May 15

MP3tunes Makes An Offer to Lala Customers

Celebritology 2.0 - Restore Stephen Baldwin (just click here to donate)

Violence isn't spilling into U.S. border communities - latimes.com

May 14

More evidence that oil isn't as cheap as it looks

Rise in immigration may help explain drop in violent crimes, says CU-Boulder study

Book: Rahm "begged" Obama for days not to pursue ambitious health reform

The Secret Inner Life of Laura Bush

May 13

Mathematicians Solve 140-Year-Old Boltzmann Equation

The great yo-yo swindler

May 12

The U.S. Is Abandoning Afghanistan’s Women – By Valerie M. Hudson and Patricia Leidl | Foreign Policy

May 11

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950 - USATODAY.com

Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman’s presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found.

The Political Church: Some quick thoughts on welfare

May 07

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Respectful Yo Mama Jokes.

May 06

South Korean driver earns license on 960th try - Yahoo! News

RT @PasteMagazine: Listen to Black Francis’ Catalog for Free http://bit.ly/9VMRYL

May 05

Free Merge sampler at Amazon.com!

May 04

Rick Perry: Oil spill may be "act of God" - Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com

Retired General: McCain, Pete King Putting American Lives At Risk

Child's Final Superheroic Wish Is The Greatest Thing You'll Read Today [Superheroes]

The Make-A-Wish Foundation made 13-year-old Erik Martin’s superhero dream a reality with a giant city-wide role playing scenario that incorporated all of Seattle. With the help of…

BP Getting Heat for Gulf Disaster

Yesterday Obama spoke at the University of Michigan commencement.  In addition to making the affirmative case for government, he made the case for civility (as issue lately on my mind) and for listening to and understanding the points of view of people who think differently than you do:

…we cannot expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down. You can disagree with a certain policy without demonizing the person who espouses it. You can question someone's views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism. Throwing around phrases like "socialist" and "Soviet-style takeover;" "fascist" and "right-wing nut" may grab headlines, but it also has the effect of comparing our government, or our political opponents, to authoritarian, and even murderous regimes.

Again, we have seen this kind of politics in the past. It's been practiced by both fringes of the ideological spectrum, by the left and the right, since our nation's birth.

The problem with it is not the hurt feelings or the bruised egos of the public officials who are criticized.

The problem is that this kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric closes the door to the possibility of compromise. It undermines democratic deliberation. It prevents learning - since after all, why should we listen to a "fascist" or "socialist" or "right wing nut?" It makes it nearly impossible for people who have legitimate but bridgeable differences to sit down at the same table and hash things out. It robs us of a rational and serious debate that we need to have about the very real and very big challenges facing this nation. It coarsens our culture, and at its worst, it can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response.

Here is video of the speech:

On a lighter note, here is video of Obama and Leno cracking jokes at the White Correspondents Dinner:

May 01

goodbye good man

3 to 3 tie vs. Hartland…which was good because the same team whipped them last week

Obama's Commencement Address at the University of Michigan

lacrosse in Howell

Apr 30

Does God Have a Specific Plan for Your Life? Probably Not.

National Journal Magazine - Do "Family Values" Weaken Families?

on what it means to be invisible, from the other side of the racial divide

RELEVANT Magazine - The Life and Faith of "Chuck" Star Zac Levi

Experiencing Science

The Mudpuppy says 'That's All, Folks'

Immigration law mysteries

Frankenmuth United Methodist Church says Sunday is "A Beautiful Day" for a U2charist

Game over: UN elects Iran to its commission on … women’s rights

Apr 29

Searching and replacing Job's Flash statement

Christianism vs Christianity

Not All Role Models Need Be Positive

Funny how many actors in 1st episode of Happy Town are recognizable from other series…Lost, The Wire, 2 from October Road, Dollhouse

Apr 28

Do I want 2 install a new version of iTunes? must restart 2 finish installing? I think I’ll leave it off when I re-stage this computer.

Apr 27

Why Carrying an Extra 10 Pounds Might Not Hurt - WSJ.com

Apr 26

Flashback: Lindsey Graham Told Obama He Wanted Immigration Reform To Move This Year

You wouldn't like Harry Reid when he's canny

That Lost 4G Phone

You wouldn't like Lindsey Graham when he's angry

Apr 25

I plan to ride in MS 150 again this year for the National MS Society. It will be my 13th. To sponsor me: http://bit.ly/jonmowerBikeMS

Lisa and the boys are reading “The Brothers Kennedy: John, Robert, Edward” http://amzn.to/cpUHS6

friends’ church’s minister’s son is Jon Acuff (Stuff Christians Like), who spoke there last week. funny speaker: http://bit.ly/biu4Pk

Does Donald Miller want to be your friend?