Catch a screening.

From NPR:

Christian peace activist James Loney was captured by Iraqi militants in Baghdad in November 2005. He and one other hostage were released four months later, while a third was killed. Loney lives in Toronto, where he remains active in the peace movement.

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To the Best of Our Knowledge has a really interesting five-part series on science and religion.  I just finshined listening to the first part, which has brief interviews with Karen Armstrong, Richard Dawkins, and Ken Wilber.  You can listen to all five parts here.

From Part One - Science vs. Relgion:
Do science and religion have to be at war with
each other? Francis Collins doesn't think so. As head of the Human Genome Project, he has a distinguished track record as a gene hunter. He's also an evangelical Christian who believes in miracles. But biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins says religion can never be reconciled with science

From RaceforTibet.org:

August is the start of the one year countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is teaming up with various Tibet groups across North America for a Day of Action!  On August 4, 2007, thousands of Tibet supporters across North America will attend major league baseball games in different cities and participate in a highly visible display!

We will be waving Tibetan flags and hoisting a banner from the bleachers of each stadium, as well as passing out Tibet literature. We expect to be seen by 25,000 to 50,000 fans in each location, and by millions watching live on national television.

We still need volunteers to help with this action in various cities!

The work will be very easy and you will have the chance to enjoy a free baseball game while helping out the Tibet movement.

If you can help organize on August 4^th, 2007 please sign up online . Alternatively, you may contact ICT at 877-259-9209.

Thank you for your ongoing support for the Race for Tibet!

ICT Advocacy Team

Here is an interesting bit on NPR regarding the death and birth of atoms in our body.  It states that 98% of all our atoms in our body are replaced in a year.  You are literally not the same person you were a moment ago.  This is a key teaching of Buddhism; all compounded things are impermanent. 

From NPR's All Things Considered, July 14, 2007 · For most people, a makeover means losing weight and getting new clothes, hair and makeup.

But what they may not know is that the body does its own extreme makeover regularly. In fact, 98 percent of the atoms in the body are replaced yearly.

Researchers in the 1950s made the discovery by feeding their subjects radioactive atoms. Using radiation detectors, the researchers watched the atoms move all over the body. They found that the new atoms replaced old ones and ended up in all tissues of the human body.

But these atomic makeovers prompt a more philosophical question: Are people really themselves if their atoms are always new, or are they new people each year? David Kestenbaum tackled that philosophical question — and discussed atomic makeovers — with the experts.

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Last night I caught a really funny and true film about the lives (or lack thereof) of teachers called Chalk.  It's an independent film by Austin director Mike Akel.  Akel is an obvious Office fan, and the film is shot in the same faux-documentary style.  The film captures teacher/student tirades, workplace love, co-worker battles, and new teacher burnout.  As someone who has gone into battle teaching in inner-city public schools, I haven't seen a more accurate portrayal of teaching than this one.  Most of the films I see on teaching involve some godly being going into the dark realms of public school, changing, or even saving, the lives of their students.  Chalk doesn't go into these overly dramatic exchanges that cause most teachers to roll their eyes.  It's unpretentious and very honest.  If you are a teacher or want to know about our lives, it's a must see!

NYTimes.com has a cool interactive graphic representing campaign fund-raising from each candidate and corresponding location of funding sources.  My hometown, San Antonio, is supporting Clinton by a long shot.  This somewhat surprises me.  I would have guessed Edwards or Obama.  The Clintons have visited lil' ol' San Antonio recently though.  To check out what candidate your city is supporting monetarily, visit this page.

Whole Foods is selling designer handbags -- designed by Anya Hindmarch -- and are getting iPhone-like lines!  I love the enthusiasm for such an Earth-friendly item, I'm just not sure if these people will actually be using them for storing their recently puchased groceries.  At least it brings awareness to the problems of plastic grocery bags.


I have been bringing my own set of canvas bags to the grocery store for a few years now.  Unfortunately Texas grocery baggers aren't too aware of what they should be used for.  They usually pack the groceries in plastic bags and then put them in the canvas bags.  I of course have to piss off the line I'm in by having the bagger take the groceries out of the plastic bags and put in the canvas bags.  We don't travel around on horses though; although, I guess we should!