Holiday cards

I have noticed that I seem to be getting fewer holiday cards this year. The basket I usually put them in is only 1/3 full. Is that your impression, too?

Are you sending out more than last year? Less? The same? How many do you generally send out? We are sending out about 150 this year.

*Rips out hair*

Okay, so President Bush used his year-end news conference yesterday to resume his public relations offensive against his critics, saying he wants the Justice Department to find out who committed the "shameful act" of leaking word that he secretly approved a special program to spy on US citizens, and blasting senators who have blocked the renewal of the Patriot Act.

He accuses others of shameful acts.

He has violated the separation of powers, he is in violation of the Constitution. He is spying on Americans. And yet his poll numbers are rebounding. I saw that and I thought I might spontaneously combust out of sheer political outrage. My god, what is it going to take for this country to wake up and realize it has been taken over by a dictator who is trashing our system of government?

Edited to add: This reminds me of an old Doonesbury cartoon. Two Congressmen are sitting listening to Nixon's lawyers during the Watergate hearings.

"'No impeachable offense. No impeachable offense,'" mimics one. "How can St. John keep spouting that gibberish?"
They lapse into a despondent silence.
"If only" muses the other, "he'd knock over a bank or something."
"By George!" exclaims the first, "We'd have him then!"

A link for word buffs

This was passed along by Lois McMaster Bujold: Here is a concise on-line dictionary of Middle English.

Christmas movies

It's a Wonderful Life, in 30 seconds, and re-enacted by bunnies.

A Christmas Story, in 30 seconds, also re-enacted by bunnies.