If you need help finding the top holiday gifts that will be cherished by the man or men in your life, here are some suggestions on the top 10 best Christmas gifts for 2011 for the men on your Christmas list. These gift ideas are suitable for any budget.

Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts For 2011

1. Golf Club Drink Dispenser

One of the best Christmas gifts for 2011 for men who enjoy golfing is this drink dispenser that looks just like a golf club and can serve both cold and hot drinks. It is a wonderful gift for him that will also be a great item of conversation.

2. Pro-Chip Pool Island Golf Game

Another of the top 10 best Christmas gifts for 2011 for the man who enjoys golfing is this Pro-Chip Pool Island Golf Game that will enable him to practice his shots and become better at his golf game. It can be used both in a pool and on dry land and is certainly a gift he will enjoy having.

3. Invicta Men’s 0777 Subaqua Collection GMT Limited Edition Watch

Men love their watches and this one from Invicta will make the perfect gift in addition to being very reasonably priced.

4. Ipod Touch 4rd Generation 32 GB (newest model)

This latest version comes in both black and white and will be a great gift to get for him for Christmas. This large round unidirectional stainless steel bezel watch from Invicta has many amazing features that are sure to delight him making this one of the top Christmas gifts for 2011 for him. This watch is a must have for his watch collection.

5. Men’s Air Force A-2 Flight Leather Bomber Jacket

Leather jackets are always a must have at Christmas and this particular one features the softest nappa leather. The construction of this leather jacket strictly adheres to the same standards followed for the authentic A-2 military version which makes this one of the best Christmas gifts for 2011 for him.

6. Roku HD Streaming Player

This Roku streaming player will easily stream all programming available over the internet directly to his TV from a multitude of sources which makes this one of the top holiday gifts for 2011 for him.

7. Koolatron Retro 10-Can-Capacity Vending Fridge

Another of the top 10 best Christmas gifts for 2011 for men is this retro vending Fridge which amongst its many features can comfortably hold ten soda cans and will be perfect for an office or “mancave”.

8. Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

For the man who is into fitness or would like to start a fitness program, this heart rate monitor will be perfect for him to ensure that his efforts are not only effective but also safe which makes this one of the top Christmas gifts for 2011 for him.

9. Pac Man Arcade Machine

For the man who is young at heart and loves his toys, this Pac Man arcade machine will take him back to his younger days.

10. Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones

Although there are many pretenders on the market, the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are the original and the best for ensuring superior sound quality which makes them one of the best Christmas gifts for 2011.

Dr Dre Hd Picture

Dr Dre Hd Photo

Dr Dre Hd Picture

Dr Dre Hd Image

So all your husband do all day is fiddle on his cell phone. You are probably itching to know whom he is texting and what messages he is sending and receiving. You probably want to know the answer to the question, how to read my husband’s text messages.

You can snatch the phone from his hands but that would mean a really bad domestic war. You can sneak up on his cell phone when he is not around but what if he carries his cell phone even when he goes to the bathroom. Surely, you cannot give up now. Your female intuition is telling you something and you have to act on it.

If how to read my husband’s text messages is a question that is haunting you, then what you should do is get a software that would let you monitor your husbands activities on his cell phone without him knowing about it. These programs will let you know whom your husband is texting and what kinds of messages he is sending and receiving. Don’t worry about your husband knowing about your spying because these softwares are completely undetectable. When you finally have the evidence to confront your husband with, he will be very very surprised.

I know many women are asking how to read my husband’s text messages. You can either do it the hard way or the easy way, the risky way or the safe way. It is your choice. But why make things inconvenient for you when you can have technology on your side.

You need to find out the truth!

Husband Texting Picture

Husband Texting Photo

Husband Texting Photo

Husband Texting Image

Do you drag yourself through the day feeling drained and exhausted? Yes, we’re talking about lethargy, that heavy-lidded feeling that threatens to overpower you in the afternoon; that I-don’t-feel-like-working mood when you have a pile of reports to file. So what is it that’s making you want to curl up in bed? Lack of energy could stem from emotional stress, boredom, lack of sleep, and sometimes an upset hormonal cycle. It could also be due to a disruption in melatonin production.

What is melatonin, you ask? Melatonin is a hormone that helps travelers to sleep when they fly across different time zones. It is secreted by the pineal gland and is responsible for inducing sleep at night and governing the lowering of your core body temperature. The pineal gland slows its production of melatonin during daylight hours to keep your alert and increases its production when darkness falls. Melatonin starts to increase at about 9pm and peaks at around 2am. Any disruption to this cycle can affect sleep causing tiredness.

It is normal to feel a lack of energy, or be tired or drowsy sometimes. But if you’re tired even though you are sleeping more, exercising, eating better, and managing stress, you should consult a doctor. If you wake up in the morning rested but rapidly develop fatigue with activity, you may have a ongoing physical condition like an under-active thyroid. On the other hand, if you wake up with a low level of energy and have fatigue that lasts through the day, you may be depressed.

There are a few different types of energy and tiredness. There’s tense tiredness, tense energy, calm tiredness and calm energy. Tense energy is when you are revved up and doing lots of work but you’re not necessarily at your best. Calm tiredness is fatigue without stress, which can actually be pleasant at times such as before bedtime. The optimum is calm energy, or what people call “flow” or “being in the zone”. It is energy without tension, and is a sought-after state because you’re productive and completely focused.

The one to watch out for is tense tiredness. Your mood is low, you’re stressed, and you want something that will comfort you. Your mood is low, you’re stressed, and you want something that will comfort you. For many of us, that translates into chocolate, potato chi[s, and biscuits. It’s a vicious cycle. Your body has no oomph when you top it up with cheap fuel. In fact, you feel more tired and frustrated, and snack even more to feel better.

Let go of the calorie-rich, energy-poor binging for these guilt-free-pick-me-ups:

Exercise:

People who rely on candy bars rather than exercise feel more tense 60 minutes later while 10 minutes of brisk walking raised energy levels for one to two hours. Exercising regularly can increase your energy capacity. Do it three times a week for at least 15 minutes per session. You should be reasonably breathless during the workout for an indication that you’re exercising enough.

Naps:

If you stay up past midnight and wake yo as early as 7am, you’re not getting the minimum requisite of eight hours of sleep. Entire nations are suffering an energy slump as some people cram more and more things into their schedule. Our whole society has been speeding up – we’re working more and sleeping less, and that ends up making us eat more and exercising less. The panacea is, without a doubt, more sleep. The trick is knowing how much to nap and a half-hour nap may help. Your brain needs 10-15 minutes to drift into the sleep phase. Anything shorter won’t help and may leave you feeling worse. Why do we need sleep? The easiest way to understand why we sleep is to look at what happens when we don’t.

Sleep deprivation experiments have shown that after 14 days without sleep, rats will keel over and die. Three days of no shut-eye sees humans confused forgetful and hallucinatory. Sleep is vital because it helps our body to recover.

Music:

Listening to something you enjoy can raise energy level and reduce stress. But it is important to keep the volume down so it won’t be distracting. A low, background level is conducive.

Environment:

Your office could be sapping you of energy. Sick office syndrome can cause lethargy. Factors such as poor ventilation, lighting, and temperature (the ideal range is 20 to 23degrees Celsius) all play a part. Glare from the computer monitor can cause you feel drowsy. To energize your workstation, adjust the position of your monitor to reduce glare. Another option is a desk lamp to get rid of shadows being cast by lights not positioned directly above you.

Vitamins:

The right vitamins may help. Depression and fatigue can result from the body’s depletion of B vitamins, which can occur from stress or drinking too many caffeinated beverages. Other vitamins like C and E, help prevent fatigue by bolstering your immune system. Zinc is another energy booster which works by improving muscle strength and endurance.

Diet:

Why the perpetual drowsiness? This has got to do with what you eat. Our food are deficient in nutrient content. Due to modern farming practices, it is almost impossible to receive all the nutrients we need from our food and water supply because of pollution and contamination. While vitamins can reverse some of the damage, eating the right foods is very important. Here are some recommended energy boosters:

Concord grape juice (152 calories, 0g fat per cup): Enhances memory and problem solving skills by increasing dopamine in the brain. High in protective antioxidants.

Soy milk (127 calories, 5g fat per cup): Speeds learning ability and boosts memory (but mostly for women… ladies, take note!) most likely due to the phyto-oestrogen it contains.

Raisins (78 calories, 0g fat is 50 raisins): Contain boron, which may sharpen memory, and inrease mental alertness and reaction time.

Spinach (41 calories, 0.5g fat per up cooked): Loaded with lutein and other antioxidants that protect brain cells.

Blueberries (83 calories, 0g fat per cup): May increase brain-cell production in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that regulates memory.

It Feels So Good Picture

It Feels So Good Pic

It Feels So Good Pic

It Feels So Good Photo

Not My Daddy Feat Stokely Of Mint Picture

Not My Daddy Feat Stokely Of Mint Picture

Not My Daddy Feat Stokely Of Mint Picture

Not My Daddy Feat Stokely Of Mint Picture

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Not Her Kelly
By Michael Kerner
It has been a long while since Kelly Price came out with new music. After losing her mom to cancer a few years ago, many of her fans had wondered would she ever come back and sing her heart out. Well it took a long while for her album Kelly to come around, and her song Not My Daddy with Stokely isn’t a bad duet. The song is fair-weathered and noble, yet a feeling though that Kelly did lose a bit of her voice at times. Yet, the chemistry she shows is good with Stokely of Mint Condition fame. She has had some solid collaborations in her past like Heartbreak Hotel with Whitney Houston & Faith Evans, but this could’ve been a better one for a more solid return. Hopefully, if Kelly has a better duet soon, I’ll definitely be one of the first to hear it.

Song: C+

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The people of Venezuela boast of a history and culture that is rich in folk music. The national musical instrument of Venezuela is the “cuatro.” Ilanero is a typical Venezuelan music. It originated in the plains or ‘ilanos’ of the country and was made popular by many musical artists, including Juan Vicente Torrealba and Ignacio Figueredo. However, most of its popular music has been eclipsed by the music of its neighboring countries, especially Brazil, Trinidad, and Colombia. Merengue, salsa, and other imported styles are also quite popular in the country.

Simón Díaz and Reynaldo Armas are popular llanera folk singers from Venezuela. However, purists and the younger generation of Venezuelans are not very appreciative of this music. Neo-folklore is a form of music that takes traditional music and organizes it in an electronic style, to be played on electronic instruments.

Gaita is the name of another popular music of this country. It has its origin in the el Zulia region. It is played much fervor during the Christmas season and is even considered a national representation of the festivity.

There are several fusion artist groups such as Un Solo Pueblo, Huracán del Fuego, and Grupo Madera, who have combined Latin American music such as jazz, rumba, and salsa. Aldemaro Romero is a well-known creative Venezuelan composer of Caribbean jazz, Venezuelan waltzes, and other symphonic works. Vicente Emilio Sojo is renowned in the country and internationally for his contributions to Venezuelan musicology and music education.

Venezuelan calypso music, which has its own characteristic rhythms and lyrical style, has its roots in Trinidad. Argentinean rock groups have had a strong influence on Venezuelan rock. Cuban-American salsa music is also another variety of imported music that has achieved popularity. Rock music is also very popular. Several groups such as Desorden Público, Caramelos de Cianuro, and Los Amigos Invisibles have made their presence felt on the scene.

Country Strong More Music From The Motion Pic

Country Strong More Music From The Motion Photo

Country Strong More Music From The Motion Picture

Country Strong More Music From The Motion Image

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48 of 50 people found the following review helpful.
The Rise of Hedlund & Paltrow
By A
This review is for both the standard edition of “Country Strong”, and the additional music album “Country Strong : More Music from the Motion Picture”

Casting Gwyneth Paltrow as the lead in “Country Strong” may or may not have been a good idea, but she sounds spectacular on record. Most of you must have heard her lead vocals on “Cruisin’” and her lesser-known cover of “Bette Davis Eyes”, but as a full-fledged country singer on this album, she really brings it. While I’m certain that country music audiences perhaps won’t take too well to her (its hard to imagine someone so prim and proper singing about dusty backtown roads & whiskey, after all), Gwyneth achieved some airplay with her title track from this CD, and even though it stalled at No. 30 on the Country Songs chart, the album as a whole has been a consistent seller (someone compared it to the “Hope Floats” soundtrack, and that is a VERY reasonable comparison).

This review is for both CDs of “Country Strong”. The first is the standard release thats available in stores, and the second is the download-only “More Music” album, which ironically contains some of the better cuts. I don’t believe that one album can be chosen over the other, as they are both good (and very different) from one another. Still, it gives us a major recording star, a revelation in fact, in Garrett Hedlund, who sounds very close to Ryan Bingham here. The second album is packed with Hedlund tracks and thats a good thing.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s songs here are often the highlights – some of them are rather iffy, such as the very un-country “Coming Home”, but when she gets it right, she soars. Consider the albums best track – “Me and Tennessee”, a duet with Tim McGraw that works on every possible level. Excellent production, songwriting, and Paltrow’s vocals are much better than many contemporary country vocalists. Theres a richness there that cant be denied. Granted shes no Miranda Lambert, but I would rate her vocals ahead of Carrie Underwood (whos screeching sometimes borders on annoying) and Taylor Swift (who basically just talks over some instruments). Her “Travis” is exceptional – a rough musical number that is interspersed with dialog from the film, and its a surprising standout even in such demo condition. She has less luck with the overwrought “A Fighter”, which seems to try too hard, but even here, you cannot deny her command over her vocal instrument.

However, the vocal standouts come on the second album. Garrett’s inspired cover of “Silver Wings” is breathtaking. Its a perfect “cruising down the interstate” song, and one that sounds remarkably deep on a good sound system. Thats the other thing about this album – all the songs, save for “Travis”, are mastered so well – even better than most current country albums; certainly light years ahead of even “Speak Now” by Taylor Swift or the last Lady Antebellum CD. I dont know why exactly this is, but its obviously a good thing.

Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf in “Gossip Girl” is a little out of her element here despite the fact that in real life she is actually a recording star (how on earth that happened one never knows). Pitifully, she is given rather insipid material to work with here, and they are often bookended by such good songs that you end up skipping her tracks entirely. On the first album, she sings “Words I couldn’t say” with an affected southern accent that is rather grating. At least Paltrow gets the twang right (on her singing voice). Meester cant do that. Things get better for her on the second album where she gets one of the best songs – “Summer Girl”. This sounds like a remnant of the 1990s all spruced up (which it is), but Meester does her best Colbie Caillat imitation here, and it works to some degree. At least its listenable. I much prefer her tracks with Hedlund, especially on “Give in to me”.

Elsewhere on the first album, there are some great songs by Faith Hill (a good return to form), Sara Evans (who sounds so much lighter and refreshing on “A Little Bit Stronger” – also her lead single from her 2011 album – than she ever has), and Lee Ann Womack (who according to me is one of the last remaining true country singers). And of course, any compilation has to have a Hank Williams Jr song, so thats here as well. The second album has a plethora of Garrett Hedlund tracks, and in fact at times it feels as an advertisement for perhaps his solo country album, but the fact remains that all of these songs are SO good, and so timeless, that its impossible to find fault with them in any way at all.

Even a ‘filler’ track sung by songwriter Nikki Williams called “Fly Again” sounds like a radio-friendly country single – so high are the quality of the songs here. Even if you didn’t see the movie, “Country Strong” CD1&2 are superb examples of how to create a compilation country album or soundtrack. It has all the elements for repeat playing, the engineering and sound quality are so good that you just have to buy the physical CD (Im an old-school sorta person), and the genre of country here is real country music, not that pop-rock stuff that often passes for country music these days. Just turn the lights down, get yourself a glass of somethin cold and turn on “Me and Tennessee” and tell me I’m wrong. Virtually flawless on some levels.

Five Stars. Finally a country album worth paying full retail for.

Tracklisting:

1. “Country Strong” – Gwyneth Paltrow 4:15
2. “Love Don’t Let Me Down” – Chris Young and Patty Loveless 2:57
3. “A Little Bit Stronger” – Sara Evans 5:03
4. “Chances Are” – Garrett Hedlund 3:25
5. “Liars Lie” – Lee Ann Womack 5:19
6. “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles)” – Ronnie Dunn 3:28
7. “Shake That Thing” – Gwyneth Paltrow 3:54
8. “Thirsty” – Hank Williams, Jr. 3:12
9. “Give In to Me” – Faith Hill 4:11
10. “Timing Is Everything” – Trace Adkins 3:28
11. “Words I Couldn’t Say” – Leighton Meester 4:26
12. “Coming Home” – Gwyneth Paltrow 4:13
13. “Me and Tennessee” – Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw 4:43

Country Strong (More Music from the Motion Picture)

1. “Silver Wings” – Garrett Hedlund 3:21
2. “A Little Bit Stronger” – Leighton Meester 5:17
3. “A Fighter” – Gwyneth Paltrow 4:33
4. “Hard Out Here” – Garrett Hedlund 3:09
5. “Summer Girl” – Leighton Meester 3:22
6. “Keep Me Hangin’ On” – Jypsi 3:36
7. “Take Me Away” – Hayes Carll 4:12
8. “Kissin’ In Cars” – Jesse Lee 3:30
9. “Turn Loose the Horses” – Garrett Hedlund 3:05
10. “Travis” – Gwyneth Paltrow 4:49
11. “Fly Again” – Nikki Williams 3:55
12. “Give In to Me” – Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester 3:29
13. “Hide Me Babe” Garrett Hedlund 3:08
14. “Timing Is Everything” Garrett Hedlund 3:24

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
This is the soundtrack for “Country Strong” – it’s awesome!
By Andrea M. Meyer
I purchased the first soundtrack and although yeah, it was good overall I was bummed because I knew there were SO many good songs from the movie that weren’t on there. When I saw this came out, I was so excited and I’m happy to say, if you liked the movie and the music-this is the one to get. I am a huge fan of Garrett Hedlund’s voice and I love every song he sings on this album. I think he’s remarkably talented. The other songs are good too. I can tell I’m going to be listening to this over and over again!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
the guy from tron
By Mark
Garrett hedlund is the real star here. His voice is perfect for these “I’ve lived a life of a million heartbreaks on a dusty road” songs. I have his songs on repeat since this soundtrack first came out. He really should record a country album on his own.

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Ikes Digital

This digital document is an article from Mississippi Business Journal, published by Venture Publications on August 8, 2005. The length of the article is 780 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Trotter inherited entrepreneurial spirit and passion for insurance from father.(Ike Trotter of Ike Trotter Agency)
Author: Lynne Jeter
Publication: Mississippi Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 8, 2005
Publisher: Venture Publications
Volume: 27 Issue: 32 Page: 25(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Being an insurance agent, you have to make sure your diary is filled with appointments. There are occasions you may run out of insurance prospects. When you have no more referrals or existing customers to see, cold calling is the best way to get new customers.

Although cold calling has very low success rate, by adjusting your cold calling approach and techniques, you can increase your chance of securing an appointment. The following are the 5 essentials of cold calling:

(a) Voice quality

Everything about your voice tells your prospects something about you. The way you talk, the speed, the tone in your voice etc tell your prospects what kind of person you are. They will decide based on your voice quality if they want to continue talking to you.

You can improve voice quality and inject confidence in your voice by speaking a little bit faster, a little bit louder and a little bit firmer. Though it is not visible to your prospect, your smile helps you stay composed. A good posture also helps to enhance voice quality.

(b) Script

A script is important to ensure you organize your thoughts before you call. It helps you avoid common mistakes in cold calling. You don’t want to give your prospects a chance to terminate your call.

Your script should include a greeting and an introduction. Identify yourself and your company. Give the reason for your call i.e. to get an appointment. Give an opportunity for the prospect to respond. Set the appointment.

Be prepared for common objections. People may say “no” to you or give a response. You must be able to manage them promptly. You may find the script on handling objection handy when facing challenging situations.

Gatekeepers may be your allies. Have a different script when dealing with the gatekeeper. Develop strategies to get the gatekeeper on your side. Ask for help and you may get the information you need.

Once a script is ready, hear how it sounds. Call your own phone number and leave a message on your own voicemail. You may discover how you talk is different from how you write. Make changes and try again.

Once your new script is ready, don’t call your best prospects first. There may be glitches to overcome. You may ruin your sales opportunity with your best prospects. Practice with your associates or other prospects.

(c) Target

Focus on the goal when cold calling. Beginners probably think that cold calling is to make a sale. The main reason for calling is to get an appointment. Don’t spend more than 2 or 3 minutes on a call.

You need to target your cold calling efforts to the right audience. Use market research to focus on your target market. Research your markets and prospects. Establish the parameter of the prospects you want to call.

Find out as much as possible about the company or individual you’re going to cold call in advance. You have the advantage to prepare yourselves to talk to them about their business or unique needs when you call them.

(d) Demeanor

Your prospects will know from your voice if you are sincere about what you are saying. They can tell whether you are genuinely interested in doing a business with them. They can feel if you enjoy what you are doing.

The biggest secret to cold calling is your attitude. All of the cold calling techniques you learn can only work if you have the right attitude. A positive attitude is the key to a successful business. Your demeanor determines whether you win or lose a business deal.

(e) Confidence

Confidence is your currency for success. Be confident in yourself. Believe in your product or service. Be convinced that your service is of value to your customers. Your confidence gives you the strengths you need to keep you going.

Your prospects may not be able to see confidence in you, but they can feel your confidence over the handset. When they know they are talking to a confident salesperson, they will be more receptive and they want to talk to you and meet you.

View every cold call a learning opportunity. Don’t let yourself be defeated by a few rejections. There is no failure but only feedback. The more you practice cold calling, the more skillful you become and the better results you will get.

The Call

The daily rhythm of a veterinarian’s family in rural New England is shaken when a hunting accident leaves their eldest son in a coma. With the lives of his loved ones unhinged, the veterinarian struggles to maintain stability while searching for the man responsible. But in the midst of their great trial an unexpected visitor arrives, requesting a favor that will have profound consequences—testing a loving father’s patience, humor, and resolve and forcing husband and wife to come to terms with what “family” truly means.

The Call is a gift from one of the most talented and extraordinary voices in contemporary fiction—a unique and heartfelt portrait of a family, poignant and rich in humor and imagination.

Review“Its peculiar charm eludes easy categorization. . . . With its combination of Yankee stoicism and offhand poetry, the book conveys the slightly archaic feel of a biblical parable, a real accomplishment in today’s hyper-contemporary fictional landscape. All told, The Call is definitely worth answering.” (Washington Post )

“Murphy pays close attention to the sensual and the macabre. . . . In the quotidian details of farm life, Murphy demonstrates how crucial it is to focus on the small, real tasks in the face of something too big and too dark to understand.” (Time Out New York )

“A quirky, artful and ultimately moving story of a year in the life of country vet.” (Shelf Awareness )

“Wondrously dynamic. . . . A warm-hearted paean to family devotion.” (Wall Street Journal )

“The Call is a nifty trick of a novel. The quick summer read that transcends its category. [It] thoroughly engrosses, entertains, and, finally, enlightens.” (New York Journal of Books )

“Murphy’s eye for small-town detail and human/animal relations makes for a complex, delicate story line, and the novel as a whole carries a very real human velocity and gravity. The domestic focus and unexpected intrusions recall fiction by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida.” (Library Journal )

“Yannick Murphy’s The Call, about a family dealing with the consequences of a tragic accident, explores marriage, parenthood, small-town life, medicine, and hope with a sensitivity, skill, and fearlessness that will rattle your bones.” (Ben Greenman, author of Celebrity Chekhov and What He’s Poised to Do )

“There is beauty in these snapshots alone, yet the most striking moments appear as they play fugue to one another. . . . Told through the prose of the father’s daily log, The Call is a subtle, lush, and ultimately, masterful novel.” (Nylon Magazine )

“A triumph of quiet humor and understated beauty. . . . Murphy’s subtle, wry wit and an appealing sense for the surreal leaven moments of anger and bleakness, and elevate moments of kindness, whimsy, and grace.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

“Yannick Murphy’s beautiful new novel is a stirring example of what a real writer can do with form and feeling. The Call is sly, funny, scary, honest, wonderstruck and, most of all, intensely generous.” (Sam Lipsyte, author of The Ask )

“Incisive and imaginative. . . . [A] hypnotically patterned, wryly funny, and warmly compassionate tale . . . Visceral detail and deep knowledge stoke this gorgeously realized novel . . . With phenomenal economy and delicious deadpan humor, Murphy dramatizes . . . the many forms of giving and healing.” (Booklist (starred review) )

“Impossible to put down. . . . Refreshingly full, honest depth. . . . This is a novel’s novel, the kind of book that can’t spare a word, that’s perfectly insular but still manage to enlighten readers about their own lives.” (Portland Mercury )

“The restraint around the narrative [in The Call] only highlights the beauty of Murphy’s prose. . . . [Her] eye for poignant details sells this refreshingly upbeat portrait of a man’s quiet strength.” (Orlando Sentinel )

“This is a beautiful book, and . . . one that should act as a great model for using form as a scaffolding for innovation of approach, while also firing from the hip of the voice and the blood of why people started telling stories ever at all.” (HTML Giant )

“The Call, a beguiling novel by Yannick Murphy, is that rarest of creatures: a book about a happy family.” (Valley News )

“Here is a book to break the formula, both edgy and moving. . . . [it] builds into an exquisite, pointed poem to domesticity . . . Unexpected and stirring . . . [Murphy] is that rarity: a sharp writer unafraid to be tender.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer )

“This is a wonderful novel. Original, suspenseful, funny and profoundly moving. It’s about family, community, the human bond with animals and–oh yeah–spaceships. I am in awe of Yannick Murphy’s achievement and I plan to recommend The Call to everyone I know.” (Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Caleb’s Crossing )

“The Call is an enormously affecting and lovely exploration of ordinary and extraordinary love. In prose that is as grand, startling, and particular as the New England landscape that inhabits her characters . . . Yannick Murphy tells a story that will break and repair your heart.” (Chris Adrian, author of The Great Night )

“This book delights with its discrete structuring. . . . The pieces snap together in odd juxtaposition, surprising, making a picture more sturdy and dependable than the seamless whole. It has the power of good old Byzantine mosaic.” (Padgett Powell, author of The Interrogative Mood )

“Undeniably fascinating. . . . Yannick Murphy’s The Call is a one-of-a-kind story…filled with forthright, understated prose reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s.” (The Daily Beast )

“Displaying an almost magical economy. . . . The Call conjures the quirky satisfactions of rural life . . . true heroism is revealed in the humanity of a taciturn and decent man.” (People (4 stars) )

“Murphy is a subtle, psychologically perceptive writer. . . . A marvelous book: sweet and poignant without ever succumbing to easy sentiment, formally inventive and dexterous without ever seeming showy. A triumph.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )

“Remarkable. . . . The truthful evocation of family is the real triumph of ‘The Call’. There is much love in this novel, and just as much truth about the pain and pleasure of family life. . . . [A] clever and beautiful book.” (Boston Globe )

About the Author

Yannick Murphy is the author of the novels Signed, Mata Hari; Here They Come; and The Sea of Trees, as well as two story collections and several children’s books. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer’s Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Award, and a Chesterfield Screenwriting Award.

Her work has appeared in Best American Nonrequired Reading and The O. Henry Prize Stories. She lives in Vermont with her veterinarian husband and their children.

The Call Pic

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The Call Picture

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
The heart of a family
By Patricia N. Pando

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Takes Your Breath Away
By Ripley Hotch
The Call captured me from the beginning; cast in the form of veterinarian “calls” with ACTIONS, RESULTS, it at first is charmingly funny. David Appleton is quirky, to say the least. He wonders about the lights in the sky, and considers them a spaceship (as does the whole family). Can they get away from their rural life? The story is really about how they all come to love and appreciate what they have. Much of it is just funny, and as the entries in the log book expand to WHAT THE WIFE SAID to WHAT I SAID TO THE SPACEMAN DRIVING HOME, I was completely drawn in. Sometimes David seems clueless, and even then Murphy manages sharp little observations about how we live, as when David’s wife tells him that Panko bread crumbs aren’t the same as regular bread crumbs: “How could a thing like bread crumbs go from being simple to complex?” The writing is deceptively simple, plain even, but every word rings true. One of my favorite novels of the year.

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The Call
By grumpydan
Written as a journal, this is the story of the daily life of a country veterinarian in rural Vermont. It may sound boring or even stupid as you read the entries. The call he gets from his clients, what he does, what his wife makes for dinner or what his kids say to him or not say to him when he gets home. But somehow, they all weave together into a quaint story of his life. As a reader, we get to learn about such a life and the importance of family.

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What will happen on December 21, 2012? Learn more about this mysterious date.

December 21, 2012 – What is it all about; Is it the end of world?

The ancient Mayans looked into the stars and predicted catastrophical changes on earth and marked on their long count calendar the date December 21, 2012 as the end of world.

Solar Flare, Polar Reversal, Volcanoes and Earthquakes

The initial phenomenon for the end of world would be gigantic solar flares caused by unusual sun’s magnetic fields. The increase in the number of sunspots and sun flares for 2012 has been predicted by NASA. This would surely bring satellite disruptions and electrical failures.

The solar flare would in turn affect the earth’s polarity and will reverse north pole to south pole. And a series of catastrophic chain reaction might occur. From pole shift to earth’s lost geomagnetism to massive earthquakes to erupting volcanoes to tidal waves to floods and there would be massive destruction to life on earth.

Because of the weakened magnetic fields the earth may not protect us against cosmic and solar radiation which would affect the nuclear reactors on the nuclear power plants. Buildings and skyscrapers will be shattered and a cloud of volcanic dust will cling.

Is 2012 hoax?

Do you believe if the solar flare maximum is scientifically proved by NASA scientists? A quick google search on “2012 solar flare NASA” will bring you an article ‘solar storm warning’ on NASA’s site. A lot of people around you just say 2012 a hoax or scam. And being skeptic is just normal, because we all live in a world of cheats and scams. But think again this is definitely not a hoax. We just simply stamp anything beyond our knowledge as hoax. We will definitely find more scientific explanations as 2012 nears. Before that, are you prepared enough to survive?

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English as a World Language

English, with its growing number of varieties, pidgins and inflections, is now firmly established as a world language. It is currently spoken as a second or foreign language by more speakers than those who call it their first language. Now there are more than three non-native speakers of English for every native speaker and the number of non-native English speakers continues to grow on a daily basis. “There’s never before been a language that’s been spoken by more people as a second than a first”, said David Crystal, author of the book “English as a Global Language”. In the area where I grew up in south central Pennsylvania, there is an interesting variety of the English language spoken by the “Pennsylvania Dutch”.

One difficult aspect of the English speech in Dauphin, Lancaster and York counties located in south central Pennsylvania, where a large concentration of Amish, Mennonites and other “Pennsylvania Dutch” sects live is the manipulation of the grammar elements of English. Here are a few examples of the ways in which grammar and word order are managed in everyday Pennsylvania Dutch speech. For “Outlanders”, anyone who is not Pennsylvania Dutch, these expressions of everyday speech can range from amusing to startling. Here’s a look at just a few of the many aspects of this variety of English.

Convoluted Grammatical Forms

“Throw Papa down the stairs his hat.”

Explanation: Throw Papa’s hat down the stairs to him. (I don’t care how old he is, don’t you dare touch ole Papa!)

“Go out and tie the dog loose and don’t forget to outen the light.”

This expression uses convoluted grammar in addition to “Germanic” verbalizations. Here the verb “outen” means “to turn out”. The adjective and noun are used in reverse order from other forms of Standard English.

“The owner says he’ll pay me ten dollars a day if I eat myself, but just five dollars if he eats me.”

Explanation: No, there’s no cannibalism here! The worker will get ten dollars a day for providing his own meals, but five dollars a day if the owner has to provide the worker’s food. (Whew! I’m glad we cleared that one up!)

“He’s a pretty good man yet, ain’t not?”

Explanation: He’s a pretty good man (provider), isn’t he? (a tag question form)

Use of Specialized Vocabulary

Addition of specialized, but “local” vocabulary is also quite commonly done as demonstrated in these examples.

“Shall I put the candy in a toot?” (A “toot” is a paper bag.)

When talking about that fact that his father or grandfather is sick a child might say:

“Pop ain’t so good; his eatin’s gone away and he don’t look so good in the face, either.”

Speaking about his son’s difficulties in school a father could be heard to express the following sentiments: “My son ain’t dumb. It ain’t that he can’t learn, it’s just that after he learns it, he forgets it.”

If you don’t speak “Pennsylvania Dutch” in one of its multiple forms, they just might say of you: “You don’t make yourself out so good. You talk so fancy like a body can’t understand you.”

In talking about someone who doesn’t read aloud well, at a meeting or in school for example, people might say something like: “When he gets up to read he gets befuddled.”

Or how about this amusing little observation of another person’s speech: “Don’t talk so quick, it runs together too much when I think.”

Pennsylvania Dutch Proverbs

Some interesting Pennsylvania Dutch proverbs include these offerings:

“Kissin’ wears out, cooking don’t”

“No woman can be happy with less than seven to cook for”

“A plump wife and a big barn never did any man harm”

“He who has a secret dare not tell it to his wife”

“Ve get too soon oldt, und too late schmart”

The Keystone State

In this region of the “Keystone state” as Pennsylvania is monickered, this variety of is often called “Ferhoodled English” by the Pennsylvania Dutch themselves and by local “Outlanders”. Famous for their frugal lifestyle and natural, delicious farm-fresh cooking, the Amish and other sects contribute to the tourism of the state. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to sample the crafts, food and “peculiar” language this austere people. It is but yet another of the many continually developing varieties of English as a global language.

“When you come over – come out” When you’re in the area, drop by. See, hear, and experience the food and the Pennsylvania Dutch for yourself.

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