Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Monday, December 30, 2024
and applying it to the understanding, he shows how it is reduced from potential to act, not indeed by suffering, but rather by perfecting itself
He distinguishes that every one is in power bifurcated; either simply, or in some sense; and applying it to the understanding, he shows how it is reduced from potential to act, not indeed by suffering, but rather by perfecting itself
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Friday, December 27, 2024
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Monday, December 23, 2024
When The Celebrity Is Too Big For The Performance
Timothée Chalamet’s gargantuan fame eclipses his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” But that’s only one of the many problems the film has.
"and they don’t seem to really know who the other person is — and neither does the audience. That’s just lazy storytelling."
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Friday, December 20, 2024
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Saturday, December 14, 2024
From Prufrock
Good morning! Paul Kingsnorth gave this year’s Erasmus Lecture in New York. It’s called “Against Christian Civilization,” and it has now been published in the January issue of First Things:
What is this “West”? Well, it depends whom you ask. A liberal, a conservative, a reactionary, and a Marxist might give very different answers. But let us, instead, ask a historian. In his book Religion and the Rise of Western Culture, written shortly after the Second World War, the medievalist Christopher Dawson offered his definition: ‘There has never been any unitary organisation of Western culture apart from that of the Christian Church, which provided an effective principle of social unity. . . . Behind the ever-changing pattern of Western culture there was a living faith which gave Europe a certain sense of spiritual community, in spite of all the conflicts and divisions and social schisms that marked its history.’
The West, said Dawson, was a religious construction. Specifically, it was a creation of the Roman Catholic Church. This is the only reason we talk about a “West” at all. But this claim immediately raises a question. If the Christian faith is the basis of Western culture, what happens when that faith retreats—or is rejected? We know the answer, because that rejection, or retreat—what the poet Matthew Arnold called the “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar” of the “sea of the faith”—has been going on perhaps since the Renaissance. As we survey the twenty-first-century landscape, at least in Western Europe, we can see that our founding religion is now defunct as a guiding force and a cultural glue.
A question logically arises from that observation: Is the decline of Christianity responsible for our current malaise? Is our lack of faith at the root of our loss of confidence and the ensuing inversion of our old values? The answer to this, in one sense, is obviously yes. As another historian, Tom Holland, demonstrated in his book Dominion, it was Christianity that formed the Western mind. When such a sacred order dies, there will be upheaval at every level of society, from politics right down to the level of the soul.
This, I think, is where we are. And I am hardly the only one to have noticed. In fact, almost everyone who is paying attention has by now noticed. Some of those people, in response, have come to a conclusion: Since Christianity was the basis of this “Western” culture of ours, and since this culture is now sick or even dying, the way to revive it must be to revive Christianity—not so much as a religion, but rather as a social glue, or even as a weapon. What we need, we increasingly hear from many different quarters, is a return to something called “Christian civilization”—regardless of whether the Christian faith is, in fact, true.
At a certain level, this might appear to be an attractive narrative. But I believe it is a deadly mistake.
It’s a bracing lecture. You can also watch it here.
Friday, December 13, 2024
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Monday, December 9, 2024
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Simplicus Luck and chance
https://archive.org/details/onaristotlesphys0000simp_h9k7/page/86/mode/2up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/onaristotlesphys0000simp_h9k7/page/100/mode/2up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/onaristotlesphys0000simp_h9k7/page/114/mode/2up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/onaristotlesphys0000simp_h9k7/page/118/mode/2up?view=theater
Friday, December 6, 2024
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Monday, December 2, 2024
Friday, November 29, 2024
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Monday, November 25, 2024
Catharine, a noble virgin of Alexandria
Catharina, nobilis virgo Alexandrina, a prima aetate studia liberalium artium cum fidei ardore conjungens, brevi ad eam sanctitatis et doctrinae perfectionem pervenit, ut decem et octo anuos nata eruditissimum quemque superaret. Quae cum Maximini jussu multos propter christianae religionis professionem varie tornetis cruciatos, ad supplicium rapi videret, non dubitanter ipsum audiit Maximinum, eique nefariam immanitatem objeciens, sapientissimis rationibus Christi fidem ad salutem necessariam esse affirmavit.
Cujus prudentiam Maximinus admiratus, retineri eam jubet, accersitis undique doctissimis hominibus, magnisque propositis praemiis, qui convictam Catharinam a Christi fide ad idolorum cultum perduxissent. Quod contra accidit. Nam plures philosophi, qui ad eam coarguendam convenerant, vi ac subtilitate ejus disputationis tauto Jesu Christi amore sunt incensi, ut pro illo mori non dubitaverint. Quamobrem Maximinus blanditiis ac promissis Catharinam de sententia deducere aggreditur: verum id frustra fieri intelligens, verberibus affectam, plumbatisque contusam, dies undecim sine cibo ac potu inclusam tenet in carcere.
Quo tempore Maximini uxor, et Porphyrius belli dux, visendae virginis causa carcerem ingressi, et ejusdem praedicatione in Jesum Christum credentes, postea martyrio coronati sunt. Interim Catharina educitur e custodia, et rota expeditur, crebris et acutis praefixa gladiis, ut virginis corpus crudelissime dilaceraretur. Quae machina brevi, Catharinae oratione, confracta est: eoque miraculo multi Christi fidem suscepereunt. Ipse Maximinus in impietate et crudelitate obstinatior, Catharinam securi percuti imperat. Quae fortiter dato capite, ad duplicatum virginitatis et martyrii praemium evolavit septimo calendas Decembris: cujus corpus ab angelis in Sina Arabiae monte mirabiliter collocatum est.
Catharine, a noble virgin of Alexandria, united from early youth the study of the liberal arts with an ardent faith; and attained in a short time to such a degree of holiness and science, that at the age of eighteen she surpassed the most learned men. Seeing many, at the command of Maximin, cruelly tortured and executed for professing the Christian religion, she went boldly to Maximin himself and reproached him for his impious cruelty, showing him by wise reasons that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation.
Maximin, marvelling at her wisdom, caused her to be kept in custody. Then he summoned the most learned men from all parts, and promised a large reward to him that should refute Catharine's arguments, and lead her from the faith of Christ to the worship of idols. But the result was contrary to his expectations. For many of the philosophers who had assembled to refute her were, by the force and subtility of her reasoning, so enkindled with love of Jesus Christ, that they were ready to die for him. Maximin next tried to seduce her by flatteries and promises; but seeing his labour lost, he caused her to be lashed and torn with scourges tipped with lead, and finally shut up in prison for eleven days without food or drink.
During this interval, Maximin’s wife, and Porphyrius general of the army, going to see the virgin in prison, were by her exhortations brought to believe in Jesus Christ, and were afterwards crowned with martyrdom. Meanwhile Catharine was brought out of prison, and a wheel was set up garnished with many sharp knives cruelly to rend the virgin’s body. But at Catharine’s prayer the wheel was speedily broken; by which miracle many were converted to the faith of Christ. Maximin only grew more obstinate in wickedness and cruelty, and ordered Catharine to be beheaded. Offering her head bravely to the sword, she took her flight to heaven, adorned with the double crown of virginity and mrtyrdom, on the seventh of the Kalends of December. Her body was miraculously carried away by angels and buried on Mount Sinai in Arabia.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Saturday, November 23, 2024
The Clarinet in Early America: Some Preliminary Findings
I retain for instance among my domestic servants a gardener... weaver... a cabinet maker... and a stone- cutter... to which I would add a vigneron. In a country where, like yours, music is cultivated and practised by every class of men, I suppose there might be found persons of those trades who could perform on the French horn, clarinet or hautboy and bassoon, so that one might have a band of two French horns, two clarinets and hautboys and a bassoon, without enlarging their domest[ic] expences. ...Without meaning to give you trouble, perhaps it mig[ht] be practicable for you in your ordinary intercourse with your pe[ople] to find out such men disposed to come to America. Sobriety and good nature would be desirable parts of their characters.
Friday, November 22, 2024
Aristotle's Metaphysics -- motion as an illustration of change
But there are two cases in which A comes strictly from or out of B, that in which B retains its substantial nature but develops, and that in which B disappears and its substratum takes on a new and opposite substantial nature. The second case is γÎνεσις proper; the first may be either change of quantity (αὔξησις), as when a boy becomes a man, or of quality (ἀλλοίωσις), as when an ignorant person becomes learned. But it is not coextensive with αὔξησις and ἀλλοίωσις : Aristotle is thinking only of those cases in which the change is development towards an end (τελείωσις) and cannot be reversed (I. 32).
https://archive.org/details/aristotlesmetaph0001aris/page/217/mode/1up
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Putin Lowers Nuclear-Strike Threshold as Ukraine Launches Long-Range Missiles into Russia
Putin’s new nuclear doctrine proclaims that Russia can use nuclear weapons in response to an attack from a non-nuclear state with support from a nuclear state, a clear reference to U.S. support for Ukraine. The doctrine formalizes a policy Putin announced in September during a televised meeting with top officials.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Everything That Rises Must Converge
The title "Everything That Rises Must Converge" refers to (without endorsing) a work by the French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin titled the "Omega Point":[3] "Remain true to yourself, but move ever upward toward greater consciousness and greater love! At the summit you will find yourselves united with all those who, from every direction, have made the same ascent. For everything that rises must converge."
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Misinformation
Their last tenuous grasp on classic liberalism collapsed in Democrats’ exuberant war against free speech, under the misleading banner of “misinformation.”
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/unconditional-saturday-november-16
Friday, November 15, 2024
Ingredients listed for Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette
Canola oil, water, balsamic vinegar, distilled vinegar, sea salt, .
Less than 2% of: extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, black pepper, onion puree (onion, vinegar, salt), red bell peppers*, oregano*, basil*, basil*, parsley*, marjoram*, xanthan gum, green onion*.
* dried
BC 007
Topline results of Phase 2 Long Covid trial do not show evidence of superior efficacy of BC 007 over placebo arm
Berlin, Germany, 13 November 2024Thursday, November 14, 2024
Capitol Rioter Yells in Court, Tells Prosecutors 'Drop All Charges' or Make 'Counteroffer'
Zach Alam, an accused Capitol rioter, is looking to represent himself in court and, working as his own attorney, made an offer to the court to drop the charges against him or have prosecutors "make me a counteroffer."
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Monday, November 11, 2024
18 Of 19 States Harris Won Appear To Share One Major Risk To Election Integrity
Of the 19 states won by Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, 18 of them don’t require voters to show photo identification to vote, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) review of laws in effect as of April 2024.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Friday, November 8, 2024
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Students Experience King Lear in NYC
Upon arrival on the Upper East Side, the group stopped by St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church to attend Mass. Dedicated in 1918, the church has been in the care of the Dominican Friars for more than a century. Its architectural beauty did not escape the attention of the students, who, after Mass, took some time to admire the many side altars and stained-glass windows, two of which featured the College’s patron — St. Thomas Aquinas — and Aristotle.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Tom Holland (author)
Christianity
[edit]Although his father is an atheist, Holland was raised in the Christian church by his "devout Anglican" mother, and he said in 2013 that because of her example "I've always associated Anglicanism with goodness and decency and generosity of spirit and compassion, so I never had that visceral association of Christianity or institutional religion with repression or dogma or illiberalism."[78] Nonetheless, as an adult he disavowed belief in the existence of God, saying "I have seen no evidence that would satisfy me that anything supernatural exists. I have seen no proof for god."[78]
In 2016, he wrote an article titled "Why I Was Wrong About Christianity" for the New Statesman, in which he said that he had come to realise he was incorrect to have thought in the past that his own western values derived from the Greece and Rome of antiquity and owed nothing to Christianity:
On July 2, 2024, The Times published a letter to the editor, co-signed by Holland and numerous other Catholic and non-Catholic public figures, calling upon the Holy See to preserve what they describe as the "magnificent" cultural artifact of the Catholic Church's Traditional Latin Mass.[80]
Monday, November 4, 2024
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Irving police reopen 36-year-old cold case of murdered pregnant woman
https://www.fox4news.com/news/patricia-wilson-garcia-murder-1988-irving-cold-case-reopened
When Patricia Ann Wilson was born on 26 October 1965, in Dallas, Texas, United States, her father, Robert George Wilson, was 36 and her mother, Theresa Agnes Schiltz, was 37. She died on 29 April 1988, in Irving, Dallas, Texas, United States, at the age of 22, and was buried in Irving, Dallas, Texas, United States.
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LV7Z-KV1/patricia-ann-wilson-1965-1988
At the time of her death, Garcia was only 22 years old. She had been employed at Allstate Insurance and left behind a husband and a young daughter.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137019013/patricia-anne-garcia
Cause of Death Revealed for Jocelyn Nungaray, 12-Year-Old Texas Girl Found Slain in Creek
https://people.com/jocelyn-nungaray-texas-girl-found-slain-creek-cause-death-8667602
We have decided to keep this gofundme up and running to help Jocelyns mother and little brother have the opportunity to properly mourn in peace.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Poverty and Single-Parent Families
Family Structure About half of children (48 percent) in low-income families – 15.1 million – and 37 percent of children in poor families – 5.6 million – live with married parents. 30 percent of all children with married parents – 15.1 million – live in low-income families. 68 percent of all children with a single parent – 16.2 million – live in low-income families.
https://www.nccp.org/publication/basic-facts-about-low-income-children-2009-children-under-age-18/
In a First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women
Young men have different concerns. They are less educated than their female peers. In major cities, including New York and Washington, they earn less.
Monday, October 28, 2024
For years, the Delphi double murder case went cold. Then a volunteer found a file with an interesting piece of information
Shank submitted the tip to the detective in charge of the investigation because she thought it was worth looking into, she testified last week at Allen’s trial for the murders of Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13, and Liberty “Libby” German, 14, in Delphi, Indiana.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/us/delphi-murders-richard-allen-case/index.html
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Parents of Utah woman accused of killing her husband are arrested after bombshell revelation
Jennifer Gledhill reported Johnson missing on Sept. 28 — but a man subsequently came forward and told police he had an “extramarital affair” with her and that she confessed to killing her husband, according to prosecutors.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Mother of baby boy mauled to death by dogs opens up about attack
He and his wife Erika Castro say they're mad Heather Rodriguez who was supposed to be babysitting Jiryiah left him at home with the dogs. Rodriguez was arrested after the attack and is being charged with three felonies.
Friday, October 25, 2024
Homicide victim featured on "America's Most Wanted" identified 38 years after her body was found in Louisiana lake
The woman has now been identified as Pamela Lee Hupp, also known as Deborah Gail Justice, the sheriff's office said in a news release Tuesday. Hupp, who was born in April 1958, was pregnant at the time of her death, and her last known residence was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, authorities said.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/homicide-victim-identified-louisiana-lake-pontchartrain-pamela-hupp/
Florida man accused of throwing 10-year-old girl from car, leaving her on busy roadway in the middle of the night
https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-man-throwing-girl-from-car-leaving-roadway-overnight/61744156
Other deputies stopped Serrano’s vehicle near West 192 and Old Lake Wilson Road, which is west of Interstate 4. During the stop, Serrano advised that he had a verbal agreement with other family members (whose names were redacted in the report). He said those family members had texted him less than an hour prior, demanding he return the girl to the residence, they would “involve law enforcement.”
Though Serrano’s arrest report is partially redacted and thus lacks specific details such as names and certain relations, he spoke of having entered a verbal agreement regarding visitation, as well as claiming his alleged actions were in response to receiving a warning that law enforcement would be called on him “if he did not return her to the residence,” which the deputy reported was about a 21-minute walk from where the girl had been left behind.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Boy, 14, fell in love with ‘Game of Thrones’ chatbot — then killed himself after AI app told him to ‘come home’ to ‘her’: mom
He is survived by his mother, Megan Garcia, father, Sewell Setzer, Jr., step-father, Alexander Garcia, sister, Kayla Taft, and brothers, Alexander Garcia and Gabriel Garcia,
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sanford-fl/sewell-setzer-11692220
Sewell stole back his phone on the night of February 28. He then retreated to the bathroom in his mother's house to tell Dany he loved her and that he would come home to her....
That's when Sewell put down his phone, picked up his stepfather's .45 caliber handgun and pulled the trigger.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13992101/teen-boy-suicide-chatbot-ai-message.html
Setzer has two younger siblings. Everyone in the family was home at the time of his death, and Garcia said Setzer's 5-year-old brother saw the aftermath.
"He thought by ending his life here, he would be able to go into a virtual reality or 'her world' as he calls it, her reality, if he left his reality with his family here," she said. "When the gunshot went off, I ran to the bathroom … I held him as my husband tried to get help."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-mother-lawsuit-character-ai-sons-death/
Three times is enemy action
“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Should we try to fix political parties…or improve them?
https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/autobiography/
Title: Inquiry Into the Origin and Course of Political Parties in the United States
