A baby rhino,

rejected by its mom,

finds zookeeper parents.

Blogs… well, I’m near the end of what has been three very full weeks, and I’m hoping I can get posts up for next week — but here goes with our weekly edition of our weekly meanderings through the internet world.

First, one of our regular commenters and readers, David Opderbeck, is organizing a conference on Religious Legal Theory at Seton Hall University (Nov 12-13), and here is the announcement. 10% discount to anyone who identifies as a Jesus Creed blog reader!

A must-read: Tom Smith in South Africa.

A good story.

Excellent review by our friend, Vince Bacote.

LL Barkat on blogging and writing. (HT: TG) 

Karen chats a bit about Michael Moore, another indicator that a good course on economics is of value to each of us.

I’m thinking these two books are for women — and LaVonne can be your guide.

Jamie on beauty in a housing project — thanks Jamie for your story.

Heather Moffitt on God as Father.

Dan Kimball‘s right about “healthy desperation”: “ feel we are in a time period of healthy desperation. By desperation I mean that when Christians and the church get desperate about mission – then denominational barriers break down more, our non-essential theological difference don’t matter as much (not core historical orthodox theology which does matter, but the non-essential ones). When we become so desperate for people who don’t know Jesus, then our attitude and posture changes towards others. When we are so desperate with the reality that there are people who may be spending eternity apart from God – then as our hearts break thinking of that – then our petty differences seems so incredibly insignificant.”

Brett picks the best albums of the 2000s. (Don’t ask me.)

“Last night, I went to a political rally and a U2 concert broke out.”

2. Archaeological discovery in England awes archaeologists.

3. Debate about faith-based charities and aid.

4. A Lutheran visits with the Amish and tells his (Lutheran) story.

5. RIP: William Safire, who was more than a little tough on grammar (The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time: Wit and Wisdom from the Popular Language Column in the New York Times Magazine
).

6. I have no words for this report. Do you?

7. Thomas Friedman — a controversial piece.

8. The AfPak war on terrorism: reports of progress.

9. David Brooks: “Over the past few years, however, there clearly has been an erosion in the country’s financial values. This erosion has happened at a time when the country’s cultural monitors were busy with other things. They were off fighting a culture war about prayer in schools, “Piss Christ” and the theory of evolution. They were arguing about sex and the separation of church and state, oblivious to the large erosion of economic values happening under their feet.”

10. Does gambling stimulate the market?

Sports

Hester catches; Hester runs; Hester scores! Da Bears.