Today’s the shortest day of the year. Just four more days until the day will be noticeably longer and the sun will be headed back to the north (for an explanation on why the sun isn’t obviously headed north for four more days, take a look at analemmas). Oh, and there’s some big holiday coming, too. I find that I’m mostly ready for Christmas itself, but still have some things to do for all the family events that’ll happen this weekend.
Sure, there are some little snags. Presents for one friend appear as if they won’t arrive in time, in spite of me having ordered from amazon.com on December 10th. They still haven’t shipped, in spite of being in stock when I ordered. Pfui. I’m also still trying to decide if I’m going to do a ham for Christmas dinner at mom’s. I’ve got a ham, got a recipe, but the motivation, that’s another matter entirely. And then there are other smaller complications I could worry about, but I’m going to try to avoid worrying at this point. The to-do list each day has less work and more holiday prep, but that’s fine, too. I’ll get enough work in that the cash flow won’t dry up, and not stressing out is more important to me now than any potential headaches in eary February.
In all, I’m feeling pretty good about the impending holiday. I’ve done what I can to prepare, have a plan for the few things that still need doing, and the rest, well, it’ll work itself out one way or another. And if anything goes horribly awry, you’ll probably get to read about it here. Everybody wins.
- Today’s the official beginning of winter, no matter what it felt like yesterday. Apparently I did a good thing sticking close to home. The Strib says it was A driving disaster out there due to the freezing rain I mentioned, and a lack of forecasting. And beginning today, the temperatures start to drop again, with below-zero temps expected for Thursday night. But at least we’ve got a little bit of snow on the ground now. The PiPress’ report, On the road to trouble, says that MNDOT was not caught by surprise, even though the Strib version says that nobody had forecast the freezing rain.
- Last night’s dinner was Manly Chicken Risotto. It was tasty enough that I figured I should post the recipe. Yummy, filling, not too much work, and you get to drink like Julia Child while you’re cooking, which is never a bad thing this time of year.
- Kim points to I Am Finished and asks why it is that we should give the state any more power, as would surely happen with national IDs. Pretty appalling. [kim]
- In France, A police exercise with the stuff of mystery goes wrong, as French police
lose
a cell-phone-size block of plastic explosives in the suitcase of some random traveller. Could be pretty much anywhere in the world now. Nice work, guys. [schneier] - In some good news, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel has released a memorandum officially concluded the Second Amendment secures An Individual Right to keep and bear arms. [vinnie]
- A Sunday Afternoon Delight no longer, Cosmic Slop will be going off the air next Sunday, the day after Christmas.
- Gimme that old-time religion! Vatican seminar on satanism seeks to curb Italian devil-worship. Shame it’s only open to the clergy. [boing boing]
- If you’re still working on your Christmas shopping, here are Ten to Avoid: The Worst Products of the Year. [slashdot]