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If you consider yourself "spiritual but not religious," can you help us understand what this term actually means to you? Does science have something to do with it?
Robert Wright charts an intellectual path beyond the faith versus reason debate. He takes a relentlessly logical look at the history of religion, exposing its contradictions. Yet Wright also traces something "revelatory" moving through human history. In this public conversation -- recorded before a live audience -- we explore the story he tells, the import he sees in it for our culture, and where it has personally taken him.
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is a journalist and scholar whose books include The Moral Animal and The Evolution of God.
Pertinent Posts
Video Interviews with Krista Tippett
In the Room with Robert Wright (produced version)
SoundSeen (our multimedia stories)
One of Wright's favorite philosophers, and some background on "non-zero sumness."
Question to Robert Wright: "How Does the Evolution of God Relate to the Evolution of Women's Rights and Standing in Society?"
Selected Readings
This first chapter gives a good summary of the ideas behind Wright's newest book.
Selected segments from Robert Wright's conversations with digital physicist Edward Fredkin and sociobiologist E.O. Wilson.
About the Image
Krista and Robert Wright on stage at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
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Has Mr. Wright conducted any research within the field of anthropology of the anthropology of religion and/or the idea of evolution of culture (e.g., Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Sigmund Freud)? If so, how has it influenced his view of monotheism?
What has been the response of the evangelical right to The Evolution Of God? Has there been an official response?
Do you believe the current entrenching of positions among many religious organizations and its members is a sign of an impending breakthrough to a more unified vision of God or simply a build up to another more serious conflict that will remain unresolved for an extended time ?
As a teacher at a parochial (Jesuit) high school, I hear a lot of immature/adolescent concepts of God, but I'm not completely sure what a "mature" idea of God might be. The idea that emerges from Psalms may come close, but I'd be interested in your opinion.
When I was growing up my heroes were all scientists of a "platonic" bent... most being theoretical physicists like Einstein, Dirac, Schrödinger, etc. And it's not uncommon to find amongst them written expressions of wonder at the fact that our universe appears to adhere completely to mathematical laws: "Why should that be so?" being a common refrain. There's a famous very well written very readable piece by the physicist Eugene Wigner that I read when I was a boy, named "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences" that provides a wonderful distillation of this particular wonder. The astronomer Carl Sagan once wrote that "Some people think God is an outsized, light-skinned male with a long white beard, sitting on a throne somewhere up there in the sky, busily tallying the fall of every sparrow. Others -- for example Baruch Spinoza and Albert Einstein -- considered God to be essentially the sum total of the physical laws which describe the universe. I do not know of any compelling evidence for anthropomorphic patriarchs controlling human destiny from some hidden celestial vantage point, but it would be madness to deny the existence pf physical laws." Do you think perhaps this sense of expressed, almost beatific wonder with the the mystery of the mastery of physical law, might in itself be one of the most religious of expressions of experience? Especially for our time.
Traditional religions were often naively inclusive of ancient cultural myths and legends that were expressions of allegorical myths and legends that were expressions of allegorical floklore rather than verifiable, literal spiritual reality.
Rejection of an the intelligent-design hypothesis could well be attributed to the proclivity and vanity of the human ego, which is more interested in being 'right' and proving others 'wrong' than it is at arriving at truth.
Resistance to truth is not logic. The narcissistic core of the human ego divides mankind into the Hatfields and the McCoys is not motivated by devotion to the truth but merely to the ego-inflated narcissisic payoff obtained from conflict and being
'right'. The ego is innately activeely hostile to humility and would rather die (millions do just that) or kill others than relinquich its secret claim to
Historically, expansions of context have had salutary effects, such as the expansion of physics from the limited Newtonian paradigm to inclusion of subparticle physics, quantum mechanics, and ever-evolving quantumm theory. A conceptual bridge was established by the critical discovery of the Heisenberg Uncertainity Principle. It explained the impact of observation by human conciousness, which thereby empowers and precipitates the 'collapse of the wave function' as a consequence of the intentions (i.e., from potentiality to actuality). The field of astronomy similarly expanded from the study of just planetary systems to include infinite galaxies and multipple universes that are ever expanding and multiplying at the speed of light.
Different points of observation do not thereby create a seperate conflicting 'realities' but merely represent different perspectives from within the all-inclusive field of consciousness itself. As an example, instead of artificially creating a fractious dichotomy between 'evolution' and 'creation', how simple it is to see from a higher, inclusive paradigm that evolution is creation. It becomes obvious that evolution is simply what ongoing creation looks like, and that they are actually one in the same thing. Creation is innately evolutionary and emergently unfolding. Similarly, the intelligence of nature may seem to be only linear, rudimentry trial-and-error system, but out of the prehistoric swamps has emerged Homo sapeins whose nonlinear consicousness.
How do we begin to move outside of the memes and unresolvable conflicts of the ages to create a new expanded paradigm of reality that is inclusive of both science and spiritual realites instead of an 'either-or' partioning of mutually seperate realities, seemingly exclusives provinces or realms of inquiry?
Are you able to comment on Rudolf Steiner, father of Anthroposophy, and his place and understanding of the Christ role in the spiritual evolution of man?
name the three persons or three books that have most shaped your vision of a "GOD"
....thank you
I have heard that in poles, 50% of Americans said they could not/would not cast a presidential ballot for someone who said they didn't believe in God. Is this progress, or is it a reason for pessimism?
I apologize for the long question but it is 64 years in the making....
How do you adjust to the possibility that your whole life may have been a search for a god from whom you are not getting a recoginizable, provable response. isn't it getting harder toexcuse God for creating man?
Isn't it starting to feel like religion is 'man' creating a god, that can excuse man's violence. As we get more fearful with progressive age the old excuses wont do. Excuses like free agency requires all possibilities...to exist....for our developement..
Have we erred in our judgment of who or what god is to us, An attempt to excuse god, when he/it created man's futility and violence potential.
In the face of the more agressive hostile meat eaters that are the more prominate and obvious creation of the imagined god who for-knew and therefore, allowed what he/it was creating.
As such, therefore he/it is responsibile for the pervasive inhumanity that seems like mans constant blueprint? Do you agree? We are constantly pitted against agressive violent meat-eaters who are willing to take by any violence necessary for their gain. God created that?
where does your knowledge of God come from, and how do you know you are right?
If I am correct you now hold the possibility that there is something "out there" pointing to some possibility of a higher entity. Are you familar with the book, The Language of God by Francis Collins, and if so what do you think of his view of "What Came before the 'Big Bang'?"
Your 8/23/09 article in the New York Times does not mention Stuart Kauffman's speculation that there is a principle of self-organization which in addition to natural selection guides evolution. Why was Kauffman's call for "reinventing the sacred" not mentioned in your article ?
Has God as He says in the Old Testament created us-men&women- in his express image and thus is truly a corporeal man with flesh and bone though exalted and a perfect being?
humanity' understanding of God changed so much thoughout history why? is it because of humanity' understanding level and cultural environmental political economical noises? what are the common clear common points of understanding of God throughtout history?
Could you please define the word "religion" and what is your source to define it that way? Thank you!
If the universe contained no humans and no other intelligent life, then would it still possess a "moral direction"?
What is your latest evidence of God giving you some message?
If things that become self-evident to a Society need changing - do we collectively create that change without a 'revolution'?
How does the mind adopt a truth? I think it was William James who said that if a prayer or ritual is repeated time again without contradiction, it becomes a truth be it true or not. I think of the Muslims praying five times a day, or the recital of the Nicene Creed. Does the image create the ritual or the ritual create the image? And does either provide "absolute" truth? Or was Reinhold Niebuhr on to something when he said:
"The final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity
but the achievement of serenity within and above it."
Given your perspective on the influence that politics and economics have had on the evolution of religious practice, what form do you see religion taking in the 21st century?
I think that organized
I think that organized religion has lost focus on the mission (given to us by Jesus)
What would you dsuggest to someone like me who is very religiously dettached, yet, very spiritual and yearning for sincere examples of "Jesus"
H2 said that we could do/be what he did, I believe that, I hope to see that from thise who preach to be the messengers of God (Robertson, Hagee, the Republican Party)
I wonder if Mr. Wright sees examples of theological inconvenience, as he applies to the Crucifixion, for example, going on today? or it is even possible (or wise) to see that sort of thought while in the midst of things?
What would be the implications for the world for acknowledging a "God" beyond concepts?
Has he read Rebecca Goldstein's '36 Arguments for the Existence of God'? If so, what did he thing of the arguments?
How does the "evolution" of Language this socio-cultural process?
What parallels and connections would you draw between the current "spiritual-but-not-religious" trend and what is happening in the scientific community? The general public's attitude toward the sciences? (If I were to lead, I might add: is science providing the structure we crave without imposing parental rules and confinement we spent so many years trying to escape?)
Is it important for us to have a common concept of God, and if so, why?
How did the 'ancients' deal with the problem of evil?
What does he think of the relationship between a creator God and Darwin's theory of evolution?
In light of the dominance of money over government that has evolved in the past 3 decades, what hope do you hold for the reemergence of an economy informed by spiritual community in the US?
How do the rise of various fundamentalisms influence the evolution of God?
Do you see God as working under captamation structures?
With science, we understand the world so much better than during the distant past when religions arose to explain everything. Although some areas of the world are becoming more secular, others like the middle east are as 'religous' as ever.
Where is the world heading in this regard? Can we ever just agree on a set of moral beliefs, and leave the 'religious details' behind us? Can our human intellect ever overcome the religious indoctrination of our future generations?
I thought the non-zero idea was pretty good until 9/11. What does Mr. Wright now think?
I first saw The Evolution of God reviewed in The Economist and recommended it to our pastor at First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins CO. He's now leading a study of the book -- we're currently discussing Chapter 12. While we disagree with some of Wright's assumptions, e.g. Mark's gospel is most accurate because it was written first, we're realizing the vast gulf between what Bible scholars know and what most members of the congregation know about the Bible. Does Mr. Wright have suggestions for ways shrink this gap, for ways to tell the story of faith so that the focus is on the truths it conveys rather than whether or not it's factually true?
Thank you.
I hope you mean that human kind's conception of "God" has evolved. If my (I shudder) assumption is correct, what events in time, social structure, economic alignment, or politico-geographic adjustments have marked or spurred these evolutionary changes? Or have these changes been the result of some other force or forces affecting our fellow travelers through space and time?
I am fully aware of how the Christian traditions feel called to cloth the people who are poor, feed people who are hungry, and aid people who have a disability (though the actual practice of these imperatives is at times questionable). Is this true of all three monotheistic religions?
Also, when would you say the motivation to help others arose? In some ways, concern for the other can hinder one's personal advancement and even the safety and advancement of one's family, tribe, or religious group. While you present the development and evolution of the traditional god of the 3 main monotheistic religions as a rather natural development, it would seem that the fundamental concern for the other stands at odds, in some ways, with successful group development. Why do all three monotheistic faiths remind their followers to care for the poor, sick, and destitute?
What person or institution has caused more wars in human history than arguments over religion?
Have you read Jacob Needleman's newest book, What Is God? It seems to me that you are insistent on some kind of materialist "proof" of God's existence, and Needleman has come to recognize another kind of "proof" or reality. I'd be interested in your response--am I off base about you, and what do you think about Needleman's thesis?
Can you speak about the role of the natural world in shaping human consciousness and perception about the divine and it's capacity to grow, expand and evolve in relation to the dynamics of creation?
Short version: How do you measure compassion and when is there enough?
Long version: Most people consider themselves to be compassionate. How do you measure compassion in a person? What distinguishes someone as compassionate and another as less compassionate or not compassionate enough? While you foresee the evolution of compassion as moving in a global and universal direction, on an individual level what is the requisite quantity or quality of compassion that you imagine? Is there a minimum measureable standard that refects true compassion? Put another way, what percentage of one's time, treasure and/or talent must one give to be compassionate? Can I be compassionate and hold back more than I need to take care of myself and my family for the rest of their lives? etc.
Imagine global religious evolution 50 years from now...how might that influence human perceptions of a divine being?
"The evolution of an illusion" prompts comparison with Carl Jung's speculation that God created Man to define him to himself (that's not exactly it, but close I hope).
Do you feel an affinity with that concept?
I enjoyed your book tremendously; however, I was expecting and hoping for a discussion of process theology which, I believe, is related to your conception of non-zero-sumness as related to the evolution and advancement of God. Would you please discuss process theology briefly and whether or not you see it as I do: as a natural consequence of globalization and the non-zero-sum nature of religion?
Thank you very much,
---- Kevin Pettit
How do you respond to the Quanum theory that God is in every human being and that we are all one.
When you speak of the "evolution" of God, could you not call it the "revelations" of God?
If we're genetically wired for compassion...does it follow that some people or peoples are more genetically predisposed to love or extend acts of mercy than others?
I missed the show. Can I listen to or watch it somewhere on your site?
Just finished listening to the conversation with Robert Wright in the most recent podcast. Many thanks for sharing such a thought-provoking dialogue. Many of Wright's ideas about "the evolution of God" resonate with some of my own thoughts about how the interpretations of spiritual texts in religious traditions often fluctuate according to the dynamics within culture and society at a particular point in time.
However, I found myself wondering if his propositions might be a little limited in scope.. He spoke a great deal about how the perception of the Christian God has changed with the development of civilization, but do the conclusions he reached ring quite so true if we take into consideration religions of the East (e.g. Hinduism or Taoism)? Has the perception of Hindu deities become more compassionate as Indian society has moved toward globalization?
Another thought I had relates to his "relentlessly logical" perspective on compassion. I really appreciated Krista's challenging, yet amiable questions to Mr. Wright regarding the limits of his views on religion. I also wonder if something might be lost in conceiving of compassion in such a logical manner... I can know that my neighbor is deserving of kindness or that I am likely to benefit most from acting altrustically, but I would argue that true compassion is not possible without a dimension of feeling that is not based in rational analyses. This "feeling" aspect of compassion may be influenced by the logos that Philo so adored, but it cannot be evoked by logic alone. Emotions are by their very nature elusive of the top-down control of reason and rationality (consider, for example, how a fear response in the amygdala of the brain often "overrides" the activity of the brain's frontal lobes concerned with more rational thought processes). Perhaps there is something that emerges in the ritualistic and communal aspects of various spiritual traditions that serves to connect individuals with the less-logical dimension of compassion.
I have a serious problem with Robert Wright's idea of the New Testament representing universal love. As a Jew, when I read the New Testament, I find it full of hated of Jews. Reading the New Testament makes me feel physically ill, literally.
Robert Wright talks about Philo, but he ingores Maimonides. He also ignores Jewish mysticism completely.
I forgot a major point. Judaism is not an "Old Testament" religion. It is a Rabbnic religion. No Jew reads the Bible without the surrounding commentaries of centuries of commentators and the Midrash. Does he even know these exist? Probably not, most Christians don't. I recommend The Commentator's Bible by Michael Carasik. He has two volumes out so far, Exodous and Leviticus.
As a 66 yr old retired scientist, I've been pondering these issues over many years, especially on the Nordic Track with my eyes closed and my mind attempting to be empty, but failing miserably...Here's what I've come up with so far about 'purpose'. Not much really.
Perhaps one of the properties of matter, at least matter as it becomes more organized into cells, tissues, organs, creatures, is what we call 'consciousness'. At least in this microcosm of the universe, evolution appears to be in the direction of more organization (for awhile). What is the purpose in this? One evolutionary scientist suggests that this is so we can awake and admire ourselves, creation, the universe. Perhaps. I'm not sure, but one can certainly suggest there is a 'direction' in this 'evolution'. I should limit this observation to life on Earth, as I haven't been authorized to speak for any other 'life' forms yet, lol. What we do with this 'gift' when we stop killing each other, is to explore our surroundings. This 'need to know' is what appears to drive us. Maybe consciousness will get us into too much trouble and be discarded like some colossal evolutionary mistake (of which there are many), but I like to think not. We have this penchant for discovering how things work and the 'purpose' may be revealed in this odyssey. It would be nice to think that the purpose is to discover our 'purpose' and return to the source (whatever that means). Sounds like a copout, but that's all I've got. I'm still thinking....
Wright's work, patching up the God concept, isn't necessary outside of monotheism. In the East, there never was "the deal with the Devil" that Descartes made with the church, splitting spirituality and reason. James Burke, In The Day The Universe Changed, explains in the last episode, Worlds Without End, while the West was focused on "outer space" the East was focused on "inner space."
I believe Einstein agreed with him: "The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description." --Albert Einstein
This scientific world view is merging with eastern spiritual experience and even Neo-Platonism. This is the truth of quantum physics. It shows the limitations of this Western Cartesian mind.
This conversation between Krista and Wright strikes me as rather "christian chauvinist". To suggest that there is a move toward a universal understanding of god, overlooks Neo-Platonism and Buddhist practice which has always recognized universal consciousness. Not just a dualist notion of a separate god, but access for everyone to the divine within all of us, all of creation, and the universe.
These wisdom traditions were driven out by the hegemony of Orthodox Christianity in about the 5th century, from which it appears from Wright we are slowly recovering.
Supposing it is all moving in the right direction, but this 2000 years of dualism is in fact a kind of zig in the zig zag forward. It will be seen as a very abusive time.
The Buddhists in Tibet or in Thailand have a totally different experience of life on this planet. They haven't pushed the planet to the brink of destruction with their consciousness. That move was a uniquely Western, Judeo-Christian expression, moderated in some ways by Islam which carries more of the indigenous expression, such as forbidding killing fruit trees or destroying water sources. But not sufficiently to avoid this coming cataclysm, which is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy taught in these foundational texts.
The presence of Monotheists everywhere leads to zealously inspired wars from those books. They are the big problem in India now, and Nigeria. The Western materialism of Marxism is what is destroying Tibetan Buddhism, not the other way around. Like the native Americans they could have lived on for a lot longer without wrecking the ecosystem, nor the soul of man, such as happened in the US with neo-liberal economic religion and philosophy destroying cultural traditions and ties dating back to times immemorial. All this in a country where untold millions attend religious services every weekend and hear readings from these texts.
I understand though with donor situations as they are in the US, we can't speak openly about these things on radio. That is the same thing that happened on NPR with the news, so that now David Horowitz gets to slam Howard Zinn in an obit without any factually based remarks against all norms decorum because he is considered to legitimately represent a conservative viewpoint. Without any factual basis that seems to be the conservative viewpoint.
"Christian chauvinism" we will have to live with in the US until the collapse finally shows all this religion for what it has always been. Then the wisdom traditions and quantum notions can finally regain their place 1600 or so years after getting wiped out by Pope Cyril or someone like him. Only those with that access to the divine will survive it! Those bathed in hatred and rage and dualism will reap it upon themselves.
Ms. Tippett,
My wife and I quite enjoyed your dialogue with Mr. Robert Wright. We especially liked the sharing of your views on the blending of science and spirituality. I believe you would find the writings from the Baha'i Faith on the topic of science and religion quite interesting. Below we have added a link for your convenience.
Dan and Amy Haghighi
Dear Ms. Tippet, You probably get Baha'i responses often and know what I'm going to say ! I haven't seen a Baha'i program come by yet, though. A Baha'i precept is to study all the religions, not just our own.
It was interesting to hear Mr. Wright describe much of the Baha'i explanation of religion as being one entity, but more as a mechanic on the exterior.
If already familiar, you know we understand all religions are one revealed, progressive message and guide from God, and the "love and truth" and Divine attributes -- common threads per the author -- are never abrogated, being the "Eternal Covenant" of God with man.
The conflicts Mr.Wright identifies are either the man-made aspects or the impermanent elements of the "Lesser Covenant" that each "Manifestation" of God or founder brings to a certain place, level of human growth, and time. And points of disagreement are a big study.
Each One, limits Their revelation to what can be understood and benefit at the time. For example, look how the simple Genesis story of creation describes how the universe became, but in " seven days" (approx.: dark, light, form, water, life .. )and for apt for a rudimentary human understanding. No Prophet is less than or would repudiate Those before, but are Themselves dependably denied by leaders of belief of their time.
Science now tells it accurately, and a teaching today is that true science does not contradict God - unimaginable that it would. So all "errors" between them have some base to look over.
Above it all, God and religion are one, and in this revelation we are told - and ordered, I guess - that man is one and the virtues, again being revivified, are this time to realize the oneness of humanity and practice it.
To avoid the man-made divisions, Baha'u'llah said we approaching the maturity of humankind, and all must be educated, (girl child in preference to boy child if the resource is limited!), and each person must understand God's will individually and now have no priests, pastors, or other interpretations.
And obviously, there will be more guidance every millennium or so as God guides us out of the next deterioration of the message, and according to conditions and readiness due to our advancement.
Anyway, thank you for your work and programs.
(the photo if it arrives, is on Facebook, under Manuel Dinamarca Valenzuela) the Parish was founded 1824, maybe the church itself was newer.
site for further: www.bahai.org
Warm regards from Chile,
Wm N Thompson,
retired 3M engineer from Stillwater/St.Paul, MN
Ramón de la Cerda #437, Casa 3, Limache, Chile
Tel: (56) 33-418901 Cel.: (56) 99-419-0022 Skype: wnthompson Twitter: backtoyoubill
"This handful of days on earth will slip away like shadows and be over. Strive then that God may shed His grace upon you, that you may leave a favorable remembrance in the hearts and on the lips of those to come.
~ Bahá�u�lláh."
I think we're taking a simplistic understanding of evolutionary principles too far! Evolution presumes that enough time has passed for innumerable variations of the species to be "evaluated" by nature with regard to fitness. Can one really make the same claim of human religions? Are the two most widespread religions (Christianity and Islam) that way solely because they were more compelling to minds/spirits/souls (probably the "fitness" we're after here)? Didn't they also rely on the sword/conversions under duress quite a bit of the time? Wouldn't this latter force negate the applicability of Darwinian logic?
When I say I am spiritual but not religious, I usually mean that I recognize
that I am part of a grand Totality, part of a cosmos which, in encompassing all
that is, is infinitely creative and transcendent; and yet, is also a cosmos of
which I am a necessary, inextricable part, even though I am mortal, and thus it
is also a cosmos that is finite, ephemeral, and mysterious--this is my spiritual
nature. What I mean by not being religious is that I no longer subscribe to the
formal orthodox beliefs of organized religions, with all their rites and rituals
emanating from mythic conceptions of the universe. In the age of Einstein and
Darwin I have no need of the God hypothesis as an explanation for the nature of
being. Humans are the symbol using animal, and "God" as a cognitive symbol
(concept) for the Creation, and its implied, though invisible Creator,
originating in the ignorance of our ancestors, is a useless and irrelevant
legacy beside our evolving scientific understanding. But residing within my
being, and resonating AS my being, there is a need for synergy, fusion, one-ness
with, as Native Americans might put it, "all my relations." Spirituality is
about relationship--to the sky, the earth, the flora and fauna that surround me,
the visible and invisible presence of animate and inanimate forces, too numerous
to name, too powerful to ignore. And a framing of the moral temper of my
being's relations to all of that. I have found that while religion may aid in
acknowledging the awesome sacredness of Being, it cannot and does not explain
it, nor is helpful, ultimately, in living sacredly. (By living sacredly I mean
living in the full awareness of the preciousness of life, one's own and that of
the creatures and plants we devour.) Religions' mythic symbolism keeps getting
in the way. One can discover and live a life of sacredness without religion. I
do so. This is what I understand Mr. Wright to be suggesting in his basic
thesis about the Evolution of God. The "Evolution of God" is really the
evolution of humanity towards a more perfect moral order--with or without the
God hypothesis.


text:
After you created SQLs in the query editor, click a Run(F5) button on the toolbar. Tooltip will be shown when you put mouse-over.
With Ctrl+a, select all SQLs on the query editor, and then click a Run(F5) button on the toolbar.
Each of SQL should be separated by semi-colon in the end of statement. If your query has a error, then a warning message will be popped up. Queries successfully executed are stored in the SQL history so that you can reuse them by double-clicking in the SQL History tab.
If you have over hundreds of SQLs to run, it is a lot faster to run thru Run SQL File menu because it doesn't log SQL histories in a local directory.
You can save your queries as a file. On the DB node with a right mouse click, Run SQL File menu will be shown. You can load your *.sql file to run immediately.
While running your queries, a progress bar will be shown. If there is any query failed, you can export faild queries and re-run them after modification.
You can run queries over multi-hosts or multi-database at the same time in the query editor. You can compare results in a separate window.
After you create your queries, click the icon(F8) to change to the multiple query mode. Then you can drag additional DB nodes from the left tree to the Multiple Query Tab. Once you specify multiple hosts(databases), you can repeat to run another query.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Backman is quietly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new identity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, after he has settled into his new life, the CIA will leak his whereabouts to the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Saudis. Then the CIA will do what it does best: sit back and watch. The question is not whether Backman will survive, there is no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is, who will kill him?
©2004 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.
"The spy-versus-spy intrigue is well constructed and fast paced." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Why all the bad reviews?"
I am a Gresham fan and enjoy his style of writing. There is action, mystery, suspense and tense moments, all the elements of an enjoyable book. I was not looking for anything that was heavy, rather something that was intelligently entertaining. The broker won. I am glad I didn't read all the negative reviews first because I would have avoided this book. I enjoyed this book.
Doctor Bull
"Grisham wins a bet."
This is a stunningly bad book. Without Grisham's name it would never have been published. Like many readers I tend to shop for my favorite authors' works. Never again. I can almost believe Grisham made a bet with someone that he could get any drivel published, and wrote this to win the bet.
The most outrageous flaw in the book is the hours and hours of descriptions of Joel Backman (the Broker) learning Italian. It made no sense in the plot for him to even be required to do so. He never really needs to speak Italian, except to order espresso (which he wil do dozens of times, and each time you'll be treated to extensive English-Italian translations of the transaction). In his intro to Italian his tutor shows him the sights of Bologna, and yes, describes in detail every sight, right down to the number of steps in the tower. At first the travelogue is sort of interesting, but as hours go by and the plot (if ever there was one) is advanced, I found myself wishing I was reading, rather than listening, so I could flip forward a few pages and end the agony.
The basic premise of the plot makes no sense at all. Presumably the Broker is begin set up to be killed by some foreign agency. Depending on which one pulls it off, the CIA learns who owned a satellite system. But they're all gunning for him, and it's not a question of who wants him worst or for what reason, but who will get lucky. And, by the way, there's an excellent chance the CIA will not know which one was successful!
And speaking of that satellite system, Grisham should ask any high school science teacher how fast a satellite in a 300 mile orbit would be travelling. Trust me, it's a lot more than 120 mph. Tom Clancy can rest easy.
The characters are a mess. I didn't know whether to like Backman or hate him. In the end I didn't care. Some interesting characters pop up, like the Tin man, but once developed, they slip away, never to appear again.
Save yourself a few bucks. Don't buy this book.
"Still waiting for some excitment"
I usually love anything Grisham, but I must say what was he thinking with this bomb. I was waiting for something exciting to happen but I was left waiting and waiting. I thought I was listening to a translation audio book. Every word in Italian was translated to English. I hate to say this but this was the worst book I have ever heard or read. I should have listened to the reviews, but to be honest I would have purchased it anyway because of the fact that I am a Grisham fan.
"Hits The Ground Running"
I usually love Grisham's books. Well-conceived characters, with their history, development, sympathies and conflicts creating unusual tension and suspense. However this novel skips the initial backstories and thus loses the fuel to keep it all going. Who is this Joel Backman? And why should we care about him? How did he develop his MO and why exactly did he plead guilty and to what? It's all too vague and Grisham misses an opportunity for the real story. Instead, Grisham hits the reader in a spatter pattern of about a dozen characters each of whose story is hard to put together. I almost gave up but about midway through the book there emerges a secret-squirrel type story that gets interesting and to Grisham's credit, there is great theater and sense of place - all of which kept me going until the end. However, I agree with the author's end-of-story disclaimer and I prefer his psychological exploration of courtroom drama to this latest foray into the espionage thriller.
"This book is nothing like Grisham's others"
I liked this book a little bit, but it is nothing like Grishams other books. Over half of it is a slow repetition of a man trying to learn Italian. This is interesting for a few days, but after a while it starts to sound like a tourist guide.
Grisham himself admits he has a love affair with Italy, and it shows. He loves to talk about Italy until it seems as though you're reading your friend's description of the slides of his trip to Italy.
The last few chapter are good. They finally take one back to the story line and the suspense holds your attention, but it certainly isn't riviting. Grisham wrote another book that is nothing like his others - A Painted House - which I thoroughly enjoyed. But, in my opinion, unless you are an Italian enthusiast, you may find this book a bit flat.
I just finished this audiobook, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Yes, the action stalls in Bologna--but that doesn't mean the end of suspense and anxiety for readers identifying with the flawed protagonist. All of Grisham's books are riffs on escape--whether it's from the bad guys, surveillance, the feds, or the corrupt, soul-destroying capitalist work world that traps us all. Given Grisham's obsession with this fantasy, it makes sense to set the character in Italy--with its "slow food," ancient rhythms and architecture, and comparative innocence in global terms. It is here that the character--once again like all Grisham's protagonists--relearns what's important, reinvents his life, and gains redemption. I found it believable and strangely powerful--and, of course, it's almost impossible to stop listening toward the end. This book is definitely different in many ways from his previous books, but it works somehow. I'd get it again in a heartbeat.
"A nice travelogue!"
This is a better travelogue than Frommer's guides. It is obvious that Grisham loves Italy as do I and it was nice to listen to his descriptions of Bologna and Milan. The story itself is fairly preposterous and not terribly satisfying in the telling. OK to listen to on a trip.
"Not Grisham's Best"
I have read every John Grisham book, and this was my least favorite. It lacked the suspense, engaging plot, and interesting character development that made this author famous. This book reads more like a travel guide for Italy, complete with descriptions of restaurant menus, and lessons on how to speak Italian.
"Even Michael Beck can't save this one"
Even Michael Beck, who was wonderful as always reading Grisham, can save this book from itself. The descriptions of Italy are lyrical, but this is supposed to be a novel and a thriller to boot. Not only isn't this book thrilling, there is essentially no plot. What's more the characters are flat and not in the least bit engaging.
If you must have meandering descriptive prose from Grisham, then read The Last Juror in which the descriptions match those in The Broker, but which has engaging characters who develop as the plot (yes, plot!) develop. Evidently Grisham fancies himself a latter day Faulkner--he's got the wordiness down pat, just not the enduring worth underlying the long-winded prose.
Boring, boring, boring. I couldn't wait for this book to end.
"A good story with a hero you'd prefer not to like"
A good story since it is fairly unique in its setup and execution. The challenges, crimes, and retributions in this story are more indirect and obscure than in your typical crime or espionage book. You really have to think to understand why all the characters are trying to get even and why the "hero" is in the middle of it all. Along the way, we get exposed to Italy and Bologna, in a way you wouldn't normally experience it in an espionage novel. I found myself wishing for pasta and wine every night I was reading this book. If you enjoy subtlety rather than being hit by a 2x4 in a spy book, you'll probably enjoy this.
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4/30/2013 (3 years ago)
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
St. Paul shows us how Christ gives us a peace unlike any other, one that reigns and revitalizes even in the midst of suffering.The lessons of today's readings are still as relevant as ever. Just days ago, Pope Francis mentioned to young people he was about to confirm in St. Peter's Basilica, that to be a Christian means to be ready to embrace the Cross of hardship and persecution while maintaining our peace through our union with the Prince of Peace.
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
4/30/2013 (3 years ago)
Published in Year of Faith
Keywords: persecution, struggle, hardship, discipleship, perseverance, Fr. Roger J. Landry
FALL RIVER, MA (Catholic Online). There seems to be a shocking contradiction between what Jesus says in the Gospel to us today and what St. Paul experienced in the first reading.
"Peace I leave with you; peace I give to you," Jesus tells the apostles in the Upper Room and through them to all of us. Yet in the first reading, we see that St. Paul experienced not peace but persecution. Some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the crowds to kill Paul. "They stoned him, dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead."
It's important to note that the people who had stoned Paul were not stupid. The reason they supposed he was dead was not just because he was unconscious as a result of getting hit repeatedly in the head, but because he wasn't breathing. And it's very likely that he wasn't breathing because he was, in fact, dead. Just as dead as St. Stephen was after Saul presided over his stoning outside the gates of Jerusalem.
But St. Luke tells us that "when the disciples gathered around him" to pray for him, "he rose and entered the city." That verb "rose" is the very same one to describe what happened to Jesus Easter Sunday. St. Luke is not so subtly indicating that it was through the insistent prayers of the Christian community, led by St. Barnabas, that God brought Paul back to life.
And we see what he did as soon as he had arisen. Doubtless with black eyes and many bumps and bruises, "he got up and entered the city." He wasn't going to let the mobs intimidate him to silence. With great confidence in the Lord, and with great love for others for whom Jesus died, he returned to finish the job of proclaiming the Gospel that he had begun before the storm of stones rained down on him.
A little later in today's first reading we read that Paul and Barnabas "strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, 'It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'"
Paul and Barnabas were themselves undergoing those hardships in announcing that kingdom and, as Jesus had once said before, to enter the kingdom we need to "agonize to enter through the narrow gate."
Entering the kingdom from the beginning was not going to be walking barefoot over a bed of roses, since, we are, after all, entering into communion with a crucified king.
These hardships, this agony, are not incompatible, however, with Jesus' promise to give us his peace. In fact, it's because we're dwelling in the peace he promises that we are able to confront our hardships with the faith with which Jesus, and Paul, and so many Christian martyrs have confronted theirs.
We often believe that peace is the absence of war, of conflict, of pain, the type of tranquility pleaded for famously by Rodney King when he asked, "Can't we all just get along?"
But Jesus said that the peace he was offering was different. "Not as the world gives do I give it to you," he said.
Earlier in his public ministry, when Jesus was describing what it took to be a disciple, he had said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword." Then he went to describe that the sword would cut deeply: families would be divided, we would have crosses to carry, we would be hated, and even some of those who killed us would think that they were honoring God.
This is not because Jesus intended division. Rather he wanted to bring a unity so great among us that it would resemble the unity between the Father and the Son.
But Jesus knew that despite his intentions, he would in fact be a source of division, because those who didn't want to accept the Gospel, those who wanted to keep their own kingdoms rather than enter into the kingdom of God, would wage war to maintain the status quo.
We see this in the envy that husbands feel and exercise when their wives start spending more time with Jesus in prayer or the brutal ribbing teenagers will take when they announce to their peers that they think God may be calling them to the priesthood or consecrated life.
The peace that Jesus brings is the definitive peace treaty between God and the human person through the forgiveness of our sins. It's a peace that the world cannot give or rob. It's a peace that remains and strengthens even when all Hell breaks loose upon us as it did against Jesus in Jerusalem and against Paul and Barnabas in Galatia.
The lessons of today's readings are still as relevant as ever. Just days ago, Pope Francis mentioned to young people he was about to confirm in St. Peter's Basilica, that to be a Christian means to be ready to embrace the Cross of hardship and persecution while maintaining our peace through our union with the Prince of Peace.
"Paul and Barnabas say that 'we must undergo many trials if we are to enter the kingdom of God.' The journey of the Church, and our own personal journeys as Christians, are not always easy; they meet with difficulties and trials. To follow the Lord, to let his Spirit transform the shadowy parts of our lives, our ungodly ways of acting, and cleanse us of our sins, is to set out on a path with many obstacles, both in the world around us but also within us, in the heart.
"But difficulties and trials are part of the path that leads to God's glory, just as they were for Jesus, who was glorified on the cross; we will always encounter them in life! Do not be discouraged! We have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome these trials!"
The Holy Spirit fills us with the gift of courage, he raises us up just like he raised Jesus and Paul, to persevere in our Christian journey, living with Christ and seeking to bring others to live with Him.
In the olden days, bishops were accustomed to slap those who had just been confirmed on the cheek, to communicate to them that they need to be willing to suffer in order to be a Christian. Christians are going to get slapped around, but Jesus has given us his peace so that when we're slapped on one side, we have the courage to turn the other cheek with dignity.
That's what St. Paul did when he got up and returned preaching the Gospel, a Gospel that includes the necessity to undergo many hardships to enter God's kingdom.
At the end of the Gospel today, Jesus talks specifically about the great divider, the devil, and the type of havoc he was about to unleash. "The ruler of the world is coming," Jesus said, but "he has no power over me."
Jesus would go on to defeat the devil once and for all in Calvary, even though to the eyes of the world, he seemed totally defeated. The reason why Jesus freely allowed himself to suffer so much, he said, was "because the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me." It was precisely through his suffering, in other words, that he showed his loving obedience for the Father and the path to authentic peace.
Likewise the devil will have no power over those who live in Jesus' peace, no matter how many sufferings we have to endure. These sufferings, as so many - especially the martyrs - have attested over the centuries, give us a chance to show that we love Jesus no matter how much we need to undergo to remain true to him who loved us so much to die for us.
The hardships we undergo are an opportunity for us to show that Jesus - and the peace he brings us through communion with him -Â is worth living for, suffering for, and dying for.Â
During this Year of Faith, we ask God for the grace to understand better the truths God teaches us today and to put them into practice.
Father Roger Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River, MA and national chaplain of Catholic Voices USA. His homilies and articles are found on catholicpreaching.com.
By Fr. James Farfaglia
The consideration of Jesus' baptism, gives us an opportunity to remember our own baptism. If you do not know the date of your own baptism, it is a good idea to go through your personal files and find out when it occurred. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic ... continue reading
By Fr Samuel Medley, SOLT
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. HYTHE, KENT, UK (Catholic Online) - I didn't steal any cookies mommy! says a little boy whose mother asked him if he was hungry, wiping the ... continue reading
By Catholic Online
The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils, enables another to interpret holy Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one man's self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith Fournier
It is not accidental that the Bible, from beginning to the end, uses marriage as a metaphor and a symbol to reveal the plan of God for the whole human race. Marriage was God's plan from the beginning as we see in the first book of Genesis. Throughout the Old ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith Fournier
"A sower went out to sow. And, as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for ... continue reading
By Michael Terheyden
How we interpret the Bible is of immense importance! It directly affects what we believe about Christ, the Church, and our faith, but it is also related to many of the grave problems in our society and the world. Yet, despite the gravity of this situation, we have good ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith Fournier
We celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. It is one of many opportunities the Catholic Church year offers to each one of us to consider the creature called time, receive it as a gift, and begin to really live our lives differently. This is one of ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith Fournier
On the Solemnity of the Feast of Christ the King, the Sunday which marks both the end of the Church Year and the end of the Year of Faith, inaugurated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis greeted thousands of the faithful and presided over Holy Mass and the ... continue reading
By Father Randy Sly
Becoming a House of Prayer is the best discipline we can take on. St. Ephraem of Syria states that Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith Fournier
If this day you only knew what makes for peace- but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your ... continue reading


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Police Searching for Next Of Kin For Deceased Transient
The Oregon State Police is asking for the public's help to find the next-of-kin for a deceased transient found in early July at a homeless camp. The body of 72-year old Ralph Laurence Boles was discovered July 10th.
Boles' identity was confirmed through fingerprints. A back pack near his remains contained his retired military ID and Social Security card. A detective says Boles' death does not appear to be suspicious.
Boles is believed to have been a transient since the 1970s. Along the way, he had contact with law enforcement in Idaho, Utah, Montana, California and Oregon.
Boles served in the air force from 1958 to 1961. Anyone with information is asked to call OSP Detective Jess Elzy at (541) 618-7956.


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When feeling threatened Aplysia dactylomela will elicit a quick downward movement of its parapodia over its back. It may also release foul fluids from both the opaline gland and the purple dye cavity.
The idea that Aplysia dactylomela releases ink and opaline in defensive situations is widely held. Much of this ascription is based on electroneurophysiological studies. However, further studies were unable to confirm that inking was due to interaction with a predator. (Barnes, 1963; Tobach, Zaferes, and Migenis-Lopez, 1989; Wilbur and Yonge, 1966)


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Dmitry Berenson and Siddhartha Srinivasa
IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids08), December, 2008.
|We present an algorithm for efficiently generating collision-free force-closure grasps for dexterous hands in cluttered environments. Computing a grasp is complicated by the high dimensionality of the hand configuration space, and the high cost of validating a candidate grasp by collision-checking and testing for force-closure. When an object is placed in a new scene, we use a novel cost function to focus our search to good regions of hand pose space for a given preshape. The proposed cost function is fast to compute and encapsulates aspects of the object, the scene, and the force-closure of the ensuing grasp. The low-cost candidate grasps produced by the search are then validated. We demonstrate the generality of our approach by testing on the 3-fingered 4DOF Barrett hand and the anthropomorphic 22DOF Shadow hand. We also propose an extension of the algorithm for two-handed grasps and demonstrate it on the HRP3 hands. Our results show that the candidate grasps generated by our algorithm consistently have high probability of being valid for various hands, objects and scenes. Finally, we describe an implementation on a WAM arm with a Barrett Hand.
Associated Center(s) / Consortia:
Quality of Life Technology Center, National Robotics Engineering Center, and Center for the Foundations of Robotics
Associated Lab(s) / Group(s): Planning and Autonomy Lab and Personal Robotics
Associated Project(s): Planning for Manipulation
|Text Reference
|Dmitry Berenson and Siddhartha Srinivasa, "Grasp Synthesis in Cluttered Environments for Dexterous Hands," IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids08), December, 2008.
|BibTeX Reference
author = "Dmitry Berenson and Siddhartha Srinivasa",
title = "Grasp Synthesis in Cluttered Environments for Dexterous Hands",
booktitle = "IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids08)",
month = "December",
year = "2008",
|The Robotics Institute is part of the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University.
Contact Us | Update Instructions


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""Last year, complaints about airlines increased 22%. There were probably more complaints, but the airlines lost them." "
Bell 430
It's a capable machine that deserved to do better in the marketplace.
The race to capture the twin-engine corporate helicopter market began in earnest in the 1970s. Toward the end of the decade, Bell offered the 222 and Sikorsky introduced the S-76. Both became popular executive transports but the S-76 quickly established itself as the gold standard within the niche. It has sold more than 1,000 copies and remains in production today as the S-76D, which offers upgraded engines, avionics and rotor blades but features the same basic airframe as the original.
In the aviation game, building 30 copies a year—as Sikorsky has done with the S-76—is nothing to get particularly excited about. But Bell's slightly smaller and less expensive 222 and its subsequent variants, including the 430, have not fared nearly that well, collectively being outsold by the Sikorsky nearly two to one.
When it came to medium twins, Bell struggled to get it right. The 222's slick styling made it an instant hit and even the star performer in an otherwise forgettable 1980s television show, Airwolf. Once a week the unlikely duo of Jan-Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine would strap into their modified 222 and fly off to save the planet from some ridiculously improbable peril. The helicopter flawlessly did its job: distracting viewers from the particulars of the script.
As the saying goes, though, beware of marrying for looks. In real life, the 222 initially sold well, but production problems slowed deliveries. Once the helicopter reached customers, the news only got worse. The 222 was certified for single-pilot instrument flight, but the complex avionics that enabled it were a radio shop's full-employment program. The LTS101 engines were problematic from both reliability and maintenance standpoints. The anti-vibration system on the two-blade main rotor disc worked well but required frequent repair. The 222 name seemed to fit: too many repairs, too much down time and too much expense. But the machine was pretty to look at.
After a decade of troubles with the 222, Bell went back to the drawing board, launching an improved variant with different engines and other tweaks called the 230. But even as the manufacturer was fielding the 230 it was making plans for a bigger, better contender, the Bell 430, which it launched in 1992 and began delivering in 1996.
The 430 is arguably the beast Bell should have bred in the first place. Compared with the 222 and the 230, it has more powerful engines; an 18-inch-longer fuselage that allows for a third passenger-seat row; a new four-blade, bearingless, hingeless composite main rotor that delivers great performance and a smooth ride; a decent factory-installed cabin soundproofing system; optional first-generation glass-panel avionics; and the choice of skids or retractable-wheel landing gear.
The twin Rolls-Royce 250-C40B turboshafts have a full-authority-digital-engine-control (Fadec) system and kick out plenty of power, producing 618 shaft horsepower each (continuous). The engines have made the 430 a top performer in hot and difficult climates, including India and the Middle East. They were one of the prime reasons why two adventurers, Ron Bower and John Williams, used an early production 430 to break the helicopter around-the-world speed record in 1996, completing the journey in 17 days, 6 hours and 14 minutes—a record that stood for more than a decade.
The rotor system's primary structure consists of composite materials that resist corrosion and ease maintenance. Unlike traditional rotor systems that rely on hinges and lubricated bearings, the 430's uses two composite yokes with fluid-filled dampers and shear restraints. The design makes for an almost jet-smooth ride.
The roomy passenger compartment measures more than eight feet long and five feet wide and is four feet five inches tall. Volume is 215 cubic feet—as big as some light jets. The baggage compartment, at 37 cubic feet, is somewhat lacking, and there is no way to make it larger. It is arguably the helicopter's worst feature, although you can access it from the passenger cabin in flight. The main cabin doors are four feet three inches tall and three feet wide. They can be made even wider—up to four and a half feet—with the optional hinged "litter door" that attaches to the main door and just behind the crew compartment and can be folded out accordion style. If you have large passengers, passengers with mobility issues or outsized cargo, these doors are great and a must. Operated single-pilot, the 430 offers seating for nine passengers, or seven in plush executive configuration with all the amenities, including refreshment center, air telephone, club seats and individual passenger fresh-air gaspers.
Seat pitch is comparable to or even a few inches more than what you would find in jets, even in the relatively tighter three-row configuration: slightly less than 36 inches between each row. Six large cabin windows ensure a decent view for every passenger.
The wheeled-landing-gear variant has a significantly reduced fuel capacity compared with its skidded sibling: 187.5 gallons versus 247. (That's because the side-mounted sponsons hold fuel and, when you also put the wheeled gear in them, they hold a lot less.) Without the optional 48-gallon auxiliary fuel tank, a wheeled 430, burning 88 gallons an hour, is essentially a two-hour helicopter. The good news is that it can carry a lot—no matter whether it's on skids or wheels. Useful load is 3,975 pounds for skids and 3,942 pounds for the wheeled variant. The 430 can also carry sling loads of up to 3,500 pounds. Fully loaded, the helicopter weighs 9,300 pounds.
Bell produced just 129 Model 430s before production ended in 2010, by which time the price of a new one had climbed to $8.4 million. About half of all 430s were fitted with executive interiors. You can pick up a good 10-year-old one for less than $2 million and get a decent repaint and refurbishment for $200,000 to $300,000. That's a bargain compared with the cost of a comparably used S-76 or the $6 million price for a somewhat smaller, but faster new Bell 429.
The 430 remains in service with offshore oil companies, federal governments, helicopter charter firms such as New York's HeliFlite and Baltimore Helicopter Services, medevac operators and law-enforcement agencies such as the Michigan State Police, which flies its 430 almost 500 hours per year. The model is a capable helicopter that by all accounts should have done better in the marketplace, but being a derivative of the much-derided 222, it apparently could not shake off the sins of the father.
Mark Huber welcomes comments and suggestions at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Your Letters
What our readers had to say
Bell 430
The article on the Bell 430 ["Used Helicopter Review," October/November 2013] leads one to believe that it is a good buy. It may be, but there are several things to consider. It has significant performance issues at high altitude and in hot, humid areas. In Salt Lake the aircraft could carry only one hour of fuel to depart with three on board and in San Antonio useful load is 900 pounds in the summer. Because it is no longer in production, also, major components are not readily available, which can cause significant downtime.
On the plus side, it is a smooth-flying, fast machine. I think if Bell would upgrade the engines, modernize the avionics and improve parts availability it might be an option to consider.
R. De Leon
Nice to see a detailed, well-written article about this very capable aircraft. I have operated two of them VIP–a wheeled one and a skidded one. The skidded one has over three hours' range with the aux tank and an average cruise of 130 knots. It is also some 400 pounds lighter than the wheeled one and thus payload is extremely good. Love flying them.
Jamie Chalkley
I read the article on the BHT 430. the article leads one to believe that the BHT 430 is a good buy. It may be but there several things to consider. It has significant performance issues at high altitude and in hot humid areas. In Salt Late the aircraft could only carry 1 hour of fuel to depart with 3 onboard and in San Antonio; useful is 900 lbs in the summer time.
Another issue to consider are parts. Because it is no longer in production, parts are hard to find. Major components like transmission and yokes are not available. Example: Mainrotor yokes are no available. One must wait for one to be manufactured with causes significant down time.
On the Plus side, once you get the aircraft off the ground, it is a great Smooth Flying, Fast, SPIFR machine. I think if Bell would upgrade the engines and modernize the avionics, improve parts availability that it may be an option to consider.
Nice to see a detailed and well written article about this very capable aircraft. I have operated two of them VIP. A wheeled one and a skidded one. The skidded one has over 3 hours range with the aux tank and an average cruise of 130 kts. It is also some 400 lbs lighter than the wheeled one and thus payload is extremely good. Love flying them.
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Topic: Quick Tip: One for all and all for One!
I just converted a method that used to take (among other arguments) one id in aparamter and do a bunch of stuff lookups and computations and (gasp) return some result.
Next thing I know is that I really need another method just like that one, that does it's thing for an entire list of id's. Here is one thing I did to simplify my code and use just a single method than can handle either a single id, or an array of ids:
def big_method(id_or_ids, other, args, here)
ids = [id_or_ids].flatten
I know you it's kind of a yawner, but it beats doing things like this:
if id_or_ids.kind_of?(Array)
ids = id_or_ids
ids = [ id ]
Anyhow -- once you got "ids", you know it's an array, and you can convert the entire method to just work on the array. Ok ok ... I'm just still excited by ruby is all.


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Home > Office > Reception Furniture > EuroStyle
Choose from our extensive array of reception chairs and couches and furnish your lobby or waiting room with the very latest in comfort and style. Create the perfect welcoming enviorment in your office reception room with our select pieces that offer a contemporary blend of classical and modern styling, with a touch of personality and professionalism.
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Wonderful news for those celebrating National Yoga Month: Lululemon Athletica is opening a second Columbus location at Polaris Fashion Place on Friday, Oct. 12. The store will be on the first floor of the shopping center, just left of JCPenney.
Shoppers can expect a similar stash of well-designed women's athletic wear as in Lululemon's Easton location. There will also be complimentary weekly yoga classes held inside the store, taught by local yoga instructors.
"We don't want to just open a store and sell more black stretch pants," said Nina Gardner, a community relations representative from the brand. "We're here to stay. We want sustainable relationships. We want to sweat right next to you and you to sweat right next to your neighbor."
Adding to the local priorities of the international brand: The models, or "ambassadors," in the photographs of people doing yoga inside the Polaris store will all be local athletes.


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National Center for Education Statistics
The field of Family and Consumer Sciences is hard to define, but it's so wide-reaching that it's almost everywhere. State and local services, churches, education and health care all have aspects that are family-related.
The Master of Arts in Family & Consumers Sciences degree from Western Michigan University is designed to increase knowledge and advance the skills of students, preparing them for challenging careers in a variety of family-related fields. The program explores three core areas:
Family is the building block of society, and knowledgeable professionals in this area are always needed. This master's degree from WMU's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences provides students with skills and knowledge that are in-demand in various industries.
This program has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) program. This program documents knowledge and competence, verifies professional credibility and enhances the reputation of professionals as family educators.
Anyone with a bachelor's degree in a program related to family and consumers sciences who had an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Probationary acceptance status may be granted in special cases.
Family Life Educators are qualified to work in a variety of areas upon graduation and with commensurate experience:
If your employer has a tuition reimbursement program, find out about WMU's deferment program for employer paid tuition.
Washington Monthly placed WMU on a list of national universities that offer "the best bang for the buck." WMU came in at No. 50 based on the economic value students receive per dollar.


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The Galaxy Audio TRC/GBD Mini Guitar Bud System is a wireless microphone system that features the TRCR UHF diversity receiver with 120 selectable channels, and an LCD display with channel number, freq... Click To Read More About This Product
The Galaxy Audio TRC/GBD Mini Guitar Bud System is a wireless microphone system that features the TRCR UHF diversity receiver with 120 selectable channels, and an LCD display with channel number, frequency, volume output, and RF/AF indicators. It also has a Guitar Bud Mini Transmitter. If you like to move around the stage while you're playing guitar and don't want to worry about tripping over wires or wearing a bulky bodypack, the Guitar Bud Mini Transmitter is an ideal solution. It's a fixed frequency bud mic with an adjustable 1/4" plug, adjustable gain, an on/off switch, and a low batter indicator. It has a 135 angle of adjustment so it can work with most guitar body styles.
Reviewed by 1 customer
Comments about Galaxy Audio TRC/GBD Mini Guitar Bud Wireless System:
I bought this wireless system for one of my guitars I use when I play live. I bought it because of how small the guitar bud is. I have built a spinning guitar much like ZZ Top's lead guitar player (Billy Gibbons) and i wanted something that was small that didnt have a cable sticking out of it and plugs right into the guitar. Well I found this, and I gave it a try. The receiver didn't work at all, it made horrible squealing noises and had a horrible hiss to it. The only time it actually worked and my guitar came though was when I touched the guitar bud internal to the receiver, and it worked for a whole 3 seconds and then started the hiss again. I tried everything I could do to make it work and it doesn't work at all. I could have just gotten a bad wireless or something. So i really don't know if all there products are like this one.
Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturer restrictions. If you change the Ship-To country, some or all of the items in your cart may not ship to the new destination.


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Rain Wizard 50 - Black
Description & Highlights
Good Ideas Rain Wizard 50 Gallon Rain Barrel - Black
In the unruly event of uneven, scarce rainfall, with no water for your bed of roses and tulips, or even the pearly fruits grown in your own backyard, a high-capacity barrel for storing extra water definitely saves the day. The Rain Wizard 50 is constructed using high-strength UV resistant resin that is fade-resistant, making it last for years together. This barrel has a maximum water storage capacity of 50 gallons of purified, unchlorinated water that can be collected during periods of heavy rainfall, using rain water harvesting methods. That is, collecting excess amounts of rain water directly in to the Rain Wizard 50 barrel from your roof tops, before it washes away. This way, you can resort to nature to fulfill your daily water needs, and save up to 40 percent on water consumption bills, making that much water - free!
The Rain Wizard 50 is not just a barrel, but a specially designed container that blends well with your lawn or garden, and adds to the pretty picture of the surrounding flora. It has a captivating Faux Oak (Black color) barrel design that reminds you of the good old' Oak wood barrels that add to the landscape's ambience, while proving to be extremely environmentally friendly, since it does not involve mowing down precious forests. Moreover, the new plastic screen mesh keeps out bugs, animals, and other natural debris along with making it easy in removing the mesh for cleaning and maintenance. Its convenient flat-back design makes your barrel sit u right up without requiring purchases of additional downspout spares or parts. While most barrels may crack or become brittle during winter, the Rain Wizard 50 (Black color) withstands tough weather and lasts really long.Key Features:
- Model: RW50-BLKGood Ideas Rain Wizard 50 - Black
- Brand: Good IdeasCapacity: 50.44 gallon
- Made of UV resistant resinWeight: 19 lbs.
- Linkable to other barrels for increased capacity using separatelyDimensions: 31" L x 22" W x 23" H
- Warranty: 1 year limited
- Height: 23"
- Width: 22"
- Length: 31"


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Clearing the Cloud Part II – A Ray of Sunshine On A Cloudy Day
- On-demand self-service, based upon
- Ubiquitous network access, using
- Location independent resource pooling, feature
- Rapid elasticity and provide
- A Measured Service.
Security Models
Figure 1: Jericho Forum's Cloud Layers
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Private
- Public
- Managed
- Hybrid
- Confidentiality
- Availability and
- Integrity
- Possession (or Control)
- Authenticity and
- Utility
- Confidentiality: Typically, we handle confidentiality through the usage of technologies such as Encryption and access Control. We can still encrypt, but imagine what happens to a large data set. It has to be sent, or assembled, in the Cloud, remain there in an encrypted form, and be transferred to us, for processing.Once the data is at our location, we have to decrypt it, perform the operations needed, then re-encrypt and resend to the Cloud. Doable – yes. The performance tax here is huge. While today's routers and servers no longer have their performance brought down to 1/6th by encryption (a loss of 84%), we still pay a heavy price.
Hi, Thank you for contacting Amazon Web Services. Our payment system is PCI compliant and it is an "alternative payment processing service" meaning your users re-direct to our platform to conduct the payment event using their credit cards or bank accounts. The benefit for you is that we handle all the sensitive customer data so you don't have to. If you haven't looked at it, I highly suggest you check out the features and functions of our Flexible Payment Service and our Payment Widgets ( http://aws.amazon.com/fps).
As for PCI level 2 compliance, that requires external scanning via a 3rd party, PCI-approved vendor. It is possible for you to build a PCI level 2 compliant app in our AWS cloud using EC2 and S3, but you cannot achieve level 1 compliance. And you have to provide the appropriate encryption mechanisms and key management processes. If you have a data breach, you automatically need to become level 1 compliant which requires on-site auditing; that is something we cannot extend to our customers. This seems like a risk that could challenge your business; as a best practice, I recommend businesses always plan for level 1 compliance. So, from a compliance and risk management perspective, we recommend that you do not store sensitive credit card payment information in our EC2/S3 system because it is not inherently PCI level 1 compliant. It is quite feasible for you to run your entire app in our cloud but keep the credit card data stored on your own local servers which are available for auditing, scanning, and on-site review at any time.
Cindy S.
Amazon Web Services
Try the following as an example: Suppose you have a volume of credit-card bearing transactions that you must preserve for a period of one year. And let's assume that the data is in SQL form. If so, the steps needed would include:
One other element within Confidentiality is the ability to destroy data. In a cloud, that we do not own, and on storage media that we do not control, there is high –probability that the same media be used for other purposes. These storage buckets are dynamic and the service/platform/application provider might allocate them to other users.
This sharing, and in many cases, repeated sharing, of storage media leads to the need for assured destruction. We must follow a strict regime that states how long is data to be kept, when and by whom destroyed, and how such destruction is verified. Since degaussing tapes and shredding CD's is out of the question, we must employ more agile software- (or, dare we say – hardware?) based methods to assure that destruction.
Figure 7: Chercher les …données?
This question becomes infinitely more complicated when we consider that data at rest does not necessarily "rest" on a certain platen of a certain hard drive. The data can, and usually does, move between storage locations on the drives. The onus is still on us to assure confidentiality, but… we don't manage the drives. The only practical solution here is to demand regular scouring of storage media from the service providers. Do we think that such a requirement is feasible?
- The next control we will deal with is Availability. When dealing with a Cloud-computing resource, we are at the mercy of the network, the remote server, and whatever controls are applicable along the way, be they host- or network-related.
Yes, we always were at the mercy of such risks, but we owned them before. When multiplying 99.5% by another, we quickly fall in our SLA capability to below 99%, and even further. At what point does the enterprise take notice? As we can see from recent, published outages at Google and elsewhere, users are very sensitive to the information they require, and rightly so.Figure 9: Rapidly Decreasing SLA's(98.5% = 5 and a half days a year)Even when taking steps to "assure" access, which in reality translates into reducing exposure to this particular risk, we have typically resulted to building redundancy into the system. Here, that would presumably add lines, servers, networking equipment and personnel. Doable, but at what cost? What does the complexity of redundancy mean to an organization? What is the True Cost of operations?.
Let's look at an example: we have a volume of data which stretches at times by a factor of ten, so cloud computing seems like the perfect solution. So here is what may happen:
- As for Integrity, we can detect changes after they were made. From hashing to redundancy checks, from digital signatures to trip-wiring we are able to ascertain that a change occurred. But… we can no longer prevent changes.
The bastion of defense in depth has crumbled when we talk about Cloud computing. We do not own the moats, the walls, or the doors (see my paper about the Evolution of Defense in Depth). Accepting data without verification should be unthinkable, verifying all inbound data will be complex and costly. Adding yet another layer to the mix of technologies and methodologies that we must rustle.Indeed, the Cloud unchecked could lead to a wave of new attacks aimed directly at data whose guardians (by virtue of possession) are not incentivized to protect it from change, only mostly to be able to speed it on its way.Cloud computing could be a gold rush to people designing man-in-the-middle attacks, too. While most hosting companies will boast of their monitoring and security, few, if any, can assure you that they have never been compromised. In fact, a provision of Cloud data, with its already built in doorway (or tunnel) to you, makes their life easier. They can now both alter the data AND assure that it, and associated payloads, make their way to the intended destination.
Here is one scenario. We have a university system who stores grade data on the cloud. "Pranksters" attack the datacenter and access student data, changing some grades, deleting some students.
Unless very carefully monitoring, either by using as-occurred instances or by comparing data to a "master" copy, such modified data runs a high probability of being recognized as the authoritative copy.
Worse yet, the data that was modified here has a known ownership. These malefactors can well insert, install, and even custom-design a payload to effect the specific environment and systems found at that university – while the data itself is treated by the university as owned, and therefore "blessed" data. This is a whole new definition of insider threat, isn't it?
Figure 12: Know What Data You Are Getting
- Perhaps moving away a tad from the pure-security elements of C.I. and A., to the more "business" ones, the first we will discuss in the Hexad will be Possession (or Control).As recent developments in the realm of data-breach notification laws has shown us (see my article about the "new" version of Mass' 201 CMR ), the United States, albeit one state at a time, is moving closer to the European, and indeed worldly, model of "Data Ownership".
Data ownership is a time-tested term and function that has been used typically in the military realm for over fifty years. That term has slowly been filtering to the corporate world, and now to real-politick, The concept that every element of data has an owner is a simple one, really. Do allow me to explain here, for the sake of completeness, that most elements of data have at least a few owners, and perhaps many, many more.
The data, for example, can be owned by a person designated by the Enterprise, by the system administrator, and/or by the individual it is about (in the case of PII, or personally identifiable data, for example).
Data ownership can specify who is responsible for the data, who can sell the data, whom the data is about, or what is the legal status of the data. And frequently more than just one of these items.
- How do we comply with Breach notification laws?
- What happens if we have data regarding an EU national?
- What must we do when we disclose risk information to Auditors? To the SEC?
- How do we comply with rules relating to CALEA? E-Discovery? Data Forensics?
- If we remember the example we used above, in the University case, Authenticity of data is a problem that must be addressed. Sometimes seen as a combination of non-repudiation, integrity and accountability, Authenticity is a super-set that defines the reliability we assign and the trust we place, in our data.
Should data in/from a Cloud seen as less-trusted data? If so, is there any worth to it? Would Cloud end up being used only for data we could care less about? Only time would tell. But In the following article will offer some solution ideas.
Would you, for example, require a CRC-type check before you accept data? Would that make your life easier or harder? And what about the following, admittedly oversimplified, scenario:
Just how many problems do you see here? I see at least three:
- The sixth element of our Hexad is Utility. Utility is where Cloud Computing excels. If we can figure out the other five elements, we can be the Bruce Willis of this story. Cloud Computing is clearly an idea whose time is near. We cannot argue against the flexibility, MIPS-saving, Just-in-Time, CapEx efficient model of a Cloud. The elasticity and low(er) cost attached to such incredible advance in utility mandates that we solve the issues stated above. Not solving them will have the effect of putting data at an amazingly higher risk. Companies will put data in the Cloud; use the Cloud; and expand the Cloud in a tremendously accelerating rate, regardless of data security and privacy.
In the next article I will put forward some ideas on how to resolve issues defined in this and the previous articles. I will also attempt to show some of the security related benefits that we can garner from the usage of Cloud Computing, especially those that we could not, or could not easily, do before the advent of the Cloud.
- Cloud Security Article - 1st in a Series
- Cloud Security: Danger (and Opportunity Ahead)
- Clearing the Cloud Part II |A Ray of Sunshine On A Cloudy Day || Cloud Computing Security
- Clearing the Cloud Part III || How Do You Solve A Problem Like "A Cloud� || Cloud Computing Security


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More:FY 2012 State and USAID - Core Budget | FY 2012 State and USAID - Overseas Contingency Operations
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton testified today before the Senate Appropriations Committee on State and Foreign Operations. The Secretary said:
"...First, this budget funds vital civilian missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, al-Qaida is under pressure as never before. Alongside our military offensive, we are engaged in a major civilian effort to help build up the governments, economies, and civil societies of those countries in order to undercut the insurgency. These two surges set the stage for a third, a diplomatic push in support of an Afghan process to split the Taliban from al-Qaida, bring the conflict to an end, and help stabilize the entire region. Our military commanders, as you just heard, including General Petraeus, are emphatic that they cannot succeed without a strong civilian partner. Retreating from our civilian surge in Afghanistan with our troops still in the field would be a grave mistake.
"Equally important is our assistance to Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation with strong ties and interests in Afghanistan. We are working to deepen our partnership and keep it focused on addressing Pakistan's political and economic challenges as well as our shared threats.
"And after so much sacrifice in Iraq, we have a chance to help the Iraqi people build a stable, democratic country in the heart of the Middle East. As troops come home, our civilians are taking the lead, helping Iraqis resolve conflicts peacefully, and training police.
"Shifting responsibilities from our soldiers to our civilians actually saves taxpayers a great deal of money. The military's total OCO request worldwide will drop by $45 billion from 2010, while our costs in State and USAID will increase by less than 4 billion. Every business owner I know would gladly invest 4 dollars to save 45.
"Second, even as our civilians help bring today's war to a close, we are working to prevent tomorrow's. This budget devotes over $4 billion to sustaining a strong U.S. presence in volatile places. In Yemen, it is helping to provide security, development, and humanitarian assistance to deny al-Qaida a safe haven. It focuses on those same goals in Somalia. It is helping Northern and Southern Sudanese chart a peaceful future, helping Haiti to rebuild, and it proposes a new Global Security Contingency Fund that would pool resources and expertise with the Defense Department to quickly respond to challenges as they emerge.
"This budget also strengthens our allies and partners. It trains Mexican police to take on violent cartels and secure our southern border. It provides nearly $3.1 billion for Israel and supports Jordan and the Palestinians. It does help Egypt and Tunisia build stable and credible democratic systems, and it supports security assistance to over 130 nations. As Senator Graham said, over the years we've seen great ties created because of that funding. We did help to train a generation of Egyptian officers who refused to fire on their own people.
"Third, we are making targeted investments in human security. We have focused on hunger, disease, climate change, and humanitarian emergencies, because they threaten not only the security of individuals but they are the seeds of future conflict.
"Our largest investment is in global health programs, including those launched by President George W. Bush. These programs stabilize entire societies that have been devastated by HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses. They save the lives of mothers and children, and halt the spread of deadly diseases.
"And yes, global food prices are approaching an all-time high. And three years ago, this led to protests and riots in dozens of countries. Food security is a cornerstone of global stability, and we, under our policy, are helping farmers grow more food, drive economic growth, and turn aid recipients into trading partners.
"And climate change threatens food security, human security, and national security, so our budget builds resilience against droughts, floods, and other weather disasters; promotes clean energy and preserves tropical forests.
"Fourth, we are committed to making our foreign policy a force for domestic economic renewal. We are working aggressively to promote sustained economic growth, level the playing field, and open markets to create jobs here at home. To give you just one example, our economic officers in Vietnam helped Boeing secure a $1.5 billion contract for eight 787 aircrafts to be assembled in North Charleston, South Carolina. And I personally lobbied for that, Senator.
"Fifth and finally, this budget funds the people and the platforms that make everything possible that I've described. It allows us to sustain diplomatic relations with 190 countries. It funds political officers defusing crises, development officers spreading opportunity, economic officers who wake up every day thinking about how to put Americans back to work."
You can read the Secretary's open remarks here.
Related Entries:Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks Before Senate Committee on Foreign Relations | Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee | Deputy Secretary Nides Briefs the Press on the State Department and USAID Budget | A New Way To Find Foreign Assistance Budget and Appropriation Data
Brian S. in Colorado writes:
Secretary Clinton, yesterday you told the Senate Committee on Appropriations that you were looking at new strategies to fight pirates off Somalia. You seemed to blame the Navy for not doing enough, and the shipping industry for enabling the Pirates. That is not fair. Neither the Navy nor industry can stop Pirates.
This problem cannot be solved by force alone. Pirate activity derives out of the economic situation ashore. The only solution will require a combination of economic development and strengthening of the Rule of Law.
Madam Secretary, you're in luck.
In December, 2008, a team that included the former Minister of Fisheries for the Puntland Regional Government, which ostensibly has authority over most of the Pirate havens, developed an approach to do exactly that, and submitted it to the CNO for consideration. Unfortunately, the Navy apparently feared that solving the Pirate problem too quickly might lead to smaller appropriations and fewer ships.
The approach was submitted to the POC designated for receipt of Unsolicited Proposals sent to AFRICOM. That contracting official made his own technical evaluation of the approach, based on who-knows-what expertise, without forwarding it, and found it lacked technical merit.
Finally, in April 2009 we tried to send it to Secretary Clinton. On 13 April, Ms. Martha L. (A/LM/AQM) emailed me to say that the State Department had no responsibility for Piracy, and therefore no interest in stopping it. That was then.
More good news. The former Minister, in collaboration with the current President of Puntland, is still prepared to implement this approach as soon as it is funded.
The US should not go ashore to implement this effort, but work through a local implementing partner like Musharax DGPL Ahmed Said Aw-Nur. If your intel is any good, you'll see that nobody is better suited to this undertaking.
Shoot me an email when you're ready to fix this.
Brian S.
Portia in Ireland writes:
Sadly Hilary, the women and children in all these countries suffer more now than ever before.
Like USA, before the white man came, the natives never knew rape, poverty etc until the men of god came to civilise them and taught them how to control women using rape.
Enough said.
Mark O. in Maryland writes:
It is easy for a country at war to marginalize the effects of soft power. Yet cultural and economic appeal are, or at once were, the primary factors in American world leadership. Clinton's analogy comparing State Department funding to a business investment highlights this potential strength; what's more, the hard-won gains that military can make in defending American safety will be erased without diplomacy and the use of soft power.
The Post today quotes Clinton's testimony to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about an Afghan general: "The only thing he thought about Americans was that all the men wrestled and the women walked around in bikinis," due to the impression presented by the limited selection of American television he had experienced. Culture, media, economic and political aid: the State Department needs the resources to build the international image and prestige of the United States.
Another great example of the soft power necessary in securing peace for our country is highlighted by the new book by A. Ross Johnson, titled Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty: The CIA Years and Beyond. The eventual collapse of authoritarian communist states in Eastern Europe represented if anything a cultural, soft power victory for the West. Even when hard power may eventually be required, challenges to authoritarian rule such as the ongoing struggle in Libya begin and hopefully end with soft power, building trust and rebuilding stability. This is a key role for the State Department, and I hope that Congress understands and gives them the tools to achieve America's goals.