The "cold facts of life" as seen by Semantha!
339897
On November 22, 2017 I was returning from visiting my close friend and neighbor Rear Admiral Ed Fahy USN Retired when I stopped at the mailbox to excitedly find my copy of National Treasure.  Into the house I grabbed a cup of coffee and decided the remainder of the day would be curled up in the recliner following the adventures of Deputy Marshal Raines, Samantha and of course Tanner Raines. As I started to read the very first sentence of chapter one I had to stop and look around!  General Carr, "New Colony's Chief", is feeling cooped up aboard the USS John F. Kennedy which is the Headquarters for the New Colony.  As a young Naval Captain Rear Admiral Ed Fahy was the Commanding Officer of the USS John F. Kennedy,  I guess I will have to ask Admiral Fahy if he relinquished Command to General Carr!  I completed my first reading by evening of the 23rd.  During the next week I will again read this most interesting book cover to cover.  All the tactics of survival taught my Deputy Marshal Mason Raines and his father Tanner may be the tactics that could save your own life one day.  Samantha has shown us all regardless of who you are or how your were raised you also can learn to survive situations that others can not imagine.
1568437
Mr. Tom did a great job !  I was bewitched by this book. Just like being around a camp fire and listening to someone's amazing memories. The tone is calm and down on earth. Simple language describing a complicated life, a trip in time. From the 1500's to the 2000's. Domestic life and public. Political life and the way people deal with two totally different concepts of living. The influence of technological progress and the tribal tradition.
Maybe the best way to describe such awareness is by quoting Mr. Tom's own words:

 " In any society including my own (USA) you will find Hypocrisy, cruelty and bigotry. I think what my frutration was, is that even when the Saudis were confronted with the reality of their behavior, not only would they deny it, they would be highly offended that it was even brought up.
So in Saudi Arabia.... exists a culture of silence where uncomfortable realities are ignored, which runs against my American upbringing where we are taught it is our given right and obligation to raise our voices against social injustice "

To me the best example will be the event where an unbelieveble effort was made to train a group of Saudi for the Paramedic profession. The insane amount of money spent on them while in the US; the shocking incompetence when back home; the refusal to learn (not even to drow blood !);  the total dependence on Non-Saudi personnel for everything !  The idea that any outcome is the will of Allah... so-why-bother?...is hard to comprehend.
In order for me to balance such views I've got two more books on Saudi Arabia. One written by a Muslim, "In the land of invisible women" by Quanta Ahmed, a doctor. The issues are admittedly there... but there are treated in an etirely different way!

This book connects the dots ... random bits of information about the life and mentality of Saudis.
336795
HARDLY a "tabloid" work, one just needs to actually READ this rich and multi-layered book of FACTS! This work is chock full of FASCINATING truths about the Salahis and the sad state of sensationalist journalism-- combined with the sometimes dangerous phenomenon of "reality television!"  Diane Dimond presents the full picture of, well, not just what happened one fateful night but, rather, how once-respected reporters  now pander to simple folks in search of the simple truth! Not to mention the incredible, and often cruel, lengths that these very popular televison shows go to grab interest!!! It's a sad commentary on MANY levels, making it a MUST read for truth-seekers everywhere!!
3836132
Absolutely great little Read which actually contains enlightening Truths explained with big dollops of humor sprinkled throughout!  I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Grout's style of getting the 'message' out there. I would recommend the reading of this book to anyone who wonders about what makes Life really the way it is;  to those who know how it all works;  to anyone who is simply curious about knowing something they don't know, and anybody else who sees it on the shelf in a bookstore!  Hey, it works, too.  :)
2907846
Marie Schummacher has captured the essence of life fully-lived!  It is about sibling rivalry, and cultural differences between generations, and love's many facets.  THis is a very down-to-earth, listenable CD with a  pure guitar sound.  The next wave of folk is headed by people like Marie  Schumacher!  Listen, you'll see.
2417629
This book is slow but it covers a whole life! Hamsun got the Nobel price for it and got shut down because he had been associated with the "Nazis" (He had been misused by their propaganda and was very bitter about it late in life, but that's another story, just take it from me: This is no "Nazi propaganda!"  However, if you love nature and a steady life, this book can certainly show you how to do this. It's one of the few books I've read more than once and you should read it at least once for your own benefit. - Strange as it may sound, but if you've read Pirsig's "Zen or the art of Motorcycle maintenance" then you get equal satisfaction out of this one, even if you don't agree with the author. This is a man with fire and honesty in the belly!!! Shame, they're not here anymore....
4400469
Traditional Hindu devotionals are an acquired taste,and are definitely not what one would throw on the home stereo to satisfy our desire for a taste of Nina Hagen as we mostly know her.
Yet throughout her extensive career one would have to be shortsighted to be unaware of the colorful myriad of spiritualy charged references and musical styles which have formed and changed and mutated since.
This collection of Indian Mantras and Bhajans is a well rounded and nicely packaged full view presentation of Ninas personal Spiritual journey thus far,and not only preserves the integrity of this particular musical structure,but sheds all the usual "Nina Hagen Punk Rock Diva" isms to give us yet another view of this Incredible and multi faceted Artist.
Though I must say this particular project has seen the least amount of playtime
in my daily life,it is a welcome addition to any true fans collection.
4553627
First, title is impressive and makes you buy the book, come on, who doesnt want to 'think' about friends anytime anywhere? :-)
Storyline is simple, two girls, complex as in any human, navigate against the tough waters of life in their own way. The novel gives kind of awareness of truth, reality, convictions, conventions, relationships, ethics, and so much to say in a nutshell, Life!
The flow of events are quite tricky and it does give a void feeling after the novel is completed. May be thats what truth is all about!
This is a serious review on a casual reading book.
4044880
I bought this movie off the website based upon the recommendation of an old acquaintance that I had reconnected with recently at a personal development workshop. She described the movie as kind of like "What the Bleep Do We Know?", but easier to understand and apply. She wanted to go into more detail and "sell" the movie to me, but I told her that I had enough information and that I would check the movie out.

The site allows you to view the movie for $5.00, but my preference was to have a copy that I could view multiple times to get the full benefit. While there is not much new here if you familiar with the concepts of getting what you want out of life, it is put together in a fresh way. Kind of like a favorite meal that you know you enjoy prepared at a new restaurant that gets it just right! It's familiar and new all at the same time.

It is uncanny how familiar this movie was at times. As I was watching, topics of conversation that I had had with close friends over the previous few weeks were replaying before me on the screen. It felt like the directors had scanned my mind and tailored the movie to me. At one point, the topic was so close to  a conversation that I had just had a week prior, that I had to call the friend that I had the conversation with and tell her about it. I paused the movie and as I did, the phone rang, it was her calling! As I relayed what had just happen in the movie and reminded her of the conversation we just had, I felt chills. I was about to verbalize this and she said "Oh my God, I just got chills"! Wild! I could go on about other interesting coincidences, but it's not what's most important.

What is important is that you watch the movie and benefit from the ideas. While it is true that much of this will be familiar to some viewers, how many of us "know" something intellectually but don't apply it? One of my goals in getting this movie was to "saturate" my mind with these kinds of thoughts so that I get more and more of what I want out of life naturally as part of who I am. Considering what you have to gain from this information the cost is small.

Enjoy, and may you experience some wild coincidences of your own that will let you know just how real this stuff is!
3094008
I hope more people read this book, to gain a better understanding of life!
2169625
I find it hard to believe, yet possibly so as it is this way, to come across a book containing this type of

information so many years to this day after it's publication.  The combinational process description of two modes of a

simple forming order is such a precise depiction of something I could only describe from my own sense of things when

glimpsed so momentarily and focusing to grasp, as a "constant conceptual reassembly".  A "life of thought", of which

we are, that culminates into more than what it already is through a series of endless paths all connected and viewed

as a dependence upon their perspective preceptions.  Dead as Gevin may or may not be, THANKS FOR THIS WORK OF GENIUS,

to stand down from the so called rights of proof that humanity chants endlessly as it's power in an "earthy" being

wrapped tight within accomplishment of drawn from knowledge it so far blends into a seemingly pointless, in cases

destructive snowball of "financial life greed".  ...and that's it.  Onward.
3523680
The beauty and honesty of this book is a masterpiece of well spoken facts and mysterious magyk.
 finally a book that is true to streghe.
Yes, I am a streghe, a true one, not a modern read book add water instant karma streghe.
This book holds so true to our quiet and secret ways and definitively sheds insight into our unwritten world of nautural magic to both lay person and streghe alike. In my mind, this is the only true book about streghe.
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Simple and clear without exposing family secrets, thereby maintaining Omerta, it explains how we feel hereditary genes do not a faithful make, nor does the generational number and though an influence, one does not need to be born in Italy.
Nor do certificates, titles and self proclamations .
The important fact-streghe are women-we are the healers, the herb ladies, the nourishers, the keeper of nature and gardens, woodlands and wetlands and we walk our talk in quiet unassuming ways.
The book quotes lovely ancient poetry and has lovely ancient paintings.
If you read only one book on streghe , please read this, it is worth every penny
Buenna Bellisma Grande'

La bellezza e la verit di questo libro  un capolavoro di ben parlato fatti e misterioso magyk.
infine un libro che  vero per streghe.
S, io sono un streghe, una vera, non una moderna lettura libro aggiungere acqua instant karma streghe.
Questo libro contiene quindi, in linea con il nostro silenzioso e segreto modi e definitivamente capannoni insight nel nostro mondo non scritto di nautural magic sia laico e streghe. A mio parere, questo  l'unico vero libro sulle streghe.
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Semplice e chiaro senza esporre i segreti familiari, mantenendo in tal modo omert, spiega in che modo ci sentiamo geni ereditari non fedeli, n il passaggio generazionale e, sebbene il numero influenza, non  necessario essere nati in Italia.
Non certificati, titoli e proclami .
Il fatto importante di streghe sono donne, ci sono i guaritori, le donne, erbe nourishers, il guardiano della natura e giardini, boschi e zone umide e camminiamo parliamo in modo tranquillo senza troppe pretese.
Il libro cita incantevole antica poesia e dispone di una graziosa dipinti antichi.
Volendo leggere un solo libro di streghe ,  possibile leggere questo, vale la pena ogni centesimo
Buenna Bellisma Grande"
4184692
I have read all of Lois Wetzel's works to date, and every time I finish one of her books, I have learned something -- and sometimes many somethings! -- profound and life-altering. Sacred Journeys was no exception.

This book consists of multiple examples of profoundly sacred life experiences at some of the world's most powerful energy vortexes -- my words, not hers -- and the insights gained during those trips. A few of these are places I have been, in some instances before I knew they were supposedly so powerful, and I, too, had some very profound, unexpected experiences at these points. It was therefore fascinating to me to learn more about the energies these places are purported to contain, to better understand what I have gone through over time, in both these spots and in other, lesser vortexes I've experienced.

In fact, any seeker -- in other words, the sorts of folks likely to read this book -- will recognize things that have happened to them  as well, whether they have ever made it to these more famous sites. We have all stepped into a meadow and felt it shimmering with a golden light, or was suddenly covered in goosebumps, even though another meadow a mile away never made us feel a thing. Subtle energies are just that -- subtle -- but they are there and their effects are detectable.

The most fascinating section, to me, was the part about the Bosnian pyramids. I had heard about their discovery and never doubted it was an important one -- I was trained as an archaeologist nigh on many years ago! -- but I had no idea of the unusual spiritual qualities they are exhibiting. I will now have to download Semir's book on the subject!

And thus, Lois has opened my vision to yet another topic of great interest to me. That has been my experience in reading all of her books -- my life has changed markedly each time, as new vistas of information were opened to me. And Amazon will be pleased to know I have downloaded four other books already as a result of Lois mentioning them :) - and they were worth every penny.

Enjoy! I know I did!
2798229
It would indeed be a sacrilage if one goes about talking on ZAAMM without dwelling on the cover page itself...here we find the symbolic representation of the work in its entiriety...a spanner head at one end and a flower(white) at the other end > the spanner symbolises this era of  technological and scientific advances...the rational facet of our  reality! The flower at the other end represents the emotional/spiritual  aspect of our reality... the combination of both makes it an interplay of  polar opposites....and it is this conflict Pirsig resolves in a masterly  way!...It is indeed possible to be scientific and at the same time  spiritual...and this is the way to evolve at the inner level in this age of  paradigm shifts!  Though Pirsig starts with the description of a cross  country bike ride with his curious son.. the journey soon becomes an  amazing spiritual odyssey of a man in search of himself.. the route maps  without charts the pathways within..the very motorcycle becomes the  extention of the rider...and here the inanimate assumes the soulfulness of  Life itself!...I'm just reminded of a brilliant short story "Inside  and Outside" by Hermman Hesse that gives immense insight into the  sprit lurking within ZAAMM!  Surely, Pirsig talks much like our fellow  pilgrim on our journey towards light...the inner light...call it  "QUALITY" or "SELF"...his gleamings from the way side  becomes our lamp posts ..and soon we realize that the path we tread outside  is the very path we closed within...and the musings of this maverick mystic  knocks that door open...!  ZAAMM is a modern scripture for this  millennium!
339872
Whether you follow science, religion, or are simply going about your life in a passive manner; this friendly read touches on all dynamics of life from an unbiased perspective.  Simply to enlighten the reader's mind, this book will not only leave you with a more thorough knowledge of where we are in humanity but where we've been and allows you to take the material and determine where you believe humanity to be headed.  The author's analogies make the understanding of the material simple enough for anyone who is a novice trying to read something new and exciting.  It's refreshing to see that some of us are not afraid to take bold leaps, not to influence the reader, but simply get their mind roaming with endless possibilities.  I recommend this to anyone trying to get their foot in the door and catch up to the rapidly developing theories and findings so that you may develop your own educated opinion with an understanding of the information at hand.  And it's affordable!
2707632
I did NOT purchase this from Amazon because a low priced edition is available in my country.

Sudha Shah, If you are reading this, I want you to know that you should be very proud of your work.

Until I read this book, I was of the opinion that only Bill Darlymple was capable of presenting history the way it was meant to be presented. Sudha Shah has joined this league now.

Sudha Shah's treatise gives a vivid account of Burmeese history spanning from late 19th century through mid 20th century with focus on final years of Thibaw as a ruler and years in exile. English wanted him to live comfortably albeit obscurely. Sudha also covers in this book the lives of Thibaw's daughters. The eldest died in penury in India while the others either relocated to Burma a few years after the king's death or chose to settle down in eastern India. In any case, their glorious past before the exile remained a distant memory and they were never able to recaptutre the glory and prestige that was rightfully theirs.

Thibaw's life is a chilling reminder of impermanence nature of life and our delusioned view of our accomplishments and possessions. It is as poignant as the life and times of Bahadur Shah Zafar, last Mogul emperor of undivided India.

Incidentally, British banished Zafar to Burma after Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 while Thibaw was banished to India in 1885.
2626103
The study of plants and human interaction come to life in this fine book and if read with an open mind and heart, one will no doubt be left with a new sense of awe and empathy for our plant world.

Chapter after chapter relates a multitude of discoveries from plant research around the world that demonstrate how plants grow, metabolize, and communicate not only within their own structure, but with all other life forms. Some researchers have used polygraph instruments connected to leaf surfaces to observe responses through electro-magnetic activity  to various stimuli such as: raucous, loud music compared with mellow, harmonious music. The results are always the same: plants react favorably to mellow music while continuous raucous sounds can actually kill them. Even more amazingly,  perhaps, is that plants accurately react to good or bad thoughts directed at them or other biological life forms and even at great distances.

Perhaps the most profound discovery of all of this plant research, however, is that plants are truly sentient beings capable of a multitude and range of feelings. Many skeptics have been astonished to discover this fact, but since this phenomena can be demonstrated using relatively simple tests, it is there for anyone to prove it on their own.

Masaru Emoto, a researcher in Japan, has come to the conclusion that sentient life is found in just about all life forms including water, which is the focus of his research. In his book, "The Hidden Message in Water", Emoto tells of using some of the same studies to demonstrate that ice crystals formed from various frozen water samples, show a sentient response to the same stimuli that the plants have been subjected to and  with the same results.

This book references a broad spectrum of researchers such as Rachel Carson, author of the famous  "Silent Spring"-1962. This book was a powerful indictment of chemical pesticides, herbicides, etc. and  which was considered to be the biggest boost to environmental awareness that continues on to this day. She  wrote about the alarming side effects of  chemical contamination and the ludicrous, unnecessary vicious cycle of ever expanding need for more chemicals while plants and insects, unlike most other life-forms,  so expertly alter their composition to resist this assault. Of course, the chemical manufacturers (aka: merchants of poison and death) are laughing all the way to the bank with this dangerous and insidious snake-oil scam.

After reading this book, one might feel a sense of rage about the assault of  the thoughtless and needless use of toxic chemicals used on plant and insects, overflowing into all other life forms, wreaking havoc on non-targeted ecosystems. But,  what goes around, comes around (Karma, and in this case, bad).

The book finishes with the founding story of the Findhorn Community in Scotland, an ecologically conscious horticultural group who started their project with the full awareness that plants are sentient and in this harsh land, would need more than just good organic farming techniques- they would also need continuous positive mental feed-back from their human caretakers. Findhorn has been a resounding success and is now a highly regarded learning center.

As other reviewers have stated, "this book should be read by every human on the planet" and hopefully, all will come to appreciate the multitude of life-providing services that plants bestow on humanity.