Monthly Archives: December 2011

You Say You Want a Resolution…

Posted on December 31, 2011 by profmondo

Sitting in the Spackle Manor living room while the visiting Major (Ret.) goes for a run and Mrs. M hits the grocery. The Spawn is reading stuff on the herPad (It clearly is not an iPad or even a wePad, … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Family, Literature, Medievalia, Why I Do What I Do | 1 Comment

In Which the Prof Welcomes A Countryman

Posted on December 28, 2011 by profmondo

I’m spending a couple of days in Resort Town right now, before I return to Spackle Manor to greet 2012 with Clan Mondo and special guest the Major (Ret.). So today I wandered down to breakfast, where I noticed something … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Politics | 4 Comments

Does Pogo Stick?

Posted on December 28, 2011 by profmondo

When I was doing my Ph.D. work, I took a course in literary theory and criticism before 1966 with a professor who died shortly after I left for Mondoville, but who remains an academic hero of mine. We read everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Family, Literature, Politics | 4 Comments

QotD — Kardashian Edition?

Posted on December 27, 2011 by profmondo

I think it was Harlan Ellison who said that the opposite of love isn’t hate — it’s apathy. In that spirit, I neither seek out nor deliberately avoid things Kardashian-related. If one of the family is on TV, I change … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Politics | Leave a comment

Mondoville Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 by profmondo

It’s gray and rainy outside this afternoon, but a very quiet, comfortable Christmas chez Mondo. The turkey is cooking, the spouse and Spawn are relaxing and reading, and I’ve been leafing through one of today’s goodies, Richie Unterberger’s Urban Spacemen … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Faith, Family, Music, Why I Do What I Do | 5 Comments

For End-of-Year Charity…

Posted on December 24, 2011 by profmondo

There are always more causes worth supporting than we have ability to give. However, if you’re looking, I’d like to recommend: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society — my Mom was a long time member and telephone counselor. The American Cancer … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Faith, Family | Leave a comment

In Which the Prof Does Some E-Caroling

Posted on December 23, 2011 by profmondo

A couple of my favorites… This one is really more of an Advent piece, but I like it very much. The tune is an old French one, and the lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, best known for “Morning Has Broken”. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Music | 1 Comment

Thoughtcrime Alert

Posted on December 23, 2011 by profmondo

GlobalPost informs us that the International Committee of the Red Cross is in moderate-to-high dudgeon over atrocities. So far, so good, but the atrocities in question are virtual, in such first-person shooters as (specifically) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: While … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | 3 Comments

“Why brought he us from bondage,/ Our loved Egyptian night?”

Posted on December 22, 2011 by profmondo

Well, because every silver lining must have its cloud, or every rose its thorn, or every great band its “Mr. Moonlight“, The Guardian‘s Neil Clark pegs the stupid meter by looking at the dark side of Vaclav Havel’s Velvet Revolution: … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Music, Politics | 2 Comments

I’m a Little Late On This One…

Posted on December 22, 2011 by profmondo

… but yesterday’s column from Victor Davis Hanson will break your heart. Mondoville hasn’t reached these levels yet, but then, we aren’t as trendy as California.

Posted in Culture | 4 Comments