Josiah's Lego Nativity, 2010

Last Saturday, we had the annual unveiling. Josiah's mad Lego skilz continue strong.

Monday music: "Let It Snow," by Chicago (live audio)

My favorite version of the song, which you can hear on Chicago's surprisingly good Christmas album. This is from a House of Blues performance in 1998,and features a rare vocal performance by their trumpeter, Lee Loughnane.

Hither and thither 11/26/10

Well gang, we had a nice Thanksgiving at Casa de Phillips. Hope you (Americans, anyway) all did, too. Does that mean no HT? No siree! However, holiday weekends are always quieter, so please speak up, let me know you're there.

As always, remember the Hither and Thither constants.

• Does this graphically describe your yesterday, pretty well?

• Logos Bible software is having a Black Friday - Cyber Monday sale. It's an interesting deal: pick three titles you wish were on sale, email them, and they'll reply with your special sale price. Then you have 48 hours to respond. Pick carefully; you only have one chance.
• Dramatic Eagle says "Bum bum BUMMMM!"

• Challies has an impressive collection of sales-notices up.
• Justin Taylor casts a wider net.
• After eight years of watching the Bush Administration simply let liars lie, without response, gotta say I really love the cut of Sarah Palin's jib.
• In the face of the Obama TSA's Grope-'n'-Porn, we find that this young lady stole my DAOD's idea. And it worked.

• M'man Phil Johnson Tweeted an absolutely infuriating video narrating the systematic, heavy-handed harassment of a young mother by the TSA. Why? Because she knew her rights, and refused to be a sheep. The TSA punished her (and her baby) thoroughly. Can you watch that, and imagine it has anything to do with keeping us safe from Islamic terrorists?
• Here's life and ministry in The "Church" of England: pervert the Gospel? No problem! Deny cardinal doctrines? Promotion! Embrace sexual perversion? Sit right here! But... insult a prince? You are OUTTA HERE, mister!
• And don't burn a Koran in England, kiddies. (Link from Christopher Carney.)
• I have often said: if the Lord tarries, future generations may look back at our culture's attitude towards abortion even less charitably than we view slavery. It is a kind of insanity. Proof? Reader Paula found some more. "It's a baby if I say it's a baby."
• Cool beans: the GOP has picked up two more House seats, bringing the total to 63.
• Reader John Page found some nicely-realized Star Wars photos.
• The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood has done an initial check-out of the New-New International Version, or NIV 2011 — and they've found it wanting. In my quick glance, I was glad to see that they corrected many of the TNIV's criminal pluralizing of singulars (i.e. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked" [cf. ESV] was twisted into "Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked"). However, I was chagrined to see that they defend using "they" and "them" as singular pronouns. Also, it still pluralizes singulars to please an anti-Biblical fad (i.e. Proverbs 13:24 — "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them"). Pity; pathetic.
• Reader Christopher Carney found us some musical Lego video madness.
• Update from last week's mention of the anti-Facebook pastor with the "pastor"-wife: such legalism now clashes with not-too-distant past sins. At first he was reportedly dismissive of this report as "old news"; referred to his sins as "mistakes" — but now is taking some time off.
• I have long admired the work of the Family Research Council. Now the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization founded to oppose actual racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, has labeled it a hate group. Why? You know why. They dare to say that a particular form of wrong and harmful sexual perversion is wrong and harmful sexual perversion. Also on the list is Rushdoony's Chalcedon Foundation, and the Traditional Values Coalition.
• Cats aren't the only animals who need to clean themselves, you know:

• L, I B. Reader Dave Sloan notes that Al Gore lied for personal gain. Of course, he'd never do that now.
• I think this next fellow must have lost this one because of the spelling. Yeah, that's the ticket:

• Thanks to a tip from Gil Sebenste, you can enjoy Johnny Horton's The Battle of New Orleans — in Legos!
• It would be ironic if Toy Story 3 were to end up breaking the Academy's animated glass ceiling; Dear Wife and I thought it not nearly as good as the first two. Some truly scary images, too; odd for Pixar.
• Cool! I get to be on another list!

• Whew! What A Relief! Alert: you know yesterday? Remember what you ate? Vaguely? Well, Michelle Obama says it was OK.
• Thank goodness Obama won. If McCain had won, we'd probably be hearing from his wife Cindy about dumb stuff like orphans and private charities.
• (That was sarcastic, btw.)
• Relatedly, though, right now Byron York says the numbers don't look good for Obama's re-election. Which is good, per se, for America. Unless we're stuck with a turkey like Mitt Romney as the opposition.
• ("Turkey," get it? It's like a Thanksgiving jo... aw, never mind.)
• Anyway, for my part, put me down for TurBaconEpic!
• Robb Posch tasted Jones Soda flavors Turkey and Gravy, Wild Herb Stuffing, Brussels Sprout, Cranberry, and Pumpkin Pie. Yes, that's right: sodas. Why did he do it? So that you won't have to.
• Want to see Empire Strikes Back in 1009 frames? Sure you do.
• Berry Davis pointed me to a burger I would happily eat — though I would not be so happy to pay the $777 price for it.

• Ahh, the Christmas season is now upon us. It means that Dear Wife will be putting up beloved decorations, making some of her world-class peanut brittle, filling the house with glorious, joyous music of Christ....
• ...and of course it means that some of America's laziest and least self-aware minds are out, with no sense of irony whatever, proclaiming "reason" as the antidote to the "myth" of Christ. (Link from Christopher Carney.)
• On the other hand, Triablogue's Jason Engwer fills your basked with a collection of links to Christmas apologetics-themed posts.
• Now, these parting shots:

New BibleWorks knowledge base online

Happy Thanksgiving! Check out the post at Pyro. Meanwhile....

Maybe you hadn't heard about this. I hadn't.

But if you're a BW user, check it out.

TSA's grope-'n'-porn: your experiences, plans, proposals?

I may have miscalculated the ratio of President Obama's political self-interest vs. his breathtaking arrogance.

It seemed a sure-thing to me that he'd decree that TSA agents in airport terminals stop sexually assaulting and taking nudie pictures of citizens, surely in advance of the Thankgiving travel surge. Yet so far, he has just doubled down against the will and horror of the American people, as he did in nationalizing a couple of private industries. Similarly, the gentleman in charge over the TSA has repeatedly said that they would not cease assaulting the innocent in the name of pursuing the (wannabe) guilty.

In fact, TSA head John Pistole has declared that, if passengers will not submit to humiliation at the hands of the government, they do not have the right to fly. Yep, you heard that correctly.

Meanwhile, apparently all the "rights" belong to TSA porn-directors. They apparently

• have the "right" to pull down the pants of septuagenarians who've had knee replacement surgery
• have the "right" to strip-search, cuff and arrest a woman for carrying on applesauce (which she'd cleared in advance) to feed to her disabled, 90+-year-old mother
• have the "right" to force breast-cancer victims to remove their prostheses and prove they are missing a breast
• have the "right" to graphically and thoroughly feel up mothers while government goons mind their babies
• have the "right" to grope three-year-olds as they scream "Don't touch me"
• have the "right" to leave aged bladder-cancer sufferers to travel soaked in their own urine

This is the liberal's dream-world, where the State has all the "rights," and the serfs have none. Police officers have to have reasonable cause; TSA agents do not.

So what do you plan to do? Let me be more specific:

1. If you have a flight, are you going through with it?
2. You husbands, in particular: it's our job to protect our wives, to guard their modesty and honor. This isn't a medical situation, and these are not actions undertaken with our permission. Should it OK with us for strangers of either sex to feel up our wives' breasts, groin, rear end? Is it okay for strangers — anywhere — to look at nude pictures of our wives? If it isn't our duty to assure our wives that we'll stand up for them and protect them, then whose is it?
3. HSAT, what do we do? Cancel, with a call to the airlines? Call ahead to assure that it isn't going to happen? Submit, while complaining in a calm yet audible voice? Take the names of everyone performing the grope?

I remind you of what I pointed out after our last disastrous Presidential election: the "king" in America is the Constitution. We should submit to it insofar as we are able.

And so (to say the least) should the government, including TSA.

So you have to wonder: where is the ACLU? What is being done about this? There are some signs of action here and there, which is encouraging.

Meanwhile, though it sounds cliched to say so, the terrorists have scored massive victories. Conditioned by state re-education agencies to see the State as our benevolent, omnicompetent overlords, thousands of sheep simply queue up and submit to the indignities, convincing themselves that Big Brother knows best.

As the terrorists laugh and chalk up cheap, sweeping victories with barely a shot fired.

UPDATE: here's one fellow with time on his hands who claimed to get through without getting groped or death-rayed.

Another Hallelujah Chorus popup choir (I like this one even better)

(H-T Challies; I'm calling it "Monday Music" in the tag, so that it's included with the other music)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" — movie review

Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Length: 27 min (we say; they say 146 min)
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Director: David Yates

SPOILER-FREE SECTION

The seven Harry Potter books had one author, but the first seven Harry Potter movies have had several different directors and writers — and it has shown. The cinematic approach has morphed from filmed-book (The Sorcerer's Stone, movie #1) to movies-inspired-by-the-book (The Order of the Phoenix, movie #5). Every Harry Potter fan will have his own choice as to what has been the best or worst movie, but in my view, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is the best of the seven.

The movie takes off shortly after the events of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which ended with Professor Snape killing Albus Dumbledore, Harry purposing to leave school to pursue dark wizard Voldemort, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley pledging to join him.

As the movie opens, we find new Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour (Bill Nighy) trying to encourage the wizarding world amid the dark times looming. It's an effective opening to a movie that is significantly darker than all the preceding.

Then we find the three friends independently making preparations to travel — but where to? This question of "What do we do now?" looms large over the entire movie, as Dumbledore seems not to have given Harry the specifics of what comes next. The fate of the wizarding world lies in the hands of three teen-agers; and not the wizarding world alone, but the non-magical world as well. Voldemort means to purge the magical world of opponents and the "impure," and to force Muggles (non-magical people) down to slavery, by killing or controlling them, or sexually assaulting them at airports.

Okay, that last part is someone else's idea of "inconvenient but necessary"; Voldemort might find it amusing, though. On which subject (Voldemort, that is; not harassing citizens), we see a good deal more of Voldemort in this movie, observe the intimidation and terror under which even his supporters live. In a very effective early scene, Jason Isaacs's Lucius Malfoy vividly communicates a character about to jump out of his skin for fear of Ralph Fiennes' silky, serpentine Voldemort.

It is a scene eloquently tense for its understatedness, at a long table-full of perfectly-cast actors convey an atmosphere of drum-tight tension, as a victim (barely noticed until the end) hovers overhead, effectively paralyzed.

An aside: oddly, famed critic Roger Ebert wrote, "The film opens with a frightening meeting of the Ministry of Magic, plotting the destruction of all three young heroes." Which is fine, except that (A) it isn't the film's opening, (B) it isn't a meeting of the Ministry of Magic, and (C) they do not even mention Ron or Hermione, who are of no interest to Voldemort, whatever. Otherwise, spot-on.

It is this sort of scene that marks the excellence of this seventh installment. Director David Yates and cinematographer Eduardo Serra show an eye for eloquent subtlety, which is far more effective than ham-fisted statements. Yates' actors do not say, "Boy, I am really scared/worried/devoted/defiant" — instead (listening, George Lucas?) they show it, and the camera-composition and directions convey mood and feeling in deftly-composed shots and vignettes. Ron and Hermione, asleep, their hands stretched out to one another, but not quite touching. Hermione saying "We're alone," as the camera draws back and darkness envelops the three.


Further, Yates eschews most director's addiction to endlessly splicing together one-face shots. Rather, he allows his actors to frame the shot together and react off of each other. The result is some marvelous sequences, from large ones such as Voldemort's "board meeting," to a scene involving many of the major characters about to transfigure into the same character.

The heart of the film is the relationship between the three principles, and they have never been better. My dear wife and I feared, in the fifth movie (Order of the Phoenix) that Emma Watson had forgotten how to act. No longer. Watson's embodiment of Hermione Granger is note-perfect, by turns moving, touching, amazing, and deftly, hysterically funny. No less skilled is Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley, given the task of showing loyalty and love, despair and anger — all of which he does as if born to the role.

Unfortunately, Daniel Radcliffe's Harry is probably the least effective. Radcliffe is not a poor actor, but he is of limited range, and this movie shows it. Radcliffe's voice seems only to vary in volume rather than pitch, and his range of facial expression falls well short of Grint's. Perhaps it reflects Radcliffe's vision of Harry, because in a scene where the one actor portrays seven different actors as one character, he's very creative and clever. But mostly he either looks expressionless, unhappy, or a bit peeved. More would have been better.

At 146 minutes the movie is long, yet it moves right along, though not mindlessly so. The pacing pauses to deepen the plot, then plunges into action. For instance, one scene involving Harry and Hermione moves wordlessly from sadness, to laughter, then back to sadness. There are mad chases, explosive fights, sudden attacks; dances, flights, debates.

Though one might wish that John Williams had returned to score the final movie, Alexandre Desplat's score is very effective, now sighing and slinking, now jolting and thrilling, punctuating the action on the screen. The effects are amazing, with one exception: the Patronuses, luminous creatures summoned by the wizards. This has long been a geeky gripe of mine. The books make a good deal out of Harry's fully-formed stag Patronus, which first appeared as described in the third movie (Prisoner of Azkaban) — but Yates or his crew unaccountably traded that in for gauzy, indistinct, barely-identifiable luminescences. Animals that should be easily recognized — which is an important plot-element — instead are vague and sometimes formless.

By contrast the elf Kreacher, barely seen as a last-minute addition in The Order of the Phoenix, is perfectly realized here, and fully inhabits the frame with the flesh-and-blood actors.

Will the movie make sense to anyone who hasn't seen the previous movies, or read the books? I doubt it, at this point. A lot of essential backstory is assumed, and I think it'd be hard to come up to pace without it.

To Christians who reject the series on principle, this movie emphasizes an important point: magic is not held out as something to be aspired to. For one thing, there is an unbridgeable gap between the magical world and the common. Magic cannot be attained, in author Rowling's world. One is born magical, or he is not. Second, the magical world is ugly. Their justice system is unjust and powerless, and those wielding power are often flawed, petty, dangerous.

How does the movie rate in terms of faithfulness to the book? Overall, I'd rate the movie very well, far better than the preceding two. Most of the changes Yates introduces actually enhance the story, with exceptions that I will note in the Spoiler section.

In pre-spoiler sum: would I recommend it? Enthusiastically yes, if you enjoy dark fantasy of this kind. I would caution that the PG-13 is to be taken seriously, and I wouldn't bring younger, more impressionable children unfamiliar with the story. There is a fair bit of magical violence, a touch of harsh language and sensuality, and dark, tense tones.

Finally: Watch for the Bible verse on the headstone of Harry's parents. I expect to revisit this with you when the final movie is released, next July.

Now: read no further, if you haven't seen the film and/or read the book.

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SPOILER-HEAVY NOTES — for true Potterheads

One change absolutely baffles me: why in the world is Dobby still dressed as a slave, and why in the world does Yates omit Harry putting a sock in Dobby's grave? Movie-Dobby proudly proclaims that he is a free-elf... still wearing that pathetic sack of a garment. Then Harry buries him, and I'm waiting for him and Ron to lay a sock with him, and perhaps Hermione a scarf — but nothing. Why? It was such a touching element in the book, would have taken fifteen seconds and no special-effects money, and would have deepened the emotional resonance of the scene. This omission makes no sense at all.

Another scene really irritates me: Hermione, my favorite character, is being tortured upstairs. In the book, it is clear that it is Harry's fault they are captured, and so it is Harry's fault that Hermione is tortured — and his lack of remorse after is something that bothers me about the book. At least Ron is frantic, hearing Hermione's screams, desperate to escape and save her.

But the movie is far worse. They can all hear Hermione, their best friend and often their savior, screaming in fear and pain... and, after initial distress, they pretty much forget her. Oh, hi Luna. So you're here? Cool! Ollivander, huh? I'll be. Oh, and look, Dobby! Excellent. So, Dobby, you just take these good people out while Hermione distracts the enemy by screaming in agony under unknown torture upstairs, and we'll just wait right here....

Really. Bothers. Me.

Now here's a funny thing. The filmmakers didn't see fit to include Sirius' mirror in movie #3, so Harry never broke it, so he doesn't have a shard of it. But that shard needed as a plot-device in this movie, so... presto! Here it is. With no explanation whatever, and no real surprise on Radcliffe's expressionless face when he appears to see Dumbledore in it, or the windows of some room when his forest should be reflected.

I just think that's funny. Did they say, "Maybe no one will notice"? Anyone who hasn't read the books will be absolutely clueless ("So where'd he get the magic mirror-piece?").

That said, I'd rather they just hum a little tune and slip it in, than invent some new device to save them from their earlier omission. It is an element that will become important... or, should, if they hew to the book.

I'm regretful that they haven't given Harry green eyes, and stressed in the narrative that Harry's green eyes mirror his mother's green eyes. There's a moving scene in the remainder of the book which they'll obviously be unable to film as written, as a consequence. Pity, that, with colored contact lenses so readily available.

There are odd notes, as well. Nobody seems too shook-up over Mad Eye's death. Whoops! Move on! Bye, Alastor! Well, not even that.

Worse, Molly — one of the most criminally short-changed characters in this series of movies — doesn't try to do anything for her terribly injured son George except look sadly at him. She doesn't even clean off the blood! And what exactly happened to George? I still see his ear, under all the blood.

Also, Harry gets over Hedwig's death a lot faster than he does Dobby's. 

And what's with the Bathilda Bagshot sequence? It's pretty terrific and creepy... until Nagini apparently tries to kill Harry. What's that about? Voldemort stressed that he had to be the one to kill Harry Potter. So Nagini's gone rogue? Unlikely. Why not just do it as in the book, have Nagini trying to hold Harry until Voldemort's arrival, with Hermione once again saving their lives, if just barely?

The Lovegood sequence also seems not-fully-thought-through. Xenophilius says Luna will be along shortly... then everyone forgets about her. Tea is made, stories are told, the day goes on, and no one asks, "So, where is Luna, anyway?" — as they do in the book. So why do the Death Eaters apparently immediately start setting about destroying Lovegood's place, when he was trying to turn in Harry Potter? If the Death Eaters had killed Harry, wouldn't Voldemort have gone medieval on them? Doesn't make sense.

But then again, so much is done so well: the seven Harry's, the flight from the Death Eaters, Ron's return. The three actors who play the trio Polyjuiced at the Ministry are absolutely wonderful. As I said, even the additions are good, particularly Hermione Obliviating her parents, Ron and Hermione at the piano, and Harry dancing with Hermione.

Terrific movie, best of the lot.

Hope the final one hews even closer to the book. If Molly doesn't get her big scene, I'll be royally cheesed.

Monday music: "Hallelujah Chorus" popup choir

You've probably seen this already. I meant to save it for still closer to the Christmas season, but it's popped up already on half the pages on The Intrawebs.

So for the two of you who haven't....

(Thanks to reader Candy...and then a half-dozen others)

(Could have lived without knowing that the Philadelphia Gay Men's Choir sang this; there's bitter irony there)

Hither and thither 11/19/10

I have, er, a late-night engagement Thursday night, so you may find more updates than usual through the morning. (I still haven't checked all the submissions from my Dear Readers!) (Update: yes, there will be many updates!) So enjoy, keeping these things in mind:

• For fans of the Harry Potter movie opening today:

• Another use for cats: gator control. Seriously. (A couple of readers also noticed this.)
• We've all been reading about TSA groping and porn scanners lately. Read a different take on it from Doug Wilson, who sees it as a Third Amendment issue.
• Want to avoid becoming a porn pinup or getting sexually molested by the government? Simple: wear a hijab.  Because, you know, Islamic terrorists would never use women or children to do Bad Things. Because that would be wrong!

• But if you're a white lady with a baby... watch out. Because you know they're big terrorist suspects.
• Parenthesis: how can a man's blood not boil at the thought of strangers doing this to his wife, his daughter? I think if mine were molested in such a way... might be you'd be without my services for a time. Absolutely in fur i at ing.
• That's me speaking as a husband and a father. Hear a similar word from a mother: do not touch my kids.
• Anyone think that Janet Napolitano or Michelle Obama are subject to such "pat-downs" as that poor woman alleges? I'm thinking the answer can be spelled in two letters, the first being an "n" and the second a vowel.
• Though he is surprisingly naive about President Obama and Secretary Napolitano, Ed Stetzer gives some reasons to resist.
• Or you can just break up with the airlines, and tell them so, as this writer is doing. After all, from my understanding, the airports do not have to allow the TSA to molest and harass customers.
• My dear wife asked me, and I ask you: where is the ACLU on this?
• Maybe the same place as the NAACP is in celebrating the election of conservative black Tea Party patriots?
• A parting funny, though: Airplane II saw this coming, 28 years ago.
• Post-noon update: I am sure that you all will join me in Deep Guilt over the news that all this "rights"-talk and unsheeplike complaining is making our Overloads positively cranky.
• Second post-noon update: frequent-flyer Phil Johnson Tweeted:"Opted out of the porn scanner this AM; was subjected to groping. Worst part: airport Muzak was playing Dan Hill's 'Sometimes When We Touch.'" You can't make these things up.
• Aaand a parting not-funny prediction: if President Obama does not direct Secretary Napolitano to change this drastically before the holiday-flights season starts next week, "Death-wish" diagnosis is confirmed. That, or incurable megalomania. Hard to differentiate.
• Meanwhile, breaking news: reader Paula found proof that a lot of folks at the "restore Sanity" rally were... mm... not very bright.
• Graphic candy corn joy.
• Julie Garrett has found us Super Mom.
• DAOD points out a pastor who has commanded his church leaders to quit Facebook, or be kicked out. His reasoning is that one might cultivate bad relationships and even infidelity via Facebook. I know that happens... but I have to say that anyone who is that morally clueless and weak should cut an air-hole in a refrigerator and move in. But now, at no extra charge...
• The Irony Alert: this pastor, who's so concerned about purity, and who's comfortable making up his own rules about who can and can't be a leader in his church? His wife is also a "pastor" in that church.
• Update on last week's story about Cody Alicea, forbidden to fly an American flag on his bike. Happy developments. Reader Threegirldad (and BSIL) noted Cody had an escort riding his flag to school.
• No, Josiah and Jonathan, this would not be accepted at Logos Christian Academy:

• While liberals just can't find anything in the budget to cut (except the military), conservatives are once again suggesting that National Public Radio be cut from public dollars. But their structure is so complex that it's difficult to tell how much of their budget is comprised of tax dollars. Regardless, I think the argument for forcing you and me to pay even a penny for it is, at best, weak. Look for the GOP to act on that, next year — and for them to be characterized in the MSM as "anti-culture," or something.
• Meanwhile, interesting to note that Obama has a relative who is a doctor, and is robustly opposed to Obama's agenda.
• More proof — if we needed it — that the Obama administration is utterly clueless and utterly out of its depth in dealing with terrorism. Civilian trial of a terrorist, rewarded with 3 hots and a cot plus endless opportunities for anti-American propagandizing for years... just shows that our wrong President picked the wrong man to be Attorney General. Which is hardly a surprise.
• It does prompt a valid question: might even Osama bin Ladin walk, under Obama?
• Goodness. The new congress isn't even sworn in, and a RINO's already trying to sneak into leadership posed as a "conservative." Watch out, Speaker Boehner.
• Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, nice to know the Dems take corruption seriously. Just kidding! What's the recommendation for Rep. Rangel, found guilty of 11 ethics violations? Dismissal? Be serious. No, they recommend a public scolding of the defiant, unrepentant Rangel! "Bad Congressman. Bad! Now, back to your seat of power and privilege." Onoes! Boy oh boy, that will send a message.
• About that, btw, I am serious. It absolutely sends a message, though not a surprising one from the party that sold its soul to keep Bill Clinton in office.
• Moving to another area where that same party holds power: Dude, better not break into California! If they find out you're illegal... they'll give you tuition discounts! (Thanks to Chris Carney.)
• Oh my. Can you guess what this is? Go on, try:

• The writeup says, "Whether this Thanksgiving centerpiece incites horror, amazement, or confusion when it’s served, it’s certain to evoke some kind of outburst." What is it? Again, a warning: "This dish is not recommended for people who require an inch of space between food groups." Give up? Thanks to a tip from Laura Kelleher, it is a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake. Yikes.
• BSIL says that the perfect dessert to accompany the Turkey Cake is the Cherpumple.

• I think it is safe to say this about San Francisco and its attitude towards what may or should be done with the, er, male member. Here is the rule: if any part of the Bible is foursquare against it, SF is for it; if any part of the Bible is foursquare for it, SF is against it. (Reader Robert's link reminded me that I wanted to point that out.)
• Robert also noted an ugly, ugly find at a Buddhist temple.
• The three most obnoxious Senate victories, to me, in ascending order, were Boxer, this one (if it happens), and Reid. Boxer for reasons obvious to any sentient being — but third place because it wasn't unreservedly sweet to have to vote for Fiorina, (A) under whom I'd worked at Hewlett-Packard, and (B) who served HP really poorly. (I was one who lost my job to India/Canada, thanks to Carly.)  Alaska because Murkowski was rejected by her party, and her victory would embolden stuck-up prima donnas everywhere in future elections. Nevada most because (A) Harry "This War Is Lost" Reid really, really needed to go, and (B) Sharron Angle, I think, would have been a terrific Senatrix.
• On which subject: Reid is going to try to ram through some bad Obama judicial picks. (Did I just say the same thing 2 or 3 times?)
• Similarly, the Dems want to rush to force the military to embrace one particular ruinous perversion. Well. Nice to know what their priorities are, isn't it? Nice and, in a sane society, politically fatal.
• So: we have an administration who views the war on terrorism as a legal matter, and the military as a perfect field for social experimentation. God deliver us.
• PDS. It's real.
• Relatedly: Sarah Palin thinks she could beat Obama in 2012. Elitists will bark and moo. My observations are two: (1) misunderestimating Sarah Palin has become something of a cottage industry, and I won't be investing in it; (2) in a sane America, I think she, any one of my regular readers, or your humble correspondent could beat Obama in 2012.
• First... heart-breaker for Lego fans. You missed it! (Thanks to reader Gil Sebenste.)
• Hunh. Gil also found a Lego exec with (what else?) a Lego business card.

• So, how would you feel about the announcement, "Thomas Kinkade to repaint ceiling of Sistine Chapel?" (And I ask as a non-hater.)  Maybe something like you feel reading this?
• Thanks to reader jmb, enjoy an 80-year-old Scots woman bringing the house down on Britain's Got Talent.
• Maybe I'm going soft in my old age, but I've come to see bull-fighting as a pretty barbaric sport. So reader Chris Carney's find tempts me to think, "Go, bull!"
• Speaking of barbaric, our corrupt and moribund culture now serves up to us two glittering examples of God-hating moral cluelessness: a Twin Cities couple inviting the public to vote as to whether or not to have their child poisoned/dismembered alive. (Thanks, reader Adam Pohlman, for the link.) LATE UPDATE: it may be that this whole thing is a stunt, though its purpose is debated.
• Wouldn't calling something "Church in the Now" kinda be a dead giveaway, right there? Ah, but "gay" "Christian" "pastor/Bishop" Jim Swilley is Pentecostal... so maybe he gets a pass on everything. It's not like his congregation expects a bunch of well-taught Bible out of him or anything.
• Reader Chris Carney found indications that America may not stand alone in self-destructive stupidity.
• Am I the only one who sees this as a political metaphor?

• Leaving us with these:

Hither and Thither: some general words

Every week when I come to post HT, I wish I had done this post, so I could just link to it. I will probably have to revise, because I'm hurried. But better imperfectly started than perfectly intended!

So, as to every HT:

1. I generally post it in the morning, but expect possibly updates up until noon, Pacific Texas Time, of that day.
2. Most of the pictures are ensmallened; click on them to embiggen them.
3. A lot of people send suggestions, and I appreciate every last one of them, as I regularly express in the items. Please keep it up!
4. I do not, however, always respond to each suggestion, and I don't end up using every one I'm sent. Never take it personally! If I don't use this week's suggestion, send another next week. I pick a bit more broadly than just my tastes, but since the blog is primarily about what's interesting to me, tastes will differ. It's a good thing!
5. I credit all sources, by including your name bolded in parentheses after the item. Like this: "...with Legos and bacon. (thx Bob Varfmann)" or even just "(Bob Varfmann)."
6. Please do not use the comments of one Hither and Thither to suggest items I've missed. Instead, email them to me, and I may either use them that day before noon, or the next week. My email's easy to find; just click on My complete profile in the sidebar, and there I am.

Talking to your kids... about Star Wars

Now this is silly.

And we have Pastor Al to thank for it.

Hunh. Mostly I just read a book or listen to sermons or lectures

Not these guys, though. Ever had this happen in a waiting room?

Me neither.

Guest review: Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook, by Phyllis Pellman Good (reviewed by Valerie Phillips)

Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook, by Phyllis Pellman Good

Good Books: 2010

Guest reviewer: Valerie Phillips

Crock pots and busy moms go together like peanut butter and jelly, so I was happy when the publisher offered Dan a review copy of Phyllis Pellman Good’s new slow cooker cookbook called Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook.  Over the past few weeks we have enjoyed sampling several of the 600 recipes.

If you are familiar with Ms. Good’s other crock pot cookbooks, you already know what to expect from this addition in the series.  It is a compilation of recipes from cooks all over the country.  There are several recipes for chili; multiple recipes for vegetable beef soup;  and an entire section on turkey!  It’s very handy when you are short on ingredients – just read over the next column or two and you’re bound to find a similar recipe that fits the contents of your pantry. Recipes are laid out in a columnar fashion with three to a page.  Titles are in bright Christmas-y red with little green slow cookers above. Many pages have holiday anecdotes or tips from contributors.

The book’s categories are:  Appetizers, Snacks and Spreads;  Breakfast and Brunch Dishes;  Soups, Stews and Chilis;  Beef Main Dishes;  Pork Main Dishes;  Chicken Main Dishes;  Turkey Main Dishes;  Meat and Bean Main Dishes;  Other Main Dishes;  Vegetables;  Beverages;  and Desserts and Sweets.

Something I especially liked in this cookbook was the addition of the “Ideal slow cooker size” to each recipe.  Having inherited 2, 4 and 6 qt. crocks, it helps me know which one to pull out of the cupboard.  My 1^st edition Fix and Forget-It didn’t have that information or the general guide to slow cooker cookery that opens the book.

While this is called a “Christmas Cookbook”, the majority of the recipes are suitable for everyday sorts of meals.  The book has recipes for wassails, sweet potato casseroles, artichoke dip, stuffing, “Christmas smells,” and other holiday favorites.  The section on Breakfast is disappointing for a Christmas cookbook.  I was expecting breakfast casseroles that I could assemble the night before and serve Christmas morning.  It does have a few recipes of this sort, but mostly recipes for oatmeal, whole wheat, grits, applesauce, etc.

We sampled Salsa Chuck Roast, White Chili, Ham n’ Cabbage Stew, Hamburger/Green Bean Dish, Apple Chicken Stew, Scalloped Pineapple and Caramel Peanut Butter Dip.  Now before I tell you what we thought, I should tell you that my boys (yep, that includes the big one) are not big stew/soup fans and amongst them it can be tricky to put dinner on the table.  Cooked carrots, cabbage prepared any way, potato chunks, mushrooms, tomatoes, and more do not belong in any kind of dish I put before them.

But guess what? All these ingredients were found in my test recipes.  The boys thought I was going to poison them with the Ham n’ Cabbage Stew the other night, but in the end everybody thought it tasted much better than it was making the house smell.  Not a one ran gagging from the room. That’s a high endorsement!

I assembled the recipes per the instructions and didn’t add or subtract, in order to get a true idea of their yummyness.  OK, I did add cheese to the top of the mashed potatoes in the Hamburger/Green Bean Dish and I didn’t have apple juice, so I substituted chicken broth in the Apple Chicken Stew.  The consensus was that the recipes ranged from good to scrumptious.  The one I least liked, my DAOD loved.  Dan, the boys and I all raved about the Salsa Chuck roast, the Scalloped Pineapple, and the Caramel dip for apples.

Having one of Ms.Good’s slow cooker cookbooks, I’m not sure if I would have purchased this, but it is definitely a wonderful resource and the recipes are tasty.  If you need a crockpot cookbook, this is an excellent compilation.  Buy, eat, enjoy!

Monday music: Beethoven's Fifth — like you've never heard it

Hither and thither 11/12/10

Nice enough week for me. Quiet here at the blog. I've left up the Advent season post, in hopes that more will chime in. Some requested an Advent reading schedule I created, and I've found it, so that may come up in the coming weeks.

But for now, you can head into your weekend with this. Let me hear from you!

As usual, updates possible until noon PT.

• Hokey smokes — Lego frog dissection!

• A favorite Democrat myth (like the parallel favorite anti-Christian myth) is that the GOP (like Christians) is driven only by ideology and irrationality, while the Dems are all about Science and facts and reason. Right. Except when it comes to drilling, greening, and laying tracks. (I would also add abortion.)
• In case you didn't get that, Fred Butler pointed me to an article detailing that the Obama administration re-wrote the report on deepwater drilling, so as to misrepresent the facts.
• Well, at least it wasn't Sarah Palin who did it. Because, you know, she's stupid. Not like the Dems, the MSM, and raised-pinkie conservative elitists.
• On which subject: love seeing Palin twit an elitist twit.
• Now, a Wintertime BibChr Safety Tip: never, never do this:

• Once again, I just watch it over, and over, and over, and over....
• So, which is the bigger surprise: that Dick van Dyke is still surfing at age 84, or that porpoises saved his life?
• The good news: under Obama, salaries have soared! The bad news? It's government salaries that have soared. (Surprised? Didn't think so.)
• Remember how we were told (and told) that the whole world hated Bush, but everything would change under Obama? The world would love us again, we would have peace and harmony, The One would just stride out and make it all wonderful? Bad week for that myth.  The Iraqi president (a former close ally of America) rejected Obama's personal request that he step down to allow a new government to form. Second, South Korea (South Korea!) rebuffed Obama's attempts at a trade agreement. Third, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Obama's proposal concerning global trade imbalances, and (same article) China rejected Obama's call to speed up economic reform.
• Gee... if only someone had pointed out to the pre-November-2008 0-cultists that Obama was an unaccomplished, unqualified, ideologically-driven, arrogant empty suit. If only.
• Irony Can Be Pretty Ironic Alert: a bigger man would be humbled. Pray for the president. Seriously.
• No sign of that yet, though. Obama insists on playing dumb about extending Bush tax cuts, only pledging to extend them for (what he defines as) middle-class tax-payers. He says he "can't afford" to give tax-cuts to the wealthy. To the unreflecting, this makes him sound moderate. But wait — I thought we wanted more jobs? Don't we? Doesn't he? And who generates jobs and new start-ups and large venturesome investments? "Middle class"? So, if we want more jobs, does it make sense to raise taxes on the most prosperous?
• Obama may think so. We'll see how many Dems join him in this death-wish.
• The problem is that Obama and his fellow hard-lefties view private citizens' money as theirs. To them, it's a question of how much they (i.e. the State) can afford to give to the citizens. Which is exactly wrong, of course: the money is not theirs, and the issue is how much they should take out of the economy if they want to grow the economy. Tax-cuts are an investment, not a loss. Obama is exactly wrong: it isn't that we "can't afford" not to raise taxes on the wealthy; it's that we can't afford to penalize the job-producers so that the State can continue to expand.
• All this to say: "humbled" and "humiliated" are not synonyms. Need further proof? Here y'go
• Okay, back to my home state.Think we exaggerate about California? How about this. While some thirteen-year-olds are getting into drugs and hostile dress and behavior, Cody Alicea just wanted to have an American flag on his bicycle... on Veteran's Day, to show support for the veterans in his family. How did government re-education officials welcome this show of patriotism? By telling Cody to take the flag off his bike, because it might "cause racial tensions." That's right. In an American school, in America, paid for by American tax dollars, this American student was told not to display the American flag.

• Okay, maybe you just want to walk that one off for a second before we get back to fun and frivolity. Cleansing breaths: in... out... in... out... ahhhh.
• Know who once wanted to film The Lord of the Rings? Try The Beatles. Know who killed the idea? Try J. R. R. Tolkien.
• Pat Sajack apologizes — and for good reason. Keith Olbermann immediately proves Sajack right, though unintentionally. Isn't it funny how often liberals and anti-Christians do that?
• Reader Sonja found us a pretty cool Hummer — but doesn't it look a little tippy?
• Christmas is coming; you might want to see these gifts for Star Wars fans.
• Now. Two words: yes, please.

• (Should that have been three: si, por favor?)
• Too early? Run, Alvin, run!

• Another thing that tells you all you need to know about Democrats is that Alvin Greene received 358,276 votes.
• If there were a contest to see how many messed-up things could be crammed into one headline, the winner just might have to be Woman Gives Birth to Homosexual Son's Baby. 
• Oh crud, spoke too soon? Gay Dad Fights Two Lesbians Over Kids.
• Somewhat relatedly, we can thank a Marine for telling some unwelcome truth about cramming a particular sexual perversion into the military. Semper fi.
• Still somewhat relatedly, a Yeah... Well... That's Nice Alert: Amazon.com pulled a title advocating and instructing in "safe pedophilia."  Not a joke. But why not? While even professing Christians continue to romanticize one particular repulsive sexual perversion, and its addicts force outward acceptance across the culture, what's next, and why shouldn't it be? Apart from God, I mean? (Thanks to reader Robert Sakovich for the lead.)
• Tower of Babel, unintentionally visualized? Harrowing watching.
• On that subject... you want to get that fluttery about-to-fall feeling, sitting in your chair? Check this out (and don't look at anything else on that site). (ONE MORE NOTE: I'm being told that, if you speak Russian, you should mute the video, since those Russian teens are potty-mouths.)
• This lizard... it's delicious.. and it's new! (Okay, not "delicious" — but new; thanks to Laura Kelleher.)
• I guess I'm at (and have been at, for years) the stage of my life where I sometimes think about how I'd like to die, if the Lord tarries. Witnessing for Christ, check. Protecting any of my family, check. Protecting another person, check. Foiling a terrorist plot, check. Any of those. But not like this.
• Relatedly and antepenultimately, here's a pretty cool complete schematic of the Millennium Falcon (click to enlarge):

• Penultimately, I hope you'll pardon a bit of nepotism. You see, it's a long story, but my dear wife is helping out her parents with something, and wonders if anyone in our eclectic readership is interested in a Dickens Victorian Village. (If we had room to display it, we'd just find a way to grab it ourselves.) Or maybe you know somebody who knows somebody?
• And now, ultimately: