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Bela and His Banjo

From the beginning of creation to the present, the indisputably greatest banjo player was the great Earl Scruggs. From Earl’s prime to today the indisputably greatest is Bela Fleck. The banjo, of course, is a staple of American bluegrass and folk music, but it probably has its roots in West . . . . Continue Reading »

Not the Prom

And today we have a very special treat from Judi and the Seventh Congregational Dancers: an interpretation-in-movement of our scripture lesson, taken from 1 Kings 14. Starring Raymond as Rehoboam (with Raymond, Jr., as Abijam his son) — Darren as Shishak, King of Egypt —Judi as . . . . Continue Reading »

Return of the Living Dead Economy IV

I am super delighted to see Reihan joining me in the use of ‘econopocalypse’ lingo, but super distressed to see that he is choosing to do so because he increasingly believes we are really destined for an economic apocalypse. Fortunately, the apocalypse has already happened. You . . . . Continue Reading »

The Road-Not-Taken to Serfdom?

Oh no! Americans moved less this year than ever-since-1962 , we’re told — and, apparently, this is a sign of tough economic times, an involuntary lowering, or closing in, of our individual and national horizons. Now, as you may know, my vision of the highest is not very closely . . . . Continue Reading »

Same-Sex Marriage Debate Update

Earlier this week, the Connecticut Senate approved religious-exemption clauses for their recent gay-marriage bill, following the model set by Vermont. The Hartford Courant reports : Opponents of gay marriage, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Family Institute of Connecticut, had sought . . . . Continue Reading »

ISO: Modest Prom Dress for Nice Girl

I’m actually not kidding about this one. The homeschooled teenagers in our area are planning a prom. Many of them are Irish step-dancers, and they’re having a ceili (or celidh, if you’re Scottish) prom. They’ll be doing reels and waltzes and stomps and troikas and this one . . . . Continue Reading »

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