Welcoming the neighbor...

A nice article from the Capital Times, a Madison publication, about churches who are recognizing that we live in a global world and welcoming their neighbor from across the world with open arms.

"It's taking the church to the community."

EPA ruling

Why isn't a conservative president's administration allowing the laboratories of democracy to flourish? Allowing the states to act on issues like this has been a hallmark of the conservative movement. Then again, environmental protection has not exactly been such a hallmark for conservatives. But would a patchwork of different rules really be that bad so long as the state standards were more stringent than federal ones? I tend to disagree with the EPA here.

"'It is disappointing that the federal government is standing in our way and ignoring the will of tens of millions of people across the nation,' said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 'California sued to compel the agency to act on our waiver, and now we will sue to overturn today's decision and allow Californians to protect our environment.'" Go get 'em, Ahnold!

Needed a laugh

So with three finals down and one to go, I needed a good laugh.

DJ Gallo at ESPN provided it.

Radiohead

If anyone hasn't done so yet, you should download Radiohead's "In Rainbows" album here. It is certainly worth a listen (and probably worth some money, even though you can download it for free).

I particularly like the songs "Nude" and "All I Need," which are tracks 3 and 5. Radiohead has always been this band that I know I should get into, but never really have. I think their whole strategy of giving away this album is working, at least on me. I already have one album, but am planning to expand my collection soon. And I hope to buy the companion CD to In Rainbows as well. Read a track-by-track review of it here.

Obama's call to lawyers

Took my head out of the books briefly to read the foreward to Volume II of the Fall 2007 edition Charleston Law Review. It was penned by Barack Obama (former editor of the Harvard Law Review and Harvard Law graduate) and calls on lawyers to be "architects of a better world" in a time when "America needs its lawyers."

It was a moving piece, despite the obvious political motivation behind it (published in South Carolina mere months before the primary there). It's a little over-the-top, as well, but you get the sense that he means it.

His closing:

"Lawyers should help make real the American dream and protect people from abuse and injustice around the globe. We must join with religious leaders and grassroots organizers and business leaders and volunteers across the nation...The time is now."