Happy 2015!

It is a new year at the weekly update and it seems so much has happened since my last post.  Have you heard about any of it?

This week we have a bit of an assortment of this and that.  Starting with this!  So, I've ridden the subway once since I read about this guy, the voice of "stand clear of the closing doors," and I can't stop thinking about his vocal influence. 

 

Now, let's move into some serious news.  I watched from Michigan, rather stunned, as the NYPD turned their backs to Mayor Deblasio at not one but both funerals for the slain officers.  This sums up the current "police slowdown" and how it is impacting the city, reminiscent of the 1970's....  And I found this editorial expressed a lot of my personal opinions about this issue and the respect warranted or earned by the police force.

Speaking of police relations, extended video footage shows that police officers offered no aid to 12-year-old Tamir Rice, and also tackled and restrained his teenaged sister after his shooting. 

And I am assuming everyone saw varied forms of media regarding the attack on Charlie Hebdo.  There are a lot of accounts and opinions, but this New Yorker piece makes an attempt to make sense of it in a way I appreciated.

 

 "Love, stronger than hate."

Moving into politics....the 114th Congress is in session, and a new abortion bill is already making its way into the conversation. 

Since it is now 2015, all talk is going to turn to 2016:  Presidential Election time.  Jeb Bush is "actively exploring", so we should probably start talking about him: here you go.  

Are we getting depressed?  So much heavy news?  Now here you go.

And Obama is working on free community college, which would be pretty awesome, if you ask me.

2014 has come and gone, which you may recall was a big goal year for No Child Left Behind.  Arne Duncan has some new plans to repeal this legislation.

Now, let's move away from anything serious.  

Does it make you feel old to know it has been ten years since Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston went kaput?  Jen is sick of being pit against Angelina, and she is trying to move permanently beyond Rachel.  Can she do it?

I find it kind of fascinating to read about the fact that mothers' (and even caretakers') brains actually physically change as a result of having a baby.  Perhaps especially fascinating to me because of the baby currently rolling around on my floor...but pretty interesting from a biological perspective in general.

And for another story that makes me want to be a scientist in order to fully appreciate and understand it-- apparently there are black holes approaching one another that will eventually collide and destroy their galaxy.  For some nerdy entertainment, check out the "edited" notes at the end-- just a little math error!

 

Have a dinner conversation at some point about the new TLC show, My Husband's Not Gay.  Possible points of conversation:  Being Mormon, the concept of this show and whether or not you agree with the petition, or the fact that TLC really is an acronym for The Learning Channel.

Have a great week!