The Fredösphere

The Maharincess is accessorizing right now.  For Christmas she received a big box of dress-up clothes, and right now she's wearing a princess crown, a feather boa, and a brace o' fairy wings.  With high heels and a pearl necklace.  A healthy sense of elegant restraint must be learned, I suppose, but clearly the urge to ornament is inborn.

Der Drubermensch has some talking rescue figures who spend their time shouting things.

Rock slide alert!  Clear the area!
Scan for trapped people!  You've got it!  I hear them!
Secure the climbing line!
Dude, the mountain is coming down!  Good job!
We're in trouble!  The clock is ticking!
Tectonic!  Clear the fallen rock!
10-4!  Rock slide alert!
They're trapped by the fallen rock!  Keep digging!  We'll find them!

These guys have a problem -- they are slaves to the tyranny of the urgent.  Yes, there is some value is saving trapped victims before they are crushed by falling rock.  But.  These rescue heroes need to step back and set some priorities, and figure out what's important from a long-term perspective.  They need to be shouting things like:

We need semi-annual maintainence done on this rescue vehicle!"
Let's get this paperwork done two days ahead of schedule!"

I got recordings of the John Adams' Violin Concerto and Tan Dun's Water Passion.  Also a slew of books, including something by Roger Kimball; I think the title is "The Sexual Harassment of the Masters."

My choir sang the Sussex Carol on Christmas morning.  This almost unknown carol is about the most joyful bit of music ever conceived; here's a bit you can hear.  If I had not spent Christmas night in the emergency room with the maharincess, battling a case of bacterial pink eye, the holiday would have been completely satisfying.