October 1 Updates

October! A new month and a new batch of worthwhile reads.

After November 8, still a future...

A politician to watch, after whatever comes from this disastrous election?

https://world.wng.org/2016/09/ben_sasse_a_reformed_reformer

Closer to home...

This is a basic site that I need to come back to more often, for news of (positive) neighborhood activities around Rochester.

http://www.rneighbors.org/

Some good news (hopefully) about ways more of us can become more involved in city business:

http://www.themedcitybeat.com/news-blog/2016/pilot-program-diversity-city-boards

And this, on why it is so important that we do get involved:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/88483/how-community-engagement-can-restore-trust-government


Zoning and its impacts

Interesting to see zoning issues arise on a federal level.

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/9/26/potus-zoning-sucks?utm_content=buffer9f745&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Note that this site has a lot of really good links--could lead to hours of bunny-trail reading! One of those links follows:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/images/Housing_Development_Toolkit%20f.2.pdf


More on faith and politics

This suggests the need for self-examination. Where is the center of our being, the real driving force in our lives?

http://www.missioalliance.org/jesus-politics-7-tough-questions-reveal-lord/

Yet another article in the same vein:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-principles-for-political-witness-in-our-american-babylon


This one is really good; the sad thing is that this pastor needs to remain anonymous due to the difficult political climate of our day, even within the church.

http://inallthings.org/evangelicals-and-trump/

In case I haven't already included this, here is yet one more on the current election and Christian response:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/09/23/heres-what-i-decided-after-several-pastors-begged-me-to-reconsider-my-nevertrump-stance/?tid=ss_fb

How affordable, really?

Interesting comments on the cost of living throughout the US including a calculator to compare costs in different metropolitan areas and across differing family sizes.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/08/how-much-does-your-family-need-to-get-by/402352/?utm_source=SFFB

Another impact of poverty, this time lack of child care availability

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/the-childcare-gray-market/502640/?utm_source=atlfb 

A good online securitysummary

http://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/66-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-right-now/?EXTKEY=I175E000&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_source=keywee&utm_campaign=protect_privacy&utm_content=66-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-right-now&utm_keyword=desktop&kwp_0=233930&kwp_4=894074&kwp_1=435714#passwords

And, finally for now, some good lists of childrens' books to consider, and some things to do that help teach little ones history (note all the Minnesota oriented things in that  third post!)

http://club31women.com/9-books-tween-son-grow/

https://www.wired.com/2012/03/67-books-for-kids/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2016/10/6-things-ive-learned-about-teaching-history-to-6-year-olds/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=anxiousbench_100416UTC021047_daily&utm_content=&spMailingID=52454547&spUserID=MTkwNzY5MzE5MTQ0S0&spJobID=1020697144&spReportId=MTAyMDY5NzE0NAS2

https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/january-2007/what-does-it-mean-to-think-historically