The Distributist Review: Final Details for "Catholicism and Economics" Debate

Brussels Journal: The West’s Cultural Continuity: Aristotle at Mont Saint-Michel

The Transition Town Movement: Embracing Reality and Resilience, by Carolyn Baker

(original)

Fr. Z responds to a question about how to shore up one's spiritual life--QUAERITUR: “flee to orthodoxy”.

Cardinal Biffi versus ‘A Mysterious Cabal of Maniacs’

Unfortunately I don't think his books will be translated into English--publishers probably do not think the book would make money, even publishers like Ignatius Press.

via Stephen Hand (see Mr. Hand's post for some excerpts from the cardinal's memoirs)

Sandro Magister, In Gaza, the Vatican Raises the White Flag

Hamas denies Israel's right to exist. But for pontifical diplomacy, the Jewish state is wrong to defend itself with force. The custodian of the Holy Land reveals the thinking behind the Church's policy in the Middle East

Twitch: 2009: Year of the Chick Fight! First Proper Trailer For Xiong Xin Xin’s COWEB!

Looks like the genre is making a small comeback. Did Kill Bill 1 & 2 mark the peak of the girl power trend in the U.S.? (Movie fans would probably complain if it turned out to be Charlie's Angels.) Recently, there haven't been many American films with women fighters. Million Dollar Baby was released 4 years ago. (The same year as Kill Bill 2.) There have been a couple of movies with female protagonists shooting guns... women are participating in 'reality-based fighting' contests? But is it even more degrading than women's boxing?

Modern fantasy and wuxia novels are not short on women characters who are the equal of men in their fighting abilities. At least some are written by feminists. (What sort of views about women do wuxia novelists like Jin Yong hold?) In wuxia novels at least, recourse must be made to a mostly imaginary entity (qi) to explain the parity. (Even if training in qi and martial arts is required, qi is the ultimate material cause which makes the parity possible in the first place, and it enables adepts to overcome the limits of their muscles and bodies.) Some distinctions can be made in fantasy novels, I suppose--not all authors create heroines who are primarily
sword-fighters; some still make distinctions through the weapons they use.

I do recall that some teenage girls have sued for the right to be on wrestling teams. What do their stories reveal about the ability of women to grapple successfully with men their same weight?


As for the movie-watching audience... there are those males (especially nerds) who prize a strong female who can kick butt, while for others such movies are just entertainment that has no bearing on the real world. Movies with women fighters have been popular in Hong Kong for a while--going back not only to the action of the movies of the 80s (Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, and a bunch of others) but to the wuxia adaptations and kung fu movies of the late 60s and 70s. Some fans may be weak males who need a woman to take charge of their lives. For others it is a real turn-on, and one wonders if there is not some misogyny behind it. Or at least a failure to appreciate and accept limits in nature--I think most of them would not want a woman who is exactly the same as a man in all respects except for her body. A woman who is an equal in her physical abilities, but at the same time still feminine in many respects, especially in how she relates to men, is likely the ideal for them.

One would think that in Hong Kong the rise in feminist ideals is due more to influences other than action movies (and there are plenty of other movies and dramas which put forth some modified version of modern feminism), but did girl power movies have an influence on the young and impressionable in Hong Kong as well? Here in the United States such movies did not precede the feminist movement, but followed and capitalized upon its success in shaping the attitudes of succeeding generations.

It is one thing to prepare women defend the home as a last resort (as in samurai culture) and thereby react to agression--it's another to teach them how to be aggressive and to wage war. (Is it possible to expect them to take 'the lead' in such matters and yet still be willing to be led in others?)

Would the New Scot like this? Twitch: First Images From Albert Pyun’s SWORD AND THE SORCERER Sequel TALES OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE!

I don't have much to say about the current situation in Gaza. Will it turn out to be another debacle like Lebanon 2006? Does Israel still remember 3GW? (This provocation by Hamas seems to be another instance of 4GW at work.) How much of an advantage does the environment give to the defenders?

I was able to see and hold my nephew today. He is very quiet, and hardly cries...

Does the novel end in the same way that the TV adaptation does? Nope!

Seems like a kiss has to be added to the end of every adaptation, even if it isn't faithful to the times and customs. (At least the kiss at the end of P&P 95 was done after the wedding and not before.)

North and South: Project Gutenberg

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