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November 22
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The Shroud of Turin Website
Inscriptions on the Shroud?
Science by Press Release (Again)
Another Editorial Response
November 21, 2009
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Just a brief note to let you know that a special update has been posted to the website today. You can find the details on the Late Breaking Website News page.
This update includes another of my editorial responses, this time addressing the recent media coverage of Barbara Frale's claims that she has discovered new inscriptions on the Shroud that prove it is authentic.
Although this latest news admittedly takes a pro-authenticity position, the same rules must be applied to these claims as those applied to the recent claims by anti-authenticity researcher Luigi Garlaschelli. The truth cannot take sides. I do hope you find it helpful.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank you all again for your continued support and participation. It is truly appreciated. And don't forget to check the Private Subscribers Page from time to time for exclusive offers and materials not available to the general public.
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| Warmest regards,
Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder
Shroud of Turin Website |
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 November 21
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 A FEAST FOR THE SENSES...AND THE SOUL
Exploring the significance of meals through the ages
In honor of the current season of celebratory meals, BAR managing editor Dorothy D. Resig takes a look at the significance of ritual feasts and meals in antiquity. From Babylon to Athens, from Jerusalem to Rome, meals represented sacred rituals as well as events fraught with social and political significance. This exclusive e-feature takes us on a journey of the senses through history, and reminds us of the origins of this most ancient of traditions. Read more. ____________________________________________________________
 EVENT WATCH
Coins from the Temple Mount on display in Jerusalem, and Britain's Oldest Public Museum Reopens
A new exhibit at the Davidson Center in Jerusalem showcases a collection of coins discovered during excavations at the base of the Temple Mount. The presentation of the coins, many of which date back over 2,000 years, illuminates the expansive history of Jerusalem over the millennia as a location of pilgrimages and religious quests. Meanwhile, Britain's oldest public museum, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, reopens after a multi-billion-pound renovation. The revamped museum consists of 39 galleries that include four temporary exhibition galleries, an education center and state-of-the-art conservation studios. Read more. ____________________________________________________________
 SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
Egypt expert James K. Hoffmeier
James K. Hoffmeier is Professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern Archaeology at Trinity International University, Divinity School (Deerfield, IL). Since 1994, Dr. Hoffmeier has directed the North Sinai Archaeological Project devoted to researching and studying Egypt's frontier during the New Kingdom and how this area may relate to the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Investigations at Tell el-Borg began in 1999, and concluded in 2008. Hoffmeier has consulted for and appeared in a number of TV programs on Egypt and the Bible for the Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel, the History Channel and National Geographic. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including his most recent book The Immigration Crisis: Immigration, Aliens and the Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2009). Now is your last chance to register to hear Dr. Hoffmeier and 19 other distinguished lecturers at the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest this weekend in New Orleans! Read more. ____________________________________________________________
 BIBLE & ARCHAEOLOGY FEST XII
Join us THIS WEEK in New Orleans!
Our most popular program year after year, the Annual Bible and Archaeology Fest, will take place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 20-22, 2009. Twenty of the most distinguished scholars from around the world will be coming together to present you with the latest research and discoveries in Biblical scholarship and archaeology. You will have the opportunity to interact directly with the experts themselves and be among the first to hear about their findings. Hurry - there's still time to register and join us! Read more. ____________________________________________________________
 BEYOND THE BIBLE
Exploring Relevant Sites and Texts
Join prominent archaeologists and Biblical scholars as they explore various sites, texts and concepts that help illuminate your understanding of the Bible. This 5-hour lecture DVD includes James K. Hoffmeier's lecture "Moses, Akhenaten and Monotheism." Read more. ____________________________________________________________
BREAKING NEWS
Check out the latest news in Biblical archaeology and related topics--updated daily
This week in the news, an enigmatic circular city is discovered in Syria, while evidence of the earliest olives in Egypt comes to light. In Iraq, the place where some scholars locate the Biblical Garden of Eden is slowly coming back to life. Read more. ____________________________________________________________
 CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST
Submit a caption
Write a caption for this cartoon! The author of the best caption will receive a BAS T-shirt, a Dead Sea Scroll mug and three complimentary subscriptions to give BAR to friends. Runners-up will receive a BAS T-shirt and two complimentary subscriptions.The deadline for captions is December 15, 2009. Read more.
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CONTENTS
A Feast for the Senses
Event Watch
Scholar Spotlight
Bible & Archaeology Fest XII
Beyond the Bible
Breaking News
Cartoon Caption Contest
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STORE
LIBRARY
DIGS
TRAVEL/STUDY
FORUM
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DesertUSA
NEWS & Product Updates
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All revenue earned from our online reservation system and store sales are used to support the maintenance and development costs associated with the DesertUSA Web site. By placing reservations on DesertUSA's reservation system or by purchasing products from the Trading Post, you are directly contributing to the future development and continued maintenance of DesertUSA.
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Get ready for your visit to the desert with books, gifts and products available from the DesertUSA's Online Store.
DesertUSA's purpose is to provide a tool for discovery - a publication that entertains, educates and explores with our readers, the beauty, life and culture of the North American deserts. Visitors come to DesertUSA's Web site every month to read articles, participate in the Desert Talk message board, shop in DesertUSA's online store and explore the desert virtually.
DesertUSA encourages you to forward a copy of the Digital Desert Newsletter to friends, family and business associates who may be interested in receiving this newsletter on a monthly basis.
By Siobhan Connally
The Record RENSSELAER — Angelica has a whole life ahead of her. At 16, the straight-As student is like most kids her age; she has dreams of college and a career in corporate law. The only thing missing is a family to be there as her future unfolds.
She is one of 6,000 children nationwide who are eligible for adoption, and this week she joined a growing number who are hoping to find “forever homes” through Heart Gallery, a program that pairs kids in foster care with professional photographers.
Founded in Santa Fe, N.M., in 2001, Heart Gallery is a high-profile traveling photography exhibit that grew out of a simple realization that the photographs used to in the recruitment efforts for adoptive families really looked like mug shots.
Today there are more than 100 Heart Galleries across the country, including the latest one unveiled Tuesday during at the Rensselaer Rail Station. A companion exhibit will be on display simultaneously in New York City’s Penn Station.
“This is still very much a grassroots movement,” said Laurie Sherman Graff, board officer of Heart Gallery America and founding director of Heart Gallery NYC. “The main thing we do is to get these beautiful photographs out into the community and to raise awareness,” she said, noting that since its start, Heart Galleries have helped facilitate the placement of thousands of children who are eligible for adoption.
“The talented photographers who volunteer their services capture so well the personalities and spirits of waiting children in need of their ‘forever home’.”
According to William Gettman Jr., executive deputy commissioner of state Office of Children and Family Services, 220 young people from the Capital District were adopted during the last three years, and 1,300 are still in need of homes statewide.
“It is critical that we find permanent homes for these children,” said Gettman, “They are our future. They are our strengths for what they will bring to the family and for what they will bring to the state.”
CDTA Executive Director Carm Basile called the placement of the photographic exhibit on the main floor of the Rensselaer Rail Station a “no-brainer.”
“This is the ninth busiest train station in the country, 800,000 people come through here each year,” said Basile. “We welcome you, we welcome the photographs, we welcome families, and we hope that people who look at these during the holidays maybe will pick up the phone and start the adoption process.”
Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino and Albany County Executive Mike Breslin were both on hand at a late morning press conference at the train station to thank CDTA and lend their support to the cause.
Breslin, himself an adoptive parent, also gave an emotional appeal.
“Nothing gives a greater joy — not contentment, not satisfaction but joy — than making a life for a kid.”
To find out more about Heart Gallery and the local children who are in need of adoption, visit www.ocfs.state.ny.us or call 1-800-345-KIDS.
For more information about Heart Galleries or to volunteer, visit www.heartgalleryofamerica.org.
URL: http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/11/20/news/doc4b06653ac5d1a676581905.txt
November 14
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November 13, 2009 |
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| WEEKLY FEATURE |
 New Film on St. Giuseppe, the Holy Physician of Naples
If you're a lay person who would appreciate some pointers on how to be holy while “in the world,” don't miss this brand new Italian film about the life of St. Giuseppe Moscati, aka “the holy physician of Naples.” EWTN will air Part 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Nov. 14, and Part II at 8 p.m. ET on Nov. 21.
St. Giuseppe was born into a wealthy family, the seventh of nine children, and was actually expected to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, who was a prominent and holy judge. However, when his older brother, a lieutenant in the artily, sustained an incurable head injury after falling from a horse, young Giuseppe decided to become a physician. Read More
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| PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK |
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MASS COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - LIVE
Principle celebrant will be Archbishop Donald Wuerl. Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, rector of the Shrine from 1986-2005, will be the homilist..
Thu 11/19/09 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
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HOLY ROMAN SPIES: THE VATICAN'S SECRET AGENTS
Program about the priests specifically trained by the Vatican to infiltrate the USSR and minister to their people during the mid-20th Century.
Sun 11/15/09 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT
Tues 11/17/09 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Fri 11/20/09 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT |
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SABETH: BLESSED ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY
If you didn't catch this earlier in the week, don't miss it Saturday, Nov. 14. This documentary explores the life, spirituality, and writings of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, a Carmelite nun and noted spiritual director who left a legacy of outstanding spiritual guidance in her letters and retreat guides.
Sat 11/14/09 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT |
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EWTN LIVE SHOWS
Live shows allow viewers to get involved via email and telephone.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 13, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
THE WORLD OVER: HOST RAYMOND ARROYO -
SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 15, 7PM ET / 4PM PT
SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH FR. GROESCHEL - Mark Nelson: Religious Art
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 16, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
THE JOURNEY HOME: HOST MARCUS GRODI - Sr. Anne-Lise Strøm, OP
TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 17, 8PM ET / 4PM PT
MOTHER ANGELICA LIVE CLASSIC: Blueprint for Life
TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 17, 10PM ET / 7PM PT
THRESHOLD OF HOPE: HOST FR. MITCH PACWA
WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 18, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
EWTN LIVE: HOST FR. MITCH PACWA - Couples for Christ, an international lay ecclesial movement designed to strengthen and renew Christian family life.
THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 19, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
LIFE ON THE ROCK: FR. MARK & DOUG BARRY - Dr. Bill Thierfelder, President, Belmont Abbey College: Athletics and Virtue
All Times US Eastern & Pacific |
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| BOOKMARK |
 ARMS OF LOVE
Carmen Marcoux
Carmen Marcoux's novels about the world of young love and the challenges of living the Gospel message are simply too good to put down. Host Doug Keck and Marcoux discuss how and why she began writing for young people, and what her novels teach us all about true love.
Click to order "Arms of Love"
More from EWTN Bookmark |
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| RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE |
HOME VIDEO HIGHLIGHT |
| FEATURED ITEM |
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13 |
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This seasonal figure is a beautiful way to remind us of all our blessings. The prayer reads: "Lord, we give you thanks for this season of thanksgiving but most of all for sending us your Son, our Savior." Made of stone-resin mix, it measures 10 1/2" high. |
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EWTN's Home Video offering for November is “Dana and Friends.” A series hosted by the lovely, accomplished Dana and peopled with talented musicians from all walks of life, each episode of “Dana and Friends” brings witness to God's love via touching tributes of melody and song. | |
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EWTN | 5817 Old Leeds Road | Birmingham | AL | 35210 | |
If your newsletter is not in a form you can use go to this link.
http://www.desertusa.com/newsletter/nov09.html
DesertUSA
NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2009
To see this information in graphic format, click here.
FEATURED VIDEOS
FEATURED ARTICLESMesilla Valley Bosque - At the new Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, located in south-central New Mexico, there are three basic missions, Park Superintendent Stan Ellis told me recently, just a couple of weeks before he retired. More...
Western Bluebirds - For a creature so small — it’s smaller than an American Robin — the Bluebird, in its bejeweled brilliance, has become an outsized symbol of joy and happiness in American culture. The ex-Beetle Paul McCartney and composer Richard A. Whiting wrote songs about the Bluebird. More...
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada - After a few days at the crap and blackjack tables in Las Vegas, it will be time to take a break. Hop into a vehicle and head out to Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock Canyon is less then an hour's drive west of Las Vegas and has many significant geologic features. The area is a good place to kick back and just enjoy nature's wonders. More...
Shutterbug 101: Why oh why? Some readers’ questions answered - Today we are going to address some questions from a friend in Bakersfield. Thanks Linda! Q: Why does it take so long for my camera to fire when I push the button? A: Digital cameras have a nasty little problem with slow shutter release times. More...
Shutterbug 101: Say hey with photos of your pet - As we get close to the Holiday season, you may be tempted to photograph your pet for your annual greeting cards. Photographing one’s pet can be a challenging and sometimes exasperating event. But by following a few steps you can avoid most of the exasperation and just have fun. More...
Desert Safety- Carry Plenty of Water - There are no dependable sources of water in the desert regions. One gallon of water per person, per day is the absolute minimum that should be carried. When planning a hike, remember that water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon. When the water is half gone, it is time to turn back. Don't forget extra water for your vehicle. DO NOT RATION YOUR WATER. It will only do you good if you drink it. More...
Get the latest desert temperatures - Fall is one of the best times of the year for camping in the desert. Take a look at desert conditions, and plan your trip! More...
DesertRoadTrippin' - Thanksgiving Holiday Destinations For Desert Travelers - November marks the national holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a time when we get together with friends and family to be thankful for what we have. It is also a great holiday for outdoor activities in the desert region. The weather is cooler and with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, we will have some time off to explore the desert. More...
Trip of the Month - Borrego Springs, California - The first record of a European in Borrego Valley was when Lieutenant Pedro Fages of the San Diego Presidio came in search of deserters in 1772. His pursuit led him northwest through the present town of Borrego Springs and up Coyote Canyon. This event was related by Kumeyaay Indians to members of the first Anza expedition, who camped at their village in March, 1774. The Spaniards called this village (and spring) just east of the Borrego Sink, San Gregorio. It is the location of the original Borrego Spring. More...
DESERTUSA'S STORE features quality items at low prices! Shop NOW and get the LOWEST SHIPPING PRICES!
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| Great Gift Ideas for Friends and Family! |
Gemstone Hearts & Fiber Optic - only $5.99 each
Size 1.75 inches wide & .75 thin. Makes a great desk decoration, small paper weight or worry stone. Brown Striped Agate, Pink Rose Quartz Hearts, Round Fiber Optic. Let a loved one know you care, give them a heart they can keep!
 Pepper Patch Preserves - only $20.95 for one set of four flavors
Contains four 5oz jars of jelly in the following flavors: Green Chile Pepper Jelly: The mild chili flavor achieved by combining several hand-picked peppers yields a wonderful flavor compliment to poultry, meat and fish dishes. Red Chile Pepper Jelly: The medium heat is obtained by using just the right combinations of red sweet pimento peppers and red chilies to enhance any meat, poultry, or pork dish. It is also superb as a dip with cream cheese. Jalapeno Jelly: A combination of red chilies as well as three other types of chili peppers renders a heat level that awakens the taste buds and transforms an ordinary dish into a delectably spicy memory. Habanero Jelly: An eye opener and throat warmer, this hot jelly is for the connoisseur of deliciously hot preserves.
 Gold Panning is Easy book and Gold pan set - only 14.95 for both!
You can find Gold..... Believe it!! (DesertUSA did!! We started DesertUSA because of trips to the desert exploring and gold prospecting.)
Anyone can use a pan to recover gold from mountain streams, desert arroyos or wherever it awaits you. Roy Lagal, who has spent a lifetime finding gold, tells just how easy it is. Also, learn how to use metal detectors that can make discovering gold nuggets as easy as finding coins in the park. Make a great gift!
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| Shop NOW for Christmas! |
 Now Available: The Desert Southwest 2010 Calendar!
This classic southwestern calendar is a perfect gift for anyone who loves the desert... or for yourself! This year's beautiful photos include Tonto Ruins, Teapot Rock in Sedona, Canyonlands as seen from Shafer Basin, a late afternoon shot of the Superstitions, sunset at Arches National Park, thunderclouds over Pecos Pueblo, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and many more amazing locations. OUR PRICE: $11.99 Read more
 Agate Lights - Each one is unique! Choose your own! Cut and polished from Brazilian agate and mounted on a non- endangered Brazilian wood base. Available colors range from lustrous blues and purples to pristine whites and even a dramatic magenta tone. Hurry to pick the one you want before it is gone! The light bulb and cord are included. The stones are approximately 6 .5" High by 4" Wide. The light is inside the stone. 115 volts. OUR PRICE: $28.95 Read more...
 Sandstone Coasters: New Design - Bighorn Sheep
We just added a new design to our collection of beautiful sandstone coasters - the Desert Bighorn Sheep. These lovely and effective coasters come 6 to a set, each with its own decorative and convenient holder. Other popular designs include Hummingbird, Saguaro, Thunderbird, Kokopelli, Roadrunner and more! OUR PRICE: $18.95/set Read more
 Earthmate GPS PN-30- $299 Delivered - Sharp high-resolution 2.2" 65K-color Transflective TFT color display (220 x 176 pixels) Memory & Storage; A dual-core processor for lightning quick map redraws, when panning or zooming;Fast USB 2.0 data transfer to internal memory or SD card in device;Proprietary Kalman filter for enhanced GPS accuracy Read more...
Earthmate GPS PN-40 - $399 Delivered - A dual-core processor for lightning quick map redraws, when panning or zooming; Fast USB 2.0 data transfer to internal memory or SD card in device; Proprietary Kalman filter for enhanced GPS accuracy; Detailed onboard base map with major streets and highways worldwide, plus secondary roads in the U.S. Read more...
 Herbal Medicine Trends and Traditions - Our Price: $24.95 - 325 pages of listings of over 100 of the most popular herbal medicinal plant's specific indication, dosage, and caution. How to wildcraft, dry, store, and process plants. Comprehensive instruction on preparing Teas, Tinctures, Fluidextracts, Ointments, Salves, Liniments, suppositories, Syrups, and many others. Extensive repository with preparation and dosage listings for over 400 additional herbal medicines. Read more...
 Toma! Margaritas!: The Original Guide to Margaritas and Tequila - Our Price $15.95 - 107 pages. Here is your passport to margarita fame. Authors Plotkin and Flores bring you 125 of the most delicious, thirst-quenching margaritas ever concocted in on e irresistible collection. Refreshing, delicious and enormously popular, the margarita and its soul-mate tequila have become a cultural phenomenon. Read more...
 Pewter Howling Wolf- Our Price $19.95 - Dramatic Pewter Howling Wolf is mounted on a large piece of Pyrite. The clear stand is attached the bottom of the Pyrite. Makes a lovely addition to any collection. Great depiction of the wild, right in your own home.
Size: 4 inches x 3 Inches
Wolf alone is 2 inches x 1 5/8 Inches
 Scenic National Parks: Zion & Bryce (Blu-ray) - List Price: $27.99 Our Price: $ 24.99 You Save: $ 3.00 (11%)
In Stock: Ships Next Business Day
Product Details Format: Color, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen Language: English Region: All Regions Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 1 Rating: NR (Not Rated) Studio: Questar DVD Release Date: July 21, 2009 Run Time: 100 minutes
 Dinosaur Skeleton - Junior Archaeologist Dinosaur Kit
Most economical and fun toy for the money at only $13.95!
Children now have the chance to dig up their own dinosaur skeletions! Using the wood chisel and brush provided in the kit, the soft clay like material is removed revealing a dinosaur skeleton. Great fun for the kids. 8 different skeletons to choose from: Tyrannosaurus, Deinonychus, Stegosaurus, Stegoceras, Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Seismosaurus, or Dromaeosaurus.
 Joshua Tree NP DVD This is THE tool you need to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Just $19.95! You will quickly learn where to go and what to see in this great national park. Take virtual hikes and climbs! Cragcam's Guide to the Park DVD presents Joshua Tree National Park in a whole new way, capturing its magic and allure in a valuable new travel-planning format. An interactive menu breaks park activities into three easy-to-explore sections allowing users to identify and view specific interests for their own adventure filled visit.
 Joshua Tree National Park DVD (Scrub Oak Prod) The most comprehensive and in depth documentary ever produced about Joshua Tree National Park. "Years in the making" Our Price: $ 24.95
In Stock: Ships Next Business Day A bold adventure and historical documentary made possible by the tireless efforts of Minerva Hamilton Hoyt and her sincere interest in preserving the park's beauty and history as an intriguing part of the American West. Full of educational information about the ecosystems and ancient Indian population, plus rare and astounding footage of the wildlife that occupies this National Park. The story chronicles the historical time of the settlers, miners, outlaws and cattlemen, culminating in the historical events and story of the now famous Keys Ranch.
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| Plants for the Gardeners on Your List! |
Live Giant Saguaro!!!
They are back in stock after 2 years.
Live Giant Saguaro
The saguaro is 2 to 3 inches high and about 2 inches wide. Come with pot and dirt. Just add 1 tablespoon of water every month.
Description of Giant Saguaro
The magnificent Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large branches (arms) curving upward in the most distinctive conformation of all Southwestern cacti.
The Saguaro often begins life in the shelter of a "nurse" tree or shrub which can provide a shaded, moister habitat for the germination of life. The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old. An average old Saguaro would have 5 arms and be about 30 feet tall.
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Joint Supplement - Do you have an older dog or a dog with arthritis or joint problems? Check out Nimble, a glucosamine product for dogs, that could help return them to pain-free movement. Click here for more information or to buy.
| Scents for the Ladies in Your Life |
 The rare and delicious scent of Desert Queen fragrance captures the scent of the Night-Blooming Cereus - 1.7oz Eau de Parfum Spray only $38.95.
Bath and shower gel only $16.95 cleans and moisturizes the skin with a special blend of mild cleansers, vitamins and botanical extracts, including aloe. Gift Trio at $64.95 includes .7oz Eau de Parfum Spray, 8oz. Hand & Body Lotion and 8oz. Bath & Shower Gel plus attractive gift bag!
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| and MORE Park DVDs ! |  State and National Park DVDs - DesertUSA has an extensive selection of park DVDs including: Arches, Big Bend, Monument Valley, Death Valley, The Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Zion, Yellowstone, Red Rock Canyon and many more. Click here to browse our park DVDs.2 Anza Borrego DVDs
Ghost Mountain DVD the story of Marshal South and his family's adventure of living on Ghost Mountain in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. To preview the DVD in Flash Click Here.
Anza Borrego Seasons in the Desert. This stunning DVD covers the various regions of the park, as well as indigenous flora and fauna.Joshua Tree NP DVD This is THE tool you need to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
All revenue earned from our online reservation system and store sales are used to support the maintenance and development costs associated with the DesertUSA Web site. By placing reservations on DesertUSA's reservation system or by purchasing products from the Trading Post, you are directly contributing to the future development and continued maintenance of DesertUSA.
You can book reservations anywhere in the World from the DesertUSA Web site. So be sure to try our online reservation system for your next vacation and/or car rental. Make Reservations Now
Get ready for your visit to the desert with books, gifts and products available from the DesertUSA's Online Store.
DesertUSA's purpose is to provide a tool for discovery - a publication that entertains, educates and explores with our readers, the beauty, life and culture of the North American deserts. Visitors come to DesertUSA's Web site every month to read articles, participate in the Desert Talk message board, shop in DesertUSA's online store and explore the desert virtually.
DesertUSA encourages you to forward a copy of the Digital Desert Newsletter to friends, family and business associates who may be interested in receiving this newsletter on a monthly basis.
November 12
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 FIRST PERSON
Barred from the City of David
BAR editor Hershel Shanks recounts his tumultuous relationship with General Shuka Dorfman, the current director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. General Dorfman has instructed Ronny Reich, who codirects the current excavations near the Pool of Siloam with Eli Shukron, to bar Shanks from the site. Since the initial major excavations of the City of David (executed by Yigal Shiloh between 1978 and 1985) were undertaken as a result of a book Shanks wrote, he sees this as no small matter and reflects on the commanding--and at times heavy-handed--actions of the IAA's director. Read more.
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 ORIGINS: THE FIRST ACT
Exploring the roots of ancient Greek theater
What do Shakespeare, Ibsen and Hollywood have in common? As author Rush Rehm explains in our latest e-feature, they all have their roots in ancient Greek theater. Rehm provides an overview of a dramatic art that has its roots in the ancient Greek world, that gave us Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and that set the stage for the first theatrical productions. Dramatic reenactments of Greek myths gradually gave way to an art form that continues to evolve millennia later in today's theaters. Explore the origins of theater in Rush Rehm's "Origins: The First Act." Read more.
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 EVENT WATCH
The Christmas story is illuminated in Baltimore and a history of Greek Orthodox tradition comes to New York
This Christmas season, the Walters Art Museum will be opening The Christmas Story: Picturing the Birth of Christ in Medieval Manuscripts, an exhibit that will depict the life of Jesus Christ through art and illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages. In New York, the American Bible Society and the Museum of Biblical Art have teamed up to presents an exhibit displaying sacred texts and icons of the ancient Greek Orthodox tradition in honor of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's future trip to the United States. Visit Event Watch for more information on these and other exciting events. Read more.
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 SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
Archaeologist, scholar and author James Tabor
James Tabor is chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a professor of Christian origins and ancient Judaism. Since earning his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1981, Tabor has combined his work on ancient texts with extensive field work in archaeology in Israel and Jordan, including work at Qumran, Sepphoris, Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, Masada, Wadi el-Yabis and, with Shimon Gibson, the "John the Baptist" cave at Suba and the recently discovered "Tomb of the Shroud" in Jerusalem. Tabor has also been heavily involved in the recent "Jesus Family Tomb" controversy. He is chief editor of the Original Bible Project, which is producing a new scholarly translation of the Bible. Among his publications are Things Unutterable (1985), A Noble Death (1992) and Why Waco: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America (1995). His latest book, now out in paperback, is The Jesus Dynasty: A New Historical Investigation of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity.
Don't miss your opportunity to hear Dr. Tabor's lecture "Media Hype, Academic Squabbles and the James Ossuary: Getting the Facts Straight" at the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest in New Orleans! Read more.
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BIBLE & ARCHAEOLOGY FEST XII
Join us next week in New Orleans!
Our most popular program year after year, the Annual Bible and Archaeology Fest, will take place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 20-22, 2009. Twenty of the most distinguished scholars from around the world will be coming together to present you with the latest research and discoveries in Biblical scholarship and archaeology. You will have the opportunity to interact directly with the experts themselves and be among the first to hear about their findings. Hurry - there's still time to register and join us! Read more.
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 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY: FROM THE GROUND DOWN
How does a dig team work? What do archaeologists look for at a dig?
Survey the remains of a raging fire that destroyed Hazor thousands of years ago. Explore the ruins of a stone tower at Jezreel, from which Queen Jezebel may have been thrown and murdered. Learn how scientific archaeology developed, from the identification of tells and the shifts in stratigraphic methods to computer refinements and excavations done underwater and in laboratories. Meet the 19th-century pioneers of this field and examine the groundbreaking discoveries and theories that contribute to our understanding of the biblical past. And be there when Hazor volunteers uncover a magnificent prize find, right before your eyes! This 90-minute documentary DVD is accompanied by six bonus lectures, including "Locating the Herodian Temple: Old and New Theories in Light of Ancient Literary Evidence" by James Tabor. Read more.
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BREAKING NEWS
Check out the latest news in Biblical archaeology and related topics--updated daily
This week in the news, a cache of artifacts are recovered from an ancient Thracian tomb in Bulgaria, while a Minoan-style painting is discovered at Tel Kabri in Israel. In Egypt, the home of famed archaeologist Howard Carter becomes a museum. Read more.
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CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST
Submit a caption
Write a caption for this cartoon! The author of the best caption will receive a BAS T-shirt, a Dead Sea Scroll mug and three complimentary subscriptions to give BAR to friends. Runners-up will receive a BAS T-shirt and two complimentary subscriptions.The deadline for captions is December 15, 2009. Read more.
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CONTENTS
Barred from the City of David
Origins: The First Act
Event Watch
Scholar Spotlight
Bible & Archaeology Fest XII
Biblical Archaeology: From the Ground Down
Breaking News
Cartoon Caption Contest
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BAS STORE GRAND REOPENING SALE
Take 20% off your entire order
Use code E9NXA for 20% discount when ordering
There's still time - Sale ends midnight, Friday, November 13
SHOP NOW
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STORE
LIBRARY
DIGS
TRAVEL/STUDY
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November 09
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November 2009 |
MEMBERSHIP NEWS |
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Dear Subscriber,
Finding meaning in a work of art, new or familiar, is one of the great joys of visiting the Metropolitan Museum, and Member events—exhibition previews, exclusive lectures, and evening receptions—provide ample opportunities for discovery. All of our exclusive programs bring Members even closer to the Met's unparalleled collection and to masterpieces from museums around the world. Throughout the year, Members can participate in these programs and take advantage of the benefit of unlimited, free admission to experience all the joys of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
If you are looking for a gift that will enrich the lives of those who receive it, consider purchasing a gift Membership for a loved one. You can also treat yourself by joining the Museum today.
With warm best wishes,
Barbara Dougherty
Managing Chief Membership Officer
The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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Give the Gift of Membership |
Share the wonders of The Metropolitan Museum of Art with family, friends, and business associates by giving them the gift of Membership. Your gift will delight throughout the year and provide the Museum with important financial support. There are many levels of Membership, each of which offers unique benefits, including:
• Free admission to the Metropolitan Museum and The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, our branch in northern Manhattan
• Access to the Members-only Trustees Dining Room overlooking Central Park
• A discount on Audio Guide programs, which provide insightful commentary on the Museum's special exhibitions and works of art in the permanent collection
• A year-round 10% discount at The Met Store and special double discount opportunities
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Members Double Discount Days and Private Holiday Shopping Event |
Members save 20% on purchases at all Met Store retail locations and online from November 10 through November 23*.
Though the Met will be closed to the public on Monday, November 23, gift shops within the Museum will be open exclusively for Members and their guests.
*Please note that the Museum will be closed on Monday, November 16.
Image: Art © Laura Graham.
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American Wing Reception and Viewing |
For Donor and Contributing Members, by Invitation Only
Enjoy refreshments as you listen to a jazz trio in The Charles Engelhard Court on Thursday, November 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Take part in an evening viewing of the recently renovated second- and third-floor period rooms.
If you'd like to learn more about The Charles Engelhard Court and American Wing period rooms, please visit us online. Browse through images, including behind-the-scenes photographs of the two-year renovation project, a video, podcasts, and more.
Image: Alexandria Ballroom, 1793 (Alexandria, Virginia). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
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Holiday Events |
Ring in the holidays with festive receptions and a gala dinner.
Holiday Reception: Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Viewing of the Neapolitan Baroque Crèche
For Supporting and Sustaining Members
Tuesday, December 8, 6:00–8:00 p.m. or 8:30–10:30 p.m.
Each session will include a light supper and dessert reception, the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, and holiday music.
Gala Dinner at The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
For Supporting and Sustaining Members
Thursday, December 17, 7:00–11:00 p.m.
This evening program will feature gallery talks about works of art in the Museum's collection, including the renowned Unicorn Tapestries, followed by an elegant dinner and dancing in the beautiful Cuxa Cloister.
Image: Card from a Set of Fifty-Two Playing Cards, ca. 1470–1480. South Netherlandish. The Cloisters Collection, 1983 (1983.515.1–.52).
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"Watteau" Lectures |
Members beginning at the Family/Dual level may attend these free, exclusive lectures.
Watteau, Music, and Theater
Saturday, November 14, 11:00 a.m., Katharine Baetjer, Curator, European Paintings
Sunday, November 15, 1:00 p.m., Georgia Cowart, Professor, Department of Music, Case Western Reserve University
The exhibition Watteau, Music, and Theater closes on November 29. See the online preview for more information, including sponsorship credits. Visit our Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History to view a selection of Watteau's works of art and to read essays about this great early-18th-century French painter.
We are pleased to offer a unique Audio Guide for "Watteau, Music, and Theater" that features music from 18th-century France specially chosen for the exhibition. You may listen to a free preview of the Guide.
The exhibition catalogue is available at The Met Store.
Image: Love in the Italian Theater (L'Amour au théâtre italien) (detail). Jean-Antoine Watteau (French, 1684–1721). Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin (470).
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Also of Interest |
Panel Discussion
Japanese Mandalas: Emanations and Avatars—Collectors and Collections
Saturday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m.
Focusing on works displayed in the exhibition Japanese Mandalas: Emanations and Avatars, this panel will highlight the role of the collector. Sinéad Kehoe, assistant curator in the Department of Asian Art, will moderate a question-and-answer session with collectors Sylvan Barnet and William Burto.
American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–1915
The Museum has created a special online feature in conjunction with the exhibition American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–1915. Here you will find images of works on view and additional information about the four sections of the exhibition. Visit the exhibition blog for behind-the-scenes stories, insightful commentary, and interesting facts about these remarkable paintings. See the exhibition preview for more information, including sponsorship credits.
Tour "American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–1915" with a host of experts. The exhibition's Audio Guide includes commentary from artists Kara Walker and Eric Fischl, Museum Director Emeritus Philippe de Montebello, historians James McPherson and Joyce Mendelsohn, and many others. For our youngest guests, we will be offering a Story Time Audio Guide and podcast.
Rediscovery of a Masterpiece
Portrait of a Man is an arresting painting that was long thought to be a self-portrait of Velázquez. However, scholarship has not always had a favorable view of the work. In 1979 the Museum attributed it to the workshop of Velázquez; unnecessarily heavy retouching and a thick, discolored varnish obfuscated its qualities, making a proper evaluation impossible.
Michael Gallagher, the Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge of Paintings Conservation, recently cleaned the picture to reveal a work of astonishing freshness, with all of the hallmarks of Velázquez's sure touch of the brush. You may see the restored, reattributed Portrait of a Man alongside other paintings by the great European artist in the special exhibition Velázquez Rediscovered, which will open on November 17.
Image: Portrait of a Man, ca. 1630. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (Spanish, 1599–1660). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Jules Bache Collection, 1949 (49.7.42).
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Free Audio Guide 
We are pleased to offer the Audio Guide for Vermeer's Masterpiece The Milkmaid, closing November 29, as a free MP3 file. Download the MP3 and listen to the Guide on your own portable digital media player as you tour the exhibition.
Members always receive a discount on Audio Guides. |
Your gift supports the Museum's day-to-day operations. Thank you for your generosity. |
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Travel with the Met 
The Magic of Morocco (PDF)
April 9–20, 2010
Appreciate the art, culture, cuisine, and crafts of this sophisticated North African country. Begin with two nights in the capital of Rabat before continuing to imperial Fés. Following three nights in Marrakesh, conclude in Casablanca.
Land rate: $8,650
For a list of upcoming trips or more information, please visit Travel with the Met. |
Planned Giving: A Gift That Keeps On Giving 
A charitable gift annuity supports the Metropolitan Museum and creates a stream of payments for you or someone you care about. With a gift of $10,000 or more, a charitable gift annuity offers fixed payments for life, a current tax deduction for a portion of the gift, and protection from stock market volatility.
For more information, please call the Planned Giving Program at 212-570-3796 or email planned.giving@metmuseum.org. You may also visit us online. | |
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Recommended same-day admission to the Main Building of the Museum and The Cloisters is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students; free to Members and children under 12 years of age accompanied by an adult. See Admission to purchase advance admission from TicketWeb. | |
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
www.metmuseum.org | |  DesertUSA
NEWS & Product Updates
To see this information in graphic format, click here.
| DesertUSA NEWS - Check out our home page for weekly updates on current desert news. www.DesertUSA.com |
Earthquake – 4.0 M – Border area, Calexico, El Centro Sierra Conservation Center – Gabilan Fire Camp inmate escapes
SOLEDAD, Calif. — Law enforcement officials are looking for an inmate who escaped from Gabilan Fire Camp early Monday.
Prison officials said Anthony Phillip Lopez, who is serving four years for ...
Moab Utah Upcoming Events: Moab Folk Music Festival Nov 6-8
An exciting gathering of accomplished artists from the national, regional and local contemporary folk music community. The Moab Folk Music Festival brings some of the finest singer/songwriter musicians in the country.
New Mexico State Parks Upcoming Events: Celestial Cycles at Oliver Lee Nov 7th
Learn about celestial cycles and how early cultures used the night sky to time their daily lives. View the stars and constellations in the dark skies over Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. Dress warml
Leonid Meteor Shower Nov 7th at Anza Borrego
The Leonid meteor shower could be a doozie this month — producing more than 500 shooting stars per hour! Learn the origins of this potentially spectacular storm and how to view and photograph it like a pro. And get a sneak peak at December’s dramatic annual Geminid meteor ...
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Soft and warm gifts from Sonoma Lavender.
Great for the fall / winter season. Heat using microwave. Smells like lavender and or chocolate. Super Soft!!
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Shop now for Christmas !! |
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2010 Calender
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| Last Months New Products |
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| New Seeds |
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| Live Giant Saguaro!!! |
They are back in stock after 2 years.
Live Giant Saguaro The saguaro is 2 to 3 inches high and about 2 inches wide. Come with pot and dirt. Just add 1 tablespoon of water every month.
Description of Giant Saguaro
The magnificent Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large branches (arms) curving upward in the most distinctive conformation of all Southwestern cacti.
The skin is smooth and waxy, the trunk and stems have stout, 2-inch spines clustered on their ribs. When water is absorbed , the outer pulp of the Saguaro can expand like an accordion, increasing the diameter of the stem and, in this way, can increase its weight by up to a ton.
The Saguaro often begins life in the shelter of a "nurse" tree or shrub which can provide a shaded, moister habitat for the germination of life. The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old. An average old Saguaro would have 5 arms and be about 30 feet tall.
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| Hiking Death Valley |
 Hiking Western Death Valley National Park
A hiking and four-wheeling paradise
Lost between the rugged High Sierras and sunbaked Death Valley, bypassed by most visitors on their way somewhere else, this sumptuous alignment of low desert valleys trapped between mountains reaching over 11,000 feet is a little-known paradise waiting to be discovered. This is Death Valley one hundred years ago, a hiker's mecca filled with salt flats and sand dunes, old mines and ghost towns, awesome canyons, breathtaking summits, delightful springs and unexpected streams, and more miles of unspoiled desert than one can explore in a lifetime.
This is the first comprehensive guidebook dedicated to this fascinating region. Illustrated with hand-drawn topographic maps, filled with information about the area's rich human and mining history, geology, and botany, it will take hikers and four-wheelers to more than 200 destinations covering a wide range of interests and difficulties.
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| Gold Panning Set |
Gold Panning is Easy and Gold pan set
You can find Gold..... Believe it!! (DesertUSA did!! We started DesertUSA because of trips to the desert exploring and gold prospecting.)
Anyone can use a pan to recover gold from mountain streams, desert arroyos or wherever it awaits you. Roy Lagal, who has spent a lifetime finding gold, tells just how easy it is.
Take your next vacation in beautiful gold country. Follow the simple illustraded instructions in this book, you are certain to enjoy the glorious outdoors. And, you may experience the thrill of a lifetime as you find color of your very own!!!
Also, learn how to use metal detectors that can make discovering gold nuggets as easy as finding coins in the park.
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| New Coasters |
We have added 3 more coaster designs, check them out.
  
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| Desert Skunk |
 We added this soft and fury friend to our collection. Click here to learn more. See all our desert buddies. |
| New Books |
  Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest New Edition: Gem Trails of Oregon
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| New DVD |
 Spring Comes To
The Harcuvars: DVD
If you were to go wandering in the Arizona desert on a spring day, what would you be likely to see? This video answers that question. Far from being the lifeless, hostile place that many people imagine, the Arizona desert in spring puts forth an astonishing display of flowers, and a wide variety of animal life.
"Spring Comes to the Harcuvars" contains information about 12 species of lizard, 5 rattlesnake species (and five other snakes), plus several birds and mammals. Over 60 different flowering plants provide a kaleidoscope of color. |
| New Mesquite Meal |
 Mesquite Meal (Argentine Mesquite Flour) Mesquite meal or flour, made by finely milling the seeds and pods of the Mesquite Tree. Mesquite meal offers a sweet, chocolate/coffee flavor with a hint of cinnamon. Certified Organic Mesquite Meal is 100% natural. Gluten Free
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| Sale on Sonoma Lavender products. Up to 25% off. |
 SONOMA LAVENDER PRODUCTS.
25% OFF most products. Whenever you need a little pampering, cuddle up to your Sonoma Lavender. Heat Wraps, Spa Masks, Eye Pillows, Neck Wraps. Click Here |
| GARDEN DEPARTMENT |
 WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF UNUSUAL ITEMS FOR THE GARDENERS ON YOUR LIST, AT PRICES YOU WILL LOVE. Check out our GARDEN DEPARTMENT.
Live Cactus Egg (miniature Greenhouse for Cactus sprout) Set includes: 1 Live Cactus, Egg Incubator dome, and Instructions on planting and care, provides education and fun as you raise your own cactus! Click here to see it!
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| PRICKLY PEAR & DESERT FOODS DEPARTMENT |
 PLAN A DESERT-THEMED PRICKLY PEAR HOLIDAY PARTY, OR GIVE PRICKLY PEAR CANDIES AS A TREAT!
Try a Prickly Pear Margarita made with Prickly Pear Cactus syrup. The syrup also makes exceptionally flavorful Wine Coolers, Spritzers, and Prickly Pear Lemonade. The Syrup comes in 7 oz.,12 oz., 23 oz. and 1 gallon containers. Click Here for more information.
Enjoy Prickly Pear Cactus, Mesquite Bean and Margarita jelly candies - Half pound box featuring three mouth-watering candy selections. Tantalize your tastebuds with flavors of the southwest from the fruits of the desert.
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| CHILDREN'S GIFT DEPARTMENT PLUS STUFFED ANIMALS FOR ALL AGES |
 BOOKS, PUZZLES, BREAK AT HOME GEODES AND STUFFED ANIMALS!
Stuffed animal and book gift sets: Stellaluna and little fruit bat toy, Tortoise and the Jack Rabbit and Tortoise toy plus Jack Rabbit toy, and more!
Educational toys like Break-at-Home Geodes and 3D puzzle - 3 models - Tarantula - Scorpion - Gila Monster!
Stuffed animals of all kinds - coyotes, snakes, big horned sheep, horses, bats, prairie dogs, foxes, and more! Don't miss our adorable pair of wild horses. Honeycomb and Nutmeg are 7" tall microfiber plush horses. Honeycomb is a Palamino and Nutmeg is a Chestnut horse. Click here for the horses.
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| AGATE & QUARTZ DEPARTMENT PLUS DECORATIVE GIFTS FOR THE HOME |
  Agate Bookends, Rose Quartz Lamps, Amethyst Candle Holders, Agate Nightlights Southwest decor and more!
Our favorite for your gift list: 24K Brazilian Gold Flakes in a 1.75" tall Safety Glass bottle, only $4.95
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| DESERT BOOK DEPARTMENT |
 EVERY KIND of DESERT BOOK IMAGINABLE - from GEM TRAILS GUIDES to PARK PACKAGES, HISTORICAL and ANIMALS! and WILDLIFE!
Check out our DESERT SURVIVAL BOOK and OUTDOOR GIZMOS 2-PACK set. We have a special section just for Rockhounds! Or you may want to read about Geronimo, in his own words. Find out all about the legend of Kokopelli. Or peruse this book with over 250 pictures of Rattlesnakes. Our book selection if phenomenal!
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| PET DEPARTMENT |
Joint Supplement - Do you have a dog or cat with arthritis or joint problems, or just a little slow from old age? Check out Nimble, a glucosamine product for dogs, that could help return them to pain-free movement. Click here for more information or to buy.
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| BATH & BODY DEPARTMENT |
WE OFFER DESERT QUEEN FRAGRANCES - give her the rare and delicious scent of Desert Queen fragrance, capturing the scent of the Night-Blooming Cereus - 1.7oz Eau de Parfum Spray for only $38.95,Bath and shower gel at only $16.95 or Gift Trio at $64.95.
Also a great gift idea ISIS and AQUIS Hair Towels and Turbans reduce split ends and help dry hair faster at home or at the gym. Warning may result in smiles in the morning!
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| DVD DEPARTMENT |
State and National Park DVDs - DesertUSA has an extensive selection of park DVDs including: Arches, Big Bend, Monument Valley, Death Valley, The Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Zion, Yellowstone, Red Rock Canyon and many more. Click here to browse our park DVDs.
Joshua Tree NP DVD This is THE tool you need to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
DVDs ABOUT INDIAN CULTURE, BATS, & MONTEZUMA's TREASURE!
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| GIFT & UNIQUE ITEMS DEPARTMENT |
 Stumped? Need a gift idea? Visit our Gift Department
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| MAP & GPS DEPARTMENT |
MAPS MAPS MAPS! National Geographic Trails Illustrated ® Maps from Arches to Zion, Recreational Maps, and Atlas & Gazetteers with GPS Grids. Also the Topo CDs Western Region USA 7.0 - completely updated USGS topographic maps, on 5 CD Includes the latest DeLorme street and highway network 3-D flyovers, GPS compatible, elevation profiles.
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| SOUTHWESTERN MUSIC DEPARTMENT |
 Sounds of the Desert: Ah-Nee-Ma, John Huling, Robert Mirabal.
Let the sounds of nature and American Indian instruments transport you to peaceful canyons and wide open skies. Enchanting music of Native American flutes, drums, and chants with keyboard textures and guitars to form a rich landscape of musical sound paintings, inspired by the ancient cultures of the American Southwest. Listen online to clips.
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| NATIVE AMERICAN |
| Books with a Native American theme - Indian Uses of Desert Plants, Geronimo: His Own Story, Field Guide to Rock Art Symbols |
All revenue earned from our online reservation system and store sales are used to support the maintenance and development costs associated with the DesertUSA Web site. By placing reservations on DesertUSA's reservation system or by purchasing products from the Trading Post, you are directly contributing to the future development and continued maintenance of DesertUSA.
You can book reservations anywhere in the World from the DesertUSA Web site. So be sure to try our online reservation system for your next vacation and/or car rental. Make Reservations Now
Get ready for your visit to the desert with books, gifts and products available from the DesertUSA's Online Store.
DesertUSA's purpose is to provide a tool for discovery - a publication that entertains, educates and explores with our readers, the beauty, life and culture of the North American deserts. Visitors come to DesertUSA's Web site every month to read articles, participate in the Desert Talk message board, shop in DesertUSA's online store and explore the desert virtually.
DesertUSA encourages you to forward a copy of the Digital Desert Newsletter to friends, family and business associates who may be interested in receiving this newsletter on a monthly basis.
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November 6, 2009 |
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| WEEKLY FEATURE |
Check Out EWTN's new Channel Finder –
 Plus Several "Don't Miss" Programs
Traveling? Want to share the good news about EWTN with a friend in another part of the country?
Then you'll love EWTN's handy new Channel Finder, an online gadget that easily lets you find the channels on which EWTN is airing in any part of the United States. Just look for the “Channel Finder” icon on our home page.
You'll also find it on our television page, and the What's New page and on http://www.ewtn.com/channelfinder. Try it! Just enter a zip code and up pops all the channels on which you can view EWTN in that area.
Read More
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| PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK |
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FATIMA
This feature film recounts the events of Fatima through the eyes of a Catholic peasant singer whose boyfriend converts from atheism by the supernatural grace of the apparitions. (U.S. Only)
Sat 11/07/09 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
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PAPAL VISIT TO BRESCIA: HOLY MASS - LIVE
Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass at the Paolo VI Square
Sat 11/08/09 4:30 AM ET / 1:30 AM PT
Sun 11/8/09 12:00 PM ET / 9 AM PT |
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Holy Hour for Priests
Join EWTN on the First Friday of each month at 3 p.m. ET (the “Hour of Divine Mercy”) as we air a special Holy Hour in honor of the Year for Priests. Each Holy Hour includes a sermon by our wonderful Fr. Miguel Marie M.F.V.A. as well as hymns and prayers specifically for priests.
Thurs 11/12/09 3 PM ET/Noon PT |
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EWTN LIVE SHOWS
Live shows allow viewers to get involved via email and telephone.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 6, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
THE WORLD OVER: HOST RAYMOND ARROYO - The latest on Health Care Reform legislation; Father Thomas Williams on his book, “Can God Be Trusted?: Finding Faith in Troubled Times;” and an encore of Ann Carey on the current Vatican investigation of women's religious orders.
SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 8, 7PM ET / 4PM PT
SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH FR. GROESCHEL - Guest host, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR: Are Saints Happy or Gloomy?
MONDAY - NOVEMBER 9, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
THE JOURNEY HOME: HOST MARCUS GRODI - Clyde Pearce,
Former Mormon: Latter Day Saints
TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 10, 8PM ET / 4PM PT
MOTHER ANGELICA LIVE CLASSIC: Bad Things Happen.
TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 10, 10PM ET / 7PM PT
THRESHOLD OF HOPE: HOST FR. MITCH PACWA
WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 11, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
EWTN LIVE: HOST FR. MITCH PACWA -James & Kathleen Littleton: The Blessings of a Large Family
THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 12, 8PM ET / 5PM PT
LIFE ON THE ROCK: FR. MARK & DOUG BARRY - Fr. Robert Fromageot, Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary Professor, Lincoln, NE: Music and the Liturgy.
All Times US Eastern & Pacific |
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| BOOKMARK |
 DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY THAT?
Patrick Madrid
Being a good Catholic means more than warming a pew on Sundays, Author Pat Madrid tells Host Doug Keck on this week's "Bookmark." Pat's new book shows Catholics the need for generosity, mercy, and charity to those around us, as documented in the Scriptures and as reflected in the Church's teachings on such often misunderstood areas as assurance of salvation, divorce and remarriage, and the formation of conscience.
Click to order "Does The Bible Really Say That?"
More from EWTN Bookmark |
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| RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE |
HOME VIDEO HIGHLIGHT |
| FEATURED ITEM |
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6 |
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The inspiring stories of 365 holy men and women come to life in an engaging collection of biographical profiles, quotations from the saints themselves, meditations, and prayers. Saints can be referenced chronologically, alphabetically, by feast day, or by theme. |
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EWTN's Home Video offering for November is “Dana and Friends.” A series hosted by the lovely, accomplished Dana and peopled with talented musicians from all walks of life, each episode of “Dana and Friends” brings witness to God's love via touching tributes of melody and song. | |
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The Shroud of Turin Website
2010 Exhibition & Tour Info Updated
More on Garlaschelli and Sad News, Again
November 3, 2009
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Just a brief note to let you know that the website has been updated today. You can find all the details on the Late Breaking Website News page.
This update includes the latest information on the 2010 Shroud Exhibition, including links to the online registration system at sindone.org (which will not become operational until December 2009) and a link to the Archdiocese of Turin English Language FAQ Page where you can check for the latest news and reservation system status yourself.
Also updated are several links on the Shroud Exhbitions page and the addition of several new professional travel companies offering tours to see the Shroud during the 2010 Exhibition to the Tours To Turin page.
This update includes an important new article by Dr. Thibault Heimburger that addresses the claims made by Professor Luigi Garlaschelli last month. Thibault provides a detailed overview of Garlaschelli's techniques and a point by point comparison between Garlaschelli's results and the image on the Shroud. The article includes 12 color photomicrographs and illustrations. Also included is a link to an online article by Professor Bruno Barberis of the International Centre of Sindonology in Turin, that provides further challenges to Garlaschelli's claims.
On a sadder note, this update also includes a Memorial to John Brown, noted materials scientist who provided the first corroboration of Ray Rogers' observations in 2005. John passed away at his home on September 23, 2009, after a long illness. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.
One final note: My appearance on the Coast To Coast talk radio program with George Noory has been rescheduled to Thursday night, December 17, 2009, (early Friday morning, December 18, 2009), when the entire program will be dedicated to the Shroud.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank you all again for your continued support and participation. It is truly appreciated. And don't forget to check the Private Subscribers Page from time to time for exclusive offers and materials not available to the general public.
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| Warmest regards,
Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder
Shroud of Turin Website |
| Quick Links...
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| | October 25 Judy Higgins Kasper
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know 20 who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it. October 23
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CERC WEEKLY UPDATE - October 23, 2009
NEW RESOURCES EDITORIALS OF INTEREST EDUCATION MATTERS
Note from the Managing Editor:
We're just back from Suwon, South Korea and my daughter's wedding. I'm consequently a little late getting the update out as working on a laptop with everything going on was difficult. But what a time we had.
With a population of about 49 million, approximately 10% of South Koreans are Catholic and the faith is growing quickly. The seminary we visited briefly in Suwon counted 180 seminarians.
Aside from so much to absorb, admire, and adjust to culturally it was striking how serious people are about their faith. Everyone seemed intent and focused during Mass and unlike many parishes I've visited in North American, the Koreans all seem able to sing together and sing beautifully.
The church we went to for daily Mass would be packed with perhaps 150 people with most of the women wearing mantillas. We're still absorbing it all. Here's a link to some pictures of the happy bride and groom, Jae Ho.
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Quote of the Week:
"The way to begin the healing of the wounds of the world is to treasure the infant Christ in us; to be not the castle but the cradle of Christ, and in rocking that cradle to the rhythm of love, to swing the whole world back into the beat of the music of eternal life." - Caryll Houselander
New Resources:
• The Greatest Grassroots Movement of Our Times - Mary Ann Glendon - Address to the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund
• Saint Damien of Molokai - Father George W. Rutler - Weekly Column
• A Bridge Across the Tiber - Father Dwight Longnecker - Inside Catholic
• Too old to mature - Father Raymond J. de Souza - National Post
• "On the Demise of Fatherhood" -- A Review - Kevin Aldrich - Catholics for the Common Good
• Celibacy and the Priesthood - Catholic Answers - chap. 24 in The Essential Catholic Survival Guide: Answers to Tough Questions About the Faith
• Amen to a good offer - Father Raymond J. de Souza - National Post
• Can God Be Trusted? - Father Thomas D. Williams, LC - The Catholic Thing
Editorials of Interest:
• Knock, and It Shall Be Opened to You. As Long As It's According to Tradition - Chiesa
• Pope's gambit could see 1,000 priests quit Church of England - Times (UK)
• Realistic expectations about Anglicans - Catholic Culture
• Media Coverage of Anglo-Catholic Move Gets Ugly - NCRegister
• Pope extols power of music - VIS
• Eucharistic Miracle: 2009? - NCRegister
• Dining on the Faith of Our Fathers - NRO
• Dining on the Faith of Our Fathers - NRO
• A Charitable Endeavor - First Things
• Spanish Protest - Chicago Tribune
• The bishops balk - USA Today/RNS
• Much process, no peace - Boston Globe
• Archbishop Burke offers 1st Tridentine High Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in 40 years - Catholic Culture
• 'Population bomb' theories discredited, Vatican envoy tells UN - Asia News
• Sharia doesn't discuss execution for apostasy? - Get Religion
• Hazardous Pathway - Wesley J. Smith - National Review Online
• Thought Experiments Gone Bad - NCRegister
• Let's Go Christmas Shopping! - The Anchoress
• Ecclesiastical Pick up Stix - Times on line
• Too many Catholics? - AP
Education Matters:
• Overview of Youth Protecting Youth (Pro-Life Club) vs. University of Victoria Students' Society - CCRL
• Making the Grade Isn't About Race. It's About Parents And specifically about dads. - Washington Post
• Catholic University President to Step Down - NCRegister
• Story? What Notre Dame story? - Get Religion
• Restricting religion - Washington Times
• Statement Regarding Jim Towey's Resignation from Saint Vincent College - Cardinal Newman Society
• Religious illiteracy alarms educators - National Post
• Style and Alchemy - New York Times
• The Insanity of D.C. Public Schools - First Thoughts
NEW RESOURCES:
The Greatest Grassroots Movement of Our Times - Mary Ann Glendon - Address to the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund
When I received a letter from Dr. Wanda Franz telling me about the "Proudly Pro-Life Award," I was, quite simply, overcome with emotion.
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Saint Damien of Molokai - Father George W. Rutler - Weekly Column
Word of Saint Damien's heroic labors among the lepers on Molokai quickly spread after his death.
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A Bridge Across the Tiber - Father Dwight Longnecker - Inside Catholic
After today's amazing announcement from the Vatican, Anglicans no longer need to change into their swimming trunks.
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Too old to mature - Father Raymond J. de Souza - National Post
When is it too late to grow up?
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"On the Demise of Fatherhood" -- A Review - Kevin Aldrich - Catholics for the Common Good
If fatherhood is rejected -- something easy as pie today -- the result for the liberated male is not happiness, but as Wendell Berry observes, an "escape only into loneliness and meaninglessness." And for the children, the outcome is misery.
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Celibacy and the Priesthood - Catholic Answers - chap. 24 in The Essential Catholic Survival Guide: Answers to Tough Questions About the Faith
Fundamentalist attacks on priestly celibacy come in a number of different forms -- not all compatible with one another. There is almost no other subject about which so many different confusions exist.
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Amen to a good offer - Father Raymond J. de Souza - National Post
The decision announced in Rome yesterday to create structures to allow Anglicans to convert to Catholicism in a corporate way, while retaining many of their Anglican traditions, is a major historical development.
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Can God Be Trusted? - Father Thomas D. Williams, LC - The Catholic Thing
Maybe, just maybe, our current crisis of trust is actually a singular opportunity to rethink our priorities and redirect our confidence.
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EDITORIALS OF INTEREST:0
Knock, and It Shall Be Opened to You. As Long As It's According to Tradition - Chiesa
The entry of anti-modernist Anglican dioceses and parishes into the Catholic Church has been announced. The ecumenism of Pope Ratzinger appears increasingly influenced by fidelity to tradition. That's the way it is with the Lefebvrists. And even more so with the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
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Pope's gambit could see 1,000 priests quit Church of England - Times (UK)
As many as 1,000 priests could quit the Church of England and thousands more may leave churches in America and Australia under bold proposals to welcome Anglicans to Rome.
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Realistic expectations about Anglicans - Catholic Culture
There's a natural, healthy excitement in Church this week, caused by the Pope's bold move to welcome Anglicans into the Catholic fold. But after that first flush of excitement, let's step back just a bit and assess the likely outcome.
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Media Coverage of Anglo-Catholic Move Gets Ugly - NCRegister
Well, the media mantra about the Vatican's welcome to Anglicans has begun, and the anti-Catholicism is about as ugly as it gets.
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Pope extols power of music - VIS
Music is "a spiritual and therefore universal language," Pope Benedict XVI remarked after attending an October 17 concert by the International Piano Academy of Imola, Italy.
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Eucharistic Miracle: 2009? - NCRegister
If reports from Poland are true, an alleged Eucharistic miracle that took place a year ago may have merit.
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Dining on the Faith of Our Fathers - NRO
A sea of good will with our better selves.
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A Charitable Endeavor - Archbishop Charles Chaput - First Things
To understand Catholic charities in the United States today, we need to remember two simple facts.
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Spanish Protest - Chicago Tribune
Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest changes in the law, which make abortions easier to obtain.
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The bishops balk - USA Today/RNS
The U.S. Catholic bishops may oppose the healthcare bill over abortion and coverage of immigrants.
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Much process, no peace - Boston Globe
"Whom the gods would destroy,'' the late Irving Kristol once observed, "they first tempt to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.''
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Archbishop Burke offers 1st Tridentine High Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in 40 years - Catholic Culture
Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, has offered the first solemn High Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in St. Peter's Basilica since the promulgation of the ordinary form four decades ago.
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'Population bomb' theories discredited, Vatican envoy tells UN - Asia News
In a discussion on the results of the 1994 Cairo conference on population and development, the Vatican representative to the UN pointed out to other delegates that the gloomy predictions of population-control advocates had never been fulfilled.
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Sharia doesn't discuss execution for apostasy? - Get Religion
There's something curious about the way the media have been handling the difficult and complicated story of Rifqa Bary.
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Hazardous Pathway - Wesley J. Smith - National Review Online
Within the last few years, the U.K.'s notorious rationing board, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), urged hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices to follow an end-of-life protocol known as the Liverpool Care Pathway.
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Thought Experiments Gone Bad - NCRegister
Lots of "thought experiments" have ended up in good things for humanity, but many have been disastrous.
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Let's Go Christmas Shopping! - The Anchoress
I know, it's frivolous! The whole world is "in turmoil" and disaster looms on every corner.
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Ecclesiastical Pick up Stix - Times on line
How will the Vatican deal with the disparate Anglican groups that may now wish to join the Church of Rome?
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Too many Catholics? - AP
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wonders why so many objections are raised about Catholics on the Court.
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EDUCATION MATTERS:
Overview of Youth Protecting Youth (Pro-Life Club) vs. University of Victoria Students' Society - CCRL
Since the fall of 2008, the University of Victoria Student Society has denied funding to Youth Protecting Youth, the campus pro-life club, because the club will not promote abortion as a morally acceptable choice. This overview provides links to key documents relevant to the case and a chronological summary of events.
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Making the Grade Isn't About Race. It's About Parents And specifically about dads. - Washington Post
"Why don't you guys study like the kids from Africa?"
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Catholic University President to Step Down - NCRegister
After 12 years as president of The Catholic University of America, Father David O'Connell surveyed the landscape of his life and the school.
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Story? What Notre Dame story? - Get Religion
Let's face it, progressives are on a roll at the University of Notre Dame, America's most symbolic Catholic institution.
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Restricting religion - Washington Times
Religious groups have found their freedom to associate restricted in some recent cases on American campuses.
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Statement Regarding Jim Towey's Resignation from Saint Vincent College - Cardinal Newman Society
During his tenure, President Towey has shown bold leadership and made a significant contribution to Catholic higher education.
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Religious illiteracy alarms educators - National Post
Half of American high-school seniors surveyed recently thought Sodom and Gomorrah were a married couple.
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Style and Alchemy - New York Times
Every American college student has used Strunk & White. Here is its history.
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The Insanity of D.C. Public Schools - First Thoughts
According to a Washington Post editorial, "Open to Vouchers?" Michelle Rhee, the head of the Washington, DC public education system recently testified before Congress that "she could not in good conscience tell a parent today to put his or her child in a traditional [Washington, D.C.] public school."
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ST JUSTIN MARTYR PRAY FOR US
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 JUDAISM--BACK TO BASICS
A fresh look at an ancient term
In this issue's Biblical Views column, scholar Steve Mason exhorts us to rethink one of the most fundamental categories of scholarship for the student of Biblical literature: ancient "Judaism." Mason takes a careful look at the word and its origins, beginning with its first appearance in Jewish texts in 2 Maccabees. By following the term's evolution from concept to "-ism" Mason observes that, ironically, "Judaism" is basically a Christian invention.
Read "Judaism--Back to Basics" in the current issue of BAR online. ____________________________________________________________
 SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
Steve Mason, one of the world's leading authorities on the works of Josephus
Steve Mason (B.A., M.A. McMaster, Ph.D. St. Michael's) is Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in Greco-Roman Cultural Interaction at York University in Toronto. He edits the 12-volume Flavius Josephus: Translation and Commentary (Brill, 2000-), and has contributed two of its volumes: Life of Josephus and Judean War 2. His other books include Flavius Josephus on the Pharisees (1991), Josephus and the New Testament (second ed. 2003), and Josephus, Judea, and Christian Origins: Methods and Categories (2009). He is currently writing a book for Cambridge University Press on the Judean-Roman War of 66 to 74.
Read more about Steve Mason.
BAS is delighted to welcome Professor Mason to the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest, where he will present the latest research on the enigmatic Essenes.
Don't miss your opportunity to hear Dr. Mason's lecture "The Historical Problem of the Essenes" at the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest! ____________________________________________________________
 EVENT WATCH
The Dead Sea Scrolls at the ROM
The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto has recently opened the second installation of its six-month exhibition Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World, which is being presented in conjunction with the Israel Antiquities Authority. Some of the featured scrolls include the Book of War Scroll, the Messianic Apocalypse Scroll and a portion from Genesis.
Learn more about the watershed exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Royal Ontario Museum. ____________________________________________________________
 THE BIBLICAL SIDE OF EGYPT
January 10-25, 2010
Discover the Biblical sites of Egypt--off the beaten path! Personalized for Biblical archaeology scholars and enthusiasts, our unique 16-day tour explores the land of pharaohs and kings, prophets and patriarchs as travelers visit the places so central to the Bible and Western civilization. This is the chance to explore the Biblical side of Egypt. Travelers will journey to ancient monasteries--St. Catherine's and the newly restored Red Monastery--the Temple of Seti I and Ramses II (possibly the Pharaoh of the Exodus) at Abydos, the ancient city of el-Amarna and the tombs at Beni Hassan. Of course, central to any tour of Egypt are visits to: the Valley of the Kings, Villages of the Nobles and workers, and the Luxor Temple. And there's much more.
View complete information and sign up for your Egyptian journey of discovery today. ____________________________________________________________
BREAKING NEWS
Check out the latest news in Biblical archaeology and related topics--updated daily
This week in the news, tombs in the Valley of the Kings are at risk of flooding while Roman baths are discovered in Syria. Meanwhile, archaeologists in Jerusalem are divided over plans to build a museum near the Western Wall.
Read more breaking news. ____________________________________________________________
CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST
Submit a caption
Write a caption for this cartoon! The author of the best caption will receive a BAS T-shirt, a Dead Sea Scroll mug and three complimentary subscriptions to give BAR to friends. Runners-up will receive a BAS T-shirt and two complimentary subscriptions.The deadline for captions is December 15, 2009.
Submit your caption.
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CONTENTS
Judaism--Back to Basics
Scholar Spotlight
Event Watch
The Biblical Side of Egypt
Breaking News
Cartoon Caption Contest
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JESUS, QUMRAN AND THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS
Explore the site where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, Qumran. The breathtaking cinematography makes it the next best thing to actually being there! Eminent Scroll scholars shed new light on Jesus' teachings the Jewish world in which Jesus lived.
DVD, 1 hour. $19.95
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STORE
LIBRARY
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| October 14
If your newsletter is not in a form you can use go to this link.
http://www.desertusa.com/newsletter/oct09.html
Untitled Page
DesertUSA
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2009
To see this information in graphic format, click here.
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LETTER FROM THE FIELD: AN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE COMES TO LIGHT
Scholar and BAS lecturer Mark Wilson recounts his latest adventure in the field
Priene is one of Turkey's best preserved ancient cities. It is also home to one of two known ancient synagogues in Asia Minor. While the synagogue was confirmed as such in 1928, scholars have long lamented the lack of further information. Recently, the first excavation at this site in over 100 years was conducted by archeologists Dr. Nadin Burkhardt from the University of Frankfurt am Main and Dr. Mark Wilson of the Asia Minor Research Center in Izmir. The two-week endeavor, which was sponsored in part by BAS, was a great success, and it is hoped that the new information will shed light on the ancient Jewish community of Asia Minor.
Read more about the first excavation at the ancient Priene synagogue in over a century.
Mark Wilson will be one of our featured speakers at the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest this November in New Orleans. Visit us online to find out more about this exciting program!
Come hear Mark Wilson speak at Bible & Archaeology Fest XII.
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SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
Aren Maeir, director of excavations at one of the largest ancient sites in Israel
Aren M. Maeir is professor of archaeology at the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and is co-director of the Bar-Ilan University/Weizmann Institute of Science joint program in Archaeological Science. Dr. Maeir completed a B.A. in Archaeology and Jewish History and attained his Ph.D. in Archaeology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1997. His primary expertise is Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, and he has participated in excavations at numerous sites in Israel, including: Hazor, Jerusalem, Beth Shean and Qasile, and has directed archaeological excavations and surveys in Jerusalem (The Western Wall Tunnels, Mamilla, Kikar Safra, Malha), Tell es-Safi/Gath, the Beth Shean Valley and Tel Yavneh. He as published over 100 scholarly and popular studies, and has written and edited several books. He is director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, a long-term, multi-national excavation of one of the largest ancient sites in Israel.
Read more about Aren Maeir.
Dr. Maeir will present his lecture "Fleshing Out the Bible at Philistine Gath: The Interface of Bible and Archaeology" at the 12th annual Bible and Archaeology Fest!
Don't miss your opportunity to hear about Dr. Maeir's latest research.
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BIBLE & ARCHAEOLOGY FEST XII
Meet 20 world-class scholars in New Orleans!
Our most popular program year after year, the Annual Bible and Archaeology Fest, will take place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 20-22, 2009. Twenty of the most distinguished scholars from around the world will be coming together to present you with the latest research and discoveries in Biblical scholarship and archaeology. You will have the opportunity to interact directly with the experts themselves and be among the first to hear about their findings.
Featured speaker biographies, lecture topics, lecture abstracts and the daily lecture schedule are now all available!
Check out all the featured speakers and lecture topics.
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BREAKING NEWS
Check out the latest news in Biblical archaeology and related topics--updated
daily
This week in the news, the famous bust of ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti returns to the Neues Museum in Berlin, and a scholar in Holland presents a startling new interpretation of the Bible's first sentence. Egypt and France wrangle over Egyptian antiquities held in the Louvre, while in Syria archaeologists have discovered ancient images of heaven and hell.
Read more breaking news.
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CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST
Submit a
caption
Write a caption for this cartoon! The author of the best caption will receive a
BAS T-shirt, a Dead Sea Scroll mug and three complimentary subscriptions to
give BAR to friends.
Runners-up will receive a BAS T-shirt and two complimentary
subscriptions.The deadline for captions is December 15, 2009.
Submit your caption.
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CONTENTS
An Ancient Synagogue Comes to Light
Scholar Spotlight
Bible & Archaeology Fest XII
Breaking News
Cartoon Caption Contest
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THE WORLD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT DVD LECTURES
Scholars Gabriel Barkay, Eric Cline, Michael Coogan, Ronald S. Hendel, James Sanders and Shelley Wachsmann explore the world of the Old Testament from many vantage points.
DVD, 6 hours. $89.95
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October 12
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Saint
Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
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October 12th, 2009
You and I have wonderful people who have graced our
lives - parents, spouses, grandparents, children, relatives, and friends.
They showed us the face of God by their love and presence. We miss them
when they die, and we want to stay in touch, because they are a part of
us. The Church honors these special people on November 2nd, the Feast of
All Souls.
The Carmelites and Society of the Little Flower invite
you to remember your deceased loved ones in our All Souls Daily Masses for
the entire month of November.
St. Therese had great hopes for eternity. As she was
dying, she declared her desire "to do so much good." So determined was
she to fulfill this desire that she proclaimed, "God will do my will in
heaven, because I never did it on earth. I will spend my heaven doing
good on earth!" So many of you have experienced and given witness to her
delightful presence and rose-filled power.
Imagine yourself joining St. Therese and all the members
of the Society of the Little Flower praying in unison for and with your
loved ones.
Your blessed saints and souls will be remembered on the
Feast of All Souls as well as each day in Mass and prayer throughout
November.
Share with us the names of your dear souls and the
special people who touched your life by visiting here so that they can be
included in the month long masses.
May you be filled with prayerful gratitude and warm
memories as we remember the people with whom God has graced us.
Your friend in St. Therese,
Fr. Bob Colaresi, O.Carm.
Director
P. S. Please share this e-mail with friends and loved
ones
that might like to include their deceased loved ones in
the month long All Souls Masses. Invite them to visit
www.littleflower.org/offerings/celebrations.
Thank you!
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Society of the Little Flower
1313 Frontage Rd. Darien, IL. 60561
ph:1-800-621-2806
www.littleflower.org |
October 09
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DesertUSA
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DesertUSA encourages you to forward a copy of the Digital Desert Newsletter to friends, family and business associates who may be interested in receiving this newsletter on a monthly basis.
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