Often we come across things that we want others to know about. On this page we
introduce various things we have come across and that we think you might be interested in. Our
reviews are organized by category and date.
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Title: What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace
Source: NY Times
Date added: May 29, 2004
To read the article: Click here
Fascinating article that quotes some research done on social effects of heavy Internet use on a person.
I have often wondered what some of the effects are and this article describes some of them. Being a heavy
Internet user I think I can identify with some of the effects mentioned. However, I would say that I don't
really use the Internet to meet new people so that I don't replace relationships I have with people with
relationships I have made on the Internet. But I do wonder if the quality of relationships is somehow affected
by the medium I use to keep relationships up.
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 Product: Fresh veggies
Source: Muskegon Farmer's Market
Date added: May 29, 2004
For more info: Click here
Spring is here and what better way to enjoy it than with some fresh produce from the local Farmer's Market.
Most every Saturday we saunter over and see what is now in season. Our favorite booths have to be the ones that
only sell homegrown products. It is great to talk to the farmers and ask them questions such as "Why was last week's
asparagus so hard to get the sand out of?" The answer was that the rain must have been really kicking up the dirt
just prior to harvest. And we can look forward to great produce all the way through the end of October.
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Service: VOIP (voice over internet protocol)
Company: Vonage
Date added: May 27, 2004
For more info: To learn more
VOIP is the hottest new thing in the tech world. By routing your telephone conversations over the
Internet you can get more features and lower phone bills. Vonage is the company currently in the
lead, and has signed up over 155,000 customers. Not too many, but a lot of the so called "early adopters"
are among their ranks, including us. Recently Vonage just dropped their price to $29.99 a month for
unlimited phone service in the United States and Canada. If you have a hi-speed Internet connection
there is no reason to delay. If you are interested, get in contact with me at
dsrins_syb@bigfoot.com and I can give you more details and help you get your first month free.
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Title: The Gray Zone
Source: The New Yorker
Date added: May 27, 2004
For more info: To read
The abuses by American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison outside of Baghdad have been in the news for almost a month though.
And the inquiries and hearings continue. We will probably never really know what happened and get to the bottom of who was
was responsible, but this article probably pushes the envelope the furthest. It is by Seymour Hersh, the writer who also broke
the My Lai story back in Vietnam. Not sure if his sources have been coaborated, but I am guessing that there is quite a bit of
of truth here.
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Album: Ohio
Artist: Over the Rhine
Date added: May 27, 2004
For more info: Click here
Last fall we heard Over the Rhine at Calvin and thorougly
enjoyed the concert. Finally got the record "Ohio" and it is a treat. There are quite a few styles represented
on the album with Sarah saying one track sounded like Jewel and I thinking at one point Blue Rodeo had taken over
the band. But all in all it is a great record and well worth a listen.
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Album: The Joint is Jumpin'
Artist: Fats Waller
Date added: May 27, 2004
For more info: Click here
It was the 100 anniversary of the birth of Fats Waller the other day and NPR pretty much dedicated the
the whole day to remembering him. Intrigued, I requested this album from the library and go it the other
day. Great turn of the century jazz. Fats was the epitomy of the Black culture that centered around Harlem
at this time and boy could he tickle the ivories. Amazon says this is a good album to get acquainted to
Fats with and I would have to agree. I fell in love.
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Product: Creative Itrigue 2.1 I3350
Date added: May 27, 2004
For more info: Click here
Office Depot had an unbelievable deal on these and I couldn't resist. For 13 bucks you can't go wrong.
These speakers are not top of the line (i.e. THX certified), but they are great for hooking up to the computer
and getting stereo like sound. Makes me wonder about the need for expensive stereo sets. All you need is some decent
speakers, like these and you have all you need. Also, these look just too cool sitting on either side of the TV in our
TV "room". Was put on to the deal by XP Bargains.
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Title: Interview with Tony Campolo
Date added: May 1, 2004
For more info: To read the article
The PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly program is running an interesting series on the impact of Evangelical Christian faith in the United States.
As part of the program they interviewed Tony Campolo. They have made the entire interview available on their website and it well worth reading.
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Movie: The Whale Rider
Date added: May 1, 2004
Released: 2002
For more info: Click here
Toucing movie of a girl growing up in Maorian culture that is crumbling around her.
Beautifully shot in New Zealand and really brings the location and culture alive.
Made us think of our friend Antonia, who is half Maorian and comes from New Zealand.
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Album: New Beginning
Artist: Tracy Chapman
Date added: May 1, 2004
Released: 1994
For more info: Click here
Came across the song "Heaven Here on Earth" as part of a ABC News, Peter Jennings special on Jesus and Paul.
Made us want to check out the album and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it came out in 1994 still has a lot
of relevant material for people to think about today.
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Book: The Working Poor: Invisible in America
Date added: May 1, 2004
Author: David Shipler
Published: 2004
For more info: Click here
Building on Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed, this book takes a slightly more academic approach to the
problem of poverty in America. The author, over a period of years, relates to working poor people and tells their
story in this book. It is impeccably researched and provides minute detail on to how it can be that those who work
work hard in American don't necessarily get ahead. Great read. Click here to
watch the interview the author gave to the PBS Newshour.
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Tech Related: Jump Drive
Date added: May 1, 2004
For more info: Click here
This tiny little gadget is the new wave. A USB keychain drive, mine can store 64 MB, and has easy plug
and play with newer operating systems. A great way to bring along large files that you need, but don't
want to write a CD of. Also, if you are working on a different computer than you usually do, this device
makes it easy to take along the files you eventually want on your main computer. A real bargain. I got mine
for 10 bucks, after rebate, at Office Max.
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TV Show: West Wing
Date added: May 1, 2004
Network: NBC
Time: Wednesday 9 p.m.
For more info: Click here
Nothing is more exciting that Wednesday nights than the West Wing. For polictical buffs there is nothing
more stimulating than getting a interesting preview of the atmosphere that surrounds some of the United States
most important political situations. While the issues are politically divisive, the show does a half decent job
of showing both sides.
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