Dear Representative Sh..head

Now, I'd maybe expect a response like the one below if I started off like that, but I've never gone tat far. I've received plenty of letters from my senators & congressman, and none has included any expletives. Maybe I just need to try harder.

Emerson puzzled how obscenity appeared in letter to constituent
SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Nobody expects to get a letter from a member of Congress that ends with an expletive.

But that's what happened when Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., recently corresponded with a resident of her southeast Missouri district. The letter ended with a profane, seven-letter insult beginning with the letter a - "i think you're an ..."

Emerson says she can't explain how the offensive language made it into the last line of the letter, which otherwise reads like a typical response to a citizen's question about last year's testimony of oil executives before the Senate Commerce Committee.

"There is no excuse for this inappropriate letter having been sent, and every apology has been made to the individual who received it," Emerson said in a written statement to The Associated Press.

"We cannot determine whether the addition to the letter was made by someone within the office or by someone with access to the office, but it is on my letterhead and the responsibility for it lies with me. A valuable lesson has been learned and new procedures will be adopted as a result."
...
Connor said that Emerson personally signed the letter, dated Feb. 15. She also included a handwritten personal message at the bottom: "PS - please forgive the delay in responding."

Where are all my INSERT RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION HERE?

THIS SERIES OF MAPS shows the distribution of religious affiliations in the US. Really interesting stuff, if you're in to that sort of thing! Big props to Valparaiso University, my alma mater, for this cool resource.

Half-Handed Cloud

My friend John Ringhofer ( a member of Sufjan Stevens' touring band) records and tours under the name Half-Handed Cloud. It's an almost unexplainable mixture of toy instruments, Brian Wilson meets Flaming Lips with no budget, and as much pure joy as The Polyphonic Spree - all from one guy. HHC's new record, HALOS & LASSOS, is out now and he's on tour as I type. I can't recommend this enough - particularly the live show.

Bricks & a bris

THE BRICK TESTAMENT is a site sent to me by my friend Scott Grew. Not sure where he found this but it's an amazing amount of work with Legos and scripture. I've only made it thorugh a few of the stories so far, but I have a feeling I'll be spending a good bit of time here. Enjoy.