Saturday, April 18, 2009
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.
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)
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)
Edit. Patrick Deneen, member of the faculty @ Georgetown: Photo Op
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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.

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.
Monday, April 13, 2009
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!
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.
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)
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.
Rev. Sam Norton, Diocese of Worcester (UK) (via EB)
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
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.
One for the "You think? Shouldn't this be obvious?" category.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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
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
A women's MMA fight is called a sham after a 12-hour long weigh-in debacle.
Papal homilies for Easter
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
Christ is risen, alleluia!
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