Time Change This Saturday Night

Big Picture: Conflict In Pakistan

After recent Pakistani military operations in Pakistan's own Swat Valley to push out Taliban insurgents who had taken control of the region, its operations are now more focused on the Taliban strongholds in the South Waziristan region. Pakistani troops and Taliban militants have been locked in intense clashes recently in the tribal area which has killed more than 150 people. Relief workers say that more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. Insurgent responses to the increased military pressure have included numerous bombings and suicide attacks, killing and injuring scores across Pakistan in recent weeks. Just today a car bomb in a busy marketplace in Peshawar killed more than 93 people, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an official visit - announcing the latest in a series of U.S. aid packages to Pakistan. (36 photos total)

Click the image to see the full collection.

How Bad Was The Drought Of 2009?

The Houston Chronicle has science blog that I have learned to enjoy. Although it focuses quite a bit on NASA, it covers many other topics as well.

Today they blog addressed "the great drought of 2009", indicating that it was largely over. That post has a couple of drought maps that I found particularly interesting (see below). The map on the left shows Texas drought conditions on August 4, 2009 while the one on the right shows the current conditions (click the image to see a larger version).

Read the blog post here.

When 'Common Sense' Math Doesn't Add Up

In my role with Crown Financial Ministries I hear people talk about their money quite a bit. While leading these classes I quickly learned that we all have some ideas that we regard as common sense that just don't add up when you actually do the math. Unfortunately, many people will fight tooth and nail to defend their idea regardless of what the Bible says or the math says is true.

One of the most common bad ideas that I hear is that you should not try to pay off your mortgage. Dave Ramsey recently had a caller ask about this subject and I thought he did a good job of explaining the reasons people object and the reasons those objections are wrong. Click on the phone link to listen to the call (my recommendation) or the book link to read a synopsis.

Grieving Chimps?

United in what appears to be deep and profound grief, a phalanx of more than a dozen chimpanzees stood in silence watching from behind the wire of their enclosure as the body of one of their own was wheeled past.

This extraordinary scene took place recently at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, West Africa.

When a chimp called Dorothy, who was in her late 40s, died of heart failure, her fellow apes seemed to be stricken by sorrow.

As they wrapped their arms around each other in a gesture of solidarity, Dorothy's female keeper gently settled her into the wheelbarrow which carried her to her final resting place - not before giving this much-loved inhabitant of the centre a final affectionate stroke on the forehead.

Click the image to read the full article.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

The Butterfly Circus: A Story of Redemption

At the height of the Great Depression, the showman of a renowned circus leads his troupe through the devastated American landscape, lifting the spirits of audiences along the way. During their travels they discover a man without limbs at a carnival sideshow, but after an intriguing encounter with the showman he becomes driven to hope against everything he has ever believed.

You will not regret the 20 minutes you invest in this film.



Thanks To Brent at Worshiply

Autistic Artist Draws NYC From Memory

Great talent. Watch the video below and then read the article by clicking on the image.


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Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Congratulations To BagOfNothing

If you follow this blog at all you know I am a fan of Keith Geeding's blog, BagOfNothing. He always has a number of posts each day that almost always fit my quirky sense of humor and interests. Well, that sense of humor was on display again today. Recently the Geeding family learned that there is going to be an addition early next year. And in the great tradition of BagOfNothing, they used a quirky method to announce their pregnancy to her parents. I thought I would share the pics here.





Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing