The saints didn't have perfect information either

A great meditation on what closeness to God is really about.

A mass grave in the middle of NYC

Interesting video about a mass grave that few people know about.

Flying over America - beautiful!

All about the planets

Here is a neat link that has a lot of information about the planets. It tells you what their density is, their temperature, how long a day is, and how long a year is. You can see on the density chart that Saturn would float on water!

A great summary of package shipping options

A helpful post, especially for this time of year.

Hanukkah is the story of a great fight

Fascinating article (via this great post by Simcha).

Advent in 2 Minutes

See your house in a snow globe

Cool...if a little creepy.

Love and the disabled child

A powerful article by a woman who never wanted kids, whose life was transformed when she became a single mother to a daughter with Down syndrome who eventually developed cancer.

Fascinating facts about the biggest tsunami ever recorded

Wow.

Maternal death rates in hospitals with pro-life policies

DarwinCatholic has a great post about the Savita Halappanavar tragedy, with an important clarification about Catholic teaching on abortion and the life of the mother. The most interesting part was this statistic:

In this regard, Irish law and medical practice are in line with a Catholic understanding of the principle of double effect, which is to say: Not only did Irish law not mandate that the hospital decline to treat Ms. Halappanavar, but Catholic teaching does not either.  And, indeed, Ireland is right to be proud of its record of caring for the health of both mothers and children. The percentage of women who die of pregnancy related complications in Ireland (6 out of every 100,000 pregnancies) is half that of the pro-choice UK and less than a third of that of the United States. 

On the other side of depression

An inspiring post from a woman who recently battled Post Partum Depression.

Why homeschoolers shouldn't worry about the gaps in their children's educations

Great post.

When it rains on this mountain, the water could end up in one of three difference oceans

A rare geologic feature.

20 Most Amazing Microscope Pictures

The ant holding a microchip is amazing.

Time-lapse: Space shuttle Endeavour's trek across L.A.

Neurosurgeon who once doubted life after death now believes in heaven

Interesting story!

What an Astronaut's Camera Sees at Night

The Writing Revolution

The fascinating story of how one principal turned her school's performance around by focusing on an often-overlooked area of education: the ability to articulate ideas in writing.

Research shows that with exercise, less is more

That's what we lazy people like to hear!

If you mounted a camera in one place and took a picture at the same time every two weeks for a year...

This is what you'd see. Cool!

Photographs of life...lit only by glowing screens

An interesting visual commentary on the impact our electronic devices have on our lives.

Pictures of grandmas' favorite dishes from around the world

Neat!

Because I'm always a sucker for ultra-luxury airline videos...

Here's another one.

Astounding underwater footage

A surprising (and cool) way to separate egg yolks and whites

Why one couple went through the pain and expense of having their sterilizations reversed

An honest and inspiring post.

"Our Conversion on Contraception"

A powerful post about how secondary infertility influenced one mom's thinking about contraception.

"Why I'm involved with 40 Days for Life"

One woman's response to members of her book club, who kicked her out for being a pro-lifer.

When it's time to go

A raw, beautiful post by a missionary about to head back to a devastated region of Africa.

10 stars who refuse to get plastic surgery

An inspiring list!

"How a weekly holy hour changed my life"

Inspiring.

Who would represent the Vatican in the Olympics?

Funny post.

via Brandon Vogt

Bob Ross Remixed

A charming remix of the work of "happy little trees" painter Bob Ross:
 via Austin Kleon

Lightning in super-slow slow motion

An amazing video!

What does your phone number spell?

Find out here. (Very useful for helping kids remember important phone numbers!)

A tour of the most organized home in America

How big is the solar system?

This great graphic puts it in perspective.

A database of planets outside our solar system

Neat!

Dear Melinda Gates

Lots of great data here. Definitely worth a watch.

Beautiful no-mow yards

I'm not familiar with this book, but these pictures are inspiring:

How rich are you?

Find out where you rank on the global richness scale. Surprisingly revealing.

via City of God

A Litany for Healing

A powerful litany, from a service praying for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

How to host an organized garage sale

Impressive tips.

Hundreds flock to "Manhattanhenge"

"Manhattanhenge, sometimes known as the Manhattan Solstice, occurs when the setting sun aligns with east-to-west streets of the main street grid."

"A Conversation With My 12 Year Old Self"

A video 20 years in the making.

10 special needs of special needs parents

Practical tips for supporting parents of children with special needs.

Pictures of a mom who spent her birthday doing random acts of kindness

Inspiring!

10 Youtube URL Tricks You Should Know About

Some helpful stuff.

The symbolic power of keeping one empty drawer

A very interesting exercise.

How to Clock-Out When You Work From Home

A few great practical tips for not letting your work overtake your life when you work from home.

Amazing photos of 1870s London

Fascinating.

Some surprisingly interesting facts about pencils

Neat facts, along with some neat pictures of a man who makes micro-mini sculptures from the tips of pencils.

Ten Guilt-Free Non-Suppers

A helpful list for busy parents.

"Am I Married to My Brother?"

A post about sperm donation, and how it impacts the lives of people conceived that way. An excerpt:

It is clear that, at a visceral level, David Gollancz gets the foregoing teachings. He has drawn some good out of his situation by rejoicing in his long-lost siblings, but his feelings about his ancestry are mixed. He says: "It's rather uncomfortable, because artificial insemination was developed on an industrial scale for cattle and I don't like the feeling of having been 'bred.'"

"Happiness is the longing for repetition"

A touching and thought-provoking essay by a young woman who found solace in the power of ritual after the loss of her mother.

10 Billboard music milestones

Some fun stuff here, like the fact that Dark Side of the Moon spent 14 years on the Billboard 200 charts!

What writers can learn from ancient oral storytelling traditions

A powerful essay about Irish storytelling and what all writers can learn from it. An excerpt:

Lesson one: Dance with the language. There's a saying that "The English hoard words like misers, the Irish spend them like sailors." Those ancient storytellers were drunk on words. They arrested us with their language, they painted pictures. Storytelling, in print or speech, needs vital energy.

Pictures of a $42 million mansion - on 5th Avenue in NYC

Wow!

What A Wonderful World With David Attenboroug

Great way to start your week:

Catching a 178mph golf ball in a car

Amazing wood chip art

Beautiful!

The Dutch Village With No Roads

Some neat pictures of a town where people get around only by water.

Disability: A Thread for Weaving Joy

Powerful thoughts on suffering and joy from Archbishop Chaput.

Top 35 Saints Names Rarely Picked for Confirmation

A fun list.

The tragic story of a nun who lost her order

A heartbreaking and powerful piece by a man whose sister was called to life as a religious sister, then was left on her own as the order fell apart. Do take the time to read it.

NASA's Ultra-high Definition View of 2012 Venus Transit

To a Frustrated Poet

An amusing poem (which makes a reference at the very end to this famous poem).

The Catholic Mass in 155 A.D.

"We adopted a teen in our 50s"

A one-page summary of one family's experience who adopted a 15-year-old boy when they were in their 50s.