A Literary Tour of London

by Richard Davies

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
by Nick Hornby

A novel of lists, music and loneliness in North London.

It’s dirty, it’s loud, it’s grumpy, it’s historic, it’s constantly being reinvented and it’s a great place to set a novel. London is full of authors and many of them are writing about the city, and it’s been that way for centuries.
Like the city itself, the list of books where the plot threads through London’s crowded streets is immense and rather overpowering. Where does one start when recommending books set in the city? We are assuming you have already read enough Dickensian literature although Oliver Twist is always worth revisiting.  We’re deducing Sherlock Holmes is too obvious for this reading list.
Instead we have tried to fashion a list that reflects the real London although we’re thrown in a few distinctly old fashioned novels.  This list is a baffling mix of violence and crime, immigrants and travellers, trouble-makers and politicians, lovers and the lonely-hearted, forgotten corners and famous places, and dingy bedsits and subterranean tunnels.
These novels are filled with characters that have almost no tolerance for fools (just like anyone who has lived in the city for more than 12 months) and others that have the ability to carry on regardless no matter how bad things become.  Numerous novels are set just before, during or just after World War II when the city took the brunt of Germany’s firepower. Many books look at the London beneath our feet either through life on the Tube or in the sewers and tunnels under the busy streets. Crime is a reoccurring theme but, in reality, most visitors brought up on the Artful Dodger never see anything amiss.
London changes fast. Graham Greene’s London, battered and bruised from the bombs, is quite different from Monica Ali’s London where immigration is the key element as new communities replace the old ones. But perhaps a few things do remain the same – the ambition, the people in falling love and the city’s obsession with sport are enduring.
Isn’t funny how no-one writes about the weather?
I have forgotten how many times I have missed my stop on the Tube because of a good book, or sat in Green Park reading at lunchtime. London gave us Penguin, and Gollancz, and Faber and Faber, and the next great novel set in this city is just around the corner.

Novels Set in London

London Fields
by Martin Amis

Set in 1999, a dark comic novel with a remarkable crook – Keith Talent.

King Rat
by China Miéville

Miéville writes new wave ‘Weird Fiction’ – a fantasy in London’s sewers.

How the Dead Live
by Will Self

Lily Bloom dies and is transported to a new home in Northeast London accompanied by a spirit guide.

The Football Factory
by John King

A vicious story focused around Chelsea’s most vicious football hooligans.

The Living and the Dead
by Patrick White

Written by an Aussie, a novel where lives are changing as World War II approaches.

The Ballad of Peckham Rye
by Muriel Spark

A gem from 1960 – a Scot moves to London and causes much trouble.

Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman

A subterranean fantasy that goes way beyond London’s Underground stations.

Up the Junction
by Nell Dunn

Forgotten novel from 1963 that details miserable slum life in Battersea.

King Solomon's Carpet
by Barbara Vine

A Ruth Rendell novel based around the London Tube and the people who use it.

Brick Lane
by Monica Ali

Immigration defines modern London and this novel concerns the Bangladeshi community.

Absolute Beginners
by Colin MacInnes

Published in 1959, one of the first books to define London’s youth culture.

Soho
by Keith Waterhouse

From the man who wrote Billy Liar, a Yorkshire student comes south in search of his girlfriend.

White Teeth
by Zadie Smith

A comic take on multicultural Britain from 2000, spanning 40 years.

The Ministry of Fear
by Graham Greene

Study in terror in the aftermath of the Blitz. Greene is a must-read for any Londoner.

The Napoleon of Notting Hill
by G. K. Chesterton

Written in 1904, set in 1984 (oddly) – this an alternate reality adventure story.

The Great Stink
by Clare Clark

London doesn’t smell so bad now. This novel takes place in its Victorian era sewers.

Hangover Square
by Patrick Hamilton

London pubs can be shady places, particularly when World War II is looming.

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers
by Xiaolu Guo

Pity the poor Chinese person who has to learn English in baffling London.

The Buddha of Suburbia
by Hanif Kureishi

Another entertaining take on London’s youthful immigrant community.

Bleeding London
by Geoff Nicholson

A series of stories about Londoners are interwoven in this novel.

Tunnel Vision
by Keith Lowe

A man must travel to every Tube station on the map in a single day in a pre-marriage bet.

Fowlers End
by Gerald Kersh

Published in 1958, violence and humour in a ramshackle London community.

London Belongs to Me
by Norman Collins

A war is just about to kick off but Londoners are carrying on as usual.

Apes of God
by Wyndham Lewis

Written in 1930, a brutal satire on London’s literary and artistic community.

At Bertram’s Hotel
by Agatha Christie

A hotel (inspired by Brown’s) stuck in the Edwardian era is the setting for this murder mystery.

The Calligrapher
by Edward Docx

A serial seducer runs into trouble but then meets his new neighbour.

Angel Pavement
by J.B. Priestley

London seen through the eyes of the employees of Twigg & Dersingham.

The End of the Affair
by Graham Greene

Based on his own experiences of philandering, a novelist has an affair with a friend’s wife.

The Heat of the Day
by Elizabeth Bowen

Set in war-time London, Stella discovers her lover is suspected of selling information to the enemy.

Adrift in Soho
by Colin Wilson

London’s Beat Generation is described in this 1961 novel of Bohemian life.

A Severed Head
by Iris Murdoch

Set on the cusp of the sexual revolution, this is a satire set in and around London.

Damage
by Josephine Hart

Sex and politics, and a very public fall from grace for a Member of Parliament.

The Girls of Slender Means
by Muriel Spark

Novella about a murder written in 1963 and set in Kensington just after VE Day.

The Face on the Cutting-Room Floor
by Cameron McCabe

1937 crime novel set in London that uses the ‘false document’ thriller technique.

My Name Is Legion
by A. N. Wilson

Set in London this novel looks at the British gutter press and the Church.

The History of Music Genres

by Julie Oreskovich

Robert Johnson Lost and Found
Barry Lee Pearson & Bill McCulloch

If you dig deep enough into rock 'n' roll, you're on a freight train headed straight for the blues. -- Jack White
There's something incredibly powerful about the effect of music on our psyche. Put on your favorite album and you're bound to feel better. Regardless of genre - as everyone has their own distinct taste when it comes to music - when the perfect song is heard, it gets deep into your bones and sticks with you. Like a good book, a song can take you back to a moment in your life, remind you of a place or your favorite person.
The list of books presented here highlights the history behind some of the most popular genres but certainly doesn't capture all music categories. Although there are many different genres and subgenres of music, the relationship between the genres are usually subtle and they blend together. The blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, punk, country and hip hop are all looked at in detail with the selected books on this page and will give the reader a better understanding of how these types of music came about.
The blues genre originated in African-American communities in the American south around the end of the 19th century and influenced many other genres of music including rock 'n' roll, jazz and hip hop. Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Charley Patton and Son House were all prominent and influential bluesmen who helped shaped this style of music.
To get to the roots of rock 'n' roll, Robert Palmer's book Rock & Roll: an Unruly History addresses various moments in rock and roll lore and highlights the milestones and intimate stories beneath the music. The Rolling Stones Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll is the quintessential tome for any rock 'n' roll enthusiast.
Whether your heart lies in the American south, honky tonk joints or the inner city, these books about the history of musical genres will be music to your ears and eyes.

Related Video

See our Review of R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country › Play Video

Blues

The Blues: A Very Short Introduction
by Elijah Wald

Explores the role of blues in the development of both country music and jazz; and looks at the popular rhythm and blues trends of the 1940s and 1950s.

The History of the Blues: The Roots, The Music, The People
by Francis Davis

The lives of major figures such as Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, and Leadbelly are examined.

The Devil’s Music: A History of the Blues
by Giles Oakley

Describes the texture of the life that made the blues possible, and the changing attitudes toward the music.

Blues People: Negro Music in White America
by Leroi Jones

Classic work on the place of jazz and blues in American social, musical, economic, and cultural history.

The Land Where the Blues Began
by Alan Lomax

Follows the roots of the blues, telling what it was like recording in the Deep South in the 1930s and 1940s.

Rock 'n' Roll

Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977
by James Miller

Steeped in the history of rock, richly anecdotal and entertaining, yet original in its analysis.

The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll
edited by Holly George-Warren

Reveal the performers' musical influences, first breaks, critical and commercial hits and misses.

The Secret History of Rock n Roll
by Christopher Knowles

Traces the development of rock's most popular genres.

Rock & Roll: An Unruly History
by Robert Palmer

Various moments in rock and roll history, stopping to point out highlights, milestones, and intimate stories beneath the music.

The Chitlin’ Circuit: And the Road to Rock n’ Roll
by Preston Lauterbach

History of the network of black juke joints that spawned rock 'n' roll through an unholy alliance between vice and entertainment.

Jazz

The History of Jazz
by Ted Gioia

Considered a classic book of the genre, portrays the legendary jazz players, the breakthrough styles, and the world in which it evolved.

Keeping Time: Readings in Jazz History
by Robert Walser

Covers nearly 100 years of jazz history and is filled with insightful writing and gives voice to a wide range of perspectives.

Hear Me Talkin’ to Ya: The Story of Jazz as Told by the Men Who Made It
by Nat Shapiro

Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday trace the birth, growth, and changes in jazz over the years.

A History of Jazz in America
by Barry Ulanov

Looks at how jazz started, major centers of jazz music, jazz musicians and discusses some of the styles of the music.

Visions of Jazz: The First Century
by Gary Giddins

Offers seventy-nine chapters illuminating the lives of virtually all the major figures in jazz history.

Hip-Hop

Yes Yes Y’All: The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop’s First Decade
by Jim Fricke

Fricke weaves an electric narrative from the accounts of over 50 of hip-hop's founders and stars, old school and new.

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
by Jeff Chang

Based on hundreds of interviews, Chang offers colorful profiles of the lives and influences of "the trinity of hip-hop music".

The Vibe History of Hip Hop
by Vibe Magazine

Serves both as a fact-heavy primer and a passionate critical missive aimed straight for fans' hearts.

Hip Hop America
by Nelson George

The history of hip hop from its roots in the late 1970s to its emergence as the cultural force that today influences everything.

The Anthology of Rap
by Adam Bradley & Andrew DuBois

Brings together more than three hundred lyrics written over thirty years, from the 'old school' to the 'golden age' to the present day.

Country

Country Music, U.S.A.
by Bill C. Malone

Starting with the music's folk roots in the rural South, it traces country music from the early days of radio to the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll
by Nick Tosches

Reveals a wild shadowland of history that encompasses blackface minstrels and yodeling cowboys; honky-tonk hell and rockabilly heaven.

In the Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music
by Nicholas Dawidoff

An exploration of the performers, places, and experiences which form country music--a genre which is uniquely and authentically American.

Finding Her Voice: Women in Country Music, 1800-2000
by Mary A. Bufwack

Documents the lives of the female artists who have shaped the music for over two hundred years.

The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to Music
by Country Music Hall of Fame

Nearly 1,300 alphabetical entries put eight decades of country music at readers' fingertips.

Punk

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
by Legs McNeil

The first oral history of the most nihilist of all pop movements.

From the Velvets to the Voidoids: A Pre-Punk History for a Post-Punk World
by Clinton Heylin

This book explores the origins and evolution of the fiery history of punk and New Wave.

England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock and Beyond
by Jon Savage

An entertaining, exhaustive chronological history of punk rock and politics through 1980.

Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs
by John Lydon

Much more than just a music book, Rotten is an oral history of punk: angry, witty, honest, and crackling with energy.

A Cultural Dictionary of Punk: 1974-1982
by Nicholas Rombes

An obsessive, exhaustively researched, and sometimes deeply personal portrait of the many ways in which punk was an artistic, cultural, and political expression of defiance.

Top 10 Dr. Seuss facts you may not know

I found this on the Mental Floss blog today, I knew a few of these facts from when I was researching the Cat and the Hat 50th anniversary but after reading this I really wish there was a Dr. Seuss omnibus, it actually suprises me there isn’t.
1. In case you haven’t read “The Lorax,” it’s widely recognized as Dr. Seuss’ take on environmentalism and how humans are destroying nature. Loggers were so upset about the book that some groups within the industry sponsored “The Truax,” a similar book — but from the logging point of view.
Another interesting fact: the book used to contain the line, “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie,” but 14 years after the book was published, the Ohio Sea Grant Program wrote to Seuss creator Theodore Geisel, and told him how much the conditions had improved and implored him to take the line out. Geisel agreed and said that it wouldn’t be in future editions.
2. Somehow, Geisel’s books find themselves in the middle of controversy. The line “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” from “Horton Hears a Who!,” has been used as a slogan for anti-abortion organizations. It’s often questioned whether that was Seuss’ intent in the first place, but when he was still alive, he threatened to sue an anti-abortion group unless they removed his words from their letterhead.
3. “If I Ran the Zoo,” published in 1950, is the first recorded instance of the word “nerd.”
4. “The Cat in the Hat” was written because Dr. Seuss thought the famous Dick and Jane primers were insanely boring. Because kids weren’t interested in the material, they weren’t exactly compelled to use it repeatedly in their efforts to learn to read. So, “The Cat in the Hat” was born.
5. Bennett Cerf, Dr. Seuss’ editor, bet him that he couldn’t write a book using 50 words or less. “The Cat in the Hat” was pretty simple, after all, and it used 225 words. Not one to back down from a challenge, Mr. Geisel started writing and came up with “Green Eggs and Ham” — which uses exactly 50 words.
The 50 words, by the way, are: a, am, and, anywhere, are, be, boat, box, car, could, dark, do, eat, eggs, fox, goat, good, green, ham, here, house, I, if, in, let, like, may, me, mouse, not, on, or, rain, Sam, say, see, so, thank, that, the, them, there, they, train, tree, try, will, with, would, you.
6. It’s often alleged that “Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!” was written specifically about Richard Nixon, but the book came out only two months after the whole Watergate scandal. It’s unlikely that the book could have been conceived of, written, edited and mass produced in such a short time.
Also, Seuss never admitted that the story was originally about Nixon. That’s not to say he didn’t understand how well the two flowed together. In 1974, he sent a copy of Marvin K. Mooney to his friend Art Buchwald at the Washington Post. In it, he crossed out “Marvin K. Mooney” and replaced it with “Richard M. Nixon,” which Buchwald reprinted in its entirety.
7. “Yertle the Turtle” = Hitler? Yep. If you haven’t read the story, here’s a little overview: Yertle is the king of the pond, but he wants more. He demands that other turtles stack themselves up so he can sit on top of them to survey the land. Mack, the turtle at the bottom, is exhausted. He asks Yertle for a rest; Yertle ignores him and demands more turtles for a better view.
Eventually, Yertle notices the moon and is furious that anything dare be higher than himself, and is about ready to call for more turtles when Mack burps. This sudden movement topples the whole stack, sends Yertle flying into the mud, and frees the rest of the turtles from their stacking duty.
Dr. Seuss actually said Yertle was a representation of Hitler. Despite the political nature of the book, none of that was disputed at Random House — what was disputed was Mack’s burp. No one had ever let a burp loose in a children’s book before, so it was a little dicey. In the end, obviously, Mack burped.
8. “The Butter Battle Book” is one I had never heard of, perhaps with good reason: it was pulled from the shelves of libraries for a while because of the reference to the Cold War and the arms race.
Yooks and Zooks are societies who do everything differently. The Yooks eat their bread with the butter-side up and the Zooks eat their bread with the butter-side down. Obviously, one of them must be wrong, so they start building weapons to outdo each other: the “Tough-Tufted Prickly Snick-Berry Switch,” the “Triple-Sling Jigger,” the “Jigger-Rock Snatchem,” the “Kick-A-Poo Kid”, the “Eight-Nozzled Elephant-Toted Boom Blitz,” the “Utterly Sputter” and the “Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroo.”
The book concludes with each side ready to drop their ultimate bombs on each other, but the reader doesn’t know how it actually turns out.
9. “Oh The Places You’ll Go” is the final Seuss book published before he passed away. Published in 1990, it sells about 300,000 copies every year because so many people give it to college and high school grads.
10. No Dr. Seuss post would be complete without a mention of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Frankenstein’s Monster himself, Boris Karloff, provided the voice of the Grinch and the narration for the movie. Seuss was a little wary of casting him because he thought his voice would be too scary for kids. If you’re wondering why they sound a bit different, it’s because the sound people went back to the Grinch’s parts and removed all of the high tones in Karloff’s voice. That’s why the Grinch sounds so gravelly.
Tony the Tiger, AKA Thurl Ravenscroft, is the voice behind “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” He received no credit on screen, so Dr. Seuss wrote to columnists in every major U.S. newspaper to tell them exactly who had sung the song

 

Dog a Day 

Blogspot

 

 

http://dog-a-day-project.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 Example -

Bull Terrier

Via Andrea Balt

on Apr 23, 2012

Top 10 Foods for Better Sex.

             

 

 

To eat or to have sex or maybe both, that is the question.

~ Not Shakespeare

We are born out of sex, we eat to stay alive, we grow and rediscover sex. If you are what you eat and if you sex up what you are, then food and sex are necessary siblings.

Sex needs blood. Food builds blood.
Food is primary. Sex is elementary.
Sex is ecstasy. Food is delight.
Food is contemplation. Sex is meditation.

Food is not just food, just like sex is not just sex, or you, just you. Nothing is an island. Whatever came first, the chicken or the egg, food or sex, you or I, here’s the current order of events:
You exist (around others)—You nurture yourself (and others)—You enjoy yourself (and others).
Food is a world, sex is a planet and you’re the story. All of your parts are created equal.
So, whether you choose to be a sex machine or a nun/monk, or however active you choose to be about your sex life—as long as you remain human—your sexuality is a fact, and, like all facts, it needs to be nurtured.

“You can’t just eat good food. You’ve got to talk about it too. And you’ve got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut

Because, just like food is a conversation with your body, sex is a conversation with another body.

So what’s for dinner, darling?

1. Avocados. Give me anything avocado and I’ll turn it into bliss. To those who ditch avocados because they’re “too fatty”, let me tattoo this on your fridge door:

Not all fats are evil. What’s wrong with us is called “unhealthy fats” or “the lack of healthy fats”.

Avocados are packed with healthy, unsaturated fats that keep your arteries clean and your blood flowing to all the right places.
In fact, men suffering from underlying heart disease, are also more likely to experience erectile dysfunction.
But hey, if you don’t believe me, take it from the Aztecs (some of the strongest, smartest and healthiest warriors in history), who referred to avocadoes as… testicles.
Another benefit you get from fatting up on avocadoes is a lot of Vitamin E, which (gently) invites your sex hormones to take over and stimulate your sexual response.
2. Leafy greens. Broccoli, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, Brussel Sprouts… They’re high in minerals (calcium and magnesium, impatient to be absorbed) and pretty much all the essential nutrients you can imagine. They purify your blood, and make it flow like it means it.
3. Bananas. Let’s be adults. Bananas are a Potassium Oasis, a mineral necessary to build muscle strength—and muscles are… you know, those things that contract during an orgasm. So, even if you said no to orgasm, you can still use you banana strength for other types of workouts.
4. Chocolate. Skip the sugar and keep it dark (at least 70% cocoa) to experience its full power.
Chocolate contains a stimulant—phenylethilamine, if you’re fluent in science—that gives you a natural high and releases the same endorphins triggered by sex. It’s like opening a door to a sunny day and saying: Yes! I think I’m ready to go for a walk!
It also increases your overall sensitivity, making your skin fully receptive to the slightest touch.
5. Maca. Some call it the “Natural Viagra”. It’s one of the most powerful medicinal plants available. Originally from Peru, this magic root tops the list of the so-called superfoods.
It acts as a strong libido enhancer, helps regulate hormones both in men and women and improves overall sexual function, among other amazing properties. It usually comes in powder form and it tastes like a strange, moon-dust cookie dough. You can add it to smoothies, juices, desserts… or take it as a supplement.
6. Strawberries & other berries. First of all, they are red and, according to recent experiments, red is subconsciously sexy (to most of us, consciously too). Secondly, they are high in folic acid, an essential B vitamin that prevents birth defects and keeps your arteries clean and clear.
They’re also high in antioxidants, which protect your blood from free radicals (chemical leakage interfering with your natural hormone production). But I’m sure that, based on deliciousness alone, you’re already converted to Berryism.
7. Citrus (oranges, kiwis, pomegranates) and Peaches. Other than antioxidants and folic acid, they’re high in Vitamin C, a strong libido booster. Vitamin C increases sperm counts and keeps your stuff alive and moving.

(Via Nature’s Health Foods)

8. Celery. According to Alan Hirsch, M.D., author of Scentsational Sex,

“When you chew a stalk of celery, you release androstenone and androstenol odor molecules into your mouth. They then travel up the back of your throat to your nose… Once there, the pheromones boost your arousal, turning you on and causing your body to send off scents and signals that make you more desirable…”

Other than this sexy-scent production, celery is a detox food with great cleansing properties. It’s also filled with trace minerals, it lowers blood pressure and it contains silicon, essential to bone strength. (Funny fact: bones are 23% sodium, just like celery.)
9. Oatmeal and other gut-friendly, whole grains (brown rice, barley, etc.). Your gut is like your second heart in terms of body functions. What suits your gut, pretty much suits your heart and vice versa.
You know what else is also a mix of heart + guts + a little bit lot of brain? Yep, love.
More scientifically speaking, whole grains like oatmeal, increase your testosterone levels and they provide L-arginine, an amino acid that reduces stiffness in your blood vessels, frequently used to treat erectile dysfunction.
10. Almonds. They’re rich in trace minerals, especially zinc, which is found to increase libido and sexual desire.
Movie date tonight? Forget the popcorn. Snack on almonds instead.

……………

“Essentially, what’s good for your heart is good for better sex”  Steven Lamm, MD, NY School of Medicine, reminds us.

So, when in yummy sexual doubt, just remember what the Father of Medicine said, over 2,000 years ago and connect the dots.

(Via Reddit)

“There is one common flow, one common breathing, all things are in sympathy.” ~ Hippocrates

~ Like elephant food, elephant sexy & elephant wellness on Facebook. ~

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Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Or do you want to write for Elephant?

Andréa Balt is an unfinished book, garage philosopher, broccoli enthusiast & other unrealistic & impractical things, currently biking their way through Madrid, Spain. She holds a BA in Communication, an MFA in Creative Writing & she's a certified Holistic Health & Nutrition Junkie. You can connect with her via Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest, or pay her a visit at Rebelle Époque, her art & writing hub, where you are always welcome for a virtual cup of tea. She also makes daily, green revolution at Rebelle Wellness.

Paulo Coelho's Blog

The art of trying

by Paulo Coelho on March 14, 2012

Sometimes rules help us avoid the mistakes others have made before our time, but more often than not a rule will only make us repeat what someone else has already done.
Rest assured. Trust the universe, and look forward to surprising yourself. The apostle Paul said, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” The wise know some actions repeat themselves. They regularly encounter the same problems and situations they have dealt with before. Knowing that makes them sad. They start to think they’ll never be able to grow, since whatever they experienced before is happening again.
“I’ve already been through this,” they complain to their hearts.
“That may be true,” their hearts reply, “but you haven’t mastered it yet.”
The wise understand that repetition has a cause: to teach the lesson that still needs teaching. Repetitive situations require different solutions every time. The one who fails must not see this as a mistake, but rather as a step toward greater self knowledge.
It’s like Thomas Watson said, “Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure.”

SYMBOLS and their Meaning

Introduction:

Occult symbols are fast replacing Christian symbols in our culture. Therefore, we encourage you to use this list to warn others, especially Christian children who intentionally wear and display them because they are popular.

Keep in mind that many of these symbols have double or multiple meanings. For example, the pentagram has been used to transmit occult power in all kinds of rituals for centuries, but to Christians the same shape may simply represent a star -- a special part of God's creation. The image of a fish may mean a sign of the zodiac (astrology) to some, but to Christians it has meant following Jesus and sharing the message of His love. We will continue to delight in the cross, while recognizing that others use the same image to represent their dark forces.

Please don't pass judgment on those who happen to wear these symbols. Instead, let us seek God’s will and discernment so that we might all honor Him with our lives. Remember, "each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block. . . in our brother's way." (Romans 14:12-13)

ALL-SEEING EYE: A universal symbol representing spiritual sight, inner vision, higher knowledge, insight into occult mysteries. Look at your $1 bill. EYE in top Triangle of the PYRAMID: Masonic symbol for the all-seeing eye of god - an mystical distortion of the omniscient (all-knowing) Biblical God. You can find it on the $1 bill. See triangle, Eye of Horus, the Franklin Institute website, and the symbol for the U.S. government's new Total Information Awareness (TIA) System.  See also The Revolutionary Roots of the UN

For more of this see -

http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html