Posted: 11 Dec 2009 05:22 AM PST

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Music fans have probably been cheering hoarsely for Nokia's all-you-can-eat music offerings since its release. Now the company has proclaimed the launch of an exclusive Rihanna App on their Ovi Store that offers news, music, exclusive video content ...

Vampires, dinosaurs and God: The 2009 holiday guide to book buying - canada.com

Posted: 11 Dec 2009 05:01 AM PST

Got a bookworm on your holiday gift list? That's great news: books slip easily into stockings, are a quick find both in stores and online, can be easily exchanged or returned, and come in only one size. And whether you're shopping for a Twilight loving tween or a well-read aristocrat, there is something on the book shelves for everyone this year.

We've perused the best-sellers lists and beyond, picking out the season's hottest titles in both fiction and non-fiction for children, teens, and adults. From celebrity bios to children's collections, we've found new classics as well as special editions of old favourites.

In fiction Vancouver-based author Douglas Coupland has returned with a millennial update of his '90s novel, Generation X, focusing on the latest cohort of tech-savvy youngsters, Generation A. About a Boy author Nick Hornby is also back with Juliet Naked, and the ever present Stephen King has penned yet another thriller, Under the Dome. For something more festive, check out Augusten Burroughs' collection of comical Christmas stories, You Better Not Cry.

Both Sarah Palin and Andre Aggassi have written (or had ghostwriters write) biographies of their respective journeys in the non fiction category. Pop culture critic Chuck Klosterman has put out another collection of essays, Eating the Dinosaur, and famed Darwinist Richard Dawkins has released his latest all-on-assault of the God theory, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution.

Though both the Twilight and Gossip Girl franchises have published their final chapters teens still can't get enough of blood suckers or secret swapping high school students. New this season is the prequel to Lisi Harrison's Gossip Girl-esque series The Clique, Charmed and Dangerous, along with another addition to the long list of vampire books, Molly Harper's Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men.

For children old classics like Curious George and Winnie the Pooh have been re-packaged for a new generation alongside new titles in the kid-lit category, like Antoinette Portis' best-selling Not A Box.

Check out the cover art for our selections in the galleries.

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Historical religious anniversaries - Owen Sound Sun Times

Posted: 11 Dec 2009 05:01 AM PST

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Dec. 13: In 304, St. Lucy is said to have cut out her eyes and sent them to a persistent but unwelcome suitor who said he was haunted by them. This sent the message that he must let her concentrate on a life of religious dedication.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI announced plans for an extraordinary jubilee period to be celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church from Jan. 1 to May 29, 1966. The Feast of Pentecost Jubilee was a period of special grace for Catholics as they became familiar with the decisions of the Second Vatican Council. The Vatican also announced that the Pope had given permission for publication of all documents in Vatican archives concerning the Second World War.

Dec. 14: In 1836, Frances Ridley Havergal, English devotional writer, was born. In frail health most of her life, Havergal nevertheless authored such hymns as "Take My Life and Let It Be" and "I Gave My Life for Thee."

Dec. 15: In 1990, more than 400 American Roman Catholic theologians charged that the Vatican had been throttling church reforms and imposing "an excessive Roman centralization." They contended that the Vatican had undercut a greater role for women, slowed the ecumenical drive for Christian unity and undermined the collegial functioning of national conferences of bishops.

Dec. 16: In 1786, German chorister Konrad Kocher was born. Kocher was the composer of the tune "For the Beauty of the Earth" and helped popularize four-part singing in churches.

In 1916, the monk who wielded powerful influence over the Russian imperial court, Gregori Rasputin, was murdered by a group of young nobles.

In 2006, Archbishop Thomas Collins was appointed the new spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Toronto, replacing the retiring Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic.

Dec. 17: In 1538, England's King Henry VIII was excommunicated by Pope Paul III. Married and divorced several times, Henry had declared himself head of the Church of England.

Dec. 18: In 1707, English hymn writer Charles Wesley was born. He wrote more than 6,500 hymns, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

In 1997, B. B. King presented Pope John Paul with a copy of his famed guitar Lucille during a meeting at the Vatican.

Dec. 19: In 1808, Horatius Bonar, Scottish clergyman, poet and hymn writer, was born. He wrote several missionary biographies and over 600 hymns, including "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say."

n 1882, Egerton Ryerson, a leader in the development of Methodism in Canada and a proponent of religious freedom, died at age 79. He was also the founder of the education system in Ontario. Ryerson University in Toronto is named after him.

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Biographies of Boxing Hall of Fame inductees - USA Today

Posted: 08 Dec 2009 03:05 PM PST

JUNG-KOO CHANG -- Known as the "Korean Hawk" for his relentless fighting style, Chang was born Feb. 4, 1963, in Pusan, South Korea, and turned professional in November 1980 at age 17. He won his first 18 bouts before losing a split decision in 1982 to Hilario Zapata for the WBC flyweight title, then knocked him out in the third round of a rematch six months later. Chang made 15 successful title defenses.

DANNY LOPEZ -- Lopez was a hard-hitting featherweight who earned a reputation as one of the most crowd-pleasing fighters of all time. Born July 6, 1952, in Fort Duchesne, Utah, Lopez compiled a 40-7 amateur record. He turned pro in 1971 and posted 23 straight wins before losing in a ninth-round knockout to Bobby Chacon in 1974. Lopez rebounded with wins over Chucho Castillo, Ruben Olivares, Sean O'Grady and Art Hafey before beating Davey Kotey in 1976 in a 15-round decision for the WBC featherweight championship in Kotey's homeland of Ghana. A string of eight successful title defenses followed before Salvador Sanchez knocked him out twice in 1980, ending his career.

LLOYD MARSHALL -- Born June 4, 1914, in Georgia and raised in Cleveland. He won Golden Gloves titles in 1934-35, relocated to the West Coast and turned pro in 1937. In one of his finest bouts, he scored eight knockdowns en route to an eighth-round knockout over Ezzard Charles. Marshall had an impressive string of victories in 1944, defeating Nate Bolden, Jake LaMotta, Holman Williams and Joey Maxim. Died Aug. 11, 1997 in Sacramento.

YOUNG CORBETT II -- Born William H. Rothwell on Oct. 4, 1880, in Denver and turned pro in 1896. A win over George Dixon set up a world featherweight title bid against Terry McGovern in Hartford, Conn. on Nov. 28, 1901. Corbett, who was known for frustrating opponents with insults, entered McGovern's dressing room to intimidate the champion. The ploy infuriated McGovern and the two went toe to toe. After two vicious rounds, Corbett scored a knockout and also stopped McGovern in a rematch. They met a third time in 1906 and the fight ended in a no-decision. Corbett died April 10, 1927 in Denver.

ROCKY KANSAS -- Born Rocco Tozzo on April 21, 1895, in Buffalo, N.Y., a former newsboy, he turned professional with a new name in 1911 when the ring announcer mistakenly introduced him as Rocky Kansas. Known as "Little Hercules," the 5-foot-2 Kansas was a powerful brawler. One of the top lightweights of his era, Kansas made his 160th bout memorable, defeating Buffalo's Jimmy Goodrich for the title in their hometown in 1925. Kansas died in 1954.

BILLY MISKE -- Born William Arthur Miske on April 12, 1894, in St. Paul, Minn. Nicknamed the "St. Paul Thunderbolt," Miske began boxing as a middleweight in 1913. Competing in the "no-decision" era, he fought Hall of Famers Harry Greb, Tommy Gibbons, Jack Dillon, Battling Levinsky and Kid Norfolk. In 1918, Miske was diagnosed with a kidney ailment known as Bright's Disease but kept it a secret, even to his family. He fought the only title bout of his career in 1920 and was stopped in three rounds by Jack Dempsey. Despite his poor health, Miske persuaded his manager to secure one last bout so he could provide a final Christmas to his family. He knocked out Bill Brennan on Nov. 7, 1923, and died at age 29 on Jan. 1, 1924.

PADDINGTON TOM JONES -- Born in Paddington, London, in 1766, Jones began his career in 1786 and became the first welterweight champion (140 pounds at that time). Although a welterweight, Jones routinely fought bigger men. In 1799, he lost in 33 minutes to 185-pound heavyweight champion Jem Belcher. He died in 1833 at age 67.

SHELLY FINKEL -- Born June 27, 1944, in New York City, Finkel was a rock and roll manager before branching out into boxing. He began promoting amateur bouts in 1978 and formed a partnership with Hall of Famer Lou Duva. Among the boxers in his corner were Olympic medalists Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Michael Moorer, Vinny Paz, Mike Tyson and current heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. In 1990 and 1993 Finkel was voted the Al Buck Award as manager of the year.

LARRY HAZZARD -- Born Dec. 7, 1944, in Newark, N.J., the former three-time Golden Gloves champion began refereeing amateur bouts in 1967 and professional bouts in 1978. He went on to referee more than 40 world title fights. In 1985, he was appointed commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, served until 2007, and was a fervent advocate for boxer safety and health.

WILFRIED SAUERLAND -- Born Feb. 29, 1940 in Wuppertal, Germany, he developed a passion for boxing after his father took him to a bout. He promoted his first show in 1978, staged his first promotion in Germany in 1980, and presided over a boxing boom in Germany during the 1990s. Sauerland Event produces 12 boxing shows per year and has a long-term agreement with German TV giant ARD.

BRUCE TRAMPLER -- Born Aug. 11, 1949, in Maplewood, N.J., Trampler boxed as an amateur and worked as a trainer, promoter, ring announcer, publicist and matchmaker. Beginning in 1971, he spent 15 months in Miami under the guidance of trainer Angelo Dundee and his brother Chris, a promoter. Trampler was later mentored by matchmaker Teddy Brenner, who hired him as an assistant at Madison Square Garden in 1977. Trampler left MSG two years later and joined Bob Arum's Top Rank in 1981. He was instrumental in the comeback of heavyweight champion George Foreman.

HOWARD COSELL -- Born Howard William Cohen on March 25, 1918, in Winston-Salem, N.C., he grew up in Brooklyn and graduated with a law degree from New York University in 1940. He was admitted to the New York State bar in 1941, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and after leaving the service in 1946 opened a Manhattan law office. In 1953, Cosell began hosting a Saturday morning radio show on ABC and by 1956 abandoned his law practice. A member of ABC's Olympic coverage in the 1960s, Cosell was one of the first sports broadcasters to call Cassius Clay by his new name, Muhammad Ali, and was a staunch supporter of Ali when the future heavyweight champion refused to be inducted into the Army during the Vietnam War. Cosell also covered Floyd Patterson, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. He called his last fight in 1982, a 15-round victory by Larry Holmes over Tex Cobb and retired a decade later. Cosell died in 1995 from a heart embolism at age 77.

ED SCHUYLER JR. -- Born March 14, 1935, in Bloomsburg, Pa., Schuyler began working for The Associated Press in June 1960 and covered his first boxing match -- Rubin Carter vs. Farid Salim -- for the AP in September 1963. He transferred from Pittsburgh to the New York sports staff in 1965 and from 1970 until his retirement in 2002 was AP's national boxing writer. "Fast Eddie" covered some of boxing's historic battles, including all three Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fights, Ali vs. George Foreman in Zaire, and a series of bouts featuring Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns in the 1980s. Schuyler, who staffed boxing at the Olympic Games from 1976-2000, covered fights in 18 countries and Puerto Rico. In 1979, he was awarded the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

___

Source: International Boxing Hall of Fame

St. Daniel the Stylite - Catholic Online

Posted: 11 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

Feastday: December 11

St. Daniel, the Stylite, Priest. Feast day is December 11. Daniel was born in Maratha, Syria in 409 and became a monk in nearby Samosata on the Upper Euphrates. He learned of St. Simeon Stylites the Elder, living on a pillar at Antioch and got to see him twice. At the age of forty-two, Daniel decided that he too wanted to become a stylite (from the Greek word "stylos", meaning pillar) and live on a pillar at a spot near Constantinople. Therefore, Emperor Leo I, built a series of pillars with a platform on top for him, and Daniel was ordained there by St. Gennadius. The saint quickly became an attraction for the people. He celebrated the Eucharist on his pillar, preached sermons, dispensed spiritual advice, and cured the sick who were brought up to him. He also gave prudent counsel to Emperors Leo and Zeno and the patriarch of Constantinople. All the while, Daniel lived his particular type of pillar spirituality. He came down from his perch only once in thirty-three years - to turn Emperor Baliscus away from backing the heresy of Monophysitism. Daniel died in 493 and became the best known Stylite after St. Simeon Stylites the Elder. The life of St. Daniel the Stylite is an apt reminder that there are many ways to live the spiritual life. All of us have our own way to be close to God every day. Our task is to find that way and follow it to the very end.

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Biographies

Friday, December 11, 2009

Biographies “Nokia unleashes Rihanna App on Ovi Store - TechShout!” plus 4 more

Biographies “Nokia unleashes Rihanna App on Ovi Store - TechShout!” plus 4 more

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