Sweet Treats

The Washington Post has published an extensive cookie baking guide which is sure to put anyone in the mood to bake Christmas cookies this weekend.

Then pay a visit to the New York Times food section, which has an interesting article on various kinds of sugar.

Most years my husband tries out a new fudge recipe at Christmastime, in on ongoing quest to find the perfect fudge. He's thinking of trying the recipe in the 1997 JOY OF COOKING this year. If anyone has other fudge recipe candidates, please post them! His only "requirements" are that the ingredients cannot include melted chocolate chips or marshmallow fluff. :)

The Queen Likes The Queen

According to London's Daily Mail, Queen Elizabeth II and others at Buckingham Palace approve of THE QUEEN.

In THE QUEEN Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth dealing with the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The film has received widespread praise, and Mirren is expected to receive an Oscar nomination.

I'm looking forward to seeing it at some point. Unfortunately thus far the selection of theaters it's playing in here is fairly limited.

"Mr. President, You Are Not Alone"

A wonderful column by Tony Blankley. Don't miss it.

(Hat tip: Just Muttering.)

Today at Disneyland

Today was our family's annual all-day Christmas visit to Disneyland. We start off by splurging on breakfast at River Belle Terrace. Who can resist Mickey pancakes?


Some of the elaborate decorations in New Orleans Square. Upstairs are the windows of Club 33.


Sleeping Beauty Castle:


Flowers at the New Orleans Train Station:


We enjoyed cookie decorating at Big Thunder Ranch:


A blurry but beautiful Christmas tree:


One of my favorite Christmas memories of Disneyland is from working there during my college years. I loved walking down Main Street at night, after the park was closed, and having the tree and Christmas music all to myself.

My youngest son had a major thrill when he was one of the children chosen for the Jedi Training Academy. He battled Darth Maul. He is still floating. :) A good time was had by all.

New on DVD: The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006), originally reviewed here last July, was released on DVD today.

We watched the DVD tonight and enjoyed it all over again. If you haven't seen it yet, it makes for a very entertaining evening. Meryl Streep alone makes the movie worth watching.

The DVD comes with a nice selection of extras including a commentary track, deleted scenes with commentary, several featurettes, and a trailer.

Governor Moonbeam Lives

Only now, unfortunately, he's California's incoming Attorney General, and his stated priority, out of all the issues facing our state, is enforcing global warming legislation.

Captain's Quarters (linked above) has the details.

UCLA Computer Files Hacked

UCLA has had the files of approximately 800,000 students and alumni hacked in what may be the largest breach of computer security at a U.S. university.

The problem is not new -- last year USC was hacked -- but what I find novel is the excuse published in the L.A. Times for why it happened.

The L.A. Times uncritically reported that "several" identity theft experts told the paper Monday that "Partly because of their tradition of openness, universities are proving to be a favorite — and often vulnerable — target."

The paper then quotes Jay Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center, as saying: "Universities tend to have a lot of information floating around in a lot of different places. They are places we send our children to share ideas, and it's hard to mix the open sharing of ideas with the need to tighten down on security."

Excuse me, but what a bunch of baloney. What does the "open sharing of ideas" in the classroom have to do with keeping things like Social Security numbers and tax information in applicants' files secure and confidential? One has nothing to do with the other. Why would computer security in administrative areas like admissions or financial aid be "hard to mix" with academic freedom? And yet the L.A. Times found connecting academic "tradition(s) of openness" with the lack of computer security worthy of Page 1, and didn't pursue further explaining exactly why computer security is "hard to mix" with "the open sharing of ideas." (We won't even pursue the angle as to whether universities truly foster "the open sharing of ideas" in all contexts, grin.)

You would think that a university would be among the first to create a hacker-free computer security system, given the talented people on campus...why hasn't that happened yet? It may be that the security problem wasn't taken seriously, but I hardly think the systems were vulnerable because the university viewed applicants' information as a part of their culture of a "tradition of openness" and "open sharing of ideas."

WKRP in Cincinnati Coming to DVD?

Rumor has it that WKRP is coming to DVD next April.

The series has not been on DVD previously due to expensive music licensing issues. (Music licensing was also an issue with NORTHERN EXPOSURE, another series which prominently featured a radio station.) Some of the original music has been replaced, but that is apparently the only way the series could be brought out on DVD at a reasonable price.

This is Creepy

U.S. intelligence agencies during the Clinton Administration were bugging Diana, Princess of Wales?

I'd sure like to hear an explanation for that one.

Update: According to CBS and the AP, the NSA plans to release a statement denying the British report that the U.S. was eavesdropping on the princess.

What a strange story all the way around...

Technical Difficulties

I've been without an Internet connection much of the weekend. For some reason our Verizon DSL always goes out when it rains. Verizon tech support never has an answer on the reason for that.

I look forward to resuming regular posting soon if my online connection will cooperate. :)

Monday Evening Update: Our connection is still erratic, and we were knocked completely offline again for a while this evening. Sure cuts into blogging time!

Tuesday Evening Update: We are still having intermittent problems getting online. Verizon contacted our neighbor, who also has problems when it rains, and it appears the problem is something corroded on a power pole, and the problem has accelerated to the point that this time it hasn't "bounced back" as it usually does after the rain stops. Hopefully this will be fixed in the near future. In the meantime, if posting is light, that's why! :)

Tonight's Movie: One Special Night (1999)

I videotaped ONE SPECIAL NIGHT when it first aired on CBS seven years ago. At the time I recorded it, I was very much looking forward to seeing the reunion of James Garner and Julie Andrews, 35 years after they first appeared together in THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY -- and 17 years after VICTOR/VICTORIA -- yet somehow the tape ended up almost forgotten in the back of our video cupboard. (It might have something to do with the fact that at the time the tape was made, the youngest of my four children was a year old and we were in the middle of a major remodel of our home...I'm pretty sure at the time I had walls, floors, and ceilings missing!)

Perhaps I wasn't meant to watch the movie until this week, because it struck the perfect chord for me seeing it now. It's a lovely film about two lonely people finding a second chance at love, with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as a backdrop. If you're looking for a change of pace from the usual holiday fare, you can't do better than watching Garner and Andrews, two consummate pros, in a moving and enjoyable story.

According to IMDb, the beautiful snowy exteriors were filmed in Montreal.

ONE SPECIAL NIGHT is available on DVD and video. It runs 92 minutes.

Little House Books: No Illustrations More "Relevant"?

HarperCollins, in a misguided move to make Laura Ingalls Wilder's LITTLE HOUSE books more "relevant," is removing the classic illustrations by Garth Williams from upcoming paperback editions.

The covers on the new editions, available in January, will feature photographs of a girl. There will be no illustrations inside.

Williams' art will still be available in other editions.

Williams wasn't the first to illustrate the LITTLE HOUSE books -- that honor went to Helen Sewell and Mildred Boyle -- but he was the best. It's hard to imagine the books without his beautiful pictures. Williams did extensive research before undertaking the project.

A decade or more ago I attended an exhibit at an art gallery in Hollywood which featured several of Williams' original drawings for the books, along with his original painting of the cover for CHARLOTTE'S WEB. For someone who grew up with these books, seeing Williams' artwork was quite a moving experience.

It's sad to think that HarperCollins believes no illustrations at all are somehow going to be easier to market to today's children than the Williams editions, but there you have it.

"Grievance Theater" at Minneapolis Airport

Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the plane which crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, has written an excellent editorial about the recent events with the six imams in Minnesota.

Burlingame lays out the events and why the passengers and crew were correct to respond as they did in great detail.

She concludes, in part:

"We have a new, inviolate aviation standard after 9/11, which requires that the captain cannot take that airplane up so long as there are any unresolved issues with respect to the security of his airplane...

"...the most despicable aspect about the imams' behavior is that when they pierced the normally quiet hum of a passenger waiting area with shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' and deliberately engaged in terrorist-associated behavior that was sure to trigger suspicion, they exploited the fear that began with the Sept. 11 attacks. The imams, experienced travelers all, counted on the security system established after 9/11 to kick in, and now they plan not only to benefit financially from the proper operation of that system but to substantially weaken it--with help from the Saudi-endowed attorneys at CAIR."

(Hat tip: One Clear Call.)

Update: The Washington Times reports that three different probes into the imams' removal from the flight have concluded that the airline acted properly and "the imams' claims that they were merely praying and their eviction was racially inspired are without foundation."

As a postscript, Michelle Malkin links to the sad news that Debra Burlingame's niece has died in an apartment fire.

The Nanny State at Work

New York City is banning trans fats, including margarine, from the city's restaurants.

I am wondering if this new law will be challenged in the courts. What is to stop New York or any other government entity from, in future, banning other foods of which they disapprove?

What's to stop banning the sale of margarine in stores?

Today it's margarine. Tomorrow, Twinkies? Coke? Sugar?

A Blessed St. Nicholas Day

As I wrote on this date last year, pausing in our Advent journey to remember St. Nicholas is something our family particularly enjoys each December. Once again the shoes are lined up in the hall awaiting a chocolate St. Nicholas and other small treats.

The St. Nicholas Center has interesting information aimed at those of all Christian faiths. The website includes children's activities.

If you are looking for Advent activities your family can enjoy together, Mrs. Happy Housewife recently posted some good ideas.

New on DVD: Disney's True Life Adventures

Walt Disney was born on this date in 1901. How fitting that his nature films, True Life Adventures, have been released today.

I have seen bits and pieces of these films, which include WHITE WILDERNESS and PERRI, over the years, probably on THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY or perhaps even in elementary school. However, this is a part of Disneyana about which I know very little. I'm looking forward very much to becoming more deeply acquainted with this series.

Volume 1 (see subject link) is titled WONDERS OF THE WORLD. It includes MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP and WATER BIRDS, which was included in a DVD release of THE RESCUERS some years ago.

Volume 2, LANDS OF EXPLORATION, includes THE LIVING DESERT and THE VANISHING PRAIRIE.

Volume 3 is CREATURES OF THE WILD, and Volume 4 is NATURE'S MYSTERIES, which includes the aforementioned PERRI. My grandparents had a little photo picture book of PERRI which I recall fondly from my early childhood.

All of the DVDs have new introductions and other extra material filmed by Walt's nephew, Roy Disney, at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The San Diego Union-Tribune and Orange County Register posted informative articles on these new releases today. Another excellent, detailed article was recently posted at Coming Soon.

Farewell to Spunky Homeschool

I was sorry to learn today that one of my favorite homeschooling blogs, Spunky Homeschool, is shutting down. This was a great site for both information and discussion regarding a wide range of homeschooling issues.

Best wishes to Karen (aka Spunky) as she departs the blogosphere.

The 99-Tuba Salute

Last October I noted the passing of tuba player Tommy Johnson. As I wrote then, you may not have heard his name, but you've heard him -- if nowhere else, playing the "shark music" in JAWS.

My husband was privileged to attend the memorial concert in honor of Johnson last Sunday at USC's Bovard Auditorium. Among those participating in the concert was film composer Bruce Broughton. A college friend of my husband's played the euphonium.

As described by the Washington Post (subject link), the tribute included a performance by 99 tubas. My husband told me that among the 99 were the first chair tuba players from several symphonies, including Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Orange County.

Although it currently appears to be down, Johnson's family and friends have started a website, www.tommyjohnson.org, to preserve the history of Johnson's life and career.

Enjoy the Washington Post's account of the concert honoring the man composer-conductor John Williams called "one of the great instrumentalists of his generation."

(Hat tip: L.A. Observed.)

Update: National Public Radio now has a report on the concert posted on the NPR website, with a link to their radio story. The radio piece includes a brief recording from the concert and some of the music from JAWS. Well worth the minute and a half of your time.

Wednesday Update: Many thanks to Kevin Roderick at L.A. Observed for the link.

It's rather curious that the Los Angeles Times has ignored a wonderful "arts" story in its own backyard.

Christmas Music: The Gatlin Brothers

I've been a fan of Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers since I first heard their songs when I was in college. The combination of Larry's songwriting talent and the beautiful blending of the brothers' voices never fails to wow me. I've been fortunate to see them in concert several times, and they are true showmen; they always give fans their money's worth and then some, including lingering after concerts to greet fans and sign photos.

If you're looking for some new-to-you Christmas music this year, I highly recommend any of the Gatlins' albums. (I'm listening to one as I post this...)

A GATLIN FAMILY CHRISTMAS is the oldest of their Christmas albums. It dates back to their heyday at the top of the country-pop charts in the early '80s. The tracks include Larry's lovely compositions "Sweet Baby Jesus," "Steps," and "Alleluia," which they use to close every concert, as well as a number of traditional Christmas carols. This album might be my favorite of their three Christmas albums, just because I've listened to it the longest and associate it with many Christmases past.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GATLINS, also sold under the title CHRISTMAS WITH THE GATLIN BROTHERS, contains many Christmas standards and Larry's song "Christmas All Year 'Round." His "Sweet Baby Jesus" also appears on this album. Two-thirds of the tracks on this album are religious carols, but they also included my two favorite "secular" Christmas songs, "White Christmas" and "Silver Bells."

A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WITH THE GATLIN BROTHERS is a bit different in that it has a number of new Christmas songs which weren't written by Larry, including "I Have Held My King," performed as a solo by Rudy, "They Saw a King," and the rousing choral number "I Have Seen the Light." Larry's songs "No Star Tonight in Bethlehem" and "All We Like Sheep" also appear on the album, along with a closing performance of "Alleluia." This stirring album in particular causes one to reflect on the miracle of Christ's birth.

While Amazon's vendors sell the CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION CD at a steep price, you can purcase it directly from the Gatlins' website (see subject link) for a more reasonable $13.50. I have purchased directly from them before and received excellent service. The CHRISTMASTIME DVD available on the website is fun too. :)

Obama Mania

Contrasting opinions on rising Democrat star Barack Obama today from Kevin McCullough and Ed Morrissey.

McCullough predicts that Senator Obama will be taking the Presidential oath of office in 2009, and lays out the reasons why.

Morrissey is concerned about Obama's lack of experience and says "...this Obama boomlet looks like desperation" on the part of Democrats who normally might counsel him to take the time for some seasoning -- perhaps as governor as Illinois.

Morrissey goes on: "Democrats want to take a freshman and vault him not just to the varsity but to make him the captain of their team. It might work -- or it might turn out to be a disaster" which could ruin his future political aspirations.

It may not be politically correct to say so, but one wonders if there is a sort of reverse racism in play here, due to Obama's "black" (in reality, racially mixed) ethnic background. Obama is an attractive and articulate man. But he has almost zero legislative or executive experience. Even Bill Clinton, who rose to the Presidency in part because many people found him similarly appealing, had executive experience as governor of Arkansas.

It's an uncomfortable question but one that perhaps should be asked regarding what some call Obama's "rock star" appeal: Would he be greeted with the same over-the-top enthusiasm at this very early stage in his career if he were perceived as white?

I note that Rush Limbaugh mentioned today that another front-runner, Hillary Clinton, doesn't have a great deal more legislative experience than Obama. She has no executive experience. Some pundits tout Hillary having lived in the White House as a valuable part of her resume. (Somehow I don't think that would play well were Laura Bush to run for office.) In Hillary's case, what she has going for her, beyond a term in the Senate, is being the first "serious" woman candidate.

2008: The year of the affirmative action "celebrity" Democrat candidate?