After a difficult fall and a December that's seemed like it was spinning by, we are about to leave on vacation for Christmas. I won't tell you where we're going by I'll happily give you a little hint:

Yep, we're off to see the mouse! We really need a vacation... This should be very special and a very welcome break from our wonderful but taxing routine. It'll be weired not being home for Christmas, but I think we'll manage!

B.

Australian scientists discover coconut-carrying octopus

This story was a topic of some discussion at our house last night:


Australian scientists discover coconut-carrying octopus

CBC News - Film - Review: Invictus

The epic Anti-Apartheid struggle was just ending as I became an adult. It shaped my view of the world and both the evil and the courage that people are capable of in our worst and best moments.

I haven't seen Invictus yet but I'm relived that it appears to be a competent, respectful film. Its actually set after the fall of Apartheid but appears to honour that period of history (it feels weird talking that way about the 90's, though).

Here's a link to the CBC review:


CBC News - Film - Review: Invictus

Star Wars Christmas Special (Recycled Post)

Here is my post about possibly the worst Christmas special ever made:

Star Wars Christmas Special (Recycled Post)

My Three Favorite Christmas Songs (Recycled Post)

From a post I made three years ago:


Thursday, December 14, 2006

My Three Favorite Christmas Songs
There are three Christmas songs that I'm comfortable listing as favorites:

(1) "Do they Know Its Christmas?" By Band-Aid (1984)
I actually got choked up trying to explain this song to the girls this morning on the way to daycare/kindergarten/work. Musically its strong and unique (as a mid-80s pop song). Whatever we've been able to say about celebrity musicians and activism, there was a desperate honesty to their desire to save lives with this song. Its earnest and haunting.

(2) "Go Tell it on the Mountain" (Traditional Spiritual)
Christianity is sometimes at its best when its faced with slavery. Its easy to imagine African-American slaves drawing hope from the Christmas story in face of horrible oppression. The message of the season can be that strong, despite millions of dollars spent trying to dilute it,

(3) "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (Victorian Carol?)
With or without the "Loo loo loo"s in a Charlie Brown Christmas, this is a great song. I love it in large part because of that program, though.
What are your favorites?
B

THIS makes me laugh :-)

CBC News - Technology & Science - Virgin Galactic unveils commercial spaceship

Whatever our challenges and losses, every so often something comes in the news that serves to remind us that we really are living in the 21st Century and that's a pretty amazing thing:

CBC News - Technology & Science - Virgin Galactic unveils commercial spaceship