Here’s a somewhat technical article on disappointments in Mr. Obama’s temporary (I think) appointments to federal positions in arts and humanities. Apparently, one of them is liar and the rest have little arts experience.

Why would anyone want a cabinet level office on American culture? I didn’t think people wanted government in their lives.

I think this comparison is horrendous. Actor Edward Norton says the upcoming Earth Hour, where participants will turn off “non-essential lighting” for an hour for the sake of saving energy and saving the planet, is symbolic just like the march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, where participants were beaten by police, was symbolic. I wonder Norton thinks the student who stood before the tanks in Tiananmen Square were standing symbolically too.

Got this from our friend Roy Jacobsen, of Writing, Clear and Simple, who lives in Fargo:

If you decide it’s not appropriate for Brandywine Books, I understand; however, if you’d post a request for prayers for the safety of people in the Red River Valley, I’d greatly appreciate it.

They’re predicting a 41 foot crest on Saturday—that’s a foot higher than our last big flood in ’97, and the highest on record. We’re cautiously optimistic, but it’s a near run thing.

It’s appropriate, all right.

From what I hear, they’re having trouble getting volunteers to help with sandbagging up there. I can’t help wondering if that’s partly a result of one of the “lessons of Katrina”–that the federal government is responsible for everything.

For the record, Roy isn’t one of the shirkers. He’s been out filling sandbags, and the weather’s pretty nasty.

“Whenever politicians declare a crisis, or an emergency, watch out. Chances are this means they want to impose something before the public discovers the truth.”

— Cal Thomas, in his column today.

I love this. In Bangkok, a fireman dressed as Spiderman to save an autistic boy who was sitting on a third floor balcony, trying to avoid third grade.