. . . which is where I used to go for walks as a callow youth in my hometown. As Mark Shea would say, “Hi. I’m twelve. This is funny”: a map of all the rude place names in the UK. Here’s one detail, from Northumberland: a region renowned for its fine cheeses, its historical castles and gardens, its birdwatching, and also a delightful congruence of Whamlands, Dirt Pot, Cock Wood, and Hairy Side. That’s it, I’m booking... Read more
–1– It being Advent, it occurred to me that Toad more or less makes an act of contrition in “Alone” in Frog and Toad All Year: “Frog! I am sorry for the dumb things I do. I am sorry for all the silly things I say. Please be my friend again!” And then he falls into the water with all his sandwiches, amen. PIC toad with basket –2– Here is a picture of Arnold Lobel with his daughter, Adrianne: PIC Lobel with daughter found here. It says: She says what she learnt most... Read more
PIC broken windows One aspect of a “broken windows” policy indisputably works, and that is the idea of cutting off crime at the root, before it has a chance to blossom. But there are different ways to cut crime off. You could go in like a bulldozer, crushing petty criminals like Garner into the ground. Or you could do what a town in North Carolina did: they identify the petty criminals who help sustain the criminal subculture — and they give them a... Read more
Probably, probably it’s only because my computer knows me and knows what kinds of things I usually search for and which I usually . . . ahem . . . don’t. But I typed “Madonna” into Google today, and here was the top result: Happy day! Yes, there is something about Mary. Read more
PIC brain depository The 100 brains that were missing from the campus have been found, sort of. Blah blah blah something something turns out there isn’t much of a story here after all. Who cares? This is a clear mandate from the universe to rush right out and watch Young Frankenstein, one of the most perfect movies ever constructed. You’ll laugh, you’ll weep, you’ll make yummy sounds. PIC brain Hans Delbrook Quotes from this movie make up fully 60% of... Read more
Found on this Tumblr. Read more
Good grief, I totally forgot to tell you! Don’t ask me how, why, or how, but they asked me to give a presentation at one of the break-out sessions of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in 2015. My fellow Catholic Patheosi Diana von Glahn and Greg Popcak will be there, too! Look, I’m on the list and everything. Uhh, you may have to scroll down a bit, down to page fourteen, during the lunch hour on the last... Read more
In the neighborhood where I grew up, there were the Friday evening band concerts underneath the cherry trees down the hill. Half a block away was the library, where sweet Bethany sat in the children’s room, listening patiently without blinking her wide, blue eyes. There was the park with its swings and see saws, the sumac trees, the little stream with frogs. In our yard was an enormous maple tree, spreading and gracious, with a tire swing and a perfect circle... Read more
Help me, I beg the Father, to take up the task of Advent. The memories that awaken are silent Anna, raging Pat, chirping Mikey, his poor hand on the rail, begging his father, “No, Daddy, no!” Read the rest at the Register. Read more
The silly woman who spouted off about Obama’s daughters has resigned: Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), resigned Monday following a Facebook post that criticized Malia and Sasha Obama’s appearance at the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony, according to NBC News. The Facebook comment that got her fired: Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the... Read more
I Have to Sit Down
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