New Kruse Connection

I was pleased to see that one of my favorite local comedians - Colleen Kruse - now has a radio show and a video blog on 107.1 - way cool. The chance of me actually having time to listen between 11am-1pm M-F is not real high, but I will try when I can!

I Should Care

I suppose this is something I SHOULD read and I SHOULD care to learn about - but the extent of my interest is that I'll put a link here so you can see The Top Ten Scientific Breakthroughs of 2007 for yourself...

10. Transistors Get Way Smaller
9. Scientists Clone Rhesus Monkey to Produce Stem Cells
8. Planet Discovered That Could Harbor Life
7. Engineers Create Transparent Material as Strong as Steel
6. Soft Tissue from T. Rex Leg Bone Analyzed
5. Laboratory Mice Cured of Rett Syndrome
4. Enzymes Convert Any Blood Type to O
3. Mummified Dinosaur Excavated and Scanned
2. Chimpanzees Make Spears for Hunting
1. Researchers Turn Skin Cells to Stem Cells

But really, I'm more interested in Diablo Cody right now - she is a seriously interesting chick. Check her out at the Strib and on Letterman - and go see Juno if you haven't already!

We're Number One!

Here's a great thing to celebrate being #1 at: most literate city in America! Yay, Minneapolis! And we have to love that St Paul is #3...

The ranking is apparently based on education, booksellers, libraries, magazine & journal publishers, newspapers, and internet use.
The top ten in 2007:

Minneapolis, MN
Seattle, WA
St. Paul, MN
Denver, CO
Washington, DC
St. Louis, MO
San Francisco, CA
Atlanta, GA
Pittsburgh, PA
Boston, MA

She's With God Now

I am horrified that Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated - I wonder if her supporters in Pakistan feel the way Americans did at the death of JFK or MLK...

The editorials don't do her justice, but here's the Strib and Slate just because I want to know more about her...

But if anyone on the planet has earned the right to "rest in peace" it is Bhutto - may God hold her close in eternity.

Amen.

Of Mangers and Other Uncomfortable Things

Meditation on the Manger

By Melissa Borgmann

Consider that straw.

Pointy and prickly in Desert dry space, and supposed to swaddle Him?

Little baby skin - freshly addressing this world.

And then a possible, "Ouch!"

Preparing Him, I suppose.


Preparing him - for the trials of the world. The ever-present thorn in his side that is humanity! What a metaphor. My friend Eva collects creches, little manger scenes, and she says it's because as a teacher of literature she thinks this is literally the greatest story ever told. Homeless couple - need for a safe place to give birth - nowhere comfortable available, but the miracle comes anyway! Isn't life SO MUCH like that?

When was Jesus ever comfortable? When did he say that we should pursue comfort? And yet... isn't that what so much of American life is about? We're so pathetic. Jesus said "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep" - but how much of our lives do we devote to THAT?

Reality check: "Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable" - which side of that phrase am I on?

Merry Christmas!

Sweetness

Coming out of the grocery store, a Salvation army bellringer - but no bell. Instead, a harmonica, playing "Silent Night..."

Slow down and savor!

The Truth about Work

Wellington Grey nails it again:

You at Work - this will look familiar...

Brain-Computer Collage - This is funny - especially if you really are on the computer too much!

Free Rice

This is cool - according to MPR, the FreeRice website was apparently designed by a humanitarian as a way to encourage his son to study for the SAT - they give away rice to needy people for each vocab word you get right. Check it out!

Faith in Youth

I still like the Timberwolves.

The one-point loss to Atlanta the other night was sad, but the quality of play that kept the Wolves within a point for much of the fourth was really fun to watch. (Who's idea was it to remove Corey Brewer at the very end anyway?!)

Being in education, I live my life with faith in youth. Couldn't do the job otherwise. So maybe that's why I'm enjoying this team as much as any since '04 - and probably more. Sure, I still miss Sprewell, but the young ones are really fun to root for.

And I have a whole new respect for Marco Jaric!