Best Quotes of 2005

WaPo has a list, including this gem from Barbara Bush after she visited Katrina evacuees in the Houston Astrodome:

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. So many people in this arena, here, you know, were underprivileged, so this is working very well for them."

NewsBlues lists the best quotes by newscasters and reporters. This by NBC's anchor Brian Williams is easily the best of the bunch:

"I don't have a therapist. I have my blog."

More quotes: Media Research Center, Sify Sports, '40 most obnoxious quotes' by Right Wings News, Media Channel

My personal favorite quote of 2005 is what the president said of a former FEMA director - you know the one.

Happy 2006!

Celebrate and make it a great one! (Did you wait an extra second before you celebrated?)

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you shalom.
- Numbers 6:24-26

how to channel Ferris Bueller

Jump on a plane and go to Iraq without telling your parents.

Mr. Belue would be proud

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

(H/T: Rev Mike)

Do you think the film version of "The Da Vinci Code" will be big??

The editors at Newsweek seem to think so - the film adaptation directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks made the magazine's front cover. The trailer can be seen here.

"Seek the truth" is apparently one of the movie's taglines, but you certainly won't find much truth in the novel or the film. The only thing the tagline does is remind my of the one for "The X-Files" - The Truth is Out There.

Christianity Today has many links to articles about the book.

James White has been blogging about the book: (here are the articles, so far)

• First Objection: It's Fiction, Dummy
• Heads Up, Folks. It's Coming
• The Da Vinci Code Part 1
• The Da Vinci Code Part II
• The Da Vinci Code (Part III)
• The Da Vinci Code (Part IV)
• The Da Vinci Code (Part V)
• The Da Vinci Code (Part VI)
• The Da Vinci Code (Part VII)
• The Da Vinci Code VIII
• The Da Vinci Code IX
• The Da Vinci Code X
• The Da Vinci Code XI
• The Da Vinci Code XII
• The Da Vinci Code XIII
• The Da Vinci Code XIV
• The Da Vinci Code XV
• The Da Vinci Code XVI

The War on Chanukah (?)

From the Denver Post:

The Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado wanted to display the menorah on city property in Old Town Square, but city administrators denied the request, despite a precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989 that likely would allow the display.

The compromise highlights the work of a newcomer rabbi and a mayor wishing to promote Fort Collins as a city that embraces diversity. But it also means that the menorah will not be allowed to remain on city property throughout the eight-day Hanukkah celebration, which began Sunday.

Instead, it will grace the square for a ceremony tonight at 6, to be attended by Mayor Doug Hutchinson, and then be moved back to the privately owned patio of a brewpub that offered to display the nine-branched candelabrum when word of the controversy hit the local paper last week.

No more "time to make the doughnuts"

Actor Michael Vale died from complications due to diabetes. He was 83.

Vale's long-running character, "Fred the Baker," for the doughnut maker's ad campaign lasted 15 years until he retired in 1997.

Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin' Donuts said in a statement that that Vale's character "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature." (CNN)

Probably the most well-known film he was in was "The Marathon Man," which starred Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier - Vale played a jewelry seller. He also sat down for an interview in 1999 on "The Howard Stern Radio Show."

It's in the history books now

Bill Clinton's impeachment makes it into school textbooks.

The impeachment is portrayed in the context of his two-term tenure, a milestone event, but not one that overshadows how Clinton handled the economy, crime and health care. The most commonly used texts give straightforward recaps of Clinton's toughest days, with some flavor of how it affected the nation. (CNN)

What's missing from the textbooks: "Yet at all levels, the salacious details of the Lewinsky affair are nowhere to be found." Good - as if our school-age kids need to read about all that.

Depression and the holidays

Post-holiday depression is one of those things that seems true and feels true but isn't actually true.

Despite the notion that the holiday season is filled with joy, psychiatrists have long argued that the time can also be fraught with stress, expectations that go unfulfilled, depression and, for some, loneliness. But for all the talk, studies over the years have found little evidence that depression rates actually climb around Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's Eve. Researchers have looked at patterns of suicide rates and psychiatric emergency room visits. (NY Times)

What about seasonal affective disorder?

One form of depression, seasonal affective disorder, is tightly linked with winter. But the treatable condition has more to do with the short, dark winter days than with holiday stress, Dr. Saltz said.

Should Christians "celebrate" Kwanzaa?

Christian blogger LaShawn Barber gives her opinion here. If you want the quick-and-skinny on her posting without having to go to her site, then read:

Kwanzaa is not an innocuous celebration of black history. It attempts to spiritualize that history, replacing Christ-centered theology with pagan principles. For Christians, the only principles by which to live are found in God’s word, the Bible.

Pagans have argued that Christ was not born on December 25. Insignificant. While no one knows exactly when Christ was born, the fact remains that He was born. Christmas is a time for Christians to celebrate this joyous fact.

Christ became a man to save men, not to lift up one race or culture in worship. As with any man-made religion, Kwanzaa is just another attempt to make gods of men. All Christians must be discerning when faced with these false doctrines.

The Fall of Man was the direct result of our determination to become gods. The pagan ritual of Kwanzaa is merely the old Lie wearing a new disguise.

UPDATE: Religion Link offers more links about Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa has an official site.

"They went right for the bun."

When Bob Bernstein arrived at his coffeehouse to assess the scene of an early Christmas morning break-in, the one thing he noticed missing was the cinnamon bun that bears a striking likeness to Mother Teresa. Bernstein said he believes that the culprit is someone angry over the shop displaying the world-famous pastry, which has been preserved with shellac. A jar of money next to the Nun Bun was not stolen. (Chicago Tribune)

Check out the Bongo Java website, which has a link to the Nun Bun. Bongo Java is located in Nashville, TN, and was featured on Food Network's "$40 a Day" (the episode will air tonight at 10:00 PM).

I don't know what is more sad - that someone would steal a bun just to destroy it, or that people would revere images in food.

It's beginning to look a lot like Kitschmas...

Ship of Fools is listing the covetable gifts for Kitschmas. Christmas is over, but you can always plan for next year - or dole them out as New Year gifts.

I'll be giving these to my daughters and making them wear 'em until the day I die.

UPDATE: Forget those T-shirts - they're too immodest. I'll be buying clothes from this company from now on.

Video game legislation, brought to you by presidential contenders

Three Democratic senators, two of which are likely to be presidential contenders in 2008 and one of which was a vice-presidential candidate in 2000, have introduced a bill:

In a noontime press conference Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) introduced federal legislation designed to protect children from inappropriate video games. Today's move represents the formal filing of the Family Entertainment Protection Act (FEPA) announced by Clinton and Lieberman on November 29th. (Live Journal)

Note Senator Clinton's concern about families as she leaves a message on her senatorial site:

“The holiday season is a particularly important time to raise awareness of this issue. Video games are hot holiday items, and there are certainly wonderful games that help our children learn and increase hand and eye coordination. However, there are also games that are just not appropriate for our nation’s youth,” said Senator Clinton. “This bill will help empower parents by making sure their kids can’t walk into a store and buy a video game that has graphic, violent and pornographic content.”

You know what will also be "hot" in the coming years? The presidential race. Clinton and Bayh had to have that in mind as they introduced this legislation. They'll both want to bring up their concern over family values when they're wandering around the country in a couple years, and they will surely point to this as an example. Bayh will talk about having Hoosier values, and Clinton was say this is an example of being active in the village.

Entertainers of 2005

Pop-culture mag Entertainment Weekly has unveiled its list of entertainers of 2005. Here they are in order:

1. The cast of "Lost"
2. Steve Carrell, actor (starred in the film "The 40-year-old Virgin" and TV's "The Office")
3. Naomi Watts, actress (starred in "King Kong")
4. Kanye West, musician (released album "Late Registration")
5. Felicity Huffman, actress (Golden Globe-nominated for "Transamerica," Emmy-winning for Desperate Housewives")
6. George Clooney, actor/director (directed "Good Night, and Good Luck," starred in "Syriana")
7. Vince Vaughn, actor (starred in "Wedding Crashers," appeared in "Be Cool" and "Thumbsucker")
8. Gwen Stefani, musician (released solo album "Love.Angel.Music.Baby")
9. "Harry Potter" Wiz Kids (book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" both released this year)
10. Terence Howard, actor (Golden Globe-nominated for "Hustle & Flow", starred in "Crash")
11. Shakira, musician (released two albums, one Spanish and one English)
12. Jodie Foster, actress (starred in"Flightplan," will appear in the forthcoming "Inside Man")
13. "Entourage" Posse Cats
14. Alan Alda, actor (Oscar-nominated for "The Aviator," Emmy-nominated for "The West Wing," author of "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed")
15. Sarah Silverman, comedian (featuered in the film "The Aristocats," participant in Pamela Anderson's roast)

Most Blogged-About Books of the Year

New York Times has a listing with links to the blogs.

How many have you read and blogged about? I've read three of the top twenty - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The DaVinci Code, and The Chronicles of Narnia. I've blogged about Harry.

I only got one book for Christmas but it's good one - this.

Don't worry...

...if this made you upset. (Dusty Leggs, I'm obviously not writing to you)

Repeat after me: "Nothing matters until January... nothing matters until January..."

RELATED: In a showing of sympathy and solidarity, the entire Colts team will travel to James Dungy's funeral in Tampa tomorrow (Tuesday).

Is her blog male or female?

Julia Sweeney, an alumnus of Saturday Night Live whose most famous character was the androgynous Pat, has her own blog. It's on Blogger, no less, which means she's not paying a cent to keep it going.

Thrifty, she is. And, she's no longer a believer in God with a one-woman show to prove it.

Happy Chanukah!

To all who celebrate Hannukah and find their way to my little blog, may you have a truly joyous Festival of Lights!

For those who don't celebrate and would like to know what Chanukah is all about, here's a little info on the holiday.

What's with all the different spellings? Click here to find the answer.

Merry Christmas!

We're skipping church this morning to prepare the dining room for our meal. Turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and other goodies. You know, the traditional Christmas meal. One year, though, my parents had chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce for Christmas - that was certainly something different for us, since we're usually quite traiditonal in our holiday meals.

Doesn't feel quite like the holidays this year since I'm working at the hospital so much. I didn't take any time off and I picked up extra shifts. How very Ebeneezer Scrooge of me!

Christmas with the in-laws

I finally made it to Danville, Illinois, to join my wife and daughters as we celebrate Christmas with my in-laws. We're having Monical's pizza for dinner (mmm... so good to drizzle Monicals' own French dressing on a slice of pepperoni thin-crust), and then we'll go to an uncle's home to consume even more food. We have usually gone to the Christmas Eve service at April's grandparents' church, but we won't make it this year due to her grandmother's poor health. We'll spend the night in Danville, then travel home sometime tomorrow afternoon. Santa's already delivered his gifts to our home, so my eldest daughter should be surprised when we return.

May you have a safe and joyous Christmas! Remember that the child born and laid in a manger did not remain a child, but grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. He died on the cross and was resurrected so that we might be with Him in eternity. Praise God for His unspeakable gift!