I'd like this a little better if the kiddo had been caught midair between the straw bales, but it's still a fun frame.

We see quite a few images of guys getting hit by pitches, but I like the tension in this one since it was shot just before impact. I also like that the bend in the player's back draws your eye to the ball.

I am astounded by how beautiful these women's hands and arms are and by the fact that they are handpainted. Truly amazing. I'd love to have this done one day...I'll bet it beats a mani/pedi.

Seriously, do we need to have cheerleaders at EVERY sporting event these days?

Let's hope someone put the edges together first on this one. I wonder how long it took them to complete this huge puzzle.

What an amazing scene. A friend of mine who is currently living in the Sudan is hosting an iftar tonight. I hope for his sake that he is not hosting this many!

I think I'll pipe down about the lack of leg room the next time I'm on a domestic flight.

We look at newspaper pictures from around the country each week as we edit for the Week in Pictures. It is always one of our favorite duties because the photographs are often some of the best. I really like what Jim Rider captured in this picture. I'd bet he had to convince someone to let him know that this teacher was going to be named. The connection and trust that a photographer builds with a community is vital.

The last thing you'll ever see as an unlucky brine shrimp. This image won honorable mention in photography in the 2008 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge. Explore the rest of the 'Visualize science' photos by going to the Tech / Science photos page: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21495006/

When I first saw this photo, I thought it was a joke. It wasn't. The show was organized to to raise awareness of some of the issues facing Japan's rapidly aging population. I wonder if it worked.

This picture made me smile. Years ago they probably would have been playing cards by candlelight. According to Mr. Muniz, he and his son have watched a movie in the car every night since the storm.

When I saw this photo during The Week in Pictures edit, it broke my heart. It could become the iconic image for endangered species everywhere.

Game of Risk anyone? I wonder if his staff run out and shift the markers around when he goes on his coffee breaks.

I look at what is happening in the markets, and I feel anxious. Should I be calling the managers of my 401k program? Should I buy gold and treasure bonds? Should I look at my kids and wonder if their college savings will be there in a few years? Our President says he is confident the economy is strong enough to withstand adjustments in the financial markets. Are you doing anything in response to the recent financial news, or are you sticking to your long-term plan?

I don't know what to say...

Considering the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike, how did the cows survive? To see this image in high-definition go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26738255/

Another picture from the aftermath of Hurricane Ike that defies description

One of my favorite parts of viewing the Beijing Paralympics has been watching the relationship between athlete and guide. From pictures of visually impaired football goalies with a guide behind the net, to swimmers nearing the end of the lane where they receive a light tap on the shoulder so they know when to flip and turn. Watching Lucas and his guide cross the finish line to take the gold was a wonderful portrait in athleticism and partnership.

After seeing hundreds of images of destruction and sadness from Hurricane Ike, this tender moment under a wild hat was an unexpected delight.

I appreciate the simplicity of this image, as it allows the viewer to focus on the sheer number of broken windows in an artful way. Having just replaced the windows in my tiny house, I can't imagine the cost of damage to these two office buildings, much less the cost of the damage along the rest of coastal Texas.

The contrast of the girl's harsh surroundings - piles of rubble, a mud hut - with her delicate kite with it's pink tail, really struck me. It's nice to imagine that moments like this may bring some beauty to her world.

The scale depicted in this NASA picture is almost too much to understand. This one looks bad.

I lived in Fairbanks some years ago, and I'm always curious to see what wire photographers notice when they travel there. Sarah Palin is currently a focus of attention and since she was returning to the state, I thought I'd browse the images. This pic I had to share.

Some pictures just beg for a headline writing contest. Best so far, media editor Mish Whalen with 'Polly want some crutches?'

This weed chomper in L.A. caught me by surprise.