Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitude is the foundation of happiness. Today could be the happiest day of the year. I'm grateful to God. I'm doing much better than I deserve.

My parents are here in MA for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for them. They are great parents.

My wife is amazing. I am grateful for her more now than when we married almost 18 years ago. We are building something difficult and substantial.

I am so grateful to God for my kids.

I'm going to get in on a call to my sister in CA. I'm grateful for her and her family.

I'm grateful for the many people who make it possible for Alex and I to serve students.

...

Happy Thanksgiving.

A Winter Warning for Drivers

snopes.com: Cruise Control on Wet Roads Hazard

Meh: Good Word

GOOD » Doh! Meh Makes Its Mark »: "Regardless, a lowly interjection just got its due: meh—The Simpsons-coined, shrug-like expression of apathy—will be included in the 30th anniversary edition of the Brit-focused Collins English Dictionary. The word won a competition in which readers could make a case for their favorite neglected term."

Church in the City Online

Market Watch: Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, has acquired The City, a propriety online community-building software program created by Seattle-based Mars Hill Church. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Developed over the past two years by Mars Hill pastor of technology, Zack Hubert, who spent eight years in management at Amazon.com, The City was created in response to the church's need to improve communication, better engage with members, support small groups, build a stronger church community and free up administrative resources. Mars Hill launched The City earlier this year to create a dynamic, engaging interactive online community for its more than 7,000 members. Within two months of launch more than 85% of the church's members had signed up and more than 75% visit the site every single day.
"The City is an essential part of the way our members and our staff communicate every day," said Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill's founding and preaching pastor. "Thanks to Zondervan churches and organizations around the world will have access to this resource to help people meet Jesus and build community."

This is creepy

123people.com | Find everyone you (want to) know!

Either way...

The Volokh Conspiracy - -: "The rise and rise of American exceptionalism.

The U.S. was supposed to become a normal country again. The Bush administration’s unsuccessful agenda to extend American supremacy and the repudiation of Bush in this election were supposed to prove that the United States must take its place as just one country among many. Yet the election of Barack Obama has had the reverse effect. Suddenly, the United States has prestige that matches its power and wealth, and this prestige no other country can touch. People around the world beg the United States to “exercise leadership” and solve the world’s problems (but with “humility,” please!). See here and here, among a thousand similar articles.

There are two versions of American exceptionalism. American-American exceptionalism is “we’re richer because we’re better.” European-American exceptionalism is “you’re better because you’re richer.” Both sides agree on exceptionalism, and just see different causes and implications. The Europeans expect us, on account of our wealth, to live up to (their) ideals, while we think that our wealth ought to prove to them that our ideals are better than theirs. No one of any importance seems to think that the United States is a normal country. Oh, what confusion lies ahead!"

Another reason why Twitter is cool...

LAFD's One-Man Geek Squad Brings Web 2.0 to Firefighting: "Humphrey monitors for keywords like 'LA' and 'fire.' During 2007's 800-acre burn in Griffith Park, he got real-time reports on flare-ups and wind directions from Twitterers on the ground, then relayed the information to commanders battling the flames."

Tough Regulation

Free Starbucks Coffee On Election Day After Illegal Ad - News Story - KIRO Seattle: "Election officials for the state of Washington told KIRO 7 that rewarding voters with free coffee is illegal.

'No good deed goes unpunished,' said Nick Handy, director of elections.

Handy said there is a federal statute that prohibits any reward for voting.

Starbucks' good deed can be perceived as paying someone to vote, and that’s illegal, Handy said.

'The way it is written, it expressly prohibits giving any kind of gift,' Handy said.

Handy said the intent of the statute is aimed at special interest groups trying to influence who and how people vote.

To fix the situation, Starbucks had agreed to give a tall cup of coffee to anyone who asks on Election Day."