It's a lot more rare to support a gas-station attendant because he gives good foot rubs.

Hey, good foot rubs are an art!

(Signed, married a freelance writer who she met in film school and therefore has No Cred in this matter whatsoever.)

I just saw a Kansas City Star newspaper. Headline in huge print "12 miners found alive after 41 hours".

Yeah, there's the same headline on the Cincinnati Enquirer, and someone in my office said the New York Times had a similar headline.

Apparently the early editions of most major papers had headlines about the miners being alive.

Hey, good foot rubs are an art!

Well, sure. But sadly, the social capital machine hasn't caught on yet.

(Signed, he'll be a fencing master yet.)

I woke Joe up last night to tell him that they were alive.

He woke me this morning to tell me that they were dead.

I told him he's not allowed to call me with news like that again.

My heart is just broken for these families. I read an interview with one woman last night who said, "I knew I wouldn't have to tell my son, 'Daddy's not coming home.' It's a miracle."

We all could use some uplifting cat news, right?

VORHEES, N.J. - Curiosity didn’t kill one cat on a wild ride on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The feline, now known as Miracle, hitchhiked a ride on the underbelly of a sport utility vehicle just before Christmas. The gray and white cat traveled some 70 miles on the turnpike Dec. 23.

“I’m just amazed that the cat didn’t fall off or get blown off,” said Karen Dixon-Aquino, director of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. The association is caring for Miracle and plans to put him up for adoption.

The SUV’s driver didn’t know about the stowaway until another motorist saw the cat through a wheel well and flagged down the driver.

Dixon-Aquino said Miracle probably climbed under the SUV and was asleep when the journey began. Somehow, the cat avoided being mangled by fan blades and other moving parts as he clung to the car.

“He was pretty freaked out,” Dixon-Aquino said. “His paws were burnt, one claw was missing and his fur was singed.”

[link]

(OK, I'm not sure how uplifting it is that "the cat didn't die," but still....)

I read an interview with one woman last night who said, "I knew I wouldn't have to tell my son, 'Daddy's not coming home.' It's a miracle."

I read the same interview. And it *is* heartbreaking.

So they just identified Tropical Storm Zeta. It shouldn't hit land, but damn.

So, if we get another Tropical Storm in January, do we start in with "A" again? Or do we stay with the Greek letters until the official start of hurricane season?

I have a theological question. Annoying lady on the podcast says she subscribes to the Jewish idea of the soul, nefesh, which is about man's interaction with his community and God.

Does anyone here understand nefesh, especially from her PoV, enough to be able to explain to me why one's social and religious interactions define a soul?

Also, she seemed clear that humanity at large is scared of artificial intelligence. Is this true, you think? I know people here might be too geeky to fully participate in that fear (or geeky enough that they've gone 360 and have an informed fear). Or does it just make good sci fi stories?

Anyone else watch O'Reilly getting reamed last night on Letterman? I think my favorite part is when Dave says "I believe 60% of what you say is crap." (Though personally I think that's a very conservative estimate.)