Jim Wallis thinks the Religious Right is as good as dead.

AU doesn't agree.

WORLD on the ragtag lineup of conservatives for 2008.

What will Christians do with no clear choices? They will have to think. Horrors!

UPDATE: It goes like this.

Courtesy amazon.com and Instapundit

Garrett's back from the Southlands, and he's blogging up a storm.

Webwagiddywhat?

The Economist on trade unions and productivity. (Instapundit again)

A substantial piece on Milton Friedman. (Instapundit)

A fascinating way of navigating the world(s) of literature. (Hat Tip: Irrational Optimist)

MercatorNet with a critical review of a new book lauding "the hidden benefits of disorder."

Time for some long-overdue reverse marketing.

These phones don't play games, take pictures or give you the weather

Meet the Jitterbug.

VOM, Laos:

In North Central Laos, on January 18, five police officers showed up at a Christian brother's home and arrested him. VOM sources have known him and his family for 20 years. His wife and 12-year-old son did not get an opportunity to speak to him before he was taken away. All efforts to locate him or allow his wife to know where he is being detained have been unsuccessful. According to VOM contacts, in several similar incidents, the people taken by police were never found alive. Pray for this family, that has led more than 500 people to Christ in the past two years. Ask God to protect this brother and comfort his wife and child.

Another excellent blogger in Iraq. Here's a good place to start. (PjM)

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: weighing dreams against reality.

A good piece from Joel Belz on paying taxes.

I think AU is right on this one.

A look at what Iraqi Christians are facing. Read it. (PjM)

Rudy Roundup:

• Pajamas Media
• WorldViews
• Always more at Wikipedia

Thomas Sowell on global warming. He appeared - as a much younger man - on Milton Friedman's Free to Choose series. (PjM)

Oh brother.



(PjM)

WorldViews: "has poetry left the culture, or has culture left poetry?"

A computer has discovered that the Mona Lisa is happy.

The painting was analyzed by a University of Amsterdam computer using "emotion recognition" software.
It concluded that the subject was 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful and 2% angry.

(Irrational Optimist)

AU: "This time, science won."

Hmmmm.



Some more commentary from the Parish Blog.

VOM, Indonesia:

This week 50 Muslim fundamentalists stormed a house church in an Indonesian village, questioning the use of the house for church services. According to VOM sources the mob raided the house disrupting the service and smashing a keyboard. Christians in the village are afraid and leaders are considering moving the house church to another area.

The Army, hurting for recruits, is being forced to lower the bar. (PjM)

Must we forever punish success?

(Instapundit)