The 12 Days of L.A. Christmas

Received this as a Christmas card at work last week. So true.... so, so true.
The 12 Days of L.A. Christmas
The artist is David Price (1998).

More info on the Church of the Ark of the Covenant found in the West Bank...

The following link has great high-res pix of Tel Shiloh - the "Church of the Ark of the Covenant" - recently found during an archaelogical excavation on the West Bank in Israel.

Barnett tackles the confusion over Shiites and Sunnis

Dean Barnett over at Hugh Hewitt's blog had an informative post on Shiites and Sunnis in a Q&A format. He also follows up with a response to one point of contention to a specific answer have originally gave.

The ACS Blog Anniversary Game...

I've been tagged by Nancy over at the American Chesterton Society blog (the society of which I'm a new member). Friday was their blog's first anniversary (woo-hoo), although the ACS itself has been around a lot longer than that (and we're all the better for it).

To celebrate, we thought we'd play a game, as Chesterton was quite fond of games; and like Chesterton, we've completely made it up our of our heads.

Here's how you play. You answer the following questions on your own blog (if you've got one--if not, answer in the combox). Then you send me the link, and after we get all the players' answers, I'll make a big post with all the links. I'm pretty sure this is an original idea. ;-)

So, get out your thinking caps, and answer the following:

1. When did you first read a Chesterton book, story, or poem, and which was it?
2. What was the most recent of GKC's writings you read?
3. Which is your favorite book, poem - or quote?
4. Which would you recommend to a beginner?
5. What is the most unusual fact or quirky detail you know about G.K.Chesterton?

In addition to playing our game, you are required, yes- required, to celebrate in one of the following ways: have a party on the roof, eat a meal on the floor, go outside your house and knock on the front door, entering it as if you've never been there before, play a long round of gype, go out your front door, traipse around to the back door, and knock.

Okay, here it goes:

1. When did you first read a Chesterton book, story, or poem, and which was it?
It was approximately six years ago. It was "The Man Who Was Thursday" and I was both thrilled and totally confused (GKC does that to you). I then read "Manalive" which was less confusing and even more hilarious.


2. What was the most recent of GKC's writings you read?
I'm 3/4 of the way through "Orthodoxy" (and I've underlined a lot because I know I'll need to re-read it again - at least twice more - in order to really let it sink in).


3. Which is your favorite book, poem - or quote?
When I finish reading at least a dozen more of his books I'll be better able to say which book is my favorite. I've read three so far (plus Dale's book "G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense", as well as Dale's wonderful series of the same name on EWTN.) Once I finish reading "Orthodoxy," and then finish GKC's "Heretics," "The Everlasting Man," "St. Thomas Aquinas," "St. Francis Assisi," "The Ball & The Cross" and "The Flying Inn" (all of which are patiently waiting on my bookshelf, along with Dale's latest book, "Common Sense 101"), then I'll tell you which is my favorite Chesterton book.

As far as quotes are concerned, there are many in "Orthodoxy." Here's one that he uses to sum up one series of arguments in the section titled "The Paradoxes of Christianity":

"The state of the Christian could not be at once so comfortable that he was a coward to cling to it, and so uncomfortable that he was a fool to stand it."

4. Which would you recommend to a beginner?
Yikes! I'm too green to be able to accurately answer that question. I think everyone says that it's not the one that they had read first themselves. Chesterton tends to do that to you. He makes you think, and he forces you to read the book again to get a clearer understanding of what he's trying to say... which is both utterly simple yet strangely complex.

5. What is the most unusual fact or quirky detail you know about G.K.Chesterton?
The fact that he (at least) once pulled out a gun and offered to shoot someone (context is everything with regard to this hilarious fact).

And, to celebrate, I knocked on my front door. Then, when I entered I said, "Honey, I'm home!" It's very depressing because I don't have a "Honey" to come home to. But, it is a home to one day have "Honey" in.

One day... hopefully. *sigh*

On the Miracle of Stars...

Orion is my favorite constellation, for a number of reasons. Paul Cella (over at RedState) has a nice little post on the wonderment we desperately need, and sometimes forget... until a child reminds you. And he mentions G.K. Chesterton in the process (a double bonus).

Just a fun website to check out...

Dark Roasted Blend has a lot of cool, quirky and hilarious pics throughout the various posts of this picture blog.

The "Flying Imams" Round-up...

What you wouldn't know about if you only got your news for the MSM. Great investigative reporting and commentary here and here.

Curt over at Flopping Aces has done an incredible job digging into this story.

Scanning the Political Playing Field for 2008...

This is still way too early, but John Hawkins (from RWN) has an article in Human Events in which he evaluates each of the suspected (or is that "suspect"?) and a few unsuspected candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. I'm sure he's do one for the Democrats in the near future.

I'm still recovering from last month's election cycle.

Call To Action called to account...

'Tis about time!

Now... if only the Pope would install Bishop Bruskewitz into the L.A. Archdiocese. One can only hope and pray.

A Little Biblical Archaeology...

"Archaeologists claim to have uncovered one of the world's first churches, built on a site believed to have once housed the Ark of the Covenant, reported the London Daily Telegraph."

This fascinating article can be read here.

Information Round-up on Pope Benedict's Trip to Turkey...

Dr. Robert Moynihan (over at Catholic Exchange) has a great article on Pope Benedict XVI trip to Turkey a little over a week ago.

Also, Against The Grain has an incredibly extensive round-up (text and links) on the entire 4-day Papal visit to Constantinopl.... ummm.... uhhh... to Turkey.

Wandering Throught the Desert with 50-year-old Adolescents...

Elizabeth Powers over at First Things touched on something that I have thought for some time. I call it, "Wandering Through the Desert with 50-year-old Adolescents." I'll have to expand on that thought some day.

"...There is a noisy contingent still trapped in [the 60s] and whose opposition to the war in Iraq comes straight from the sixties playbook, but such overtly anti-American attitudes haven’t, in the current conflict, gained much traction. After all, the Boomers have grown up, chronologically at least, and the liberals among them don’t relish camping in tents in Crawford, Texas, or even marching in the streets. They have also benefited most from America, Inc. By now, they have made it through the institutions, the media, the law, and the universities. They have paid off their mortgages. They enjoy the advantages of the best health care system in the world. They are about to receive not only Social Security but also the fruits of their considerable investment in retirement plans. The terms of their opposition to war and to authority have changed—the president is an incompetent—but, as in their youth, they remain averse to sacrifice. Their priorities are now those of people who have had a good life and don’t want to jeopardize it..."

It's time to take a shower again... a Leonid Shower!

Yep! Tonight's the night for the annual Leonid Meteor Shower. Things will be flaring especially in the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada tonight. Hopefully, there will be clear skies for optimal viewing.

So, once again... make a wish upon a "falling star" (just remember to dress warmly).

THE AFTERMATH...

John Hawkins (of RWN) sums it up perfectly here at Human Events.

John goes into detail about each of the following key issues:

* Bush's Approval Rating
* Harriet Miers
* If Bush Won't Defend Himself, Then Who Will
* Illegal Immigration
* Gas Prices
* National Security Slippage
* Out-Of-Control Spending
* Republicans Behaving Badly

Then he sums up:

The bad news is that... the American people rejected the Republican Party. The good news is that they didn't do that because they rejected conservative principles, they rejected the Republican Party, for the most part, for not living up to those principles. That is a problem that can be corrected, especially since the voters don't like the Democratic Party very much either.

Read the whole thing.

I’m just disappointed that Rick Santorum (a great conservative and a great Catholic) got caught in the riptide. Part of it was political payback for his dis’ing Pat Toomey in the ‘04 Republican Primary challenge against incumbent R Sen. Arlen Spector. Part of it is that Casey “Empty Suit” Jr. has a famous family name (his dad was former governor of PA) and claims to be one of those extinct pro-life Demo-birds. I don’t buy it, given that Casey is now beholden to the hardcore left wing of the Democratic Party (with John Kerry having given him over half a million dollars to his campaign).

It’s now going to be that much tougher to get another Roberts/Alito/Scalia/Thomas/Rehnquist onto the U.S. Supreme Court once Stevens and Ginsberg retire (both possibly very soon).

VOTE!!!

Ask yourself one simple question before voting.

Don't know what that question is?

That's okay. Because your answer can be summed up in this one political cartoon. Remember it before you head to the polls today. And, yes, please do go to the polls today and...

VOTE!!!

So, who do the Terrorists want you to vote for on Tuesday???

If you have at least half a brain, you'd vote for the candidates they want to lose.

Iraq, Nukes, and Saddam to be Hanged...

Yes... Iraq was pretty far along in the process of manufacturing nuclear weapons. (surprise... surprise)

Meanwhile, Saddam has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Casey in PA (and another reason to vote to Santorum)...

Bob "Empty Suit" Casey, Jr., and the company he keeps. And then there's the pact he and a few others have made regarding future Supreme Court & Federal Appellate Court judicial nominations.

All the more reason to vote for Santorum on Tuesday!

A variety of Catholic news stories....

First up is Fr. Richard Neuhaus' take on the inner wranglings at the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management. It makes for some interesting reading.

Things are also afoot at Georgetown University. It's already not my favorite place of higher education, given that I'm a Villanova graduate. But, an endowment chair in the name of a pro-abortion priest? You're kidding me, right? *sigh*

Pope Benedict ends a short-termed indult regarding the purification of Communion vessels. To help stem sacrilegious abuses during and after masses, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are no longer allowed to do the purifications.

Papa Ben has also been giving audiences on the 12 Apostles. Jimmy Akin has the links to the text of his talks here. Apparently, the Pontiff is not done yet (more to come).

Cardinal Claudio Hummes, recently chosen by Pope Benedict XVI as Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, issued two statements last week. One was in reference to the controversial and short-lived "liberation theology" (which got several priests and religious in trouble in the 80s), and its ties to Marxist Communism. The second on the need to set higher standards in seminaries for priest and religious formation.

And, finally, the BBC has admitted to anti-Christian bias.

(hat tip to RCB for that last story, as well as the one on Communion vessels)

Zell Miller stumping for Santorum!

This just in from CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Sen. Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat who supported President Bush in 2004, will head a new group of Democrats supporting Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum's reelection bid.

"I am not involved in any other race in the country," Miller said during a radio interview Monday, according to a news release from Santorum's campaign. "I am only doing this for Rick Santorum. I believe in Rick Santorum's leadership that much."

Santorum is trailing in publichttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif polls to his Democratic challenger Bob Casey, Jr.

Miller alienated his Senate Democratic colleagues two years ago when he endorsed Bush and campaigned for him in his successful reelection bid against Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts. And in a fiery speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention, Miller criticized Kerry's military strategy.

"This is the man who wants to be the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces," Miller said. "U.S. forces armed with what? Spitballs?"

(Hat Tip to PoliPundit)


I've been saying a Novena (to St. Jude) for Rick, leading up to election day. I voted for him in 1994 when I was still a Pennsylvania resident. Can't vote for him now, since I'm a Californian, but I can certainly pray for him.