Monday, May 03, 2010
Sandro Magister, The Big "Wager." How to Remake the Legion from Scratch
Maciel's offenses. The system of power that covered up his disgraceful life. The Vatican authorities are making accusations. And dictating the agenda for reconstruction. With full powers entrusted to a cardinal delegated by the pope
It looks like First Things now requires a subscription for access to its archives. That's unfortunate; how is the magazine faring during the current economic downturn?
How close is the South Korean standing at attention to natural posture? I think the head is held up too high. Are there any other problems?
A South Korean soldier keeps watch northwards as he stands guard on the south side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, north of Seoul April 28, 2010, as a group of media people visit during a media tour organised by the U.S. Forces Korea. (Reuters/Daylife)
A South Korean soldier keeps watch northwards as he stands guard on the south side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, north of Seoul April 28, 2010, as a group of media people visit during a media tour organised by the U.S. Forces Korea. (Reuters/Daylife)
German Bundeswehr army soldiers and Belgian armed forces soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) take part in a briefing during a mission in Kunduz April 29, 2010. German and Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams destroyed ammunition recently discovered near the army camp. (Reuters/Daylife)
A German Bundeswehr army soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) keeps watch during a mission in Kunduz April 29, 2010. German and Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams destroyed ammunition recently discovered near the army camp. (Reuters/Daylife)
German Bundeswehr army soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) watch a controlled explosion of ammunition during a mission in Kunduz April 29, 2010. German and Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams destroyed ammunition recently discovered near the army camp. (Reuters/Daylife)
A German Bundeswehr army soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) aims his weapon as he monitors the area from a Fuchs armoured personnel carrier during a mission on the way to the German army camp in Toloqan, west of Kunduz, May 2, 2010. (Reuters/Daylife)
German Bundeswehr army soldiers of the 2nd armoured infantry battalion 122 monitor the area at a combat outpost called "Hill 431" during a mission in Chahar Dara district in the outskirts of Kunduz, May 1, 2010. (Reuters/Daylife)
German Bundeswehr army soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) gather in their recreation area inside the German army camp in Toloqan, west of Kunduz, May 2, 2010. (Reuters/Daylife)
A German Bundeswehr army soldier of the 2nd armoured infantry battalion 122 lights a cigarette of a fellow soldier before they leave for a mission in the German army camp in Kunduz, May 1, 2010. (Reuters/Daylife)
Korea Times: Kid monks: Children show various facial expressions after having their heads shaved during an event to give them the opportunity to experience a monk’s life ahead of Buddha’s Birthday at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, Monday. Buddha’s Birthday falls on May 21 this year. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Benedict XVI at the funeral of Cardinal Mayer
Pope Benedict XVI (C) arrives for the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Pope Benedict XVI (C) stands behind the coffin during the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Pope Benedict XVI (R) prays behind the coffin during the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Pope Benedict XVI (C) blesses the coffin during the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Pope Benedict XVI (R) prays during the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the coffin during the funerals of Bavarian Cardinal Augustin Mayer on May 3, 2010 at St Peter's basilica at The Vatican. Mayer, who was the oldest living cardinal died on April 30 at the age of 98. (Getty/Daylife)
Mike Whitney, The Subprime Conspiracy
The whole idea of a conspiracy diverts attention from what really happened. It conjures up a comical vision of top-hat business tycoons gathered in a smoke-filled room stealthily mapping out the country's future. It ignores the fact, that the main stakeholders don't need to convene a meeting to know what they want. They already know what they want; they want a process that helps them to maintain profitability even while the "real" economy remains stuck in the mud. Historian Robert Brenner has written extensively on this topic and dispels the mistaken view that the economy is "fundamentally strong". (in the words of former Treasury secretary Henry Paulson) Here's Brenner :
"The current crisis is more serious than the worst previous recession of the postwar period, between 1979 and 1982, and could conceivably come to rival the Great Depression, though there is no way of really knowing. Economic forecasters have underestimated how bad it is because they have over-estimated the strength of the real economy and failed to take into account the extent of its dependence upon a buildup of debt that relied on asset price bubbles.
“In the U.S., during the recent business cycle of the years 2001-2007, GDP growth was by far the slowest of the postwar epoch. There was no increase in private sector employment. The increase in plants and equipment was about a third of the previous, a postwar low. Real wages were basically flat. There was no increase in median family income for the first time since World War II. Economic growth was driven entirely by personal consumption and residential investment, made possible by easy credit and rising house prices. Economic performance was weak, even despite the enormous stimulus from the housing bubble and the Bush administration's huge federal deficits. Housing by itself accounted for almost one-third of the growth of GDP and close to half of the increase in employment in the years 2001-2005. It was, therefore, to be expected that when the housing bubble burst, consumption and residential investment would fall, and the economy would plunge. " ("Overproduction not Financial Collapse is the Heart of the Crisis", Robert P. Brenner speaks with Jeong Seong-jin, Asia Pacific Journal)
What Brenner describes is an economy \that--despite unfunded tax cuts, massive military spending and gigantic asset bubbles--can barely produce positive growth. The pervasive lethargy of mature capitalist economies poses huge challenges for industry bosses who are judged solely on their ability to boost quarterly profits. Goldman's Lloyd Blankfein and JPM's Jamie Dimon could care less about economic theory, what they're interested in is making money; how to deploy their capital in a way that maximizes return on investment. "Profits", that's it. And that's much more difficult in a world that's beset by overcapacity and flagging demand. The world doesn't need more widgets or widget-makers. The only way to ensure profitability is to invent an alternate system altogether, a new universe of financial exotica (CDOs, MBSs, CDSs) that operates independent of the sluggish real economy. Financialization provides that opportunity. It allows the main players to pump-up the leverage, minimize capital-outlay, inflate asset prices, and skim off record profits even while the real economy endures severe stagnation.
Financialization provides a path to wealth creation, which is why the sector's portion of total corporate profits is now nearly 40 per cent. It's a way to bypass the pervasive inertia of the production-oriented economy. The Fed's role in this new paradigm is to create a hospitable environment (low interest rates) for bubble-making so the upward transfer of wealth can continue without interruption. Bubblemaking is policy.
As we've pointed out in earlier articles, scores of people knew what was going on during the subprime fiasco. But it's worth a quick review, because Robert Rubin, Alan Greenspan, Timothy Geithner, and others have been defending themselves saying, "Who could have known?".
Someone gave me gift cards from A&E and History.com; I shouldn't complain about a gift, but doesn't it make more sense to get a gift card from Amazon? That way one doesn't have to pay for shipping and tax, if the amount of the gift card is above $25...
There's a new version of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice? Pride & Prejudice Restored DVD Set (Swing Amaray Edition). Supposedly the picture and sound have been remastered.
There's a new version of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice? Pride & Prejudice Restored DVD Set (Swing Amaray Edition). Supposedly the picture and sound have been remastered.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
The promise of decentralization, localization and scale-free self-sufficiency
(original)
Jeff Vail, The Oil Drum: Campfire
Are there any alternative structures that could allow us to maintain, even dramatically improve our collective quality of life despite an ongoing decline in the quality and availability of energy?
(original)
John Dowland, "Flow my tears"
Andreas Scholl
Terry Barber
Russell Oberlin
(Out of the three countertenors, Oberlin sounds the most like a woman?)
Paul Agnew (Tenor), Christopher Wilson (Lute)
Barbara Bonney
Terry Barber
Russell Oberlin
(Out of the three countertenors, Oberlin sounds the most like a woman?)
Paul Agnew (Tenor), Christopher Wilson (Lute)
Barbara Bonney
Juan del Encina
Más vale trocar
UNA SAÑOSA PORFÍA (Hespérion XX - Jordi Savall)
Vuestros amores e señora (Pro Musica Antiqua?)
Mi libertad en sosiego (Ensemble Gilles Binchois)
UNA SAÑOSA PORFÍA (Hespérion XX - Jordi Savall)
Vuestros amores e señora (Pro Musica Antiqua?)
Mi libertad en sosiego (Ensemble Gilles Binchois)
Life After RC: Full text
I don't know what the source of this is. Pete Vere gives the link to Vatican Radio's English translation, but I haven't checked to see if they are the same. It appears that suppression is not to be, even though some may think that is the better course of action.
Edit. Zenit
I don't know what the source of this is. Pete Vere gives the link to Vatican Radio's English translation, but I haven't checked to see if they are the same. It appears that suppression is not to be, even though some may think that is the better course of action.
Edit. Zenit
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Spocom San Mateo
The afternoon and early evening were spent in San Mateo, at Spocom. My reasons for going? Not the cars. Would it have been a venue receptive to someone talking about peak oil? It's doubtful, and the organizers probably would prohibit that sort of activity, no? How do you tell car enthusiasts that their hobby has been rendered pointless, and actually extravagant beyond reason?
The import models were the primary reason for my going. How the underemployed waste their time... how I waste my time, at least. Unfortunately, in the two and a half years that I've been back to California, I can say that the number of new friends I've made remains 0. Where there more choiceworthy events for a Saturday? It might be better to stick to folk and early music.
If I were younger, I might be more excited about meeting the models, but I felt rather dead while I was there. There was some delight in female beauty, but I was doing what anyone who goes to such events does, for the sake of doing it. I didn't really talk with the models. What was there to say, really? One got the impression that some of them were real gong zhu; others seemed to be rather robotic in their fan service -- do models ever tire of making a living through the looks? Do they wish that they were appreciated for something more? One would think that the answer to these questions is yes.
I was surprised when a fight broke out between CD and another model right in front of me. The other model was leaving the Spocom models area; it looked like she was disrespecting CD, and CD went after her and threw a slap or punch. The two went at it, and photographers and other models attempted to separate them, while everyone else gathered around to watch the fight and to take photos or video. As I was caught off-guard, I did not think to capture on video. Maybe someone will upload some video onto Youtube. Event security came and kept the two women apart, and the police officers at the SMEC eventually came and wrote down a report. I don't know if CD was charged with assault and batter, or merely expelled from the grounds. My guess is that she was let go with a warning, as she did not cause any serious injury.
My first reaction? High school. And, to be honest, di ji, as someone from Cal used to say.
While the way some of the models spoke hinted at arrested development, I can't say they are too different from their peers in this regard. I don't know many women who get to the point where they speak like ladies, rather than girls. Import models may seem more feminine, because they are focused on making themselves physically attractive to men, but they can be as Uhmerican as any other woman.
Watching the LEOs at work tonight, I started doubting again that their profession would be a good fit for me. For some reason I feel an aversion to the profession and sometimes to the officers as well when I see them. In the abstract, the profession seems honorable and worthy of pursuit, but in the concrete... something repulses me. I can picture myself working for a particular city, but not for others. (And my feeling towards that city is not that stable. The other day I was working in one of its schools, and I couldn't picture myself putting my life on the line for some of those 6th graders. Maybe it's not their fault that they have the characters that they have, but I do not see a rosy future for many of them.) Is my aversion due to sour experiences with LEOs in the past? Or have I been influenced too much by the LRC blog?
Serving in a militia would be more satisfying, coupled with some worthy 'vocation.' Law enforcement is not the ideal, but a compromise. I don't know if I could ever convince myself that it isn't. It's all moot though, if my back doesn't improve.
The import models were the primary reason for my going. How the underemployed waste their time... how I waste my time, at least. Unfortunately, in the two and a half years that I've been back to California, I can say that the number of new friends I've made remains 0. Where there more choiceworthy events for a Saturday? It might be better to stick to folk and early music.
If I were younger, I might be more excited about meeting the models, but I felt rather dead while I was there. There was some delight in female beauty, but I was doing what anyone who goes to such events does, for the sake of doing it. I didn't really talk with the models. What was there to say, really? One got the impression that some of them were real gong zhu; others seemed to be rather robotic in their fan service -- do models ever tire of making a living through the looks? Do they wish that they were appreciated for something more? One would think that the answer to these questions is yes.
I was surprised when a fight broke out between CD and another model right in front of me. The other model was leaving the Spocom models area; it looked like she was disrespecting CD, and CD went after her and threw a slap or punch. The two went at it, and photographers and other models attempted to separate them, while everyone else gathered around to watch the fight and to take photos or video. As I was caught off-guard, I did not think to capture on video. Maybe someone will upload some video onto Youtube. Event security came and kept the two women apart, and the police officers at the SMEC eventually came and wrote down a report. I don't know if CD was charged with assault and batter, or merely expelled from the grounds. My guess is that she was let go with a warning, as she did not cause any serious injury.
My first reaction? High school. And, to be honest, di ji, as someone from Cal used to say.
While the way some of the models spoke hinted at arrested development, I can't say they are too different from their peers in this regard. I don't know many women who get to the point where they speak like ladies, rather than girls. Import models may seem more feminine, because they are focused on making themselves physically attractive to men, but they can be as Uhmerican as any other woman.
Watching the LEOs at work tonight, I started doubting again that their profession would be a good fit for me. For some reason I feel an aversion to the profession and sometimes to the officers as well when I see them. In the abstract, the profession seems honorable and worthy of pursuit, but in the concrete... something repulses me. I can picture myself working for a particular city, but not for others. (And my feeling towards that city is not that stable. The other day I was working in one of its schools, and I couldn't picture myself putting my life on the line for some of those 6th graders. Maybe it's not their fault that they have the characters that they have, but I do not see a rosy future for many of them.) Is my aversion due to sour experiences with LEOs in the past? Or have I been influenced too much by the LRC blog?
Serving in a militia would be more satisfying, coupled with some worthy 'vocation.' Law enforcement is not the ideal, but a compromise. I don't know if I could ever convince myself that it isn't. It's all moot though, if my back doesn't improve.
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