Welcome to another installment of the Weekly Town Crier. That means that another week has passed you by. What did you do with it? Did you make the most of it? Did you seize every opportunity for God’s glory? Did you go deeper in Scripture? Did you increase in zeal? But before you get caught up in introspection, remember that just because I link something here, that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with it, just that it made me think and I hope it does the same for you.
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Read about the Jewish Reform congregation that shares a space with an Episcopal congregation.
Read as members of The Arcade Fire discuss their success.
Read this piece which considers the connection between music you listen to and how you dress.
Read as Time examines the resurgence of vinyl.
Read as The Economist ponders the future of the major record labels.
Browse as LifeHacker recommends the best online places to download free (legal) music.
Read this piece which notes that “Several influential evangelical leaders have called on pollsters to ask Democrats — and not just Republicans — if they are evangelicals when future primaries occur.”
Read as The Economist wonders whether Democracy and Islam are compatible.
Read about the “vital role” Catholics play in illegal immigration.
Read about why chimps eat dirt.
Read about analysts expecting a slim laptop from Apple. Read about the announcement. See the super-thin laptop for yourself.
Browse the week in photos from Yahoo.
View pictures from my recent trip to Mexico.
Read about scientists increasing life-span through “genetic tinkering.”
Read about Nepal’s “living goddess.”
Read about recent research that found that an overwhelming number of Americans support freedom of religious expression.
Read about the reported UFO sighting near Glen Rose. Watch this piece on the UFO.
Read as National Geographic examines “high tech trash.”
Read as Christianity Today interviews Joel Kilpatrick of the satire site LarkNews.com.
Read about how the leading Democrat candidates are courting evangelical voters.
Read about the building competition between McDonald’s and Starbucks.
See which campaigns celebrities are giving to. Because celebrities know politics.
Read about the first-season television run of This American Life coming to DVD.
Read about the recent study that found that the more expensive consumers believe an item to be, the more “happy” it (temporarily) makes them.
Read as Women’s Wear Daily examines the fashion sense of Ben Harper.
Read as Arcade Fire’s Win Butler backs Obama. Because celebrities know politics.
Read about Oprah Winfrey getting her own television network.
Read about the Austrian politician who recently said that Muhammad was a child molester.
Read about the identification of the Mona Lisa model.
Read about the Vatican debating “good and evil” in Harry Potter.
Read about the N.C. church handing out shot glasses at local bars asking patrons to “Give Us A Shot.”
Read about the U.S. reporting the highest rate of child births in 45 years.
Read about Romney’s MI victory, but read about the MI Republican party congratulating the wrong candidate.
Browse Timmy Brister’s suggested wardrobe for Southern Baptists attending the convention.
Read as CNet offers, in their words, “An Interview With the Misguided RIAA.”
Read about increasing attacks against Christians in Iraq.
Read about the recent survey that found that “clowns are universally disliked” by children of all ages.
Watch this commercial that made my wife and I laugh like no other commercial in recent memory.
Read as Al Mohler wonders whether Matriarchy is the future of America.
Read as Methodists target consumerism for Lent.
Read about the rise of “digital hymnals.”
Read about hundreds of people gathering outside of Iowa’s state capitol building “asking lawmakers to launch an effort to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage.”
Read about abortions hitting their lowest numbers since 1976.
Read about Time Warner “planning a trial to bill high-speed Internet subscribers based on their amount of usage rather than a flat fee.”
Read about hundreds of animals lining up in Mexico ” for an annual blessing.”
Regarding the vinyl revival: Does anyone know where I can get a new needle for my record player? I went online and their are hundreds of different needles, and I cannot identify a serial number for mine. I have one of those Sony retro players that plays vinal, casettes, and CDs. Does anyone know of a universal needle or have any advise. I bought all these great records but havent been able to play them for a year!
Thanks you Brent for doing us all a great service by keeping up with all that is going on in the world of Women’s Wear Daily! I know that many of us real men out there are doing ourselves a great disservice by not keeping up with women’s fashion the way you do. You are truly an inspiration!
Now what are your thoughts on the new spring lines by the more well known designers?!
kyle
Thanks Kyle. I do what I can. I just thought it was hilarious that Women’s Wear Daily was profiling the “fashion” of Ben Harper.
Lots of good stuff this week. The new, skinny Mac is krazy and the sonic commercial is hilarious. (I always like the husband and wife Sonic commercials. The wife, for some reason I can’t place, always reminds me of Megan.)
I find the article about the birth trend mildly offensive, you know? It seemed to imply that the birth rate has gone up only because we have more immigrants, less abortions, more teen births, and people who are too poor or too poorly educated to avoid pregnancy. It listed the birth rise as a result of many negative factors, and listed no positive factors. I’m not denying those factors, but I’d like to think that at least some of it is a result of faith-based decisions - people who believe that a “full quiver” is a blessing and not a burden. Wouldn’t you?
Hey Brent, I found out about your blog from your brother, who I have the blessing of being able to see on a regular basis :-)
I’m adding you to my list, maybe I’ll comment from time to time.
Peace,
Gabe M.
Pastor, I hope that Time is right and that vinyl becomes more commonly produced by contemporary musicians. Over Christmas my family and I enjoyed looking through and playing a large box of records, albums from the 50’s through 80’s, (as we talked, drank hot chocolate, etc.). The sound IS better. The white noise of small scratches adds to the pleasure, somewhat akin to the pleasure of the crackling sound of a fireplace.
With regard to the clown story link…I too fear clowns, finding them “frightening and unknowable”. My scariest nightmares have featured clowns.
I enjoyed this Weekly Town Crier.
Oh, the RIAA. Thanks for the link. That organization alone has done more to contribute to my severe dislike of big business capitalism than most others combined.
