During the winter the tree outside my window has no leaves and the sun shines directly into my eyes. Dear Internet, what would you do? Outside blinds? Desk-attached canopy? Outdoor canopy/awning? Some sort of temporary insert?

Standing desk with a stained glass windows behind it. Two bookshelves on either side.

The most important thing about your Christmas (Eve) service(s) shouldn’t be the candles.

🚨 POLITICS 🚨

• I can’t talk to economic policy, but it seems obvious to me that prices will go up with tariffs. • Low prices relied on foreign, near slave labor. • If we want local manufacturing with living wages, stuff is going to be more expensive.

🚨 POLITICS 🚨

• I’ve never understood why I should subsidize $7,500 of an electric car for wealthy people.

Buy, buy. Deal, deal. Hurry, hurry. And yet. We are still in ordinary time. Advent starts Sunday. It is not yet Christmas. We have time. There is no rush. Christ reigns. Enjoy time with those you love. The stuff and the stores will still be there tomorrow. And the next day. And the next week.

I’ve been ruminating on what the baseline target for a Christian to dedicate to service is. I still want to think more on it and there are, as always, caveats. But… I’m coming to a 2:1 ratio. I.e., for every hour spent in corporate worship/study the Christian should spend two hours in service.

I’m really frustrated that there aren’t any current reviews of the Daylight Computer. $800 is a lot to spend on an unknown. I love the idea, but when the iPad mini is much less expensive & I already have a Onxy Boox…

I’ve begun to see my moral consumer choices as mandates over preference. Do I want to see Amie and Lyndon at Botanist and Barrel in the spring? Then I need to visit their wine shop, and maybe bring a few extra bottles to Thanksgiving.

— Shopping Local in a Storm

I don’t recall when I bought this book, but it was a really great read. Learned a lot about how English came to be. It really is an odd language! — Finished reading: Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue by John McWhorter 📚

So, Nashville folk: I noticed downtown this weekend the horse-drawn carriages for tourists were back. I could have sworn this got banned a few years back. What’s up with that? 🦞

Back on the near daily 10k steps train. I took a week off, that I really shouldn’t have. Feels good to be back at it.

Gave Jesus is King a listen this morning. Still holds up. A great album. Sad the Church wasn’t ablee to keep hold of Ye.

This is something we should keep check on. A smartphone should not be required to serve at church or to learn about what is going on. — How Then Shall We Tech?

The NYT accent test is surprisingly accurate. Lived in Huntsville from 7 to 18 and Tuscaloosa from 18 to 22. Mom grew up hour north of Huntsville in Winchester.

Hot take: US, Canada, and EU should very clearly ban Chinese-made cars from our markets. — The high cost of low prices. comes to mind.

The resignation of Welby and the already broken communion means, I’ve no doubt, we’ll see our first female ABC. — I weep for the English church!

Programming wisdom of the day: Write software designed for the company you have, not the company you wish could be.

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide and direct, we humbly pray, the minds of all those who are called to elect fit persons to serve. Grant that in the exercise of our choice we may promote thy glory, and the welfare of this nation. This we ask for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Dark Reality of Medical Aid in Dying — This is all so sad. Life is sacred and important from the womb until natural death. If you’re feeling sad, lonely, or like death is the only way out; call a priest. If you don’t know one locally, get with me.

Good parenting advice from 1 Sam 2 this morning. Don’t be like Eli. Even when it’s easier to ignore, when your kids aren’t doing right, you need to address it. Looking the other way isn’t good for anyone!