The Declaration of Independence, or the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, was adopted on this day in 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And so, today we celebrate …
At the end of last week, a harmonic convergence brought together a chance to see one of my favorite writers and to hang out with some dear friends from high school.
Take a look at the calendar. Christmas Eve is two weeks from tomorrow. Yes, it’s on a Saturday. No, you don’t want to wait until then to do shopping.
As for me? On the way home from work Monday, I stopped at three stores.
Three. Stores.
I came home and promptly posted on social media that, from this point on, if it’s not available online, it won’t be under your tree.
You’re busy. I’m busy. I’m spending most of the next two weeks in the red suit.
So here, without further ado, you’re Five For Friday.
But, it’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown
Linus Van Pelt Banned from Community Theater For Reciting Bible Verse The Babylon Bee
MINNETONKA, MN — Local boy Linus Van Pelt has been permanently banned from the local community theater, after an episode in which he commandeered a play rehearsal and began reciting from the Bible.
Funny? Sure. But also not far from the truth.
Not to get preachy about it, but there really is only one Reason for the Season. Everything you see, the lights, the hubbub, the shopping, the frenzy, all points back to one quiet night when an angel appeared to virgin.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke 1:31
Rest in Peace Kirstie Alley
American actress Kirstie Alley passed away on December 5th from colon cancer. Alley was best remembered for her role as Rebecca How on the NBC sitcom Cheers. The geekier amongst us recognize her as Lt. Saavik from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Alley struggled with her weight and was a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. In later years she was outspoken politically on Twitter. I’ll miss hearing her voice.
Twitter was worse than we thought
Elon Musk’s second installment of ‘Twitter Files’ reveals ‘secret blacklists,’ Bari Weiss reports FOX News
“A new #TwitterFiles investigation reveals that teams of Twitter employees build blacklists, prevent disfavored tweets from trending, and actively limit the visibility of entire accounts or even trending topics—all in secret, without informing users,” journalist Bari Weiss began her thread on Thursday.
I’m not going to make my Goodreads goal for the year
Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more.
It won’t tell you HOW to write—bit it WILL provide you with everything you need to start writing and…keep at it!
I’m using Scrivener to edit my current novel in progress. These webinars from Joe are very helpful in the process.
It’s the first Friday of December and you have three weeks to get your Christmas shopping done.
May I suggest, for the young readers in your life, two charming (if I do say so myself) books for early readers.
Here are your Five for Friday.
Too fast away the old year passes…
The end of 2022 is nigh…and we’ll get to that year end review stuff before the month is over. I’ve already chosen my three words for 2023…but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
It’s a recurring theme. I’m too busy this holiday season. To my credit, the decorations are up, but I’ve done little to no shopping. My time is consumed by the evenings at the amusement park and other Santa gigs. I’ve turned them down left and right, but I’m still overbooked.
What I want to do is focus on the real reason for the season. So, beginning last night, I decided to read one chapter in the gospel of Luke each day. That’s 24 chapters, and by Christmas Eve, I’ll have read through the life of Christ and will have been reminded of the reason we celebrate this season.
I’ll continue my regular readings. But speaking of that, Dennis Kinlaw, a briliant Bible scholar, speaker, leader and President of Asbury University (College) when I attended wrote in his devotional This Day with the Master…
These days the primary thing in your life and mine should be our relationship to Immanuel – the one who came to dwell with us.
May it be so.
Protests in China
It’s not getting the coverage, or the attention from our leaders that it deserves, but over the past few days protests have erupted in China over the pandemic restrictions.
It started when pandemic controls imposed by Chinese authorities delayed response to an apartment fire where at least ten people died. Outrage spilled into the streets.
Predictably, Chinese authorities have cracked down on the protests, and our own “leadership” has been strangely (or not) “cautious.”
Celebrities Cut Ties With Balenciaga After MyPillow Spotted In Photo Shoot The Babylon Bee
Balenciaga is facing a wave of online criticism after a MyPillow pillow was spotted in the background of one of the company’s photo shoots for its winter collection. The CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell is known for his strong support of Donald Trump. Read more.
The Babylon Bee is satire at its best. It’s also mostly true.
Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
EXCLUSIVE: Katie Hobbs’ Office Threatened County Board With Arrest, Indictment If They Didn’t Certify Results Daily Caller
Democratic Arizona Secretary of State and Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs’ top deputy threatened the Mohave County Board of Supervisors with prosecution if it didn’t certify her election results before a Monday deadline, according to emails and documents reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Read more.
Look, I don’t know what reall happened in Arizona other than to say it’s a total mess and it looks like a lot of hinky stuff going on. But how can you not have a problem with the person charged with certifying the election telling people they’ll go to jail if they don’t crown her queen?
About the real St. Nick
Sean Dietrich is easily one of my most favorite writers. During the pandemic and the days when I was focused on virtual Santa visits, Sean interviewed me for Santa in November. This week he writes about the real St. Nicholas and his conversation with a Catholic Priest. It’s well worth your time.
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disfavored tweets from trending, and actively limit the visibility of entire accounts or even trending topics—all in secret, without informing users,” journalist Bari Weiss began her thread on Thursday.
