A Random Assortment

~ When I read the newspaper, I practice for my eventual mayoring job by considering how I would solve each political problem. Philadelphia's schools have me stumped.

~ An NPR podcast on gun violence and one of Chicago's public schools. Francisco and I listened to this on one of our recent road trips. It's incredibly sobering--it's a non-fiction version of The Wire.

~ Nevada ships mentally ill residents to California (and, it seems, vice versa).

~ Bradley Manning or Chelsea Manning?

However, the issue has a before-and-after aspect, too.News organizations might have to distinguish between Manning’s gender while on assignment in Iraq, and Manning’s life after being sentenced to 35 years in prison this week.For the historical record, Manning was a he during the former period; during the latter period, Manning has asked to be referred to in the feminine.

~ Remember that 80-something Spanish woman who "fixed" the fresco of Jesus? Well:

Visitors craving to have a close look at the botched restoration poured into Borja, prompting low-cost airline Ryanair to offer special fares to the nearby town of Zaragoza. 

Church officials also decided to keep the fresco as it was, and introduce an entry fee. 

One year on some 57,000 people have paid €1 to see the restoration, according to the foundation that manages the church, which said the money raised so far from ticket sales has been used to improve the building and cover personnel costs. 

Gimenz, who first demanded her share of the takings in September last year, has now reached an agreement with the foundation over her work's image rights.