media and crime

As in, how media covers crime, affects it, changes it through the description? And in "media" you don't mean any work of fiction, or do you?

democracy and a culture of fear

Um, I listen to the news. That's as far as I can go with that one.

institutional overload and crime

I don't even know what an "institutional overload" is. Also, it's lucky you don't have to write a paper on "democracy and crime", IMHO. Too messy.

illustrations and dante.

I pretty much only know that there was a person named Dante, and that he wrote something about hell(s?). Have no idea what illustrations have to do with it. Unless you have to look at things that I was supposed to illustrate, which is its own kind of special hell.

So, does any of that seem helpful at all to you? Only questions, with no actual ability to answer any of them, let alone in writing in an orderly fashion. Oh, well.

We roasted pears for a salad with gorgonzola and walnuts--yum. Plus I just pulled a potato-portobello gratin out of the oven. The BF has taken Layla to the dog park and then we dress up and go off to a 3:00 meal with some friends. We will be home early enough to watch lots of Deadwood.

Sounds fascinating, Kat. If also like a lot of work.

Gotta go.

I love reading the holiday fun descriptions of everybody! I may even have to catch up instead of skip, that's how much fun it is to read them. So, please, do continue!

Not going to do holiday stuff till later. But I've had two cold blooded jelly donuts already and have Rev.Al Green on the stereo, so life is fairly good. Jelly donuts always make me think of Giles. Who could complain about that?

Bartleby is still recovering from his oral surgery...so no turkey for him today. The hosts of the party we are going to are dying to feed him things he shouldn't have...so ima keep him home until dessert is served.

I made two cranberry sauces...one with tangerine/ginger/pecans and the other plain with maple and vanilla. The host is a Cordon Bleu trained chef...I just hope the cranberry sauce can keep up.

The best part of the day, so far, has been the calls from far flung friends and clients, expressing good wishes. I feel so rich. So warm, despite the chill in the air. So blessed...in pretty much every way.

I give thanks for this fun, informative place. Cheers to you all.

erika, it is fascinating.

In short order:

domestic violence and politics has to do with how families and familial privacy effect the enforcement of domesic violence laws.

media coverage of crime distorts our sense of crime and actually increases a sense of terror, misplaced, around crime.

institutional overload has to do with how mandatory sentences overtax the system.

oh man. Allyson + ita + Polgara playing Trivial Pursuit is a Very Bad Thing.

Allyson + ita + Polgara playing Trivial Pursuit is a Very Bad Thing.

Kat not playing Trivial Pursuit is pretty scary too, for the record.

Neville Chamberlain is always the answer, Tom. Didn't you know?

God, TP with Buffistas would be great. At one point I was forbidden from playing because I was too competitive (and good at it, except for the sports questions).

So I was productive last night, and here is the fruit of my labor: [link]

This morning the whole family went for a run in the woods on the high school cross-country course, which required two loops on a very steep hilly route. Still, it was good because now? I can eat two pieces of pie! And have gravy!

mmm, gravy.

Laura, thank you: I miss y'all too. And it's not that I can't follow along as much (reading Natter on threadsuck doesn't actually take me all that long), but I'm not part of the experience anymore. Bah.

I hope everyone's having a lovely time in Catalina and elsewhere. I'm poking about online and watching vids before going back to my sister's house to help peel turnips and stuff. Seems strange, having a Thanksgiving dinner with only 5 people at it.