch the course of the campaign against Cojuangco.
They asked amateur boxing president Ricky Vargas to run in Pangilinan's place.
"Pero talagang ayaw ni Ricky. (Ricky was not keen on running at all)."
Get Inquirer updates while on the go, add us on these apps:
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
To subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines, call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer's Reader's Advocate. Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City,Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94


text:
June 1, 2012
Last Tuesday I asked the people of Sedalia and Pettis County to send me their strangest, most bizarre and most unbelievable tales. I also asked for their opinions in general Ś and let me tell you, I got both of those things and everything in between.
You can probably tell by that smell in the air that itÆs time once again for me to dump out the mailbox.
There was one who had some concerns to express about the newly approved Pettis County Ambulance District, and another who had something to say about the Scott Joplin mural but one had a specific mission for me.
ōI want to know why our society professes to love children and care about them,ö wrote Jane Twenter of Pilot Grove, who put four ellipses between that sentence and this one, ōYet it is perfectly legal to kill these children through abortion and mothers are led to believe they are doing the right thing.ö
Ohh, uhh, yeah ... about that ...
ōAlso, the Humane Society would not tolerate this if it were used on animals. However, when it is a child, it is considered the ærightÆ thing to do,ö Twenter continued, ōDo you have the courage to address this issue?ö
Uh, not really. I think you have the wrong guy here. Besides, thatÆs just standard Letters to the Editor fare. I was a little for something a little further out there.
And I got it.
Now IÆm fully aware that this responder might just be messing with me, but at least they took the time to drop me a line. The storyteller, who preferred to remain anonymous, attached this disclaimer:
ōI have a story that may be of some interest to you and whether or not you find it fictional is purely your judgment, but I ensure you this story is not the result of some drug-induced vision or even a natural phenomenon, what me and two people witnessed one night on Cherry Tree Lane will forever and always stand out in my mind. This is a two-fold story making it much more difficult to believe, but again I assure you these are my eye-witness accounts, take them as you want.ö
On that night they would experience in both a terrestrial and an extraterrestrial sort of way:
ōOne dark stormy night in 2008, two friends and I decided to embark on our typical back road antics and roam the gravel roads, drifting corners and participating in all around goonish activities. As we drove down Cherry Tree Lane, we suddenly spotted lights in the distanceö
Look, I donÆt know whatÆs so mysterious about another vehicle.
ōMe, being super paranoid, found this to be interesting considering that it was around 2 in the morning.ö Yeah, nobody drives their car on Cherry Tree Lane at that hour of the night.
ōThere was lightning in the air and rain was being dumped in buckets. Through the dimly lit road we noticed three pillars of light.ö
Now itÆs getting good.
ōI immediately hit the brakes began to retreat down the second gravel road as it was still approximately 100 to 200 yards away from the lights. Thinking it was some sort of cop trap or maybe even a crash or storm watchers, I was not ready to face it. I began to turn when from the back seat my friend said, æStop.Æ I stopped and as we looked at the lights we could see that they were not cop lights or even lights of any crash or any storm watchers. There were three circles of light hovering vertically above one another approximately 12 feet above the road. As we watched in awe, the lights slowly started to fade. They disappeared, but not a sudden disappearance, it was almost as if they left in a way that was not natural, if that makes sense. They didnÆt fade away, they didnÆt flick off like a light switch, but the only way I can explain how the lights left is to say that I felt time and space itself had been changed in the path or way in which they were leaving. We were watching them then just noticed they were gone. No one said anything. The lights were now gone and the road we had stopped on now became the new path.ö
I had heard all of the standard dark stories about Cherry Tree Lane before: They mostly featured ghosts, ghouls and bands of people that practiced a non-traditional religion who liked having bonfires and visiting with weary travelers. But thatÆs the first UFO story I had ever heard about the strangest little lane in Pettis County. Clearly we have paved right over some sort of supernatural vortex. Maybe itÆs a burial ground, or thereÆs been a curse laid upon the land.
But you might need a little more convincing Ś our informant isnÆt quite done:
ōNow to the second part of the story which to this day still haunts me, but again is true.ö
Hey, IÆm here to listen.
ōAs we began our journey down the gravel road, we were discussing what we had just witnessed and were trying to come up with some explanation when again something appeared in the road ahead of us. It was a woman Ś brown hair, dark clothes, rain-drenched. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, or at least thatÆs how it appeared, but still we had not quite reached the spot she stood. As we got within a distance of 100 yards she stood still.ö
At this point in the story he uses the collective state of the groupÆs pants as a means to express how scared they really were.
ōWe had just witnessed some alien-like lights and now a woman on a road that has only one house which she was no where near was now standing in the middle of the road in the rain at 2 a.m. I stopped my truck lights which were pointed at her. She suddenly bolted into the field traveling west into the wooded area of the road. At this point we hauled (our hind ends) back to my house.ö
Clearly, a kindly young lady who was being initiated into the congregation of those nice representatives of that alternative religion, or maybe the rabid human hostage wife of the Beaman Monster. Maybe just a standard ghost, or an athlete on too much or too little medication. Maybe the aliens released some poor test case while she was still disoriented and under the influence of strange alien anesthesiology drugs.
ō(We) entertain people with the story from time to time. They all believe we made it up, but I assure you these fantasy-like events were real, take them at face value as I have no proof of either encounters.ö
If you know that you saw what you saw, thatÆs all that matters to me and I would never call one of my readers a liar.
Have you seen anyone or anything strange hanging out in the middle of Cherry Tree Lane, or anywhere else in Pettis County? Tell me about it.


text:
ST. HELENA — Clinic Ole is expanding its facilities up and down the Napa Valley.
On Thursday, the clinic unveiled its new St. Helena home to serve the Upvalley. It will offer expanded services and hours as well as new equipment.
Earlier, Clinic Ole announced that it would build a new facility costing $22 million to $24 million in south Napa to serve a rapidly expanding client base looking for affordable medical services in the south county.


text:
An Abilene Woman Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro For a Big Cause
Police responded to a 911 disturbance call around 6:45 to the 400 block of Portland Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Hijinio Estevan Moreno, 40, shot and was pronounced dead on scene. Police arrested Randy Vialpando in connection with the shooting.
Art Walk Ruined By Hail Storm in Downtown
While we're drawn outside for summertime activities, Abilene doctors want to remind you that every moment you spend outside, without protecting your skin, can do some major damage.
When summer time hits, lots of families go on vacation and college students go home. But what happens to the nonprofit organizations that rely on volunteers to help during the summer?
American Red Cross Practice Disaster Drills
Summer Time Means More Students Looking for Summer Jobs
Elkins Davis Says He Didn't Bring a Gun on School Grounds
Many people are finally breathing easier now that cedar tree allergies are behind us. But now with the change of season, comes a new set of concerns--grass allergies.
World War II Veteran Shares His Story for Memorial Weekend
National Nurses Week just wrapped up, and one local hospital is reminding everyone there is a major shortage of nurses, not only around the country, but right here in Abilene.
Habit for Humanity Sees More Women Volunteers
Wild Fire Scares One Neighborhood
David Bacon interviews Cooper Runningback, Trey Dye, after the Crosstown Showdown.
With interstates getting people from point "A" to point "B" faster, some might say the thrill of an adventure is gone. The Texas Historical Commission is working to bring the flare that Route 66 has to the Bankhead Highway.
A student from ACU is studying Bible studies in hopes to get Kenya peaceful again, following the events in Kenya last week.
Marilyn and Allin Rodman have not heard or seen their son since May, and with time passing, they are looking to the public for help.
With the added rain the workers that our lives depend on are at risk along with ours.
In light of Thursday morning's events at Abilene High, social media was a blessing and a curse.
After residents of Campus Court spoke at a city council meeting, the city council of Abilene switched Campus Court from a collector street to a local street.
They may share the same county, but when it comes to football, these two towns are nothing but competitors.
One of the oldest businesses in Cisco will shut down at the end of the year.
Any student who doesn't complete the required tests to obtain their GED by Dec. will have to start all over.
A student at Eula High School was rushed to the hospital after a rattlesnake bit her toe.
Just a few years after a family restores the city's only movie theater, they may be forced to shut it down.
The City of Abilene is not enforcing its own code regarding high grass and weeds at city properties. The grass, weeds, or bushes are not suppose to be higher than 12 inches, but at the city pump station on South Danville and Brief Street that isn't the case.
During its Tuesday meeting, the Developmental Corporation of Abilene approved financial assistance for two businesses moving to the Key City.
With a recent string of car thefts and break ins, your car has the potential to become a target. But, decreasing it's chances of it becoming a victim, are simple.
Members say they would not be willing to strike or boycott, emphasizing that they are not a union.
With the rain comes a lot of debris that gets into our lakes and rivers, but the city still keeps it clean.
The film featured historic moments for the football team, dating back to 1923 when the team won its first state championship.
With the rain coming down as hard as it did the past few days, some residents of the Key City are making the best out of a few wet days.
A jet skier struck an object in Lake Fort Phantom and was thrown from his watercraft.
With a now vacant building that used to be Sam's Club on South First street, businesses next door to the shell wonder who their new neighbor might be.
Several bus riders say the Greyhound waiting area in Abilene is too hot to handle.
The new Sam's Club location has people around town beginning to warm up to the fact that the store there to stay.
Abilene Police are still searching for a male suspect they believed held up a bank in S. Abilene.
Their neighbor claims it was out of self-defense, but her owners, say witnesses have told them otherwise.
Friday's fire not only left a woman and her disabled goddaughter homeless, but also had their neighbors wondering about their own homes safety.
Firefighters believe the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.
July Fourth brings neighbors and friends together for one family living on Country Place South in Abilene, Independence Day is how the Cook family was introduced to their neighbors.
After living in their home for only two days, a family has been displaced by a fire that ripped through their apartment complex on Wednesday morning.
A group of tenants at the Park Village Apartments in Snyder were given just a week notice to sign a new lease and pay more in rent or leave.
Deputies say it's the first of many steps before officially becoming an association.
The hotel was built in 1928 as a result of the influx of people going to the area to take part in the oil boom there.
Abigail Miller never expected her simple act of kindness to impact so many people.
With the summer heat reaching the triple digits, doctors warn people of being especially careful while being outside.
A 30 ft. ditch is raising concerns for parents and the Buffalo Gap fire chief.
Zoo workers have a specific protocol to ensure animals are safe during severe weather.
A North Abilene couple is afraid a pack of dogs roaming around their neighborhood will soon prove to be dangerous.


text:
Jordan Perry
Jordan Perry info
Jordan Perry filmography
Here you can learn about the movies Jordan Perry acted in. You can see the names of the movies, their budget, years of release and the money gained from the screening of the certain movie. It is always interesting to know.
Jordan Perry video
This part provides videos with Jordan Perry. It is always interesting to see the star on the screen whether it is an interview, movie, or just some video shots from life or professional carrier, etc. Enjoy your viewing!
Related news
Selena Gomez to focus on acting
Young star Selena Gomez has revealed that her future plans don't include music. She says that she wants to focus on her acting career more, so she will quit singing for some time. Asked whether she
Henry Cavill: Craig was best for Bond
Man of Steel star Henry Cavill admits that Daniel Craig was a better choice than he would have been to play James Bond. Cavill auditioned for the famous 007 agent but lost the part to Craig and,
Top celebrity moms
When you are a celebrity it means being at the spot light all the time. Now, when you add children to the picture, it gets even worse. Celebrity moms are under a lot of pressure, and so are their
Random actors
Rate celebrities


text:
Cheap DSA to Bergen flights
Popular Flights from Doncaster, England
Top Doncaster Flights to US Destinations
Top Doncaster International Destinations
Popular Flights from Bergen, Norway
Top Bergen Flights to US Destinations
Top Bergen International Destinations
DSA to BGO Route Map
Doncaster to Bergen Flights, Stats and Airplanes
Route information for flights from Robin Hood to Flesland.
525.61 miles
BGO - Flesland Airlines
Browse the most popular airlines servicing the Bergen (BGO) airport. Visit their flights pages to learn more about the most popular routes these carriers fly.


text:
Debating the Internet
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Guests:Nicholson Baker and Lee Siegel
Comments [35]
I don't imagine anyone has a still-viable link (a copy, from archive.org, or whatnot) to those crazy shenanigans and anonymous internet meanies that caused NR to suspend Mr. Siegel and shut down his blog?
I'm in the mood for a laugh, what can I say...
I don't know what Lee Siegel but he sounds very Statler & Waldorf to me chiming in from the balcony while the real action rolls on without him. Has he actually read the wisdom of crowds? The deluded mobs he talks about under nazism are exactly the kinds of crowds that are NOT wise, only when all the individuals in a crowd are exercising individual judgement is their collective judgement better than any of the individuals- that is basically... the point of that entire book as far as i could tell. Its not that Wikipedia is perfect, its that its astoundingly good considering how it gets made, and its getting better all the time - it's not a "shifting mass of rumor and trivia" its a shifting mass of all-in-all pretty good quality information that has some nonsense mixed into it, and its going to keep getting bigger and better no matter what the old men in the balcony say...
I'm a college professor who makes liberal use of Wikipedia.
I know it must have some errors and even find a few BUT. so do the great ink and paper encyclopedias and major textbooks, and these errors can range from tiny bits of misinformation to huge blunders.
The main difference is that Wikipedia CAN be corrected QUICKLY whereas the paper and ink texts cannot and are not.
All books and articles are written by imperfect human beings (no matter how expert). who at times, misread, misunderstand, and in some unfortunate cases, deliberately misinform.
When we write, we are including and disseminating our own ideas and those of all the people from whom we learned -- all of whom occasionally made errors. So in the process of disseminating information we are also perpetuating some errors.
Correcting those errors is the basis of a lot of work of authors. Improving on scientific and medical information constantly upgrades our knowledge base.
Wikipedia is a great place to start looking for information on a previously impossibly broad range of topics.
Hehe! Your wikipedia entry was changed about two minutes after you mentioned the "37 sons" error on air.
Paulo - you can thank moral relativism and "deconstruction" for the sorry usage of "fascism."
fascism has a 2nd meaning in english "Oppressive, dictatorial control."
Online communities are like any other type of community. Well conceived communities supported and maintained by a thoughtful group of individuals can sustain civility and positive interchange. Communities that are under-supported can easily degenerate into chaos. The only moral difference between a mindless destructive mob in the internet and in the world at large, is the context.
So have we all just decided that since the word "fascism" has been thoroughly destroyed in the English language that, instead of correcting people and pointing out that fascism refers to a political ideology with a specific set of criteria, we're just going to jump on board with distorting the word to mean anything we find unpleasant?
when blogging takes the place of activism, it becomes an exercise in futility.
Wisdom of the crowd is real... that's why on the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" the most valuable "lifeline" was the audience poll.
Most of what Seigel has a problem with would be solved with the decline of anonymity on the web.
The rest -- especially his ideas about the Web and work -- are spot on. I work on a computer 8 hours a day, and can't believe that I actually turn on the laptop when I get home sometimes.
Since the late 1970's, marketing has been ruled by identifying and catering to "inner-directeds," NOT "outer-directeds"...
The problem with Blogs and the Net, is you get a lot of people talking but no one doing anything.
Sure alot of people have blogged that the Iraq war was bad, whop de doh ... the war's still going on.
it distracts and leads to nothing being done on the ground
wikipedia is all of the above.
it *is* altruistic. people post stuff about stuff you can't find elsewhere.
because it is anonymous it *is* potentially abusive.
BUT the big problem is the people who put stuff up, believing it to be true, but it is not. they are not malicious, just wrong.
And that stuff is then picked up by people who think the stuff is all fact-checked.
so wikipedia is good for a jummping off point but not for ending.
I was going to write "Luddite!" until I read Sprezzatura's post.
Ahhhh . . . . a man with an axe to grind.
For a year and a half I was an editor at one of the biggest "news" websites.
I walked away thinking that the internet is good for cat bloopers and the wires -- anyone who says the internet has standards and ethics is an optimist at best. It's being made up as it goes along, and I don't think that's how one wants to think of journalistic integrity.
now, Lee Siegel has played the 'Nazi' card. no wonder so many NR commenters have used the human posterior to describe him!
I love Wiki. I use it everyday, sometimes more often than Google. Lee Siegel is exaggerating his fear.
With regard to Wikipedia, there are no actually sites which are spoofing the idiocy which is Wikipedia:
and Illogicopedia.org
are examples of such websites which turn information on its head and create nonsensical facts to have some fun with users. At the same time, they challenge users to think instead of accepting blindly whatever that is published."
The internet has become a place where anybody can instantly become an "expert" without having to provide any qualifications or credentials, and where the merit of any blog is judged on how many "hits" it receives daily, as opposed to the merits and accuracy of its content.
With regard to Wikipedia, there are no actually sites which are spoofing the idiocy which is Wikipedia:
"Stupidedia.org, Falsipedia.com,
Uncyclopedia.org, and Illogicopedia.org are examples of such websites which turn information on its head and create nonsensical facts to have some fun with users. At the same time, they challenge users to think instead of accepting blindly whatever that is published."
The internet has become a place where anybody can instantly become an "expert" without having to provide any qualifications or credentials, and where the merit of any blog is judged on how many "hits" it receives daily, as opposed to the merits and accuracy of its content.
Just wanted to make a comment about Wiki. I think its a great resource, but people must be aware that the information can be off (really off). In fact, several months ago I happened to look up the Wiki entry for a relative of mine who is a musician and reasonably well known among certain circles. I do not know him, but my mother is his mother's cousin and they both live in Omaha and run into each other from time to time. I looked up his entry and saw that, according to Wiki, his mother had been or was a stripper. This was news to me, so I called my mother and asked if her cousin (the mother of the musician with the Wiki page), whom she had been close to growing up, had ever stripped. She was surprised and, lo and behold, the information was wrong (as I had thought). The information was pretty quickly taken down. But it is interesting that "facts" that could be slanderous in some people's veiw can be so easily posted, especially when the information was about someone who is not a celebrity, but a celebrity's relative. (Even more alarming, the mother of this musician was not only not a stripper, but is a public school principal, so who knows what kind of damage could have been caused if a parent had read the post.)
How familiar are such skeptics with the actual structure of the internet. It's not dead-tree print, it's a living, breathing document.
Yet another skeptic from the print world.
Wikepedia is contributed to by everyday people. But, isn't that how our worlds really old history was passed down? From person to person through stories about a battle or invasion, or just folklore, and then when literacy took hold, more and more was written down so the new readers could read it.
The problem with Wikipedia doesn't exist solely with it. There is an author to every history book and encylopedia. How do we know who to trust?
I enjoy the internet because it allows voices for all, which hopefully provides a better understanding of the whole, be that on a socially micro or macro scale.
Man, Lee Siegel, you don't know what you are talking about. Wikipedia is as accurate as any other traditional encyclopedia, and contains vastly more information than any other.
"Time to start thinking about the internet"? No one has been doing that. Thanks, Lee.
In Wikipedia's defense (I'm not enthusiastically for or against), how is it different from word of mouth in terms of validity / accuracy? It has been an incredible resource to learn about something, and as long as the "researcher" is mindful of where the information is coming from (ie, potential for bias), it provides instantaneous access for a curious mind, much as the rest of the internet does. The internet, and digital media, for that matter, is an emerging and evolving form of communication, and I think people just have to get comfortable with that idea.
Correction: Lee Siegel is the PC guy.
The rise of skepticism. Thank goodness we can blog about it.
I found the following on Wikipedia. Could this be the reason for his sour attitude about the web? Don't you think your readers deserve this background which clearly colors Mr. Siegel's "attack" on the web?
- - - -
In September 2006, Siegel was temporarily suspended from The New Republic, after an internal investigation determined he was participating in misleading comments in the magazine's "Talkback" section, in response to anonymous attackers on his blog at The New Republic's website.[7] The comments were made through the device of a "sock puppet" dubbed "sprezzatura", who, as one reader noted, was a consistently vigorous defender of Siegel, and who specifically denied being Siegel when challenged by an anonymous detractor in "Talkback." In response to readers who had criticized Siegel's negative comments about TV talk show host Jon Stewart, 'sprezzatura' wrote, "Siegel is brave, brilliant, and wittier than Stewart will ever be. Take that, you bunch of immature, abusive sheep." [8] The New Republic posted an apology and shut down Siegel's blog. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, Siegel dismissed the incident as a "prank." He resumed writing for the New Republic in April 2007. [9] Siegel's critique of Web culture, entitled Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, was published in January 2008.
dear Brian,
re: the indispensibility of the web
were it not for the web, i wouldn't be sending you fan mail :-)
your fan,
Nicholson Baker needs to get a MAC. He sounds like that PC guy on the commercials.
Slate.com link to debunk the "dead blogger" story:
Slate.com debunks the "bloggers dying at their computers" story that your guest has just cited. Link to come shortly.
dieing while bloggingg?...man that is bulldfff.....arggghhh
it's called a meritocracy and it kills people all the time.
Leave a Comment
Email addresses are required but never displayed.


text:
- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
From the PublisherThis book is a lighthearted and amusing romp through the mysterious and profound exploration of life's most important question: "Who is behind your own eyes?
--Arjuna Ardagh, coauthor of The Translucent Revolution
Looking for God is in line with all of the really great sages and seers. It is simple and most profound
--Sailor Bob Adamson, author of What's Wrong with Right Now?
Another work of genius! Chuck Hillig amazes us by his talent, his writing skill and originality.
--Jan Kersschot, M.D., coauthor of This Is It
Leo Hartong, author of Awakening to the Dream
The text and illustrations in this book revolve around its empty center, which is represented by a hole through the heart of the book. This hole symbolizes the whole; much like the mysterious void or emptiness in Buddhism sustains the fullness of life. In his usual playful style, reminiscent of the late Alan Watts, the author points the reader to her own center, beyond concepts, beyond religion and, most of all, beyond belief.
--Leo Hartong, author of Awakening to the Dream


text:
Buzz Bellmont: The Critic's Critic
Unplugged critiques of the arts, life, love and the pursuit of truth
Posts filtered on Tag
WICKED Tour Flies High, Defying Gravity, Touching Our Hearts Forever
The Gexa Energy/Broadway at the Hobby Center Wicked tour is back in town where it will call Sarofim Hall home for the next month through Sunday, August 11. Tickets are going faster than a Kansas tornado so you had better get them quickly! Back by popular demand, every time Wicked has played Houston it has broken […] [Read More]
Touring SISTER ACT Tremendously Entertaining Despite Mostly Mediocre Score
Hallelujah! Gexa Energy's and Broadway at the Hobby Center's Sister Act opened last night at the Hobby Center to a full house and the tour will be here in Houston through Sunday, June 2. Although I find Alan Menken's musical score only slightly better than mediocre, the show, nevertheless, is tremendously entertaining. Some of Mr. […] [Read More]
Broadway's Brilliant TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL is Nostalgic Masterpiece
No one writes better nostalgia than the late, great Horton Foote, easily one of the most profoundly brilliant playwrights of the twentieth century. Foote's dialogue is so simple, so poetic, so beautiful, and so poignant that it is virtually impossible not to be deeply touched by each and every stroke of his pen. Luckily for […] [Read More]
JERSEY BOYS is Slick, High Octane Concert Musical
One of the first concerts I ever attended as a teenager was Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the downtown Sam Houston Coliseum where the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts stands today. The national tour of Jersey Boys which opened to the press on Wednesday, March 20, manages to completely capture the thrills, […] [Read More]
Terrence McNally's GOLDEN AGE is Masterful, Insightful, Amusing Look at Bellini's World
The masterful and ingenious playwright Terrence McNally has successfully and miraculously combined multiple theatre genres in his newest play, a witty backstage play named Golden Age, now playing at Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center on Stage 1. First of all, Mr. McNally presents us with an opera history lesson. Golden Age takes […] [Read More]
Broadway's DEAD ACCOUNTS Forgettable Play, Extraordinary Performances
I am a serious Theresa Rebeck fan and I have seen most of her plays and reviewed most of them very well. I wish I could add her current Broadway offering, Dead Accounts, to this list, but, unfortunately, after attending press night of Dead Accounts on Tuesday, November 27 at The Music Box Theatre I […] [Read More]
Broadway's Venus in Fur is Compelling, Sizzling, Sensual Theatre
Venus in Fur is packing them in at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway because of a tightly written script by David Ives and the palpable chemistry between it's two sexy leads, Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy. David Ives's hot little two-person play is funny, intense, full of surprises and twists and turns, and happens on […] [Read More]


text:
Andy's Questions
The latest in a series of burning questions that keep me up at night:
• If you were to start a circus where would one go to buy an elephant and how much would they cost? Craigslist?
• Why can't I buy one barrel of oil?
• Do gas prices go up for Nascar drivers too?
• How do offshore oil rigs stand in the middle of the ocean?Tags: Andy's questions


text:
Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Employees of the District Cooperative Banks are being given a pay revision with effect from April 1, 2007.
Cooperation Minister G.Sudhakaran said here on Tuesday that it would benefit around 5,500 employees of the 14 DCBs in the State.
The master scale of 2600-30200 is being revised in the following manner - 3500-100/6- 4100-125/7- 4975-150/7-6025-200/7- 7425-225/4- 8325-250/4- 9325-275/5- 10700-325/5- 12325-375/5- 14200-425/4- 15900-500/1- 16400-550/4- 18600-625/4- 21100-700/5-24600-775/4- 27700-900/5- 32200-1050/5- 37450-1200/8- 47050.
The house rent allowance will be given at the rate of 10 per cent of the basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs.2,000.
The city compensatory allowance will be given at the rate at which they are given to the government employees and the medical allowance is being increased from Rs.1350 to Rs.1800.
The hill tract allowance and the allowance given to physically challenged employees will be given at the government rate.
The allowance for reading glass is being increased from Rs.300 to Rs.1,000. All other allowances are being increased from 18 to 33 per cent. The stagnation increment will be increased from 2.85 to 3.3 per cent. Three stagnation increments have been sanctioned.
Part-time employees and sub-staff will get grade promotion for 8, 16, 23 and 28 years of service. The other staff will get first grade for eight years of service and the next for 16 years of service. CAIIB, MBA and MCA holders will get an advance increment.
The minimum monetary benefit will range from Rs.1,477 for sub-staff to Rs.11254 for higher posts.
Unlike in the case of pay revision from July 1, 2007, when one year's salary arrears were frozen, the arrears will be paid in full this time.
The DCBs will have to shoulder an additional financial commitment of Rs.25 crore an annum due to the pay revision. A sum of Rs.65 crore will be required for paying the arrears.
The Minister described the revision as the highest so far and expressed hope that the staff would provide better services to farmers and other customers and perform with stronger commitment.
The pay revision is based on the recommendations of a committee headed by Secretary, Cooperation, T.Thankappan with Registrar of Cooperative Societies Rani George as convener and Koliakode Krishnan Nair, V.P. Saseendran, Mehboob, S.Sreekumar, N.Soman, Shoornad Rajasekharan and P.V. Pavirthran as members.
It was constituted by the government on December 14, 2007.


text:
Item in product family
Item in product family
Call us 7 days a week
Item #: WBB393408
Sold By: globalindustrial.com
Usually ships in 3 to 6 days Estimated lead times do not include weekends or holidays. Transit time is determined by shipping method and destination. Orders requiring credit information might take additional time.
0 reviews | Write a review
Frequently Purchased Together
Esselte® Evidence Pad, 8-1/2" x 11-3/4", Wide Ruled, Canary, 50 Sheet/Pad, 12 Pads/Pack
Free Shipping
Not Yet Rated
Zebra F-301 Ballpoint Retractable Pen, Stainless Steel Barrel, 0.7mm, Black Ink, 2/Pack
Free Shipping
Post-it® Super Sticky Pop-up Notes R330-10SSCY, 3 x 3 in Canary Yellow 90 sht/pad 10 pad/pk
Not Yet Rated
Liquid Paper® Fast Dry & Smooth Coverage Correction Fluid, Foam Applicator, 22ml, White, 12/DZ
Not Yet Rated
Zebra G-301 Gel Retractable Pen, 0.7mm, Stainless Steel Barrel, Blue Ink, 2 PK
Free Shipping
Not Yet Rated
Product Specifications


text:
Behavior boot camp for teachers
VERO BEACH - Kids go to camps all summer long – why not their teachers?
On August 5, the Scott Center for Autism Treatment at Florida Institute for Technology is hosting a Behavior Boot Camp: Basics on Managing Problematic Behavior in the Classroom to teach educators how to manage common problem behaviors exhibited by students.
"The boot camp is geared toward a range of professionals working in education," said Colleen Middlebrooks, director of community relations at the Scott Center. "Teachers in both special education and general education, as well as behavior analysts, para-professionals and administrators have found this camp valuable and walk away with techniques that they can put into play."
Weaving together small group exercises and group lectures with hands-on training, teachers will learn interventions that can be implemented with any age or grade level. The day-long program will cover identifying why children exhibit challenging behavior in the classroom, how to record data on behaviors while teaching, determining when outside support is needed, and the use of general prevention strategies.
"We are truly looking forward to this interactive workshop," said Alison Betz, an assistant professor in Florida Tech's School of Psychology who will lead the boot camp instruction. "We are excited to share our knowledge with people in Indian River County who are so dedicated and passionate about the children they work with."
The Boot Camp will be held at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment on the Florida Tech campus at 150 W. University Blvd. in Melbourne.
Registration includes free parking, lunch, coffee and light snacks for $60 per participant.
To register, go to http://aba.fit.edu. For more information or questions, call (321) 674-8106 or visit www.thescottcenter.org.
The Scott Center for Autism Treatment is a not-for-profit health care clinic formed in 2009 that helps families learn to overcome many of the behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The clinic is dedicated to applying research and high quality treatment and training to improve the function and quality of life of children with ASD and related disabilities in Central Florida.
Scheduled to launch July 2014 under the auspices of Florida Tech's acclaimed Scott Center for Autism Treatment, a new Vero Beach center will offer critically-needed resources and services to Indian River County.
The new center will seek to help mitigate the effects of autism on children and caregivers; offer nationally-recognized, state-of-the art, evidence-based therapy; broaden community understanding about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); and offer a formal network of peer and other support for families whose children are affected by ASD.
This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.
Subscribe to TCPalm
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6180.
Monday-Friday: 6am-3pm / Saturday: 6:30am-10:30am / Sunday: 7am-11am


text:
- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
The Seraph Seal
Posted November 19, 2012
Now that the weather is becoming gloomy and the days short, I fi
Now that the weather is becoming gloomy and the days short, I find it's the perfect time to get around to a few reads I've put on the shelf over the summer. So I sat down recently, pondering a stack of books with great potential and too many words for me to conquer in a weekend.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
First on my list was The Seraph Seal, a Thomas Nelson title by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner.
The Seraph Seal is a book best enjoyed with an open mind. Set in 2048, this is the authors' interpretation of what the unknown future Apocalypse might hold.
Like so many other well-meaning authors Sweet and Wagner venture to tell a fictional story of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse talked about in the book of Revelation.
While I agree with some potential end-times ideas played out by these horsemen, I do not subscribe to all of them. I enjoyed reading this interpretation because I was able to apply an important lesson I learned from reading the Shack.
The Bible says that no man can know the time or place of the coming of the Lord, but every man is invited to search the deep mysteries of the Bible.
I also respect the time and knowledge it took these authors to produce this novel.
Posted April 3, 2012
It's fun to read this book now, in the year 2012, considering al
It's fun to read this book now, in the year 2012, considering all the talks everywhere about the "end of the world [as we know it]". People are not sure what to think, how to react, and who knows - a thought lingers in mind - perhaps the world will truly change on December 21, 2012.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
The plot of the book is set in the year 2048 - 36 years after the apocalyptic date predicted by ancient Mayans. The world has changed - technology rules as never before, everything is connected and automated. Yet for the professor of history and cultural semiotics (signs), Dr. Paul Binder, the past contains mysteries he is invited to examine - and he is the one specifically chosen for this even before he was born.
The book is suspenseful, yet it took me a bit to adjust to all the new terminology. Considering all the technological advances along with new political and religious systems, there is a lot to get used to. Also there are a lot of characters besides the main ones. However, once you know what is going on, the story becomes really intriguing and entertaining.
If you are into conspiracy and literature like Da Vinci Code, if you like history and religion mixture, this book is for you.
Posted March 13, 2012
The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner is a very uniqu
The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner is a very unique take on the end of the world based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The book is a combination of religious fiction and sci/fi set in the future in the year 2049. The Seraph Seal contains many religious and historical references. While some readers my find the constant introduction of characters, religious and historical references confusing, I found it an enjoyable challenge to keep the straight and make connections between each. One of my favorite genres is religious fiction due to the fact that I teach religion. I loved the combination of historical and religious facts intertwined. Religion is best understood in conjunction with the historical facts of the era. I felt that Sweet and Wagner did a wonderful of blending the two. The Seraph Seal is a much for detailed version of a Dan Brown book - which I loved. While I personally love The Seraph Seal, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who is religiously conservative or sensitive to new takes on Scripture.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted March 9, 2012
So, I have to admit that I am still slightly perplexed that I ch
So, I have to admit that I am still slightly perplexed that I chose this book to read and review. Usually I like to read either historical or modern day fiction. I have never once in my entire life ever read any apocalyptic literature, nor have I ever had any interest in doing so. Yet, for reasons practically unbeknownst to me, I chose this book. Needless to say, it has sat on my shelf for many, many months- until a few days ago when all of a sudden I randomly decided I wanted to read it. Well, all I can say is that it hooked me right from the start and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
The Seraph Seal, written by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner, begins in the year 2012 where an ancient prophecy begins to unfold. Fast forward to the year 2048. The world is fast accelerating into massive chaos. New discoveries are constantly being made in different scientific fields, and those in power are fighting to rise to the top. Add to that rising political tensions throughout the nations, mass pandemics, and escalating natural disasters, and the question arises- how much longer can the earth survive at this rate of speed? Amidst the turmoil arises a key player: Paul Binder, a historian at the University of Virginia, who one day receives a strange and cryptic message. From there he is led down a path that leads him to London. Once there he meets manuscript specialist Angela Krall, whom he teams with to decipher an ancient Syrian manuscript. Together they begin to slowly unravel clues that lead them down a mysterious path, and along the way they begin to discover that perhaps there is more to life than that which they can see and understand.
I read a review on this book recently where it was said that this book is not for the faint of heart, and I have to say that I agree. As I said, I really enjoyed this book and I found it very fascinating. However, you can in no way breeze through this book, for it is rather heavy, physically and mentally. The book itself is over 500 pages, which I believe in itself could scare some people off. Then there is the actual written text itself. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, as well as events. Everything is subtly woven together, and you really need to pay very close attention so that you do not miss a single miniscule detail. There is also a lot of what I am going to call "smart speak" in this book- meaning that things are not explained simply. Rather, it is written in very intellectual terms that I think could very easily confuse people. I know there were a few parts that I had to read over to fully grasp certain concepts.
Putting all of that aside though, I think this book was put together very well. The story was engaging, and I felt that there were a lot of events of the future that were very plausible, and could very well happen. So, if you are of stout heart and would like a very intelligent apocalyptic read, then this book is for you. I know that I will definitely be revisiting this book later on.
Posted October 16, 2011
Really Good Church/Mystery Book
This was a really complex book. There were so many different POV's, and so many deaths, and so many clues! It was like a futurist version of a really churchy Dan Brown book. And it was good!Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I really liked how everthing slowly came together, and the 4 horsemen thing, even though they really didn't do too much, they just got everybody that they could there. And they weren't the ones to stop the bad guy. But anyway.
The ending was bittersweet, one got sepperated from the main group, and didn't go where they did, but back in time. But they did get where they were going, most of them. And the bad guy didn't succeed, so that's a good thing!
Posted September 18, 2011
say, what?
All these thoughts, all these ideas about the end of the world, and the most I could think about for the larger part of the book was, "How the hell can they understand each other?" I'm not trying to be funny, really. That was just my way of saying that it took me an awful long time to really get into this book. I think it's because, for the most part, I could hardly keep my head from reeling in the midst of an information overload. I can tell the amount of research that the writers have done to put together the events that bound this book together-I do even admire and envy them for it. What I don't get is the necessity of laboring over all of these events, all these details in order to make a point. As such, it took the story quite a while to actually get started.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I kind of like watching end-of-the-world movies, although they tend to look the same after a while. I dawdle in sci-fi movies and fictions every once in a while that futuristic technology hardly amazes me anymore. The Seraph Seal gave me nothing new to think about. Or perhaps, I am disappointed because I have expected it to give me more. I think this book just happened to come a moment too late. =P
For its part, The Seraph Seal, did introduce a motley of interesting characters with both destructive and constructive personalities. But because there were just an awful lot of them, I found it challenging to keep up. Add to that all the informative details that-although necessary to the story-mostly bogs down the story's progress and thus bears heavily on the intended appeal of the book. I didn't really get into it, didn't really feel any need to rush through it, until nature starts taking its destructive course more seriously. Although the solar anomalies and falling meteors did peg the book among any other forms of end-of-the-world media, at least it was something I could finally relate with.
And I don't really think having a woman talk about "the power of love" constantly in the midst of destruction, chaos and worldwide deaths was appropriate. If anything, I found it annoying, even comical at times. Insensitive, even. I guess I've been corrupted by life even far more than I imagined that I actually find blind optimism evil. =P
But despite all of its shortcomings (and for almost boring me catatonic), I am giving this book three stars. Because it did make a fairly good argument of God's propensity to give his repenting children a chance at redemption and a second life. ^-^
Posted September 14, 2011
Not What I Was Expecting
I was very excited to begin reading this book when I first received it. The first few chapters of the story were great and I was thinking,"This is going to be a very interesting book". Boy was I wrong! After reading those chapters, the story got to be very confusing and dragged on.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
What I Didn't Like:
~Almost every page was about a different character and there were so many characters (too many in my opinion), that it was very difficult to keep track of them all. Every time the book switched to a different character, I thought "Who is this again?" and by the time I remembered, the story switched to a different character. This was very annoying and made the story very tedious for me to read. I was constantly flipping back to see who was who.
~The book makes several remarks about God wanting to give the world another chance and for that to happen "The Chosen One" has to decode cryptic messages.
~This book mentions several different beliefs & cultures (Kabbalah, Catholicism, Judaism, Mayans, etc.) and makes it seem as though all the different beliefs have a part to play in saving the world.
~How a Christian book (even being fiction) could or would state that "the planets aligned for the first time in millions of years" (page 409) as though it were a fact. I felt that was contrary to the Bible.
~How Paul was made to seem like a modern-day Christ. How he was the only one who could bring the world to salvation.
~The *new* Scripture that they find that was totally fabricated. The Bible is quite clear when it states that no one should add to or take away from God's Word.
~How the United States of America is referred to as "USAmerica". This alone wouldn't have affected my rating of the book, I just found it extremely annoying.
~I really didn't like the ending of this book! I won't say what happens, but I found it to be very far-fetched and completely unscriptural.
What I Did Like:
~Hardly anything. The only thing that comes to mind is Seraphim, Father Arnaud's bird. I loved how the bird would sing hymns.
This book took me forever to read! I thought this book was very boring, and there are too many things that I disagreed with and found to be offensive to my faith. I will not be reading this book again, and definitely would not recommend this book to anyone. In fact I would discourage anyone from reading it.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Posted August 17, 2011
The Seraph Seal
The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner is a beautifully well written Christian mystery fiction. The book makes me feel as if I was reading Dan Brown's books, minus the guilty pleasure of having to read something blasphemous. This is a very exciting fiction to read.The storyline is very amazing and there's even illustration on objects in this book.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I highly recommends this book to those who loves a good mystery. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
Posted July 21, 2011
The Seraph Seal
In 2012 they were broken. In 2048 the aftermath takes effect.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Historian Paul Binder receives a strange summoning to study the original Diatesseron. As he and Angela Krall, a manuscript specialist, study the text, they stumble upon a strange trail of clues. Disaster is rampant as the world breathes it's last breaths. Strange events lead the duo on an endless labyrinth across the globe as they try to uncover the mystery of the seraph seal.
When I started this book, it seemed pretty boring. Taking place 37 years in the future, I had a hard time adapting to this sci-fi earth. However, the further I got into this book, the more interesting and suspenseful it became. It got to a point where I loved the book, then suddenly, it left me off at a rather disappointing ending. One that was so different that it made me question what the authors hoped to accomplish with this.
On the matter of the literary blue prints of the book, it jumped around a lot. In a way, it was cool for this particular story, and focused more on the world and the story line more than completely on a set of characters. Yet I found myself being immersed into a character's portion of the story, then yanked out and thrown into the story of someone someone else.
Now, for the theological content. From the very beginning, the apocalyptic signs and puzzles seemed a bit off to me. And throughout the book, they skip several of the events in the book of Revelation. In fact, almost all of it. If you take this book lightly, and accept it as a nice novel with loose ties to the Christian end of the world, it can be enjoyable. If you try to soak it in or get a deeper understanding, turn away; this book will confuse you and possibly anger you.
Posted July 14, 2011
An epic tale of good and evil based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in Revelation.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Using the four horsemen of the Apocalypse to symbolize the four Gospels, four transcendentals, and four forces of the universe (air, water, earth, and fire), Sweet and Wagner weave a fast-paced, end-times tale of good vs. evil and the promise of a new dawn for humanity.
Set in 2048, when planet Earth is suffering from the damaging effects of years of misuse and abuse, cultural history professor Paul Binder receives a mysterious letter that leads him to examine a lost 2nd-century Diatessaron manuscript. Ancient prophecies, cryptic letters, and strange events set him on a course to uncover the missing clues that could lead humanity into a new age. Layered with forgotten symbolism from the ancient, Jewish, and Christian traditions, the novel is a type of engaged fiction in which the main character's lost journal serves as a guide to the reader in interpreting clues and understanding the novel's conclusion.
Honestly, this book made no sense to me.
It was like it was trying to take religions views on the end times and roll it up into one big story.
Also, I didn't like how it was clearly a more christian remake of The Davinci Code.
All in all, I was very disappointed in this book.
The only redeeming quality that I felt this book had was its memorable one liners, and quotes that, while provoking the reader to thought, it didn't draw the reader in the story.
It was basically like individual lines in the book were great, but the book as a whole was bad.
I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone, and I wouldn't read it again.
1 Star, at best.
Posted July 12, 2011
Not what I expected
I thought this sounded like a good concept. The thing was that it focused so much on the nonfiction that I felt like I was getting a theology and philosophy lesson instead of reading a piece of fiction.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
It starts off with a huge introduction about their beliefs and ideas when they wrote the book. I read my book on e-book so I don't know how long it was exactly, but I got so bored and frustrated with it that I skimmed over it after having to turn three pages or more. I kept wondering when the actual book was going to start. Then the book ended at around the 70% mark in order to accommodate all their notes and references, most of which were reprints from the illustrations and information already shown inside the book.
I was put off a little by the very brief sections and chapters. They once introduced a character and killed her in two paragraphs. That bothered me. I didn't know why I needed to know a name just to establish that an earthquake wiped out that place. After those two paragraphs they switched to an entirely different location and problem. That kind of switching and popping around in the story was commonplace and unsettling.
They also added sections to Scripture that don't exist. It was kind of obvious because the existing Scripture sounded like it was pulled from the King James or some other older version while what they added sounded modern. The blurb also claimed that the tale would be based on the book of Revelation but they actually seemed to use clues found from philosophers throughout history, the Kibbalah ... art, all sorts of things besides the book of Revelation. I was surprised how little actual Scripture was used.
In the end I wish more emphasis had been placed on the actual story, the characters and the Scripture. It still was a fast-paced story with an interesting ending that I didn't see coming. I want to thank Book Sneeze for providing my copy in exchange for my honest review.
Posted July 8, 2011
Enjoyed it
This is a fictional book about the apocalypse. It is derived from the Book of Revelation and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I always like reading books and watching movies with the end of the world theme. Let us just not forget that nobody will ever know when the time will be.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
The book started in the year 2012 when the chosen one is born and so with the horsemen. Then the plot will fast forward to 36 years after their birth in 2048.
In 2048, the world will be so much different. USA will not be the most powerful country anymore, churches will just be like museums and believers will be underground. Natural disasters and national crisis is significantly increasing all over the world. Paul the chosen one receives signs and learns of his role. He will search and lead the 4 horsemen and humanity to the New Beginning.
The book is very long and since there are a few characters from all over the world. The first few chapters will be a little confusing since the plot will bounce from one person to the next. But once you get to know the characters, it will be easier and fast pace. Dan Brown fans would like this. It is complete with mystery, suspence, history, religion, politics and love.
I would recommend this book if you are not religiously and politically sensitive.
I received this book free from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Posted July 6, 2011
Loved It (but its not for everyone)
This book was sent to me by Booksneeze, a website, for review.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
This book was interesting read, for those of you who enjoyed Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci code this is going to be a good read for you. This is an apocalyptic fiction novel, so there are many cultural and religious histories involved, and it does make many assumptions for the apocalypse, so those easily offended by theory should read with caution.
This book is set in the future time of 2048, 36 years after the seven seals were broken to begin the age of the apocalypse in 2012.
It follows the story of a historian named Paul Binder, who is the chosen one for the journey to the new earth. I do not want to get in to to much of the plot, I fear i might reveal to much of the book. It really is a book in which you learn the pieces of the story as you go.
The author suggests in the prologue that you read the alphabet of the apocalypse, provided for you in the back before you get started, so you might understand whats going on, but i found this tedious, and pretty much unnecessary. The story can stand on its own very well without this.
There are many people involved and the story line does tend to jump around a lot, at first i found it hard to discern who was who, and the story seemed very discombobulated. I did not give up however, and as I read a pattern starts to derive, and i found myself being able to follow quite nicely.
There are many cultural facts, religious, and historical references used, and I often found myself googling some of these concepts for a deeper understanding of what was going on. This made the read kind of slow, but all in all i enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an exciting apocalyptic fiction novel.
Posted July 6, 2011
Fabulous Christian fiction!! Amazing!
Wow! What an exciting book. Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner really and I mean really did a stunner of a job on The Seraph Seal. I really enjoyed the Left Behind series and while I was reading those I thought no book could ever come close to being as amazing as they were. I received The Seraph Seal from BookSneeze in review for my unbiased opinion. I am very glad I chose this book to review!Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It managed to do in one book what Left Behind didn't manage in a dozen. The Seraph Seal is superb. The characters are so real, so well developed and given terrific back story it seems like you are reading a biography or a historical account, not fiction.
The central themes throughout this engaging novel, which I read in one eleven hour block, is end time prophecy and the fulfillment of that prophecy, specifically the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. With a dizzying spate of worldwide travel seeking clues and information interwoven with a touching love story, political intrigue and flat out murder this suspenseful mystery kept me thoroughly engaged the entire time.
The four horsemen are symbols of prophecy and agents of God to fulfill His prophecies. They are tied symbolically to the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. One December night, thirty years before the 'current events' taking place, there were nine births. Eight babies were all born with a symbolic birthmark, one of the symbols of the elements to mark them as one of the horsemen. Paul Binder was the ninth baby born and just before his birth his mother received a very special gift, an antique key and a note telling her to name the baby Paul. Paul is to grow up and have a very special place in the end times.
If this review has intrigued you, get your hands on a copy because I can honestly say this is the best Christian fiction I have read in a very, very long time!
Posted July 6, 2011
Didn't meet my expectations, but that doesn't mean it won't meet yours.
The Seraph Seal is a book that I got to review for free through Booksneeze, and I thought I would enjoy it because I had previously watched Left Behind and other apocalyptic movies. However, this book did not fully live up to my expectations. While I did like reading about Paul and Angela, two of the main characters that are studying the Diatessaron and working to unlock its secrets, I thought that the story would have been better as a movie instead of a book. Some of the descriptions were drawn out so much that a reader easily loses focus and gets bored. Paul Binder, the main character, is a cultural history professor who is "the Chosen one" to decipher the clues to tell the world that the end of the world has come. The book is set in 2012, when Paul and Angela are born, and in 2048, when they meet and begin deciphering the clues to the puzzle.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
The book started out as what might have been an intellectual mystery that presented a new side to the book of Revelations; however, after the introduction, it became a story that quickly switched between about four or five characters. Because it did switch so many times, it became confusing about who was who and so on. Overall, you might like this book if you can keep up with different points of view in characters. However, I felt that the story-line got confusing after awhile and began skipping pages just to keep up with my favorite characters of the book: Paul and Angela. The book also features an ABCs of the Apocalypse, which describes different things that could happen during the Apocalypse.
Posted June 26, 2011
Highly Recommended - you must check it out
The year is 2048, and Paul Binder has just received a mysterious message; speaking vaguely of the eight horsemen, and of the future of the world. Matt Serafino, the new, flagitious president of the USAMERICA, trying to cope with the many catastrophes the world is going through. Food is scarce, because of the overuse of creating synthetic energy. The four good horsemen meet with each other in an intriguing matter, trying to piece together the seemingly unending puzzle. Paul Binder's quest is to lead humanity to a new and better future, but will he prevail, or watch the earth crumble into complete destruction?Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I found it very compelling, suspenseful, and a perfect mix of truth and fiction. I enjoyed all of the realistic characters, brought to life by the authors. The plot continued to unfold, but did not divulge anything until the final pages. I loved that while these characters were going about their business, they found their own void of truth, and of God. The catastrophic events were very well depicted, in fact, they were entirely believable. Overall, A very easy-to-read, captivating book that was impossible to put down. I would highly recommend this book to somewhat mature readers, though others may enjoy it as well.
Richard (The Boppy) Lauer
P.S. Booksneeze gave me a free copy of this book to review honestly.
Posted June 26, 2011
Great Futuristic Mystery!
Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner have created an intriguing novel about what may lie in our future. Using an unsuspected combination of ancient biblical references and futuristic technological advancements, Sweet and Wagner propel the reader into a world of mystery and intrigue, not unlike Dan Brown's breakthrough novel, The DaVinci Code. While I was expecting a somewhat long-winded version of Brown's work, I was pleasantly surprised by the quick and smart read The Seraph Seal turned out to be. The blend of religion and technology is a refreshing take on the classic mystery tale. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to read about a mysterious adventure, and fans of Dan Brown's writings will be very pleased with this book as well. I received this book free from Book Sneeze publishing company for my review.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted June 24, 2011
Not what I had hoped for
The plot of this apocalyptic novel is a simple one: The end of times is upon the world. The few remaining faithful have a short amount of time to decipher clues that indicate that, yes, the end of the world is here, so that they can adequately prepare as many people as possible for the final day.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
I was intrigued by this book because it initially seemed to be of the intellectual suspense nature. Clues are presented, and the reader ostensibly has to work to determine what these clues mean. However, I didn't find any of the clues to be difficult - thereby negating the need for the appendix at the back that was supposed to be vital to this new genre of "engaged fiction."
Furthermore, the book was largely predictable and I was never able to establish any kind of personal connection with most of the characters. This may have been because the book jumps back and forth between several different storylines. The moment I became attached to a character, the plot would twist away from that character and not return until several other storylines had been updated. Adding to my confusion, the point of view will occasionally jump from third person limited to third person omniscient, making it difficult for me to understand which character's thoughts are driving the scene.
The Alphabet of the Apocalypse at the end of the book is an interesting feature, and I hope that the authors publish a non-fiction book that delves deeper into the ideas presented there. I didn't agree with everything that they wrote in the Alphabet, but the feature as a whole was certainly thought-provoking.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the "BookSneeze" program, and was not required to post a positive review.
Posted June 23, 2011
Great story!
Going on vacation this summer? Looking for a great book to read while you are lounging by the water? (I was pretending I was doing that while I was reading it) Than look no further. You have to get your hands on The Seraph Seal. The book was a great mixture of mystery and suspense, mingled with "end times" prophesy. I loved it! Readers of Dan Brown would enjoy this book, it takes you on a trip around the world and makes you long for more.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted June 23, 2011
I was disappointed
Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner do an excellent job of creating a believable future world their Apocalyptic novel, The Seraph Seal. The storyline was complex and fast-paced. Within the blink of an eye we are taken from one end of the world to another. This writing duo, do an excellent job of creating mystery and intrigue. But honestly, I wasn't engaged. There were so many characters to keep track of, from all over the world each with their own connected plot line, that I found it hard to feel or bond with any of them. So many of the characters weren't very nice either.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
As I said, I had a hard time relating to any of the characters, and I just was sorta, "out of it." I didn't get swept off my feet into the story; I wasn't chomping at the bit to finish it either. But that's my personal feeling. I guess it was partly to do with how it was supposed to be the future of America, and how stark and sad it was. Also elements of the plot didn't really seem realistic in any way. And I had problems with how the book - I don't know how to say it - but they sort of added to the Bible, and that didn't sit well with me. Reading this book I had red flags, signs, flashing lights, and sirens going off at me, and I disagreed with how the fictional prophecies seemed to be tacked onto scripture verses taken out of context. I know this was fiction, but I just didn't sit well with me. This is MY personal opinion.
Overall this book started out well, but later on I lost interest, and things popped out as wrong to me. I recommend that this book be read with a mountain of discernment. Thank you.
*To avoid a conflict of interest I must, in order to comply with the FTC, inform you that I received this book for free in exchange for my help promoting this book and my honest opinion. I was not required to give a positive review. So this is my honest opinion. Thanks!


text:
Forgot Password? | Not a User? Sign up
Your browser does not support iframes.
ANDERSONVILLE — Several Campbell County High School students were out fishing Saturday morning on Norris Lake as part of the fishing team.
The Oakdale Lady Eagles fought hard down the stretch but eventually lost 22-18 to the Lady Devils of Jellico.
Jellico took the long drive down I-75 to face Oakdale. The Blue Devils would eventually lose the contest by a staggering 17-1.
As the Jellico-Oliver Springs high school baseball game got ready to start on Monday, there were two sets of middle school teams nearby at Indian Mountain State Park in Jellico.
Oliver Springs jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first half-inning against the Jellico baseball team Monday, and it was a tough deficit to overcome for the Blue Devils.
OLIVER SPRINGS — Weather in not only Roane County, but the surrounding areas has put a damper on the start of baseball and softball seasons.
The Jellico High School tennis team picked up its first overall team win on Tuesday against Claiborne County, according to the team's head coach Angela Musick.
MARYVILLE — Losing seems to carry an extra sting when it comes at a close margin.
POWELL — The Powell Panthers picked up a 10-0 victory over the Campbell County baseball team Tuesday night in five innings.
Besides the Lady Cougars, three other teams with area players took to the hardwood at the St. Patty's Bash basketball tournament last weekend in Knoxville and Maryville.
Copyright © 2015
The LaFollette Press is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Campbell County and LaFollette, TN, and the surrounding area.


text:
Start your search today!
Sign up for a free account and get matched with scholarships that fit your academic background, interests, and hobbies.
The Orphic Prize for Poetry Book Prize
This award is available to U.S. high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in writing poetry. To apply, the student must submit 40- to 48-paginated pages of poetry.
Wait, There's More!
View the full details of this award (and even more scholarships) by signing up for a free account.
Get instant access to millions of scholarships worth over $14 billion.
or login to your account if you're an existing member
- Awarded by:
- Dream Horse Press
Award Amount:
$1000 and publication, as well as 20 author copies.
- Recipients:
- One award offered annually.
Deadline Info:
There is no formal application for this award. The applicant must submit 40- to 48-paginated pages of poetry, double-spaced in a readable font, with acknowledgements, a table of contents, an email add... Sign up for full scholarship deadline information.


text:
Results for america in the 1960s
There Was a Tree in Starksville...
Originally Posted: 01/09/2012 - 12:31pm | Type: Magazine Article
Rosemarie Freeney Harding as told to Rachel E. Harding In 1961, going "back South" to form an interracial community meant facin ...
Power Ballads for Jesus
Originally Posted: 01/05/2012 - 12:44pm | Type: Magazine Article
Brittany Shoot No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism, by David W. Stowe. ...
Audio: An Interview with Two Immigrant Advocates from the Sisters of Mercy
Originally Posted: 07/14/2011 - 8:35am | Type: Blog
[Editors' Note: This month, Sojourners and Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform will be featuring "The Stories of Immigration" blog series. ...


text:
Sena SMH10 - Inmate's Special GROUP BUY!
View Single Post
Ravening for delight
Joined: May 2007
Location: New Jersey
Oddometer: 8,644
OK, I was away for a few days at the Eastern Rendezvous, and so have not posted here yet. Here are some impressions:
First, the problem I'm having with bluetooth music breaking up: Sena replied to my support request by RMAing my units and sending new ones out last week. For all I know they'll be at my house when I finally get there some time today. They've also been very communicative and helpful, which is all good in my book.
Second, audio comms: My bike is small and a bit loud on the highway, and the Sena headset suffers a bit here when compared to the very clear noise cancellation of my old Autocom unit. I absolutely love the convenience and ease of the Sena units, though, so it's a bit of a toss-up.
Battery life has been excellent, easily making it through long days on the road.
Why did I drink all of the ingredients for vomit?
"Used to be Man vs. Nature.. then Man vs. Space.. then Man vs. the Moon. Now it's Man vs. Food" - Dalar
"you cannot reason a person out of something they were not reasoned into." - Jonathan Swift
View Public Profile
Visit JDLuke's homepage!
Find More Posts by JDLuke


text:
NEWBERRY — Close won't count in horseshoes on Saturday and Sunday when professional throwers come to Marion Davis Park for the kick off of the 2014 Horseshoe Pitchers Pro Tour in The SummerFun tournament.
Tournament director Ron Taylor said the tour event is unique because only ringers, horseshoe throws where the shoe wraps around the stake, will be counted. The tournament is being held at the Marion Davis Park horseshoe court facility on Kendall Road.
The 20 participants will compete in heats and can receive cash bonuses for the number of ringers they throw in the first two rounds. By the third and championship round, the bonuses go out the window and the competitors go after the titles.
Three world champions and several former world champions will attend this year out of the 20 competitors. In all, 10 states will be represented.
Three-time Men's World Champion Brian Simmons from Vermont along with seven-time Women's World Champion Sue Snyder from Indiana and six-time Women's World Champion Joan Elmore from Tennessee highlight this year's event.
"We have had some Newberry pitchers compete in the past but there are none in the tournament now," said Scott Sawyer, director of City of Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
Simmons, who makes the trip from Vermont said, "I love pitching in Newberry. This is my favorite tournament location besides the World Tournament."
Simmons is the only SummerFun Pro Tour participant to pitch a perfect game, 30 pitches and 30 ringers. He enters this year's event with an 85.79 percent ringer average.
Last year's tournament was rained out, but the forecast calls for sunny skies this weekend.
Round robin play begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues into Saturday evening with the 40 foot championship division finals starting on Sunday at 10 a.m. and the 30 foot championship division finals scheduled for a noon start on Sunday. The champion will be crowned Sunday night.
The horseshoe pits contain Kentucky blue clay, a top-of-the-line playing surface added when the horseshoe courts were added to Marion Davis Park around 2000, according to Sawyer.
Newberry hosted a S.C. sanctioned tournament early in the facility's history and then the Newberry Recreation Department networked with the president of the S.C. Horseshoe Association to have a summer tournament moved to Newberry.
The SummerFun has been held in Newberry since 2003. Initially taking place in August, it has bounced around the calendar in order to fit into regularly scheduled National Horseshoe Pitchers Association tournaments, but it has retained its name for identity purposes within the horseshoe world, despite not being played in the summer.
The tournament began as a sanctioned open tournament and was consistently in the top 10 of the largest tournaments in the Unites States.
In 2009, tournament director Ron Taylor sought to have The SummerFun become a part of the newly formed Horseshoe Pitchers Pro Tour. Newberry remains the only location to host a Pro Tour event in each year of its existence.
Newberry is a Gold sponsor site, thanks to White Distributor in Erie, Pa., and that means the throwers receive a bigger payday for the ringers they throw here.


text:
Obama denies permit for oil pipeline
President's decision on Keystone project angers Republicans
Harper on Wednesday told Obama he was profoundly disappointed that Obama turned down the pipeline, Harper's office said.
The proposed $7 billion pipeline would run through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma en route to Texas.
The pipeline is a dicey proposition for Obama, who enjoyed strong support from both organized labor and environmentalists in his winning 2008 campaign for the White House.
Environmental advocates have made it clear that approval of the pipeline would dampen their enthusiasm for Obama in the upcoming November election. Some liberal donors even threatened to cut off funds to Obama's re-election campaign to protest the project, which opponents say would transport "dirty oil" that requires huge amounts of energy to extract.
But by rejecting the pipeline, Obama risks losing support from organized labor, a key part of the Democratic base, for thwarting thousands of jobs.
"The score is Job-Killers, two; American workers, zero," said Terry O'Sullivan, general president of the Laborers' International Union of North America.
O'Sullivan called the decision "politics at its worst" and said, "blue-collar construction workers across the U.S. will not forget this."
Yet some unions that back Obama oppose the pipeline, included United Auto Workers, Service Employees International Union and Communications Workers of America.
TransCanada says the pipeline could create as many as 20,000 jobs, a figure opponents say is inflated. A State Department report last summer said the pipeline would create up to 6,000 jobs during construction.


text:
2. The question raised in this appeal relates to whether the appellant assessee could make a claim for deduction other than by filing a revised return. The assessment year in question was 1995-96. The return was filed on 30-11-1995, by the appellant for the assessment year in question. On 12-1-1998, the appellant sought to claim a deduction by way of a letter before the assessing officer. The deduction was disallowed by the assessing officer on the ground that there was no provision under the Income Tax Act to make amendment in the return of income by modifying an application at the assessment stage without revising the return.
3. This appellant's appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals) was allowed. However, the order of the further appeal of the department before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was allowed. The appellant has approached this court and has submitted that the Tribunal was wrong in upholding the assessing officer's order. He has relied upon the decision of this court in National Thermal Power Company Ltd. v. CIT (1998) 229 ITR 383, to contend that it was open to the assessee to raise the points of law even before the Appellate Tribunal.
4. The decision in question is that the power of the Tribunal under section 254 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is to entertain for the first time a point of law provided the fact on the basis of which the issue of law can be raised before the Tribunal. The decision does not in any way relate to the power of the assessing officer to entertain a claim for deduction otherwise than by filing a revised return. In the circumstances of the case, we dismiss the civil appeal. However, we make it clear that the issue in this case is limited to the power of the assessing authority and does not impinge on the power of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal under section 254 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. There shall be no order as to costs.


text:
|Former Kentucky Coach Gillispie Charged with DUI
|Written by TheSpread
|Thursday, 27 August 2009 16:49
Gillispie Gets DUI
Frankfort, KY - Former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has left a central Kentucky jail following his arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.
Police dispatcher Todd Sparrow said officers in Lawrenceburg, about 20 miles west of Lexington, arrested Gillispie and took him to jail in neighboring Franklin County.
Posted: 8/27/09 9:50PM ET