Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Shot of the Day for March 2, 2009

Night Cap

By Flickr Member Imageining

Good News From Mary March 3, 2009

Christians to Hold National Day of Prayer, Fasting for America

Christians nationwide are joining together for a national day of prayer and fasting for America on Wednesday.

Participants will pray and confess their sins to God and commit to obeying His laws in hopes that God will rescue the country from its current economic crisis.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

All you need is love - and tuition

A university in Liverpool has launched a Master of Arts degree in The Beatles, the city's most famous sons, and called the qualification the first of its kind.

Click here
to read the rest of this story.

Bust out the calculator: It's Square Root Day
(for my son the math major)

Dust off the slide rules and recharge the calculators. Square Root Day is upon us.

The math-buffs' holiday, which only occurs nine times each century, falls on Tuesday — 3/3/09 (for the mathematically challenged, three is the square root of nine).

Click here for the rest of this story.

Where's the cure for cancer?

President Obama's pledge to conquer cancer "in our time" is a great goal, but one of America's top cancer experts isn't sure he'd use the word "cure."

"The idea of [calling for] a cure does scare me a little bit because, I don't think that's realistic in some cancers," says Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. "But I like the general overall idea, and I'm thrilled about the focus on health."

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Apple touts affordability with new desktop line

Apple Inc. introduced a refreshed line of desktop computers Tuesday, notable as much for their price tags as new features.

The rollout included a long-rumored update to the Mac Mini, as well as a less-expensive iMac and Mac Pro. In a significant nod to the recession, Apple pointed up the affordability of its new machines, a departure for a company used to focusing intensely on performance and design.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Good News for March 3 (posted by Mary Beth)

Protecting Conscience: An Obstacle to Tyranny

"Last week, what the Washington Post characterized as a 'terse posting on a federal Web site' set the stage for a debate on just how seriously our society takes freedom of conscience.

The posting announced that the Obama administration was planning to rescind 'job protections for health workers who refuse to provide care they find objectionable.' These explicit protections were issued in the last few months of the Bush administration."

Read the rest of Chuck Colson's commentary here.


Old Sets Live on as Broadway Embraces Recycling

"Ever wonder where the levitating tire from 'Cats' went? The helicopter from 'Miss Saigon'? How about the millions of dollars’ worth of scenery, props and costumes associated with the more than a dozen Broadway shows that have closed since late December?"

Raise the curtain on the rest of the story here.


Wabash Avenue preserves grungy charm of old Chicago

"City promoters weighing how to spruce up Wabash Avenue a few years ago called it 'the backbone of the 'real Chicago,' . . . an unpretentious street of hidden treasures and noisy charm.' But there is no ignoring the fact that visitors there speed up and look over a shoulder, a tad unusual in the beautified Loop."

Click here to visit Wabash Avenue.


Commonly overlooked tax deductions

"This year many people will be looking to save every penny they can on their taxes. And there are lots of savings to be had, even if you can't itemize deductions, according to CCH, a provider of tax, accounting, and audit information and services.

Here are 11 commonly overlooked tax deductions."

You'll find the money-saving details here.


Zulu coconut delivered to President Obama

"The president of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club presented President Barack Obama with a hand-painted, personalized Zulu coconut in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, marking the 100th anniversary of the black Carnival club and the election of the first African-American president."

Check out the story here.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Good News Stories

Meeting physical potential requires varied exercise

"In order to enjoy all the benefits that exercise has to offer, vary your usual routine on a regular basis. Performing the same type of activity at the same level of intensity week after week gives your body nothing new to adapt to, slowing or stopping you from reaching your strength and endurance potential."

Click here to learn more.


God’s stimulus plan

"Want to prosper in this economy? Prosperity isn’t such a bad word; in fact, it’s especially needed in the Body of Christ these days!"

Click here to read more.

Rags to Heirlooms: A Collector’s Legacy Mirrors Milestones

"MY sister collects first editions. My neighbor amasses American pottery from the 19th century.

And I collect rags.

I hadn’t planned to. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it. But I now understand that this is not accidental, this penchant for seeking and saving cleaning rags. There’s a history here. There’s a legacy."

Click here to read more.


Pruning Clematis

"Clematis are one of the most popular groups of garden perennials. These flowering vines can be worked over an arbor, threaded through other perennials or secured up a tree. Growing them is fairly easy. But pruning clematis tends to instill fear in the stoutest of gardeners. This fear is unwarranted, since pruning clematis simply breaks down to a question of when your clematis blooms."

Click here to learn more.