Simple Pictures

As repetitive and disheartening as it is, I still read the news. Sometimes I find information that encourages me but mostly, I am curious about what is happening all around me. In that endeavor, I came across "Unseen Iraq" in the Washington Post. Photographer Andrea Bruce presents--literally--snapshots of daily life in Iraq. One image and the story behind it. The combination of a single photo and a few words tells more about life under occupation than all the chattering heads and experts combined.

Hiker News

My Appalachian Trail companions Montreal and Kutsa are out hiking again. This time the Quebec National Trail across Montreal's home province. They have a bilingual website with a not yet updated journal and other information at Pancrhromatic Paseo Productions. And a film, The Maine Reason, due out next February.

They were fine companions in 2002 and again in 2005. I'm pretty sure this trip will be worth following.

IOKIFYAAR

It's okay if you are a Republican.

Some evangelicals said today that they were not put off by the news, in light of the fact that Bristol Palin plans to carry the baby to term and marry the father. Cathie Adams, president of the Eagle Forum's Texas chapter, said she was pleased Palin's daughter was nearly done with high school and that she was going ahead with the pregnancy.

"This is a family that keeps dealing with challenges and they keep doing the right thing," Adams said, adding that humans are "fallen beings."

Only an evil liberal would judge this good family in this private matter.