Wit's End

Nitwits on Parade

Those of us who still have a little faith in our political system are struggling a bit nowadays. It is getting harder and harder to defend the notion that anyone of legal age should be permitted to vote.

"Thanks for the sweet gig, suckers!"

The current occupant of the White House has been elected President twice.

His signature legislative achievement to date is collapsing, as predicted by opponents at the time it was rammed through over massive public opposition.

His strategy for combating domestic Islamic terrorism is to further restrict the right of Americans to protect themselves.

And have I mentioned that his management of the U.S. economy has been historically awful?

"My honesty doesn't matter, only my uterus matters."

The leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination is a scandal-plagued 68-year-old harpy who has never accomplished a damned thing in her political life, and who lies as easily and often as the rest of us breathe.

"You say 'fascism' like that's a bad thing."

The leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination is a narcissistic 69-year-old blowhard whose most recent pronouncement is that as president he would ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

"People say that Canada is a pleasant place to live."

I'm looking into it, believe me...

Christmas Movies and TV Shows

One of the mixed blessings this time of year is all of the motion pictures and episodes of television programs with Christmas themes. I call it a "mixed" blessing because almost all of those productions miss the point of the Christmas season altogether, and many of them offer messages that are antithetical to the true spirit of Christmas. There are some exceptions, of course, and for the next few days I'll be mentioning some of my favorites in this space.

Original 1951 "one sheet" poster

The first Christmas movie I have any memory of seeing on TV is the 1951
Bob Hope comedy The Lemon Drop Kid.

Based on a Damon Runyon short story,
the film is a typical Hope vehicle. He plays
a fast-talking ne'er-do-well whose money-making schemes never pan out.

After a preposterous sequence of events, Hope's character finally discovers the Christmas spirit, and a happy ending ensues. Silly as the material is, Hope's performance elevates it. Of course, I have always had a soft spot for smart-alecks (in many ways Hope was a real-life Bugs Bunny).

The movie is mostly remembered nowadays for introducing the classic song "Silver Bells" (which was written for the film) into the repertoire of Christmas favorites.

Our President Seems Confused

From the pen of Lisa Benson, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Housekeeping

Just a quick reminder that you miss out on some cool content if you don't click on at least some of the live links in these posts. Comments are also most welcome. Agree or disagree, I would love to hear from you!

Until Next Time...

While the motion picture The Lemon Drop Kid was still in production in late 1950, Bob Hope's good friend Bing Crosby recorded a version of the film's song "Silver Bells" as a duet with Carol Richards, a singer whose career was launched when she won a talent contest sponsored by Hope.

The recording unexpectedly became a hit (eventually reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart), and the film's producers had Hope and his co-star Marilyn Maxwell shoot a new, more elaborate production of the song prior to the film's release
in March 1951. You can watch that performance here.

The song quickly became a staple for recording artists in almost every genre, and it remains one of the most beloved secular Christmas songs to this day. Personally, the memories it evokes of Christmas seasons of my childhood (Council Bluffs) and my adolescence (Kansas City) are very dear to me. Nothing beats "Christmastime in the city," especially if you're still a kid at heart.

Today's send-off is the Crosby/Richards duet, still as charming as ever. Enjoy...

Hail, Mary

Feast Day

The Immaculate Conception (1680)
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, one of the most important dates on the liturgical calendar for Catholics. It is a celebration of Mary's being born free of Original Sin, so that the eventual mother of Jesus Christ would be pure.

It is Holy Day of Obligation, one of only six such days observed by Catholics in the United States.

In addition to attending Mass, Catholics are also asked to avoid working, if possible, on this feast day. For that reason, I am eschewing my usual weekday political/social commentary.

"Gracious! How will your fans make it through a day without your guidance?"

Nothing in canon law says I can't tie your snout in a knot...

Things That Make Me Happy: Hot Stove League Edition

I'm happy to report that my beloved Kansas City Royals, the 2015 World Series Champions, have signed pitcher Chris Young to a new contract.

Chris pitched very well for the Royals last season (11-6, 3.06 ERA, 2.87 ERA in 15 postseason innings), and I'm delighted that he'll be back in 2016.

The Royals are also bringing back reliever Joakim Soria, who saved 160 games for the team from 2007-2011 and made two All-Star Game appearances as a Royal. After missing the 2012 season with an elbow injury, Joakim pitched for the Rangers, Tigers, and Pirates. He's expected to be used primarily as the 8th inning set-up man for All-Star Wade Davis, who vacates that spot in order to assume closer duties next season as Greg Holland recovers from arm surgery.

Oddly, I Don't Feel Any Safer

From the pen of Mike Ramirez, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

The Blessed Virgin Mary has been the inspiration for much sacred music, of course. Composers have been putting the "Hail Mary" prayer ("Ave Maria" in Latin) to music for centuries. It has been the basis for innumerable Gregorian chants, and compositions by J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod, Johannes Brahms, and Franz Schubert are among the most popular works in the classical repertoire. More recently, compositions by Franz Biebl and Anton Bruckner have also gained great popularity with choral groups.

Today's send-off is gorgeous rendition of Bruckner's "Ave Maria" by the Norwegian chamber choir Schola Cantorum, recorded live in 2011. Enjoy...

Still a Dangerous World

Leadershit

In response to the recent terror attack in San Bernardino, President Obama decided to once again do what he always does in response to important events: Talk...

"My fellow Americans...I...uh...yeah, I got nothin'."

The speech wasn't very reassuring, but then that wasn't the point. It was virtue signaling from the Oval Office, and spectacularly ill-informed virtue signaling at that. It also employed a particularly ill-advised metaphor.

What we could use right now is leadership. What we're getting instead is a bored narcissist who is convinced he's right about everything, and that if we just keep doing what he thinks we should be doing, everything will be fine. He is mistaken.

"So, the header for this section wasn't a typo?"

Not hardly, no...

Pearl Harbor Day

If you need a reminder that underestimating the resolve of our nation's enemies can have deadly consequences...

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Oddly, President Roosevelt did not give a speech telling us not to overreact, or warning us about Japanophobia, or urging us to voluntarily disarm ourselves...

Things That Make Me Happy: Rivalry Edition

My beloved Kansas City Chiefs played the Oakland Raiders yesterday at O.co Coliseum in Oakland. For Chiefs fans of a certain age (like me), nothing is more important than beating the Raiders. Nothing. The main reason Marty Schottenheimer's 10-year stretch as head coach is so beloved isn't his 101–58–1 regular season record (.634), three division titles, seven playoff appearances, and trip to the AFC Championship game in 1993. All of those things are great, 

of course, but it was his 18-3 record against the Raiders (including a playoff win in 1991) that really made us embrace him. 

The word "rivalry" is carelessly used in pro football nowadays, but this one is real.

The Chiefs prevailed yesterday afternoon, beating the Raiders 34-20. It was the team's sixth straight victory and it basically ended the Raiders' slim playoff hopes. It wasn't a great day for the offense, but the defense stepped up when it needed to, punctuated by safety Tyvon Branch's 38-yard interception return for a touchdown...

"Booyah!"

The Chiefs play three of their final four regular-season games at Arrowhead Stadium. The current combined record of their remaining opponents is 14-34. If they can avoid any letdowns, they can legitimately be considered a playoff contender.

"Admit it. You think they're going to make the playoffs now."

Hush...still a lot of football to be played...

Bingo

From the pen of Henry Payne, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Part of the fun of the Christmas season for me is adding to my collection of Christmas music. Lots of artists release "Christmas" albums this time of year, of course, and there are always new collections of Christmas songs by a variety of artists as well, so finding worthwhile new stuff entails shopping. It is really the only kind of Christmas shopping
I do at this stage of my life.

Every year I manage to find one or two worthwhile releases that become part of my collection. For the most part, these will be interpretations of "classic" Christmas hymns and carols. Every so often, though, I come across a brand new song, written for the season, that really moves me. Those are the finds I treasure the most.

This week's Music Recommendation contains just such a treasure. It is the fourth album by Jennifer Thomas, a classically-trained musician and composer based in Seattle. Winter Symphony is mostly traditional Christmas hymns and carols (done beautifully), but there are two original compositions that also shine.

Today's send-off is the official video of one of those original compositions, "Alleluia." It is magnificent. Jennifer is joined by vocalist Felicia Farrere and Seattle's Ensign Chorus. Enjoy...

Hopeful

Second Sunday of Advent

The candle we light for the Second Sunday of Advent is called the Bethlehem Candle, a symbol of Mary and Joseph's journey. It symbolizes hope, in both of the senses in which that word is used in the Bible: The faithful anticipate the arrival of the Messiah, but also find hope in the knowledge that God will keep His promises to us. We wait, but we also trust. 

Feast Day

St. Nicholas Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey

On December 6 we observe the Feast Day of St Nicholas.

On the off chance that you're one of the few people not aware that the real-life St. Nicholas evolved into the cultural icon Santa Claus, you can watch a nice summary of how that happened here.

In the meantime, you can best celebrate the life of St. Nicholas by emulating him, and doing anonymous acts of charity today.

Until Next Time...

Although "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is one of the first Christmas hymns I learned in Catholic school, I originally learned the Latin version, "Adeste Fidelis." The provenance of that original Latin hymn is unclear, but the familiar English translation was done in 1841 by the cleric Frederick Oakeley.

The lyrics express the anticipation of the Advent season nicely, and so it is a popular hymn at Mass during this season. Like most Christmas carols, adaptations of the basic song have been performed by a wide variety of musicians and singers in many different musical styles.

Today's send-off is a marvelous live performance of the hymn in English by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge (Class of 1983) accompanied on the college's magnificent pipe organ by David Briggs. The choir director, Stephen Cleobury, took on that position in 1982 and still holds it today. Enjoy...

Ideas, Good and Otherwise

Sláinte!*

Eight-two years ago today the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah voted to ratify the Twenty-First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Those votes satisfied the constitutional requirement to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment and put an end to Prohibition.

The repeal didn't actually take effect officially for another ten days, but Americans being Americans, we didn't wait for that formality. Nor should we do so now. The date worth celebrating is the date of repeal, after all.

For my own part, I plan to celebrate with a handful of close friends...

We go WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back together...

"You are NOT going to drink all of that in one day!"

Probably not...but it is tempting...

*If you're not Irish, read this.

Speaking of Galactically Stupid Ideas...

U.S. Headquarters for mindless progressive rhetoric

There is an entirely regrettable tendency on the part of most people to frame atrocities like the recent terrorist shooting in San Bernardino in such a way as to fit it into a political worldview. It might not be logical, or even decent, but most of us still do it anyway.



And sometimes, people use such events as an opportunity to advocate for ideas every bit as silly and pointless as Prohibition was.

Today The New York Times is running an editorial on the front page for the first time since 1920. Here is a brief list of historical events that did not warrant a front-page Times editorial: the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Great Depression, repeal of Prohibition, Pearl Harbor, The Holocaust, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, VE and VJ Days, the Korean War, Brown v. Board of Education, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the JFK, Martin Luther King, and RFK assassinations, Apollo 11 putting men on the moon, Vietnam, Roe v. Wade, Watergate, Nixon's resignation, the Iranian hostage crisis, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 9/11 terror attacks, the election of America's first black president, and Obergefell v. Hodges.

What, then, did the editorial board at the Times think was important enough to warrant a front-page editorial for the first time in nearly 100 years?

That's right, sports fans, The New York Times' response to the worst terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11 is...a front-page editorial calling for gun bans and confiscation. And not a very well-written one at that.

Never mind, of course, that gun crime has been trending steadily downwards for two decades, in spite of significant increases in gun ownership. Never mind that the sort of weapons the Times wants to ban are almost never used to commit crimes (0.025 percent of all homicides). Never mind that the "gun epidemic" narrative is completely invented.

Of course, calling for such "common sense" measures is just low-hanging fruit for progressives. It doesn't really even matter to them that the last such law accomplished precisely nothing (even according to its original advocates). They know that getting a piece of legislation like that enacted again would be...

"What's up?"

...the camel's nose. The know that what they really seek (a disarmed American populace) would spark a civil war if they attempted it directly, so they hope to accomplish that end piecemeal.

It will never work, and deep down the editorial board at the Times probably knows that. So grand gestures like their front-page editorial are just a form of virtue signaling, in the end. They're just posturing to impress their core readership, who will nod their heads in agreement as they read this drivel.

Thank God we are not governed by the editorial board of The New York Times, or by the folks who treat it as some sort of oracle of truth and righteousness. And take time to savor the irony of the Times coming out for such a dumb idea on the anniversary of the repeal of a similarly dumb idea.

"You spend a lot of time 'savoring irony,' do you know that?"

It's a pleasant hobby...so?

Election Returns

From the droll comic strip Zits, by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, which you should read daily, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Like many traditional Christmas carols, "Angels We Have Heard On High" as we know it in America today is an amalgam of earlier versions, some of which are still preferred in other countries. The lyrics of the original French carol were translated into English in 1862 by Roman Catholic Bishop James Chadwick. The popular carol as we enjoy it nowadays set those English lyrics to the hymn tune "Gloria," written by the 20th century American organist Edward Shippen Barnes.

Today's send-off is a transcendent performance of the song by The Piano Guys, joined by singers Peter Hollens and David Archuleta, and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, from the group's 2013 Billboard No. 1 album A Family Christmas. There is also a special message from cellist Steven Sharp Nelson at the end that you shouldn't miss. Enjoy...

Where's My Lantern?

Thank Hathor It's Friday!

"You have love, and music...why are you killing each other?"

Honestly...

Diogenes (1873) by Jules Bastien-Lepage

In one of life's more amusing ironies, the Greek philosopher known as Diogenes of Sinope is best remembered nowadays as the guy who supposedly carried a lantern around searching for one honest man.

Why is that ironic? Because that story is a lie (he was seeking a human, i.e., someone capable of using reasoning, but claimed he couldn't find any).


Nevertheless, Diogenes and his search remain a useful metaphor in the modern world, in no small part because there are so many liars and knaves among us.

For instance, there are the liars and knaves at The New Yorker magazine, who will be using the Eric Drooker painting "Shopping Days" (shown at right) as the cover art for their next issue

Never mind that the sort of mass shootings that have been on people's minds lately aren't carried out by young, married white couples. Never mind that it is simply false to suggest, as this image clearly does, that it is as easy to buy hand grenades and automatic weapons as it is to buy a carton of milk.

No, what really rankles is the asinine commentary on the painting by The New Yorker's art editor, Françoise Mouly: "If only Eric Drooker's image were a fiction."

I can't even wrap my head around that level of stupid...

National Cookie Day

Today is National Cookie Day, so it's okay to indulge a little bit. If you're looking for something simple, I like the  Nestle Toll House cookie dough products.

I bought some of their Pumpkin Spice dough on sale just before Thanksgiving, and I still have one package left, so today's as good a day as any to use it.








If I had the time and energy, though, I'd make something more like this:

White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Cookies, recipe here

"Fess up. You're going to spend all of Christmas Eve baking cookies to give away."

It is possible that I might, yes...we'll see...

Yup

From the wonderful webcomic xkcd, by Randall Munroe, which you should read every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Not all of my favorite Christmas songs are centuries-old traditional hymns and carols. Every so often something new and wonderful in this genre comes along, and when it does I am happy to embrace it. So it was with "Christmas Canon," a 1998 song by the remarkable group Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Based on Johann Pachelbel's popular Canon in D Major, the song blends that familiar music with a very simple Christmas-themed lyric performed by a children's choir, supported by the band (including a string section). The song was included on the group's second album, The Christmas Attic, and is one of the most popular Christmas songs of the digital age based on number of purchased downloads. It deserves it's place alongside the more traditional fare.

Today's send-off is the splendidly-done official music video production of the song. Enjoy...

Mixed Emotions

Evil Redux

I have struggled to find words today. In San Bernardino, California yesterday there
was an incident in which a Muslim man and a woman who may have been his spouse murdered 14 people and wounded several more at a Christmas party being held at
a center offering services to people with developmental disabilities.

In an announcement that he was clearly reluctant to make, President Obama said that the attack might have been terrorism, and the FBI has taken over the investigation because the early evidence seems to indicate that it was.

As I've said, it has been a struggle to find words this morning. I pray for the victims and their loved ones, even though progressive assholes have decided to mock such prayer.

Beyond that, I only have one thing to say to:

• Idiots who blame the NRA
• Nitwits who claim this proves we need more gun control
• Morons who leaped to the assumption that Planned Parenthood was again the target
• The entire chorus of virtue-signaling "If you don't want to Do Something^® then you don't care" jerks

You can all just fuck right off...

"Back to the middle finger stuff again? So rude..."

I was provoked...

Feast Day

St. Francis Xavier

Today is the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, who died on December 3, 1552.

Francis was one of the six young followers of St. Ignatius Loyola who joined him in founding the Society of Jesus, which was formally approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.

Because of his devotion to missionary work, St. Francis Xavier is a popular namesake for schools and churches in the United States. When I was growing up in Council Bluffs, my family attended St. Francis Xavier Church. (I also began my schooling at St. Joseph's, across the street, though by the time I began attending the school had become coed. Both the church and school were closed in the early 1970s.)




One of the most beautiful churches in the entire state is the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville.

Basilica exterior

Basilica interior

Facts Remain Stubborn Things

From the pen of Mike Ramirez, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Many of my favorite Christmas songs are favorites because I have fond memories of learning them and singing them in my Catholic elementary school choirs. That is certainly the case with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," one of the first Christmas hymns I was ever taught (it is a relatively simple song for young children to master).

With lyrics that date back to the 18th century and music adapted by William H. Cummings from a Felix Mendelssohn cantata, it remains one of the most popular overtly religious Christmas songs to this day. There is a reason the original "A Charlie Brown Christmas" TV special ends with the kids singing this particular carol.

Today's send-off is a stirring live performance of the hymn by Celtic Woman, recorded at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland in 2004. Enjoy...

Traditions

Uncharitable

It is bad enough that our president is flitting around proclaiming global climate change as the greatest threat facing the world even though it has been nearly 19 years since the planet's temperature has increased at all. He could at least have the decency to avoid claiming his political opponents are helping these guys...

And while we're on the subject, the black-eyed skank known as Hillary Clinton has a penchant for doing the same thing.

"I'm hungry! Someone fetch me some puppies and kittens! Now!"

According to this festering pustule of a human being, people like me who think taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a woman's birth control, or foot the bill for her to have an abortion, are no better than people who do stuff like this...

People who say such things have no business lecturing the rest of us about "civility" in our discourse. None. Of course, that particular talking point is a staple of the progressive left in this country.

"No 'middle finger' image today? Getting soft in your old age?"

It's the Christmas season...Santa's making a list and checking it twice...

Things That Make Me Happy: Charity Edition

The Christmas season has all sorts of traditions, some of them more meaningful to me than others. I can't abide eggnog, for instance, although lots of people seem to enjoy it. If I never taste another candy cane in my life, that would be just fine.

Ever since I was a young boy, though,
I have enjoyed putting money in red "kettles" manned by Salvation Army bell-ringers. If I didn't have any coins, my mom would always fish a few out of her purse if I asked her. I loved the sound those coins used to make in those metal kettles back then, but they mostly use plastic buckets these days.




In 2004, when the Target department store chain announced that SA and its red kettles would no longer be allowed on Target store premises, I stopped shopping at Target.
I didn't give Target my business again until a couple of years later, when they announced a partnership with SA that would make up for the revenue SA once obtained from the kettles in front of Target stores.

In this morning's news was a story about a couple in Rosemount, Minnesota who made a $500,000 donation to a red kettle. That is a new national record for the organization, and I hope it achieves the anonymous couple's purpose of encouraging others to give. Should I win the Powerball, though, there will be a new record set shortly thereafter...

"Has anyone ever told you that you're super competitive?"

It has come up occasionally, yes...

Willful Blindness

From the acerbic pen of Mike Ramirez, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

On December 2, 2014 the United States Air Force Band showed up at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and staged what they called a "flash mob" performance of a medley of favorite Christmas songs.

Having some fun on the last day before Christmas break.

One of the highlights of my Christmas season last year
was sharing the video of their amazing performance with
all of my students at Thomas Jefferson High School on the last day before Christmas vacation began.

I later learned that they had done a similar performance in 2013 as well. I don't know if they're going to do it again this year (as a theatre guy, I'm aware of how daunting the logistics of it must be), but if they do I will pass it along here. In the meantime, all of the band's recordings are available for free download on their website. Treat yourself.

Today's send-off is the official video of their stirring 2014 performance. Full disclosure:
I start weeping tears of joy at around the 2:30 mark. Every time. Enjoy...

Same Old Song

The Canard That Refuses to Die

The progressive left and the mainstream media (but I repeat myself) have spent a lot of time since last Friday attempting to portray the man who committed the Colorado Springs shootings as a "Christian terrorist." That should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who has been paying attention ever since Roe v. Wade.

Conservative author and pundit Ramesh Ponnuru was born and raised in my neck of the woods, in a suburb of Kansas City (although he lived on the wrong side of State Line Road). I have followed his intellectual career with interest in no small part because of that geographical connection.

In his 2006 bestseller The Party of Death, Ramesh explores the political and intellectual underpinnings of the so-called "pro-choice" movement, include its fascination with eugenics, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.




A significant portion of the book is devoted to analyzing how opponents of abortion
are demonized by politicians and by progressives in the media. There has been an unrelenting campaign to portray abortion opponents as violent extremists, and the progressive response to the incident in Colorado Springs is sticking to that script.

It is nonsense, of course. There is no "Christian terrorism" problem in America. And Ramesh demolishes the "anti-abortion rhetoric caused this shooting" argument, too. Unfortunately, abortion is such a polarizing issue that I am doubtful anyone on the progressive side of the fence is even open to reason these days. They prefer to open their hymnals and sing the same old songs. It is tough to be a pro-life advocate these days.

"You have to keep trying. If you change even one mind..."

I know, I know...I just get discouraged, sometimes...

'Tis the Season

The temperate weather we've had most of the fall couldn't last forever, of course.
The first significant snowfall of the season happened yesterday...

View from my patio on November 30, 10:45 AM

Just a dusting, really, and it already mostly gone. But it won't be gone for long,
of course. It's December, and time to get my sweater collection ready...

Me Too, Kid, Me Too

From the hilarious comic strip Zits, by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, which you should read every day, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Most retail establishments that play music for their customers switched to Christmas music well before Thanksgiving, and I gave up grumbling about that practice long ago. On my own blog, though, I make the rules, and so December 1 is the official start of the season for that great music.

Original 1989 one sheet poster

The 1989 Rob Reiner-directed film When Harry Met Sally... is widely regarded as one of the best romantic comedies ever made, and with good reason. Nora Ephron's Oscar-nominated script is chock full of memorable dialogue, there is a real chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, and it has one of the most heart-warming "happy ending" scenes you'll ever see. Also, it uses ellipsis in the title, which is very cool.

The soundtrack album by jazz artist Harry Connick, Jr. earned double-platinum certification in the U.S., and earned Connick his first Grammy Award. It's all great stuff, but my favorite is his instrumental take on the classic "Winter Wonderland."



Today's send-off pairs Connick's jaunty rendition of the Christmas season favorite with some beautiful winter photography. Enjoy...