As there is canonical evidence for both "The Grinch" and "Mr. Grinch," can we reasonable conclude that he is Scots and the Chief of Grinch?

No one’s trying to cancel Christmas. No one’s really tried since the 17th century, and that was by Christians worrying it wasn’t Christian enough.

Jesus Christ is always at the centre of Christmas. And everyone's invited to experience it with us. Come and celebrate Christmas at a church near you. Find services and events in your local community at AChurchNearYou.com/christmas.

I took my dog to the vet and met a woman with a corgi called G. I asked, “What’s G short for?” She said, “Because he’s got little legs.”

Today in The December Comfort Watches: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, in which I discuss why what specific day "The Day Off" is on the calendar doesn't actually matter, and why, beneath all the sparkle of being a Very Special Boy, Ferris is ordinary, and that's okay: whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/12/t...

Why should a presidential pardon (corrupt or otherwise) have any bearing whatsoever on congressional committee assignments?

The White House is promising to announce a new healthcare plan "very soon." We've heard that one before...

Looming over all the details here of dishonesty, etc. is that in the first weeks of the Administration's deportion push, they deported a man in error. And rather than simply admit that and bring him back, they have gone to Kafka-esque lengths to punish him for the effrontery of being innocent.

It's remarkable how laughably buffoonish he is We are squarely into Borat-Animal Farm-Bananas levels of farcical stupidity

Hey some news from my place of employment: Bexley Seabury (where I am academic dean) got a $10 million grant to establish an Indigenous Theological Circle to provide theological education, formation, and congregational studies for Indigenous communities! episcopalnewsservice.org/pressrelease...

The clear takeaway from today is that Donald Trump is not unstoppable and you are not powerless.

The headlines should all read “Indiana Senate Republicans vote to uphold Constitution despite Trump cajoling.” Subhead: “Indiana legislators refused to join Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Utah counterparts in violating their oaths of office.”

Not an angle I normally photograph but the sky was just so lovely looking in this direction. Glastonbury Tor this morning at sunrise.

The sun having a little rest on St Michael's tower before it set last night here in Glastonbury.

Want a window into what the feverish minds of fascists look like? See below. This is what it looks like when hate and thought control become official government policy.

Well, hurrah: it’s here! 1032 lovely pages of “please check this initial copy carefully and btw our printing prices are going up in February.” Add a 55% markup to the booksellers & readers are going to have to take out a loan. www.annandalemilitary.net #allforannandale

@stephruhle.bsky.social SCOTUS may be skeptical of Trump's tariff powers, but he's got options: Section 232 (national security), Section 301 (unfair practices) and more. A ruling against IEEPA won't end tariffs; it'll just require more process. Full breakdown at waltercounsel.com/what-happens...

nope, fascists most certainly do not have a fetish for their perceptions of what counts as “orderly”

From now through January 1, a number of my ebooks are on sale through Smashwords: smashwords.com/sale

When Somerset turns into the Westmarch, and Glastonbury to Undertowers.

Just because I am sure I will want it later: *The Congressional Globe*, May 30, 1866, pp. 2890 ff., debate on the amendment proposed by the Senator from Michigan [Mr. Howard] (“all persons born . . .”) www.congress.gov/congressiona...

Somewhere, a new Thérèse Defarge watches the Sunday shows, knitting furiously. And this time she’s not the villain.

Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

It starts with knowing the truth. Don’t allow yourselves to be gaslit into believing this is a real question.

But thou art the same Lord (keep it going…)

It’s a Major Award.

*1868 They're citing the date of Kim Wong Ark but it should be the 14th Amendment itself. The Court didn't create it and that's not a nit-picky distinction here. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...

Welcome to the Samuel Huntington presidency

They can get lost

The headline, the main takeaway from a European viewpoint is this: The transatlantic relationship as we know it is over. Yes, we kinda knew this. But this is now official US White House policy. Not a sppech, not a statement. The West as it used to be no longer exists.

Moreover, so far as I can tell and as your scare quotes indicate, they apparently didn't know there *was* a fight. Just a missile coming from out of nowhere to blow up their boat.

I hope people take two minutes to listen to this shocking display of bigotry. It brings clarity to what we are fighting against. We should all be sick to hear such un-American drivel from the President of the United States.

It’s not much to look at, but with pumpkin, sweet potato, rice, lentils & chickpeas, curry paste for flavor, topped with sour cream & pine nuts, it has to be nutritious.

Trump’s USDA is threatening to withhold food stamp funding for 20 Democrat-controlled states if they don’t share recipients’ sensitive personal data. Yes: Trump is weaponizing hunger against millions of Americans, including children, to score cheap political points. The cruelty is endless.

Kavanaugh, J.

I made what I thought was a clever reply here a while back (one I can’t now find) to the effect that a reference to many linguists finding “cellar door” beautiful was probably thinking of a set of one, i.e. Tolkien. But I was wrong, as Hammond & Scull point out in their online corrigenda: 1/3

Love this! www.gocomics.com/foxtrotclass...

Trump’s whole strategy is to be so outrageous on multiple fronts—racism, corruption, misogyny, nativism, plutocracy, greed, authoritarianism, etc.—that it’s nearly impossible to keep a focus on any individual outrage or maintain a high level of indignation and concern. It’s deliberate bludgeoning.

This is how one branch of my family moved, somewhat unwillingly, from Hampshire to Australia, at government expense.

I would not have thought the house wolf could do this. . . .

Trump: "Now, some people will correct me, because they always love to correct me, even though I'm right about everything."

This is especially true for Right Wing Authoritarian personalities. They prioritize "normal" and feel safest when their choices are simple (or made for them) and conform to the group. That level of comfort is easily threatened. Liberals tend to like novelty and choice and difference. Good video.

The first rule of Advent Club is “Finish the leftovers.”

Pretty much ANY statistic you see cited to frighten you about vaccines comes from the VAERS database. (Including the recent evidence-free missive from Vinay Prasad). Here's why VAERS can NEVER be a proper source for population-level vaccine risk estimates. Thread [1/9]

I don't know who decided that "pet" is an acceptable past tense of the verb "to pet," but I'd like to have a word. *continues to conceal bludgeon behind back*

Going to try to start a rumour that the original themes of the Advent candles were Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.