I'm taking a break and will do no more blogging until the new year. Have a blessed Christmas, everyone!

A perfectly spiffing article on the writings of Wodehouse, that madcap master of linguistic perfection and spot-on, deliciously innocent comedy. The author of the article even writes that "by now we should probably start suspecting that he will prove one of the great novelists" and proceeds to outline the reasons why. Is giving delight to generations of readers enough to rank a place among the great novelists? If not that, then what?

We own three sets of Jeeves and Wooster videos. The earlier sets are the best. My son particularly loves them and watches them at every opportunity. If, when he is grown, he acknowledges that his parents gave him the Bible and Wodehouse, that will be a good enough legacy.

A more informative article about Law's resignation than the one posted below.

It's Latin Friday!

Here is my son's latest basic sentence in his Latin program:

Parva necat morsu spatiosum vipera taurum.

I try to remember that when working on the dissertation, especially in this busy time of year.

I'm going to spend an hour or so today sending out our Christmas card and letter. At the risk of sounding like a grinch or a scrooge, Christmas is not my favorite time of year. There are too many ways to go wrong, most of them revolving around presents--forget a present, buy the wrong present. To make the season more palatable, I now buy presents only for the closest members of my family.

There are some things specific to Christmas that always bring joy. Midnight Mass is at the top of the list. Then, a close second, music. There are lovely Christmas carols on the radio (if you listen to the lower end of the FM dial), Christmas concerts by professionals and gifted amateurs, and then children's concerts, all of them wonderful.

Another favorite part of Christmas for me is hearing from family and friends, and especially from those friends whose acquaintance has been reduced to the annual card. I love Christmas letters and am always disappointed when a card doesn't include one. Not everyone feels this way, of course. This article writes about the ambivalent feelings the annual Christmas letter evokes.

Pope JP II accepts resignation of Cardinal Law. Is this unprecedented? Has a U.S. cardinal ever before resigned? I never thought Law would really step down. But the public vote of "no confidence" by 50-some priests of his archdiocese probably was the kicker. May Law's resignation move the whole wretched business forward in a positive direction.

A Muslim Notre Dame: why not?

Happiness is ... people, not things; found in unexpected places. No new insights, these, but the article expresses them extremely well, reminding its readers of the things that really do matter the most.

Peggy Noonan writes a nice meditation on James Joyce's "The Dead" and snow. What a gentle spirit she has.

Those who appreciate the work of Mark Steyn, rejoice! He has a homepage here.

I have the flu, so that's all the posting for today. I'm going back to bed.