Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Welcome to your Friday edition of Snippets and Soundbites! Be sure to check out the monthly print edition on page 38 of each issue of ec.


• It appears more and more workplaces are allowing employees to bring their pets to work. Check out the story in USA Today here. Supporters say pets in the workplace reduce stress among owners who worry about home-alone dogs, are a calming presence for even the non-owners, and help employees form relationships. What do you guys think? Should ec's editor be able to bring her dog, Muffin, to work some day? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

• Staff at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium in Santa Monica, CA, recently had to deal with a little flood. In their offices. And it was sea water. From the aquarium . The culprit seems to be a tiny, two-spotted octopus who lives in the aquarium. Staff say the octopus is friendly and "gregarious" creature loves visitors to the aquarium. Apparently, the eight-armed curious creature tugged on a valve in the aquarium and that allowed hundreds of gallons of water to overflow the tank. Officials say no sea life was harmed by the flood, but the brand new floors just installed in the offices might be another story. Want to see the octopus in question? Read more here.

• Billy Wilkins, a former member of the CCM supergroup Third Day is apparently finding success after the band . . . with a sleep program, of all things! Wilkins developed something called the Wesley Sleep program after suffering from insomnia and even taking anxiety meds. While he was taking a popular sleep medication regularly, he came to the conclusion there had to be a better way to relax that didn't involve drugs. So, Wilkins began searching Scripture. He found so many verses that answered and supported him in his quest that he came to the conclusion that God wants all His children to feel His peace. He chronicled his findings and used his love for music and research into music therapy to develop the Wesley Sleep Program. The audio book/CD released in December 2008. The first portion of the CD helps to equip the listener for real rest and combat four common sleep hindrances. The remaining musical portion leads to even deeper levels of relaxation and calm sleep. For more info on the sleep program, visit www.wesleysleepprogram.com. For a funny picture of Third Day in the early days, go here.

• And finally, a little news to look forward to: House of Heroes will release their latest album on Tuesday, March 3. It's called The End Is Not the End and we can't wait to hear it in its entirety. Learn more about the band here.