This Classical Life

Did you see the Colbert Report Monday? There is some really funny stuff two minutes into the Democralypse Now segment. It’s nice to have a good laugh in the midst of a wearying campaign season.

Watch it here.

The glory of the 2008 TCL NCAA Tournament pool goes to Ellen. Congratulations!

A Doppio Con Panna is an espresso with whipped cream, not a cup of whipped cream with a shot of espresso.

Thanks,
MLS

He was not a perfect man, but he fought for justice, and that’s worth remembering.

Kate has decided in the last few weeks that she loves Josh Ritter. If we play music in the car, it must be Josh Ritter, and she often sings along. If I try to nonchalantly play something else, this is what happens:

Kate - “Who sings this song?”
Kristen - “Wilco.”
Kate - “Wilco is not my favorite. Josh Ritter is my favorite. I need to hear Josh Ritter.”

Sorry, Jeff Tweedy.

If you are local, you should really consider going to see Behold the Lamb of God live next Tuesday night. I’ve seen this show live several times (the first time was seven or eight years ago) and it never disappoints. In the midst of shopping and planning and cooking and going to parties and… taking a few hours to remember Israel and the wait for a Messiah does a soul good. The songs are clever and moving. Before this was released on CD and there were just bootlegs floating around, I emailed AP and asked him if I could burn 16 copies of one song to teach to my third graders. A song that goes through the genealogy of Christ from Matthew. Of course, he graciously allowed me to do so. It was hands down their favorite thing that they memorized for chapel all year and they begged to be able to do it again for the end-of-year assembly. There’s always a great group of musicians performing and this year’s crew has been getting great reviews from shows so far. If you can’t make it, at least do yourself the favor of listening to the CD and buying yourself a copy.

My link post a few back? Mostly stolen from Gaines.

Driving the other day, we heard this interesting story on literacy and reading for pleasure. Basically, reading for pleasure is declining at a startling rate, with corresponding drops in comprehension and literacy. The best indicator for children being lifelong readers was how many books are in their home. I think our kids are set! Seriously, though, I know some people who have become interested in those Teach Your Baby to Read programs, but I am glad we’re holding out. I want our girls to understand the power of reading to some degree before they learn to decode. Because reading is so much more than decoding, and I’d hate to reduce it to that.

My mom is from Northeastern Pennsylvania, a peculiar place, with a peculiar dialect, which is not highlighted nearly enough on The Office.

I’m nearly finished Christmas shopping, and I’m excited about the number of handmade gifts I was able to buy. Etsy rocks! Supporting real people using their real talents is exciting. I recommend luvlugs for baby stuff, some made with salvaged fabrics and sweetpea76 for cool prints.

What were HRC and Obama like in law school? Check out this NYMag feature which takes an extended look at their education and how it has shaped them into who they are now.

We got the bill about six weeks ago from my appendectomy. Two nights in the hospital (one mostly in the ER) and a two hour surgery.

Do you see the cost? $50,155.00 All the text you can’t see is the itemization, how much for meds and supplies, etc.

So, a few weeks ago, we got the amount that our insurance paid. Can you guess how much? (more…)

Rita Skeeter is doing a lot of freelance work these days, and she asked to interview me as part of a WBW piece she’s writing, perhaps for Witch Weekly, perhaps for some Muggle newspaper whose editor she confounded. I wasn’t sure. The interview follows below the cut. (more…)

My friend Jennifer sent me this story, which may just be about me.

(lark news is like the onion for evangelicals, and it’s worth checking out.)

I missed the Dems, but did hear some choice bits on NPR. A reader on Andrew Sullivan’s blog wonders why the media is going through the dog-and-pony show of having every single candidate up there, but really only focusing on three or four. From what I’ve heard of the Dem debate, it looks like it is Hillary/Edwards/Obama. I think folks have thought that for a while, and I really wouldn’t be surprised.

Republicans, however, are up in the air. You have some of the big names (Rudy, McCain, Romney), but I don’t think they are firin’ up the base — which is why people will continue to speculate about Thompson and Newt. It wouldn’t surprise me if Thompson or Newt wound up with the nomination.

Bringing Sullivan up again. His post on the evolution question really irked me. First, he seems to dismiss that some of those guys can really be genuine, conservative, evangelical Christians. He claims that its part of the “Rove strategy”. Well, what Gov/Rev Huckabee said, wasn’t Rove strategy. He spoke like a real Baptist. Brownback articulates a true, Christian vision of sanctity of Life. Romney is a Mormon. I don’t think there are any ‘cultural’ Mormons or ‘nominal’ Mormons. I think Rudy is a Catholic like Kerry was, but respects the Bishops (he is Italian) and isn’t as arrogant.

Second, Sullivan is out-of-step with the ‘problem’ of the early chapters of Genesis in the evangelical world. It isn’t like Leviticus or other portions of the Bible. Faithful readers of the Bible who would subscribe to an errant, God-breathed interpretation of the bible, allow themselves to fundamentally disagree on the particulars of Genesis. We allow for Old Earth / New Earth and literal 6-Day vs. Day/Age. Sullivan doesn’t get that and is off-base if he considers Huckabee’s wavering as politicizing.

Right now, I have absolutely no idea. Democrat or Republican. Nothing.

I did find out (via Wikipedia) that Huckabee was named one of the Top 5 governors by Time magazine, so perhaps I should lend more weight to his executive experience. Though, as much as they seem to be great guys, I can’t see Huckabee or Brownback in the oval office.

McCain surprised me and didn’t look as old as I expected.

Ron Paul made a few good points. I think he was marginalized a bit, but he wasn’t the rubble-rouser like in the last debate. That honor goes to Tom Tancredo from Colorado who outdid everyone by claiming that he wouldn’t allow any immigrants to enter the country, except for families and asylum. He also wanted to see immigrants drop their cultural and familial ties, and completely assimilate to an American lifestyle.

Okay, that’s enough for tonight. I’m tired and bummed that I recorded the debate and didn’t get the commentary afterwards. :0/