Blogasbord Nibbles

Here's some first-of-the-week fare, in no particular order:

Christians in China are under more persecution lately, especially the house-church believers. And can you believe this is reported by Aljazeera?

Anyone interested in soap? Here's an neat-looking article from Aleppo, Syria. Scroll down to see the soap made into grape clusters. Aleppo always reminds me of the witches in Macbeth.

Worst lesson plan ever, in a 4th grade classroom in Roanoke,Virginia. Although I think maybe I could understand the well-intentioned ignorance of this teacher, I was really, really appalled.

The missing violin -- there's a very expensive Stradivarius, floating around out there, homeless.


Alzheimer's breakthroughs -- they're making progress in figuring out this terrible illness. I know nothing of medicine, but it's interesting that this article seems to point to the need to keep our proteins in good working order. Do you know one way that we really mess up our bodies proteins (aside from not getting enough of them)? By eating so much corn. Corn isn't just the yellow stuff on your plate. It's used to make almost everything we eat. It's in all the processed foods: high fructose corn syrup, corn thickeners, it's fed to our beef, chicken, pigs and fish, sometimes as much as 90% of their diet. So, all the milk, cheese, eggs, cream, etc. they produce are also just various forms of ... corn. As your body builds its protein strands, it needs various types, not just all one type, for health. Find grass-fed beef, free-range chickens that eat grubs and bugs. Get the processed foods out of your kitchen. Eat more spinach, beans, broccoli, and nuts.

Boston goes crazy. While I might be a little bit health-foody, I want people to choose good food, not be forced. The city of Boston is now banning all sweet drinks on city property (including sweet tea! This would never happen in the South!!) Yeah, you heard that right. Ridiculous.

Teen sexuality -- the news seems to get worse and worse. Over 30% of 18 year old girls are on the pill. 1/4 of American teenage girls are infected with an STD. Use of the pill among teen girls has increased by 50% in the past decade. I do believe the Democrats' plan for "educating the public" on this issue, is failing miserably.