That self-professed Catholic teenagers and young adults (such as certain Soompi members) are voicing their opposition to proposition 8 can still astound me. Apparently they do not know that their bishops are supporting proposition 8 and urging Catholics to vote accordingly, or if they do know, they do not care, choosing to be enlightened liberals instead. How many understand the gravity of sexual sin? Who will be called to account for their failure to think and believe as Catholics?



Epistula ad Romans 8

8-14-2006 - Following his 50th town hall meeting in Massac County. U.S. Senator Obama poses in front of the Superman Statue in downtown Metropolis, IL. known as the home of the DC Comics super hero.

An Obama victory appears to be certain. Perhaps it was inevitable, given all of the factors in his favor, but I can't help but think that the children are running the nursery. (Especially when it is not virtuous deliberation on the part of the voter, but liberal pride that has made such an election possible.) We'll see what the results are for the local elections in the morning, but seeing the cheering because of its historical 'importance' by certain bloggers (even those that didn't vote for him), and the comments left by Obama supporters is discouraging me from surfing the Internet even more.

The consolidation that produced the single national state in practice won't be reversed, and statism will be reinforced even more.

Let us see what happens with the economy in the next 12 months. Obama certainly isn't going to bring virtue back--only Christ can do that. But who really wants Christ in their lives? His demands are too onerous. What will happen with His Church?

Some have ridiculed the notion that Obama is the Antichrist. This is probably correct. But what indication is there that Obama will not be part of the master plan that will lead to the persecution of Christ's Church on Earth? (More from Mark Shea on Obama being an antichrist.)

Liber Apocalypsis Ioannis 16:5-7
Et audivi angelum aquarum dicentem: “ Iustus es, qui es et qui eras, Sanctus, quia haec iudicasti; quia sanguinem sanctorum et prophetarum fuderunt, et sanguinem eis dedisti bibere: digni sunt!”. Et audivi altare dicens: “ Etiam, Domine, Deus omnipotens, vera et iusta iudicia tua!”.

Mr. Shea links to this article by Fr. Rutler on Msgr. Benson's Lord of the World.

The new world religion would be a humanitarian compact based on pacifism, pantheism, and the eradication of poverty through redistribution of wealth. The one obstacle to this was Christianity, which Benson makes synonymous with Catholicism (both because of his own ecclesiology and his prediction of the collapse of Protestantism as a significant force).

St. Augustine Press has its own edition.

Crunchy Con: Gen. Barrow's lesson in dying

As the Marine manpower chief in 1976, General Barrow was instrumental in drafting reforms designed to end physical abuse and harassment of recruit trainees by drill instructors. The New York Times, quoting military officials, reported in 1979 that the training reforms, which included closer supervision by officers, had worked well.

At the time, the general said the corps would not ease the tough physical conditioning that was a hallmark of Marine boot camps. But he demanded that there be no more "excess stress" on recruits, including "nose-to-nose yelling" by drill sergeants.

So did the change in drilling and boot camp affect the quality of the soldiers that were produced? If not, then is yelling (and worse, profanity and abuse) at least necessary to replicate stressful conditions? This sort of drilling had been adopted in various police academies--a result of being influenced by the military, and having veterans serving as instructors? Was that a mistake? Does the old way of doing things serve only to promote a 2GW mindset? Or is it necessary in order to instill some form of obedience and motivation in the recruits? How did the Prussians and Germans handle boot camp?

Related links:
wiki
Leatherneck - Magazine of the Marines
Gen. Robert H. Barrow General Robert Barrow’s 41 years of service
Death of former Marine Commandant, Gen. Robert H. Barrow
MilitaryPhotos.net

Twitch: Behind the Scenes Video for Martial Arts film IP MAN

Twitch: Confirmed: Japanese GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 DVD Release Will Include English Subtitles!

Please pray for my grandfather, who is now in the ICU.

Dropped off the ballot at the Registrar of Voters. There were a lot of people going in to vote today. I missed the curbside dropoff, and brought it inside 1555 Berger. Did it make a difference for local elections? I hope so.

Today students were coming up to me and asking if I would be voting for Obama, and then telling me to vote for him. What combination of images or use of images (~ advertising) and beliefs led them to think that he was the better candidate?

I can't find a video or transcript of the Baldwin-Barr-Nadar debate; Dr. Fleming does not think much of Baldwin. Perhaps he does not present sufficient particulars on his website. I could have voted for Ron Paul instead, since he was a qualified write-in candidate. But it doesn't matter, neither is going to be president.

On All Saints' Day

On All Saints' Day

"We Feel the Attraction for Heaven Rekindle in Us"

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave Saturday, All Saints' Day, before praying the midday Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today we celebrate with great joy the feast of All Saints.

When one visits a botanical garden, he is impressed by the variety of plants and flowers, and spontaneously thinks of the fancy of a Creator who has made on earth a marvelous garden. An analogous sentiment washes over us when we consider the spectacle of sanctity: The world seems to be a "garden" where the Spirit of God has called forth with admirable imagination a multitude of men and women saints, of every age and social condition, of every language, people and culture. Each one is distinct from the others, with the uniqueness proper of the human person and of a particular spiritual charism. All of them have, though, the "seal" of Jesus (cf. Revelation 7:3), that is, the imprint of his love, witnessed by way of the cross. All are in a state of joy, in endless celebration, but, like Jesus, they have reached this goal by passing through fatigue and testing (cf. Revelation 7:14), each one confronting his own part in sacrifice so as to participate in the glory of the Resurrection.

The solemnity of All Saints was gradually affirmed over the course of the first Christian millennium as a collective celebration of the martyrs. Already in 609, in Rome, Pope Boniface IV had consecrated the Pantheon, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. This martyrdom, on the other hand, can be understood in a broad sense, that is, as love for Christ without reserves, love that is expressed in the total gift of oneself to God and to neighbor.

This spiritual goal, to which all the baptized are called, is reached by following the path of the Gospel beatitudes, which the liturgy proposes for us in the feast of today (cf. Matthew 5:1-12a). It is the same path traveled by Jesus, and which the saints have made an effort to travel, though aware of their human limitations. During their earthly lives, in fact, they have been poor of spirit, sorrowful for sin, humble, hungry and thirsty for justice, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers, persecuted for justice. And God has made them participants in his own happiness: They have foretasted it in this world, and in the world beyond, they enjoy it in plenitude. Now they are consoled, inheritors of the earth, satisfied, forgiven, they see God of whom they are children. In a word, "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (cf. Matthew 5:3-10).

On this day we feel the attraction for heaven rekindle in us. [It] moves us to quicken our step on this earthly pilgrimage. We feel burst into flame in our hearts the desire to unite ourselves forever with the family of the saints, of which already now we have the grace to form a part. As a popular spiritual hymn says: "When the saints come marching in, oh how I want to be in their number."

May this beautiful aspiration burn in all Christians and help them to overcome every difficulty, every fear, every tribulation. Let us place, dear friends, our hand in the maternal hand of Mary, Queen of the saints, and allow ourselves to be guided by her toward the heavenly homeland, in the company of the blessed spirits "of every nation, people and tongue" (Revelation 7:9). And let us unite ourselves already in prayer, remembering our dearly departed, who tomorrow we commemorate.

[Translation by ZENIT]

[After praying the Angelus, the Pope greeted the people in various languages. In English, he said:]

I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer. Today’s celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints invites us to rejoice in our communion with the Saints in heaven, to implore their intercession for the Church on earth, and to follow their footsteps in the way of holiness. May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints strengthen us in faith and fervent hope in the fulfillment of Christ’s promises. Upon you and your families I invoke the Lord’s richest blessings!

© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

I may be in Nashville for Christmas--it appears that the EF of the Roman rite is not celebrated there, though some priests were being trained to offer Mass in the EF. I just remembered Fr. Baker after seeing his face in one of the photos. Where does one go in Nashville to experience 'authentic' Southern culture?

The Nashville Dominicans are there, but I don't think I'd be visiting them...

Twitch: Trailers for Kinta

Is the movie in Cantonese for the sake of marketing? Because I think the number of Cantonese-speakers in Malaysia trails behind speakers of other dialects...

Sarge, la señorita morena flaca era en el oratorio esta mañana, con su madre (?). Ella me recuerda las Francesas flacas.

A brief report on i restaurant. I enjoyed the food a little bit more this time around (we didn't order anything spicy), but I still don't think the food is worth the price. Maybe it would be a nice place to go for a party--there were some teenage girls celebrating a sweet 16. (They didn't look 16, they looked 14, even though some of them were rather tall.) The karaoke machine was going, and they sang some songs in English; one girl attempted to sing a Boa song in English, and another sang a Japanese song (that some HK singer did a cover of, but I can't remember who...).

I forced myself to eat some of the bug (lobster), since to say no after being offered some would have been rude. The honey/black pepper beef steak was ok.

I had fun listening to the seniors talking. There were some interesting comments about the si tau po, too. My mother said that the women often complain about their husbands when they meet--what would Dr. Laura say about that. How much of the complaining is justified? As they are all rather old (and Catholic), I don't think a divorce is likely; do they say anything to their husbands? Is it just a way to release frustration? I'm not sure what to make of it, even though this kind of talk among women (and men too) is rather 'normal.' I'm not a big believer in complaining as a way to get rid of stress or frustration.

But being a charity case isn't great (my mother's friends wanted me to go to dinner), and I was thinking again of going back to the new plan, since I haven't accomplished much in 2 weeks. Working everyday doesn't help, since teaching is tiring, and even though there isn't that much thinking involved, when the day is over, I am not in the shape to think or write.

Korea Times: Sungnyemun to be Rebuilt by 2013.

Cal Catholic Daily: "Blessed over the bones of St. Peter"

The cornerstone for the new chapel at Thomas Aquinas College. Apparently Fr. Cornelius Buckley, S.J. is now a chaplain at the college. "Very good!"

There were some prop. 8 opponents on the corner of De Anza and Stevens Creek, the one next to Le Boulanger. They were out there for a while, during rainy conditions, but by the time I left Armadillo Willy's most were gone. I think one of them may have taken one of the Yes on 8 signs that had been there as well.


After watching the last episode of Kitchen Nightmares, I don't think the hamburgers at AW are worth getting--they're not freshly made from ground beef, just already processed burger patties. I did enjoy drinking water with lemon though. I should buy lemons, but I'd probably end up not using them frequently enough. Next time I'm at the grocery store, I should see how much lemons are...


I'm going to dinner at i Restaurant @ 6--we'll see if the second time is better. Mrs. Chan liked the restaurant a lot... she couldn't understand my mother's opinion of the restaurant.

Reuters: Queen draws ire over gay marriage comment

Is the Queen of Spain more traditional than her husband? If she were king, would she have done anything different?

Link:
Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de España

Zenit: Holy See on Economic Crisis

"The Real Crisis Does Not Appear to Be Merely Financial"

No statement on usury. But there is this observation:

A third, and perhaps even more basic, observation has to do with the general public and its choice of values and lifestyles. A lifestyle, and even more an economic model, solely based on increased and uncontrolled consumption and not on savings and the creation of productive capital, is economically unsustainable. It also becomes unsustainable from the standpoint of concern for the environment and, above all, of human dignity itself, since the irresponsible consumer renounces his own dignity as a rational creature and also offends the dignity of others.

An explanation of what government is:

Government is the exercise of the virtue of prudence in the enactment of legislative and executive measures capable of directing social activity towards the common good. The principle of subsidiarity requires that governments and large international agencies ensure solidarity on the national and global levels and between generations.

Another Valkyrie trailer (via AICN). Also, Angels and Demons trailer online (also via AICN). More garbage from Ron Howard?

The Unborn trailer @ Apple. If it's any good, maybe I'll take mom...

Quantum of Solace stills

Lew Rockwell interviews Naomi Wolf. Via LRC blog.

Edit: I was thinking of Naomi Klein when I typed the above. I've made the correction....

Gordon Ramsay in South Bend, IN

Catch the latest episode of Kitchen Nightmares. I don't know what to think of the pseudo-confessions in Christ the King Church. Over-dramatic and perhaps disrespectful of the church, and not probably something you would see in the UK BBC version. The editing for the Fox version is really starting to annoy me, and its repetitive--you can predict what will be shown and said for each episode. Chef Ramsay makes plenty of comments for the BBC version, but you don't get that here.

Related links:
J Willy's BBQ House
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay helps revamp South Bend restaurant
South Bend Tribune: j willy's Kitchen Nightmare
HOME OF BBQ: Interviews: Rick Sutton - Kitchen Nightmares & Gordon Ramsay

Dr. Ignacy Nowopolski, Is the Global Economy a Mistake? an Interview with Paul Craig Roberts

Richard Armitage has gotten older

since North and South and it shows, in this promotion still at least... he is now a member of the cast of Spooks.

*Spoiler warning* He replaces Rupert Penry-Jones, as Adam Carter dies in the season 7 premiere. Haven't watched the episode yet. RPJ had already said that this season would be his last on the show--I don't think his fans were expecting him to leave so early in the season.

Related links:
Foolish Passion—a North & South fan site
Richard Armitage Online
thearmitagearmy.co.uk :: Fan Site for the Actor Richard Armitage ...

John Schwenkler, If at first you don’t secede…

Donald Livingston, an Emory University philosopher who has been similarly maligned over his distaste for Lincoln, suggests that the roots of America’s conflicted understandings of secession and states’ rights run deep. According to Livingston, who is at work on a book-length philosophical treatment of secession, present-day Americans are the inheritors of two “incommensurable Americanisms.” On the one hand, there is the Jeffersonian model of political order, which locates sovereignty in the small scale and thus treats secession as “a lawful act of a natural political society.” In contrast, the Lincolnian conception regards America as one nation indivisible—a “perpetual” and “indissoluble union,” in the language of Texas v. White —in which case “secession then would be revolution; it would be incompatible with government as such.” It was the dominance of the Jeffersonian conception that explains the success of the early split-state movements listed by Sale, while the rise of the Lincolnian one led to the crushing of the Confederacy and dearth of later secessionist movement.

The Jeffersonian view, Livingston notes, is similar in many important ways to the theory of human society put forward in Aristotle’s Politics. Aristotle not only holds that man is a “political animal”—that is, a creature suited to life in a polis, or city-state—but also claims that there are natural limits to the extent of a polis: “the best limit of the population of a state,” as he puts it, “is the largest number which suffices for the purposes of life, and can be taken in at a single view.” And what exactly is this number? Livingston points to Athens, Venice, and Florence, each of which had populations in the tens of thousands, as political communities large enough to have attained the Aristotelian values of “life and high culture.”

The Deliberate Agrarian visits the homes of some of the American "Founding Fathers"--
Visiting Mount Vernon
George Washington The Farmer (Part 1)
George Washington The Farmer (Part 2)
Visiting Madison’s Montpelier & The Big Woods
Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Part 1)
Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Part 2)
The Story of Thomas Jefferson’s Personal Debt
Thomas Jefferson on Government Debt (Then & Now)

Rod Dreher: Wendell Berry's time is now

via Crunchy Con.

Wendell Berry fundraiser for Tree Foundation a huge success