America’s unhappiest cities

Click here. I think I was right about the northwest U.S. When you think sad, however, think Detroit. Actually, think Michigan. Some places it’s just tough, all the time.

www.stevebrownetc.com

Seminary Professor, radio personality, conference preacher and all around good guy. Go to his site and listen to his program, read his blog and you will see an unusal combination of intellecutal sophistication, clear theological commitments, humor and willingness to talk to people other conservatives don’t want to talk to. I really, really, really like him (sorry Sally Fields). He comes about as close to my preferred style as anyone I know. Most of all I want his voice.

He is not shrill but he is not soft either. For some years he was pastor here on the South Short at First Presbyterian, Quincy. It was before I came to the South Shore but his legacy still hung in the air and does today. Like a lot of pastors, he flew south when he got the chance  (er, was called of God) and we are the poorer for it.

There are some preachers I like but don’t want to hang with. John Piper would be one of them. He makes me want to take my shoes off and bow down. Steve Brown makes me want to order my meal with extra french fries and bring up stuff I wouldn’t ordinarily mention because most people couldn’t take the stuff that goes on in my head.

By the way if you enjoy John Piper’s stuff online, don’t forget to make a financial gift. He makes so much available for free that other media preachers make you pay for.

John Kerry’s charitable contributions

In all, taking into account losses from investments, Kerry reported a total 2003 income of $395,338. His total federal tax bill was $90,575. He had $27,277 of that withheld from his paychecks and paid the rest, $63,298, with his tax return.

Kerry reported giving $43,735, or about 11 percent of his total income, to charity. That significant level of giving stands in contrast to his record in the 1990s, in which the issue of the senator’s charitable contributions was a source of controversy. In 1995, Kerry reportedly had a taxable income of $126,179, and made charitable contributions of $0. In 1994, he gave $2,039 to charity. In 1993, the figure was $175. In 1992, it was $820, and in 1991, it was $0.

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