I wish more conservatives thought like this...

"My position is, unless we are caring as much for the vulnerable outside the womb as inside the womb, we're not carrying out the full message of Jesus. ... They began to think this might threaten their base or evaporate some of their support, and they said they just couldn't go there."

- Rev. Joel Hunter, explaining his resignation as president-elect of the Christian Coalition, after realizing he would be unable to broaden the organization's focus to include issues such as poverty and the environment. (Source: The Washington Post)

(Quote is from yesterday's Sojomail.)

Isis tales

Two cute Isis stories:

First, she has learned that when I finish my bowl of cereal in the morning, there is some yummy milk left in the bottom. Now, as soon as I start eating breakfast she runs up to me and stares until I finish and let her lick out the bowl. Is this bad for her? Maybe. Can I resist? No!

Also, I just got a birdfeeder. It is the kind that has suction cups which you use to attach it to your window. I thought it would be entertaining for Isis, but I think she is frustrated by the fact that these darn birds keep coming back but she can't catch them! Whenever one lands, she jumps up against the window to scare it away. When she can't catch it she makes funny little peeping noises as she yearns to give chase. I couldn't get any great action shots, but here is one with a bird flying away. Curses, foiled again!

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is officially over but I wanted to take the time to think about some things that I'm thankful for:
-> My wonderful, supportive, caring family
-> My great friends in Lansing, KBS, and GR
-> The fact that I don't have to worry where my next meal will come from, or whether there will be a roof over my head, or how I will pay for health care
-> That my family, friends, and myself are generally healthy and happy
-> My great cat Isis :-)
-> More trivial things: being able to travel to so many interesting places, the huge block of chocolate that Katie and Travis helped me get that is SOOO good, sunny days, the sound a hockey puck makes as it is shot around the boards, the internet, pay-at-the pump gas stations, The Colbert Report, Woody's yummy food, Netflix, the peace and quiet of living in the country, $3.5o 1st run movies, ESPN, diet black cherry vanilla coke, sunsets, fireworks, mashed potatoes and stuffing, and so much more...

Torture Lindsey Day 2006

...is over! I managed to survive a dentist and doctors appointment on the same day! I sat in waiting rooms for about 3 hours total today, but at least I got everything out of the way.

A bad sports weekend

The teams that I care about were a collective 0-6 this weekend. Granted, I expected Michigan to lose to Ohio State (and they did keep it close, losing 42-39) and the Red Wings did pick up one point by losing in a shootout, but still, what happened to all my sports luck???

For the record, I don't want a UM-OSU rematch in the BCS title game, because they would probably just beat us again. I'd much rather play in the Rose Bowl where we would stand a decent chance at winning. As long as Notre Dame doesn't play for the championship, I'm happy. And they shouldn't because even if they win out, we only have 1 loss (to the #1 team) and they would have 1 loss...to us! (They didn't play the #1 team.) So there is no way you can put them in there ahead of us! But just in case...go USC!

Even better!

Chocolate is good for your heart!

Moo!

Eating red meat linked to increased risk of breast cancer

I knew there was a reason I stopped eating it!

This and that

A cool Stewart/Colbert interview coming out in Rolling Stone...

Also, Todd and I played in a doppelkopf tournament this weekend and got our asses handed to us (me=11th out of 11, Todd=something like 9th or 10th), so we need some practice! If anyone at KBS wants to learn an awesome card game, let me or Todd know. And if anyone in Lansing in doing a doko night, with a little advanced warning I can be there!

Finally, my car hit 50,000 miles on the way home from Lansing. I bought it new when I graduated from college. I am old. Have I really experienced 50,000 miles worth of life since college???

The exciting things that happen in Grand Rapids, MI

I can't believe this made it on to the front page of CNN.com. Yes, this is my hometown:

Deer breaks free of plastic jack-o'-lantern

VOTE!

Remember to vote today! For those of you in Michigan, we have important things to vote on: governer, US senator, and several proposals. Vote vote vote!

The toughest sport?

Just saw this article on ESPN.com's Page 2 where they "scientifically" ranked 60 sports based on how tough they are. Here is a sample from the list:

1. Boxing
2. Hockey
3. Football (American)
4. Basketball
5. Wrestling
6. Martial Arts
7. Tennis
8. Gymnastics
9. Baseball/softball
10. Soccer
...
56. Curling
57. Bowling
58. Shooting
59. Billiards
60. Fishing

For the most part I agree with the rankings. (I've always argued that hockey was tougher than real football which is tougher than soccer.) However, I'm surprised about some of them, such as that rugby (13) and bull riding (42) aren't higher and that gymnastics (8) and figure skating (19) aren't lower.

I find it interesting that the 4 major US sports are all in the top 10 in toughness. Is that because we like tough sports, or are we overvaluing the toughness of sports that we like?

Snow=evil part 2

I had to scrape my car today before leaving work! SCRAPE MY CAR!!!!! NOOOOO!!!! I'M NOT READY!!!!!