Random Boxing Day Thoughts 2007

• Happy British class system reinforcement day. Go to Snopes.com and get the scoop on Boxing Day. While there you can check out the veracity of those last few email forwards you received.
  
• From the blog of a librarian: "Save the Easily Offended: Ban Everything!"
• Speaking of libraries and thin skin, my old haunt, the Joplin Public Library, has a display of cultural artifacts from the Islamic Society of Joplin. The JPL has always loaned out its display cases to any non-profit group in the community, but this is the first time for a Muslim group. So, some Southern Missourians (pronounced: Muh-zirrins *wipe nose on sleeve*), legendary for their cultural sensitivity, have begun calling the library staff names like "terrorist," "murderer," and "anti-American." Way to go, guys. Classy.
  
• Rural roads in Kansas are getting centerline rumble strips to jolt sleepy drivers awake as they drift into oncoming traffic. According to reports, "from 2002 to 2006, there were 658 fatal crashes on rural, two-lane highways in Kansas… there were 141 fatal crashes on four-lane urban highways."
  
• This is a National Tie Month and wouldn't you know it, I received a tie for Christmas. It's a KU tie but I typically only wear ties on Sunday and KU won't have a Sunday game until mid-March, when they play in Big 12 Championship game. I'll have to find an excuse before then. Three times as many ties are sold in December as are sold in any other month, although you'd think June (Father's day) must surely be close.
• By the way, the Jayhawks are 12-0, the only undefeated team in the Big 12, and ranked third in the nation. They're kinda good.
• The family is starting to complain of sore fingers, tennis elbow, shoulder pain, pulled muscles and other Wiinjuries. Shannon's mom and brothers were having a blast playing the Wii yesterday, mostly boxing and bowling with a little golf. I bowled my first game over 200 yesterday, ending the tenth frame with three strikes! I know that it's not real but it feels real enough to prompt pride in your accomplishments.