The screen protectors work just as well as the more flexible (soft) versions but are definitely more durable. I had no trouble installing one and don't really notice that it is present. Fingerprints don't show up very well and they clean off well.

I like the fact that you get 3 protectors for less than the price of one from some other companies.

The other reviews contain too many details but I would like to add that many elements of the story make dor a fun read. Dresden's character, with his rather obvious flaws, is relatively well-developed without revealing everything. The complicated relations between characters that evolve over the course of the novel make it realistic.

I rather enjoy the element of having a "wizard" trying to function in modern society - this mirrors the issues that those of us who have pursued advanced studies in arts such as Taoism and Buddhist meditation experience. Although there may not be some of the fantastic creatures and magic that appear in the book, the basic issues faced by trying to live in a society based on a very rigid "norm" are quite real. This novel highlights a number of these in a very amusing manner.

This book finally leads medicine (and biology) from the early 1800's into the 21st century. That is, these areas have been stuck in a mechanistic, chemical-based view of how the body works since they elected to ignore Maxwell's work - work that has lead to all of the electrical gadgets and technology we all love so dearly.

For some reason those in who study life have elected to ignore Maxwell's work and concentrate on chemical reactions. As was pointed out back in the 1920's (and earlier even) this approach precludes life so it is no wonder that medicine has not advanced very far.

Becker lays the groundwork for understanding ancient traditions such as Qigong (the Taoists certainly understood the concept of the energetic body) in addition to exposing the widespread pollution we are now exposed to. One wonders when people will wake up and realize that the electromagnetic pollution is no doubt doing at least as much as the chemical pollution in causing changes to the planet's biosphere.

Excellent book in addition to the newer "Cross Currents".

Cleary has done an excellent job of putting a number of essential Taoist texts into one volume. The book begins with some Tao Te Ching and leads straight into some translations of Ancester Lu - not everything, just the essentials.

There are numerous other texts here and, quite framkly, the book stands quite well as a new start in the tradition of the old classics. That is, there appears to be a lot of 'method' to Cleary's 'madness' of taking only sections of the texts in conjunction with the general development of the material.

This book contains enough of the classics that it is essential to anyone seriously practicing Qigong. If you have this and a couple of Eva Wong's excellent translations you probably don't need much else for your library.

This slim volume is a collection of Varela's lectures where he attempted to expand his philosophy of self-organization and cognition, detailed in "The Tree of Knowledge", by exploring its similarity with other traditions. He also expanded on some of the more pragmatic questions about 'how' it might work to logical conclusions. This book definitely assumes that the reader has some background knowledge and I would suggest the previously-mentioned work as the best place to start.

There are some interesting aspects to the lectures, particularly when Varela attempted to show similarities between his theories and some of the Eastern "wisdom traditions", notably Buddhism. However, it seems obvious that Varela became infatuated with aspects of his philosophy and then ended up in a rather untenable state by taking it to its logical conclusion.

Varela, unfortunately, seems to have been unaware of Rosen's work on anticipatory systems. I say this since anticipatory systems would appear to be what Varela's theory is all about and would provide some level of conceptualization beyond mere words. On a deeper level, Varela has a certain "stink of Zen" to his work - it is apparent that he has an intellectual's view of Buddhism and not one of experience.

Varela simply becomes caught by the very web he has been trying to avoid - he ends up 'anchoring' experience back on the shaky foundation of empty concepts. It is too bad he never spent time actually practicing something like Zen or read further afield. In the end the book is interesting as a footnote to a small step in the right direction but that is all.

I would recommend someone interested in this topic to find Rosen's books and Ekdahl's latest papers where he combines anticipation with the concept of pure induction.

Lowry's book, a collection of his articles, is surprisingly consistent in theme. His outlook reminds of Merzel's "Beyond Sanity and Madness" for his fairly stern reminders that the Path lies within simplicity and that the early lessons in any of the martial arts (and many other Eastern disciplines such as Qigong and Zen) contain the essence that you, as a beginner, are unfortunately unlikely to recognize for a long time.

I also enjoy his viewpoint regarding the the 'need' for less ego and posturing; instead he consistently points out that 'Master' depends upon what is deep inside and is displayed through consistent behaviour at all times. Certainly this viewpoint is sorely lacking in many so-called 'Masters' at this time.

Lowry also gives some valuable insight into aspects of Japanese culture that are quite fascinating including Noh and the tea ceremony. He also includes many tidbits about visiting Masters that I found very informative.

Even if you are not that interested in martial arts I believe there are many lessons in this book that make it worthwhile to read.

For some reason I pulled this out of my cd collection and once again realize how good it is. Bowery Electric sound similar to a stripped-down Slowdive, or perhaps like a minimalist trip-hop version of This Mortal Coil.

Basically two people, Martha Schwendener on bass and haunting vocals with Lawrence Chandler on guitar and programming, BE seem to have a knack for noticing the slow yet powerful undercurrents of much of the electronica dance music being foisted on the public. Unlike Portishead they don't seem too concerned with making 'pretty' soundscapes which lends even more strength to the album. Schwendener's vocals are particularly beautiful since they are mixed in the back of the heavier music - but they also don't get lost in the soundscape.

Worth hunting down - a number of tracks evoke the state of affairs post 9/11 from people who live(d) there...

This collection of short stories continues the general theme conveyed in Murakami's non-fictional account of the Sarin attack in the Tokyo subway system, "Underground". Murakami seems fascinated by today's sadly typical capacity for detachment in the face of an emotional crisis. In "Underground" people walked like robots past dying commuters and continued on to their office desks suffering the effects of Sarin; in this volume the Kobe earthquake provides the pivot to illuminate the emptiness of existence.

Murakami's language never ceases to amaze me and Rubin's deft translation is once again breathtaking. There is a sparseness and simplicity to the language that conveys the message of quiet despair in an even more poignant fashion. For that seems to be a common thread running throughout Murakami's work: the everyday anti-hero who simply becomes numb to the core from life's tribulations.

The Kobe earthquake resonates through the collection, a distant sub-sonic note that can only be felt, not heard. Murakami's characters seem to know they should be feeling something but all ultimately realize they are sleepwalking through life. ...

Not that the collection is depressing - for some reason one always feels that there is still chance for redemption for the cast. It is as if the characters are reminiscing at some future point about their past emptiness, after having finally had the determination to fully integrate some emotion to intellectual observation. ...

Enjoy.

Eva Wong has done a great service to any people who are seriously pursuing the Way by translating many of the classic Taoist texts. Her translations are not the dry, scholarly versions but are based on the fact that she is a practicing Taoist.

In this slim volume she translates one of the original Taoist Qigong texts which covers many aspects of cultivation. Included are some basic theory and excellent discussions of methods - including original illustrations from the text. These illustrations are a boon since there is a lot of information to be gleaned from them even without an understanding of the commentary.

This book is probably best for someone who is cultivating intensively since, even though its language is not nearly as 'arcane' as many other texts, the so-called 'signposts' are not theoretical constructs but must be experienced. That said, for the intensive practitioner there is a wealth of information here.

Excellent.

Eva Wong has done an admirable job translating several classic Taoist texts for Western consumption; in this book she continues to uphold the excellent work. These texts were allegorical references for internal alchemy (Qigong) and I have yet to find better translations.

Wong starts the book with a general overview of some of the historical discrepancies around the text, particularly when and by whom it was written. Her explanation, although somewhat short, is quite informative and sets the stage for the translation. She also provides information to assist the reader in understanding the somewhat 'cryptic' discussion of such terms as "yellow sprouts" and "true vapour".

The translation is actually very informative but the reader must leave behind the Western preoccupation with trying to put everything into direct terms. The Taoist's spoke of internal alchemy in a very poetic manner - something which I feel is probably the best method possible. That is, a lot is up to the intuition of the reader (with the help of a proper master) which is the best way to understand the subject. For those who have been cultivating this book will be an invaluable asset.

Highly recommended.