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 | The Only Dance There Is |
 | "TODTI" | 2006-03-19 |
Ram Dass provides another excellent follow-on to his acclaimed "Be Here Now." The conversational style of the writing helps remove some of the tedium present in other similar texts addressing the nature of consciousness. Highly recommended.
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 | Be Here Now |
 | "Why be anywhere else?" | 2006-03-19 |
"Be Here Now" captures more truth per page with less dogma and greater clarity than many foundation religious texts. There are elements of the era within which Ram Dass wrote the book, and given his path, significant discussion regard chemically altered consciousness that may be less resonant with today's readers. I first read the book after returning from participation in the Southeast Asian conflict in 1971. In the intervening years, I have revisited the book on multiple occasions with extended family members (Christian, Buddist, Hindu), my children, and most recently this year when my eldest grandchild turned 16, and with my new fiancée. The book speaks to readers on multiple levels, and resonates clearly, but differently with the passage of time. "Be Here Now (Be Now Here)" is a truly wonderful book, able to spark introspection and enlightenment in readers, and Ram Dass' enlightened gift to us all.
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 | Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies |
| "Diamond rated "VVS1" for clarity and near flawless execution" | 2006-03-19 |
A tribute to fine writing and lucid argument, Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel" is to historical development from the scientific perspective of an evolutionary biologist what John Gribbin's work is to the lay understanding of cosmology. Deftly written, justly deserving of the Pulitzer Prize, and consistently thought provoking. This Diamond's near flawless and well polished, although there is a bit of surplus focus on issues Papuan, the reader will never be disappointed. A "must read" book.
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 | RAND MCNALLY STREET FINDER DP |
 | "Big Mistake - Poor functionality, inaccurate" | 2004-04-04 |
Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware! I regularly rely on Internet mapping programs (e.g., MapQuest, Yahoo Maps) and thought a personal computer based PC to PAD mapping tool would allow easy interface between address book locations (throughout the USA) and surrounding points of interest and other business locations. The write-up for Rand McNally StreetFinder looked like a perfect fit . . . and if the software actually worked as advertised, it would have been. Unfortunately, from initial problems with installation, through dozens of common address locations that the software could not find or map, to partial downloads to my Tero 600 - this is one of the poorest software investments I have ever made. Save your money and stick with downloading maps from the Web.
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 | Wiseguy - Mel Profitt Arc (Season 1 Part 2) |
| "Buckwheat" | 2004-03-28 |
Stephen Cannell's "Wiseguy" is the ground breaking crime drama that set the stage for numerous lesser television series that followed, including the Sopranos. Fine writing supported by excellent acting.
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