Link Salad: September 17, 2011

In the midst of Striker’s birthday weekend, I’ve got a few minutes to pass along some links I’ve been collecting.

This essay on Fred Rogers, by a journalist who knew him, is very long, but beautiful and moving.  You were special, Mr. Rogers.

Her.meneutics ran piece on Why Singles Need Married Friends, which connected (especially in the comment section) to the value of cross-gender friendships.  “Church world” tends to treat all friendships between men and women as suspect:  what a shame.  And what shame it causes, as a matter of fact.  I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve had many wonderful male friends over the years, both before and after marriage.  We need each other, and the issues around gender will never be resolved while we regard the opposite gender as exotic or dangerous.

Speaking of regarding women as dangerous…good grief!  The mental gymnastics John Piper employs here make my teeth hurt.  I could write an entire post….but I won’t.  For now.

I’m way behind the news cycle with this, but I still want to say:  Republicans, Tea Partiers, whoever you are – Jesus seemed far less enthusiastic about other people’s deaths than some of you.  If you call yourselves His followers, you might want to dial back the blood lust.

Now THAT'S comedy!

Just for fun (or outrage), check out this list of the 100 Best Comedy Movies, based on a survey of 200 comedy writers, directors, actors and comedians.  Just goes to show how unreliable such lists are.  I mean, no “Bringing Up Baby”, no “Duck Soup” or “Shaun of the Dead”, but it includes “Three Amigos”,and “BASEketball”???  Je m’oppose!

For further proof that lists are bogus, consider Rolling Stone’s list of the Worst Songs of the 90’s.  Sure, “What’s Up” was a terrible, terrible song, but what’s so bad about “Tubthumping”?  And after reviewing the decade that gave us “Rico Suave” (not on the list), you’re going to hate on Hanson’s “MMMbop”?  Really?