Headmistress at The Common Room talks about using book to teach character lessons. Of course, she uses an example from one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen.

“I think there are some important benefits to teaching our children through the use of literary examples from books rather than from real life, although, of course, both can be used with good success. . . . I think with books, I can warn my children against certain character types long before we actually meet any of them without encouraging a judgmental and critical spirit, and without exposing them to personal unhappiness in the process.”

Mental Multivitamin celebrates Shakespeare–great thoughts as usual.

JavaMom gave me a link to some free group reading guides on Alexander McCall Smith’s #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books. Thanks.

Time Traveller Convention at MIT on May 7, 2005, 10:00pm EDT, 2 hours past sunset (08 May 2005 02:00:00 UTC)
East Campus Courtyard, MIT
42:21:36.025°N, 71:05:16.332°W

“Time travelers from all eras could meet at a specific place at a specific time, and they could make as many repeat visits as they wanted. We are hosting the first and only Time Traveler Convention at MIT in two weeks, and WE NEED YOUR HELP!”

I want to go, but I really can’t possibly make it until I have fewer family responsibilities and time travel becomes affordable. Which is OK, I guess, because I can just go back in time then–whenever I can. See you there.

On a much more serious note, Dawn Eden links to an account of Terri Schiavo’s last hours by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. Very sad.