Tree Relocation

For the rear yard at 1010 Broadway, we're thinking about plopping in a fairly mature tree. Quickly Googled and found a cool tree spade company, with an awesome animation of the tree transplantation process.

Brownback on Evolution

Don't know much about Sam Brownback, but I'm very impressed with this clear and concise NYTimes op-ed piece on evolution. Apparently, he took some heat for being one of three Republican candidates to raise their hand during a recent debate in response to being asked which among them didn't believe in evolution.

(HT: Kottke)

PS41 (NYC) Student Expenditures

Hearing Hillary propose universal pre-K, arguing it's better to invest in a child's education earlier rather than later, I had to laugh a little. I mean, I don't know the numbers across the nation (Allen County's appear to range from $5,400-6,300), but here are the numbers for the public school our kids would attend if we were to stay in NYC and not homeschool.



Does she really not consider nearly $10k/elementary student an "investment'? Add to the mix the special ed kids and NYC's average is $13,500/student!

Tragic Result of Single-Use Zoning

Alright, maybe tragic is a little strong, but still... For the life of me I can't understand this segregation mindset. Can Christians not talk to bar patrons or liquor store customers, and vice versa? And which one is the law intended to protect, anyway?

Auburn Church Denied at Mall

(WANE/AP-Garrett, IN) Mall anchor stores are increasingly hard to come by, but a strip mall in auburn is turning one away.

Stores like Dollar Tree and Ace Hardware call the West Edge Mall home in Auburn, but the Dayspring Community Church won't be joining them, after a recent decision by the Auburn Zoning Board.

"If a church moved in, a restaurant or liquor store wouldn't be given a license if it was located within 200 feet," says Bill Spohn of the Auburn Department of Planning.

That's the primary reason the Auburn church was denied access to the mall. The city's zoning board made the 3-0 vote Tuesday, meaning the proposed 25,000-square foot anchor will have to look elsewhere.

The Dayspring Community Church has been at its current location for several years, but it will soon have to move, because the neighboring DeKalb Memorial Hospital, which owns the land and wants to take it back for future use.

While the church has a flexible date to leave its current building, Indiana law doesn't give much flexibility when it comes to alcohol near churches.

"Any restaurant, drug store, grocery store, or pharmacy... any facility that would be involved in the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages would have to be located 200 feet from the mall or church," says Spohn.

With the popularity of dining out, zoning officials and the mall don't want to leave out the possibility of future restaurants coming to West Edge.

Church officials say they won't make a decision about appealing the decision until next week.

Softdrink Map

This certainly rings true with me. For eighteen years growing up in NE Indiana I said "pop". Then I moved to NYC and some time ago I completed the transition to "soda". My parents, meanwhile, moved to the Outer Banks of NC, and I think I heard my mother tell a waiter she wanted a "soda pop".

The big question is, will I switch back to "pop" when we head back to the Fort?!?!

(HT: creative class)

Mohler on the Slippery Slope

Sliding Fast Down the Slippery Slope

Many might cry hysteria, but I don't think so. Once again Mohler assesses the current - and future - situation with crystal clarity. And when I read that NYTimes article a week ago, it broke my heart.

Piper on Single, Marriage, Family, and Idolatry

video excerpt (full sermon video here)

This is yet another short example of why his preaching is widely considered some of the best around.

One Has Got to Be Wrong, Both May Be Wrong, But Both Cannot Be Right.

A lot of online talk recently of a high-profile Evangelical jumping ship and going RC. Don't know much about him, and his arguments seemed reasonable. However, as always, there's another side to the story, this time convincingly set forth by Carl Trueman.

My favorite line:

One has got to be wrong, both may be wrong, but both cannot be right.

Chelsea Cookie Sale

A little long, but too cute.

Chelsea Cookie Sale

Piper on the Recent Supreme Court Decision

A little late, but...

link

Once Again, The FW Firehouse Theatre

Sorry to keep beating this drum, but I really hope this is still there when we return. If you can attend or volunteer, or support, or whatever, please do so. Here's a letter Jeanette just sent out (in addition to her earlier plea):

May 3, 2007

My name is Jeannette Jaquish. I have run the Firehouse Theater for the past year. The lease is up May 12, and I must decide immediately whether to go on.

I know the Firehouse must have other show producers besides me to do shows. This past year I was the primary person on 12 out of 13 shows and it was impossible for me to get everything done right or even done at all. I was trying to do three performances a weekend and shows back to back, performing one play on the weekend while the next rehearsed during the week. This is a good system but it requires more crew and alternating producer/directors.

I am calling out to anyone who might want to use the Firehouse stage to do shows or events. If you haven’t seen the building you should call me for a look. Its layout is near perfect for a theater. The stage room has great acoustics, backstage has 12 prop costume and prop closets, two nice restrooms, a comfortable upstairs rehearsal space same size as the stage, a large costume room and storage. The 1926 firehouse architecture is charming. East State Street is upgrading with paving, streetlights and trees.

We built a 2 foot high stage and tiered audience seating in 9 inch steps, and upholstered 73 seats. An internet search shows many classy "firehouse theaters" across the U.S. It would be a shame for Fort Wayne to abandon this one when it is built, stocked and ready to go.

Jeannette Jaquish
750-9013

Please leave my phone number tagging the letter)

Jeannette Jaquish
Firehouse Theater
www.firehouse-fw.com
750-9013

Good vs. Well

Fascinating! Ever since marrying into a family of grammar snobs (Jane and Nana, I mean that in the most loving sense - honestly!), the improper use of 'good' has always been a big pet peeve of mine. When I hear it from a colleague at the office, I must say I cringe. We've worked hard thus far with the kids, and I think Emmett's already mastered it, and Avery's getting close.

So anyway, this audio podcast was just great to explain the reasons behind the reality.

(HT: Justin)