Sporting Sounds presents an eclectic collection of essays, all of which are concerned with various relationships between sport and music. This unique book includes a range of international case studies, examines the use of music as a motivational aid for players, and the historical roots of music in sport.

The new edition of 'The Child as Musician' celebrates the richness and diversity of the many different ways in which children can engage in and interact with music. It presents theory - both cutting edge and classic - in an accessible way for readers by surveying research concerned with the development and acquisition of musical skills.

Music is one of the most universal ways of expression and communication in human life and is present in the everyday lives of people of all ages and from all cultures around the world. Music represents an enjoyable activity in and of itself, but its influence goes beyond simple amusement. Listening to music, singing, playing, composing and improvising, individually and collectively, are common activities for many people: these activities not only allow the expression of personal inner states and feelings, but also can bring many positive effects to those who engage in them. There is an increasing wealth of literature concerning the wider benefits of musical activity, and research in the sciences associated with music suggests that there are many dimensions of human life (physical, social, psychological—including cognitive and emotional) which can be affected positively by music. The impact that musical activity has on human life can be found in different processes, including a transfer of learning from the musical to another cognitive domain. Abilities that have been developed through music education and training may also be effectively applied in other cognitive tasks. Engagement in successful music activity may also have a positive impact on social skills and social inclusion, thus supporting the participation of the individual in collective and collaborative musical events. The promotion of social participation through music can foster many kinds of inclusion, including intercultural, intergenerational, and support for those who are differently abled. The aim of this Research Topic is to present a diverse range of original articles that investigate and discuss, in different ways, the crucial role that musical activity can play in human development and well-being.

The second symposium on processing visible language constituted a different "mix" of participants from the first. Greater emphasis was given to the design of language, both in its historical development and in its current display; and to practical questions associated with machine-implementation oflanguage, in the interactions of person and computer, and in the characteristics of the physical and environmental objects that affect the interaction. Another change was that a special session on theory capped the proceedings. Psychologists remained heavily involved, however, both as contributors to and as discussants of the work pre sented. The motivation of the conferences remains one of bringing together graphic designers, engineers, and psychologists concerned with the display and acquisition of visible language. The papers separately tended to emphasize the one of the three disciplines that mark their authors' field of endeavor, but are constructed to be general rather than parochial. Moreover, within the three disciplines, papers emphasized either the textual or the more pictorial aspects. For example, a session on writing systems ranged from principles that seem to characterize all such systems to specific papers on ancient Egyptian writing, modern Korean, and English shorthand. The complementary session on the nontextual media opened with a discussion of general principles of pictorial communication and included papers on communicating instructions, general information, or religious belief through designs and other pictorial forms, as well as a discussion. of misrepresentation.

"Many begin following Christ, but few finish. Plausible doubts flare up eroding simple faith. Loss and emotional upheaval storm through and the reality of God seems but a fanatical myth. Following Christ starts out easy, but somewhere along the way, it becomes excruciating. I know this for I have lived it. Longevity is my story of finding and following God amidst doubts, hurts, and failures. It might be too honest, but maybe that's what you need. Maybe you need to see someone else flailing and meeting God in the mess." Longevity delves into the hurdles I've overcome (and am overcoming) to continually follow Christ. You will see the logical struggles I've had with the Christian faith and Bible as well as the truths I've found along the way. You will get a glimpse into my relationship with Christ and the emotional upheavals we've journeyed through: from singleness and sin to struggling with Heaven and Hell and hope. This book is terribly honest and truly reflective of my heart. If I did not think the experiences I've had and the words I write had the power to immensely encourage you, I would have not gone through the effort. It has been an absolute battle (emotionally and technologically) to get this book to a point where you can hold it in your hands. I strongly believe this process was a battle because this little book has the power to affect you. Please take the time to read and ponder the messages I present. Nothing in this book has been easily arrived at and nothing has been written without much struggle going on in the background. This book is my gift to you. -ashlee PS Want to hear more from me? Check out my website, ashleekirschner.com