A typography for the Taylor Mali poem "Speaking with Conviction."
HT: WDTPRS from CMR, from points west.
-Amator
Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.
Lenten Reading Plans
1 hour ago
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A New St. Josaphat? Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev and The Russian Orthodox Church
http://www.insidethevaticanweb.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=letter-47.html&Itemid=169
Inside The Vatican's Robert Moynihan presents a fascinating interview with the Archbishop in charge of External Relations for the Russian Orthodox. Archbishop Hilarion is a man of culture, insight, and profound insight. His answers to Moynihan's questions I found to be thoughtful and provocative. May the Russian Orthodox and our own Catholic Church be blessed with many more like him. I will leave a brief quote from Moynihan's letter, with Hilarion describing why the emphasis of Orthodox-Catholic efforts must be in Europe.
Hilarion: Firstly, because I believe that it is in Europe that the most deadly battles between Christianity and relativism are going to take place in the nearest future. It is in Europe that the onslaught of militant secularism against religion takes the most aggressive forms. It is Europe that most obsessively denies its Christian heritage. It is in Europe that crucifixes are taken away from schools, religious symbols are banned from public places, and Christianity becomes an object of constant criticism, outrage and mockery. It is in Europe that a profound demographic crisis affected Christian population, threatening its very survival. Not that these processes do not take place in other parts of the world, but it is in Europe that they become so stunningly evident.
A wise man indeed!
-Amator
Inside The Vatican's Robert Moynihan presents a fascinating interview with the Archbishop in charge of External Relations for the Russian Orthodox. Archbishop Hilarion is a man of culture, insight, and profound insight. His answers to Moynihan's questions I found to be thoughtful and provocative. May the Russian Orthodox and our own Catholic Church be blessed with many more like him. I will leave a brief quote from Moynihan's letter, with Hilarion describing why the emphasis of Orthodox-Catholic efforts must be in Europe.
Hilarion: Firstly, because I believe that it is in Europe that the most deadly battles between Christianity and relativism are going to take place in the nearest future. It is in Europe that the onslaught of militant secularism against religion takes the most aggressive forms. It is Europe that most obsessively denies its Christian heritage. It is in Europe that crucifixes are taken away from schools, religious symbols are banned from public places, and Christianity becomes an object of constant criticism, outrage and mockery. It is in Europe that a profound demographic crisis affected Christian population, threatening its very survival. Not that these processes do not take place in other parts of the world, but it is in Europe that they become so stunningly evident.
A wise man indeed!
-Amator
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Glass Harp--A Real Instrument?
I never thought of the glass harp as a serious instrument. The above performance gives me second thoughts. What do you think?
-Amator
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Pope Is Right Again
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1340797?eng=y
I know that posting twice on one day is excessive, but I saw this and could not resist. :)
One thing I love about Pope Benedict is how his words seem to call forth the best of the history and tradition of the Church. He could easily be speaking to men in another age, but speaks to mankind in every age.
-Amator
P.S. The link does not seem to work. Copy and paste it to the address bar, instead...
I know that posting twice on one day is excessive, but I saw this and could not resist. :)
One thing I love about Pope Benedict is how his words seem to call forth the best of the history and tradition of the Church. He could easily be speaking to men in another age, but speaks to mankind in every age.
-Amator
P.S. The link does not seem to work. Copy and paste it to the address bar, instead...
Peggy Noonan Gets it Right?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703363704574503631430926354.html
In this article in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan speaks of the current government and how their attempts at legislation and government action are rather unrelated to the lives of ordinary Americans. I recommend the story.
In this article in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan speaks of the current government and how their attempts at legislation and government action are rather unrelated to the lives of ordinary Americans. I recommend the story.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Women Are No Longer Happy?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/opinion/20dowd.html
A New York Times story by Maureen Dowd refers to a study conducted by the group General Social Survey. Interestingly enough, the study concludes that almost every grouping of women is now less happy than from before 1972. Despite the increase in women-held positions in commerce and politics, women are less happy than ever. Dowd continues, explaining that perhaps the traditional role of women kept them happier, and now they balance too much to be happy. While many of her conclusions are logical, her ultimate conclusion that to women, "happiness is beside the point. We’re happy to have our newfound abundance of choices, she said, even if those choices end up making us unhappier." This twisted logic baffles me. The only thing I hear in it is an echo of the cry "non serviam." Though women are less happy, they are more empowered, and that's what matters. I wonder how many unhappy women want empowerment more than happiness? If one makes an absolute freedom of will--essentially trying to decide your own good--a higher good than satisfying that will, you are left only with unhappiness. That, after all, has been man's failing from the Garden till now.
-Amator
A New York Times story by Maureen Dowd refers to a study conducted by the group General Social Survey. Interestingly enough, the study concludes that almost every grouping of women is now less happy than from before 1972. Despite the increase in women-held positions in commerce and politics, women are less happy than ever. Dowd continues, explaining that perhaps the traditional role of women kept them happier, and now they balance too much to be happy. While many of her conclusions are logical, her ultimate conclusion that to women, "happiness is beside the point. We’re happy to have our newfound abundance of choices, she said, even if those choices end up making us unhappier." This twisted logic baffles me. The only thing I hear in it is an echo of the cry "non serviam." Though women are less happy, they are more empowered, and that's what matters. I wonder how many unhappy women want empowerment more than happiness? If one makes an absolute freedom of will--essentially trying to decide your own good--a higher good than satisfying that will, you are left only with unhappiness. That, after all, has been man's failing from the Garden till now.
-Amator
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Incredible! I want to do this
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/the-150-space-camera-mit-students-beat-nasa-on-beer-money-budget?npu=1&mbid=yhp
Two MIT students made a near-space camera using less than $150. How cool is that!
-Amator
Two MIT students made a near-space camera using less than $150. How cool is that!
-Amator
Friday, September 4, 2009
Christ Fulfills the Old Testament
http://bibletidbits.blogspot.com/2009/09/dans-top-10-bible-tidbits-in-minute.html
An interesting blog I found posted this about Our Lord:
In Leviticus 21:10 it says that the high priest is not allowed to tear his garments. (You know in the OT whenever they heard band news they were always tearing their garments and putting dirt on their head)
Well, while Jesus was on trial before the High Priest Caiphas, Jesus admits that he is the Christ and Caiphas the high priest tears his own robes breaking the law in Leviticus 21. But notice something else - in John 19:23 when they are dividing Jesus’ garments (which was a seamless garment, what a priest would where when offering sacrifice). Instead of tearing them they decide to draw lots for them, and his cloths do not get torn showing that Jesus is the new High Priest.
I am familiar with many of the other points in the list Daniel Egan makes, but this one was new to me. Perfect! I love this little gem.
-Amator
An interesting blog I found posted this about Our Lord:
In Leviticus 21:10 it says that the high priest is not allowed to tear his garments. (You know in the OT whenever they heard band news they were always tearing their garments and putting dirt on their head)
Well, while Jesus was on trial before the High Priest Caiphas, Jesus admits that he is the Christ and Caiphas the high priest tears his own robes breaking the law in Leviticus 21. But notice something else - in John 19:23 when they are dividing Jesus’ garments (which was a seamless garment, what a priest would where when offering sacrifice). Instead of tearing them they decide to draw lots for them, and his cloths do not get torn showing that Jesus is the new High Priest.
I am familiar with many of the other points in the list Daniel Egan makes, but this one was new to me. Perfect! I love this little gem.
-Amator
The Obama Administration's Sense of Taste
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2009/09/with-friends-like-these.html
Creative Minority Report reports that the Obama administration, despite the fact it is summer recess, failed to send anyone important to the recent commemoration of the seventy-year anniversary of the start of WWII. Originally intending to send a former Defense Secretary, Obama's team sent his National Security Advisor. That's right: Russia, Germany, Britain, and Poland all sent their head's of state, we sent an advisor. How gauche, how blatantly disrespectful and ignorant of history! Sounds like the public school education taking effect.
-Amator
Creative Minority Report reports that the Obama administration, despite the fact it is summer recess, failed to send anyone important to the recent commemoration of the seventy-year anniversary of the start of WWII. Originally intending to send a former Defense Secretary, Obama's team sent his National Security Advisor. That's right: Russia, Germany, Britain, and Poland all sent their head's of state, we sent an advisor. How gauche, how blatantly disrespectful and ignorant of history! Sounds like the public school education taking effect.
-Amator
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Story of Honduras--Set in the US
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cburgard/2009/09/03/stranger-than-fiction/
Big Hollywood has a post from a reporter recently returned from Honduras. In case you haven't heard (the events were under-reported, due in part to Michael Jackson's death and surrounding media circus) Honduras recently arrested and deported its then-President Manuel Zelaya. He had been democratically elected, but then attempted to Communize Honduras. The army, legislature, and judicial branch resisted, ultimately removing Zelaya from power. The rest of the world refused to observe the real questions at play, and has suspended economic aid to Honduras, while roundly condemning the expulsion of Zelaya. I say the Hondurans who acted as they did are heros, and have done precisely as they ought, despite immense international pressure. Read this article. Satire aside, it is a worthwhile read.
-Amator
Big Hollywood has a post from a reporter recently returned from Honduras. In case you haven't heard (the events were under-reported, due in part to Michael Jackson's death and surrounding media circus) Honduras recently arrested and deported its then-President Manuel Zelaya. He had been democratically elected, but then attempted to Communize Honduras. The army, legislature, and judicial branch resisted, ultimately removing Zelaya from power. The rest of the world refused to observe the real questions at play, and has suspended economic aid to Honduras, while roundly condemning the expulsion of Zelaya. I say the Hondurans who acted as they did are heros, and have done precisely as they ought, despite immense international pressure. Read this article. Satire aside, it is a worthwhile read.
-Amator
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Scientific Darwinism leads to Doctrinal Darwinism
http://ncronline.org/news/spirituality/god-who-beckons
This rather inaccurate article in the notoriously liberal National Catholic Register declares that since Darwinism has been "proved," our idea of the God behind creation (the author presents little idea of what the real relation between the two is) must also change. Since our idea of the world was wrong, our idea of God was wrong. All this leads Joan Chittister to come up with some rather inferior theologies, and an excuse for justifying the change of doctrine. "But as long as we love each other and ensure social justice like Jesus wanted, we are all true Catholics, right?"
-Amator
This rather inaccurate article in the notoriously liberal National Catholic Register declares that since Darwinism has been "proved," our idea of the God behind creation (the author presents little idea of what the real relation between the two is) must also change. Since our idea of the world was wrong, our idea of God was wrong. All this leads Joan Chittister to come up with some rather inferior theologies, and an excuse for justifying the change of doctrine. "But as long as we love each other and ensure social justice like Jesus wanted, we are all true Catholics, right?"
-Amator
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