Here’s one reason—as if people who’ve read my writings needed any more proof—that I’ll never be literary. In his interesting web article, Gerald Rusello quotes Jacques Barzun as saying, “the historian can only show, not prove; persuade, not convince.” I know other people get a lot out of a sentence like that; that, presumably, is why Russello quoted it. But when I read the sentence, I started wondering under what circumstances I might ever say, “Well, he showed it to me, but he didn’t prove it; I was persuaded, but not convinced.” Unsure when I—or indeed anyone—would ever say something like that, I’m left completely at sea.

InsideCatholic.com has a list of predictions for 2008. Rick Santorum bets that global-warming fever cools, and Ray Flynn calls the November contenders: Clinton vs. McCain.

My one prediction for the new year:

Oliver Stone will, in fact, be kidnapped in Colombia. This act of terrorism will soon deteriorate into a “Ransom of Red Chief” deal, with Colombian guerrillas offering the U.S. cash and drugs to take the director back, thus sparing them more conspiracy theories about Smoot-Hawley and its long-term effect on the box office for Alexander. The president will go soft after watching World Trade Center and accept the offer. A dispute will arise over shipping costs.

A deeply Christian town has waylaid the Antichrist and postponed the Apocalypse by ditching its area code.

“In God We Trust” now has a prominent place on money no one uses.

Malaysia has issued a permit allowing Christians and Muslims to share Allah. (Unclear what fees are involved.)

And the British government wants little boys to play with guns. (This has nothing to do with religion, but it was just too good to let pass. Tonsure twirl to Instapundit.)