Responding to Haitian tragedy

Please pray for Haiti, and if you are able consider a donation to the work of Compassion in Haiti.

Reconstructing Gmail

Has anyone weaned themselves from Gmail in favour of some other email system? Perhaps I should be more clear. I have been using Gmail for a long time and I really like using it. However, there are some downsides to Gmail which keep me looking to use other systems. Currently I use IMAP with a number of email client tools but Gmail is my core architecture, if you will. I'm exploring the implications of changing my core architecture to another email system while still employing Gmail as one of my more powerful client tools (particularly for tagging messages and keeping conversations together).

Good news and great joy

Sometimes when we receive good news, as we have just received tonight, we are too exhausted to receive it joyfully, as we should. Instead, we simply receive it as any other news. It's just another input--information encountered on the journey toward sleep. More soon... when I've had some rest and can take it in with joy...

Artist, n. playing inventively with ideas

Writes Dutton: "What is important today is not technical skill, but skill in playing inventively with ideas." I think that's a brilliant observation. Has the age of the image given way to the age of the idea? Can art become ideation? If so, what does that mean for art and artists?