I Speak of Dreams

Top Ten Skeptics and Jackasses from Skepchick

First, the skeptics, with Orac at #7 .... (drumroll) and #1?

I’m giving the honor to the teachers and parents who are reaching kids and instilling in them a love of science and the ability to tell fantasy from reality. I wanted to populate this list with people who had really accomplished something this year – something tangible – and hey, who have accomplished more than those people with the direct connection to our future society’s ability to reason?

On to the biggest woosters -- #10, Oprah

This year was mostly filled with her endorsement of Dr. Oz, a credulous surgeon who somehow managed to get a degree from a reputable university before marrying a reiki practitioner and rejecting everything he ever learned about clinical studies, science, and/or integrity.

and #1, Ben Stein

Ben wins our number one spot not because he caused the most damage. On the contrary, he wins because he drew the most attention to himself, and then made the biggest ass of himself as was possible. The nearest equivalent would be your drunk, shirtless cousin climbing to the second story balcony and shouting “Hey y’all, look et me!” before tripping over the ledge and tumbling into a pig sty full of manure.

It's Not Like You Think, from Doctor V

Doctor V is Bryan Vartabedian, M.D., author of Colic Solved, who blogs at Parenting Solved.   He has three new blog posts:

• Should Kids Eat Snow?
• Are Food Allergy Deaths Overstated?
• Paul Offit Criticizes the Sears Vaccine Schedule

Check it out. 

I just ordered First Foods as a gift for my daughter-in-law.

Learning Disabilites and Judiasm: Nitzan

Nitzan, Israel's largest organization dealing with learning disabilities, is set to launch an on-line network to connect people and resources involved with meeting the challenges posed by the problem throughout the Jewish world, the organization has announced.

Learning disabilities are estimated to afflict up to 10 percent of children. A preschooler who struggles to form a rhyme, a fourth-grader who confuses multiplication and division signs and a high schooler who repeatedly spells the same word in different ways in a homework assignment are all examples of potential learning disabilities.

1 Corinthians 1-13

There are two big related things going on, both unbloggable. Not my story.  But the love my kids and their significant others are showing each other is intensely moving.  The things they are thinking and talking about are inspiring.

Are We Really Getting Smarter, or Are We Just Thinking Better? If So, Why Where So Many Fooled by Madoff?

I've been wanting to dig into Kevin McGrew's Model of Academic Competence and Motivation  for  a while now, but there's been no time.  And just now, Mark Liberman published a note about Flynn's theory of shorthand abstractions (SHA) and increases in cognitive scores. 

It's fascinating stuff.

There's a short article at the eSkeptic by Stephen Greenspan, an out-take from his book Annals of Gullibility.

The Variable Joys of Home Ownership

We've been having some wild weather, last night and today.

There's a leak in the sunroom, possibly where the sunroom roof joins the original house roof.  OK, that'll be dealt with in the re-roofing process.

There's a rather large puddle of water in the garage with no perceptible source. It's possible that the wind pushed some rain under the garage side door.

Slacker diagnostics: After mopping up the puddle, I put a rolled-up towel in front of the garage side door.  If it's wet later,  that's the source.

Mele Kalikimaka

Presents opened.  Christmas Breakfast Pudding consumed. Waiting for Jumper Girl to be done in the shower so I can take mine.  I've got SF 36 on, showing the Holiday Log and playing Christmas tunes.  They just played Mele Kalikimaka so I found this Jimmy Buffet/Christmas lights version.  Enjoy.

They just threw a fresh log on the fire. All the best to you and yours.

Peace to You and To Yours

This seems to be my holiday greeting:

Peace with me, Peace before me, Peace behind me,

Peace in me, Peace beneath me, Peace above me,

Peace on my right, Peace on my left,

Peace when I lie down, Peace when I sit down, Peace when I arise,

Peace in the heart of every person who thinks of me,

Peace in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Peace in every eye that sees me,

Peace in every ear that hears me.

Peace with you, Peace before you, Peace behind you,

Peace in you, Peace beneath you, Peace above you,

Peace on your right, Peace on your left,

Peace when you lie down, Peace when you sit down, Peace when you arise,

Peace in the heart of every person who thinks of you,

Peace in the mouth of everyone who speaks of you,

Peace in every eye that sees you,

Peace in every ear that hears you.

Readers familiar with Christian writing will recognize this as an adaptation of  the prayer and hymn known as St. Patrick's Breastplate.  However, in my youth, I read a great deal of North American ethnography and these sentiments have been also expressed there.  I imagine it is a fairly universal expression.

Marines' SOP Christmas Manual

Doc in the Box put this up last year. It still makes me laugh.

TO: ALL Marines
FROM: Goode, U. B., Commanding Officer
RE: Operation Order 12-15-04 for: Official Visit of LtGen Santa Claus

1. An official staff visit by LtGen Claus is expected at your house on 25 DEC. The following directives govern activities of all Young Marines, during the visit.

a. Not a creature will stir without permission. This includes warrant officers and mice. Marines may obtain special stirring permits for necessary administrative action through the Battalion S-1. Officer stirring permits must be obtained through the Deputy, Post Plans and Policy Office.

Julie Andrews, John "Mozart" Denver, and the Kings' Singers

I was just passing by Mamacita's when she snagged me with this wonderful little number:


Here are the King's Singers, with the Shaker Hymn "Tis A Gift to Be Simple The Thomas Boy Choir, Stille Nacht