I'm Back with Jack

My fourth son showed up Thursday afternoon. He was born at home, some 8-odd pounds, healthy, blah, blah, but I soon realized that I was going to have to keep at least two eyes on this little guy, whose name turned out to be Andrew Jack. This is because he wasn't an hour old and he'd already performed three tricks.

First of all, he came out in the bag. I guess nobody ever told him you can't take it with you. This never happens in the hospital where they break a woman's water in the parking garage.

Then the next thing the mid-wives notice is that he's got his hand on his chin in a perfect Jack Benny "Hmmmmmm...." pose, you know, like he can't decide whether to have the 6-course meal or the a la carte. I'm sure he would have played the violin if we'd had one.

Thirdly.... he winked at me! I noted the closed eye, it was his right one. Then later he winks at me with his left eye! I don't think I could wink until I was seven years old and had two years of winking lessons under my belt.

Amazing.

Also -- I mentioned he was little, but I have a feeling that that's kind of a trick too. He already looks like he's getting slightly bigger. This is possibly the greatest trick of all and the most common. They do all the growing when we're not looking.

[Picture available if you email me.]

Don't Be So Chintzy with the Nutella

This is so suburban. I love it. I mean, come on -- making s'mores with an electric range? At least the marshmallows aren't being microwaved, that's simply inhumane.

Christmas Tree Humor

First of all, this is cute and innocent. Via my better five-eighths.

And in the not-so-innocent-but-very-funny category.

BOGO @ Georgio's

That's what I'm talking about, man.

"Coercive Technique" used in Jesse Tree Reading

Our Jesse Tree reading for today was I Kings 3:3-28. That's where Solomon asks God for wisdom, then figures out who the real hooker mom is by threatening to chop the baby in half. I remembered joking to myself, "Wow, there's an advanced interrogation method if I ever saw one." I guess it's a good thing we have DNA testing now.

I also remembered to leave out the word "harlot" when I read the story to my kids. I didn't feel like being interrogated by an agressive five-year-old on what that word means.

Doctor Mike

Since I've known him since we were in grade school, I have enough embarrassing stories about Dr. Michael Coulter that he'd have reason to be really scared -- if he didn't have more dirt on me.

But enough of that. He is now blogging over at Catholicism and Politics since he's Catholic and a Political Science professor. So go give him some hits -- you surely don't have anything better to do if you are reading my blog.

Also -- he's one of the editors behind the big Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought of which I recently saw a blurb in the latest issue of Catalyst.

Leila Lawler on the USCCB's Strange Attitude toward The Golden Compass

Good, humorous analysis. Is that redundant? Favorite excerpt:

Third, they only lamely attempt to rouse themselves to the demands of their job description (supposing they have one):

“To the extent, moreover, that Lyra and her allies are taking a stand on behalf of free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium, they are of course acting entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching.”

Way to throw in a useless statement, Harry and John! My friend Patricia suggests: "To the extent that Stalin loved his country, he was, of course, entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching." See?

My take: I do think the USCCB could have done a better job of "splitting the difference" between saying the film is harmless and siding with the wild-eyed, screaming boycott crowd, which is what it seems like to me they were attempting. But by standing to close too the "harmless" pole they are just invigorating the screamers.

Thanks for reading my blog. For current commentary and what-not, visit the Est Quod Est homepage

But Would Batman Vote for Ron Paul?

All is forgiven on the Nazi question, I guess.