Just One More Reason to Be Vegetarian

Low-protein diet might reduce cancer risk

Aside from the environmental benefits and the efficiency (growing plants to feed people instead of growing plants to feed animals to feed people), add one more health benefit to no meat - it may reduce cancer...again.

Link: Low-protein diet might reduce cancer risk

'Twas Brillig

We got Avi a Jabberwocky book a while back and he quite likes it. In fact, just today he was playing Jabberwocky in the park with Elizabeth, a stick his vorpal sword. So when my sister asked if he'd like a plush Jaberwocky, how could I say no? It's in his bed right now as I write. The question is, are nerds made or are they born?

On a related note, he also has a Santa Cthulu. It's great! How many kids have seasonal plush Ancient Ones? Not many, I'd wager. That was also my sister's doing. He isn't quite as attached to that one as the Jabberwock, but he hasn't read any Lovecraft...yet.

If you want to know why my sister is getting Avi this odd assortment of toys, it's because she owns a game store: Z Games in Vancouver, Washington. The toys are from Toy Vault - they also have an excellent selection of Monty Python toys.

Hirsuit Avi

I wish I was present for this story, but alas, it comes from Elizabeth. She will no doubt make corrections if I get it wrong - and it wouldn't be the first time

Avi was looking at an ornament hanging on our small Christmas tree in the corner of the room, which happened to be a picture of him in a Santa Clause frame. Santa has a big, white beard and his outstretched arms hold the "frame" portion of the ornament. Elizabeth was telling Avi that the picture was him when he was one. He kept staring at the ornament, looking puzzled and said, "no, that's not me." Elizabeth reassured Avi that, yes, it was indeed him that he was looking at. It was clear he wasn't buying it and after staring a little bit longer he asked incredulously, "I had a white beard?"

Isaiah on Tuesday - Faith of Hezekiah

In chapters 36 and 37 of Isaiah, the book takes an historical narrative turn. Isaiah recounts the siege of Jerusalem, which wasn't much of a siege at all. The army of Assyria marches up to the city walls and demands surrender; moreover, the field commander mocks the God of Israel saying that none of the other conquered people's gods saved them. It was both a boast and an insult.

Hezekiah, however, refused to bow to the Assyrian army, but instead turned to God for deliverance. God indeed delivered Jerusalem - slaying the army supernaturally and sending the field commander packing.

It should be noted, however, that God lays out His reason for saving the city in Chapter 37, verse 35, "I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!" God is faithful to His promises and though Hezekiah was saved, It was for God's glory and not his that city was delivered.

New Template - Again

So Blogger and Google got together and offered some new features for the blog and I thought I'd take advantage of them. The most notable is labels. Look at the bottom of each post and to the right column - you'll see a label marking general topic categories. Now you can view posts by topic! Cool.

I may change the look to be a bit more minimal, but for now, it works. I'm in the process of labeling all the past posts, but there are a fair amount, so it may take a while.

Hand Transplant Not a Horror Movie

Woman has double hand transplant (BBC)

Once again the miracles of modern technology never cease to amaze me. I just hope those hands didn't belong to a serial killer...or someone who died with an unquenched need for revenge.

Children suffer when mother lacks input, UNICEF says (Reuters)

Just a reminder to all you men out there: Eve was created because YOU needed the help. You couldn't do it yourself and were never meant to. See this whole marriage thing is a partnership, like the whole church thing. We really need to get better at this...

Link: Children suffer when mother lacks input, UNICEF says (Reuters)