Some sadder news

Brilliant and beloved author Madeleine L'Engle has died. I am shamefully admitting here that I have not read any of her books, but I really want to read "A Wrinkle In Time." Maybe it's time to finally check out one of her books (if you are like me), reread a favorite, or discover a new one.

word of the year

The New Oxford American Dictionary announced recently that the word of the year for 2006 is "carbon neutral." Being carbon neutral means taking into account your total carbon emissions, which damage the climate, and making choices to use as little carbon as possible. For example, someone who invests in wind or solar power can be considered "carbon neutral." The word will appear in the 2007 edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary.