Finally, the TNG special episode of Family Guy is on Hulu. Didn't know the other part of the episode mocks evangelical Christianity and actually is irreverent towards Christ... it figures.

WSJ: Canada Issues a Wake-Up Call: You May Be a Citizen

On Sex Addiction
By Dr. SUSAN BLOCK

Why is it so tough to leave a jerk? Because being in love is like being on drugs. Hard drugs. True love, or even deluded love, is a natural high far finer and smoother than anything you could inject, smoke, snort, drink or swallow. Of course, love isn’t something you can pick up at the pharmacy or even on the black market. You can’t really even “find love.” Love finds you. It strikes you like a mystical gift from God, an arrow from Eros, or a practical joke from tricky, fickle old hot Mama Nature, the Original Drug Dealer.

The first Love Drug Stew that Mama stirs up is a fricassee of powerful chemicals: dopamine, norepinephrine, phenylethylamine (PEA) and other natural cousins of amphetamines, stimulants and painkillers that flow through your bloodstream and permeate your cells, creating a place within you where hormones meet holiness, angels dance, and the city never sleeps. This “hot love” eventually dies down, leading many to wonder: Where has the love gone? But often, the sizzling heat gives way to “warm love,” when opiate-like endorphins and sweet-feeling oxytocin flow in, sensitizing your nerves, stimulating muscle contraction, enhancing orgasm and making cuddling feel absolutely divine, bringing on that nice, warm sense of well-being you get when you’re really comfortable with someone. The thing about Warm Love is that, unlike Hot Love, it can last forever. In fact, it’s quite habit-forming. This is why breaking up is so hard to do. Even when you know someone is wrong for you, and you should move on, it often feels like you can’t. Why? Because you’re chemically addicted. Oxytocin, when it’s got you hooked on the wrong partner, can be tougher to quit than heroin. Sometimes you need a therapist, a whole support group or just a really good friend to help you kick the habit.

Ah, it's that culprit oxytocin again. The conflict between mind and body... women may wish for one thing with their mind, and yet their body yearns for something else.

Mark T. Mitchell, The Dismal Science vs. Community

Kevin Gutzman, The Book of Ruth and A Jeffersonian in Texas, or a Hot-Air Peddler?

The Distributist Review: Capitalist-Socialist-Distributist Conference

Some Advice for Distributists
John Michael Greer, The Archdruid Report
Among the implications of the implosion of the global economy over the last year is that the great quarrel of the Cold War years between capitalism and socialism was a contest between two dysfunctional and failure-prone systems. As peak oil becomes a fact of life, is it time to start looking for other options?

(original)

For Young Japanese, It’s Back to the Farm
Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times (via EB)

The peak oil crisis: sustainability
Tom Whipple, Falls Church News-Press

California Catholic Daily: Sad news for Catholic higher education
President of Thomas Aquinas College killed in car crash in Ireland

Rod Dreher: Matt Baglio, exorcist hunter. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist.

Related links:
MattBaglio.Com
The American In Italia: The American's Team
Matt Baglio Interview - Mar 23, 2009 « 100 Musical Footsteps
Coast to coast am Exorcism Matt Baglio 23rd March 2009 (Part 1)
Coast to coast am Exorcism Matt Baglio 23rd March 2009 (Part 2)

Rod Dreher: The gutless Georgetown Jesuits.

Edit. Patrick Deneen, member of the faculty @ Georgetown: Photo Op

Rod Dreher puts up several posts pertaining to Philip Blond: Radical Orthodoxy and Philip Blond's reform conservatism.

Mike Whitney, A Bulletin From the Captain of the Titantic

NLM: Colloquium with László Dobszay

Clyde Wilson, Politics and Economics in America

Thomas Jefferson has left us an account of a supper-table conversation in the very earliest days of the U.S. government. Vice President John Adams (who was intended by nature for a preacher) declaimed at length about the virtues of the British government, which, he said, if purged of its corruption, would be perfection. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (a canny immigrant bastard with a Napoleon complex) differed sharply. It was its corruption, he avowed, that gave the British government its great stability and power. Add in Jefferson’s views, which agreed with neither, and you anticipate almost the whole history of American political economy.

I remember after I had informed my spiritual director of my intention to leave the seminary, and he had passed this on up, I had a meeting with the rector, Fr. V. He asked me what my plans were, which were undoubtedly vague, and he advised me to "Go out and date." Perhaps there was more to his advice than I originally thought. If dating had been a priority, it might have given me more direction in my life, and the opportunity to confront certain issues... although it is true that without my education since then I would not have learned about localism and "everyday morality." I still would have needed to find something to do, but I wouldn't have spent 10 years going down a road that seems to lead to a dead-end.

Faith of Our Fathers, by Kevin R. C. Gutzman

Were the Founders “Post-Christian”?

Mike Whitney, Why is Goldman Sachs So Scared of Mike Morgan?

Fr. Z: Some photos from D. Shanghai - Chrism Mass

Crunchy Con: A.N. Wilson--I am once again a Christian

But there is more to it than that. My belief has come about in large measure because of the lives and examples of people I have known - not the famous, not saints, but friends and relations who have lived, and faced death, in the light of the Resurrection story, or in the quiet acceptance that they have a future after they die.

AICN: Interesting Details Of 24’s Eighth Season!!

Urbi Et Orbi Message, Easter 2009 (via The American Papist)

Sandro Magister: Pope Ratzinger's manifesto: "In this way the transformation of the world can begin to take place"

NLM: Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions of Pius XII: Part 7 - The Vigil of Pentecost and the Holy Week Readings

NLM: President of Thomas Aquinas College Dies in Fatal Accident

Requiescat in pace.

From TAC:

On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, Dr. Thomas E. Dillon, the president of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, was killed in an automobile accident in Ireland, where he was traveling with his wife, Terri, on behalf of the college. Mrs. Dillon was only slightly injured and is hospitalized for the time being. Family members and a representative of the College are en route to Ireland to bring Mrs. Dillon back to California and to accompany Dr. Dillon’s body.

A rosary was said and Mass offered for the repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul at 3:00 p.m. today in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Information concerning funeral arrangements will be posted at a later time.

Please pray for the happy repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul, and for the consolation of his family.

Off to Boston to pick up some things and maybe see some old friends... be back Friday or Saturday.

Crunchy Con: Kulakov, God and science

Enough Is Enough: Let The Tax Revolts Begin

Michael Shedlock, Enough Is Enough: Let The Tax Revolts Begin -- he cites the OC Register: Editorial: Is this Prop. 13 all over again?.

Proposition 13. What is Proposition 13? (pdf). Wiki. Cato Institute: Proposition 13 Then, Now and Forever. Proposition 13: Love it or Hate it, its Roots Go Deep.

Tax revolt in California? Sign me up!

Pathways to community collapse: can we intervene?
Kathy McMahon, Peak Oil Blues
In the early stages of distress, appeals to the "common good" or "cooperative engagement" may be met warmly and enthusiastically by townspeople. However, there are predictable changes as hardship, deprivation and even violence escalates, which impacts on this spirit of altruism.

Steve Andrews, ASPO-USA, Interview with Matt Simmons, Part 1 and Interview with Matt Simmons, Part 2

Formulating a future: the case for anti-modernism (part 1)
Sharon Astyk, Casaubon's Book
It is this that my readership has in common - anti-modernism, a fundamental skepticism that economic growth, more energy, more technology, more shiny things, minor economic social change and other incremental variations on the same basic themes can resolve the deeper problems.
(original)

Scott Richert, Everything in its Place

Mr. Richert gives the common understanding of subsidiarity, and use it to defend American federalism. I've expressed my doubts before about whether the principle of subsidiarity actually applies to the American federal system (or any true federal system or arrangement, for that matter). The authority proper to the perfect community (the civitas) is certainly greater than that of the authority of the father within his family, but it should not take away from the execution of his duties.

Since vocal Catholic “defenders” of subsidiarity make such arguments, it is not surprising that another common misconception, especially among those who are skeptical of the influence of the Catholic Church on politics, is that (in the recent words of one European journalist) subsidiarity means “that the power rests at the top . . . but the power at the top will let some of it trickle down as it sees fit.”

What is needed is a more careful exposition of what authority is, and what the limits are.

"Let us be Human" - a Christian response to Peak Oil (PDF)
Rev. Sam Norton, Diocese of Worcester (UK) (via EB)

JournalStar.com: OLGS video talking about chant (via NLM). You can hear Fr. Joe Portzer on the video.

and... Cardinal Zen's Last Mass as Ordinary of Hong Kong.

Related links:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
FSSP - Vocations - The Seminary of Denton
Vocations Scotland and Ireland

Zenit: Pontiff: Church Will Never Sink
Reflects on Symbolism of Easter Vigil

Peter Hitchens, The week that proved we have forgotten every lesson of Easter

Someone posted this comment at a certain blog:

Don’t know where the fatherhood discussion has gone or if it’s been dropped, but I wanted to say that there are ways of carrying an infant that are characteristic of men, and thus “manly” in appearance to me. Here’s a partial list:

1) The crook-hang: infant rests/dangles in crook of one arm. Women can do this too but because our arms are smaller and weaker the baby doesn’t feel as secure and may cry. So the look of this method says Man to me.

2) The forearm-sling: infant lies belly-down on father’s forearm. Sucking his forefinger is optional. Again, women can do this too but it’s not as comfortable for the baby, and we can’t do it for as long. The method is thus Manly, and is also great for helping baby to burp.

3) The neck-curl: infant curls up between father’s shoulder and neck, held in place by one hand. Women rarely attempt this one.

4) The bum-in-hand: Infant old enough to hold head up sits on father’s hand and is carried around everywhere that way. Very hard for women.

So, men, if you want to carry a baby around and look masculine, try one of these methods.

p.s. A baby carried by a man who is obviously (by his clothes, demeanour, etc.,) a bachelor, is a girl-magnet. Even better than a cute puppy. Pretty young women will flock around you. Call your married and parented sisters, brothers, or friends and ask if you can babysit. You’ll see what I mean.

BMI Not an An Accurate Obesity Measurement (via Steve Sailer)

One for the "You think? Shouldn't this be obvious?" category.

Sara & Sean Watkins - Kossuth House Concert, April 2008

Piero Marini and others, La nuova icona acheropita di Cristo Salvatore per la liturgia papale nella domenica di Pasqua

Tonight Mr. and Mrs. C invited my mother and me to Trend Restaurant on Moffett Boulevard, which replaced a Cantonese restuarant there, Wynns. It specializes in Sichuan cuisine. The restaurant was actually quite good, better than Wynns. Unfortunately tonight only one person was working in the kitchen so customers were waiting a while for their food. Only two waiters, but I think they did a good enough job. There was a lamb dish that was nice, and the Mongolian beef dish was very good. The meat was very soft. Mrs. C and my mom thought they had used baking soda. It's good enough that I would take a date there, if she didn't mind the wait.

They do have spicy salt pork, so KK can try the restaurant some time with her husband (and nephew)...

Szechuan cuisine
Sichuan Cuisine
Discovering Sichuan Cuisine in China: Five Sichuan Dishes to Look For
sichuan gourmet tour, sichuan cooking tour
Chinese Eight Cuisines–Sichuan Cuisine
Sichuan Cuisine - China culture
Sichuan Cuisine - What to Order in a Sichuan Restaurant - Sichuan Food

BBC3: Composers of the Year - Handel. The week-long special programming began last Thursday. One highlight: Performance on 3 - Messiah live from Westminster Abbey.

Home - Westminster Abbey
The Choir of Westminster Abbey - Westminster Abbey
James O'Donnell - Westminster Abbey
Hyperion Records James O'Donnell (conductor)
Westminster Abbey Choir/ O'Donnell, Westminster Abbey, London

Also, being broadcast through 2009 is Afternoon on 3 - Handel Opera Cycle. "Every Thursday at 2pm, Afternoon on 3 presents a performance in the complete cycle of Handel’s operas."




George Frideric Handel
Handel - Händel - Haendel - Hendel
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
HOASM: George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)
George Frideric Handel: his story from Germany to England
How Handel played the markets
How misery inspired Handel's Messiah

Yahoo! Sports: Big fight controversy
A women's MMA fight is called a sham after a 12-hour long weigh-in debacle.

Easter Vigil Mass, Saint Francis de Sales Oratory Lauds

St Francis De Sales
St. Francis de Sales Oratory § St. Louis Latin Mass

Papal homilies for Easter

From Zenit:
Benedict XVI's Easter Vigil Homily
"The Church Sings the Song of Thanksgiving of the Saved"

Pope's Homily for Easter Sunday
Christ "Is Our Hope, He Is the True Peace of the World"

Papal Message for Easter
"The Resurrection Is Not a Theory, but a Historical Reality"

The fundamental teachings of Christianity -- a reminder that to be a Christian is not merely following rules, but union with Christ.

NLM: Papal Easter Day Mass and Urbi et Orbi Blessing

Rod Dreher: Orthodox chant

Christ is risen, alleluia!

The Vigil Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas ended at about 1:35. (It started at 11.) Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P. was the celebrant. (He was also the celebrant for the Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies.) A very good spiritual high... following along in the missalette did help. No catechumans were baptized at this Mass.

Dr. Mahrt was playing the organ... it's always a pleasure to listen to Kerry McCarthy, and I appreciated Easter lauds very much. Now if only the parish could get beeswax candles... haha.

A lot to think about.

I'll be moving pop culture posts to a different blog, with the possible exception of youtube and music posts. I think I'll be moving reviews of TV shows and movies to that blog as well.

Christos Anesti!

source

CHRİSTOS ANESTİ ( Πέτρος Γαϊτάνος )


Alt: CHRİSTOS ANESTİ - ( Πέτρος Γαϊτάνος )

Christos Anesti (Resurrection) - Irene Papas & Vangelis


Christ is Risen - Hristos Anesti - Valaam