Overflow

A good interview with the “Bowling Alone” guy. We definitely need stronger communities. Turning off the TV — and other forms of individualized entertainment — seems to be the only answer. You first, okay?

Actually, I watch very little TV. So Putnam’s preaching to the choir here.

Leonard Sweet has redesigned his site. He’s one of my favorite Christian authors and one of my favorite futurists.

Despite its name, this is serious. Not a joke.

Well, mostly not a joke. I love it anyway.

The Virtual Church of the Blind Chihuahua awaits. Fundamentalists beware.

Dear Prospective Tenant (a.k.a. no-showing jerkweed),

On the phone you were worried that your lack of rental history wouldn’t qualify you to rent from me. That was no problem. Then you were worried that your lack of credit history wouldn’t qualify you to rent from me. That, too, was no problem.

What does qualify you to rent from me, however, is that you have to SHOW. THE HELL. UP!

I know it’s illegal for landlords to discriminate based on race or sex. But I’m darn glad it’s not illegal to discriminate based on stupidity, ’cause you’re blackballed.

Find some other place to live.

Yours Truly,

Cody

It’s the end of the world as we know it. And I feel fine.

An article with twenty end-of-the-world wildcard scenarios. Some are definitely more wild than others.

Folks don’t like to be reminded that it could all end at any time. And I mean *all*. We like to think we’ll be remembered fondly by those who survive us. But what if there are no survivors? Is there anything that trancends our reality to give us hope?

I think there is. Hope you do too. As a Catholic, I know that what is important is that I be “ready” at any time — soul squeaky clean, relationships right, bills paid, clean underwear — just in case. We shouldn’t need a last chance to tell people we love them because they should already know, right? I try to focus on the present moment rather than obsess about the many gruesome and unpleasant ways I (or everyone) could buy the farm. But still, “quantum vacuum collapse” is a cool-sounding way for it all to end.