Love and Haiti

The inspiring story of two sisters who have devoted their lives to saving Haitian orphans.

The secret to an extraordinary life

The power of a simple yes. An incredibly inspiring, must-read post.

Saving Lives on the U.S.N.S. Comfort

A video about the U.S. Navy's inspiring (though sometimes sad, sometimes frustrating) efforts to help Haiti. Warning: some graphic images. There's a particularly touching scene at the very end.

64 Rules for Eating

Some of these are good. I liked:

• Don't buy cereals that change the color of the milk
• It's not food if it’s called by the same name in every language (e.g. Big Mac)
  
• The banquet is in the first bite
  

Read the rest here.

via Janet Berkman (Twitter)

How an "atmosphere of innovation" revolutionized American winemaking

The interesting story of how California wines went from being a joke to beating their French competitors:



via Inside Catholic

Did Jesus drink alcohol?

Some interesting points:

Another point to remember is that back then people had no way of preserving juice. They had no preservatives or other modern processes to keep grape juice from fermenting. So once they harvested the grapes for the year and stored the juice in skins, the fermentation process naturally began. If you put juice in a container and leave it alone for a few months what do you get? Fermented, alcoholic wine. That’s what you get.

The passover feast occurred 6-7 months after the grape harvest. By then the grape juice was surely a nice shiraz, or a pinot (ok…I’m not sure how nice it was). So it would have been impossible to not have alcoholic wine for the passover and really for any occasion during the large part of any year.

Read the rest here.

A brilliant response to the E-Snub

This article will be hilarious to anyone ever blown off by email.

Man uses iPhone app to survive in rubble after earthquake

Great story. I also like the note he wrote in his blood-stained journal for his family in case he died:

"I was in a big accident, an earthquake. Don't be upset at God. He always provides for his children even in hard times. I'm still praying that God will get me out, but he may not. But even so he will always take care of you."

Read the rest here.

What happens when we don't fully turn away from sin

An amusing video with good points:



via Pursuing Titus 2

Welcoming Jja Jja Grace

Another touching post from a young woman named Katie who is working with the poorest of the poor in Uganda.

New developments with the Shroud of Turin

Interesting:



via Creative Minority Report

Some great thoughts on boys and violence

Another great piece by Sally Thomas:

What I think I have come to understand about boys is that a desire to commit violence is not the same thing as a desire to commit evil...The problem is not that the boy’s hand itches for a sword. The problem lies in not telling him what they are for, that they are for something -- the sword and the itch alike. If I had told my aggressive little son not, "Be gentle," but, rather, "Protect your sister," I might, I think, have had the right end of the stick.

Read the rest here.

via Melanie

If saints wrote Valentine's candy hearts

Amusing (scroll down for the post).

Rescue in the rubble

One of the most amazing things I've seen in a long time:


via Althouse

Old Testament Possibly Written Centuries Earlier, Text Suggests

Interesting find.

Some amazing archaeological finds

I just now stumbled across this list of the best archaeological finds of 2008, and it's really fascinating.

"For we are saved by hope"

A picture of a crucifix that remained standing in Haiti after the earthquake.

Amazing illusion

Wow!

Fortitude and God's call for you

An energizing call to action to recognize the gifts God has given you and startusing them (and what it will take to do that).

Quote to ponder

"If you want to change the world, go home and love your family."

- Mother Teresa

Most Interesting Bookstores of the World

So neat!

Firm seeks to introduce sarcasm punctuation mark

Brilliant idea. (I'll leave it to you to decide whether there should be a SarcMark at the end of that sentence.)

"I'm just here to love"

The inspiring story of one young woman's work in Uganda. Her blog is here.

Celebrity TV confessions vs. sacramental confessions

A helpful analysis.

Do not let the anger rise as far as your mouth...

...Or your keyboard. Great advice.

The Periodic Table of Typefaces

Cute.

via There Are No Rules

The inspiring story of Patrick Henry Hughes

How a boy born disabled and blind went on to share his incredible gifts with the world, thanks to a lot of help from his father. Incredibly inspiring!

Amazing jump rope video

Very impressive. (Starts after a 20-second ad.)

Placebos: Pretty Good for Depression

A new study shows that both medication and placebos help patients with mild depression feel better.

The tango like you've never seen it done before

Wow!

Quote to ponder

"Creeds must disagree: it is the whole fun of the thing. If I think the universe is triangular, and you think it is square, there cannot be room for two universes. We may argue politely, we may argue humanely, we may argue with great mutual benefit; but obviously we must argue. Modern toleration is really a tyranny. It is a tyranny because it is a silence. To say that I must not deny my opponent's faith is to say I must not discuss it...It is absurd to have a discussion on Comparative Religions if you don't compare them."

- G.K. Chesterton

Texas Longhorns player was "miracle child"

A neat story about a star college football player and his family's faith in God.

Amazing card trick

Very cool! The trick starts at 1:50. (Some PG-13 language.)

What's the word?

I like this idea of having a one-word New Year's resolution.

"6 things I learned in 2009"

A great list from the Philosopher Mom.

Recognizing root sins

Some great thoughts for the new year.