As it stands, I have read 25 books so far this year. Most recently, I have finished of It’s Like This, Cat (a great book, by the way), by Emily Neville, so I am now turning my attentions to T. H. White’s Arthurian Cycle, The Once and Future King. As for the Books I have Tried And… section, you can chalk up Umberto Eco’s The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana as a very unsatisfying and academic read that is too culturally situated to be of any enjoyment for this very un-Italian boy.

So, what are you all reading out there? Any gooders? I must say, I was glad to get a little tip of the hat by Jeff with his most recent read (per his blog, anyway)! I probably wouldn’t have read that book but for the line “post-apocalyptic” in someone’s review. That’s about all I needed. And yes, Jeff, I liked it very much as well.

Catch you all on the flip side.

But we’ll do that later. It’s late.

Talk to you all again soon

(Also, check out  Shelley’s blog for a great little video we made to announce the news!)

Any suggestions as to where I could turn?  I have picked up Hays’ Moral Vision of the New Testament and dabbled in some of Hauerwas’ stuff (but he’s written so much I don’t know where to begin), but other than turning to some introductory texts, I am at a loss as to where to turn.

The Brothers K, by David James Duncan

Naming the Silences: God, Medicine, and the Problem of Suffering, by Stanley Hauerwas

The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, ed. by Michael W. Holmes

Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design, by R. Alan Culpepper

The Language and Imagery of the Bible, G. B. Caird

Tolkien: Man and Myth, by Joseph Pearce

New Testament Greek: A Beginning and Intermediate Grammar, by James Allan Hewett

Put Me in the Zoo, by Robert Lopshire

Bears on Wheels, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Mr. Brown can Moo! Can you? by Dr. Seuss

For reals everyone, this years book sale had loads of good stuff, some of which I already had, some of which other got to first. I could not believe some of the stuff people were selling, and for what price they were selling them for. Apparently, there was quite the Hauerwas cache, but I only managed the one mentioned above. It was a dollar and, heck, I’d buy a poke in the eye for a dollar!

Also, I’ll be posting links to those fights from this Saturday’s UFC 82 that are worth watching on Sunday, should you care to check them out.

I know, I know – why do I even bother. Hey, I like MMA.  If I don’t convert you, who else do I have to talk to? Regent is a vacuum re the MMA scene!

Now, the word ‘well rounded MMA fighter’ is used FAR to loosely in the fight game. MMA has only achieved its present status in the last few years and it will be a few more yet before we see many truly well rounded fighters (versed in wrestling, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and boxing). Those who can be called truly well rounded are presently few and far between, but among their number, Anderson Silva is sure to be found. He is an incredibly precise striker, a black belt jiu-jitsu practitioner under the Nogueira brothers, and deceptively strong in the clinch. However, to be appropriately critical, his take down defense shows some holes and he has never faced anyone who is also strong in the clinch. Enter Dan Henderson. Granted, Henderson may not be as well rounded as Silva, but he is a two time olympian, competing in greco-roman wrestling in the ’92 and ’96 Olympics for the USA, and his strength in the clinch will be a major factor in this fight, as will be his strong take downs. Furthermore, Silva, while maintaining a very active guard, has allowed opponents to slip to side control fairly easily. This weakness coupled with Henderson’s abilities as a wrestler poses a serious threat. I would love for Silva to win this – and if he should tear through Henderson as he did the rest, I really don’t see anybody in the middleweight division being able to beat him for a while, there would really be no one left – however, I can’t help but feel that Henderson’s wrestling specialization (aided by none to shabby striking) will be enough to exploit what few weaknesses their are in Silva’s game. Not that any wrestler would pose this problem for Silva, but Henderson is so incredibly strong in the clinch and controlling on the ground that I think if he brings the contest to close quarters, Silva will have a real problem on his hands. If Silva is able to maintain some distance and keep a closed guard on the mat, there is no question in my mind that he will take it. Either way, this promises to be a good fight!

Other fights of note on the card:

Heath Herring vs Cheik Kongo – interesting b/c if Kongo wins, it means he may be considered for a title shot… where he would be absolutely destroyed by Antonio Nogueira. Right now, Kongo is a one trick pony (muay thai) who needs to learn jiu-jitsu.

Chris Leben vs Alessio Sakara - Can’t stand Leben, he is a bar room brawler who is a throw back to the style of fighting you saw in early UFC’s. Anderson Silva’s first fight in the UFC was with Leben and it was like watching a high school football team take on a team from the NFL. This fight will appeal to the guys who just like to watch a brawl, but don’t expect any skill or athleticism. You might as well go watch any old fight behind the gym at your local high school.

Evan Tanner vs Yushin Okami - Very interesting because it features the return of former middleweight champ Evan Tanner after a rough few years dealing with addictions. He faces a real test in Yushin Okami, however, who is easily a top 5 middleweight. I think either of these fighters could deserve a title shot if they come out on top.

Jon Fitch vs Chris Wilson – Jon Fitch is one of those rare, burgeoning well rounded mixed martial artist. He is a force to contend with and shows lots of promise as a serious threat to the welterweight belt. As for Wilson, the poor kid is getting thrown under the bus if you ask me.

Andrei Arlovski vs Jake O’Brian – Inexplicably slotted on the undercard, Arlovski is surely one of the top heavyweights out there and could give the champ, Nogueira, a real challenge. Arlovski has been off for a year however, and ring rust may play a factor. I still call Arlovski for the W.

Luke Cummo vs Luigi Fioravanti – I love watching Luke Cummo fight. Very entertaining. He’s not a contender, but his striking and jiu-jitsu pose a very real challenge to whoever he fights. Fioravanti is a well known striker, and arguably stronger than Cummo, but hopefully Cummo’s precision andground work will be enough.

Josh Koscheck vs Dustin Hazelett – With George St. Pierre, Koscheck is one of the most athletic people in the sport. He is a four time NCAA division I wrestling champ and a not too shabby striker. However, he has earned the nickname “the Blanket” because of his tendency to rely on what is called Lay’n'Pray, that is, controlling a grounded opponent from the top (laying) and hoping for a decision (praying). Hopefully after the beating he took from St. Pierre, he will up the ante on his aggression inside the ring.

Diego Sanchez vs David Bielkheden – Diego Sanchez is a wierd and exciting fighter who went 17-0 before losing his last 2 matches (to Fitch and Koscheck). Nevertheless, he is a very gifted athlete and also one of the few who is fairly well rounded. He can be a little tentative (as seen in his match with Koscheck) but, if he is able to bounce back from those recent loses with a tick in the W category here, I think he will continue his rise to be one of the contenders in the UFC’s stacked welterweight division.

All in all, while you can never guarantee exciting fights, I think most of the fights on this card will exhibit some very real talent. And in the end, people’s versions of exciting vary. Some thought the Henderson / Jackson fight was a snooze fest, while I thought that the striking and wrestling displayed by each was absolutely incredible. Perhaps this would be a better way of putting it: the discerning fan has a lot to look forward to on this card, and the talent alone makes UFC 82 worthwhile to take in.

Oh! Thank you for asking! In fact, I have a number of things on the go:

After a little hiatus from the Greek, I am back in the saddle with Plato’s Apology. I am working through it with my friend Jennifer Graves and Doris Evanson, my Advanced Greek instructor. If you haven’t heard of Doris Evanson, allow me to introduce you to a very amazing woman. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, the Advanced Greek students were met with an array of hot drinks – coffee, teas, hot chocolates, ciders, and the like – and some home-made treat. We had cakes, crumbles and cookies galore. And not just that, but also more pies, pastries and pumpkin squares than I have ever had in all my years put together. It was glorious. And, it seems, our little Greek reading group is being extended this same gratuity! Last Wednesday was the beginning of Socrate’s defence with… wait for it… blueberry cheesecake (with blueberries on top) and a cider. It’s this kind of positive reenforcement that guarantees my tenure in the Greek language!

Along with Greek, I am also working on my French. I am working through an introductory college textbook right now to brush off the cobwebs (and reveal gaping holes in my powers of recall) and will be turning to The Ultimate French Review and Practice, a book recommended by Bill in the bookstore and used by my good friend Chad to bone up on his skills. AND, just like I have Harry Potter in Attic Greek beckoning me as I get a hold of classical Greek, I have a collection of Isaac Asimov short stories in French to give my burgeoning control of the language a run for its money: Le robot qui rêvait (The Robot Who Dreamed). It feels so tantalizingly close!

On a slightly different note, I am working on a paper for THEO 500. I have been having trouble (to say the least) with papers for the last year and half, so I am starting this puppy ridiculously early. The topic is the marks of the church and, to be honest, I feel a little out of my depth. Thankfully, I have some friends who who can handle themselves in these waters. You know who you are… expect some questions!

Finally, I am on the hunt for work for this last semester and into the summer, so if you know anybody who needs a video game tester, drop me a line. My bro and I got an XBox 360 a little while back and the high school student in my cried out for release!

Hmm, three book related posts in a row, I’ll try something a little less bookish next time.

Promise.

Still on the list to pick up: Waldo & Magic, Inc; Farnham’s Freehold; and The Man who Sold the Moon.

So, if you find yourself in a used book store at a loss for what to look for, keep an eye out for these beauties!