I am reminded over and over again of how lucky I am in everything.

I've given some thought to trading in our minivan for something smaller. Having extra seats and massive cargo space comes in handy, but we already use our little Honda when I'm not at work.

Public transportation is not really an option for my commute. I think there is a possible bus route, but it take my commute from twenty minutes to over two hours and the pick-up times would be difficult.

Ack. I'm not against the idea of a comparative religion class in school, but I don't think creationism should be taught as science.

You know, I'm a religious Jesus-freak sort, but creationism != science, and teaching creationism or intellegent design as science makes as much sense as demanding that Christian churches preach from biology textbooks as well as from the Bible on Sunday.

I'm tired of this fuzzy-brain crap coming out of the Religious Right. I mean, even the Intellegent Design people don't want their stuff taught in schools.

A follow up on the "real cause of Katrina," from Salon. Apparently, it wasn't abortion--homosexuals and party girls did it:

We reported last night on the cause of Hurricane Katrina -- at least in the eyes of an anti-abortion group called Columbia Christians for Life. The storm, the group says, is God's way of punishing Louisiana for having ten abortion clinics.

Well, at least that's what the Columbia Christians for Life were saying yesterday. We've just received another email from the group, and now it seems to be saying that God sent Katrina after Louisiana to prevent Southern Decadence, an annual gay-themed bash that was scheduled for Labor Day weekend in New Orleans.

The Columbia Christians for Life forwarded to us a press release from a Philadelphia-based outfit called Repent America. In it, Repent American director Michael Marcavage explains: "Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From 'Girls Gone Wild' to 'Southern Decadence,' New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."

I'm much better now, Nilly, thanks. I got a cell phone, and my parents got a long distance phone card, so it's much easier to get in touch now, and there's actually stuff I can do. I just finished making hotel reservations for them in Baton Rouge for a couple of weeks, so at least they have an idea of what they'll be doing and where they'll be staying for a while.

So I walked to the library and I met an international student. He was WAY offcourse and needed to know where a certain building was. I told him, "just walk with me. I'll take you." At some point, I asked him where he was from. He said, "Korea."

Which leads me to a question for the thread. I assume he meant South Korea unless there's been a unification in the last few days I didn't hear about. So why did he only say "Korea?"

I mean, even the Intellegent Design people don't want their stuff taught in schools.

I'm confused by this. I was under the impression that most ID people are part of the Religious Right, and that most of the Religious Right wants ID taught.

We were all together to celebrate her 100th birthday. It's amazing to think of what hadn't happened/didn't exist/came to be in her lifetime.

Aimee, that's so great that you could be with her for such a milestone! The "five generations" picture is fantastic. I've got a picture on my wall of four generations in my mother's family. The youngest is my grandmother. I very much hope that my grandmothers both live until after I acquire children (my grandfathers have both passed away now).

Re: Poppy Z. Brite, how awful that she had to leave her animals behind. I wonder if they had any chance at survival.

Gas was $3.09 this morning, at the station that's usually on the cheap end. GAH. But I have no choice. I live an hour away from where I work, and there is no public transportation between the two. So, I suck it up and pay the exorbitant prices.

I don't believe there's no price at which behavior starts to change on gas consumption. IMHO, we haven't reached that point yet, and prices need to rise further. Yeah, it sucks, but so does unchecked sprawl and no funding for public transportation.

Totally, totally agree.

I don't believe there's no price at which behavior starts to change on gas consumption. IMHO, we haven't reached that point yet, and prices need to rise further. Yeah, it sucks, but so does unchecked sprawl and no funding for public transportation.

bno bon, the original tough-love legislator. Sadly, tough-love doesn't tend to get legislators reelected, which is how it got to this point in the first place.

I assume he meant South Korea unless there's been a unification in the last few days I didn't hear about. So why did he only say "Korea?"

Total wild guess: because to the Koreans/him, there's really only one Korea, it's just having personality issues?