I was more than perplexed to read that (childhood) obesity is considered a 'National Security Threat' by a group of retired military leaders.  (See http://azstarnet.com/news/science/health-med-fit/88b6433b-2062-50a7-8c1a-f33ca3b9d988.html for more information).  Apparently these d… Read full post »

So I saw a movie that I naturally wouldn't have chosen to watch.  I saw "Surrogates", a sci-fi/action movie, starring Bruce Willis.  The premise of the film: normal people like you and I live their lives through 'surrogates', usually idealized, youthful robotic versions of themselves.  … Read full post »

I'm just reading on yahoo news that Garrison Keillor, the man who invented Lake Wobegone and made "Lutheran" a household name beyond the Midwest, suffered a mild stroke earlier today.

I've never met Keillor or seen him do a live show.  I've listened to some of his "Prairie Hometown Companion" ra… Read full post »

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/singleparentsmaydoaswellastwostudy

If you click that link above, it will lead you to an article about the well being of children in two parent and single parent homes.

I am always relieved to find studies which suggest that children in single parent homes don't necessarily… Read full post »

All who are familiar with Facebook probably know the quizzes and questionnaires (from "If you were a monk, what order would you belong to?" over "What Greek goddess are you?" to "What is the optimal sex position for your temperament?"  I didn't make up any of these!).

One of my Facebook fri… Read full post »

So I wanted to comment more on the (in my opinion) great and joyful changes in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.   But, while being on vacation, I was shaken (quite literally) by some bad news from home: my mom had two heart attacks - one which she dismissed as… Read full post »

It's Friday, my day off.  Or, it's supposed to be my day off.  For some weird reason, life doesn't stop, the dog still needs to be walked, the kids still need to be fed and taken to day camp.

Life also still goes on at the National Assembly of the ELCA… Read full post »

So the 'Social Statement on Human Sexuality' passed with the exact (!) numbers of votes required for a two-thirds majority at the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA.  This social statement (this is a very crude summary, sorry!) acknowledges that there are sexual expressions other than the trad… Read full post »

As a permanent resident from Germany, I am often baffled by the very paradoxical view of sexuality in the U.S.  Sex sells almost everything everywhere in this country; on the other hand, sex still has dirty and guilty undertones to it. 

I don't know where I read the statistics about… Read full post »