Deadly Tornados Strike Again — A photoessay of the destruction in Joplin, MO. Some really unbelievable pictures. For a first-person video of the storm, check this out.
Top 10 New Species Discovered in 2010 — We often hear of the extinction of species; it’s less common to read of new discoveries. I never cease to be astonished by the diversity of God’s creation!
Why Not Jazz? — Why do so few people listen to, understand, or play jazz? It requires active listening rather than mere hearing. (HT: Z)
The Case for Early Marriage — With the trend being for people to marry later in life, one sociologist has some old-school advice: “Do not wait so long; all your ducks do not have to be in a row before marrying.”
Atheism in the News — A couple interesting articles here:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Atheism — A college in California has begun a department of “secular studies”, seeking to determine why so many are nonreligious (though the article points out that 60% of Americans currently belong to a formal religious body, as opposed to less than 10% in the late 18th-century)
- Atheists in the Foxholes… as Chaplains — Remarkable. It seems that non-theists in America’s armed forces are seeking representation among the chaplaincy. Owen Strachen asks some great questions: “To what hope can an atheist call a despondent corpsman? Will suggesting that the soldier is a mass of particles driven together by blind cosmic forces inspire confidence in the heat of battle? To the dying soldier, will the message that the strong survive and the weak pass away give parting comfort? To a family that has lost a child in war, will the contention that cruel fate has taken its toll and that the departed is now just bone and decomposing flesh impart healing?“
Should We Play Music Behind People Praying? — Great post from worship leader Bob Kauflin (who does play music while others pray).
Do sexy girls have it easy?
Honey and Locusts 