Miscellaneous

Big Books Christopher Buckley is one of the more-entertaining writers today. He writes a regular column for Forbes Life. The December 2011 column, "Big Books for the Holidays," isn't available online, but it's good. It blurbs seven giant books (ranging in price from $55

Stats My local newspaper ran a story yesterday about our curfew law. The gist: Studies show that youth curfews reduce youth crime. The article didn't mention a related fact: House arrest of all able-bodied males would reduce crime. Statistics get abused in so many ways, whether it'

Woods There's a good interview with Thomas Woods at The Daily Bell [http://www.thedailybell.com/3337/Staff-Report-Thomas-Woods-Jr-on-Libertarianism-Versus-the-Catholic-Church-Ron-Pauls-Presidential-Chances-and-US-State-Secession] . I greatly enjoy Woods: Harvard graduate, Catholic convert, free-market thinker. I fear many of my fellow Catholics take unfair shots at him, but he's a big boy who

"Christian joy is granted to those who understand natural joy." Paul VI. Happy Gaudete Sunday.

I spent my evening escorting/driving under-privileged children to a Christmas party with Santa. Not a lot of time for blogging today. Just a few items: Drinking Corner Michigan doesn't do a lot right, and it's liquor laws are beyond oppressive, but it's still

Miscellany First, an appeal. This boy has cancer [http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/cards-wanted-for-boy-with-leukemia-20111205-ms#.Tt4E_BLXPmh.facebook] . He enjoys getting Christmas cards. I don't know why, but he does. Please send him one. And no, I haven't fallen for a scam. I know the

Received in an Email A well-turned simile is a work of art. A poor simile is, well, pretty funny. Here's a list of 56 similes that were supposedly written by high schoolers [http://bethanyamandamiller.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/the-56-bestworst-analogies-written-by-high-school-students/] . I suspect a few of them are fake,

Monday Miscellany I stumbled across this feature last week: The worst nativity sets [http://whyismarko.com/2011/27-worst-nativity-sets-the-annual-growing-list/]. The list is at 27 and, I fear, growing. There are some funny ones over there. Three of my favorites: Montgomery Fellow southern Catholic and friend of Flannery O'Connor, Marion

"God does not look for big things--He looks for how much love we put in the giving." Mother Teresa

Congress just lifted a ban on producing and exporting horse meat. Or as Taco Bell put it, “There was a ban on that?” -- Mobile post