Rules are made for people . . .

Follow the proceedings of the DNC rules committee here. Although I'll refrain from much commentary now, I just wonder how it could possibly make any democratic sense to seat any delegates from a contest that didn't even include every candidates' name on the ballot. But then again, democratic and Democratic sense aren't always the same thing. 

Passing Afternoon

I missed posting about it because I have been at Alta Mons, but yesterday was what would have been James Bond creator Ian Flemming's 100th birthday. In tribute, apparently, a new Bond book has been released. It sounds intriguing enough, and I can't get enough of 007, to add it to my summer list. Thanks to Walt for the heads up. 

Alta Mons is going well. We're finishing up all of the medical training tomorrow and I really do think that the staff is coming together nicely. Coordinating the CITs and the Day Camp isn't the most glamorous job at camp, but I feel so blessed to be there. God shows Himself in the simple things and I really think that the people coming to camp this summer are seeing that already. Alta Mons is no longer the place I grew up. A lot of the identifying features have been changed by logging and new permanent staff, but I just keep trying to remember what Bekah told me last summer about the children running around screaming and playing: It's not any different for them. 

I'll post more and some pictures later, but now it's off to Indiana Jones with the staff. 

Catfish are Jumpin'

Within a couple hours, I'll be at Alta Mons mostly for the duration. This event marks my first day of summer so I thought I would share my summer reading list. Feel free to suggest books to add (or remove) although I fear I will be reading from this list until Christmastime. 

The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

The Last of the Mohicans - James Fenimore Cooper

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - Annie Dillard

The Life You Save May Be Your Own - Paul Elie

Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier *

Thirteen Moons - Charles Frazier

A Blue Moon in Poorwater - Cathryn Hankla

Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

Ulysses - James Joyce

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver

Angels in America - Tony Kushner

The Problem of Pain - C.S. Lewis

A River Runs Through It - Norman MacLean *

Teacher Man - Frank McCourt *

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain

A Time to FIGHT - James Webb

An asterisk denotes a re-read. I've already finished Angels in America (the first part was assigned for class) and I'm two-thirds of the way through my perennial summer opener Cold Mountain. I will probably start Ulysses next as I received it for my 21st birthday in December. This is the summer of epic.

That Makes Both WV Senators for Obama

Sen. Byrd once again proves himself to be a pragmatic, if occasionally sleepy, Democrat with his recent endorsement of Obama: "Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support."

Now if only the rest of Appalachia could follow Senators Byrd and Rockefeller's lead in the general election.

House Worship

As one who is terribly excited to move into my in-law apartment in July, I definitely cherish the American Dream of having a little space to plant my garden and roam around with my all-American mutt. Hal Crowther takes a look in the Oxford American at how that dream has exploded into McMansions and subprime mortgages and suggests we all scale back a little.