The word millenial

I've had enough

Disappointing

I really dislike this Pete Spilakos article on First Things

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/11/even-if-carson-wins-we-lose

Even if Carson "Wins", We Lose

Such a negative approach ... no wonder conservatives lose in every way imaginable with cheerleaders like this dope.

Tolkien

are not all of God's punishments also gifts?

Awesome

Saw these folks live tonight.  Unreal!



Only if the audience wasn't full of grumpy old Massholes, nearly killed all my joy!

thoughts on the moment

Asked what he thought about Western civilization, Mohandas K. Gandhi supposedly quipped that he thought it would be a good idea. Conservatives, if we’re being honest, might say the same about the rule of law. It would be a good idea, at least an interesting experiment. For the moment, though, there’s only power, the men who have it, and the things they do with it.

yep

Jimmy Kimmel is not funny

at all!

why is famous? why does he host a comedy show?

The Culture "War"

I mean hey, the "culture war" was lost a long time ago, before it even started.

The Benedict option is looking like the only alternative.

Small communities of people.  That's where it starts!

Have a blessed Holy Thursday

Life Begins

I just saw “baby boy Washington” enter life with a cry. He does not yet know how much he will have to cry about. His mother is unmarried and does not want him. He will be turned over to the city for a life of not being wanted. This is true for more than one third of all the hundreds of babies delivered here. I don’t think his prospects are very good for finding love, happiness, joy, purpose…. I am not depressed — only filled with wonder. Wonder at the glory and tragedy of life in this city. In a little while I will drive home and can count on being struck again by the New York skyline — a never failing object of adoration. The city and the potential of the civilization it represents — to this I am religiously committed. And to the ways of the God who brought it into being. “What is man, that you keep him in mind?” Little baby boy Washington — fear not, He has redeemed you. He has called you by the name you do not yet have, you are His! I cannot guarantee you that this is true. It may be a pious illusion. But it is better than what is called the truth by men, but just must be illusion. You are not alone.

-Richard John Neuhaus
 From his time as a chaplain via Alan Jacobs

Everyone wants to live forever

When carbohydrates are removed from your diet, will you live to 120? Do you want to live to 120?

http://www.theonion.com/articles/mans-neuroses-really-putting-genuine-compliment-th,38027/

In the Garden

Need a Gospel album from these folks, now.

Regarding my many problems

Multitasking has been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and cause mental fog or scrambled thinking. Multitasking creates a dopamine-addiction feedback loop, effectively rewarding the brain for losing focus and for constantly searching for external stimulation. To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex has a novelty bias, meaning that its attention can be easily hijacked by something new – the proverbial shiny objects we use to entice infants, puppies, and kittens. The irony here for those of us who are trying to focus amid competing activities is clear: the very brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted. We answer the phone, look up something on the internet, check our email, send an SMS, and each of these things tweaks the novelty- seeking, reward-seeking centres of the brain, causing a burst of endogenous opioids (no wonder it feels so good!), all to the detriment of our staying on task. It is the ultimate empty-caloried brain candy. Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we instead reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugar-coated tasks.

- Courtesy of The Guardian

Tony Esolen on Human Liberty

"Freedom cannot be mere permission.  License is not simply a false version of liberty.  It is the death of liberty.

That is because man's liberty is for his perfection.  If you abuse your arms, tearing at them with hooks and crushing them under sledgehammers, you will not achieve any of the good that arms are for.  If you abuse your free judgment and turn to vice, you will have a will that is to the soul no better than the torn and crushed arms are to the body.  No better, and probably far worse."

- Anthony Esolen, pp.40, "Reclaiming Catholic Social Teaching"

Greatest NFL Game Ever

Was played tonight, Patriots vs. Ravens, Foxborough Mass. 
35-31 Pats.  Never seen a more competitive or entertaining or thrilling sports contest.
 Guess I had to wait a couple days to see Flacco eliminated.

GO PATS!

January 3, 2015

I'd really like Joe Flacco to be eliminated from the playoffs today.
Can't wait until February!