The widespread appearance of frogs with deformed bodies has generated much press coverage over the past decade. Frogs with extra limbs or digits, missing limbs or digits, or misaligned appendages raise an alarming question: "Are deformed humans next?" Taking a fresh look at this disturbing environmental problem, this reference provides a balanced overview of the science behind the malformed frog phenomenon. Bringing together data from ecology, parasitology, and other disciplines, Michael Lannoo considers the possible causes of these deformities, tells which frogs have been affected, and addresses questions about what these malformations might mean to human populations. Featuring high-quality radiographic images, Malformed Frogs suggests that our focus should be on finding practical solutions, a key component of which will be controlling chemical, nutrient, and pesticide runoff into wetlands.
Identifying music as a vital site of cultural debate, Struggling to Define a Nation captures the dynamic, contested nature of musical life in the United States. In an engaging blend of music analysis and cultural critique, Charles Hiroshi Garrett examines a dazzling array of genres--including art music, jazz, popular song, ragtime, and Hawaiian music--and numerous well-known musicians, such as Charles Ives, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Irving Berlin. Garrett argues that rather than a single, unified vision, an exploration of the past century reveals a contested array of musical perspectives on the nation, each one advancing a different facet of American identity through sound.
In Them That Believe: The Power and Meaning of the Christian Serpent-Handling Tradition by Ralph W. Hood Jr. and W. Paul Williamson; the authors provide a comprehensive analysis into one of this country’s strangest religious traditions-serpent handling.
Although outlawed in many states, serpent handling remains an active religious practice--and one that is far more stereotyped than understood. Ralph W. Hood, Jr. and W. Paul Williamson have spent fifteen years touring serpent-handling churches in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, conducting scores of interviews with serpent handlers, and witnessing hundreds of serpent-handling services. In this illuminating book they present the most in-depth, comprehensive study of serpent handling to date. Them That Believe not only explores facets of this religious practice--including handling, preaching, and the near-death experiences of individuals who were bitten but survived--but also provides a rich analysis of this phenomenon from historical, social, religious, and psychological perspectives.
Books of miscellany are always interesting; and now author Eric Hanson has written one that would make a perfect birthday gift. The title is A Book of Ages: An Eccentric Miscellany of Great and Offbeat Moments in the Lives of the Famous and Infamous, Ages 1 to 100.
According to Hanson, “Age isn’t just a number-it’s a way of keeping score.” And his book collects “Eccentric Miscellany of Achievements, Misdeeds, Crossed Paths, Bypaths, Inventions, Scandals, Child Prodigies, Late Masterpieces, Marriages and Breakups, Feuds, Dead Ends, Second Chances, Adventures and Misadventures, Novels Written and Battles Won and Lost, All Organized by Year of Age”.
Here are some ways you can impact the campaign, locally and nationally. Please consider looking at your schedule now and making some more room for this vital work. Whether you register new voters, travel to Pennsylvania for a weekend, do regular phone banking, or dedicate yourself to the Get Out The Vote effort in the final two weeks, know that what you do in this short time will make a difference on November 4th.
Learn how to register new voters effectively and appropriately by contacting our Voter Registration Task Group Leader, Mona Perrotti at monap414@yahoo.com.
Farmer’s Markets http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/regioncentral.htm) are always great but think of events unique to your community. When you plan an event put it up on our website (www.mohawkvalleyforobama.com) as soon as possible to spread the news.
This is a priority for the campaign. Details are at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap/ You can either use the online Phone Banking tool from the comfort of your own home or join your local group in this important voter outreach work. Note that the time difference with the West Coast allows for late evening phone banking to the swing states of Nevada and New Mexico. Watch for Phone Banking Parties on our website. It’s fun and mutually supportive for a group of folks to get together and use their cell phones to make these important calls. Better yet, host your own Phone Bank Party and invite your friends to join in!
We have been asked to focus our energies almost entirely on Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) and will be spending much of our time in Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. A trip is scheduled in early October and more are likely.
Trip To Pennsylvania from Central NY October 4th and 5th
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/gpl4k3
Last weekend before PA voter registration deadline. Signing-up now helps us to coordinate transportation and bring down housing costs.
Sponsor a Trip to Help Bring Down Costs
The Obama for America campaign wants to let you know about the upcoming Camp Obama training session in Syracuse on September 27th and 28th. There has been an amazing response to the Camp Obama sessions held so far.
Supporters of all ages and backgrounds, some new to politics and some seasoned veterans, have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for the opportunity at Camp Obama to learn the basic organizing principles of this movement and relocate for extended periods to battleground states to become Deputy Field Organizers. There is still time to sign up. Learn more and apply for a Camp Obama session now at
If a Democrat represents you in the county legislature or at the city or town level, call to encourage them to get behind Senator Obama 100%.
Plans are now being made to ensure a huge turnout for Senator Obama on November 4th. If you will be able to call and remind people to vote or give a ride if needed, please sign up tonight or e-mail mohawkvalleyforobama@gmail.com with your address and voting place.
Thanks for your continued efforts!
Ray Bepko
Chair, Mohawk Valley For Obama
There will be public showings of the upcoming presidential debates at the Uptown Theater (2014 Genesee St, Utica) and at Mohawk Valley Community College.
The Uptown Theater Schedule and Information
Mohawk Valley Community College Schedule and Information
Sponsored by Mohawk Valley Community College in conjunction with Utica/Rome Metro League of Women Voters.
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