It's fairly likely that they take their voting instructions from

fire-and-brimstone preachers.
Doubtful there's much newspaper reading and debate watching going on in the hills of KY.
Beautiful country, but not much independent thinking.

FDA has just halted sales of 23andme test kit, AP reports.

I was intent on ordering a kit, now that won't be possible.
This is reported by AP in USA Today. (Sorry, I'm no good at posting links, but it should be easy to find online.

I admit the social aspect of going to Mass appeals to me as well.

I would go anyway, but I do enjoy the opportunity to briefly visit with some people I've known a long time but perhaps don't see otherwise.

Yep. Francis certainly qualifies on that score.

Something new published every week, it seems - washing, hugging, kissing, driving, etc.

I don't know that accomplishments are the major criteria.

From Wikipedia (for my own clarity): 'a person, group, idea, or object that "for better or for worse", ...had done the most to influence the events of the year.'
I'll agree that he's still only a contender; there may be another that better fits the profile.

My head/brain knows that my intentions were good, but

we hang on to certain regrets.
In general, I try to live life so that I won't have regrets re what I have or haven't done, but, as you know, all of life is not in our control.
My regret is minor compared to most described here, and, in general, there's much to be thankful for.
Thanks for your words of comfort, Sheldon.

Turning off my cell phone while at lunch with gal pals after a funeral of a classmate's daughter.

During lunch, I had a call from the nurse at my spouse's nursing facility.
She said he was having trouble breathing. He's had trouble breathing quite a few times before.
My son had just been with him at spouse's lunch time.
I was tired and just wanted to have a quiet lunch with friends.
When I went to the nursing facility his eyes were rolled back in his head and he was not responsive.
I didn't have those last minutes of his consciousness with him and will always regret not being there.

After he died, a nurse aide told me he had been calling for me that morning. Regrets.

Good one.

I'm surprised he knows anything about using a computer.

Many men of his age had assistants do all computer work for them and never did catch on.

It occurred to me tonight that Pope Francis could conceivably be

Time Magazine's Man of the Year 2013.
Certainly a contender, with the news and interest his papacy and his words and actions have generated.

What do DUers in this group think?