G as in Good H as in Happy

When Did You Become an American (if you did)?

March 18, 2006

I became an American, in Lee Harris' terms, when I gave a group of teenage hitchhikers in the Midlands of England (don't ask) a long ride North, and listened to them explain to me that American women are brash and selfish and disgusting. They knew, they watched the imported syndicated situation comedies.

"Uh..."

"No, we've seen them."

They didn't offer anything but their opinions. They didn't say thank you when they were delivered to the City Centre in Manchester.

They're almost pensioners now, in the sad shadow Britain has become.

Courtesy Relapsed Catholic

Update: Will, at One Cosmos, relates a brief correspondence with Fatima-phobic Euro Woman.

St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2006

So, the prediction today is for a high of 70 degrees Farenheit, and we're having a conversation that includes the word "chilly." Reading an amusing blog from Winnipeg. We conclude this little vignette sums up the conjunction of "cosmopolitan" and "spoiled."

Remarkable Celtic crosses, though pictures of Ireland add "damp" to the "chilly" tag.

Via Amy Welborn, who also has a memento of the Pope as a probing young scholar and loyal friend.

Update: From her link, a Lenten image. Corpus Christi Procession winds through a bombed, ruined Munich.

It's a site where we also learn that enthusiastic fans of the Bavarian Benedict XVI denominate themselves Benaddicts.

Mauritius, Playground in Economics

March 16, 2006

An economics blog with general interest features from an island once known to most Americans only as a game-board question.

We'll be taking a look at Fazeer Sheik Rahim. It's not clear whether "Sheik" is religious, or a generic honorific for a teacher rather like "Sensei" in Japan. One world now, and a darn interesting one.

A Fine Mandala Madness

March 15, 2006

Artist paints flowers and fruit slices.

Courtesy Neatorama, [Update:]a venue in which, once introduced, Sr. Dilys feels obliged to refine the details.

Character

Sometimes in the public sphere we can watch a person come into his own. Moral and professional. Never finally give up on anyone.

Flailing

On a pragmatic gross-governance level, it's a republic, and that's a good thing. Democratic representation does not run everywhere, though.

As One Cosmos' Bob Godwin (Darwin? God?) says

True philosophy (not academic philosophy, which is just an adolescent parlor game) depends on two variables: the depth of one's intelligence, and the source and value of one's information.

There may be situations where it's good first to measure one's prowess and perhaps elect to be a bystander.

Yep.

Courtesy Patterico

Prickly, Barefoot, Lounging in the Chez

March 14, 2006

Dilys too is prickly, on all kinds of occasions. But the haunting notes of the cosmic ditty, How Can You Talk to Them if They Won't Make Sense [ed.: Lost it in the comments, dintcha...?], segueing into How Can You Miss Them if They Won't Go Away, waft from several village bandstands today.

Brains washed daily courtesy of Instapundit, whose amusement at the foolishness of his fellow man springs ever green. An inspiration.

A Father-in-Law's Good Wine

March 13, 2006

Israeli excavations continue apace. It is to wonder, whether some technological advances are making the work easier and more productive.

However, for by-passing difficulties, nothing beats a festive convivial miracle. This buried village is called Kana of the Galilee.

"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host. Fill the pots with water." And they filled them to the brim.

Courtesy The Anchoress. And of course the Lady who insisted.

Spring Zen-Tonic for Writers

Commissioned cover for writing seminar. Draft.

Strangely Reassuring Slapdown of Making It Up As I Go

March 9, 2006

The in-house RC critic Diogenes acknowledges The Wisdom of Crowds.