Spirit food: "Somewhere someone dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worthwhile, so when you are lonely remember it's true; somewhere, someone is thinking of you." -- Dr. Seuss (Thanks to Hana!)
Brain food:
- The science behind "morning breath." (via The Washington Post)
- Did Michelangelo paint a human brain stem on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? (via Boing Boing)
- Why is Facebook's Farmville so popular? Because it "entangles users in a web of social obligations." (via Mental Floss)
- "Are blindingly self-aggrandizing and entitled"; lack empathy.
- Sure do talk funny. (via BuzzFeed)
"After seven months of talks, Meadville Lombard Theological School and Andover Newton Theological School have agreed to join forces." The two seminaries, which serve students preparing for Unitarian Universalist ministry, will unite to form a "new interreligious 'university-style' theological institution" to be opened in June 2011. (via UU World)
UU voices: Is Unitarian Universalism a sort of Western Taoism? James at Monkey Mind explores what this might mean.
A joy:
"Electrolux, the world's second largest home appliance maker, said on Tuesday it will harvest bit of plastic from floating garbage islands in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, as well as from three European seas, and use the material to manufacture six showcase vacuum cleaners." (via GOOD)
A concern:
"According to the U.N., there were over 15 million recognized refugees around the world at the beginning of 2009, and another 826,000 asylum seekers. More than half of the world's refugees are in Asia and another 22% are in Africa; both regions where many governments are ill-equipped, legally and economically, to handle the volumes of people requesting protection in their borders." (via Time)
Good question!: Why do we dream? (via Live Science) Bonus question: What do our dreams mean? Consult this list of the most common ones to find out. (via Bits & Pieces)
Churchy things:
- Contrary to popular belief, most scientists are not hostile to religion. (via HuffPo)
- Pope Benedict XVI announced this week that he will create a new office at the Vatican to "fight secularization and re-evangelize the West." (via AP)
- Your weekly dose of Muppet: What kind of bird is Big Bird, anyway? One Ph.D student decided to find out.
- Were you thinking of naming your child Stallion? If you live in New Zealand, you can't---it's against the law. (via Mental Floss)
- Alex Trebek + Auto-Tune technology = One amazing Jeopardy! category (via Joe. My. God.)
Young adults of note: Thanks to founder Micki Krimmel, NeighborGoods.net has now gone national! Sign up to help the people in your community save money and make friends by lending and borrowing!
