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When his BMW Roadster pulls up at the back of the church, the parking lot is already jam-packed. Folks dressed up like Eskimos have braved the biting cold to see the man a lot of call “the super conductor”. This Jersey Christmas ritual started 22 years ago, when a young, charismatic priest and student at The Manhattan School of Music, founded the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. His name: Rev. Alphonse J. Stephenson. But most recognise him merely as “Father Alphonse“.
Stephenson formed his very primary group of musicians in New York’s Theater District, back in the eighties, while serving as assistant pastor at St. Malachy’s, the Actor’s Chapel. When his parochial duties were over for the night, you could find him moonlighting as a pianist at a Broadway hangout. He recalls that the confessions he would listen while playing, were often times more truthful and candid, than the ones he would listen in church.
FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT…
Torn amongst Pit and Pulpit, as People Magazine once put it, Stephenson joined a touring company to conduct more than 2,000 performances of the “A Chorus Line”. In ’84, choreographer Michael Bennett tapped him to conduct the musical at the Shubert theatre.
But tonight, there’s no “Tits and Ass” on the program, even though the symphony orchestra without apparent effort transitions from Beethoven to Broadway at the touch of a baton. Tonight, Corpus Christi Church in Chatham NJ, has opened it is doors to listen the intimate sounds of the season. Only a few days ago, the orchestra and it is conductor were featured on an ABC special: “A New York Holiday” alongside Cirque du Soleil and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.
To be honest, the Catholic Community of Chatham deserves galore holiday cheer. On October 23rd, Rev. Ed Hinds, a beloved local priest, was found savagely murdered in his clerical robes, in the kitchen of the rectory in St. Patrick’s Church. His death left this Northern Jersey town in shock. Authorities were quick to arrest the church janitor. “He’s the last person I would have suspected,” a parishioner commented. Now, all the faithful of Chatham have come together for an evening of heartwarming music and… humor.
FORCED TO BE HERE
After opening with “Adeste Fidelis”, Father Alphonse turns to the audience and thanks them profusely for coming. Then he asks: “How some of you have heard us before?” Almost the entire church raises their hand. In this share of New Jersey, Christmas without Father Alphonse is like Thanksgiving without turkey. “How numerous of you are new to the orchestra?” he wants to know. A few hands go up in the air. But he isn’t done yet. “Now, who was forced to be here tonight?” he asks. One brave man in his late fifties pleads guilty, only to listen the conductor follow-up with: “May I ask who forced you to be here?” Predictably, the man points to his wife.
That was the cue Father Alphonse had been waiting for. “I am working on my next book,” he says with a grin on his face, as he turns to the audience. “It’s called ‘The Joys of Celibacy’. You see, I don’t have to go anyplace I don’t want to go.” The audience roars.
THE CANDY LADY
An evening with St. Peter by the Sea is no frequent evening. But of course, Father Alphonse is no general conductor, or priest for that matter. He once stopped his 45 musicians in the middle of a piece, because a woman in the front row was engaged in a struggle with a very earsplitting candy wrapper. He walked right up to her and confiscated the candy. Thankfully, she had a outstanding sense of humor and the audience had a good laugh. Till this day, the ‘candy lady’ always shows up to the same concert and has a front row seat. And at galore point for the duration of the program, she hands Father Alphonse a bag of sweets and he gives her home-made cookies.
In a way, he reminds me of Danny Kaye, who many times conducted orchestras as charity fundraisers. It was always a mix of stand-up comedy and musical magic. Stephenson founded the Cecelia Foundation, a nonprofit group, giving professional quality musical instruments to deserving children who, in his words, “promise not to break them.” Proceeds of the sale of the orchestra’s CD’s go to the foundation, but last year, their conductor astonished every one with a new fundraiser. He published “Le Canzoni Della Cucina, Songs of the Kitchen”, a cookbook (+ CD) filled with Neapolitan and Sicilian family recipes he wrote with his cousin Antoinette Scillieri.
DAY JOB
Though he was ordained in 1975 and always wears his clerical collar when conducting, he has never had his own parish, nor has he ever wanted one. Throughout the week, Stephenson wears a very dissimilar uniform. He is in fact a Colonel and the Command Chaplain of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard, Headquartered in Fort Dix.
Just because he works with those who keep our nation out of harm’s way, doesn’t mean that you’d be safe at a Christmas concert. Let’s go back to the action in Chatham. Right before the intermission, Father Alphonse turns to the man who was forced to be there; he hands him the baton and has him conduct Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”. After the man-turned-fan gets a well-deserved ovation, Stephenson is ready to talk regarding severe matters.
A SPECIAL MISSION
“This year”, he tells the audience “has been a particular year for me. As you may know, I was asked to come to Arlington. I can’t precisely tell you where I work; that’s a state secret. I may only disclose that the building has five sides.”
Behind the scenes and far away from the podium, Colonel Stephenson is conducting a dissimilar operation. He is working hard to invigorate the evolving role of military chaplains in a nation at war.
He tells his audience: “Here in Jersey you might think that being a Colonel is a big deal. But when you work at a place where every one is a four star General, it means perfectly nothing. After I introduce myself, they commonly say to me: ‘Nice meeting you Colonel. Now, get me a cup of coffee! And that’s an order!’”
BEETHOVEN ON THE BEACH
Dynamics ordinarily modify for the duration of the summer. At that time, Stephenson outranks everybody, because he’s at the helm of the Festival of the Atlantic in Point Pleasant Beach. It’s New Jersey’s greatest outdoor music festival, founded by… you guessed it, a sure priest. Expect Thousands of people, collected on the beach, listening to Opera, Symphonies and Show tunes. Some of them fetch food, drinks and candles. During intermission, a group of committed volunteers collects donations. They’re nicknamed “Father Alphonse’s Angels”.
THE POWER OF MUSIC
Meanwhile, at Corpus Christi, the soloists, Edward Perretti, Thad Shirey and rising star Victoria Cannizzo, are singing of dissimilar angels. As their music permeates even the darkest constituents of the church, something noteworthy happens.
Suddenly, the good people of Chatham, still shaken by the evil that was in their midst, start out seeing a glimmer of light in a night filled with darkness. The light was always there. But sometimes, we manage to obscure it with our thoughts, with our words and with our actions.
When things are too unfathomed for words; when we are left speechless, music takes over. Music lifts us up. Music brings hope. Music heals… It’s almost a religious experience. Especially when the conductor… is a priest!
American Experience Radio Priest
The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink screen with 50 percent better contrast than any other e-reader, a new sleek design with a 21 percent littler body while still keeping the same 6-inch-size reading area, and a 17 percent lighter weight at just 8.5 ounces. The new Kindle also offers 20 percent more immediate page turns, up to one month of battery life, double the storage to 3,500 books, built-in Wi-Fi, a graphite color option and more—all for only $139.
American Experience Radio Priest Pic
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23613 of 23823 humans found the following review helpful.
 Kindle vs. Nook (updated 1/2/2011)
By Ron Cronovich
If you’re attempting to choose amidst a Nook and a Kindle, perhaps I may help. My wife and I have owned a Nook (the initial one, not the new Nook Color), a Kindle 2, and a Kindle DX. When Amazon declared the Kindle 3 this summer, we pre-ordered two Kindle 3′s: the wi-fi only model in graphite, and the wi-fi + 3G model in white. They arrived in late August and we have employed them very regularly since then. For us, Kindle is better than Nook, but Nook is a good device with it is own vantages that I will talk about below. I’ll end this review with a few words in regards to the Nook Color.
First, reasons why we prefer the Kindle:
* Speed
In our experience, the Kindle is very zippy equated to the Nook. Page refresh speed (the time it takes a new page to appear after you push the page-turn button) was WAY quicker on Kindle 2 than on Nook, and it’s rapidly and without delay yet on Kindle 3. Yet, I read a whole book on the Nook and didn’t find the slower page refresh to be annoying – you get used to it, and it’s not a problem.
For me, the more indispensable speed divergence worries navigation – moving the cursor around the screen, for example to pick a book from your library, or to jump to a chapter by selecting it in the table of contents. On Kindle, you do this by pushing a 5-way rocker button, and the cursor moves very quickly. On Nook, you do this by activating the color LCD touchscreen (which normally shuts off when not in use, to conserve battery). A “virtual rocker button” appears on the screen, and you touch it to move the cursor. Unfortunately, the Nook cursor moves very sluggishly. This might not be a big deal to you, but it genuinely got annoying to me, peculiarly since my wife’s Kindle was so quick and responsive.
In November 2010, Nook got a software upgrade that increments page refresh speed and makes navigation more responsive. I returned my Nook months ago, so I cannot tell you if the Nook’s performance is now equivalent to the Kindle’s, but Nook owners in the remarks division have convinced me that the software update improves the experience of using the Nook. If performance is a big factor in your decision, visit a Best Buy and compare Kindle and Nook side by side.
* Screen contrast
You’ve seen Amazon’s claims that the Kindle 3 e-ink has 50% better contrast than Kindle 2 or other e-ink devices. I have no way of incisively measuring the betterment in contrast, but I may tell you that the Kindle 3 display unquestionably has more contrast than Kindle 2 or Nook. The divergence is noticeable, and important: more screen contrast means less eyestrain when reading in poorly lit rooms.
In well-lit rooms, the Nook and Kindle 2 have sufficient contrast to grant for comfortable reading. But I often read in low-light conditions, like in bed at night, or in a poorly lit room. In these situations, reading on Nook or Kindle 2 was a bit uncomfortable and often gave me a mild headache. When I got the Kindle 3, the extra contrast was without delay noticeable, and made it more comfortable to read under less-than-ideal lighting conditions. (If you go with a Nook, just make sure you have a good reading lamp nearby.)
* Battery life
The Nook’s color LCD touch screen drains it is battery speedily – I could never get more than 5 days out of a charge. The Kindle 2 had longer battery life than the Nook, and Kindle 3 has even longer life: in the 3 months since we received our Kindle 3′s, we quintessentially get 3 weeks of battery life among charges. (We keep wireless off when it comes to half the time to save battery power.)
* Weight
Nook weighs in regards to 3 ounces more than the new Kindle, and you may genuinely feel the difference. Without a case, Nook is still light sufficient to hold in one hand for long reading sessions without fatigue. But in a case, Nook is a heavy sucker. The new Kindle 3 is so light, even in a case, we find it comfortable keeping in one hand for long reading sessions.
Reasons a good deal of persons might prefer the Nook:
* In-store experience
If you need help with your nook, you may take it to any barnes and noble and get a real humane to help. You may take your nook into the coffee shop section of your local B&N store and read any book for free for up to one hour per day. When you take your nook to B&N, a great deal of in-store special deals and the occasional free book pop up on your screen.
* User-replaceable battery
Rechargeable batteries ultimately lose their capacity to hold a charge. Nook’s battery is user-replaceable and comparatively inexpensive. To replace Kindle’s battery, Amazon wants you to ship your Kindle to Amazon, and they will ship you back a DIFFERENT Kindle than the one you sent (it’s the same model, for example if you send a white Kindle 3, you get a white Kindle 3 back, but you get a “refurbished” one, NOT the precise one you sent them). I don’t like this at all.
However, assorted humans have posted remarks here that have eased my concerns. Someone looked up stats on the Kindle’s battery and did a great deal of simple calculations to show that it will have to last for 3 or more years. Before that happens, I will surely have upgraded to a newer Kindle model by then. Also, an individual found some companies that trade Kindle batteries at reasonable cost and have how-to videos that demonstrate how we may replace the battery ourselves. Doing this would void the Kindle’s warranty, but the battery will probably not fail until long after the warranty expires.
* ePub
Nook uses the ePub format, a widely applied open format. Amazon uses a proprietary ebook format. Many libraries will “lend” ebooks in the ePub format, which works with nook but not kindle. However, a free and reputable program called Calibre allows you to translate ebooks from one format to another – it supports a good deal of formats, including ePub and Kindle. The only catch is that it doesn’t work with copy-protected ebooks, so you can’t, for example, buy a Kindle book (which is copy protected) and translate it to ePub so you may read it on a Nook.
* Nook’s color LCD touchscreen
The firstborn Nook has a little color LCD screen on the bottom for navigation. This could be a pro or con, depending on your preferences. It makes the Nook hipper and less drab than Kindle. Some people get enjoyment from using the color LCD to view their library or navigate. I did, at first. But after two weeks of use, and comparings with my wife’s Kindle, I found the devoted buttons of the Kindle more comfortable and far rapidly and without delay to use than the Nook’s color touchscreen. I also found the bright light from the color screen distracting when I was attempting to read a book or newspaper (though when not in use, it shuts off after a minute or so to conserve battery).
* expandable capacity
Nook comes with 2GB of internal memory. If you need more capacity, you may insert a microSD card to add up to 16GB more memory. Kindle comes with 4GB of internal memory – twice as much as Nook – but there’s no way to exaggerate that. Kindle doesn’t receive memory cards of any type. If you mainly use your device to read ebooks and newspapers, this shouldn’t be an issue. I have over 100 books on my Kindle, and I’ve used only a tiny fraction of the memory. Once Kindle’s memory fills up, just delete books you don’t need prompt access to; you may always restore them later, in seconds, for free.
A few other notes:
Kindle and Nook have other features, such as an MP3 player and a web browser, but I caution you to have low expected values for these features. The MP3 player on the Kindle is like the first-generation iPod shuffle – you can’t see what song is playing, and you can’t navigate to other songs on your device. I don’t like the browser on either device; e-ink is just not a good engineering science for surfing the web; it’s slower and clunkier than LCD screen technology, so even the browser on an Android phone or iPod touch is more pleasurable to use. However, some commenters have more favorable views of either device’s browser, and you might, too.
* ebook lending
If you have a Nook or a Kindle, you may “lend” an ebook you purchased to somebody else with the same device for up to two weeks. The Nook has always had this feature. The Kindle just got this feature as of December 2010. Most but not all purchased ebooks are lendable, due to publisher restrictions.
* PDF aid
Kindle and Nook both handle PDF files, but in dissimilar ways. When you put a PDF file on your nook, nook converts it into an ebook-like file, then you may adjust the font size, and the text and pagination will adjust just like with any ebook. But you cannot see the initial PDF file in the native format in which it was created. Kindle 3 and Kindle DX have native support for PDF files. You may see PDF files just as they would appear on your computer. You may also convert PDF files to an ebook-like format, and then Kindle handles them just the way the Nook handles them – text and pagination adjust when you alter the font size. Unfortunately, a great deal of symbols, equations, and graphics get lost or mangled in the translation – even when looking at PDF files in their native format on the Kindle. Moreover, the little screen size of the Kindle 3 and the Nook is not outstanding for PDF files, most of which are designed for a more spectacular page size. You may zoom and pan, but this is cumbersome and tiresome. Thanks to commenters who suggested watching PDF files in landscape mode on the Kindle (I don’t know if you may do this on Nook); this way, you may see the entire top half of the page without panning, and then scroll down to the bottom half. This works a little better.
SUMMARY:
Nook and Kindle each offer their own advantages. We like the nook’s user-replaceable battery, compatibility with ePub format, and in-store experience. But we strongly prefer Kindle 3 because it is performance is zippier, it is higher-contrast screen is requiring little effort to read, and it’s littler and lighter so it is more portable and more comfortable to hold in one hand for long reading sessions.
* Nook Color
Everything I wrote when it comes to the Nook in this review applies to the primary Nook (which proceeds to be available), not the new Nook Color. To me, the Nook Color is in a dissimilar product category than the Kindle or initial Nook. Nook Color has an LCD screen, like an iPad or most computer monitors. That’s a huge disfavor for people like me, who get headaches from reading a computer screen for long periods of time. Amazon’s Kindle product page has an informative division on e-ink vs. LCD displays.
But some persons don’t have difficultnesses reading from computer screens, and the Nook Color is getting glowing reviews in the press and by owners. For the money, it offers a lot of functionality such as a good web browser and the capacity to play games and watch movies. But keep in mind: it costs a lot more than the Kindle, it weighs closely twice as much, it doesn’t come in a 3G version, and (unlike the primary Nook) the Nook Color doesn’t have a user replaceable battery.
7415 of 7564 people found the following review helpful.
 Worth the money. Not perfect, but very very good for start out to finish novels in good light
By Jeffrey Stanley
The Kindle is my introductory e-ink reader. I own an iPad, an iPhone, and have owned a Windows-based phone in the past that I applied as an ereader.
My overall impression of the device is good.
The good:
I’d candidly rather read linear (read from page one to the end, one page at a time) fiction from it than a book, because I can’t always get comfortable with a book. Hardcovers are most times a bit heavy, and paperbacks don’t always lie open easily. The Kindle is fantastically light and thin. I may hold it in one hand easily. The page turn buttons are conveniently located. Page-turns aren’t instant, but they’re in all probability more immediate than turning a physical page in a printed book (there are just a lot more page-turns unless you choose a little font). The contrast is better than other ereaders I’ve seen. There is zero eye strain in good light. My eyesight isn’t the biggest and I like being capable to increase the font size and read without glasses. I love being competent to browse the Kindle store and read samples before settling to purchase. The “experimental” browser is breathtakingly usable, but isn’t great. It is utile for browsing wikipedia and blogs. The greatest drawback to the browser is the awkward pointer navigation, using the 5-way pad. It syncs your furthest read page over the internet so you may pick up where you left off using your iPhone or iPad.
The so-so:
The kindle store could use more categories and sorting options. You can’t sort by “top rated,” and there is no category for “alternate histories,” for example. Finding a very-specific type of fiction relies on keyword searches, which don’t do a outstanding job. The wifi occasionally doesn’t connect before it times-out. You seldom need the wifi, but it is annoying if you alter a setting, answer “OK” to the prompt to connect, and the thing tells you it failed to connect two seconds later (the precise moment it suggests that it did ultimately connect, then you need to go back to update the setting again). Most settings don’t require a connection, but it is a minor annoyance. Most of your time will be expended reading, and of course your books are stored on the device and a connection is not required. Part of me wishes I’d purchased the 3G model, because the browser is good sufficient that having lifetime free 3G wireless would be worth the extra money. Magazines don’t look very good and are not very easy to navigate. There is minor glare in numerous lighting conditions, for the most part when a lamp is positioned behind the reader’s head.
The bad:
The contrast is reasonable to poor in dim light. It is much more comfortable to read a printed page in dim light. In good light, contrast is on par with a pulp paperback. In dim light it feels almost like reading from an old Palm Pilot (resolution is better than an old Palm, but contrast is bad in dim light). The screen is little sufficient that the frequency of page turns is beauteous high. Even in good light, the light gray background is less pleasant than the eggshell background of a printed page. You will have to tell it to sync before you switch it off, if you suppose the feature permitting you to pick up where you left off using other appliances to work correctly. The copy shelter prevents you from using the files on anything other than Kindle software or devices.
Vs iPad:
IPad is a lot better for magazines, reference materials, and illustrated materials. Kindle is worlds better for reading novels. IPad is gorgeous heavy, making it more difficult to hold in your hand or carry with you everywhere. Kindle is much more portable and requiring little effort to hold. IPad has numerous astounding children’s books and magazines, which take vantage of it is multimedia features. IPad is unreadable in sunlight and glare is bad in bright light. Kindle is as good as a printed page in bright light. Ipad serves as a originative tool, a computing tool, a gaming tool, and a communicating tool. Kindle is only a novel machine. I don’t regret buying either one of them. An iPad won’t replace books, but a Kindle can, if the book is text-only.
I highly commend this device at it is new low price if you are a frequent reader of novels. I love my kindle. Just don’t suppose it to be more than it is. Leave the magazines and such to the tablet computers.
878 of 890 humans found the following review helpful.
A hesistant buyer rejoices on his choice
By Mr Goodwrench
I researched the buy of a Kindle for a long time. I couldn’t determine whether or not it was worth buying a committed e-reader. Boy am I glad I made this purchase. The downside to Amazon’s online syndication of Kindle 3 is that the clients don’t get to see it in person. It is much better in person. This may sound stupid, but when I got my new Kindle, I thought there was a stuck-on overlay on the screen containing a diagram of the unit’s buttons, etc. I in truth tried to peel it off. Doh! The e-ink on this unit is THAT good. I didn’t realize that I was staring at the actual display. I likewise didn’t realize that no power is required until the display changes. (thus the great battery life) I do a lot of reading, but was facing the prospect of reading less or buying huge type books because of my variable and deteriorating eyesight. The new Kindle has been a godsend. Now, I may determine the size of type I need depending on my level of fatigue amongst other things. The weight and ergonomics are very good. For someone, like me, with neuropathy in his hands, it is exceedingly easy to manage and gratifying to own. To me, it is having little impact to read than print books. The ease of navigation is outstanding as is the speed. The battery life, so far, has been extraordinary. It without apparent effort connected to our home Wi-Fi, which by design does not broadcast an SSID. It downloads books so fast that I almost thought they were not exclusively received. I did not buy the 3G version because of the price divergence and the fact that there is no coverage where I live. If you are not perpetually traveling, I don’t see the need to spend the extra bucks, but that is a matter of personal choice. For those who have no Wi-Fi at home, do not forget that you may always download the material to your computer and transfer it thru USB. Just today I was observing an consultation with Tony Blair on TV. He was talking when it comes to his new book, which sounded interesting. I picked up the Kindle and downloaded a free sample before the consultation was over. I have only read the preface so far, but will probably buy the book. Now THAT is a great way to buy a book! I haven’t employed online browsing spacious yet, but find it reasonable for what the device is. This is primarily a book reader, not a laptop or notebook. They are great for what they do, but can’t match the e-ink display, or the light weight. For those of you worrying when it comes to the wait for the new Kindle, let me end with, “It is worth the wait” This new Kindle is all when it comes to the quality of experience. There are a lot of format selections for electronic reading. If you want the best experience, go with the Kindle.
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