New Google Toolbar Blocks Popups
I’ve long been a fan of the Google toolbar for Internet Explorer. Now Google has an updated version that allows you to blog right from the toolbar, as well as block pop-up ads! (Google bought Blogger.com a little while back.) This is one heck of a useful tool and well worth the download.

Don't Need to Believe in God to be a Vicar in Denmark?
A Danish priest who made a public statement to the effect that he didn't believe in God, the resurrection or eternal life is still in the pulpit after his bishop annulled his suspension. This seems odd at first blush, but more thought leads me to realize that the more we write any religious tradition off as a series of symbols of metaphors designed to act a certain way on the brain, as opposed to a set of real moments in the history of the interaction between God and man, the final result is a place where it all becomes symbolic language; abstract concepts used for utilitarian purposes. For some contemporary theologians, it does not need to be true, only useful ... like the in the math problem given by the agnostic protagonist of a recent best-selling novel as a tepid and condescending justification for religion, x = y + 3 in which x and y are not "real" in the sense that we need to believe in them, but that they serve a utilitarian purpose in the equation. The problem with looking at religion like this is that God becomes a psychological placeholder. I think if you've gotten to the point where that's all you think He is, it's more intellectually honest to simply say He isn't.

150,000 trout die at hatchery
Say it isn't so! The horror ... the horror...

Meat, the Humane Alternative?
S.L. Davis, Department of Animal Sciences, Oregon State University, points out that according to the least harm principle, the numbers of animals killed is higher in a heavy ag production of soy beans and wheat for a vegan diet than in ruminant-based ag for meat eaters. His basic argument is that one must discount the relative size of an animal when considering its "rights." He writes: "Accurate numbers of mortality aren't available, but Tew and Macdonald (1993) reported that wood mouse population density in cereal fields dropped from 25/ha preharvest to less than 5/ha postharvest. This decrease was attributed to migration out of the field and to mortality. Therefore, it may be reasonable to estimate mortality of 10 animals/ha in conventional corn and soybean production. There are 120 million ha of harvested cropland in the US (USDA, 2000). If all of that land was used to produce a plant-based diet, and if 10 animals of the field are killed per ha per year, then 10 x 120 million = 1200 million or 1.2 billion would be killed to produce a vegan diet." This compared to 41 million are ruminants (cows, calves, sheep, lambs) killed each year for food.
Food for thought, I guess...

Is Religion at the Root of Politcal Differences Between U.S. and Europe?
This article from townhall.com in Washington, D.C., claims that Europe is essentially a post-Christian culture, and that its negative attitudes toward religion and public expression of religion are greatly at odds with American culture, in which religious expression is Constitutionally protected. Is this true, or just an overly pessimistic view from a conservative American publication. Is this the root of political misunderstandings as well?

One of the 'Buena Vista Social Club' Greats, Compay Segundo, Is Dead
All I can say is that I feel very thankful to Ry Cooder. If not for him and his Buena Vista project, I never would have heard of Compay. He was an amazingly evocative singer; made you feel Cuba in your guts, a spinning fan, whisper of smoke, rum and lime juice.

Makes Me Wonder Why We Can't Get a Coffee Maker to Last More Than A Year
The Concord Monitor reports today that rubber duckies flung from a container ship 11 years ago en route from China to Seattle are now washing up on New England shores ... bleached white but still buoyant.

Gun-toting Freaks on Four-Wheelers Terrorizing Clough State Park After Midnight?
The idea that there is some sort of clandestine rally of ATV-riding guys in camo with various weapons gathering at 2 in the morning to level guns at people who come by, in the state park where we bring the babies, is somewhat disturbing. Is it political protest, terrorism, or just a new dating style?

Back in the '50s, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen pointed out: "There are two ways to get up in the morning. You can rise and say, 'Good morning, God,' or you can rise and say, 'Good God, morning!"