During the holidays everyone needs a break from studying for exams and Christmas shopping. I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ.

My grandson sees me as Lois on TV every Christmas and that scores me points.

I see a wiser person than when I was younger: having babies and passing 30 were the turning points. What women in their 40s - I am 39 - lack in gorgeousness they make up for in wisdom. I love ageing despite the drawbacks - thinner drier skin.

What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to political leaders. It's all part of the suffocating spin cycle we're in. In media politics and publishing the conventional wisdom is to play to this base.

Perspective is worth 80 IQ points.

Justice and truth are too such subtle points that our tools are too blunt to touch them accurately.

You'd think experienced political professionals would know better than to place their trust in exit polls notoriously inaccurate surveys that had John Kerry winning the 2004 election by five points when he actually lost by three.

As a child I sometimes used to travel to the West Bank to visit my family so I know what the checkpoints felt like. I knew what it was like to live under occupation.

I like ice hockey but it's a frustrating game to watch. It's hard to keep your eyes on both the puck and the players and too much time passes between scoring in hockey. There are usually more fights than there are points.

It is in Virginia and Georgia that the war now rages and where it will continue for at these points - Richmond and Atlanta - the enemy's main strength is concentrated.