Isn't this neat? Maybe I won't be as sick of the snow by the end of winter as I usually am, knowing how much had to happen to create snowflakes.

From a gorgeous gallery of snowflake photos from SnowCrystals.com. Open Thread below...

...Some Catholic theologians are encouraging married couples to adopt unwanted embryos from fertility clinics. Others vehemently oppose the idea, calling it a grave violation of the principle that procreation should occur naturally.

The Vatican has not yet taken a stand. But if Pope Benedict XVI rules against embryo adoption, as some doctrinal conservatives expect, it could create a fissure between Catholics and evangelical Protestants, who have enthusiastically promoted embryo adoption and enlisted the White House's support for it...read on

I'll have more on the Snowflakes program later.