Random

• Lisa Miller (Newsweek) deconstructs Rick Warren's contribution to the inauguration ceremony. She is insightful and fair. ~ link

• There is not only a new president but a new White House website as well -- which includes a blog. Wow. I think we just entered the 21st century. ~ WhiteHouse.gov 2.0

• And they are tweeting, too. I decided to become a follower to see where they're going. So far there are only 5,370 followers. ~ link

• Apparently Joseph Lowery has become a right-winger -- based on his benediction -- "...and when white will embrace what is RIGHT." ~ link

Actually, he's used that line (about black, yellow, brown, red, and white) before. In the cyberworld he'd be labeled a troll. And everyone knows that the best way of dealing with trolls is to simply not feed them. "Please don't feed the trolls."

• Joseph Biden is the first Roman Catholic vice president in US history -- although many Catholics would disassociate themselves from him because of his position on abortion. ~ link

• Arizona State University might close their new east campus because of state budget cuts. "The polytechnic campus -- with its adjoining airport -- is the planned centerpiece of east Mesa’s future economic development." Tom Gibbs, one of the students from our congregation in Turlock, is currently studying there. ~ link

• We're a bit Guam-centric out here and if the new president doesn't stop by for a visit within the next week or so the locals are going to be wondering why he's forgotten them. ~ link

• New Canadian study: "The main finding of this study is that religious worship attendance is associated with a decreased risk of suicide attempts..." Just being "spiritual" doesn't seem to help. ~ link