Wednesday, November 30. 2005
Dear Editor in Chief, For a supposedly Christian-oriented blog, are you aware that you have two naked people on your front page right now, plus a frankly erotic, dare I say "post-coital" painting? This is not appropriate for a wholesome Christian family blog like Maggie's Farm, in my opinion, and I would respectfully request that you avoid such sorts of overly-stimulating and exciting postings in the future. Sincerely, Deeply Offended and Disappointed, in South Carolina Dear Deeply, As you have very perceptively noted, we have made a strategic editorial decision to become a sex-focused blog instead of the obscure, eclectic, thinking person's blog we have been in the past. We believe it will increase our readership if we limit ourselves to the subjects of guns, sex, violence, and rock 'n roll in the future. So, my dear Offended, just bear in mind that Markets Rule, Sex Sells, and humorlessness kills. Sincerely, Bird Dog, Editor Dog in Chief and Chief Financial Officer, Maggie's Farm, LLC
"Towards Europe?" That's the title of a Barone piece this week, in which he provides an optimistic overview of the extent to which the US is not moving in the direction of European-style welfare statism, (which I think of as a modern-day feudalism). While we all enjoy mocking the ways busy-body government chips away at liberty by telling us where we can smoke, making us wear seat-belts, banning fox hunting, restricting our gun rights, etc., it is the Nanny State that is the greater threat to freedom, initiative, and personal autonomy by trading human spirit and vitality for security and safety. A quote: "The Bush administration came into office with plans to get us off the European trajectory, and has had partial success. At the moment, it seems inclined to let the Republican Congress set the course on domestic policy, which means letting the workings of regulated private markets in pensions and health care determine our direction. Democrats would like to move us some distance toward Europe, but how far they neither say nor, so far as I can tell, know. The Bush years have not produced a crisp decision to get off the European trajectory. But they have produced some significant movement in that direction, notwithstanding narrow Republican congressional majorities and harsh partisan divisions." Read the whole thing.
We are on a Botticelli (1445-1510) kick at the moment. If any college in New England needs someone to teach Europe: 1400-1565, we will do it with pleasure. Email us a generous contract, with benefits.
Venus and Mars (1483). 
Time Lines Without a mental time line, or, preferably, a visual time line, I have a tough time getting a good grip on history. While one can learn the most from making one yourself (I've always wanted to make one on the upstairs hallway with magic markers), there are good ones you can buy. Hyperhistory has an online World History timeline, and you can push Hard Copy to buy one. Good Christmas present for history buffs.
A nicotine vaccine for smokers? Good idea. How journalists spread crazy rumors during Katrina. Reason The moslem war in southeast asia. Awaiting Saddam's return - Libertarian Leanings: "Only Saddam can save us. It felt terrible but I am willing to hang and torture again. Saddam taught us about force. He is a strong personality," he said. Boston Globe advises the Church on theology? Squaring the Boston Globe John Dos Passos, Hemingway, the Spanish Civil War, and useful idiots: neoneocon
When giving treats to friends or children, give them what they like, emphatically not what is good for them. G.K. Chesterton
Tuesday, November 29. 2005
Another book I forget which blog recommended Istanbul: The Memory and the City, by Pamuk, but it looks excellent and goes on my Christmas list.
Did anyone miss this? Frank Rich's War, in the NY Sun. Or this on civilian deaths in Iraq: Logic Times? In praise of Joe Lieberman. Ex-Donk
What is this? Click Aliyah Diary category to find out. Ulpan: Progressive Judaism, and the Bankrupcy of Judaism in San Francisco. 11-9-05
The Ulpan was so famous, I expect more physically imposing
structures, some international style of Mies, or perhaps Courboisier,
form following function, as our mental forms would follow the function
of our new language, new Semitic thoughts, biblical, spare, yet clear,
unwasted breath, nomadic laconicism. Biblical brevity we learn, but
such knowledge is transmitted in tin sheds, concrete bunkers with
corrugated roofs, in the Mediterranean summer. Our brains have Hebrew
baked into them.
Situated at the Southern tip of Netanyah, the town itself is sun-worn
with streets named yearningly after the Riviera -- Nice, Aixe,
Provence -- by French-tongued North African Jewish transplants,
refugees who continue to long after La Patrie.
The school, on grounds of a half-star hotel, more a youth hostel,
often sans youth, is too far to walk on baking summer days; too long
to wait for the bus, a heat-beaten mini-van, still run by North
African schedule, in a time warped by Camus' sun, slowly, belatedly
(in American time). The driver, should he be rushed, makes an upward
gesture with his hand, fingers pursed and tips pulsating at each other
as if to say, "I'm coming, I'm coming."
From the town square, pass the beach and as the road ends, veer left
onto a rutted, gravel-embedded path that bounces you to the gate, a
pseudo-security, a guard in the darkened shed, acting as if he has
smoked his nargilah at the last break. The gate is motorized,
electrified, slides open slowly, creakily and only partially, on
rusted rails.
Continue reading "Guest Author: Aliyah Diary #6"
Divorce According to Marquardt, the author of the excellent Between Two Worlds, two-thirds of divorces in America are "optional" or elective, ie not a consequence of abuse, violence, addictions, adultery, or similar lethally destructive misbehavior. Orson Card has written a wise, thoughtful, and mature review of Marquardt's book, and I agree with every word in it. In my experience, many "unhappy" people are unwilling to see that much unhappiness comes from within, not from without, and refuse to see that they have the power to make things work, or not work. Or to see that much human misery comes from people's unwillingness, or inability, to grow up. And both Card, and Marquardt, are emphatic about the point that a family is not a casual institution entered into for "personal fulfillment" or selfish gratifications: it is meant to be a rock and foundation for growing people - both the married people and any kids. Being married is difficult, sacrificial, possibly sacred, and oftentimes happy and peaceful, especially when we take it for granted and do not even realize that we have a good thing going. Marriage is not "natural." Honeymoons never last; passion fades when faced with daily reality; everyone has terrible, nasty flaws; the grass is rarely greener except for a brief time. It's too bad that the adolescent fantasies of true love that lasts forever is not automatic, but must be built and re-built over time. Some quotes from Card's review: "....Between Two Worlds is not just an important book, it is a highly readable one. And, to put it plainly, I believe that anyone who has children and is contemplating a divorce should regard it as a solemn duty to read this book first, and take its findings into consideration." and: "Given that our whole society seems to believe the myth of romantic love -- that hormonal yearnings should trump rational commitments -- it's hardly a surprise that many perfectly good marriages break up over matters that should have been left behind in adolescence. Bad enough the heartbreak such misbehavior causes among the formerly married. But when children are involved, the selfishness and callousness of the behavior of some supposed adults should earn the disapproval of all civilized people. But we are all so nice, so nonjudgmental, that we have to assure everyone that we aren't condemning anybody, that "it's your life." " Read the whole thing.
Thomas Fraser to enter Country Music Hall of Fame. Who? A Scotsman. Here. H/T, Norm. Brits censor Christopher Marlowe, to not offend Moslems. WTF? What happened to the progressive line that art is meant to unsettle people (a loony idea with which I disagree, anyway)? : GOP Bloggers Iowahawk has a Christmas present suggestion - a charming item. Tax cuts for whom? Env. Repub. Democide numbers. Marg. Revolution
Savonarola, Erasmus, and the pre-Reformation I found a piece (actually, part of a lecture series by Kreis) which nicely and succinctly addresses what was going on in Italy, and in Europe, during the 1400s and early 1500s. Specifically, the differences in trends between northern and southern Europe; the power of Savonarola and his Bonfires of the Vanities; and the poor reputation of the Church at that time leading up to Luther. To view Savonarola as a "bad guy" is to make the error of viewing history through our present point of view. He was a reformer, an evangelist, and a true believer with many intellectuals and artists as followers (including Lorenzo the Magnificent and Botticelli), and it was the Church's fear and distrust of him which led to his execution at the spot below, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, where I took this photo 12 days ago. 
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be. Socrates (470 BC - 399 BC)
Monday, November 28. 2005
The Bible as a career handbook? Christian Science Monitor Repub pushback works. Protein and No Oil comment. Willis to make film about Michael Yon: Michelle Vouchers for Special Ed? Acton Inst. Roggio blogging from Iraq: Fourth Rail
Barone on the plight of the car companies: Op. Journal: "The end, or the beginning of the end, of a familiar and comfortable world: That's how General Motors' announcement last week of massive layoffs and plant closings, following the bankruptcy of Delphi last month, strikes one who grew up in the Detroit area in the two decades immediately after World War II." Increase immigration? I don't think this is what Americans have in mind. Calif. Yankee Another take on the Iraq poll: optimism about freedom in Iraq: Pardon my English Cindy's book signing. Kinda sad. Synthstuff Ice cores reveal carbon dioxide level changes. CSM Our shortage of skilled workers: Cafe Hayek
Ignorance is preferable to error. He is less remote from truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong. Thomas Jefferson(Thanks, Paxety, who let us share his collection of favorite quotes.)
Sunday, November 27. 2005
Guy Stuff I will refer our readers to three sites today which cater to outdoorsmen and hunters/shooters. Santa knows very well that guys like gear. First is Filson. Some of their stuff is more rugged than anyone ever needs - except for lumberjacks - but so are SUVs. Their famous heavy-duty waxed cotton "tin pants" trousers not only stand up by themselves, but they will hold you up too. Their unfashionable stuff is good for one or two lifetimes. The second is Griffin & Howe. Like Kevin's, they cater to the gentleman sportsman. They have very nice stuff, and will make you (or your wife or girlfriend) a very nice custom shotgun - and they are very good to our conservation charity.
More book recommendations, and blog linking I figure that Christmas is partly about getting, and giving, enough books to keep everyone out of trouble for a while. NRO has some book ideas (thanks, Charmaine), including Charmaine's recommendation of a Walker Percy, one of my favorites. But I think Love in the Ruins was his best - or maybe The Last Gentleman. And, speaking of Charmaine, she has a very pointed cartoon which raises the question of why so many bloggers, like us, offer so many brief links to other bloggers and to news sources, instead of limiting ourselves to original writing. We do it to share interesting things we find, and to be part of the conversation. Maybe it's a waste of energy and time: I don't know. As our contributor Opie famously said: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, link." We provide a mixed bag, reflecting our many interests, and, as I like to say, we all just follow our doggy noses and see where they lead us.
We're all victims, aren't we? John Leo on the victim culture: Town HallConcubines are back in style in China, but it gets expensive: LAT The Administration's immigration reform plan: Fred Barnes in the Daily Standard
Matthew 17:20 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move.
Saturday, November 26. 2005
Another charming offering from the refined Brooklynite, on terrorists and Louisville Sluggers: myfeelingsexactly.wmv. At least he isn't hung up on political correctness.
Deconstructing the Pew polls on Iraq: Dinocrat The Second Amendment in New England: Alphecca Scott at Powerline on multiculturalism: " I don't know enough to judge whether France is in better shape than Great Britain with respect to the corruptions of multiculturalism. Moreover, it seems to me that elites in the United States -- the "leaders" whom John wrote about yesterday -- have similarly elevated multiculturalism into an operative principle, if not a principle of governance." A Marine reports the good news from Iraq: Democracy Project Grandma takes on Liberal Larry: Blame Bush Free Jack Idema. Cao's Blog Why did Welfare lose political popularity? Marginal Revolution Bill Richardson mishandles a baseball lie: Tammy Bruce Charitable giving, by red and blue states: Irish Pennants Why do Europeans work less than Americans? Kenneth Anderson
Friday, November 25. 2005
Liberal fear of American power: LLBS Buying medical insurance: Right Thinking Postal service eliminating Christmas stamps? Tell me it's not true. Darleen. Is anti-muslim racist? Daniel Pipes The great Aldous Huxley died the day JFK did. Grampa remembers. The new DDX destroyer: Calif. Yankee. Very cool. Makes you want to join the Navy. Nagin bitches from Jamaica: Sweetness The Chinese blogosphere: Samizdata
A Brooklynite, on Terrorism Crude, straight-talking, humorous, X-rated video: Terrorists.wmv
Thanks, Steve, for this charming slice of real New York.
The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Thursday, November 24. 2005
Stumbling around your wine cellar this morning? Here are some ideas.
William Bradford and George Washington offer thanks. Am. Thinker
A Promise Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday because it arrives during hunting season, and because it's not about giving and getting stuff - it's simply about gratitude and family bonds. But we hereby promise our readers to utter no party-pooper pieties about the commercialization of Christmas this year. However, we must also say that we
Norm's Institute of Dylan Studies, here.
Get off the internet, for once. Get in the kitchen and help - or turn on the TV, fix a drink, start getting numb, and watch the moronic Macy's parade like a normal person! Gee, will there be a problem with the balloons? (I swear that the parade coverage is targeted to Alzheimers patients tied into wheelchairs.) But first...relax and spend a few peaceful and intelligent minutes of serenity with us: Orson Card discusses divorce and the useful and important Between Two Worlds by Marquardt Iran executes more gays: Classical Values Dating website fraud? Phin. Yes, very bad. Understanding the terrorists. Ace: "We took Chris Matthews' advice, and really endeavored to understand these people," a Pentagon spokeman said. "And then, once we sufficiently understood them, we atomized them with high-explosive precision munitions. I think this is a compromise approach both the left and right can agree." Chavez exporting revolution. TCS Oh no! Not innovative math again. Education Matters. From neoneocon's archives: Leaving the Fold "Someone who leaves the fold is much worse than someone who was never in it. There's a special rage reserved for those who have rejected the ideas that others hold dear. " A retrospective review of Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism: "Lasch subtitled his book, “American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations,” and it is useful to question just how far the diminishing of expectations he first identified has gone. Looking back on The Culture of Narcissism more than 25 years later, what did Lasch get right and what did he get wrong? What developments did he presciently identify and which ones did he miss? In the interim decades, has Lasch’s narcissist given way to a new type of American character and, if so, what are that character’s defining traits? A descriptive tour revisiting some of Lasch’s themes — especially the transformation of the family — suggests that the narcissism Lasch described has not disappeared. It has simply taken on a different and in some ways more exaggerated form."
Wednesday, November 23. 2005
Remember Chrenkoff? Is there life after blog? He was an excellent and productive blogger. I just found a piece of his I had saved for some reason. It's about Happiness. We hope Chrenkoff has found happiness in his new career.
Dylan poetry sold at Christie's, here.
A few URLs that were not thought through carefully enoughSuch as PenIsland.com. Here.
The 787 The "Dreamliner", the replacement for the Boeing 777, looks like a darn nice bus, and I look forward to flying on it. Several human features: higher humidity, so you don't arrive dehydrated; better pressurization (most commercial airplanes are pressurized to an equivalent of 7000' in altitude; this will be closer to 4000); more seat room in cabin class; bigger windows; an 8500 mile range and, I have heard, no recycled air (if the engineers can solve the problem of the half knot per hour speed loss which this seems to entail). I just hope the bathrooms are better - and cleaner. Alas, no swimming pool or Jacuzzi, and no place to enjoy a cigar - even in First Class. You still have to stroll out on the wing for that. 
Fascinating Piece on France I guess it should go without saying that, since why would I post an unedifying article? But this review of five books by TNR's Paul Berman is a tour de force, and an excellent example of why I have never abandoned TNR: they always have smart people, even if you don't always agree with them. One quote: "France's domestic achievements were genuine, even if the achievements never did penetrate into the suburban housing projects. And from this angle, too, from the perspective of France's domestic peace, the America of George Bush seemed a little worrisome. In America, Christianity had not been pushed out of political life. On the contrary, Christianity in America seemed to have gone insane, with the evangelical sects as principal evidence. Nor was the welfare state looking too healthy in America. The welfare state was shrinking. Nor was capital punishment at an end, in its American version. America seemed poised to execute Mumia Abu-Jumal, who was regarded in France as a famous black leader--a martyr awaiting his martyrdom. Now, this particular view of American conditions might have looked a little different if the French had kept in mind the peculiarities of American history. In the United States, evangelical sects have always been insane. ("Various forms of religious madness are quite common in the United States," Tocqueville wisely observed.) Even so, Christianity in America has by and large served as democracy's foundation, and not its enemy--which was another of Tocqueville's points. Nor has capital punishment ever played the kind of political role in America that it used to play in France. ("North America," Tocqueville went on to say, "is, I believe, the only region on earth where not a single citizen has been deprived of his life for a political offense for the past fifty years.") As for the welfare state, the French critics had a point, though perhaps it could be argued that jobs, too, have a virtue, and not just jobless benefits. In any case, instead of looking at these matters from the vantage point of American history, the French observers tended to adopt the vantage point of French history and concluded that America was retreating into the Middle Ages, even if America had never been in the Middle Ages. And since Bush in his vigor and naďveté seemed to be in a missionary mood, the danger arose, or seemed to arise, that America's clericalism, its state violence, and its anti-proletarian biases might, like McDonald's, end up spreading to the European continent, and France's achievements might get undone, and the miserable French past might turn out to be the miserable future." Read entire. It is a damn good piece of writing, even if you are sick of thinking about France.
The Sporting Chef Most of the guys I know do the game cooking in their houses. It's not only part of the ritual of hunting and fishing, but it's a way to treat the wild creatures with special respect. Here's a site for the hunters: check the recipes.
The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
Anon.
Tuesday, November 22. 2005
 Tomb of Machiavelli
In Santa Croce, ten paces from Michelangelo's, and twenty paces from Galileo's. Lousy photo - they don't allow flash. As Maggie's Farm readers know, Nick Machiavelli (1469-1527), the father of modern political science, was no dark, cynical, sinister thinker, just a hard-headed realist about human nature and the handling of political power. Practical, and a good writer, too. A few of my favorite sound bites: "Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society." "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." "The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous." "The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love."
See Aliyah Diary category to learn what this is about. Nov. 6, 2005 Rutie's Tears
When Rutie, my teacher, finally broke into tears, it caught me in the
throat. I could barely sing.
It started simply enough. Our ulpan classes gathered in Shulamit's
Tent for singing. Opher, the moshav-dweller who plays piano -- and
flute, and accordion (which he prefers, as he feels he is one with the
instrument) and directs the choir, and gives us the tours, and is the
secular Torah/Mishnah/Gemarrah teacher --embraces me as I enter,
remembers me from two years ago. Embraces me with one of those bear
hugs that Mizrahi Jews are better at than us Ashkenazim. (Patrick and
David know better of which I speak.)
We are preparing for a Rabin memorial ceremony next week with the
visiting army troops. The troops are to sing for us, and in
appreciation, Opher is preparing us to sing for them,. An Israeli
gift. So, this gaggle of Argentine-accented, and French-accented, even
two Japanese-accented Hebrew students and a couple like me, are being
directed in Opher's spirited manner as he plays a tuneless piano, or
dons his accordian. Before each song, Opher invites a teacher to read
and speak of the lyrics, we should know whereof we sing. [Later, I
recall that Plato wanted to ban poetry (at that time, sung lyrics)
from the Republic, as music bypasses the rational and goes straight to
the heart. (So, right he is about that. Leonard Bernstein gives five
characteristics by which to judge good music, then tacks on a sixth:
does it hit straight to the heart.)
Continue reading "Guest author: Aliyah Diary, #5"
More Drucker: Interview at Claremont Inst. The "Katrina Experiment." Star Parker Coveney on the state of theater cricitism: Prospect US can be free of oil dependence? Without a single mention of nuclear power? Doubt it. And the writer doesn't seem to know that it requires more energy to produce ethanol than ethanol contains. IndyStar. Ethanol is alcohol: would you pour Grey Goose into the tank of your F-150? Even if Grey Goose were cheaper per gallon than gas? Heck no. Economics isn't everything, because things have meaning to people. What's wrong with this essay on French riots in Jurist? I have my ideas. The priest shortage. The Week Foxman discovers conspiracy to Christianize America. Or, could you say, Front Page discovers conspiracy to de-Christianize American culture?
More Christmas Ideas: Books, etc. Frank McCourt's new book, Teacher Man. Review in CSM Christian scholarship: First Things Magazine
Advice to the Brits, on school bullying: Ankle-Biter The Prof. didn't like the Iraq vote stunt. He has a point. Pro-war vote a "disgrace", said Pelosi, before voting for it. Never understood why airlines just don't allow smokers to walk out on the wing and have a smoke outside.
AP: Urging self defense "racist and extremist" Now, while I usually assume that our readership is all too well aware of the political leanings of the mainstream media, a particular sentence I came across today jumped out at me and has been nagging at my brain ever since. In an AP article covering DeVillepin's vain promises to provide jobs to the disaffected rioters, there is a mention of "Muslim leaders" afraid of a backlash in which the following tidbit appears: "On Sunday, authorities discovered racist and extremist slogans — including one that said "Defend yourself, France" — spray-painted on a mosque being built in Saint-Etienne in the southeast."
When I read the first part of the sentence, I assumed the author might quote something to the effect of "Africans must die" or "expel all Muslims" or something at least plausibly "racist." But no - apparently the worst they could find was a simple plea for France to stand up to those who seek to profit by violence and destruction. (What irony, to think that during the German occupation of the second world war, a Frenchman scribbling such a message on the side of a building would been held in much the same regard by those in power.) The implications of this statement go beyond the rioting in France, however, to encompass all of Europe and indeed all of the West, which faces charges of "racism" and "extremism" for even the slightest efforts to control its borders or restrict the free movement of immigrants. Now, if in France's case, continued immigration will inevitably result in a Muslim- and African-majority France, with all that implies for French culture, nationhood and government, surely France is within its right to seek to prevent such a future. Not so, says the left: racism no longer constitutes only the oppression of the non-white or non-Christian other, but also resistance to their oppressing you. The implications of this are vast, since acceptance of this principle essentially robs the nations of the West of the ability to control and shape their own futures. The demographic changes underway must continue, therefore, since to oppose one's transformation into a Muslim nation would be racist. Likewise in the United States, one cannot oppose giving in-state tuition and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, since to do so would be racist. Calling for France to defend itself in the face of rioting by African Muslims? Racist, of course. Sadly, this insidious ideology has worked its way into the highest reaches of political power throughout the Western world and shows no signs of losing its grip. Unless it is challenged and destroyed, and soon, France's future looks to be already set.
Vonnegut on Iraq: SDA Socializing medicine: Cafe Hayek The cost of freedom: Confed. Yank Chris Matthews in denial: LGF. Would he have said the same of Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot? To deny the human potential for evil is dangerously foolish, not virtuous. A quote from Dinocrat, re the Iraq vote: "The Left is in a profound crisis, a crisis which they have as yet failed to recognize. They are living in a country in which they are outnumbered 3 to 2 by conservatives, and they refuse to consciously recognize that the liberal position is no longer the default position in American public opinion, even as they are forced to cast humiliating votes. The religion of the Left has failed to capture the hearts of America. Their religion has failed, but it’s all they have. Imagine a young man at a madrassa in Pakistan who wakes up one day to discover that he no longer believes the Koran to be literally true. He still carries on with lessons and prayers, perhaps all the louder and more fervently. The Left too has its playbook; it is all they have. So one should expect more of the same, perhaps louder and more fervently."
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Monday, November 21. 2005
"The choice of fools," from Dr. Bob: "Do you know my life story, LJ? Do you know how a man, filled with empty knowledge and the false assurances of gifts and youth, a loving family and a life undeservedly blessed, can squander it all for the pursuit of self-satisfying intellect, arrogance, self-sufficiency, and contempt of others? Have you been in that place of desperate emptiness, having pushed away your children and made your wife a living widow, driving forward with blind foolishness until your own hollow life is endangered? You say you have prayed and those prayers were not answered; I too have prayed–years on end–to a God I once served but who in mercy left me to suffer the consequences of a life driven by self-will and self-satisfaction. Hollow prayers, desperate prayers, prayers a fool’s cry for help to a now-empty universe. A God I once understood completely proved completely inscrutable, hopelessly distant, His ear–if He existed at all–turned elsewhere, His eye on more worthy subjects. Have you then seen–in an hour unimaginably dark–that same God you never knew reach down with gentle hands and unspeakable love, to scoop up this poor refuse and restore him to a life and hope he could never have imagined?" Read entire.
RRWH becomes calm and unemotional about the New Orleans mess.
The Big O? Comments on OSM from Least Loved Bedtime Stories and from Buzzmachine. On studying it, I can't figure out exactly what OSM is supposed to be, nor do I see that I need it. On the other hand, I rely a great deal on those extraordinary bloggers who put it together. Good luck to them.
Prada, Firenze, last week. Guess who was outside, practicing taking night shots, and who was inside? (bought nothing, though) 
Yet another book to mention Must be getting close to Christmas. By John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: City of Falling Angels. From the interesting Amazon review: "I was not terribly surprised when he (the author) later told me, "Venetians never tell the truth. We mean precisely the opposite of what we say."
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