(Photo by pequeña esquimal) It's easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed in the face of tragedy. While we deal with personal pain in our own private ways, some sudden, shocking events become public trauma, uniting strangers in shared grief. The Virginia Tech shooting was such an event. On April 30, bloggers from around the world will band together in grief over that tragedy with a One Day Blog Silence. They believe the lack of words -- in a space normally devoted to them -- could be even more powerful than words themselves, and they suggest that the time that would usually be devoted to blogging be spent instead on remembrance, prayer, and reflection. Responding to criticisms of the narrow focus, the organizers encourage participants to observe their day of silence for "all the victims of the world." Meanwhile, others will not be silent, arguing that their words will have a greater impact than silence. Suggested Sites... OneDayBlogSilence.com - "Silence can say more than a thousand words." Silence is a Memoriam, Not a Reason to Stop Blogging - a personal account of the powerful moments of silence observed for Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel. Virginia Tech, Cho Seung-Hui and Why Words Matter - an argument for honoring the victims by speaking out. For Those Who Want to Post About Virginia Tech on the One Day Blog Silence - a collection of posts. Technorati: onedayblogsilence.com - who else is talking about silence?

Directory categories: Virginia Tech Campus Shooting, Memorials and Tributes, Victims, Bereavement

Archived under: American History, Bereavement, Blogs, Crime, Death

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Paris, Tennessee's welcome sign (Photo by Lesley Spoor) The USDA recommends two servings of fish a week, and it's no fish tale to say that the folks over at the Bobby Cox Memorial Fish Tent have got the whole state of Tennessee covered -- with more than 12,500 pounds of catfish on hand. That's right, y'all. This weekend in Paris, Tennessee, the 55th annual World's Biggest Fish Fry ends, with more community goodwill and all-you-can-eat catfish dinners than you can shake a stick at. A local tradition since 1953, this year's festival includes five beauty pageants, a rodeo, carnival rides, parades, catfish races, and the aforementioned 6.25 tons (or 5,670 kilograms) of brain food. No word on how many hush puppies will be consumed, but they must be legion. Suggested Sites... World's Biggest Fish Fry - official site of the big fry. Seafood Statistics - how much fish do they eat in your neck of the woods? The Catfish Institute - learn about this whiskery fish from the experts. Catfish Heaven - tackle tips and photos from folks who'd rather catch their own.

Directory categories: Catfish, Fish and Seafood Recipes, Catfishing, Paris, Tennessee

Archived under: Cooking, Events, Festivals, Fish, Food and Drink, Recipes, Regional

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I.M. Pei's Pyramide du Louvre (Photo by stofoto) I.M. Pei may be best known as the architect of the Pyramide du Louvre in Paris, but his impact on modern architecture goes far beyond that building. Born Ieoh Ming Pei on this day in 1917, I.M Pei moved from China to the U.S in 1935 to study architecture at MIT and Harvard. Over the past 50 years, Pei has been busy designing and creating modernist buildings constructed from stone, glass, and concrete. From his first major building, completed in 1956, to 2006's United States Air Force Memorial, Pei has produced a body of prize-winning work, including the coveted Pritzker Prize in 1983. Pei's buildings span the globe, from the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library in Boston to the Miho Museum in Japan and the Museum of Islamic Arts in Qatar. Currently, Pei's firm is working on a bevy of projects, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pei may be turning 90 today, but it doesn't mean he's slowing down -- it looks like he's just hitting his stride. Suggested Sites... Pei Cobb Freed & Partners - official page of Pei's firm. Includes lists of completed and ongoing projects. Pritzker Prize: I.M. Pei - includes text of Pei's acceptance speech. Digital Archive of American Architecture: I.M. Pei - collection of photos of Pei's buildings. Great Buildings Online: I.M. Pei - more photos of Pei's iconic designs. I.M. Pei Interview - June 2004 interview with architect I.M. Pei.

Directory categories: I.M. Pei, Architecture, Urban Studies, Architects, Le Louvre

Archived under: Architects, Architecture, Birthdays, Cities, Design, Regional

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Roger Ebert (From Ebertfest.com) Around the world every year, thousands of films are produced. Some are hits, some are flops, but there are still hundreds and hundreds of pictures that are ignored, forgotten, or just plain overlooked. That's where Roger Ebert comes in. Since 1999, Ebert -- playing off his decades of television film reviews -- has taken over a small theatre in Champaign, Illinois and shown overflow audiences the movies they missed. While the definition of "overlooked" might be somewhat strained for Ebertfest ("Patton," "La Dolce Vita," and "2001: A Space Odyssey"?), filmgoers will feast on such rarities as "Sadie Thompson" and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (with a screenplay by an unknown scriptwriter named... Roger Ebert). Though Ebert's health has not been the best of late, he'll attend this year's festival (beginning with today's screening of "Gattaca"), if only from the audience. So for Ebert and his movie feast, we give a hearty "two thumbs up." Suggested Sites... Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival - official site for the festival that shows "Tron," "Singin' in the Rain," and everything in between. Ebert & Roeper - home of the up- (or down-) turned thumb. Roger Ebert.com - archive of reviews and columns from Ebert. Virginia Theatre - home to Ebertfest, with news and schedules for upcoming programs. Ebertfest Blogs and Archives - follow the festival from a fan's-eye view.

Directory categories: Roger Ebert, Film Festivals, Movie Columnists, Ebert & Roper, Film Theory and Criticism

Archived under: Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Film Festivals, Flops, Movies

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Hershey's Chocolate World, part of Hersheypark (Photo by Noel Dietrich) Today, company perks are big part of an employee's total package. One Silicon Valley Internet giant dishes out free meals. A software company in Southern California doles out $5,000 each year to be used on paid vacations. Back in 1907, it wasn't so common. So when Milton Hershey opened the Hershey Park picnic and pleasure grounds for employees who worked at his chocolate factory, it was a sweet deal. It was all part of his model town plan: comfortable homes on tree-lined streets, public transportation, quality schools, and a place for family recreation. The park started out simply, with a baseball field and grandstands, boating, a vaudeville stage, and a few rides. Later, bowling alleys, tennis courts, a railroad, and a zoo were added. A merry-go-round and roller coaster soon followed, and although it was built for Hershey employees, the open park was popular with the public. By 1971, fences enclosed the newly re-named Hersheypark and while today it is known for its exciting thrill rides, it all started out as a cool company perk. Suggested Sites... Hersheypark - celebrating "100 Years of Happy" with rides, the zoo, and a new boardwalk for 2007. Hershey Museum - explore the town "built on chocolate" with new exhibits, original working machinery, and artifacts. Hershey's - it's not just about chocolate. The town, the founder, company history, and educational resources. Hershey, PA: The Sweetest Place On Earth - plan a trip this summer. What to see and do, and where to stay.

Directory categories: Amusement and Theme Parks, Hershey, Pennsylvania, New Urbanism, Salary Information

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Hershey, History, Parks, Pennsylvania, Philanthropy, Work

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