On August 17, 1961—exactly 50 years ago, this Wednesday—East German laborers laid the first concrete blocks of what would soon be called the "Berlin Wall" The wall, cutting West Berlin off from surrounding East Germany, came to be seen as a symbol of Communist tyranny, and for more than a generation the German people grew used to its troubling presence, separating them from old friends and family and marking a moral and philosophical divide as well as a physical one.

The Associated Press recently announced, “Hundreds of thousands of Somali children could die in East Africa’s famine unless more help arrives, a top U.S.

This week’s London riots have spread menacingly across the nation to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.  Youthful rioters burned vehicles and buildings and looted shops and businesses. More than 100 police were injured and more than 1,000 youths were arrested—some as young as age 11!

The late Jerry Clower, a teller of funny stories, related a hilarious tale about the lady who went into an old-fashioned butcher shop. She said to the proprietor behind the refrigerated meat case, “I would like a 3½ pound frying chicken.” It was near the end of the day, and as the butcher reached down behind the counter into the chest full of ice that had contained the poultry, he found there was only one left. He plopped the chicken on the scale, and it weighed a little less than 3½ pounds.

Superstitions come in just about every stripe imaginable. While you may laugh at others’ superstitions, do you have your own?

Many people are superstitious. Some carry a lucky rabbit’s foot, coin, gem, or medal. Some knock on wood so as not to "jinx" the outcome of a statement they made, which ancient pagans also did to invoke the benevolent acts of the tree spirits.