December 2005
O Holy Night
Time spent celebrating the season precludes (for the moment) collecting and publishing my thoughts on Christmas and culture. That will come later. In the meantime, please know, or remember, that hidden deep within and behind and under and through and above all the traditions and chaos and commercialism of the season lies meaning and purpose and hope and a story unequaled. And have a

Merry Christmas!
posted by sursumcorda on Saturday, December 24, 2005 at 05:06 PM
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Category Everyday Life
Watch What You Mail
While browsing the USPS website for international postage rates, I found it amusing to note some of the items one cannot mail to certain places. Most countries prohibit money and weapons; some countries also have more interesting restrictions:

You will get in trouble if you send "coffee in any form" to the Philippines. Jordan prohibits "advertisements concerning treatment of venereal diseases." Don't send "wireless receivers and their accessories, parts, or batteries" to Iceland, "Japanese shaving brushes" to Uganda, horror comics to Great Britain, playing cards to Spain or Madagascar, "books and prints contrary to the Islamic faith" to Saudi Arabia, "circulars or advertisements containing amulets, charms or talismans" to Malaysia, or "primary educational books not written in Portuguese" to Brazil.

Italy prohibits stamp albums, artificial flowers, "bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof," "hair and articles made of hair," "nutmeg, vanilla, sea salt, rock salt, saffron," typewriter ribbons, and "toys not made wholly of wood." The list for Ecuador includes "all maps showing the territory of Ecuador with incorrect boundaries," "bits and mouthpieces made of copper or any alloy containing copper," "preparations for erasing ink and handwriting," "so-called 'Panama' and 'Mocora' hats and the straw used for making them," and unrefined salt. Taiwan forbids coins over 100 years old along with "extracts, essences, and concentrates of tea" and "sugar, molasses, saccharine, and other sweetening substances."

North Korea makes it very simple: "All merchandise is prohibited."
posted by sursumcorda on Monday, December 12, 2005 at 09:54 AM
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Category Random Musings
Where Is this on the Developmental Charts?
Jonathan has his own small electric screwdriver, which he uses to remove and replace the tiny screws on the back of his (non-working) computer keyboard. I would be amazed enough at his physical dexterity, but what really blows me away is his knowledge of when and how to reverse the direction of the tool.
posted by sursumcorda on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 12:46 PM
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Category Everyday Life
He Peels Eggs
I could write so much more about the great things Jonathan is doing, and I probably will, eventually. But what impelled me finally to write was watching him peel, perfectly, a hardboiled egg for his lunch today. He only just turned two years old!
posted by sursumcorda on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 09:33 PM
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Category Everyday Life