Sunspots 733

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to

someone else:

Christianity: A Christianity Today writer discovered that you don't have to frown to defend the Gospel. He has decided to be happier, and is better for it, in many ways.

A Relevant writer asks if God really wants everyone to be happy.

(and politics) A Christianity Today article on politics and the Southern Baptist Convention includes data indicating that the more frequent their church attendance, the less likely self-proclaimed Christians are to support building a wall, the more likely to support a pathway to citizenship, and the less likely to support stricter immigration enforcement. Also white evangelicals are less likely to support President Trump's try for a second term than are Republicans as a whole. 

A Christianity Today article on steps toward racial reconciliation in Charleston, SC, where, about four years ago, a white supremacist shot and killed 9 African-Americans at a Bible study.

(and Computing) A Relevant writer asks Christians not to engage in various kinds of behavior on social media.

Computing: (or something) Gizmodo reports on an investigation that found lots of law enforcement officers are members of on-line hate groups.

Gizmodo also reports that hospitals are being besieged by robocalls, often spoofing numbers from the hospital's own phone network.

Education: Grammarphobia discusses the use of the phrase "in the weeds."

Finance: Catherine Rampell wonders how the economy can be a) as strong and stable as it's ever been and b) threatened by a slender 0.25% rise in interest rates. (Both of these according to President Trump.)

Ms. Rampell also points out the failed promises accompanying the recent GOP-driven tax law. The deficit has increased significantly.

Food: Gizmodo reports on commercially released plant-based alternatives to meat.

Humor: (or something) Listverse gives the answers to 10 fairly common questions, starting with "Do bulls hate red?"

Christianity Today recounts 10 distractions of a pastor during the sermon.


Politics: Michael Gerson reports on the desperation of Venezuelans.

Science: National Geographic discusses race and ethnicity.

Gizmodo reports on the construction of the world's strongest magnet.

Gizmodo also reported on the discovery of a new crater on Mars.

Sports: The players at the recent LPGA Meijer Classic golf tournament included J. Y. Ko, S. H. Oh, E. Ji, M. He, L. Ko and B. Do, each with about as short a surname as you can get, and P. Thanapolboonyaras and S. Santiwiwatthanaphong, whose surnames are a lot longer. None of these players won, by the way, although Oh tied for second.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, I believe, it is public domain. 

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 592

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity:A Christianity Today article on the pervasive role of coffee in many churches.

Christianity Today also has an article on reasons why we can't afford not to pray for each other.

A writer for Relevant points out three lies that churches often teach about dating.

A Christianity Today interviewee wants us to stop reading the Bible in little pieces.


Computing: Gizmo's Freeware points to a helpful article on how to sort, and how to find most anything in your gmail.

Education: A Scientific American contributor weighs in on whether tablet devices are a good teaching tool.
 
Politics: A Relevant writer says that "we" are not in a holy war with ISIS.

Science: Scientific American reports that people react differently to moral dilemmas when they hear about them in a language other than their native tongue.

Scientific American also reports that a bipartisan group of military leaders is urging action to prepare for climate change. (The Republican-controlled Congress has specifically barred the military from doing so!)

And, says Scientific American, there is an almost unknown group of soil microorganisms, the Cercozoans, that occur in immense numbers, and astonishing variety, and are important in soil ecology.


Sports: (or something) The Associated Press reports that an 800-plus pound alligator has been caught in South Carolina.

Congratulations to In Gee Chun (aka Chun, In-Gee) on arguably achieving the best score ever in a major tournament, by a golfer of either sex, in the recent Evian Championship. (ESPN; Wikipedia)





Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 578

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:


Christianity: An articulate former atheist describes her process of coming to belief, in Christianity Today.

Ken Schenck on what the Bible says about bearing false witness.

The Environment: National Public Radio reports on a study of light pollution. 80% of North Americans can't see the Milky Way, because of so much light at night. We can't see it from our home. Can you?

Finance: Relevant and other sources report that HBO's John Oliver purchased (he says it's easy to do it) $15,000,000 "worth" of medical debt for about $60,000, and forgave all the debtors.

Health: The New York Times reports that the US is about 25th in the world in infant care.

Politics: Sojourners reports that Russell Moore, an important Southern Baptist, believes that Donald Trump is a lost soul, who should repent.

A woman writes, in Christianity Today, about being refused the use of women's restrooms, and other facilities.

Science: National Public Radio reports on our relationship with dogs. We may have domesticated dogs twice, or perhaps they domesticated us twice.

Listverse describes 10 groups of organisms that have been extinct for a long time. Like Trilobites, and lesser known creatures.

Science News reports that it may be possible to produce fully pluripotent stem cells from adult cells, thus making the use of embryonic cells unnecessary.

Sports: USA Today says that the first 14 LPGA golf tournaments of 2016 were won by young women -- under 23, until a week or so ago. The most recent one, a major tournament, which finished on June 13, was won by the youngest player ever to win a that major, in a playoff with another player who would also have been the youngest. Both are still teenagers.


Image source (public domain)