A Dash of Salt

Weekend Wonderings

Who said it this week: "Opps! We didn't mean to invade."  Iran?  North Korea?  How about Switzerland?!?  Here's the latest example of Swiss global imperialism when it "invaded" Liechtenstein!

Happy Birthday today to my favorite mother-in-law, Nancy Cox!  She probably won't be near the internet today to read this tender note from her positively-the-best-son-in-law, so if you see her, wish her a happy birthday.

From the Bible Blog astronomy desk: There will be a total lunar eclipse tonight.  Here's the scoop from CNN.

Are you concerned about global warming?  We all probably should be to a point, though I find it kinda confusing when the really warm weather in early winter AND the really cold weather we experienced just a few weeks ago are both blamed on global warming.  Any way, being the not-so-scientific-person that I am, I need a little help in keeping my El Ninos from getting mixed up with my La Ninas.  Thankfully, Michael Kruse makes sense of it all with this post that's light on the science but heavy on the fiction: "Global Warming: Klatuu will save us!"  (Heads up: If you're an Al Gore fan, you might not want to read it.)

A story about asking for forgiveness from those we've offended.  This a very personal post from Art Boulet, a seminarian studying and working in Philadelphia.  I learned a lot from his experience as a waiter in a restaurant and his conversation with a lesbian couple.  (HT: Scot McKnight) 

Weekend Wonderings

In the battle of man against the elements, here's photographic proof that my buddy, Jeff McMullen, lost his fight against the snow and ice.  (I should say his car lost.)  Why shovel snow when you can plow it with your car, right, Jeff?!?

After nearly two hundred years away, wild beavers have come back to New York City.  Here's cool video of a beaver swimming in the Bronx River.  The last time they were there, they could gnaw through trees.  Rots-a-ruck if they try one of those skyscrappers!

Do you ever struggle with thought patterns that just won't leave your mind?  The problem we need to "reboot" our thinking, according to Doug Murren.  He has some terrific suggestions on how to renew your mind with the truth.  (HT: Jim Martin)

Jessica Robinson paid off her car this week, and she is way too excited.  (Congratulations, Jessi!)  In other financial news, Scot McKnight confessed that he has never ever used a debit/check card in this funny post he wrote.  Some of the comments are even funnier.

Here's a new NT Greek website by Dan Phillips who is doing it just for the fun of it.  Looks very interesting, not too technical or scholarly, though you do need to know Koine Greek to benefit from it.  (And I know that there are number of my loyal blog readers who would get a lot of it...the usual seminary types and others.)  Perhaps it will inspire you to learn Greek.

These Demotivator posters are hilarious!  They inspire me to try harder...I think.  Thanks, Justin Taylor, for the laughs. 

The Great Comet of 2007

For the last week or so I had heard snippets of information about Comet McNaught (also known as  C/2006 P1 to astronomers) but didn't know any details about this remarkable celestial visitor.  I think the comet is getting little attention up here in the northern hemisphere because for the most part we have trouble seeing it, while folks south of the equator are being treated to a spectacular heavenly display.  Some astronomers claim that this is the brightest comet to swing past Earth in 70+ years.  In fact, Comet McNaught is so bright that it can be seen with the naked eye in broad daylight.  (I remember being able to just barely see Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997.) 

Here's the lowdown on Comet McNaught from a helpful article at Space.com.  Wikipedia also features an artist's rendering of the orbit of Comet McNaught in relation to the Sun and the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.  Notice how the tail of the comet shoots away from the Sun.  A comet is really just a ball of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the sun in an elliptically shaped path.  Astronomers theorize that as a comet approaches the sun it encounters solar radiation which causes the outer surface of its nucleus to melt and release a large stream of dust and gas, producing the comet's prominent tail.  The closer the comet comes toward the sun, the brighter and larger its tail.  For all of you astronomy wannabes, you might like to read Wikipedia's informative entry on comets.

"The heavens declare the glory of God..."  (Photo by Stephen Gunther in Chile)

Weekend Wonderings

Happy Veterans Day!  "Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Freedom."

Now that Lost is in hiatus until February 2007 after its six-week mini season this fall, I'm beginning to look forward to the new season of 24 premiering in January 2007.  Here's the latest trailer of the upcoming sixth season.  It appears to be a doozy of with most of the old characters back as Counter-Terrorism Unit Agent Jack Bauer once again saves the US from diabolical terrorist threats, all in real time, and in just 24 hours.  On a side note, I found Jack Bauer's Having a Bad Day recently in a catalog.  The book seeks to explore the faith dimension of Agent Bauer and 24 from Season One.  Looks quite interesting.  Has any one read it yet?  What did you think?

Twenty things you probably didn't want to know about death.  (I bet you'll read it anyway.)  [HT: Evangelical Outpost]

Tired of meetings?  So is Scot McKnight.

Jessica "With a Flourish" Robinson has redesigned her blog.  Take a look here.

Cool outer space stuff: What Earth looks like from orbit.  Here's the latest picture of the Orion Nebula captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.  And weather news from the planet Saturn.

Astronomy and Theology

Here's a theology lesson for you...Have you taken the time to expand your awareness of God by gazing at the stars?  "The Vast Panorama" is a wonderfully insightful essay by Eric Hurtgen who discusses the immensity of our galaxy and what it teaches us about God.  Beware of shrinking the universe -- and with it your perception of God -- into the cozy little bubble around you by forgetting to look up!