tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78003677550622397422011-12-28T17:37:47.105-08:00Kinda says it all, don't it?Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.comBlogger1141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-7671495327481355802010-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:002010-02-24T16:11:33.942-08:00

The other day, a friend pointed out that I haven't posted to this blog for a month. I had to admit that I've let it slide. And, considering the current state of affairs, I don't see myself returning to it in the near future. So, if you haven't already, please hop over to my main blog: Virtue Quest. And don't forget to check out the group blog I'm writing for: Coalition for Clarity. See you

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-5794047935773101672010-01-23T13:47:00.000-08:002010-01-23T13:50:32.821-08:00

Just so you know, I've been invited to contribute to a new blog, Coalition for Clarity, which is opposing the crime of torture. My first post there is up today!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-12608112251848652252010-01-12T23:38:00.000-08:002010-01-12T23:51:17.651-08:00

Some genius has noticed just how Shakesperean is the classic Coen Bros. film, The Big Lebowski. They have translated it into the form Shakespeare himself might have used. Behold: Two Gentlemen of Lebowski!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-43327228800597866082010-01-02T10:10:00.000-08:002010-01-02T10:16:07.279-08:00

An article in the Daily Mail points out that, when it comes to infidelity, it's the woman who gets the worst of it. In other news, scientists are stunned to discover that fire is hot!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-75699582081498733372009-12-26T10:56:00.000-08:002009-12-26T11:02:16.781-08:00

Or, maybe, what I wish it had been like... Hat tip to Just Jen.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-83857264678655055632009-12-22T21:32:00.000-08:002009-12-22T21:34:38.390-08:00

Most Children Are Unrepentant Sociopaths My friends who are parents can confirm the truth of this important study.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-788659393052349922009-12-20T15:48:00.000-08:002009-12-20T16:21:58.864-08:00

Just some links to interesting stuff. Mostly, I've been trying to catch up on all sorts of things that need finishing before Christmas. Till soon....! Good news from India about Catholic and Orthodox Christians working together! Is there a "God Spot" in our brains? Just Jen says, "Whoa!" ... and more! Remember Terri Shiavo? Here's an Indian in a similar spot, who has a "social activist" acting

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-71149757577967570402009-12-13T18:56:00.000-08:002009-12-13T20:11:47.881-08:00

I'm not too worried about whether or not global warming climate change is "true" or "false". I think the worst thing that could come from paying attention to environmental impact and striving for maximum efficiency is a cleaner and more efficient world to live in.But then there are those who step beyond the pale of rationality. For example, Diane Francis, who suggests that the only way to save

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-45811862396966460382009-12-07T15:58:00.000-08:002009-12-07T16:00:39.498-08:00

What can I say? Buffy's my kind of girl! H/T to John C. Wright.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-12113456332037811922009-12-05T11:25:00.000-08:002009-12-05T11:37:53.150-08:00

Just reprinting my semi-review, semi-reflection on the Monk finale from Virtue Quest:I’ve been watching “Monk” with my family for some time, and we all gathered around the tele last night for the series finale.For those who don’t watch much TV, the show follows Adrian Monk (played by Tony Shalhoub), a former detective for the San Francisco Police whose OCD went into overdrive when he lost his

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-11861120909458134512009-11-30T13:24:00.001-08:002009-11-30T13:29:19.237-08:00

Aren't names these days just getting downright unpronounceable? To say nothing of trying to spell them. For example: And yes, Mr. Laurie is actually a brit. He puts on an American accent for House. H/T to Just Jen.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-90740962437886443212009-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:002009-11-20T10:07:23.593-08:00

This is fascinating, and strange, and perhaps the reason that we have not been contacted by extraterrestrials since the 1950's: From Abstruse Goose, via Strange Maps.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-26663228169636119602009-11-19T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-19T12:22:31.610-08:00

The trick to living virtuously is to see the good in every virtuous act, even something as simple as climbing the stairs. Crossposted at my other blog.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-81058757687866234402009-11-16T12:17:00.000-08:002009-11-16T12:22:12.322-08:00

The Lord of the Rings as a 1940's Bogey vehicle: Why is it that this nine-minute wonder captures more of Tolkien's mythopoesy than Peter Jackson's twelve-hour monstrosity? Tip o' the hat to Donald McClarey.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-5085755867507713272009-11-14T15:06:00.000-08:002009-11-14T15:18:33.007-08:00

So, I'm sort of obsessed with the motion of fluids (including liquids and gasses), and the motion of objects in fluids. I could watch a rolling stream, or milk swirling in coffee, for hours. This is a visual of how Einstein explained this apparently random motion, known as Brownian motion: I found this on a physics site at the University of Virginia. If you don't think this is cool, then

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-39665804322899242582009-11-11T15:50:00.000-08:002009-11-11T15:55:06.701-08:00

As I mentioned on my other blog, I got in an argument on-line over the past week, and the truth is I've been taking it too much to heart. It's crazy how it just eats away at you, hurt and resentment and fear of being wrong. But then today I had a job interview, during which the interviewer told me that I basically had the job. It's not a great job, and I'll wait till I actually sign the papers

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-4544722049939014202009-11-09T12:20:00.000-08:002009-11-09T12:59:28.818-08:00

I've been told that there are some who hate the movie, "The Men who Stare at Goats". I'd like to meet them. I'd like to know what there is to hate about this movie.Now, I'll grant you that it's no "Casablanca". It's no "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". But it's a movie that I certainly wish George Lucas had made instead of "The Phandom Menace" and "Attack of the Clowns".It is a journey, if

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-72796713755994244272009-11-09T12:15:00.001-08:002009-11-09T12:20:45.351-08:00

A friend sends along this link to the film Blood Money. There's also a trailer on YouTube. It's an exposee on the abortion industry in general and on Planned Parenthood in particular. Well worth a look.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-31349736132210352422009-11-06T08:19:00.000-08:002009-11-06T08:24:25.671-08:00

Breaking News: Catholic Deacon publishes "The Order by which People Get Into Heaven"!! The part that makes me skeptical? To be admitted only after review by the Screening Board (Catherine of Siena, chairwoman), the Board of Appeals (Meher Baba, chairman) and the Last Gasp Committee (Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, chairman): poets, novelists, buskers, spies, New York Yankees fans. Yankees fans I

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-28535996019260733232009-11-05T16:05:00.000-08:002009-11-05T16:09:45.734-08:00

Hat tip to Mike Flynn. Heh heh heh. Witnesses. Heh heh heh.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-21886274953408999012009-11-04T15:40:00.000-08:002009-11-05T09:07:24.914-08:00

Um, strictly speaking, true.But there is such a thing as usury:an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest; specifically : interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of moneyAnd one who makes his wealth by usury ought not defend himself in this manner.I mean, if justifying your lies and theft in a church isn't also a violation of the Second Commandment, I

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-63647474420703833672009-11-04T14:59:00.000-08:002009-11-05T08:47:00.825-08:00

So here it is! Virtue Quest The focus is, as the title (I hope) indicates, an exploration of ways to develop virtue and grow as a human being. Based mainly on the negative examples of my own life. I.e., if you want to grow in virtue, don't act like me. I apologize for my neglect of this blog. That hasn't been my intention. But now that it's up and running, I should be able to post regularly

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-74947793804955525432009-10-31T18:25:00.000-07:002009-10-31T18:28:54.295-07:00

I mentioned a little while back that I'm trying to make a go as a freelance writer. To that end, I'm starting up a couple "professional" blogs, that I hope will garner an audience beyond just my friends. I was planning to launch them Nov. 1, that is, tomorrow. And it looks like I'll actually have one of them up and running. The other should be up a little later this week. What can I say but,

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-88138759337676874532009-10-31T10:16:00.000-07:002009-10-31T10:19:55.753-07:00

Hat tip to Mike Flynn.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-33952799852507385852009-10-30T14:38:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:44:47.777-07:00

Sorry I've been off-line for the past couple weeks. At first, I was off in the boonies of North Carolina without any internets access; then I was in the not-so-boonies of North Carolina, where internets access cost $5/hour; then I was back home, recovering from travel; and then ... um, I was just a little lazy. Sorry! I'll bring you up to date a little later. In the meantime, go ahead and

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-73170241644357977462009-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:002009-10-20T10:55:28.455-07:00

So the other day, a friend and I were grabbing some breakfast together, and we started thinking of dream casts that Hollywood really ought to put together. Our first thought was: Christopher WalkenAlan RickmanMeryl Streepsupporting role for William ShatnerPlot? With a cast like this, who needs plot? Okay, plot is important -- but secondary, I think. So, a road movie, probably three siblings

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-29939272329810179962009-10-17T10:41:00.000-07:002009-10-17T11:09:53.915-07:00

My dad loves the casino. He loves the slot machines, which I simply do not understand. For myself, I prefer something more active, something that involves skill and tactics. So, many gambling games just are not interesting to me. Among card games, Pinochle is my favorite.I do, however, enjoy the occasional game of poker. I like the bluffing aspect. I like the choices involved in building a hand.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-24898663003991412242009-10-16T11:09:00.000-07:002009-10-16T11:47:50.972-07:00

I was raised in a fairly prejudice-free environment -- as much as any environment can be, I suppose. It never occurred to me that different skin color or physical features had anything to do with personality or intelligence or integrity; and it never occurred to me that women and men should be treated differently with regard to authority or dignity. I had to learn about these things in history

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-20741364828813562442009-10-14T11:23:00.000-07:002009-10-14T11:42:16.462-07:00

At the advice of several of my friends, I'm taking two new steps to add a little order to my life: making a to-do list, and using a timer. The to-do list is, of course, an ancient concept which I have resisted mainly because of my laziness. After all, making a to-do list is a thing that one has to do. So I'm going to put "make tomorrow's to-do list" as the last item on today's to-do list. Let's

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-8597157871741977682009-10-13T10:01:00.000-07:002009-10-13T10:04:10.557-07:00

By the way, if you feel like contributing to my professional career immediately, I've set up a PayPal donation button on the sidebar, just below the "Share it" item. In case you were wondering what to do with all your extra cash, you know. Many thanks, in advance.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-25472817074009921042009-10-13T09:32:00.000-07:002009-10-13T09:52:07.089-07:00

Back home in Seattle. It's a strange thing: I find beauty everywhere I go, but nowhere is home in the same way as Seattle is. Even the Bay Area, where I spent nearly a decade of my life and which I know better (in some ways), doesn't have the same quality of at-home-ness as here.So I'm back to my unemployed meanderings.No, that's not quite true. I've been accepted by an agency that connects

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-8295190229044389772009-10-11T20:31:00.001-07:002009-10-11T20:34:50.405-07:00

I'm currently in a hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, awaiting tomorrow morning's flight back to home sweet home. I must admit, I have an outrageous prejudice against this town. I think right turns should be outlawed. Need I say any more?

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-63046312520791293232009-10-11T19:48:00.000-07:002009-10-11T20:25:26.485-07:00

Just Jen makes a great distinction that the NY Times -- or at least the study they describe -- misses.On the other hand, how is a scientist to make a distinction that is, perhaps, beyond the ken of science?What the scientist can study is how the brain acts in certain circumstances. The Times gives the following example:When ... patterns break down — as when a hiker stumbles across an easy chair

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-41476586464888118762009-10-10T20:46:00.000-07:002009-10-10T21:08:09.057-07:00

One of the reasons for the lack of posts recently is that I've traveled to my cousin's wedding. The liturgy was truly beautiful, combining both reverence for God and the solemnity of marriage, and the earthy irreverence that so characterizes my cousin (and most of my family).Now, I'm a Catholic. My cousin was raised at least nominally Catholic. I don't know what kind of religious background her

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-23268966889695858632009-09-27T12:47:00.001-07:002009-09-27T13:00:33.072-07:00

Fr. Daniel, pastor of my parish, made a profound remark in this morning's homily. In the gospel reading from Mark, Jesus admonishes his followers, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out." Too often I've read commentators or heard preachers attempt to soften the extremity of this advice. After all, we wouldn't want anyone actually maiming or

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-17335549499235096812009-09-26T12:18:00.001-07:002009-09-26T12:22:55.518-07:00

Yep, you heard it. Confirmed by three different spacecraft. I'm getting my spacesuit and rubber raft ready for a wild ride down-- Wait, you say it's only trace amounts? Maybe a Big Gulp's worth for every ton of lunar soil? Oh, bother.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-79187063371912495612009-09-25T11:11:00.000-07:002009-09-25T11:15:19.572-07:00

Here's another writing sample. Comments and critiques on any of my writing is most welcome! The assignment for this was a 250-300 word blog-style post on Twitter tips:Tips for the Twitter ChallengedDon't you hate being the last one to figure stuff out? Twitter is a great example: a powerful and dynamic resource that favors the resourceful. Here are a few tips on getting the most out of

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-73627340095391124722009-09-25T11:09:00.000-07:002009-09-25T11:15:56.458-07:00

I'm applying for some freelance writing gigs, so I'll post the writing sample assignments that they give me. Here's the first, a 400 word article on childhood diabetes:My Child Has Diabetes?Perhaps the most frightening event in a parent's life is discovering that a child has, or may have, a life-threatening disease, such as diabetes. A thousand questions collide in your head. It is easy to swing

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-13919600722348728742009-09-24T10:40:00.000-07:002009-09-24T10:56:29.671-07:00

I find it's difficult to keep a commitment that is too general. For example, it's hard to say, "I'm going to write more" or "I'm going to exercise more". It's easier to keep a concrete, measurable commitment. So, I'm setting a goal of writing at least 500 words every day. (Yes, this blog counts!) It's a small goal, but I know when I've reached it, and it doesn't stop me from doing more; it just

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-83245357993550676582009-09-23T11:03:00.001-07:002009-09-24T14:17:37.154-07:00

It's a commonplace today for people to be "spiritual" without being "religious". By that, most people seem to mean that they are interested in matters of faith and spirituality, but not interested in membership in an institution. My guess is that institutional membership feels like a burden, an obligation. In any case, the result is a steady downward trend in church membership and participation

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-32084955036030789792009-09-21T14:52:00.001-07:002009-09-21T14:55:46.621-07:00

After all, if there's anyone who would know evil inside-out, it's Mark Shea! In this case, he makes the point with exceptional clarity:The Church does not see evil as the "opposite" of good precisely. That's because we are not Manichaeans. We do not believe that evil is a power equal and opposed to good. Rather, we believe that evil is a parasite on the good, a perversion and (mark this) a thing

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-8399701812899914582009-09-21T13:37:00.001-07:002009-09-21T14:34:23.839-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I'm between jobs at the moment. So I thought I'd post my resume here, for two reasons:To see if anyone has comments or suggestions for meJust in case anyone reading this happens to be hiringAnyway, since Blogger only allows graphics to be uploaded, here is my resume as a .png (click on the image for full resolution): Next, I'm available for speaking engagements large and

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-18834364501938025022009-09-20T10:30:00.000-07:002009-09-20T10:34:37.044-07:00

In 1943, this was cheering on an ally: In hindsight, it's rather creepy. To paraphrase the wisdom of others, we should never call someone great before their life is completed.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-52841747301440292642009-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:002009-09-19T15:18:43.694-07:00

Trust me. You'll want to devote a half hour to this episode of the Dick Van Dyke show.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-5185129087304307572009-09-19T12:58:00.001-07:002009-09-19T15:12:53.744-07:00

In a comment on my recent health care post, Larry asks:But what is "society"? In America today, that means tax money. And that's not just politics; it's our culture.Now, I would say that "society" is a somewhat fluid category. I guess I would define society as the subject of solidarity and subsidiarity together.I trust I make myself obscure.Really, this discussion brings us back to the whole "

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-42351811976708699102009-09-17T22:02:00.000-07:002009-09-17T22:19:55.510-07:00

So I've had rather a tumultuous couple of days. As I've said before, I'm unemployed at the moment. I'm a little afraid I'm unemployable. Or maybe just too lazy to find a real job. And the last couple days my own lack of discipline and drive has become viscerally real to me. The thing I love most in the world is writing. Really, it's telling stories, and I love film as a way to tell stories; but

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-89715593751867271872009-09-16T07:24:00.001-07:002009-09-16T07:42:06.882-07:00

The Catholic Bishops in the U.S. have, both individually and collectively, sought reform of our health care system for many years. It was part of their support of labor unions, part of their preferential option for the poor, part of the greater ideals to which they have called the sheep of their flocks, and particularly our political leaders. However, they have always held that health care

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-60843755760387703222009-09-16T06:41:00.000-07:002009-09-16T07:18:38.680-07:00

I'm reading a book by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR which, to be frank, doesn't do a whole lot for me. Mostly a matter of taste. I prefer arguments to allegories, and syllogisms to sentiment. De gustibus non disputandem.However, in the midst of it he cited this passage from Ven. John Henry Newman: For is not this the error, the common and fatal error, of the world, to think itself a judge of

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-16251919445578254712009-09-14T12:04:00.000-07:002009-09-14T12:08:21.505-07:00

Screenwriter John August posts a guest lecture he gave at Trinity University in San Antonio. The main point: be professional, all the time. I happen to agree with him. It's a matter of treating other people with respect.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-78750267051167260622009-09-14T06:40:00.001-07:002009-09-14T12:07:07.566-07:00

Maybe it's because my family name is "King" that I've always had a fascination with great monarchs. My top three favorites are David (of Judah and Israel), Lear (of Britain), and Arthur (of Britain). What I love is the mythos, the wonder of how a single person can change the shape and direction of a whole people, even of the world. It's also no coincidence that all my favorites are tragic kings,

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-48409146238873779912009-09-12T07:43:00.000-07:002009-09-12T07:46:45.853-07:00

Jesus died on the cross so that we could eat bacon. Oh yeah, and our eternal salvation and stuff, too.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-92048251883176199672009-09-12T06:08:00.000-07:002009-09-12T07:42:36.562-07:00

I am extraordinarily fortunate that my parents are still married to each other. It wasn't easy for them. They both have had second thoughts, and even separated for a time to figure things out. But they realized that divorce would not actually solve any of their problems, and that their best chance at happiness was to work at loving each other better.On a larger scale, I've noted before that

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-66609724759305878102009-09-11T15:57:00.000-07:002009-09-11T15:58:53.872-07:00

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-14824226945277095442009-09-10T17:08:00.000-07:002009-09-10T17:26:27.910-07:00

There's lots of indignation for Rep. Joe Wilson, the Congressman who shouted "You lie!" during President Obama's speech last night. Rep. Wilson himself has apologized to the President. The word I've heard most to describe his behavior is "disrespectful". I guess I'd like to ask, disrespectful in what way? Disrespectful for interrupting the President's speech? Well, what about all those standing

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-54638293092556996942009-09-09T21:09:00.000-07:002009-09-09T21:09:00.539-07:00

Okay, twice in a lifetime if you count AM and PM. 9:09:09 on 09/09/09 I'm sure it means something significant.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-23371147567174594302009-09-09T14:01:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:21:41.467-07:00

I'm reading Chesterton's 1910 classic, What's Wrong with the World. So far, it is (as one expects from Chesterton) a very witty retort to common misconceptions of his age, often turning platitudes on their heads. But also, (as one expects from Chesterton,) many of his points remain just as sharp today as they were a century ago. For example:But the difference between the two mental methods [of

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-85432612141035466322009-09-09T06:43:00.001-07:002009-09-09T07:02:51.262-07:00

I know how much you all depend on my posting to give meaning and purpose to your lives, and I have felt the increasing weight of responsibility each day that I have not been able to post recently. *sigh* Here is my explanation. On Friday last, I was part of a team making a major presentation to the staff of my parish. We're doing great things there, and trying to do even greater. Anyway, the

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-49189038752526256632009-09-09T06:33:00.000-07:002009-09-09T06:38:33.199-07:00

An interesting article from the WaPo of a couple weeks back: 5 Myths about Health Care around the World. Here's a quote that caught my eye: The key difference is that foreign health insurance plans exist only to pay people's medical bills, not to make a profit. The United States is the only developed country that lets insurance companies profit from basic health coverage. The main problem with

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-40907330778859282982009-09-02T22:07:00.000-07:002009-09-02T22:09:35.512-07:00

I'm ever so proud to be an American!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-60344857110725213862009-09-02T09:22:00.000-07:002009-09-02T09:58:52.393-07:00

One of the political principles that has become very important to me in my recent researches is Subsidiarity, which is essentially the principle of dealing with problems at the level of society affected by them. In short, deal with local issues locally, and personal issues personally. Here are a couple good articles on why this doesn't necessarily mean a "least common denominator" approach.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-74372072854732642202009-09-01T14:19:00.000-07:002009-09-01T15:06:44.219-07:00

In a world where only the most superficial forms of affection seem to get attention, truly heroic acts of love often go unnoticed. But here are a mother and father truly loving their child -- even though he was diagnosed in utero with a fatal genetic defect. Hat tip to Mark.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-48859920256502616662009-09-01T08:37:00.000-07:002009-09-01T10:02:16.422-07:00

I was having a conversation with a friend about the current health care proposals going through congress. My friend is a devoted member of one of the major parties, and is a lawyer to boot. He's been following politics much of his adult life.Meanwhile, I have spent most of my life as a political cynic, which was my excuse for remaining ignorant and inactive while reserving the right to snark.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-44625463166528700012009-08-31T14:05:00.000-07:002009-08-31T14:07:07.754-07:00

I did a little quick math after I filled up my car yesterday. 42MPG. Not bad for a 13-year-old car!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-18987385421895971892009-08-28T14:34:00.001-07:002009-08-28T14:37:23.438-07:00

This one goes out to the one I love, so to speak: Or, as Alex says, "1980's, how we miss thee not..."

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-34095678004275749142009-08-28T07:04:00.000-07:002009-08-28T15:43:43.437-07:00

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with government running a health care program; it's a practical matter of whether this is the best way to provide health care to all. On the other hand, there is a very real problem with government preventing parents from educating their children. The right to an education means that government must guarantee access to education for all, not that government

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-34212485474105619692009-08-27T16:54:00.000-07:002009-08-27T16:58:55.323-07:00

... for not blogging is that I've been busy with other things, including my babysitting gig. The following is a fairly accurate representation of my godson's activities: There's one exception: they must have done some neat editing to take out the feedings and diaper changes. Neither of my charges could go four hours without food going in or going out.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-61498638883043480992009-08-27T14:11:00.000-07:002009-08-27T17:01:03.951-07:00

So, I have many excuses for not posting much in the last week or so. But the one I'll use is this: it's not easy to speak more clearly than G.K. Chesterton!Anyway, here's my attempt to describe what I think Chesterton means when he says the first principle of democracy, i.e., the common good, is: "that the things common to all men are more important than the things peculiar to any men."Let me

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-46269242103554292352009-08-25T09:26:00.000-07:002009-08-25T11:28:53.031-07:00

This is great fun: statistical maps of the Seven Deadly Sins! Before you take this too seriously, ask yourself......why the entire west coast and most of the northeast is "statistically" lust-neutral? Hollywood? Really? San Francisco? Really? Seattle? Really? New York City? Really? I mean, Vermont I understand, but come on! (hat tip: AmP)

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-2850298988567867882009-08-19T07:39:00.001-07:002009-08-19T07:53:07.643-07:00

Amy accuses me of having read too much philosophy, and therefore of quoting unclear passages. I, after graciously setting aside the incalculable personal offense I take at such an indictment, and refraining from unleashing my armies of ultra-violent yet super-secret agents to erase all memory of her existence from the face of the earth, hereby deign to reply: I do not read too much philosophy!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-86860453846633098642009-08-17T08:13:00.000-07:002009-08-17T08:33:42.127-07:00

The "common good" is one of those concepts that is so plain and obvious that it outwits our attempts to define it -- or at least, outwits my attempts. But I have stumbled upon a particularly clear definition from G.K. Chesterton, in his 1909 book Orthodoxy (Ch. IV):The first [principle of democracy] is this: that the things common to all men are more important than the things peculiar to any men.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-73180470371487587082009-08-12T05:05:00.000-07:002009-08-12T06:02:16.497-07:00

I'm reading a book that's sort of a "how to" on sharing the Gospel in a postmodern cultural setting. Something was bugging me about it, but I couldn't put my finger on it till I talked with my dad about it over some ice cream. (He had chocolate, I had rainbow sherbet.)Now, my dad has been a salesman for most of his life. He sees everything through the lens of sales. And, as we were talking, he

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-58160088314061551202009-08-11T10:27:00.000-07:002009-08-11T10:53:44.504-07:00

I'm camping out here in Jersey City, New Jersey, just across the Hudson from Manhattan, helping some friends prepare for their wedding. And I am growing in my already abundant appreciation of the clear, not-so-humid atmosphere of my home in the Pacific Northwest. So as I was walking to my friends' apartment this morning, I saw a truck driver honk and call out to a young woman who was wearing

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-70978202627332210042009-08-06T08:25:00.000-07:002009-08-06T08:27:14.494-07:00

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-47795202973212676742009-08-04T22:55:00.000-07:002009-08-04T22:59:14.287-07:00

I'm pretty sure that this is the text of the much-talked-about "Obama health care plan." The official title is H.R. 3200. In case you wanted to know what it actually, you know, said. It's also available in .pdf format.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-11347082917744314542009-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:002009-08-04T11:14:56.249-07:00

Way back in 1980, before I was even fully aware of my surroundings, Pope John Paul II published an encyclical titled Dives in misericordia, or Rich in Mercy. Some time in the mid- to late-nineties, I finally read it, and discovered something that confused me greatly: JP2 said that justice was incomplete, insufficient, and inhumane without mercy.This was confusing to me because I thought, as many

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-32127143799802133152009-07-30T11:38:00.000-07:002009-07-30T11:40:33.504-07:00

I'm a slow learner, really. It's only just now that I've figured out how to give other people my Amazon Wish List. Oh you who are gifted with gift-giving resources, behold your opportunity!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-76528401796356100592009-07-30T04:52:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:13:19.233-07:00

According to the non-profit group Downsize DC, both houses of Congress have eliminated requirements that Representatives and Senators hear and/or read -- or even have full copies of -- legislation that they vote on. They have therefore submitted a bill entitled The Read the Bills Act and are trying to get a Congressman/-woman to introduce the bill. They are having little success. Now, much of

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-88038858279774183422009-07-29T09:49:00.001-07:002009-07-29T09:51:27.814-07:00

Another friend pointed me to a Hobbit Name Generator, which has dubbed me (variously) Hugo Hornblower and Grigory Deepdelver. Not sure which I prefer.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-36717343809927740222009-07-29T08:39:00.000-07:002009-07-29T09:37:31.033-07:00

This may only be of interest to Christians, but I'm very interested also in how non-Christians would respond.My friend Sherry posts some thoughts about how American Catholics (and maybe others, but she's speaking from her direct experience) seem reluctant to use the name Jesus in their prayer or in speaking about their faith. Here's a quick quote:We talk incessantly about the Church. But not

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-21421397817029647652009-07-27T21:12:00.003-07:002009-07-27T21:15:02.075-07:00

How could I help myself?

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-7099418991019241862009-07-27T20:35:00.001-07:002009-07-27T21:11:21.496-07:00

I've been having a conversation on Facebook about the difference between the cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) and the theological virtues (faith, hope, and love); and also talking to lots of people about health care (both on-line and off), and in both cases I've found people looking for a bright line dividing one thing from another. With virtue, it's a line

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-33573892946236970692009-07-27T07:08:00.001-07:002009-07-27T07:14:36.865-07:00

Good Intentions + High Aspirations = 0 There's one thing more needed: Positive Action. The lack of which is described by Dear Thomas.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-90040706871880674452009-07-23T15:59:00.000-07:002009-07-23T16:05:38.131-07:00

From the new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate:Pope Paul VI noted that "the world is in trouble because of the lack of thinking". He's referencing Paul VI's Populorum Progressio. The Vatican translation reads, "It must be admitted that men very often find themselves in a sad state because they do not give enough thought and consideration to these things." I think I like Benedict's take better.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-84919429259312746382009-07-23T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-24T23:41:40.503-07:00

I think it may have been a mistake to have read the Harry Potter books before seeing the movies. It's next to impossible to see the film as a work in its own right. I can't help but notice what's missing from the book.Now, Half-Blood Prince easily wins my top prize among the Harry Potter novels. It reaches more deeply than any of the others into the loves, conflicts, and hopes of the characters.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-68988200834205882082009-07-23T07:09:00.000-07:002009-07-23T08:18:18.333-07:00

My dad, who gets most of his information from radio and TV, is adamantly opposed to President Obama's proposal of a government-run health insurance program. I, on the other hand, get most of my information from the far-more-reliable internets, and so-- wait a sec.Maybe we both ought to think for ourselves for a moment.Let's start with a few principles. First, it's hard to deny that a basic level

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-23449703609662587142009-07-16T07:43:00.000-07:002009-07-16T10:31:26.369-07:00

There's plenty of blamestorming about the causes of our current economic troubles. Some look to George W. Bush, some to Clinton, some as far back as Nixon. But I have another proposal to make: let's blame the Supreme Court.No, not our current Court. Let's blame the 1919 Court, who decided Dodge v. Ford Motor Company. According to this Wikipedia article, (I know, Wikipedia! -- but it covers the

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-7158557008483444042009-07-15T06:43:00.000-07:002009-07-15T06:45:36.690-07:00

My family is going through a difficult trial right now, though I'm not really able to give details. Still, please keep us all in your prayers. Thank you, and God bless you!

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-30908440342238519502009-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:002009-07-15T06:42:48.382-07:00

I've participated in the Walk a couple times, and it is one of the most peaceful, joyful events I've had the honor to be a part of. If you can, please send some support! And if you can get to San Francisco in January of 2010, even better!Dear Friends,We are writing to you to ask for your financial support for the 6th Annual Walk for Life West Coast on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010.The Walk for

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-46195928724316585352009-07-14T07:15:00.000-07:002009-07-14T07:40:36.394-07:00

Last night, while driving home, I heard a radio program called "Interrogating Torture" (sorry, no audio) looking at "harsh interrogation techniques" in Israel and Great Britain in light of the memos recently released by Obama's administration.Somewhat to my surprise, I discovered that both Israel and Great Britain abandoned such techniques years ago, while being reluctant to name them "torture",

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-91937358531245819432009-07-14T06:44:00.000-07:002009-07-15T06:03:21.201-07:00

Ask and ye shall receive: Here are photos of the actual color of my car. Note the pink lettering on the hatchback! You can see how difficult it would be to shout at crowds exiting movie theaters from the hood. The roof, maybe...

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-68059749713418199102009-07-12T23:21:00.001-07:002009-07-12T23:26:29.686-07:00

Yes, I got a new car recently, after not having a car for several weeks. Those car-less weeks were trying in a number of ways. But now ... ah, the freedom, ah the power! (Okay, only four cylinders of power, but it'll reach freeway speeds!) Unfortunately, the car is neither high nor rat-colored. And I can't stand on the hood for fear of slipping and falling off. *sigh*

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-56694681625541494842009-07-11T22:00:00.000-07:002009-07-11T22:03:19.086-07:00

Truth is, some other things came up and I didn't make it to his talk. So, sorry to disappoint you who were awaiting my words with baited breath, who were suspending your own judgment until you heard the wisdom that I would impart, who were ready to conform your opinions entirely to mine in recognition of their absolute and perfect truth. Yep, you're just going to have to think for yourselves a

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-25357963942994661612009-07-11T21:22:00.001-07:002009-07-25T11:12:49.584-07:00

This morning I finished reading The Four Cardinal Virtues for the third or fourth time. It's most definitely worth reading and re-reading.This volume is a collection of four separate essays Pieper wrote between 1954 and 1959; but they fit together very well because each of them explains Thomas Aquinas' thought on one of the virtues, and brings it into the context of the twentieth century world.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-71293249214890094732009-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:002009-07-09T10:44:41.145-07:00

Yes, the Vatican, which controls all media outlets everywhere and directly controls the minds of its slobbering zombie subjects via microchips implanted in what's left of their brains ... ... somehow failed to make a big splash in announcing the Pope's new encyclical, Caritas in veritate. I'll let you know what I think of it once I've read it.

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-48965062010538976032009-07-07T10:42:00.000-07:002009-07-07T10:51:57.138-07:00

Yes, I have a Facebook page. And I've been cross-posting this blog over there. And I've been getting some good comments over there -- but they're not really publicly accessible. My main goal with this blog is to spark conversation. So, if you happen to know me via Facebook, please post your comments here on the blog rather than on the FB page. (I know, it's another click or two!) It's worth

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-18713345781240524212009-07-07T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-07T10:22:26.656-07:00

This evening, my local parish is hosting Christopher West for a talk. I had dinner last night with a couple friends who attended a week-long workshop with West about a year ago, and they were raving about him. I myself have been rather ambivalent about West: his presentation style doesn't suit my personality, and I have some quibbles with his approach to theology; but I think he's done a great

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-5524681264036554552009-07-04T20:25:00.000-07:002009-07-04T20:54:07.756-07:00

I was born in the United States of America, and I have reaped untold benefits from my education, my economic situation, and the political liberties that come with life in the U.S.A. I therefore love my country out of duty. I know that I will make few friends in saying that, but I consider honesty to be among the highest of duties, and closely connected to the duty of patriotism. True patriotism

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-79160182475668883562009-07-04T15:31:00.000-07:002009-07-04T21:20:13.595-07:00

... that I'm discerning a call to religious life?Which is why a chum of mine forwarded a NY Times article on nuns in the U.S. to me. We've been having a fascinating email conversation about what's wrong with Catholic religious orders in the U.S., and then it occurred to me: isn't that why I have a blog? So that I can state my own half-crazed views on what's wrong with the world and how it should

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-16389612374359518832009-07-03T21:43:00.000-07:002009-07-03T21:46:31.912-07:00

I am a member of an elite class of highly intelligent people who are fans of "Pearls Before Swine". Unfortunately for me, the local paper doesn't carry this critical item. However, I have wonderful friends who forward to me notable episodes, such as the following: Now, having studied a bit of both philosophy (loving a chick named Sophie) and theology (THE-ology, or THE science), I have to agree

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800367755062239742.post-8918764039693290022009-07-03T21:18:00.000-07:002009-07-03T21:48:34.696-07:00

I've noticed a number of espresso stands in my neighborhood springing up advertising "sexy barristas!" and staffed by scantily clad women. I'm talking pasties scanty. Predictably, the cars line up on weekday mornings, leaving the Starbucks across the street empty. But if I were to object to this business model, do you think I'd be welcomed as a model of virtue? I fear I'd be pooh-poohed as a

Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00382486804381369375noreply@blogger.com1