Wat Xieng Thong and the Pak Ou caves are worthy of a close examination.

The New York Times travel article recommends an excellent 2 day itinerary.  Also, this website has some of the best photos of Luang Prabang.  Take a look and you will be inspired to visit.

Exterior view of the Vishnu temple in Malibou

The temple has the traditional south Indian style dwarapala sculptures at the entrance

And of course the Garuda Kamba inside the courtyard

Another view of the main temple building from within the courtyard

Exterior view of the Shiva temple in Malibou

Another view of the Shiva temple

Wandering around: A dragon dance performance happens in front of Do temple’s Main Hall.

As the festival reached its climax, eight clouds exactly alike sketched a chain across a brilliant blue sky. To the believers, the clouds were incarnations of the Emperors themselves, looking down from on high at the splendid festival taking place in their memory.

But whether you believe this or not, Do Temple is certainly worth the relatively short trip from Hanoi.

Rise and fall

In Buddhist tradition, a pagoda is to worship Buddha and a temple is to worship a revered person of great importance – but just a person none the less.

Do Temple pays homage to all eight Ly dynasty Emperors (the sole Ly Queen – Ly Chieu Hoang – has her own private temple), but at centre stage is the first, Ly Thai To.

Ly Thai To seized control of Vietnam – then known as Dai Viet – in 1010, kick starting the Ly dynasty that was to reign over the country for more than 200 years.

After 1,000 years, Chinese rule of Vietnam had ended in AD938, but the Ly dynasty was the first to bring a stable period of independence to the country. Staunch Buddhists, the Ly Emperors governed with the rule of law rather than the blade of a sword, generating goodwill among the people.

Ly Thai To, who founded Thang Long (now Hanoi) as the capital of Dai Viet, sat on the throne until his death in 1028. In remembrance, his son and the new Emperor Ly Thai Tong had Do Temple constructed in 1030, close to where Ly Thai To was born.

As each subsequent Ly Emperor passed away, their statue moved in with their predecessors, each resplendent above an altar to their person. Last of the Ly leaders was Ly Chieu Hoang, who had the misfortune to preside upon the downfall of the dynasty, forced from power by the upstart Tran dynasty.

Flutter

Do Temple and its surrounding suffered heavy damage in 1952 during the war for independence from French colonial rule. However, in 1989 the temple was reborn, with designs saved from the 17th century used to build again.

The region around Do Temple is famous for its gooey husband and wife rice cakes, given to newlyweds at their wedding. Visitors to the temple have the chance to sample the cakes from the vendors that hang around its entrance.

As the cake traders flutter away, the temple complex reveals itself. Ahead, generous foliage mutes a broad checkerboard path, before the liberal shade ends abruptly at a clay-red crossroads.

To the left is the Dragons Gate, flanked by plump lion statues baring their canines in a wide grin. And to the right is an island pavilion echoing the classic curled eaves of Buddhist style.

Slink

Celebrate: Do Temple’s lake is known as a popular venue for Quan Ho singers.

Turning left, carved stone dragons slink beneath a smiling roof that shelters the gate’s heavy wooden doors, decorated with meandering dragons.

Past moustachioed guards, of the unblinking variety, is a scorched courtyard in front of the Worshipping House. Two more dragons slither up the sides of an incense burner made to last, their every movement monitored by a pair of kneeling elephants.

Under a flamboyant double-barrelled roof, two exhibitionist soldiers, clad in skimpy loincloths, motionlessly guard the first of many altars. Behind is the Sanctuary House, where the eight Ly Emperors sit on golden thrones in golden robes and before golden ornaments.

Staccato

Back at the crossroads, staccato music floats from the island pavilion, named Thuy Dinh, where a quartet of young women play to a detached audience. They sing local Quan Ho songs in minor key, accompanied by a sparse wooden xylophone.

During French colonial times, Thuy Dinh was so famous that it appeared on money issued by the Bank of Indochina, and nowadays it hosts water puppet theatrics when not a sound stage.

Thuy Dinh sits in the middle of a semi-circle lake, around which harvested rice grains dry in the autumn, destined for the famous cakes.

Do Temple is approximately 16km north-east of Hanoi, and is just outside Dinh Bang Village. 

(Source: Viet Nam News)

by Chris James

there has beena lot of talk about how the stage looks like a greek temple or even nuremburg columns ... but who cares...

the thing i find funny is that mccain ran the paris hilton/britney spears star commercial, and comes to find out that the stage designer is the set/prop designer for britney spears... awesome.

i guess they were going for the lincoln memorial look since it is the anniversary of the 'i have a dream' speech by dr martin luther king jr.

i watched the speech, and that was no 'i have a dream' ... but it is the culmination of the speech, where a man of color has a 50/50 chance of becoming the president of the united states.  i just am judging the man by the content of his character and find him wanting.  just a lot of experience that he does not have.  and some of the things that he talked about giving everybody is gonna cost loads and loads of money that does nto exist

I keep hearing about the backdrop that Senator Obama selected for his speech tonight.  It consists of several Greek columns.

It is no secret that I am not fond of Senator Obama's proposed policies because they go against my ideals.  On many conservative talk shows I have heard reference to these columns and suggestions that they came off of sets like Ben Hurr.

Knowing a little bit of history, I do know that today is the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream Speech."  On one of the talk shows someone called in and suggested that these columns were suppose to mimic the Lincoln Memorial.

At that point I had yet to see the backdrop and did not think the idea quite as insane, although an expensive alternative to projecting the backdrop behind Senator Obama.

Then I got to see the pictures of the backdrop.  Not only does it seem excessive, it could never mimic the Lincoln Memorial.  Here are a couple of the links to pictures of the background. http://news.aol.com/?feature=152107  &  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yQwufJ_JpA&eurl=http://www.michaelgraham.com/

Although I am not sure it is a "temple" per say, it is definitely not the Lincoln Memorial and appears to have minimal function.  Personally I feel a presidential nominee should have some type of a patriotic background that reflects their connection with the US instead of an expensive backdrop that does not appear to serve any purpose.

On his radio program yesterday, Rush Limbaugh said that since the temples in ancient Greece were built as homes for the gods, Obama has taken his Messiah status one step further and now believes himself to be God.

I hate to be the one to burst the GOP bubble, but I guess a little history lesson is in order. Today is the 45^th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s "I Have a Dream" speech, which was given in front of the structure pictured here, better known as the Lincoln Memorial. Note the columns.

Here is a photograph of Dr. King taken during a portion of that speech. Again, take notice of the columns in the background.

So you see my Republican friends, the stage is not set up to portray Obama as some sort of Deity, it has an historical context. Oh well, back to attacking Obama’s patriotism and smearing him by taking his remarks on Iran and Israel out of context.

I might, however, suggest an appropriate setting for John McCain’s acceptance speech. Maybe in front of a mock-up of a crashed fighter plane, or in light of his many references to his time in captivity, a re-creation of the Hanoi Hilton. He is a former POW, you know.

Micheline has been sick and coughs until she practically coughs up a lung. She has always had a very weak respiratory system which I can only attribute to the trash being burned regularly in Haiti as well as plenty of inhaled diesel fumes. Needless to say, when she coughs all night, especially after wanting to crawl in bed with me, the amount of shut-eye I am getting is not nearly enough. I have friends, however, who are currently facing trials much greater than mine, so I will count my blessings.

I was blessed to go to the temple yesterday with a friend and get some time away from the world. There is peace found there that is found nowhere else, and I feel so much more rejuvenated and able to face a new day. I even endured Ben kicking a door repeatedly for almost 20 minutes without my temper flaring. I thank the Lord for the peace He gives me in my life. Without the Lord's support, I don't know how well I would do with the daily challenges of life. I am a living testimony of Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

And as stories fly, we first came to know Obama and his followers as "Barackstars" as his concerts grew in size.  Soon, we found ourselves confronted with yet another image of Obama:  The priest.

But how could a young man of such influence be a mere priest?  No, soon talk of the Obamessiah rushed through our country, as we found out that we were not members of America, not quite citizens of the world, but we were the change we believe in.  Only through Obama can that change be realized!

Wow!  The modern messiah has come!  Through Obama we can secure change!  Through Obama we can have a better life!  Through Obama 47 million people will have health care!  Wow!  Obama cannot just be our savior.  Obama must be our...

GOD!  Quite!  Hurry young acolytes!  Let us begin construction of the new temple!  Hillary, commission a statue!  Obama of Invesco!  Long Live Obama!  Long Live Obama!

He put finishing touches on his speech Thursday morning, but also found time to shoot some hoops on a basketball court at the Denver Athletic Club.

Aides said his address accepting the Democratic presidential nomination would be a "direct conversation" with Americans on what's at stake and the risks of putting another Republican in the White House.

Obama, who first gained national prominence just four years ago in a speech to the 2004 Democratic Convention as a little-known Illinois state senator, was also expected to draw contrasts with rival John McCain and try to dispel any remaining concerns Americans might have about his capability to govern.

Republican McCain said he wasn't ready to announce a running mate just yet, although he was expected to do so by week's end, possibly Friday.
 

Obama accepts the Democratic nomination Thursday night at Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High.

Three hours before the day's program began, as many as 1,000 people were lined up at a pedestrian entrance to the stadium. On a hot, sunny day, security people were advising the crowd to drink a lot of water. Nearby street parking was going for as much as $80 a space.

"Senator Obama's speech tonight will be as he himself has characterized it, more workmanlike, a very direct conversation with the American people about the choice we face in this election. About the risk of staying on the same path we're on, the risk of just more of the same versus the change we need," Obama spokeswoman Anita Dunn said in a conference call with reporters.

 

McCain appeared poised to name his running mate soon after the end of the Democratic convention, in hopes of curbing any bump in the polls that Obama might get as he and running mate Joe Biden and their wives begin a three-day bus tour of battleground states on Friday, beginning in Pennsylvania.

McCain, too, planned a rally in Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

By

*********************

The Arena. Cast of thousands. The Agora backdrop. Talk of togas.

Greek God or Gosh Darned Greek?

Godesses from Hollywood and everywhere else.

Rock star "buzz."

An NFL "venue."

Britney Spears' stage managers.

Sequins?
 
Oprah!!

Stevie Wonder (who said he loved the look of the temple....)

Opera!

"Toga, toga!"

People a "mile high" and all legally!

Add recycling and intense security!

High on hype and low on substance.

Not Cecil B. DeMille. Not a game show. Not "reality TV".....

It is the Democrat Convention Today!

Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. De Mille: Heard from the grave to
say, "I love a spectacle."
.
Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota said the film set used tonight at Invesco Field is a metaphor for the Obama operation and mania: skin deep with only a little substance.

A Hollywood insider told us: “You gotta use that Messiah thing….whatever that is…..”
**************

Phillies squander the lead, the game, first place and momentum from game 1, lose to Mets.

If James Beale is accurate in his assessment, this is some seriously bad news for the Phillies bullpen.

Your daily Eagles fix focuses on one of the season's major question marks - the linebacker trio. And how they read real good and stuff. Oh, and Eagletarian gives you watching points for tonight's preseason game against the Jets.

The Pundit is starting to get juiced for College Football. Mark Schlabach over at ESPN gives him 25 more reasons to get hyped. And, in case you don't read the whole thing, I'd just like you to see this:

22. Temple will finish the season with a winning record.
And you thought rebuilding Rutgers was hard. Al Golden is close to doing the unimaginable at Temple after finishing 4-8 last season. There's a reason other coaches call him the "Golden Boy."

T for Temple Uuuuuuu, Unnnnn-iversityyyyyy. Fight fight fight, for the cherry and the white, for the cherry and the white we'll fight! (Editor's note: The MAC is quaking in their less recruited boots).

Check back a bit later tonight, for Part 1 of the NFL preview.

Like a belly dancer, i have the answer

So i put yo head in the fan, slice and dice yo mind with my pen

Create horror for the man, who destroys young mind's,

By selling crack, if i'll see you do that i'll attack,

I'll massacre your whole pack

Giving you a blood bath

Cause i kill and move like a free mason

I'll fuck your creation, giving you an brain infection,

Meleeing you with a spoon

Splash your blood on the walls of your child's room,

Use verbal abuse, to smash your caboos,

We are not doing a truce

You look like a moose, you have the brain of a goose,

And this world is run by fake christians and fake politicians

They talk about terrorism and on tv you can see social crucifications,

The corrupt domination, they are killing our population,

Crack industrialization, government's high taxation,

Kid's getting shot in bus stations,

Killing the nations, body poisoning and soul starvation,

And God doesn't give a fuck about his creation,

We are killing each other, killing our mothers, fathers and brothers,

And they think that this shit is funny, the only thing they want and care about is money,

I'll kill you sonny, i'll serve you on a plate like a good cooked bunny.

And beware cuz i'll cover you in leches, i'm tierd of your fake christian preaches and fake speeches

Malicios and vicious, distractions from the cultural foundations,degrading the population.

So i'll start the technologization from the temple of hip hop and lit the night from it's roof top.

I love building sand-castles - always have. When I was a little boy, my dad taught me the art of the drip castle. Later, I moved onto other things, like building my very own sacrificial altars out of sand. Hooray!

This sacrificial alter was constructed on the Jersey Shore, near a town called Tom's River. Though I'm not in the picture (I'm taking it) my friends and I did build this great temple together, replete with wall, mote, and sacrificial altar in the center. On it, we put little sand crabs (though we didn't kill them or eat their hearts believing that they would give us strength - or abilities to burrow into the sand with great success).

To be fair, unlike many of the other Around the World pics of me at religious sites, this one is not frequented by pilgrims and I daresay it may no longer be standing, destroyed by the conquering armies of generations (read: tides for the last three years). However, it's glory will always be preserved by this photo.

On an interesting side note, I did spend that entire evening debating the fine points of a man's theology since he insisted on screaming it to everyone on the boardwalk.

Have you ever been to the Jersey Shore? What'd you think? Get stuck by any needles while you were there?

To see me at and read about the Acropolis, click HERE, or at Spinoza Street in Amsterdam, click HERE.

Just after receiving advice at the Temple of Nike (just do it, god Barack), William Ayers' best buddy promised a discus in every house, a toga on every subject, and flaming cheese for every appetizer.

"Ahhh, umm, cucumber sauce and uhh dill spice should not just be for the uhh ultra-rich," Obama said.

OK OK, the real story is here from AFP.

My last post about it is here.

Why do I feel angry? The reasons for anger are many and vary from person to person. Perhaps, you feel that you do not get enough credit at work. Maybe, your boss harbors a grudge and seeks every opportunity to reprimand you. Is your relationship stressing you out? Do you suffer from low self-esteem and take it out on your employees? Do you have any unresolved feelings leftover from your childhood?

We feel angry because we have expectations. We expect that we’ll have high-flying careers, empathetic supervisors, competent employees and supportive partners. And then when things don’t go according to our master plan we become frustrated and angry.

How Can I manage my anger?

• Accept the situation that you’re in. Avoidance of accepting circumstances will not help in dealing with reality.
• Try focusing on the positive things in your life like your family and friends, career, talents and your spouse or partner. Remember that you have everything that you need even though you might not have everything you desire.
• Consciously make an effort to stay calm by either tackling the situation later or counting to ten or even twenty before you react.
• Always make it a point never to raise your hand or resort to violence to resolve a problem. Treat others the way you would want them to treat you.
• Expressing feelings in a positive manner paves the path to open communication and alleviates unnecessary stress and anger.
• Deep breathing helps you experience a feeling of calm and serenity.
• Try to postpone thinking of the situation or person that made you angry and do something to distract yourself from negative thoughts. Thinking about the problem some time after it takes place throws a new light altogether.
• Many experts advocate writing your angry thoughts and feelings on paper and then tearing or burning it up. Be as graphic as possible. This will help release your frustration and anger.
• Talk to a friend or a neutral party who does not have anything to do with the problem at hand. Opening up to a close friend helps lightening the moment and putting you in a good mood.
• Attempt to see the humor in the situation. Making light of the situation dilutes the anxiety and pressure associated with it.
• If all else fails, enroll at a local Anger Management Class. Speaking with people facing anger management issues shows that you’re not alone and that there are several people going through the same thing that you are.

Can Emotional Intelligence help to manage my Anger? Developing emotional intelligence is of utmost importance in managing and controlling anger. Many anger management classes teach participants to develop emotional intelligence to deal with anger. Emotional intelligence involves recognizing, understanding and accepting emotions to deal with them in a positive manner. If a person develops a substantial degree of emotional intelligence he can come to terms with anger and control his reactions and responses to it. Emotional intelligence also involves understanding the emotions and feelings of others. The next time you feel angry with someone try to understand what prompts him to behave in a manner that offends you. Comprehending the feelings of others is a stepping stone to achieving emotional intelligence and managing anger.

Anger Management Institute of Texas is a certified Anderson & Anderson ® provider.

Anger Management Classes and Anger Management - Executive Coaching available in Houston, Texas.

Gregory A. Kyles, M.A., LPC, CEAP, CAMF
Director, Anger Management Institute of Texas
Diplomate, President of Texas Chapter
American Association of Anger Management Providers
http://www.ami-tx.com

http://www.ami-tx.org
http://gregorykyles.wordpress.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorykyles
http://www.myspace.com/anger_management_expert

The trailers for the upcoming Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" are readily available on sites all over the internet... Disney or YouTube just to name a few. My nine year old daughter Kayden thinks they are hilarious.... (ok, so do I). So much so that over the summer, the theme for her birthday party was "Aztec Chihuahua".

Not surprisingly, party favors and party supplies that have an Aztec Chihuahua theme are a little hard to come by, so we had to improvise. We made our own Aztec Chihuahua party invitations and pinata. We also made an Aztec Chihuahua mural for our dining room and my wife made a stunning Aztec Chihuahua cake. We made our own Chihuahua plates, and our own Chihuahua dog collars for the girls to wear and take home. The complete details on the party can be found on the Kyle Design website. (While you're there, be sure to check out the rest of the sight. Kyle has many unique ideas for kids birthday parties, birthday cakes, and Halloween Costumes. She also has a virtually unlimited selection of cool contemporary personalized gifts. You could easily get all your Christmas shopping done in one visit. )

Originally, as my daughter and I were planning the party, I committed to building some sort of a Aztec temple or Mayan temple as a decoration. I figured I would use PVC to build something light and cheap. Somewhere along the way, I decided to use wood instead. It was at that point that I got a little carried away. The end result was a functional pyramid-shaped play structure that is inspired by the Aztec and Mayan Temples of Pre-Columbian Central America. It measures 13'x13' at the base and is nearly 11 feet tall. It features four staircases, a hammock, solar powered light fixtures by Malibu, and a priests' penthouse at the top. The total price tag for everything was about $600, not including labor or gas money for countless trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Orchard Supply. ( I would have gone to Independent Hardware dealers, but there are none in Livermore.) The sheer entertainment value of building it and using it this summer has already been worth at least $600.

I built the pyramid in my front driveway. I had intended for the design to be somewhat modular, with all the staircases held by bolts and thus easily removed. At some point, I was sure I would want or need to take it apart and move the pyramid to the back yard. As the project developed, I sacrificed modularity in favor of strength and stability, and ultimately decided that my driveway would be a perfectly fine permanent home for the pyramid. Hey, it matches the house quite nicely, and pizza deliveries to our house are easier than ever. Forget the address, just look for the house with the Aztec temple. Ai Chihuahua!

Check the Kyle Design website for additional details and pictures of the temple and the Aztec Chihuahua birthday party. There are a few there now, and I will be posting more shortly.

Technorati: Birthday Party, Aztec, Maya, Pyramid, Temple, Gifts, party favors, party supplies, party decorations, play structures, kids, father-daughter, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Disney, Kyle Design, Halloween costumes, Christmas shopping, solar power, Malibu light fixtures, Lowes, Home Depot, Orchard Supply, unique gift ideas, personalized gifts

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple.

The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos' National Football League team plays.

Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington's Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party's nomination for president.

This is outrageous, beyond satire. It'll be interesting to see how Sullivan explains this one away. Best-case scenario, he's simply a presumptuous ass, assuming the election is in the bag as his poll numbers stagnate. Depending on how this "temple" turns out, however, he could be harkening to back to f--ing Cicero, who is obviously the only orator who can hold a flame to His Obamaness.

However, all of his sins will be wiped from my mind should Obama stride up, donned in a toga, and begin reciting the Aeneid, in Latin. Arma obamumque cano. . .

The centre of worship in the Second Temple Period was the Temple of Solomon, where Yahweh[1] was believed to reside. The principal form of worship in the Temple was centred on “sacrificial worship administered by hereditary priests”(De Lange, 1986, p. 40) and the Temple was the main place of worship, although other places of worship did exist. There is evidence that Synagogues, the main centre of worship for modern Judaism, were in evidence from the fall of the first Temple (Unterman, 1997, p. 31). The Synagogue first developed as a centre for study of the Torah and Talmud; however during the Jewish diaspora in Babylon it is likely that it became a place of communal worship in the absence of the Temple (VanderKam, 2001, p. 211). Much of the sacrificial rituals and regulations from the Second Temple period have been adapted into the synagogue service of the modern era. A number of elements found in the modern synagogue parallel those found in the Temple (Cohn-Sherbok, 2003, p. 484), namely: the ark and the lights illuminating it, the Torah and the bimah[2]. Cohn-Sherbok suggests that there were approximately 400 synagogues existing at the end of the Second Temple period (Cohn-Sherbok, 2003, p. 484), and this number only grew following the destruction of the second temple. With the loss of the temple, and subsequently the centre for sacrificial worship, Judaism took a turn towards focusing on prayer and reading of the Holy Scriptures. The two mandatory daily sacrifices of lamb were replaced with prayers recited three times a day. As the synagogue gradually took on the importance of the Temple in modern Judaism, it also acquired a portion of the sanctity and holiness associated with the Temple. Jews are expected to cover their heads whilst within a synagogue as a sign of respect to its holiness. The shift from the Temple to the Synagogue as the centre of worship saw a democratization of Jewish life and the fall in the importance of the priests, in favour for the increasing importance of the rabbi.

The kohen[3] in Second Temple Judaism were the leaders of the Jewish people and were believed to have been descended from the sons of Aaron. The title kohen was a hereditary office held by the Levites, members of the tribe of Levi[4], and they were the only ones who served at the altar in the Temple (Exodus 28-29; Numbers 18:1-20). The High Priest of the Temple is described by VanderKam as the “supreme official in Judaism” and appeared to be a mostly hereditary office which held a great deal of political and military power (VanderKam, 2001, p. 178). The High Priest also held important cultic roles, especially on Yom Kippur[5] when he “entered the holy of holies and offered stipulated sacrifices” (VanderKam, 2001, p. 178), With the loss of the Temple, and therefore removal of the sacrificial importance of the kohanim[6], their importance within Judaism reduced. In modern Orthodox Judaism however, kohanim are the first to read from the Tanakh, followed by other Levites. The rabbi[7] grew to replace this leadership role within the Jewish community as the emphasis on studying of the Tanakh and later the Midrash writings, led to the increased importance of men well versed in their contents and meaning. Today the principal form of Judaism is Rabbinic Judaism where rabbis fill a role similar to that of a Christian minister: sermonizing, pastoral counselling, teaching, and answering questions of Jewish law. Despite their importance in the Jewish community, which has lessened since the emancipation of the Jewish people, rabbis are not held as any more spiritual than other people and in fact Jewish rituals, such a marriages or burials, can be performed by any layperson. The rabbis’ main function lays in reading and teaching the major Jewish works, including the Tanakh, Talmud and the Midrash writings.

In Second Temple Judaism, the main Holy Book was the Tanakh, known as the Miqra,[8] made up of three books; the Torah[9], Nev’im[10], and Ketuvim[11]. The Torah is still believed to be the most holy the Jewish sacred writings. After the fall of the Second Temple however, a number of other writings were added to the collection of Jewish writings, while not considered to be “holy” along the terms of the Tanakh, the Midrash and the Talmud are integral parts of Modern Judaism, especially Orthodox Judaism. The Talmud is comprised of a series of rabbinic discussions on ethics, law and customs, and is believed to be a written record of the post-biblical oral tradition. The Midrash on the other hand is a compendium of homilies on the Tanakh.

A number of elements of traditional Jewish worship, common at the end of the Second Temple period are still in evident in Modern Judaism, despite the lack of the Temple of sacrificial worship. While the main focus of worship switched from the sacrifice to prayer, the elements of the sacrifice were retained. The avodah[12], originally the main sacrifice performed by the High Priest at Yom Kippur is today a “fulfilment of obligation and expression of gratitude, devotion and loyalty” (De Lange, 1986, p. 36) performed as a re-enactment of the original sacrificial rite. The main form of worship for Modern Judaism is concerned with a “mixture of praise and petition and penitential dirges” (De Lange, 1986, p. 36), not necessarily concerned with the synagogue. The amidah[13] is the central prayer in modern Jewish worship. It is recited three times a day while facing the location of the Temple in Jerusalem, and corresponds to the times of Temple offerings. These prayers take the form of vernacular personal prayers for Conservative[14] and Reform[15] Jews, as well as recitations of the psalms in both Hebrew and the vernacular.

The dietary rules of Judaism (kashrut) have remained enforced, except amongst Reform Jews and kosher[16] food is still the only food consumed by Orthodox[17] and Conservative Jews. A number of these rules have relaxed somewhat for Conservative and Reform Jews, especially those concerning use of two sets of crockery and cooking utensils. Another part of Judaism that has continued down from the Second Temple Period to modern day is the rite of circumcision. On the eighth day following their birth, Jewish boys are circumcised as an expression of their covenant with Yahweh. The traditional festivals are also still celebrated, although the sacrificial parts of the ceremonies have been replaced, particularly in the festivals of Pesach[18] where the “sacrifice and blood sprinkled on the doorpost of dwellings” (VanderKam, 2001, p. 204) has been omitted, while the traditional meal including unleavened bread is still observed (De Lange, 1986, p. 10).

The main beliefs of Judaism, centred on the belief in an omnipotent and omniscient God who Jews are bound to as part of a pact sealed by Abraham is still the core of Jewish belief. The traditional festivals and prayers are still offered, however the centres of Judaism have switched from the Temple to the Synagogue, from the priests to the rabbis, and from sacrifice to prayer.

Word Count: 1276

Bibliography

Cohn-Sherbok, D. (2003). Judaism : history, belief, and practice. London: Routledge.

De Lange, N. R. (1986). Judaism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Esposito, J. L., Fasching, D. J., & Lewis, T. (2002). World Religions Today. New York: Oxford University Press.

Neusner, J. (1995). Judaism in modern times : an introduction and reader. Oxford: Blackwell.

Unterman, A. (1997). Jewish Ritual. In J. R. Hinnells, A New Handbook of Living Religions (pp. 24-35). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.

VanderKam, J. C. (2001). Introduction to early Judaism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans.

With my NFL preview starting on Thursday night, I realized I had failed to preview another sport I hold dear to my heart: College Football (Editor's note: Plus, the Phillies are down 7-1 right now; methinks The Pundit needs distraction). I'm not going to do a full college football preview, but I am going to highlight a few points about my favorite team, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Now, I know what you're saying: Why Pun, didn't you go to Temple? Well, um, yes, I did, and I grew up following their basketball team very closely, still do. But football? Let me give the Andy Reid response here: "I'm happy to see that Al Golden has the team moving in the right direction, and I'll continue to keep my eyes on them." For now, though, I'm with Penn State, the team I've been watching intently since I was a wee little tike (Editor's note: Now he's just a wee little Pundit).

The Spread HD

Wait, did the word "spread" just appear in an article about Penn State? The same ground-and-pound, bruise-and-cruise, crush-and-rush Penn State of Joe Paterno lure? (Editor's note: This writing is bore-and-snore). That's right, folks, the new Penn State offense will apparently be a marriage of the new-school spread and the old-school wishbone. Expect to see receivers motioning to the backfield before the snap, both quarterback-halfback and quarterback-receiver options, and a passing attack more akin to an NFL style scheme. The idea, essentially, is to get Penn State's playmakers, such as Derrick Williams, into mismatches against the opposing team's defense. They certainly have skill position talent; it will be interesting to see if this new scheme can create opportunities for their ballers to excel.

(Editor's note: The Phillies just cut a 7-1 deficit to 7-5 after 2-run HR's by Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. Apparently, this article is good luck. Could be a long article.)

Lead us to the promised land, Daryll Clark

Joe Paterno has announced that Daryll Clark will be the starter against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (Editor's note: What in God's green earth is a Chanticleer? Who the hell fears a Chanticleer?). Doesn't mean we won't see Pat Devlin at some point this season, or even that both won't occasionally share the field; remember, Clark is a good runner. It seems, though, that Clark's ability to threaten the defense with both his arm and his legs is a slightly better fit for the new "Spread HD."

We know the receivers got game, but who are the RB's?

They would be Evan Royster and Stephfon Green. Royster had a solid campaign his freshman year, and just might be the surprise star of Penn State's season. All indications are that he is a very solid starter and should be productive. Then, there's Mr. Green, he of the 4.25 forty. Call him High Times, 'cause he's blazin' (Editor's note: Yo homie, The Pundit be working maaaaad street cred right there). He looks as though he'll be threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Just watch the video here (click on the video to the right of the page), and try not to giggle too loud (Editor's note: Lucy, could you get the Pundit some new drawers? Yeah, he's watching Stephfon Green highlights again...)

Now don't get defensive, but...

...the Penn State defense may not be quite as solid as in year's past. The suspensions to Chris Baker and Phillip Taylor at DT will hurt a unit that wasn't really stellar last year to begin with, and recently lost Devon Still. Obviously, losing Justin King, Dan Connor and Sean Lee will hurt. Especially Connor and Lee, tackling machines who set an aggressive tone for the defense. Will A.J. Wallace step up and blanket the other team's number one wideout? Can the defensive ends, namely stud Maurice Evans, get enough of a rush to take some of the pressure off of a secondary with question marks? The Penn State offense, in a serious role reversal, may have to carry the defense this year. (Editor's note: The Pun loves role reversals - he's a real 21st century guy).

Should I stay or should I go now?

The Pundit highly doubts Joe Paterno is all that concerned with this question (Editor's note: Or The Clash, for that matter). But if Penn State falters, is it time for Joe to step down? Many question whether or not he's lost a bit of control over the program, especially given Penn State's recent player transgressions. And he has certainly loosened his reins on game planning; one has to wonder if he's become a figurehead, much like Florida State's Bobby Bowden. The Pundit, for one, thinks that Joe Paterno, the most important figure Penn State football has ever had, should be carted to the field each week on a golden throne. And I also think that Paterno should delegate - extensively - from that throne.

(Editor's note: Jimmy Rollins just hit an RBI single to close the gap to 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth. Keep up the rally writing, Pun.)

Oh, right. There are other teams to consider.

So, apparently Ohio State is good this year. Really good. The October 25th game, in Columbus, could be a match-up that determines the Big East champion. If, that is, Penn State can survive a late September / early October juggernaut of a schedule, that includes games against Illinois, Purdue (away), Wisconsin (away), and Michigan, the mystery of the Big Ten this year. Illinois still has QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn, and a better defense then some might think. Their running game, last year's strength, is this year's mystery, and may determine their fate. Wisconsin brings back 19 starters, and should run the ball effectively with P.J. Hill and solid RB depth. Oh, and Travis Beckum, their ridiculous All-American tight end, should only improve. Ohio State has my preseason pick for the Heisman, Beanie Wells, and enough talent to make Pete Carroll jealous. I firmly believe that these three teams should be the only three that threatens PSU this year, unless they underachieve, which they are fully capable of doing.

(Editor's note: Eric Bruntlett just tied the game with a two-out, bottom of the 9th double. Carlos Ruiz steps to the plate, with the chance of making this, as The Pundit is calling it, The Official Rally Post. Ohhhhh baby, this is getting good).

So what's gonna happen, Pundit?

State should coast against Coastal Carolina (Editor's note: Ugggghhhh). Don't give a dam about Oregon State, we've got a few more bullets in our holster. Syracuse? Oh brother. Temple? Well, um, you know they'll come out swinging. (Editor's note: Paging Mr. Reid). Then its Illinois, a game that I am scared of. Juice Williams is the type of player who can beat a team all on his lonesome; he did it last year to Ohio State. And if Illinois beats Missouri in their opener, they will have a lot of confidence coming into their meeting with Penn State. That being said, Beaver Stadium can quickly shake any team's confidence. Plus, I don't believe Illinois will beat Missouri - they have a lot to prove this year. Penn State in a scorefest. (Editor's note: I could use more "scorefests" in my life) Purdue won't be easy, but they should survive them. Wisconsin is a tough call. I think they'll run the ball on Penn State, control the clock, and keep the ball out of the hands of the Penn State offense. Much as it pains me to say it, I think they'll beat State in a hard-fought redemption game. (Editor's note: Blasphemy!) Then, a huge test against Michigan. Wait, Michigan? That's right, for a slew of reasons. For one, how will Penn State respond to their first loss? Will they be looking ahead to Ohio State? Not to mention that Michigan still has talent, and won't roll over. This will be the character game of Penn State's season, and I think they will respond, winning with a strong defensive performance after their disappointing showing against Wisconsin. Then, to Ohio State. I don't think PSU can beat them in their house, unless something crazy happens. Too much talent for the damn Buckeyes, and just enough questions for Penn State. I'm afraid that, with the conference championship out of reach after losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State, they'll lose focus and drop their game against Iowa. I don't think, in any other circumstance, that this team could lose to Iowa, but in this case, with the Chip basically out of reach, they come out flat in a heart breaker for Penn State fans. They'll regain their focus and win their last two, getting into a bowl, but their season will end with the bittersweet aftertaste of "what might have been". Fact is, I feel as though this team is just a few key components away from claiming the Big Ten, and if they avoid Michigan and Iowa letdowns, could deliver a stellar showing. Should be an exciting and intriguing season in Happy Valley.

(Editor's note: So, despite the fact that The Pundit is devoid of new content, and wanted this post to be finished hours ago, he refuses to finish it until the Phillies game is over for fear of ending its previous luck. He is steadfastly holding to the notion that if the Phillies win, this will become their Official 2008 Rally Post. Despite the fact that it is about Penn State Football. So, he continues to edit and add links and slightly modify filler sentences. Aaargghhh. Top of the 12th. Let's go, boys!)

(Editor's note: Top of the 13th. The Pundit refueses to end the post and watch the game. He hasn't eaten in about 9 hours. He just exclaimed his love for swivel chairs. He'll only turn around after hearing what is happening - he refuses to simply watch the game. He's friggin' batty, if you ask me. This is the classic case of a ridiculous fan thinking that they can somehow influence the result of a game by performing a rite of superstition. Holy shit, T-Mac just made a Penn State reference on the broadcast - something about Wheels' notebook. It's a sign, people. Go Phils!)

(Editor's note: THE PHILLIES WIN!!! WHAT A GAME!!! They finally cap their magical comeback on a one out, bases load hit to center field by Chris Coste. A strange finish to the game. Shane Victorino started the inning with a triple. The Mets proceeded to intentionally walk the next two Phillies because the Phillies were out of bench players and had to send Brett Myers up to the plate. Charlie Manuel specifically instructed Myers not to swing so that he wouldn't potentially hit into a double play. Myers was rung up, and the Coste shot would have likely been caught had Myers hit into a double play. As it was, Beltran was playing in and wouldn't have had a play at the plate even had he been able to catch it. A crazy game with multiple moments of strange baseball strategy. Plus, hoping to avoid watching the game, The Pundit stumbled upon this article. Look where this schmuck predicts Penn State to finish! So, The Pundit can finally end his Penn State Preview. And, apparently, the Official 2008 Rally Post. He's mumbling something about how this better be a great omen for PSU this year. Lucy, peel him out of the swivel chair, its time to go home.)