I've finally gotten around to watching North and South. I can see why it is a favorite among women.

'No Air' ~ North & South BBC ~ Richard Armitage


North & South - The Corrs Irresistible

Foolish Passion—a North & South fan site.

Boots and Bonnets

The Corrs-Irresistible


The Corrs - Give Me a Reason

A copy of Wodehouse's "Providence and the Butler" can supposedly be found here (pdf format). The Times Online links still do not work.

Allan Carlson, Learning From Conservative History: Main Trails . . . and Less-Traveled Paths (via the Western Confucian)

This is the text of the lecture that Dr. Carlson gave at Yale last November. Now if they would only post the lecture by Daniel Larison. (I think they will do so eventually, as they have already posted the texts for the lectures by Patrick Deneen and James Kalb. The link to the audio recording for Anthony Esolen's lecture can be found here.) Dr. Carlson's ending and summary:

Dismantling the Servile State, building a true Distributist property state, defending small communities of virtue from mega-systems, exposing within capitalism the corrupting influence of a culture of debt: these paths less-traveled may be of greater appeal to a future William F. Buckley and to the next American conservatism.

AICN: A New DOCTOR WHO Will Be Announced Saturday!! Will It Be Movie Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor??

Edit. BBC announcement. Who on earth is Matt Smith?

I was hoping they'd go for someone older, but instead they've picked the youngest Doctor ever. I And so we can expect more manic zaniness and worse, maybe even immaturity? I doubt Matt Smith has enough gravitas, despite being British.

In the photos I've seen so far, he reminds me of Conan O'Brien, because of his mass of hair and pale skin.

Met up with RHK and his girlfriend tonight for dinner. He said I might not see him again for another year. I hope not. Things at work are... not so good. "Witchhunt." We also talked a bit about my plans--I mentioned working for a non-profit, something "green" related to co-ops or farmers' markets (sustainability and localization issues) or maybe a PAC. Or Costco. They asked of course about teaching, and said that that's what seemed suitable, since I've been studying for more than 20 years. We'll see what happens. Alas, he sold his guns because his gf didn't like having them around in the house... but we talked about that for a bit, while his gf probably couldn't understand why we found the topic so fascinating.

Reminder: look up technical writing position at Marvell. His gf works there now, and they suggested that as a possibility... apparently they have a good benefits package (health care), and they offer 3 meals a day.

Unfortunately, the quality of the videos that have been uploaded so far has been pretty bad, but the performance by Wonder Girls at the 2008 KBS Entertainment Awards was fun to watch because of the audience participation--you can see some of the MCs for various variety shows 'dancing' along, plus some others. Haha ajushis!

AP: New Puerto Rico gov faces soaring crime, deficit

What do you make of this Sarge? Will this stop me from destiny? No! hahaha. Seriously though, what's going on in PR?

Related links:
Gobierno de Puerto Rico
Welcome to Puerto Rico!
Puerto Rico Government
Escape to Puerto Rico - Your Internet Guide to Puerto Rico


Miss Puerto Rico links
Miss Puerto Rico Unofficial Website
Miss Puerto Rico
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009
Miss Puerto Rico/Miss Universe Puerto Rico/Miss Puerto Rico
Miss Puerto Rico Gallery!

Mayra Matos
Pageant Universe: Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009 Mayra Matos
Mayra Matos, Miss Puerto Rico - Pixcetera.com
Photos - Mayra Matos
Mayra Matos - Miss Puerto Rico Unofficial Website
Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos - a set on Flickr
2 Girls 1 Blog
MISSOSOLOGY • View topic - MAYRA MATOS Y MARIEANN CRUZ PHOTO
Mayra Matos, en la portada de Metro Puerto Rico
wiki

"Isn't she too tall for you?"

You can watch this on Veoh: MISS PUERTO RICO UNIVERSE 2008 Veoh Video Network

YouTube - Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009- Mayra Matos Pérez

Related links:
Miss Universe Organization
NUESTRA BELLEZA
official home of miss belize, official site of miss belize
Miss Belize California
Miss Guatemala Universo
MissNicaragua.com - Website Oficial del Certamen Miss Nicaragua
Miss Universe Honduras 2008
index
Señorita Panamá - RPC TV
Señorita Panamá
Miss Panamá y Bellezas Universales (Foro Oficial)
Miss Peru
Miss Universe Chile
Miss Venezuela
Miss Brasil Oficial
MissEcuador.net - Inicio
Corporación Concurso Nacional de Belleza ®, Colombia
EL COLOMBIANO
YouTube - Miss Venezuela Universe 2008 Interview
YouTube - Miss Universe 2008 belongs to Miss Venezuela
Miss Argentina at Miss Universe 2008 Contest
The Global Miss Contest: Agustina Quinteros, Miss Argentina 2008
Contesera: Agustina Quinteros is Miss Argentina 2008
YouTube - Miss Paraguay Universe [Lourdes Arevalos]
YouTube - Uruguay
Promociones Gloria - Modelos Bolivianas

Patrick Deneen is "Moving On," but plans to blog weekly over at Culture 11.

Thomas Fleming, Oresteia V: The Eumenides–the Conclusion

Good piece on the transformation of justice in ancient Athens. (Who has the authority to punish? Can retributive justice/vengeance be achieved by private individuals acting in their own name or the name of their clan? Can a clan act in the name of the community?)

AICN: AICN Anime Presents It's New To Me... Tokusatsu - News of Evangelion, Fist of the North Star and More and EW’s Got New Images From 2009’s TERMINATOR, WATCHMEN, UP, PELHAM, YEAR ONE, LAND OF THE LOST, PUBLIC ENEMIES & More!! (which has the link to EW: Exclusive! First Look at 12 Big Movies Coming In 2009)

(AICN Anime - Yokaiden, Blade of the Immortal)

Twitch: Review of LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK

Does the movie justify a director's cut? Who knows. Has Sammi Cheng changed her way of speaking Cantonese?

Plus: some news about Chocolate-Taste The Fury! Taste It! and a Japanese movie, High Kick Girl-Quite Possibly The Most Aptly Titled Film Ever Now Has An Equally Apt Teaser.

NLM: Cardinal Castrillón and the Constantinian Order

Links:
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (official)
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George - Spiritual History
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George (official webpage of the United States delegation)
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland
THE SACRED MILITARY CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF SAINT GEORGE
The Knights of Christ's Mercy - The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
wiki

The Almanach de Chivalry , The International and Royal Council for European Orders of Chivalry and Honors
The Almanach de Chivalry , The Official Listing of Imperial and Royal European Orders of Chivalry

Benedict XVI on the Feast of the Holy Family

On the Feast of the Holy Family


"Family of Nazareth, Expert in Suffering, Give Peace to the World"



VATICAN CITY, JAN. 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address last Sunday, feast of the Holy Family, before and after the praying of the midday Angelus in St. Peter's Square. He gave the address in Spanish and Italian.

* * *

Dear brothers and sisters:

On this Sunday that follows the birth of the Lord, we celebrate with joy the Holy Family of Nazareth. The context is more than adequate, since Christmas is the feast of the family, par excellence. So many traditions and social customs demonstrate this, especially that of gathering together, in family, for the festive meals and the congratulations and the interchange of gifts. And, how can we not see that in these circumstances, the discontent and the sorrow caused by family strife is amplified?

Jesus wanted to be born and grow up in a human family; he wanted the Virgin Mary to be his mom and Joseph to fulfill the role of father. They raised and educated him with immense love. Jesus' family truly merits the title of "holy," since it is entirely focused on the desire of fulfilling the will of God, incarnated in the adorable presence of Jesus. In one sense it is a family like all others, and as such, it is a model of conjugal love, collaboration, sacrifice, confidence in divine providence, a spirit of work and solidarity. Certainly, it presents all these values that the family protects and promotes, contributing in a basic sense to form the fabric of every society.

At the same time, though, the family of Nazareth is unique, different from all others, because of its singular vocation, linked to the mission of the Son of God. Precisely because of its unique character, it presents to every family, and in the first place to Christian families, the horizon of God, the sweet and demanding priority of his will, the perspective of heaven, to which we are destined.

For all of this, today let us give thanks to God, like the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, who with such faith and willingness cooperated in the Lord's plan of salvation.

To express the beauty and the value of the family, today thousands of people have gathered in Madrid. To them, I want to address myself in Spanish:

I offer now a cordial greeting to the participants who are gathered in Madrid in this intimate gathering to pray for the family and to commit oneself to work in favor of the family with strength and hope. The family is certainly a grace from God, which reveals what he, himself, is: love. A love that is entirely gratuitous, that sustains fidelity without limits, even in the moments of difficulty or dejection.

These qualities are incarnated in an eminent way in the Holy Family, in which Jesus came to the world and grew and filled himself with wisdom, with the exquisite care of Mary and the faithful guardianship of St. Joseph.

Dear families, do not allow the love, openness to life, and the incomparable bonds that unite your homes to be spoiled. Ask this constantly of the Lord, pray together, so that your resolutions are enlightened by faith and extolled by divine grace in the path toward sanctity.

In this way, with the joy of your sharing everything in love, you will give to the world a beautiful testimony of how important the family is for the human being and for society. The Pope is at your side, praying especially to the Lord for those in each family who have greatest need of health, work, consolation and company. In this prayer of the Angelus, I entrust all of you to our Mother in heaven, the most holy Virgin Mary.

Dear brothers and sisters, speaking of the family, I cannot fail to recall that from the 14th to 18th of January, 2009, the 6th World Meeting of Families will take place in Mexico City. Let us pray starting now for this important ecclesial event and entrust to the Lord every family, especially those most tried by the difficulties of life and the wounds of misunderstanding and division. May the Redeemer, born in Bethlehem, give to all the serenity and the strength to walk united in the path of good.

[After praying the Angelus, the Pope continued:]

Dear brothers and sisters:

The Holy Land, which in these days of Christmas is in the center of the thoughts and the affections of the faithful of every part of the world, finds itself again jolted by an explosion of unparalleled violence. I am deeply bereaved for those who have died and the wounded, by the material damages, the suffering and the tears of the populations that are victims of this tragic chain of attacks and retaliation.

Jesus' homeland cannot continue to be witness of so much bloodshed, which continues endlessly! I implore an end to the violence, which must be condemned in every one of its manifestations, and the re-establishment of the truce in the Gaza Strip. I ask for a show of humanity and wisdom from all those who have responsibility in the situation. I implore the international community to do everything possible to help Israelis and Palestinians to get out of this dead-end street and to not resign themselves -- as I said a few days ago in the "urbi et orbi" message -- to the perverse logic of confrontation and violence, but rather to give priority to the path of dialogue and negotiation.

Let us entrust to Jesus, Prince of Peace, our fervent prayer for these intentions, and to him, to Mary and Joseph, let us implore: "Family of Nazareth, expert in suffering, give peace to the world." Give peace today above all to the Holy Land!

[Translation by ZENIT]

[The Holy Father then greeted the people in various languages. In English, he said:]

I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims at this Angelus. Today we recall how Mary and Joseph, after presenting Jesus in the temple, took the child to Nazareth and began their life as a family. May all families strive to imitate their faith, hope and charity, so as to bear greater witness to the singular importance of the "domestic church" for the life of the universal Church and for society. God bless you all!

© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

From Zenit: Pope's Christmas Address to Curia

A quick word about MC Skewer

Last night we had difficulty deciding on a restaurant. We ultimately decided to try MC Skewer (Yelp), which replaced a Todai. The restaurant just had its grand opening, and it turned out to be better than I expected, both the sushi and the churrasco. Will it be able to maintain its quality? (I would recommend staying away from the hot foods section--that tasted like the similar fare at Todai and wasn't really appetizing. The teriyaki chicken reminded me more of ham than chicken.) There was no imitation crab meat in the sushi, as far as I can tell. Sushi can be quite filling because of the rice, though--a money-maker for buffet operators?

Is the meat supposed to be so salty? I'm not sure if all that salt really enhanced the taste of the meat. MC Skewer does not feature the Brazilian salsa one would normally find at a churrascaria. There is some sort of oil with garlic instead.

$20 for dinner Monday to Thursday. Inexpensive for a Brazilian steakhouse.

Sarge visited a Brazillian BBQ this past week--was it Estância Churrascaria? Or Fogo de Chão?

2009 Celtic Colours"Acadien Roots" - D'Escousse


2009 Celtic Colours Festival - Ashley MacIsaac & Quinn Bachand


Ashley MacIsaac & Quinn Bachand - 2009 Vancouver Celticfest "MacDougall's Pride"


Ashley MacIsaac & Quinn Bachand Vancouver Celtic Fest (with Qristina Bachand & Alan Dionne)


Ashley MacIsaac
Quinn Bachand

Ashley MacIsaac & Buddy MacMaster opening for White Stripes


Buddy MacMaster, Dean of Cape Breton @ the Celtic Cafe

It's been a quiet day. I was going to try to tape the 59th NHK Red and White Song Battle, but the VCR appears to be dying. It chewed up one tape, and almost chewed up another. I stayed at my parents' home to watch about an hour of it before leaving. I think I might be able to watch the rest of it somehow. Nakama Yukie is one of the hosts for the show. Hamasaki Ayumi was the first pop singer to perform. I try to watch the yearly concert show (which is always on New Year's Eve) more for the enka than the JPop. I saw Godai Natsuko sing--I am hoping that Nagayama Yoko will also be present. Most of the JPop singers do not sing very well. But I was struck by the fact that there is nothing like it on American television any more. Jessica and Nick tried to do a variety show, but that didn't last long. There's no family-friendly music show on network TV. Is there no audience for it? Do Americans have a low appreciation of good music, relying instead upon their IPods and MP3 players for entertainment? If it were the case that such televised spectacles (and it is a spectacle, with all of the dancers and performers on the stage) were replaced by local forms of entertainment and popular participation in music, that would be progress and the loss of such shows would not be missed too much. But that is not what has happened here in the United States. Another indication of the decline in quality of American television and/or the American TV-viewing audience? (Too bad Hee Haw ended before I learned to appreciate country and bluegrass.)

There's a Japanese girl group called Pabo. I wonder if they know what the word means in Korean. (It's associated with Hello Project.)

I was watching Nakama Yukie's expressions, and her face and eyes are very expressive. She doesn't really do the annoying kawaii mannerisms and girly voice that many of the younger women (girls) have cultivated. But she is feminine. I'm just wondering if she wouldn't be annoying in her own way, with the constant changes in facial expressions. Perhaps that is done only as a part of her stage presence and announcing. (Although Japanese pop stars and performers are a bit better than American ones in the way they carry themselves in public and speak, eventually they put me in a bad mood. It's not really their fault, even if they represent both the good and bad of pop culture. Unless they are being really shallow and artificial when they talk.)

She wore a kimono at the start of the show, and then changed into a white dress.

Which reminds me, Kerry M. is in town and singing with the St. Ann Choir. Her voice is prominent and her singing skillful. I don't know if she is Catholic. I don't think I'll be able to attend First Vespers for the Solemnity of the Mother of God tonight (at 8 P.M.). Instead, I should be leaving shortly to meet with my sisters and their families for dinner. Is there rush hour traffic today?

Links:
official website: NHK紅白歌合戦
59th NHK Kohaku lineups - Vox
Pictures of Yukie Nakama - Stardock Alpha
Yukie Nakama - Japanese Idol
Barbara's Enka Site - Yoko Nagayama
Ayumi Hamasaki > Divine AYU
official site for Hee Haw

And then there's Lawrence Welk.
JB Funky's Lawrence Welk Page
Stars Of The Lawrence Welk Show

NLM: Rumour Watch: New Maestro of the Sistine Chapel for Lent?

The comments contain an interesting discussion of the English cathedral sound, the NAC, and Msgr Bartolucci.

See also Il Tempo Interviews Msgr. Guido Marini.

Patrick Deneen notes in his "The Future of Conservatism":

For many older conservatives especially, formed out of the great and admirable battle against communism during the Cold War, certain alien orthodoxies were introduced that were incompatible with the deepest stores and sources of conservatism. Conservatism became identified with a defense of classical liberalism, with libertarian and libertine economics, with an expansionist Wilsonian foreign policy; in response to the rise of “multi-culturalism” it articulated a defense of Enlightenment universalism (rather than a true defense of multiculturalism); to defend the role of religion in the public sphere it began speaking in the language of utilitarianism, pointing to the usefulness of religion for a liberal democratic order; to argue against Roe vs. Wade it adopted the language of RIGHTS, a theory that originated in a theory of self-ownership. Can there be any wonder that conservatism seems all but routed today, given how readily it curried favor by accommodating itself to the very corrosive modern orthodoxies of what it originally arose to combat?

Let us accept for the moment that rights can be introduced into law without an underpinning theory of self-ownership. Who were the most influential exponents of this particular account of rights?

Rights are a limit on certain positive laws, but law is prior to rights (both natural law, and some positive laws). How do we explain how this understanding of rights (which I believe accompanied most medieval theories of rights) was displaced in the United States by the belief that rights are prior to all positive law?

The problem isn't that conservatives have adopted rights language when they shouldn't have, because it is completely antithetical to their belifs. Rather, their opponents cannot be convinced of the humanity of the fetus, or of the rationale behind the prohibition against abortion. Appealing to the rights of the unborn is not enough; one must also address the erroneous foundation of rights (a radical notion of individual sovereignty) upon which their opponents base their objections (right to privacy, right over one's body, etc.).

There is also the erroneous liberal assumption concerning human reason, which is that truth can be discovered by anyone, so long as they are 'rational,' however this is defined (following certain rules). Therefore, if someone remains unconvinced by an argument, the fault lies with the argument, not with the subject. It discounts the role that appetite can play in swaying reason. Does this mean that anyone who disagrees with traditional morality has a bad will? No, but their disagreement should not be taken as a sign that the arguments presented in favor of traditional morality are not sound or 'reasonable.'

Someone posted this over at Soompi. WSJ: As if Things Weren't Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S. Apparently he's been saying this out loud for more than a month: Igor Panarin : US Will Break Into Six Parts (Russian Professor) and Russia Today: Features : Professor Igor Panarin: When America fell to pieces and Telegraph: US will collapse and break up, Russian analyst predicts. Did I see this posted at Energy Bulletin a while back? Or maybe it was LRC.

Economic collapse, the United States breaking up into 6 parts (this does sound familiar), and civil war. I think the professor is too pessimistic, and may have some bias, but we'll see what 2009 brings.

Related links:
Igor Panarin

Matthew Kelly

Last Sunday while I was at STA I found that someone had left a copy of Rediscovering Catholicism, by Matthew Kelly, on one of the back tables. I assume it was free for the taking, but I did not do so. I did take a look at it to see if it was the same Matthew Kelly who claimed to receive private revelations from God the Father more than 15 years ago. There certainly is a physical resemblance, and both were born in Australia. Research on the internet indicates that he is the one and the same.

A quick glance at the book's contents didn't reveal any obvious problems. It does appear to be a treatment of the message of Christianity and Catholic spirituality intended for a popular audience. (Regarding his private revelations, I remember 6 or 7 years ago reading something that listed various errors in the messages and thus claimed the revelations were false. There may be a copy of his book still at home somewhere, but I don't plan on looking into the matter in the near future.) If the basic and most important pastoral lesson that the Vatican II Council Fathers wanted to get across was the universal call to holiness (Lumen Gentium V), it was because many of the faithful were ignorant then of their vocation, and many are ignorant today. Hence there is a need for workers in the vineyard, those who can teach the Faith and explain how what we Catholics often take for granted, the sacramental system, bishops, and other gifts from Christ, lead to happiness [and salvation]. Books can be useful aids but they cannot replace human teachers.

Perhaps it can be said that with respect to the renewal of evangelization and catechesis, it is not a question of how to make Christianity 'new' or 'fresh' but of how to prepare others for the Gospel message so that they can see that the answer to their existential crises is Jesus Christ.

Is it justified to be suspicious of someone who feels called to preach the Gospel, but not in an already established role as a cleric or a religious who has been authorized to preach? (Was there not a problem with some lay people taking it upon themselves to preach during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance? Is my impression that many of them were associated with various [heretical] movements correct?) The laity do participate in the teaching mission of the Church, receiving authority from the bishop to act as catechists and so on. But it must be emphasized that they, and even religious who have been authorized to preach, are subject to some Church authority--if not to the local bishop then to the Roman Pontiff.

I would have to look at the book more carefully to decide if it would be worth recommending, but even if it is solidly orthodox, it doesn't seem to be the kind of book I would add to the library.

Apparently you can request a free copy of the book here. (You just need to pay for shipping.)

Photos: Patriarch Bartholomew I on Christmas

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I leads a Christmas mass at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008. Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded Christmas service to celebrate the feast of Nativity. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP/Murad Sezer)

Greek Orthodox ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (L) blesses believers during a Christmas mass in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at Fener Greek orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul December 25, 2008. (Reuters)


Greek Orthodox ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (L) blesses believers during a Christmas mass in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at Fener Greek orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul December 25, 2008. (Reuters)

Craziness from Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson on life and love

Is that how you feel about Chris now, that you still love him? “When I met Chris it was like nothing else. I had no question that I was going to have a kid with him. Every rule went out the window. We were telling each other we loved each other by the fourth day and I moved in within a week. I had no question that we were going to get married.”

Even though she’d already said she didn’t believe in monogamy? She shrugs. “I just had no question about him, and I still don’t. He’s a permanent fixture in my life, but I believe our love changed its form, it shifted. I don’t think we were meant to be married, but I think we were meant to have a child, and we have this amazing little boy together and therefore we’ll be together our entire lives. Whoever he ends up with, whoever I end up with, we’ll always be together.”

"Craziness" = advocating life without boundaries and reason.

She's in Bride Wars, and is one of the movie's producers. If the movie is trash, what does that say about her judgment as a producer?

Times: Hugh Jackman on Australia, marriage and religion

Times: What ho, Jeeves, they’ve found our ancestors (via LRC)

Wodehouse's short story, "Providence and the Butler," has been found and published in the Sunday Times Magazine. Plus: Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by PG Wodehouse. It was online? But apparently the link is dead, or it's been removed.

Other links:

P. G. Wodehouse Appreciation Page

Wodehouse - Alpha and Omega

P. G. Wodehouse - Free Online Library

The P G Wodehouse Society (UK)

PG Wodehouse Books

The Russian Wodehouse Society

The Genius of Wodehouse

wiki

Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Thinking About Wendell Berry's "In Distrust of Movements" by Tim O'Reilly, O'Reilly Radar

via EB

Sandro Magister, "Veni Creator Spiritus." For an Ecology of Man

And of man created male and female. In his pre-Christmas address to the Roman
curia, Benedict XVI contests the ideology of "gender." And he strikes a blow in
defense of the most contested of the encyclicals, "Humanae Vitae"

Links to the address can be found in this post.

Nakama Yukie is on the cover of the winter issue of one of the kimono magazines. (I can't remember the title, it's the thicker one, if anyone knows what I'm talking about.)


(仲間由紀恵)Nakama Yukie in 2008.10 Lotte キシリトールガム「天気予報篇」 CM 15s


皆藤愛子＜with仲間由紀恵＞　天気予報篇(08)メイキン


皆藤愛子＜with仲間由紀恵＞　天気予報篇(08)メイキングⅠJ☆flv

Daihatsu Move - 2008 (cm) - 3


S-map x S-map 2008.11.17 (1/4)


(2/4)


(3/4)


(4/4)


nakama yukie tetsuko's room(1/3)
nakama yukie tetsuko's room(2/3)
nakama yukie tetsuko's room(3/3)

nakama yukie osareizm(1/3)
nakama yukie osareizm(2/3)
nakama yukie osareizm(3/3)


nakama yukie we music(1/2)
nakama yukie we muisic(2/2)

[HD] [JAPAN TVCM 30sec] Shiseido - Tsubaki - RED ver


[HQ] [JAPAN TVCM 30sec] Shiseido - Tsubaki white ver.



Tokiwa Takako is in a new period drama. If I can find a clip of it, I'll post it.

VFR: In a personality contest between Sarah Palin and Caroline Kennedy, Palin wins.

The conservative suspicion of those who aspire to be politicians (much less leaders) is justified once again.

It would appear that the homily as a lesson on the scriptural readings given during the liturgy is not new, but a restoration of something old. (Is the restoration of this 'ancient' ideal of the homily actually given in the documents of Vatican II? I think it might be, but I'll have to check.) It may seem new to some since the Council of Trent (iirc) gave a set (cycle, actually) of topics to priests to preach on, and the link between the lesson and the scriptural reading could be very tenuous. Still, there is something to be said for the Tridentine practice today, when the laity is so poorly catechized. Does having a three-year cycle of readings make it even more difficult to combine the homily with a systematic presentation of lessons?

Dr. Laura took a question from a caller, who is Catholic but married a Southern Baptist woman. His wife did convert. His children visits his father-in-law every Summer, and he has been explaining his beliefs to them, particularly about salvation, asking about whether they have been "saved" or not. Can we work some apologetics into our catechesis for children? Respect for the teaching authority of the Church, and the importance of Tradition? As well as emphasizing the special position of the Apostles? Using the example of parents teaching their children, can we not thereby talk about a source of our belief, namely Apostolic Tradition and succession?

James Howard Kunstler's Forecast for 2009. (Archived at EB.)

Let's see how accurate he is this time.

Today I had a pair of AA batteries in my pants pocket--I don't know if the body heat started a reaction, or if they were shorted by being in contact with two pairs of keys (forming some sort of circuit?) They became so hot that I could not hold them for long, and dropped them on the grass. They continued to give off heat, so I was worried they might explode--I looked for some surface which would cool them down. The reaction did stop, after I isolated the two batteries in cool areas. Apparently about half of the charge had been discharged. I would like to know what the cause is so I can prevent this from happening again...

My sister the MD gave me a small vaccuum cleaner. Her family had already given one to the grandparents on each side of the family, and I had been thinking that such a tool would be handy for my room. Well, after she had heard about the state o fthe room and the ant problem she had decided to get me one as well, so I plan on using it this week. Thanks to everyone for all of their Christmas presents!