Blog Heap o'Urantiana Links 24 July 2015

Lord Weidenfeld, an influential British publisher whom Christians helped escape Nazi-occupied Austria during his youth, has set up a fund to help save Syrian and Iraqi Christian refugees from the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group. … “We have been deeply moved by the plight of Christians in conflict-torn Middle East countries, and we are supporting the transfer of Christian families to safe havens where they can lead normal lives.” …

…Patch reports the two were estranged when he set off, and that his wife, who was widowed once before, didn’t want to repeat the experience. She has reportedly told him his quest is “the most romantic thing.” Hites says he doesn’t know his exact weight now (he dresses in size 70 pants), but he may weigh himself on the big scale at the junkyard up the road before getting back on the saddle. He says he hopes to drop down to a chubby but healthier 300 pounds.…

Not so long ago, the average American man in his 20s had achieved most of the milestones of adulthood: a high-school diploma, financial independence, marriage and children. Today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. This “pre-adulthood” has much to recommend it, especially for the college-educated. But it’s time to state what has become obvious to legions of frustrated young women: It doesn’t bring out the best in men.…