Touchstones Of The Week

To catch us up a bit after days of being ill, I'll cover things that we discussed this week.

Since we just celebrated Valentine's Day, let's take a look at the history of the holiday.

Hey, you know that piece about making a cola that tasted like Coke, that we heard part of the other night? Here's the entire piece. Have fun exploring the archives for all kinds of interesting stories, from exploring True Urban Legends to asking What Is Money?

So, remember when Angela (Bones, The Foot In The Foreclosure, season 5) used the fictional Palentone color and ink palette to track down that orange fabric found in the crime scene? There is such a resource and it's called Pantone. Watch how Pantone works, here.

(And while I love Bones, I personally agree, she's no Dana Scully.)

You know that long car ride discussion we have sometimes, about winning the lottery (that we don't play) and how we would use the money? Ever wonder just how much a billion dollars is? Read this and find out. What do you think about this article? Does it raise any moral or ethical questions for you regarding wealth distribution? Does it make sense to you that so few should have control over so much? Do you think billions are being used well? Would you do anything differently if you had a billion(s) dollars?

I think you know, but Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides information, health care and screening, birth control and abortions, std (sexually transmitted disease) protection and prevention, counseling, and many other services to anyone seeking help, and often to people without socio-economic privilege (meaning they have under or unemployment, low wages, no health care benefits, and often minimal education-but not always-as well as other negative societal impacts, such as gender barriers, childcare, transportation, disabilities, etc). Today, the Republican controlled House voted to cut all funding for Planned Parenthood. Without federal funding, services provided to those who are the least economically and socially privileged will be hindered or eliminated completely. What are your thoughts about this? Do you think Planned Parenthood is a necessary institution? Do you think religious or political convictions have a place in deciding who has access to health care? How does this issue compare to the previous paragraph regarding wealth distribution? Let's discuss this further, as I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Of Rabbits, Art and Revolution

GUNG Hey Fat Choy! Happy New Year! This is the Year of the Rabbit, which means, Adam, that this is your year, as you were born in 1999. Tomorrow we'll get the chance to really celebrate this Chinese spring festival, and once again we'll wonder, just what is bubble tea? Also, check out this gorgeous work by a local artist.

What do you think of Colin Firth's The King's Speech after hearing the actual speech given by King George VI?

I know, Olivia, you especially were taken with Van Gogh's art (thanks to this inspiring Doctor Who episode--see, tv is valuable), and as it happens, the recently debuted Google Art Project, makes it possible to see paintings and art up close, including Van Gogh's work--the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam is a great place to start. After choosing a museum and artist, you can view a slide show of the paintings, and by using the little frame in the lower right corner, you can zoom in on the painting, too. It's incredible to see the textures, brush strokes and layers of paint, don't you think?

Finally, earlier this week, Sean Hannity of Fox News said, "“Can you name any country that became a democracy after a violent revolution? Honestly, can you even name one?” So, can you name one country that became a democracy following a violent revolution? Further--can you name a second, third, fourth or fifth*?

Does the Czech Revolution of 1989 mirror the current political climate in Egypt in any way? Do you see any dissimilarities?

* The United States, France, India, The Czech Republic, Poland, East Germany (and much of eastern Europe in 1989), all have had revolutions that involved loss of life, in the pursuit of democracy.