Hardly the Last Word

I’ve had a good streak of consecutive posting days, but tonight I head into the mountains of West Virginia for six days.? I just don’t think I can get in a post a day there.? So goodbye, streak.

Merry Christmas to everyone.? I’m about to turn in after a long day of visiting with family, but I might wake up early enough tomorrow to write a bit about our travels.

I don’t know if I’ve ever done a “meme” before, but I saw this one over at i wonder as i wander, and it looked fun for a Christmas Eve post, so here it is!
(I believe the idea is to boldface the ones that one has actually done and comment as one wishes, so if [...]

Teaching Index
I’ve got little to add to this Ph.D comic.? Enjoy.

El Ick’s blog recently had quite an interesting conversation about differences between proselytizing (a word for which I always need spell check) and conversation, and rather than write long paragraphs? in his comments bar, I figured I’d write this here and then link back.? So now that I’ve linked back, I should write those paragraphs.
The [...]

So here I am in Plainfield, I hope.? As you might have surmised, I’m writing this in Georgia but scheduling it for the day after we’re supposed to drive.
On the last few trips I’ve brought some sort of epic narrative with me so that I could enjoy some people hitting each other with spears rather [...]

Well, my mostly-neglected Fantasy Football team failed to make the real playoffs.? I suppose it’s not entirely bad to be seeded well in the consolation playoffs.
Perhaps next season I’ll have a bit more time to fiddle with such things.

I got word yesterday that in fact I’ll not be getting an MLA interview from Wheaton College.? 160 applicants, 40 interviews.? I’m guessing that most if not all of those 40 had Ph.D’s in hand.? Ah, well.? It was a fun long shot while it lasted.
The other schools? to which I’ve applied don’t, as far [...]

Folks write all the time about the bizarre ads that gmail pops up alongside their messages, and this post is going to be another instance of the same.? I was reading my emails this afternoon when, glancing over to the commercials, I saw three consecutive ads asking me to join humanist organizations.? Given that I [...]

Micah Says Moo
Perhaps some day I’ll figure out how to put vid clips on the blog itself, but for now, just link to YouTube, eh?

I finally got some pictures off of my camera onto the family computer, and these are from the Athens Christian Church Christmas Play from December 15, 2008.? I realize the selection is somewhat Micah-centric, but whaddya gonna do?
If I can get YouTube to cooperate (no dice going through Picasa 3, so I’m going to try [...]

Following our recently-established tradition, we opened up Christmas presents here in Georgia the Saturday before departing for the North. Here are some pictures of Micah enjoying his haul.

Christmas Presents 2008

I just uploaded my fifth and final “History of Christmas” handout to the Sunday school page, and I’m feeling good about it.? It hasn’t been my best series of Sunday school lessons, but I think that’s a function of the fact that I’m just better at teaching the Bible or some common text than I [...]

The same political faction that was clamoring to preserve the part of a financial sector bailout package that keeps CEO salaries as high as CEO’s can manage, unhindered by the will of the plebs, mere months ago, is now blocking an auto industry bailout because they don’t want union workers making any more money than [...]

This time next week I’ll be packing and (hopefully) sleeping to get ready for the long trip north.? Lots of driving.? Lots of driving.
But it’ll be good.

Here I am, another day of grading and dissertating and everything else lost.? My boy’s got the barking cough, the croup, whatever you call it, along with a fever, and I’ve been home with a contagious but very active boy all day.? If one of the colleges to which I applied offers me a gig [...]

This last Saturday, we went to the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in Gainesville, and guess who we ran into?

From 2008 Santa at the Museum

I just hope I look as good when I get to be 400.
I would like to keep my eyesight, though.? No guarantees there, though–I’m spending the day grading freshman portfolios.
Happy Birthday, Milton.

For several years now I’ve been reading every month’s Harper’s magazine, and I’ve lost no confidence in that publication.? Digesting its substantial essays every month not only gave me food for thought but reminded me that there are in fact liberal media in the United States, and Harper’s is one such liberal medium.? Knowing that [...]

Not all my readers, alas, will be getting Christmas cards from the Gilmours in the mail, so I offer these to you as an alternative: just pick your two favorite, post them into a word processor file, and fold in half. See? Isn’t that fun?

Christmas Card 2008