Something else they could use in Newtown

Patriot Guard -- USAF photo

Precision

Real-life exchange:
"How old is her mom?"
"Well, when was the uprising in Hungary? 1956? She'd have been maybe in her twenties then, so . . . you get the idea."

"Now, son . . ."

". . . a lot of people are cuckoo until you need something from them."
                                                                      -- Grandpa Simpson

Keep thinking of this as I get ready to set up Aunt Eunike's Holiday Refuge for the Desperate.

A few things to pray for

. . . in the wake of this. Not a complete list of what's needed, just a few bits of help.

For the families, the survivors, and the first responders:

• people who can be of real comfort to them
• closeness in their families
• sleep as needed
• the ability to forgive
• blessings this Christmas

Variable degrees of explicability

• Pope Benedict has over 300,000 followers and he hasn't even tweeted anything yet
• Someone apparently thought December would be a good time to tear up the road by a shopping mall
• Au Bonheur des Dames (by Zola) is about an eponymous department store that is not, in the long run, conducive to the happiness of the ladies, either those who shop there or those who work there; it just makes money for the man who owns it