It's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd check in and let everyone know I'm doing fine. It's been a very busy semester, much busier than I thought it would be here, but having a 6th class (the normal is 5 and that's what I'll have in the spring) has been taxing. Since we didn't start classes until the middle of September, the semester won't end until January 12. We have no days off for Christmas or New Year's. The Chinese don't do Christmas, of course, at least as a holiday, but I was at Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago, and there were Christmas decorations everywhere. The only place on campus that's decorated is our building, and the Chinese are politically incorrect. It's "Merry Christmas," not "Happy Holidays." I don't imagine the Chinese care what Americans think, but I'm glad that they know what the holiday is.
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There really hasn't been a whole lot I've wanted to comment on anyway. In sports, the Astros new GM made his first move--he traded the team's best reliever for a shortstop who can't stay off the disabled list and a young, unproven pitcher who apparently doesn't have a lot of upside. Jed Lowrie, the shortstop, has some potential, but he has to stay healthy. We'll just have to wait and see if it's a good deal or not. The Cowboys, after a few good weeks, have lapsed back into the mediocrity that best describes their team. The losses the last two weeks were inexcusable. I wish they would get Bill Cowher as head coach. He'd light a fire under them, if anybody could.
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On the political front, Newt Gingrich keeps hanging in against attacks from everywhere. Even the "conservative" media is bashing him, trying to destroy him (does National Review really prefer Mitt Romney?). Newt's a loose cannon, there's no doubt about that, but he's better than Romney, and he's light years ahead of Obama. I wish Rick Santorum would bust out of the pack. He's the best of the bunch; well, he and Michelle Bachmann. But, for some reason, neither of them are getting much attention from voters. I still think Romney will be the nominee, but Newt might steal it. "Conventional wisdom" is that Newt can't beat Obama, but "conventional wisdom"--i.e., Washington establishment politcs--is not always right. At the moment, anything could happen. Obama is certainly vulnerable, but as the Democrats make more and more people dependent on government, it's going to be harder and harder for a decent candidate to win. And don't forget that there are many people who will vote for Obama because of their hatred of Christianity. Don't ever underestimate that feeling among many people.
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The Tim Tebow story is worth commenting on. I haven't seen him play, and from what I can gather, he's not really a very good quarterback. Of course, this is his first year as a starter, so he needs some time to develop. All he does is win. He's getting attention, of course, because he's a decent kid who makes no bones about his faith in Jesus. Because of that the media hates his guts, and have been tearing him down incessantly, hoping he loses, or better yet, that they'll find him in bed with another man. Jesus, naturally, had it exactly right: "Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:19). Again, Tebow is not a great quarterback--at least not statistically--but he's not the worst in the league, either. But you never hear about any other lousy quarterbacks. Tim Tebow makes liberalism look bad, because he is living proof that people can be decent, respectful, and live by a high moral standard. And if people do that...they don't need liberalism. Liberalism needs scum to survive, so it exalts it, supports it, and perpetuates it. And tries to destroy anything, and anybody, who is decent. Hang in there, Tim.