Kyo Rare

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In my experience, it's rare that a novel transcends words on an otherwise blank page and becomes art. Probability Angels by Joseph Devon is such a book. The story itself is brilliant, about Matthew Huntington, a probability angel in training, and his experiences at slowly and painfully breaking away from all the emotional links he once had with other living people. His conscious choices to make these breaks, especially from his wife and daughter, are heartrending. The insights the author has into human nature reminded me somewhat of the works of C.S. Lewis, as profound but more down-to-earth and profane at times. It's a novel that I believe rises easily to the level of some of the best classics of literature ever written. This is no hyperbole on my part; and, on top of everything else, it's a self published book. I wish it the success (except more so) of another famous self published book, Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass."

Much of the first part of the novel focuses on the probability angel Epp (Epictetus) and his latest trainee, a Matthew Huntington. The trainees or newbies are called "testers," and, at first blush, seem more like devils, in that their job is to test people and push them to their limits, to see if the people will make the moral choice or succumb to temptation. But, the only way for people to grow is to be faced with tough choices, and to chose not always what might be the most comfortable or expedient choice. Sometimes the choices that cause us the most pain are the better ones in the long run.

Don't get the idea that Probability Angels is preachy, though, or that the author is stuffy or always tries to take the moral high ground. Rather, there are some very humorous parts in the book, the characters - including the angels - often use swear words, and sometimes drink beer - and, for everyone out there who loves 'em a good book about zombies, there are zombies aplenty in Probability Angels.

Some angels who believe that Epp, the Greek ex-slave probability angel whose life ended before Christ's began, has been a powerful force long enough, and that he and his supporters should be overthrown. They lure other probability angels to graveyards, subdue them, and feed them to zombies, who - in turn - become stronger, heal most of their defects and deformities, and become ruthless stalkers of probability angels while masquerading as them. Epp, Matthew, Kyo (a Japanese Ronin), and other probability angels need to find a way to stop the opposition -led by the probability angel Gregor (who "pushed" Bram Stoker to write Dracula, and who resembles Stoker's description of Dracula) and his followers, like Hector and Nyx, from destroying them.

It's true that zombies have not traditionally been a subject of works of highbrow literature, but with the popularity of books like Pride & Prejudice and Zombies, the entertaining tongue-in- cheek retelling of one of Jane Austen's most famous novels, who knows what might be next - perhaps Moby Dick and the Great White Zombie, or Zorba the Zombie, or a remake of the Dr. Seuss childrens' classic, Green Eggs, Ham, & Zombies.

Joseph Devon has invested a lot of time, philosophical thinking, and effort into this book, and it shows. I would say he has put some of his soul into writing Probability Angels, and that it transcends the printed page and, at its best, enters into the world of Art, like the best paintings and sculptures do. Besides the humorous moments, and the tendency of Epp and the other probability angels of calling humans "meat bags," there are ones of intense sadness, like when Matthew is faced with the choice between life for himself, or life for his pregnant wife, and he chooses life for his wife.

Another example is when he is given the choice of following his daughter around as an angel, being with her without her ever knowing it, not being able to help when she might need it, or to cut all ties with her and his wife and to push other people to greatness, like Shakespeare was pushed, as Epp tells him: "The upside is that you can be greatness itself. You could be Shakespeare's broken heart, Beethoven's deaf ears, Van Gogh's madness. You could be Kellar's scarlet fever, Roebling's crushed left foot, the color of Dr. King's skin. You could be the entry for light to pass into the soul. You could be the reason the everything worth doing on this rock ever gets done."

Reading writing as good as this made me feel, as I was reading, that if probability angels actually exist, one of them must have pushed and touched Joseph Devon's soul, as well. He is one of the most talented and interesting authors around, and deserves to gain a larger reading audience for his work. I would highly recommend Probability Angels to everyone.

--Douglas R. Cobb--

Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb for http://www.bestsellersworld.com

Aikido Dojos

Aikido is the modern Japanese martial art developed between the 1920 to 1960 by Morihei Ueshiba who was said to have been influenced by Omoto-kyo. It is the pacifist nature of Omoto-kyo that is said to be the fundamental principle of this "art of peace" martial art form.

This particular martial art espouses relaxation and peace to be able to execute the Aikido techniques and moves properly. Through authentic Aikido training, the practitioner is expected to develop spiritually and philosophically and this should reflect in their ability to employ Aikido martial art techniques in an Aikido dojo.

Dojo is the Japanese term for a formal training structure for martial arts. A truly authentic and traditional Aikido dojo is used only as a place for formal and symbolic gatherings, and is rarely used a place to actually train. The actual Aikido training from a traditional dojo is done outdoors in a less formal setting.

A modern day Aikido dojo however loses most of its formality. Most of the time, there is no distinction from an Aikido dojo to the actual place of training and practice. In fact, in most cases, the two are one and the same.

Some of the modern Aikido dojo that are run by small groups of individuals who want to remain authentic to the spirit of the traditional dojo, students conduct a cleaning ritual after each training session. This is done not just for hygienic purposes but it is done also to reinforce that the dojo is made up and run by the Aikido students rather than the institutions that put them up.

Most traditional dojo observes a set pattern of precise entrances that need to be adhered to by the students depending on their rank. Students will commonly enter the dojo from the lower left corner while instructors will enter from the upper right corner. The traditional dojo also contain certain artifacts and objects to enhance the formal gatherings. For instance, a traditional dojo may have a place for a Shinto shrine and a spectator area for special visitors.

These traditional practices however may only be found in Japan in a few remaining Aikido dojo. Today, to learn and be a student of Aikido, one must find an Aikido dojo conveniently near you to be able to attend practice regularly.

More than the actual structure of the Aikido dojo however, you must choose the right one to attend to be able to suite your needs. It is also probably important to note and find out whether the Aikido dojo you are planning to attend remains true to the authentic teachings of Aikido, which lies in the principle of peace and relaxation to enable to ki to flow.

Aikido is a martial art form that paradoxically promotes a peaceful end to aggression through various Aikido techniques. It might be prudent to find an Aikido dojo that will continue to uphold its spirituality and philosophy. A relaxed demeanor is key to being able to perform advance Aikido techniques.

The relaxed manner is not something one can build through exercise like muscles. It is something that must be cultivated from within and maintained without. For this purpose, it would probably be good to keep the Aikido spirit in mind when find an Aikido dojo to join and learn Aikido martial arts from.

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Information on reblooming lilac can be found at the Gardening Central site.

Dir en Grey fans....?

I have never been so mad in my whole life this website called Kyo and I quote a "a 12-year old bulimic dwarf with Tourette's Syndrome and a rare fatal brain disease" That's just mean how do you feel about this? I mean seriously they called him a dwarf!!

GRRRR! How dare they? @&(&#($^@#@^%*!&#^@*&@#^$*!
Kyo is the greatest! They are probably jealous of his talent.

'Silent Bob' to speak, And people want to listen
"Silent Bob" is coming to Columbus, and tickets are selling fast. Writer and director Kevin Smith - whose (mostly) mute alter ego appeared in films such as Chasing Amy , Clerks and, of course, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - will visit Studio 35 on Tuesday for a pair of "Smodcast" recordings with longtime producing partner Scott Mosier (the above films, plus Mallrats , Dogma , Jersey Girl ...

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