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Alain de Botton is a philosopher who likes the best of religion, but doesn't believe in God. He says that the most boring question you can ask of any religion is whether it is true. But how to live, how to die, what is good, and what is bad — these are questions religion has sophisticated ways of addressing. So he's created The School of Life — where people young and old explore ritual, community, beauty, and wisdom. He explains why these ideas shouldn't be reserved just for believers.
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is the founder and chairman of The School of Life. His books include Religion for Atheists and How Proust Can Change Your Life. His new book is a novel, The Course of Love.
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A woman grimaces after tasting a bitter concoction at Luke Johnson's Sunday Sermon on risk at The School of Life, London.
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Meanwhile, believers are
Meanwhile, believers are leaving religion because of its parochialism!
'On Being' continues to
'On Being' continues to surprise. It has only been in the last five to ten years that it's been possible to hear a real conversation about religion on any radio program. Except for Bill Moyers there was virtually nothing on TV that didn't have some kind of agenda. For Americans to see our religious landscape through eyes of a European is very useful. And to see that Atheists may actually made up of individuals is 'shocking'. Thank you for this conversation.
Enjoying this show a lot. His
Enjoying this show a lot. His non-church in London sounds in some respects like Unitarians. Sensibly, though, they apparently just go ahead and sing the old hymns as written, while Unitarians adopt new ones and change the words of the old ones to align with their beliefs – so unsatisfactory.
In fact the coopted hymns at
In fact the coopted hymns at the UU church is one reason I couldn't stay. I kept hearing the original words in my head.
I have attended a Unitarian
I have attended a Unitarian-Universalist Congregation for about 40 years.
Regarding singing of hymns both traditional and new. Traditional hymns were once
new. Changing the words is unsatisfactory to you. Yet is satisfactory to others.
Often the melody, music, speaks a language that reaches the soul of Atheists as
well as Believers even when the words do not.. Seems to me there should be room for both ways. What do you think?
Me too. I see no good reason
Me too. I see no good reason why new words can't work and satisfy, at least some of us. Not singing some good songs because the words don't resonate seems like a waste of good music. We need ways to communicate and ways to be different as well as similar. Fellowship is such a wonderful concept !!!
After seeing Alain's TED
After seeing Alain's TED video (Atheism 2.0) and buying his book "Religion for Atheists" several months ago, I started a brief correspondence with him. Beyond expressing appreciation for his work, my main purpose was to learn if he knew anything about Unitarian Universalism - a non-creedal liberal religion with a world-wide presence. To my surprise, he had never heard of it (even though, as I informed him, the Unitarian faith in America was largely due to the inspiration of Joseph Priestly, the renowned scientist/theologian who migrated here from England in the early 1800s). Then, in several further exchanges, I sent him links to information sources on the UU movement; my hope is that he will then incorporate knowledge of a vibrant religious option to pure secularism - or to the dogmatic faith traditions that he (and I) find irrelvant in a reality-based life.
Bob, thanks for introducing
Bob, thanks for introducing Alain to UU's, I am very surprised he was unaware of us. Every time he brought up a new point in the interview, I couldn't help but think "he must be a UU". Did he get back to you with his thoughts on UU's?
I so wanted to listen to this
I so wanted to listen to this show. In fact, I often want to listen to Krista's guests. Krista, however, is a serious distraction. Today while interviewing her guest I heard you interject how she (Krista) was trained in theology! How interesting. Krista - I was here to listen to the fellow across from you. Don't really care to hear about you or to hear those small assenting noises you make to indicate you are actively listening. A great show with great potential - unfortunately it isn't hosted with more skill.
I find Krista a bit too
I find Krista a bit too "precious" at times as well. But I'm grateful for the show.
Don't be a hater.
Don't be a hater. Conversations are between two people and the host of this excellent show has every right to be present with her guests. If you do not like listening to people talk, read a book.
She is bringing her
She is bringing her experience to the conversation, enriching it with her experience and knowledge.
I personally don't have a problem with her questions, acknowledgments and own points.
I find her skill amazing in
I find her skill amazing in how she brings out her guests in whatever the topic is, so carry on Krista!
Oh, how we mis the point.
Oh, how we mis the point. this is what I thought the conversation was partial about. (tolerance or intoleranc)
I couldn't disagree more.
I couldn't disagree more.
This is the silliest thing to cry about. Krista is amazing.
Whatever her background,
Whatever her background, Krista does an excellent job of keeping a vibrant, highly enriching conversation going during any show I've caught. I think one telling measure of her facilitative skills is the frequency with which her guests pause reflectively before responding to her prompts. Between them, new facets seem to continually surface for our examination. Precious? Depends on your meaning of the word.
When you are listening to a program like Krista's, you are listening in on a conversation. Sure, it's OK to have tensely-formatted programs, and heaven knows we have many of them. But, on this show, I find it usually engaging and frequently compelling to sit in on conversations between two human humans.
There are probably plenty of programs whose format is more to your liking. Fine. Many of us like this program's format -- just the way it is.
Very glad to have found this
Very glad to have found this program. It's easy when searching to feel isolated by religious and atheist communities when sort of searching for "truth". I have found it difficult to find acceptance when asking questions from an objective standpoint. It's refreshing to hear discussion like this is finally taking place.
I am a Quaker belonging to
I am a Quaker belonging to what we call an 'unprogrammed Meeting' with no minister, no formal structured service and no creed. Many of us are not Theists but would not consider ourselves Atheists. I think The School of Life is, in some ways, similar to what joins my fellow Quakers to our Meeting each Sunday: community.
I know some Quakers who
I know some Quakers who consider themselves atheists which seems odd since they are members of the RELIGIOUS Society of Friends," as the official name of Quakers is (cap.s added). I would say that I, a current and lifelong Friend, or Quaker, do not believe in a "supreme being" or many other things people define God as. I believe in God as anything and everything that is beautiful, awesome, life-giving, life enriching, and/or life promoting, such as kindness, patience, beauty, science, art, and of course love. Early Quakers did make the mistake of rejecting such things as music and art seeing them just as distractions from divine truth. As Alain de Botton has found beautiful, artful things a useful source of inspiration, so have Quakers, with a little time.
As The School of Life finds lessons and helpful truths in many places, so does anyone truly in search of and open to finding God. It is unfortunate that anyone thinks the choice is a narrow one between believing in God as very specifically and narrowly defined by a single tribe or organization or rejecting God entirely. Help is where you find it, and to the extent that we all find sources of comfort, strength, and guidance in many places God is real, whether you call it God or not.
However, it is not an easy thing to be a human or to find the strength and direction we need, and it helps to work at this with others, in community, using or at least trying out some well-tested practices and reminders of what really makes life good. That is what organized religion should be about. Unfortunately, things like greed, lust, arrogance, wrath, etc. too often cause people to misuse power, so organizations which give certain individuals more power than others, as religious organizations have tended to do, run the risk of falling into imbalance and corruption. Quakers have avoided creating positions of power, recognizing all individuals' access to a continuously revealed divine truth-- but it ain't easy being a Quaker. So what are people really looking for?
You're a pantheist. I have
You're a pantheist. I have read that Einstein and Sagan was as well. Although I respect it, I'm not.
Great show. This kind of
Great show. This kind of intelligent and revealing discussion beyond the trival binary arguments that define "religion" versus "atheism." I learned quite a bit, saw this issue in a very different light, and I am left in a deliciously reflective state. Thank you.
What de Botton describes
I love "On Being," and
I love "On Being," and particularly enjoyed this episode. I am an atheist in the mold of Mr. de Botton's father, in that I often reflexively overlook the positive sides of organized religion that the author acknowledges and celebrates.
I was raised in the Jewish faith and grew into atheism, and now teach at a Jesuit institution that supports and respects diversity of religious, cultural, and other natures. Mr. de Botton's "School of Life" is a wonderful bridge between believers and non-believers.
Much kudos to Krista Tippett for another wonderfully engaging, thought-provoking interview. Despite my generally unreligious nature, I always find Ms. Tippett's show enlightening and objective.
Thank you very much for providing such a discussion!
Among the advantages of a
Among the advantages of a religion is the ready-made community waiting to welcome you when you move elsewhere. This allowed my wife to follow me around the United States, leaving cherished friends regretfully behind but being welcomed anywhere in the church of her choice. As an atheist I could find community in secular organisations, but less easily.
Alain de Botton made the
Alain de Botton made the comment that ugliness was what promoted evil and beauty goodness. Well, I grew up thinking that until I lived in Germany and saw the beautiful landscape where Nazism grew. To this day I cannot understand how a place of such tremendous beauty could foster so much hate. So I still struggle with what is ugly and what is beautiful. I've come to the conclusion it is nothing more than a judgment call, and humans are not great at making such calls! And so for me that is where God comes in and all becomes beautiful in the light of eternity.
- An especially interesting
- An especially interesting show this week! I can't help but see multiple parallels between Alain de Botton's thinking and the current thinking in my academic discipline of Holistic Health & Wellness and my "side" profession as a life coach.
When considering the whole person, wellness educators and many whole life coaches acknowledge that, in addition to physical, intellectual, affective, sexual, and social dimensions, human beings have a spiritual dimension. It is a fundamental part of human nature. The brain is wired for it. In general, every human culture in every age has also acknowledged it in one way or another. The spiritual dimension is that part of our aspect which is our existential will, which seeks meaning and purpose, attempts to understand our place in the larger universe, yearns for life-affirming relational connections, and explores the interface between our known physical world and the unseen energy world. This is not a "religious" dimension. Religion is seen as a cultural construct which has been and continues to be a vehicle - a means to understand and experience the spiritual realm. Like different modes of transportation, different organized religions have different "structural designs" or sets of beliefs. A "faith" or believe system generally includes a narrative that explains "reality" in terms of both human knowledge/experience and also the subtle, mysterious unknowable human puzzlings. Also like different modes of transportation, different organized religions develop differing sets of "operating procedures" - an "art of living" (as your guest put it) based on the belief system of "the way the universe works". Religion is a means, not an inherent human quality. So, one can be spiritual and not "religious" ... and one can be spiritual and "religious" ..., but one cannot be a-spiritual and "religious".
Another understanding of the wellness community is that the "prime directive" of any living system is to survive and thrive - to unfold and evolve into its best self - to reach it's highest potential. Wellness is the optimal level of health where the person or community is dynamically functioning at the highest capacity of which it is capable within the environmental matrix in which it is embedded. In order for this to occur, the whole system must be in optimal operation and balance. For an individual, this means all facets of human nature must be supported and nurtured, including the spirit.
I think those material items, beliefs, affects, behaviors, and environmental characteristics we identify as "good" and/or "ethical" and/or "moral" are really those things which promote not only our survival but also our capacity to thrive - our wellness. - both as individuals and as communities of living systems. That Alain de Botton found himself attracted to religious music, rituals, and architecture is, I think, the human spirit being drawn to some of those things which it needs to grow toward wellness. "In-spiring" music, rituals, architecture are not, as Mr. de Botton observes, the inventions of religion only. They come from other cultural institutions as well, but often as unexpected delights. I think one reason religious music, rituals, and architecture can so readily stir the spirit of followers and non-followers alike is because they are purposefully and consistently created to do so. The issue for many like de Botton is when the underpinning belief system is too incongruent with their individual paradigms of belief about "the way things are". Religions throughout the ages have not been shy about eclectically incorporating and adapting new cultural concepts and practices to fit their paradigms of beliefs. I agree with de Botton and others doing similar things, ... why not the other way around? There's no culturally-recognized patent on the use of ritual as a contemplative practice - no general copyright on a certain style of music being used in only one context. Flying buttresses, domes, columns, arches, and decorative mosaic inlays are not exclusive to places of religious worship.
I am intrigued by de Botton's School of Life. When students walk through the doors of my college classrooms, I often tell them they are coming into a course about life - their life. I can relate to Alain de Botton's realization that there is a pervasive underlying assumption that "the art of living" is just something we're supposed to know. The most common comment I've heard over the years from students entering a required "Personal Wellness" course is, "Why do we have to take this class?. It's just common sense stuff!" and the corollary - which they don't say out loud but which is a common expectation - "This course should be easy!" But as de Botton remarked about the art of living, "It's complicated!" Especially when we are addressing the whole person (and not just the physical stuff like diet and exercise)!
One difference I note is that the operating procedures of de Botton's "School" seem modeled after religious tradition, even while the "school" to tries to differentiate itself and it's beliefs from it. (I suppose the use of "School" in the name is a purposeful way to distance the endeavor from what might otherwise look like "religion".) I work in public academia (a "secular" venue) where, when it comes to spiritual wellness, I have to be inclusive of all belief systems - religious and non-religious (atheism, agnosticism, humanism, "nothingism", ...) - without advocating (or even appearing to lean toward) any one point of view.
It seems to me that many of these "-ism" and "nondenominational" movements - especially in the West - are defined by religion. That is, their beliefs grow out of what they don't believe from the various major world religions. The starting point is organized religion (perhaps because it does involve a majority of people in most cultures) and then there's a moving away from it. Yet the gathering format doesn't seem to be abandoned. There still seems to be an unquenched need to reform and re-invent another community of meaning-and-guidance seekers taking up similar practices informed by a different set of beliefs. Is this a case where the baby (i.e. acknowledgement of our spiritual nature) is being thrown out with the bath water? .... And then those who threw out the bath water having a nagging feeling that something is missing but they can't quite bring it to consciousness? ... (And then developing a new passion for being foster parents or collecting baby dolls?!)
In wellness, we begin with the premise - a theory based in research - (a "belief", I suppose some would triumphantly point out!) that there is a spiritual facet which is integral to our human nature. Like all the other health dimensions, there are characteristics and qualities that it manifests and contributes to the whole and there are behaviors and practices that we can incorporate into our life-style to support and nurture it. (And of course, as with the other human dimensions, there are behaviors and practices that can diminish and sicken the spirit as well.) So we start in a "secular" (academic, scientific) place and allow the possibility of moving toward religion. We look at those practices which engage the spiritual dimension (mindfulness; volunteerism; meditation/prayer; philanthropy; "emptying" practices such as fasting, seculsion, abstention, etc.) which research shows contribute to good health. We consider why/how they do so. Many of these lifestyle behaviors are encouraged by many of the major world religions so it is not surprising that regular attendance at religious gatherings is correlated with longevity & good health. But it's important to remember that this research does not support a causal relationship between a particular belief system, an exclusively religious practice, or even religion in general. The impact of religious affiliation and practice on an individual is highly idiosyncratic. Many people seem to benefit . Others do not. Thus, using a particular religion as a means to nurture and sustain a well spirit (or other dimensions of wellness; e.g. social) is seen as but one tool among many. Pathways for enhancing spiritual wellness are unique for each individual and each community of spirituality-seekers.
I'm pleased to learn of Alain de Botton's noble, trail-blazing path and and appreciate his manner of sharing his insights ("evangelizing"? :-) ) But if you can't go to London to participate in the "School of Life" there, you might want to check out the field of holistic wellness and the emerging profession of life coaching (not to be confused with the latest specialization trend of "health" coaching which is being used by health insurance companies and employers to drive down health care costs). True holistic wellness educators and/or one-on-one life coaches teach and facilitate the processes of self-discovery and "thrivancy" - to help the student/client clarify his/her own wants/needs/values/motivations, increase awareness of possibilities, guide exploration of the impacts and consequences of their current and potential beliefs/attitudes/behaviors, and encourage the student/client in creative choice-making that results in his/her own unique unfolding toward their own optimal self. And the only prerequisite is that you are human. :-)
I was very interested in
I was very interested in hearing about this show with Alain de Botton. His reflections on living a life that celebrates ritual, wisdom, ethics, goodness, truth and beauty, but does not necessarily endorse a belief in God reminded me of my own upbringing in a Unitarian-Universalist church in southern California. Most of the members of the congregation were atheist. We celebrated just about everything EXCEPT Jesus and God. I learned a lot about tolerating other points of view and being a respectful listener, but alas, at the age of seventeen, I had an unexpected encounter with the living Christ, so I left the Unitarian-Universalist church and struck out on my own to determine for myself how I might relate to this God who seemed to be interested in me. Since that time I have wandered through many traditions, but find my home in the Christ who befriended me and loved me before I even knew how to love myself. This experience was not an acceptance of belief. I did not reason it out. It happened to me. I often wonder why it seems to happen to some people and not to others. Anyway, I loved the show! Thanks!
Francyl Gawryn
Good question ("I often
Good question ("I often wonder why it seems to happen to some people and not to others.") To me, the only reasonable conclusion is that it's all in our minds, and everyone's mind is different. I suppose another possibility is that God plays favorites, but that doesn't fit with "all loving". Glad it works for you.
Program on Alain de Botton
Program on Alain de Botton gave much to ponder. Thanks!
What is Mr de Botton's idea
What is Mr de Botton's idea of ugly? And why does or should it remind him of "evil" And is the reverse also true that something considered"beautiful" would then be considered "good"?
There, in reality, is nothing that is evil or beautiful, but for our prejudiced view of them. Everything just IS. (My view, of course)
By the way, I think bull dogs are really beautiful creatures!!
As Mr. De Botton described
As Mr. De Botton described the classes at his school, the use of sacred music, and sermons I thought, "He is describing my Unitarian Universalist congregation. We have UUs that identify as Christians, atheists, Buddhists, agnostics, Taoist, and pagans in our pews. It reminds me of a scene from the original movie TRON. After the final battle, all the communication towers are back online and, instead of a single beam heading up to the sky, there are hundreds. Some beam towards a god and some don't.
As a former Episcopalian, I got chills hearing Jerusalem sung during the show. I do find greater depths of meaning with new words added to the hymns of my youth. Sometimes in our hymnal we have a choice of words. In Amazing Grace I can sing either "..saved a wretch like me." or "...saved a soul like me." Some days I feel like a wretch, some days like a soul.
As several other posts
As several other posts mention, I too find Alain's stance to match up closely with Unitarian Universalism. I am surprised Krista didn't mention UU in the interview. Glad to see that Bob Hatfield has made Alain aware of UU's, it would be very interesting to hear his take on our small but growing group. Alain's "life mission" of learning "how to cope with life" goes hand in hand with many of the UU Principles. Thanks for the show!
With much respect for the
With much respect for the courage of Alain de Botton - to refuse the extremes and so become target for the two, I wonder if you can truly dissect the form from the content, especially if much of the content is the form itself. It would be like, though admittedly not the same, trying to reproduce Beethoven's Ode to Joy without the melody, when the melody, the content, is also the form. In seeking to adopt the good of religious practice, there is also the recognition of transcendence, even if it is explained in secular terminology. The change of expression does not completely remove the outlines of the divine.
Perhaps take a look at Amy
Perhaps take a look at Amy Hungerford's book, Postmodern Belief: American Literature and Religion Since 1960. There she documents the same phenomenon of contentless "belief" in the our post war literary writers.
during your broadcast i was
during your broadcast i was appalled at how someone such as yourself , who hosts a show on religious beliefs and theology, does not even understand the definition of atheism. you said to your guest, "your atheism is a conviction though..." Wrong! it is simply a response to a claim made that is not supported by any evidence whatsoever. same thing for unicorns, i don't have any convictions one way or the other towards unicorns , i simply don t believe they exist, exactly the same way atheism refers to claims that a supernatural being created the universe. I am not surprised by your bias, scott simon the host of another show on npr that is boycotted by many due to his program's biased religious content, also disgustingly imposes his views into his commentary on public radio. Quite disgraceful indeed, and furthermore it was reprehensible the way he defamed the name of Christopher Hitchens during his segment on Elizabeth Edwards passing due to cancer. Utterly vile. I know npr gets funding from relgious organizations but to have these donations influence the content of public radio is an outrage and bankrupt of any shred of integrity.
It's handy to have someone
It's handy to have someone who can speak for all the atheists. I'm a believer in perception, myself. Blind faith in perception is where it all starts for me.
I'm going to watch for the
I'm going to watch for the book. But I couldn't help wondering as I listened if de Botton is aware of Unitarian churches or if they are much different in Britain than Unitarian-Universalist churches in the US.
Rather late comment as I
Rather late comment as I download these podcasts late...but I am always a bit unnerved by the western hemispheres obstinacy to ringfence each and every theological belief bucket. In all religions, I reckon, certianly in mine, a Hinduism, there are deliberations on matter of the thought, soul, idenity, life's purpose, detachment and ego. These are holistic concepts, accessible to all, call oneself athiest or not, the ritual being a form to express the concepts making them accessible to common man. I do admire Alain Botton's efforts but need not be trapped within the Dawkinsian atheist/religious divide.
Amen! Teach!
Amen! Teach!
You are my brother. I say this as members of a church do an in light of the scientific validation of the global interconnectedness of humans!
There where a lot of topics
There where a lot of topics that they covered that really made me think. I really do not know much about Atheists besides for the fact that they do not believe in God. So when he started talking about liking certain aspects of religion I was confused. The more I listen to the show the better grasp I was able to obtain on what and how he viewed Atheists. Botton stated that people tend to flock back to religion when dealing with death and marrying. At first when I heard this statement I didn't really believe it. Why would he think that people only find faith in these situations, but then I really thought about it. I applied it to my own life. There has been several situations that I can remember with my friends or family members praying when someone dies close to them or when dealing with their own relationships in love. Some of these people are not very religious at all. As a matter of fact I can say that some I have never even heard mention religion before except when they are going through something or really want something positive to happen to them. Botton believes that people tend to flock back to religion during this time because they are the ones that know how to do it. This is a reason why he created that school to help teach these things that we do not already know and so that you do not have to feel the pressure of religion. Overall, I think that this is a good concept. I'm sure that there are several people who do need help with certain situations, but do not necessary want to commit to a certain faith. Options like this would not make them choose, but still help them out with the knowledge needed for what they are dealing with.
What I did not fully understand was that statement that Botton made about Atheists understanding themselves better by understanding religious people and what they need to address. I think he means that if Atheists took the time to learn about what religious people believe that they could find that some of it will be useful to them. Therefore, helping them better understand their own beliefs. If so, I'm not sure I understand. If Atheists do not believe in a higher power then wouldn't they just be closed minded to everything dealing with religion and a higher power. Because Botton is an exception to most Atheists and others who share his beliefs believe that what he is doing is wrong too. So as they are learning about these other religions where would they go? I don't think that having them going around groups of believers would be a good idea. I would think that this is super risky and a lot of people would get offended if the situation was not treated with care. I say this because if they are going into the situation closed minded then they are most likely not caring about what and how they say things to others. I can fully understand asking questions, but for some reason I just picture the entire experience as being negative and both sides trying to tell the other that what they believe is wrong.
I ended up finding an On
I ended up finding an On Being that hit a little closer to home than I had hoped to find. One of the keys discussions brought up fairly early in the interview was this statement, in context of an framing statement of atheism, "The most boring and unpreductive question one can ask of any religion is whether or not it is true." Its boring and unpreductive because the answer can't go any further than it has already gone. Atheist think that the other side of the debate is closed minded and idoitic while the other side thinks of athiests as closed minded sinners that are going to hell.
Then he goes into a better subject of being good and kind. Being a atheist myself, i get this impression from most religious people around me, and Botton says it in the interview, that atheist are seen as immoral and damned. Atheists don't worship the christian devil and are not evil. I can't speak for everyone, but i truly believe in the goodness of the heart and being kind to everyone that deserves it. When someone tells me that im wrong that i don't believe in a god and that they are going to pray for me, to try and save my soul, i tell then please do, because i believe that when they pray, it makes them feel like they are being a good christian, but it doesn't change me in the slightest.
The last major subject that really sang to me was about tolerance. Tolerance doesn't mean that you are accepting that im right or wrong, but to "make space" for my thoughts and ideas. I think, to an extent, tolerance, like compassion, will make us be able to live with each other more cohesively.
Mark 16:15 "He{jesus} said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Not force feed it to them.
I would like to turn things
I would like to turn things around a bit. The existence of a supernatural being is irrelevant to me, but I am not a non-believer. As a humanist, specifically a Humanistic Jew, I believe in the power of humans to direct our own lives and to make decisions for ourselves independent of any supernatural power. I believe in saying what I believe and believing in what I say. I believe that people can make ethical decisions -- can be good -- simply out of a wish to interact in a positive way with other people. It is our responsibility to make the world a better place. For me, this is in no way non-belief.
Listening to this episode, I
Listening to this episode, I found I could agree with a number of Alain De Botton's beliefs. I completely agree with his point that atheists, too often, feel as if the world is getting closer and closer to being perfect. I also appreciated his belief that religion can't be just considered a source of pain and suffering. I appreciate the fact that Botton doesn't take extreme views, as many atheists that I know do.
However, I generally disagreed with what he said. I felt that his use of religious songs was insulting. People have already tried to make Christmas and Easter more secular holidays; we don't need people doing the same thing to religious songs. If they want to make their own songs and sing them that is fine, but don't take religious songs and change the purpose of them.
I also don't agree with his point that people who don't believe in God can be "moral". I can't help but wonder, what exactly is his moral standard based upon? The existence of a God means the existence of absolute truth, and therefore absolute morality. Without the existence of God there is no absolute truth. So on what basis could Botton call himself moral? I'm aware of the common statement made by some atheists: "Isn't pathetic that your morality is based on what "God" says, and you can't do what is morally right on your own." As opposed to basing your morality on how you feel? Is morality based on our internal "conscience" really better? Botton can believe that there is no God if he so chooses but he must also accept the realities of such a belief. If there is no God, there is no absolutely true morality, and without actions that are right or wrong, life is meaningless as well. He can try to build up walls of morality based on his relative "truth" but if such walls can be torn down when convenient, then they are ultimately worthless.
I teach in a Religions and
I teach in a Religions and Cultures department at a University in Northern Ontario, Canada. I love this podcast and listen to On Being everyday while I drive into work. I always end up inspired by something I've heard and so I share with my students. This year I decided to give my students a "podcast assignment" for my history of Christian Thought course (Reformation to the present day): they had to write a report on an On Being podcast that deals with Christianity and modern culture. The assignments were wonderful and inspiring. And this particular podcast on A School of Life for Atheists was the most popular choice! The students loved it. What struck me the most is how well the students did on these assignments...their grades were higher, they were more engaged with the material than I'd witnessed in their essays where they were working with written texts. While I'm not one who readily embraces technology in the classroom, this experience gave me pause. Listening, and hearing the ideas seemed to affect the students differently. All of them have said that they will listen to more of these podcasts. Now I'm considering how I might integrate podcasts into my honours seminar next year. I must say, I love the prospect of my summer research including listening to On Being!
Susan, this is great to read.
Susan, this is great to read. I'd love to see some of the work they presented if possible. email@example.com
At 38:30 Botton says these
At 38:30 Botton says these are "divided times". His mind is truely divided and I can only pray that his eyes will be opened to the truth that there is a God that loves him. As for the interview, this is one that could have been left in the vaults. There are so many interesting and inspiring people to learn from. On Being has been a wonderful platform for introducing people that are impacting the word in a positive way. Introducing people that inspire us to live better lives. There is nothing in this interview but emptiness. No hope, nothing that creates that sense of wonder and desire to want to share a wonderful story with a friend.
They way he describes his
They way he describes his school reminds me of reading _The Prophet_.
Deeply resonated with me, I
Deeply resonated with me, I listen with fairly rapt attention. I wanted to share it with my two older sisters. We share very little, communicating only on perfunctory occasions; birthdays, Christmas, New Years etc. They both aspire to religion, but I suspect more for fellowship than deeply held beliefs. I going to ask them to listen or read about Alain De Botton's philosophy to see what they think. Thank you. P.S. To be honest, I almost always turn off or tune out On Being's broadcasts, this topic may have changed that.
What our atheist friend
What our atheist friend misses is that the complete volunteerism of his school of life robs it of being true community. One cannot be part of something larger than self if it all it requires is the assent of self. That is the theological mistake of many evangelicals. As a Reformed Christian, I believe that we are called into community that often includes people we don't like very much. Learning to live in love with people we don't necessarily like and can't run from is fundamental to the ethic of reconciliation and love of enemies. Reformed Christianity is much more than a philosophy and it is not fundamentally focused on being saved for the future afterlife. We believe that as one is awakened to faith, eternal life is realized right now and we are inextricably bound to all others. We gladly accept those who are searching and have not yet reached conclusions. De Botton's rejection of doubt is the height of arrogance and pride. That self-centeredness is how we understand original sin.
Thank you. I hope that you
Thank you. I hope that you and Mr De Botton are aware of Secular Humanistic Judaism -- Judaism without God, God language, or prayer. I grew up without any kind of religious experience and raised my son that way. In my early 60's I discovered Secular Humanistic Judaism, which was only founded in 1963, and was happy to find that I could embrace my Jewish heritage and culture without feeling compelled to do or say things in which I could never believe. What a joy!
Once I again, I sit here
Once I again, I sit here feeling happily "fed", with new ideas and perspectives to gnaw over the coming days. Often, I come to On Being when I need the reminder that we can speak of any topic with respect and intelligence and curiosity. The questions and conversations you bring to this show affirm humanity and leave me buoyant and ready for another week. Thank you, thank you, thank you for creating this sacred space.
The Catholic dogma of
The Catholic dogma of original sin is correct, we are indeed broken, still good but damaged and with tendencies to evil. But about perfectability: we can't be perfect in this world. Yet Jesus told us: "Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect." How can this be? We can't make this world perfect, the world to come is perfect. We can be perfect because we can live with God, and He will perfect us.
Day of Atonement: they say 'sorry' to God mainly, next to each other.
No, many people love the
No, many people love the liturgy first.
Not bad, but your view of religion is skewed. Jesus said to Peter 'You are rock, and on this rock I will build my church'. Jesus said the He would build it, i.e. the Catholic faith (and other faiths to the extent that they are true) are not clever things men have put together, but are things people have helped put together by their obedience, obedience to God who is building the Church himself. Religion is not a creation of man but man's response to God.
Jesus said that if you give
Jesus said that if you give up everything you will have all these things a hundred fold, and eternal life in the world to come. So you are pointing out the good things God showers on his beloved. You like these things, which is wonderful, and maybe one day you will come to know God.
You're not insulting to believers, you are complimenting the beauty of the life of faith as best you can. Let's pray that one day you will encounter God, which it seems you are preparing yourself for.
Pelikan was a great man. Yes,
Pelikan was a great man. Yes, atheists have a creed, an atheistic creed. Let's hope they remain open to God.
Here you are incorrect: atheism is a dead-end. It won't develop. It has no answer to death or life's problems, and no power to solve them. You are certainly welcome to the wisdom of religion in these areas to address them.
God loves atheists too. Atheists do have souls because every human being has a soul, like it or not. It's not 'the deeper sides' but is the immaterial part - the intellect, free will, memory, etc.
When the soldiers came to John the Baptist and asked what they should do, he told them to be content with their pay, avoid serious moral evil, etc. To an atheist one would say the same: just live a moral life, and even without belief you can be acceptable to God, and perhaps be given the gift of faith.
It doesn't make a spash because it's not an attack on God, which the God delusion was, as ridiculous as it is.
You didn't know that atheism
You didn't know that atheism was about attacking religion, now you know. You seem to be an honest atheist. More hope for you.
One would wonder: if you see the beauty of the Vatican, and the goodness of the Church's work around the world, one might conclude that this is only possible because what it believes is true. It reminds me of Malcolm Muggeridge: he wanted to believe in God, and saw the goodness, but couldn't. Then he met Mother Teresa.
I would suggest, if you're interested in wisdom, that you read the encyclicals of the popes- Pope Benedict, Pope Francis, Pope John Paul. If you want to find wisdom to apply to life, you will find a lot there, and it's available to all.
This is very appealing. Who
This is very appealing. Who wants to start something in Boston?
I thought that this was a
I thought that this was a fantastic show, thank you very much.
I listened to the interview
I listened to the interview with Mr. Botton with interest, but with growing irritation. He began by saying that the most boring think you can ask about any religion is whether or not it is, "true", a position I wholeheartedly agree with, because it exposes what I take to be the basic category error of confusing inner and outer "truths". But then he spent the rest of the talk dividing everything he described between "belief" and "non-belief". So, to me he stopped short of applying the logic of his initial premise fully, which would actually eradicate those categories (belief and non-belief) altogether. If there is no point in asking religion whether it is "true", what sense does it make to speak of belief and non-belief? To me that further move makes all the difference, or at least it makes the difference between breathing new life into existing traditions that are thousands of years old, conserving their accumulated wisdom but ridding them of the mistake of applying a materialistic standard or question of truth to them, thereby rendering them open to the truly liberal and spiritual way forward, and on the other hand the necessity of creating new "secular" religious traditions by picking and choosing what he likes from existing religions, a path which leads more or less to narcissistic self-indulgence, as characterized by his own example of Comte. If only he would follow out the logic of his own conclusions. This discussion seemed not to take into account the enormous integrative work of Ken Wilber on this topic, or the writings of Don Cupitt. They have already shown a more comprehensive way forward. This conversation ultimately disappointed me. Thanks.
How interesting it is to
How interesting it is to listen to someone who doesn't believe in "God" intensively searching for the experience and good of God.
Thank you for this story on
Thank you for this story on the School of Life. I was listening while driving to work and had one of those moments where I thought I'm going to quit my job and pursue building a School of Life in my town. Thankfully, I quickly realized that I like paychecks and health insurance but it made me think. In many ways listening to On Being is my own little School of Life. It's filling the need I have to learn about living and thinking about being human in spiritual ways that may or may not involve a particular religious background. Thank you for that.
I don't see the need for a
I don't see the need for a "secular temple". If I want to sing with others, I can join a choir. I can go to a cafe or pub or friend if I want to drink & chat. I can turn to my CD collection if I want to listen to Bach. There's nothing stopping me entering a cathedral, or museum, or castle, if I want to encounter great architecture. There are sermons everywhere. This radio programme is partly a sermon, so are de Botton's books.
Great, the emergence and
Great, the emergence and outing of atheists is long overdue.
Where can I find it in London?
very interesting
very interesting
I wish I could convince you
I wish I could convince you that God exist or maybe I can...?!
Thank you for another
Thank you for another wonderful talk is seems to be just what needs to be talked about in today's world.
As a formerly religious
As a formerly religious person who is relatively new to secular thinking, I enjoyed this conversation very much. I find myself constantly craving to hear from others who are living secular lives and are, as is put so well here, appreciating the common treasures of humanity. After listening today, I feel as if I've drawn a deep breath of fresh air. Thank you.


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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
I have an unabashed love affair with food. It's no secret.
But …
There is a line drawn out there somewhere far in the distant sand, a line I shall not cross when it comes to culinary delights upon which I decline to dine.
Yes, there are some foods I will not eat.
First on the list: liver. Not now, not ever. I will not eat a body organ whose soul function is to process and generate waste bi-product.
I was 12 years old, at an age where I no longer took the carte blanche word of my parents, especially my dad. I sat down to dinner and smelled something really foul. It was coming from my plate.
"What is this?" I said with a crinkled up nose.
"That's steak," my dad replied, and that's when I realized, though not for the first time, but with an adult-like clarity, that parents lie to their children.
I processed this information, even tried ketchup and A1 Steak Sauce, and after one more bite challenged my father's ascertains. "I don't care what you call this, it ain't steak," I said, and for the first time in my life, I pushed my plate away.
If this were a supernatural world, the skies would have parted then and fire and brimstone would have rained down upon us.
There was one other food I wouldn't touch as a kid: macaroni and cheese. This aversion didn't make sense because I loved macaroni, and I loved cheese, but I didn't love them together. They were the Romeo and Juliet of my black list of foods, doomed to never join.
The problem wasn't in the taste but the texture. The noise macaroni makes when you stir in the melted cheese and milk sounds like a colony of sub-larval life forms on a mass exodus. It gives me the shivers even today.
I was the victim of a wicked trick perpetrated by mac and cheese during my later years. I came across a dish called Three-Cheese Pasta, an Italian blend mixing Parmesan, Romano and Mozzarella cheeses with half and half and Penne pasta. You mix the ingredients and then bake the casserole dish to brown the cheese on top to a crispy crust.
I loved it. Couldn't get enough of it.
I touted the dish to family and friends as the next great culinary discovery. It became my signature dish at get-togethers and parties. "Hey everyone, Dan's bringing his special Three-Cheese Pasta dish."
My then nine-year old nephew Tommy – the smart nephew – set me straight.
Tommy's sitting at the dinner table, heaping on the Three-Cheese Pasta, and I, trying to share a moment with my nephew, say, "You really like that Three-Cheese Pasta huh?"
Tommy looks up as he stuffs a big forkful of Three-Cheese Pasta in his mouth and mumbles in a matter of fact tone, "You know this is macaroni and cheese, right?"
I looked at my nephew like I'd been asked to solve an Einsteinian quantum physics equation.
Okay, I conceded the cheese part. But this was not macaroni, I argued.
"This is Penne pasta."
And what is macaroni?
It took about "five-Mississippis" before it sank in. And then somebody stirred the Three-Cheese Pasta.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Bamberg-Ehrhardt football team didn't just halt one streak when the Red Raiders defeated host Bishop England, 27-20, in the quarterfinal round of the 2A Division II state playoffs this past Friday night.
The Battling Bishops, winners of the past two state titles, were also riding a nine-game winning streak this season and had won nine consecutive playoff games.
It was also the first time in school history that Bamberg-Ehrhardt (7-5) took down the Bishops -- a series that dates back to 1945.
The Red Raiders outscored Bishop England 13-6 in the second half after playing even to halftime, earning a date with No. 1 seed Silver Bluff in the Lower State final on Friday.
Bishop England (9-3) was held to 103 total offensive yards after halftime. Red Raiders quarterback Sumner Cooler threw his second touchdown pass of the game in the third quarter for a 21-14 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Bishops senior tailback Nick Shiver, who finished with 130 yards on 11 carries, also scored his second touchdown to trim the deficit to 21-20 following a failed extra point attempt.
But, the botched attempt wouldn't be the reason Bishop England's season was cut short. The Red Raiders responded with a 15-yard score from running back Tyrell Wilson with 5:15 remaining.
Bishop England nearly pulled even, but senior quarterback Reed Fosberry's 13th and final pass attempt of the game was incomplete in the end zone with 1:27 left.
Fosberry completed eight passes for 70 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown toss to fellow senior David Hull to open the game. From there, scoring between the two B-Es alternated before Bamberg-Ehrhardt held Bishop England to a scoreless third quarter, which proved to be the difference.
Defensively, Fosberry -- as a defensive back -- complemented an interception with six solo tackles and an assist. The interception was Bamberg-Ehrhardt's only turnover. Younger brother Lawton Fosberry, playing linebacker, added five solo tackles and three assists.
The Fosberry brothers finished No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in total tackles. Lawton earned family bragging rights with 57 solo tackles, 20 assists, four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. Reed finishes his senior season with 50 solo tackles, 26 assists, five interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
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text:
Top Halloween costumes for pets
POSTED: 01:20 PM PDT Oct 18, 2011 UPDATED: 08:51 AM PDT Oct 23, 2015
Check out these costumes to dress your furry friend in before taking him or her out on Halloween.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.blog comments powered by Disqus


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FF Karbid supports up to 82 different languages such as Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Turkish, Italian, Polish, Kurdish (Latin), Azerbaijani (Latin), Romanian, Dutch, Hungarian, Serbian (Latin), Kazakh, Czech, Swedish, Belarusian (Latin), Croatian, Slovak, Finnish, Danish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Slovenian, Irish, Estonian, Basque, Icelandic, and Luxembourgian in Latin and other scripts.
Please note that not all languages are available for all formats.
FF Karbid is an interpretation of storefront lettering created between 1900 and the late 1930s that was preserved due to the German Democratic Republic's economy of scarcity. In the beginning of the 1990s, FF Karbid's designer Verena Gerlach documented storefront lettering in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte districts. Sadly, these have since almost entirely disappeared from the landscape, due to gentrification and renovation work in the reunified German capital. However, their spirit lives on in the idiosyncratic letter forms of the FF Karbid typefaces. Originally published in only three weights and one display version in 1999, FF Karbid was completely redesigned and extended in 2011.
All of the FF Karbid fonts contain numerous alternate characters, allowing you to considerably change the appearance of the typeface. These alternates are based on the sometimes eccentric forms of Art Deco lettering styles. For instance, using Stylistic Sets, you can choose between low- and high-waisted variants of capital letters, a circular O and G, an A with either a pointed apex or a rounded top, and many more alternates, all of which may be used interchangeably. The FF Karbid fonts also include four figure sets, plus smaller-sized figures and fractions, arrows, bullets, and full Latin Extended language support.
FF Karbid Display is the most obvious spin-off of the original Karbid. The characteristic letter forms were assimilated, then subtly revised to match the new concept. The family was extended to five weights, complete with matching Obliques.
The FF Karbid suite of typefaces now also includes a new slab version: FF Karbid Slab. Its sober, newslike character was inspired by magazine typography in the 1930s (see Memphis, Rockwell, Stymie etc.). The strong serifs give the slab serif a dignified and assured look. The stroke contrast was increased for legibility and balance.
The final variant added to the FF Karbid type system is the new text version: FF Karbid Text. This is intended for setting body copy in small text sizes, mainly for publication design (books, magazines, etc.). The character shapes are more subdued – the eccentric, serif-like swashes in the lowercase a, d, h, m, n, u and capital R were abandoned, while the lively l, y, z and Z reveal this variant's kinship to the FF Karbid family.


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Celebrities with March birthdays
POSTED: 12:41 PM PST Feb 27, 2012 UPDATED: 11:00 PM PST Feb 29, 2016
Is your birthday in March? Take a look at celebrities with March birthdays and see who shares yours.
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Illinois Public Media News
In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources
Contact WILL News at email@example.com
January 18, 2013
Page 651 of 1065 pages ‹ First < 649 650 651 652 653 > Last ›
WILL Newscast audio
NPR News
Ala. Chief Justice Roy Moore Suspended For Rest Of Term Over Gay Marriage Stance
Federal Investigators Find 'Black Box' From Hoboken Train Crash
2 Stolen Van Goghs Recovered By Anti-Mafia Police In Italy
Rosetta Crashes Into Comet, Bringing Historic Mission To End
Man Pleads Guilty To Elaborate Kidnapping Initially Deemed A Hoax By Calif. Police
Pregnant Women Should Consider Not Traveling To Southeast Asia
Head Of Yosemite Park Steps Down In Wake Of Hostile Work Environment Claims
A Wide Gulf Persists Between Black And White Perceptions Of Policing
Reykjavik Turns Off Street Lights To Turn Up The Northern Lights
Giant Sinkhole At Florida Plant Leaks Polluted Water Into State Aquifer
More NPR News
WILL Highlights
Vintage Vinyl is back!
Huge sale of used vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, and other musical ephemera to benefit Illinois Radio Reader returns on Oct. 1.
The Bandwagon
Not your typical sports podcast. Forget the "hot takes" and meet us at the intersection of sports and culture every two weeks.
Classic Mornings
Get more out of your classical music experience and check out Vic Di Geronimo's blog.


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Get a new tip, trick, or troubleshooting technique for Revit every Tuesday. This weekly series offers workflow enhancements, customizations, and shortcuts for both Revit beginners and seasoned users alike.
Start learning with our library of video tutorials taught by experts. Get started
Master the view range settings in Revit. Learn how to adjust view range properties (Top, Cut Plane, Bottom, and View Depth) to control exactly how your roof, ceiling, and foundation plans display.
You don't have to leave Revit to design signage. Learn to create simple 3D signage plans using model text, custom families, and vector artwork from Illustrator or AutoCAD.
Find out what's new in Revit 2017. If you have been using Revit for a while and want to get up and running with new features and enhancements—specifically for architecture—this is the course for you.
Learn the basics of using Revit 2017 for architectural design. This course is designed for those who have no prior Revit experience and want to work in metric units (meters and centimeters).
Learn the basics of using Revit 2017 for architectural design. This course is designed for those who have no prior Revit experience and want to work in imperial units (inches and feet).
Learn how to use Revit to model and render classical architectural forms and contribute to historical rendering projects such as Project Soane.
Teaches you the techniques you need to complete solid architectural projects in Revit 2016, using imperial project units.
Teaches you the techniques you need to complete solid architectural projects in Revit 2016, using metric project units.
Learn how to generate high-quality output directly from Revit, and create photorealistic renders for presentations and visualizations.
Explore the Revit coordinate system, how files relate to one another when linked, and how to manage relationships between shared coordinates over time.
Learn how to preload content in your Revit template to save time and standardize your documentation.
Customize Revit templates to include the floor plans, elevations, schedules, and sheets you need the most.
Learn to configure the system families and settings that are part of every Revit project to maximize consistency and predictability in your projects.
Configure your Revit templates with consistent annotations for more professional office standards and high-quality project deliverables.
Learn the tools and techniques used by professional architects to build amazing structures with AutoCAD Architecture.
Build your Revit skills from the ground up. Learn the building information modeling (BIM) techniques you need to complete solid architectural projects in Revit 2015.
Tame unruly parametric curves with the Revit Family Editor, and start controlling circles, arcs, arches, splines, and even complex curves like cyma moldings.
Make construction models that work for everyone on your team. Learn how to use Revit's parts, assemblies, and displacement views to break your model down and add detail and refinement.
Teaches the core building information modeling (BIM) skills you need to complete solid architectural drawings in Revit 2014.
An introduction to Revit, the building information modeling software for architects and structural engineers.
Shows how to use phasing and design options to organize multipart, multifaceted projects in Revit.
Shows AutoCAD drafters and designers how to migrate their CAD workflow to Revit.
Create compelling architectural designs using the modeling and documentation tools in Revit.
Elaborates on the basics of core elements in Revit such as walls and floors, and digs into more specialized features such as in-place families, adaptive components, and the massing environment.
Explore the rendering features of Revit, including photometric lighting, sun, and exposure, and its basic animation tools such as walk-throughs.
Create standardized content such as furniture, doors, and many other architectural components using the Family Editor in Revit.
Shows how to create compelling architectural designs using the building information modeling tools in Revit.


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Jennifer Meyer Initial Pendant Necklace
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Jennifer Meyer
Initial Pendant Necklace
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Crafted of polished 18k gold and hung on a 14k gold cable chain, Jennifer Meyer's disc pendant is inset with a pavé diamond letter "D".
- Pavé white diamonds
- Polished 18k gold pendant, 14k gold chain
- 16" chain length, approximately; 15mm pendant drop, approximately
- Spring ring clasp
- Made in U.S.
Handmade from polished gold and embellished with sparkling pavé diamonds and eye-catching semi-precious stones, Jennifer Meyer's delicate designs complement the active lifestyle of today's woman. Simon Doonan, creative ambassador for Barneys New York, declares her work \very nuanced and subtle\" while praising its understated elegance."
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text:
BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//18.104.22.168//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.23// CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:KNUJ X-WR-CALDESC:Just another Ingstad Broadcasting Sites site X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Chicago BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20151101T080000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=1SU;BYMONTH=11 TZNAME:CST END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20160313T090000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=2SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:CDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:http://www.knuj.net/?post_type=ai1ec_event&p=29825&instance_id= DTSTAMP:20161001T204516Z CONTACT:Pat\, George (Pat at 507-359-2333 or George at) DESCRIPTION:
Teh Prinzenpaar of the German-American Mardi Gras Associatio n will serve as Grand Marshals of New Ulm'\;s German-American Day Par ade\, a feature of Oktoberfest 2012. Prinz Darrel I and Prinzessin Patrici a I\, national GAMGA royalty\, will lead the parade.\n
The parade wi ll form at New Ulm'\;s Glockenspiel at 10:30am on Saturday\, October 6\, and march off at 11am. It will proceed south along Minnesota Street to Center Street. The parade is sponsored by the German-Bohemian Heritage So ciety. The public is invited to participate on foot\, on horseback or on w heels. Families and urged to make a sign with family name\, add the year i n which the family arrived in America and/or New Ulm and join the parade. Participants are encouraged to wear their German costume is possible and c arry American and German flags. Musical units and floats are invited to ad d to the festivities.\n
No pre-registration is necessary. For additi onal information\, contact Pat at 507-359-2333 or George at 507-354-2097 .\n DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20121006T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20121006T120000 LOCATION: SUMMARY:German-American Day Parade\, New Ulm URL:http://www.knuj.net/ai1ec_event/german-american-day-parade-new-ulm/?ins tance_id= END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR


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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
In a tight election race, Sullivan's Island residents re-elected Mike Perkis and elected political newcomer Chauncey Clark to town council. Perkis had previously served on council and was voted unanimously by his peers to the mayor pro tem position. He took the next step May 7 and became mayor of the town.
The municipal election also re-elected Pat O'Neil and welcomed Susan Middaugh to council. The Moultrie News sent them all of them eight different questions to be completed in question-and-answer format. Answers were only edited for grammar. O'Neil's and Middaugh's responses were published last week. Perkis' and Clark's answers follow.
Moultrie News: What is your background prior to being elected to town council?
Mike Perkis: I spent the last 20 years of my business career as vice president for Materials Management/Procurement for Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. My department was responsible for the annual purchasing of over $500 million. It was an extremely critical responsibilty in a very competitive business environment where every decision had substantial impact to the overall health of the company.
Chauncey Clark: After my degrees in the US Army, BS and MBA, I worked in project management for a hospital firm, then on to establish my own PM company. For 30 years, we were involved with numerous projects that included airports, large hotels and hospitals.
MN: Why did you decide to run for office?
MP: I ran for mayor to complete the major projects that are in progress, while also working to unite our residents. I want to provide leadership for the completion of the new Sullivan's Island Elementary School building and the management plan for the important accreted areas on front beach. I will work on funding options that optimize the low interest rates for the building of the new town hall facility and enhancements to our water/sewer system.
CC: On the planning commission, I enjoyed the work and the fellowship involved with the needs of the town. The council is the next logical step in that process.
MN: What is the biggest accomplishment of Sullivan's Island Town Council in recent history?
MP: This council identified many challenges that needed to be addressed. While several were controversial, the council did not shirk its responsibility. We fought for the rebuilding of an elementary school in our community. We had the foresight to identify several historic needs within the water and sewer operation and developed programs to address them. We also put two parcels of green space under protection with the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy, and we started the first steps for the management of the front beach accreted areas.
CC: The replacement of the school buildings to establish a long-term, first-rate school on the island.
MN: Have there been any oversights from town council members in recent history?
MP: In hindsight, there are always things we could have done better. However, on balance this council performed very admirably in the face of several contenious issues. We do need to work harder to develop better communications tools, so our constituents have easier access to what's happening and can easily become more engaged in all the important discussions.
The rebuilding of a new town hall will give us the opportunity to install modern equipment, providing easier access for timely information for our residents and more efficient information flow for council and the staff.
CC: No matter how the town processes information, the message gets muddled. The town web site does a good job of defining the meeting schedules and agendas. The best way to know what is going on is to attend meetings and get involved.
MN: What are your top three priorities while on council?
MP: I wish there were only three important projects. This council will have their hands full rebuilding community dialogue to unite residents. We also have to develop a financially responsible plan to fund our major capital project.
We also need to complete the management plan for the front beach accreted areas, build a new town hall, continue our efforts to address historic issues within our water/sewer operation and examine how we can minimize the impact of the increasing number of vistors. Clearly, we have a full plate and look for all the help we can get from interested residents.
CC: (1) Complete the school building project. (2) Complete the city hall project. (3) Complete the sewer repair project. All projects need a beginning and end target date and magic in the middle to make it happen on time and under budget.
MN: What is your favorite thing to do on the island?
MP: Every morning, I walk my dogs on the beach and realize how blessed I am to live in this wonderful place. Every early morning walk, rain or shine, is a reaffirmation on why we live here, and why I have committed myself to work hard for this community.
CC: Ride my bike on the beach and watch the setting sun play on the sea grasses on the dunes and the white waves on the ocean.
MN: We all know Sullivan's Island is home to some fantastic restaurants. What's your favorite?
MP: After eight years on council, I learned not to pick a favorite anything. All our restaurants, in their own way, are fantastic.
CC: We are lucky to have a great variety of restaurants on the island. The best depends on your attitude at that moment.
MN: What's something that people may not know about you?
MP: I went to college at the University of Buffalo on a swimming scholarship and was a four-year letterman.
CC: As Jimmy Buffett says: "If you can fly, cook or play a guitar life is good. Two out of three ain't bad."
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Top Definition
wanting someone purely for their mind - has nothing to do with sexual attraction.
"i have such a brain crush on this kid in my philoshophy class. sure hes 5'3" and clearly never combs his hair, but he is so witty and articulate."
po woundedgazelle Децембар 12, 2005
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
When you have a crush on a person's brain, with complete disregard to appearance, availability, etc.
Laura has a braincrush on Thomas Jefferson.
po awesomeaardvark Октобар 21, 2009


text:
The window of opportunity for picking up food you dropped on the ground, dusting it off and eating it.
Person 1 - Drops sandwich
Person 2: "It's still good... 5 second rule!"
Person 2: "It's still good... 5 second rule!"
Kim tərəfindən 10 İyul 2004
If food drops on the ground, you're still allowed to eat it if it's only been on the ground for 5 seconds or less.
Person 1: Oh shit I dropped my pizza slice
Person 2: 5 second rule!
Person 1: *eats pizza*
Person 2: 5 second rule!
Person 1: *eats pizza*
joveblue tərəfindən 10 İyul 2004
A long standing rule in which any food which is dropped on the floor/ground is still "good" and edible if it was only in contact with the surface for less than 5 seconds. Incorporated mainly by clumsy children but is often used by teenagers and adults as well.
"Dude, this hotdog is awesome....damn, I dropped it on the ground. No big deal, its still good takes a big bite, 5 second rule!! mumbles with mouth full"
zebo2k tərəfindən 11 İyul 2004
The tacit requirement in ultra-clean American society that dropped food must not lay upon the ground for longer than five seconds in order to be still edible. Certain requirements about food type (i.e., non-sticky or attracting of dirt particles) generally apply.
Dude! I dropped my Dorito! Five second rule...still good.
quetzalphoenix tərəfindən 10 İyul 2004
A unspoken rule where if any sort of food falls to the ground, if you pick it back up in 5 seconds or less it is still okay to eat.
Oh no i dropped a skittle, its only been 3 seconds, its still good.
Nathan Charette tərəfindən 10 İyul 2004
The '5 second rule' applies when food comes into contact with an object that is tainted. If it is removed from the tainted object in 5 seconds or less, then the food is considered safe for human consumption and eaten as if nothing happened. If it stays on the tainted object for more than 5 seconds then it is considered unfit for human consumption and is discarded.
I'll bet that fat kid eats the cookie he dropped on the floor even though the 5 second rule is up.
Timothy Paul tərəfindən 09 İyul 2004
when it is okay to pick up a pick of food or candy from the floor if it has been on the floor for 5 seconds or less, as if germs and filth cannot adhere to an edible morsel during that time frame
Go ahead and eat the m&m -- the five second rule is in effect.
Winsi tərəfindən 09 İyul 2004


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quote DeathstrokexI did not mistype. The package deal starts under the ssr and legends u most likely were including.100 for all?? i think u miss typed if u didn't i'm up for it lol
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Sunday, November 10, 2013
National education nonprofit Reading Partners has announced that the Charleston Volunteers for Literacy Book Buddies Program officially became Reading Partners Charleston, its 11th regional branch. Reading Partners is a highly effective literacy program, offering children one-on-one tutoring with a highly trained volunteer.
Charleston Volunteers for Literacy Book Buddies Program began in 2008, and has helped equip hundreds of Charleston students with the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. The evolution of the program has included expansion to some additional schools, and coordinated work with district leaders to complement Charleston County's Literacy Academy work. Reading Partners' research-based model with measureable outcomes was the logical next step to scale the program for eventual expansion into all Title 1 elementary schools in Charleston County.
Charleston Volunteers for Literacy Executive Director Kecia Greenho will continue her role as executive director of Reading Partners Charleston. "Reading confidently is a skill with the power to transform a child's life," said Greenho, Reading Partners Charleston executive director. "With the support of dedicated Charlestonians, Reading Partners is opening doors of opportunity for children throughout our community."
Last year, nearly 6,000 Reading Partners tutors worked with more than 5,250 students in low-income schools across six states and the District of Columbia. In the 2013-14 school year,
Reading Partners Charleston will work with 400 students in eight schools in the Charleston community. Elementary school students across America are falling behind in the acquisition of critical reading skills. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2011, just 32 percent of the nation's fourth graders in public school were reading at proficiency or above. In South Carolina, four out of five fourth graders from low-income families cannot read at grade level.
Working in schools in low-income communities, Reading Partners transforms a dedicated space into a reading center, complete with a library and teaching tools managed by a full-time staff member. Reading Partners collaborates with teachers and principals to identify students reading six months to two and a half years behind grade level, and provides them with personalized literacy instruction.
"Improving literacy is the key to producing college- and career-ready adults," said Dr. Nancy J. McGinley, Superintendent of Charleston County School District. "Reading Partners Charleston provides a vital service by connecting community members with students in their communities who are struggling to read. The program directly supports CCSD's focused effort on literacy improvement as the cornerstone for achievement overall."
CCSD's focus on literacy has seen positive results through district-wide efforts such as improving the early childhood curriculum; selecting materials that best meet the needs of general classrooms and reading intervention groups; providing reading support specialists (interventionists) for supplemental, small group and one-on-one instruction where needed; and carefully monitoring and assessing the progress of below-grade level readers. The district's partnership with Reading Partners is an excellent example of the success and growth of one of these efforts.
Reading Partners recruits and trains community volunteers to provide weekly one-on-one literacy tutoring using its highly effective curriculum, a series of structured lesson plans that progress from phonics instruction for younger students to higher order comprehension strategies for older students.
Reading Partners sees demonstrable results in the reading skills of students in its program. In the 2012-13 school year, 88 percent of students accelerated their progress in reading. Before enrollment last year, Reading Partners students gained an average of only 0.6 months of reading skills for every month in the classroom. By the end of the year with Reading Partners, our students gained an average of 1.6 months of reading skills per month, more than doubling their rate of learning and catching up to their on-grade peers.
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text:
Top Definition
A species of animal that is covered in fur and is very dangerous. It has only 2 legs and 2 fangs that it uses to kill it's victims. It also has a tail that it uses to spring towards it's victims face. Wild Mannys have been known to take out large animals and even humans.
Did you see that wild manny take out that old dude!?
додав Wild Manny 05 Жовтня 2006
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
It took some time on Saturday afternoon, but the Stetson Hatters finally punched through against East Tennessee State, scoring four times in the eighth inning to take a 7-3 victory at Melching Field.
The win for Stetson (18-22, 7-7) evened the Hatters' record in Atlantic Sun Conference play and gives them a chance to win their third consecutive league series. ETSU (22-14, 11-6) saw its seven-game league win streak come to an end.
"That is exactly what we were looking for coming into today," Stetson coach Pete Dunn said. "All we wanted was to give ourselves a chance to win the series, and now we have that chance. We needed this one to get back on track."
The Hatters got another strong performance on the mound from junior starter Austin Perez, who scattered five hits and allowed just two earned runs over 6.1 innings of work, but it was the bullpen that slammed the door on the Bucs.
"That is two extremely well pitched games in a row," Dunn said. "Even in the loss last night. We've only given up six runs in two games to a team that is sitting right there in first or second place. You can't ask much better than that."
Perez got into trouble in the seventh when he walked Tyler Roach to open the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position and a single through the right side by Alex Reynolds gave ETSU a chance for a big inning.
The Hatters turned to senior reliever Joe Dye to get out of the jam. Things didn't go quite as planned, however, when Derek Niesman dropped a perfect bunt down the first base line on a squeeze play. With the middle of the infield at double-play depth, second baseman Carlos Garmendia was unable to cover first, resulting in a hit.
"Carlos hasn't played a lot at second base and got caught a little by surprise," Dunn said. "We were looking to turn the double play, which left him a out of position to cover on a bunt like that."
With the tying run in and still two runners on base, Dye got ETSU catcher Mason Hershey to hit into an inning-ending double play to end the Bucs' scoring threat.
The game was still tied in the eighth when ETSU turned to junior right-hander Will Chesney (2-2) out of the pen. The Hatters pounced on him to win the game.
James Rasmussen got things started with a one-out single, which Tyler Bocock followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line to put two runners on base. After Robert Bruce was hit by a pitch to load the bases, freshman Kevin Fagan laced a single up the middle to drive in two runs.
Patrick Mazeika followed after the second out with a two-run double down the leftfield line for a little insurance.
It was insurance the Hatters would not need.
Junior Cameron Griffin (2-3) picked up the victory with a quiet eighth inning and then Tyler Warmoth worked around a one-out single to close out the Bucs in the ninth for the win.
"The difference for us today was that we had much better at bats today," Dunn said. "We had a much better approach at the plate with men in scoring position. We still left nine on base, and that is too many, but we squared some balls up today with men in scoring position and we didn't do that last night."
After falling behind 2-0 early in the game, the Hatters rallied with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take their first lead of the series. Garmendia singled home Mazeika for the first run. In the fifth it was Garrett Russini who delivered a two-out single to drive in Darby McCormick. Mazeika then scored from third on a wild pitch to give Stetson the lead.
ETSU scored single runs in the second and third innings off Perez. Roach opened the second with a double and scored on a single to right-center by Reynolds. Jeremy Taylor opened the third with a bunt single, stole second and moved up to third on a bad throw and then scored on a ground out.
Fagan, Mazeika and Russini had two hits each to lead the Hatters. Reynolds had two hits to pace the Bucs.
"Those freshmen – Fagan, Mazeika and Lutz – are all playing pretty good right now," Dunn said. "Lutz has done a nice job at third even though that is not his primary position. Garmendia has done a nice job defensively at second."
The series will be decided on Sunday when a pair of freshman left-handers square off. Stetson will send Adam Schaly (0-2, 5.05) to the mound for just his second start in league play. He will face Josh Jacques (1-2, 5.11) for ETSU, who will also be making his second start in A-Sun play.
The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Melching Field.