Alright, so the Taliban released the last of the South Korean missionaries, and the Red Cross took them home. Happy for that! Not so happy that the Taliban says they plan to abduct more people now.

I was happy to read this report that the South Korean government reached consensus with the Taliban. The rest of the medical missionaries may be on their way home.

Here is an article about a retired couple who spent a year volunteering with rebuilding efforts in Waveland, Mississippi. Other volunteers reported in the Daily Tar Heel that this city is still “gone” — as in the beachfront part of town has simply ceased to exist. In two years, people still haven’t moved back.
I loved this quote from the retired couple:

“I’m not a Bible thumper, but this changes your outlook . . . The only real way most of us know to be obedient to God is to give back to others.”

The video game “Guitar Hero” seems to actually get kids interested in music (rock music in particular) while giving them a big head start to understanding rhythm. [see this article from “Machinist”]It provides confidence and a chance for fast improvement, which is much harder to achieve on a real guitar. Who knows? We may see interactive games meshed with music education in the future. A little “Karaoke Revolution” before choir practice? A little DDR before track?

My mom sent me this article about a baby who was left to die after anonymous gunmen killed her mom and uncle. She’s being cared for at a US military hospital by a friend of my parents.

According to this article from the International Herald Tribune, the Taliban released two female hostages today. Nineteen more left.