The big news, of course, is the amazing story of Thursday’s Flight 1549 crash-landing in the Hudson River, into freezing cold waters, air temperature in the teens.
154 passengers saved, no lives lost. A miracle in our midst.

To really get a feel for how incredible a feat this was, check out the map of the flight in This Wasn’t a Landing, This Was a Die Hard Movie.

And I really liked this article’s perspective:
The Crash of Flight 1549: Maybe the Best Metaphor for 2009 We Could Hope For.

Other news from here and there:

Wacko on snowmobile runs over 57 ducks. This comes on the heels of another story of snowmobilers who herded up deer and then proceeded to run them down. The featured comment on this article notes, “I’m fairly certain…that this is how serial killers get their start.” Well said.

I LOVE THIS: Are You Guilty of Genericide? Genericide is a legal term referring to when a brand name is diluted by its use as a generic term, such as Kleenex to mean all tissues or Crock-Pot to mean all slow cookers. These words are said to be “killed by nouning“, which is the most delightful expression I have ever heard. Almost as good is the looming fate of Google and Xerox, who are in danger of “death by verbing“.

photo credit Sare-Bear

As budgets tighten, people are using their public libraries more, taking advantage not only of the free book, CD, and DVD lending library, but also the daily hour of computer use and free Wi-Fi.

Meanwhile, my local library has cut nighttime hours back and will no longer be open on Sundays. Um, when am I supposed to take my kids to the library?

The Novel Idea of Karma Credits: I have a “just in case” relationship with karma. I don’t know if I could say without irony that I believe in karma, but a whole lot of my life sure seems to be ruled by it. As in, if I do something I know I shouldn’t, events conspire to bite me in the ass in a hurry. So I’ll go on record as saying that karma appears to believe in me.

Anyway, Jeff and I do abide by a karma credit system. For instance, a few months ago, Jeff was sitting on a wall eating his lunch, and hopped down to retrieve something from his toolbox; seconds later the driver of a SUV lost consciousness- had a heart attack at wheel, I think- and slammed into that same wall.

You had better believe we donated to charity, and Jeff gave blood, within hours of that event, to repay the universe. Didn’t want to get caught with a karma deficit! Anyone else think this way?

Insight Writer posits that Learning to Create Creates Passion, and I couldn’t agree more. To create, to bring into being; there is no more empowering and gratifying experience. Our educational system is not structured to cultivate passion, and that is why it continues to fail.

More unintended consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA):

“Taking effect on February 10, 2009, the CPSIA will require all products for children under 12 be tested for lead, including books. That means in order for a library to admit children under 12, they must test all of their children’s books or ban children from the library.”

Remember to go here to see what you can do to fight the CPSIA legislation. (via Eco Child’s Play)

Girl Scout cookie time! Only, we are trying not to eat pre-packaged foods this year. Happily, this article points the way towards make-your-own Girl Scout cookies. I’ll keep you updated with word of success (or lack thereof)…

Jacob insisted that I let everyone know that soon we will all have Harry Potter cloaks of invisibility. His first invisible act will be to steal into your house and eat all your Girl Scout cookies.

In local news, painter Andrew Wyeth died yesterday. This is sad news to those of us who grew up seeing Wyeth paintings in our art museums.

I’ve been meaning to recreate this Wyeth painting, Christina’s World, ever since we moved here:

That is pretty much exactly the view we have of our neighbor’s house.

President-Elect Barack Obama and his Whistle Stop Tour are stopping in Wilmington today to pick up Joe Biden, but I’m going to pass. I know it’s history in the making, and I should really take the kids…but absolutely sweet marie, it’s cold.

Does that make me unpatriotic? Or just a lazy mom?

That’s the roundup for this week. Stay warm.

How full of the creative genius
is the air in which these are generated!

I should hardly admire more
if real stars fell and lodged on my coat.

-Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley

Snowflakes were miracles of beauty.

It seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen
and appreciated by others.

Every crystal was a masterpiece of design
and no one design was ever repeated.

When a snowflake melted,
that design was forever lost.

Just that much beauty was gone,
without leaving any record behind.

Perhaps they come to us not only
to reveal the wondrous beauty of the minute in Creation

but to teach us that all earthly beauty is transient
and must soon fade away.

But though the beauty of the snow is evanescent…
it fades but to come again.

Every day we are surrounded by miracles, by perfection, if we take time to see it.

It was just cold enough this morning that the snowflakes remained separate as they landed, just still enough that they did not scatter in the wind.

A magic time of about ten minutes, before the sun rose fully over the trees and raised the temperature a degree or two, and the flakes began to cling together, merge.

Snowflake Bentley I am not, I’m afraid. But these are some of the wayside sacraments I came across today.

I really love seeing, firsthand, how each flake is delicate and unique. It’s one thing to know it, to learn it in school; quite another to compare them as they melt in your hand.

I’ve been sick this week, I’ll spare you the details.
It feels good to be up and about.
Fresh air and sunshine- good for the constitution, good for the soul.

Last weekend we went to Reading for another round of Christmas. Happily, this meant that we actually got to see some snow to go with the frigid temperatures we’ve been having.

Cassidy received a fishing rod, and she was soooo excited and happy. It was all we could do to keep her from sleeping with it.

Also among the spoils was a set of High School Musical pajamas, which features a box on the belly that lights up when you move. I have been assured that this is a very practical and comfortable feature in pajamas.

Anyway, the other night, Jacob and I were discussing the fascinating topic of reducing fractions, when we heard far off strains of song and went to track it down.

This is what we found (email subscribers need to click through to view):

I know it’s a bit lengthy, 92 seconds, but I have no means of editing video.

I can only tell you that I had to endure it for much, much longer; and that there is a payoff of sorts at the end.

Please note at about the 30 second mark when Cass realizes that I am videotaping her and sings louder.