The Thinking Housewife

Stumbled on her blog today.

The rewards of larger families, domestic crafts, volunteer work, artistic pursuits and vigilance toward the elderly will be rediscovered. Instead of being openly disparaged by our opinion-shaping institutions, these will be embraced and publicly celebrated.

Oh, The Irony

of me posting this here, obv.

It soon became clear to them that the vast majority of what is written on the web goes unread and even that which is read, is quickly forgotten.

My Review of Sowell’s “Housing Boom and Bust”

In today’s Spectator.

Copa NYC

Check this out if you’re in the area.  Some of these teams actually have world-class players.

Will Call

In the days before the telephone, the phrase “I will call on you” was commonly used to mean that someone will visit you, or speak to you. The phrase has since largely fallen into disuse, with the word “call” being much more commonly associated with the telephone than speaking to someone in person. The term “will call”, however, has stuck, and means that the customer “will call on” the company to pick up the tickets or merchandise, as opposed to having the items delivered to them

Almost, but not really

Just saw the highlights of the All-Star game. (Does anyone watch anymore?) The saddest thing about it was how pathetic Obama’s throwing motion was. How is it possible that a guy doesn’t know how to throw a baseball? It should be a sine qua non of manhood, along with changing a tire, grilling a steak, etc. If you can’t throw a baseball, move to Canada.

Almost, Almost

[Text messages]

Gumshoe:

On a bus with a large watermelon on my lap and two spoons in my pocket. going to the quad to devour it with a beautiful girl on a warm summer night

Me:

Well played, mon frere…

I hope you have a knife.

Gumshoe:

I don’t, god help me

serge gainsbourg and whitney houston

classic comedy:

Aritotelianism

The two greatest philosophers of the ancient pagan world both thought that a single, good, omnipotent god exists. Plato and Aristotle both thought that this was knowable and that their philosophies led rationally and undeniably to this conclusion.

I think that, more than any other single consideration, is what occasioned the modern (post-medieval) repudiation of Aristotelian-Thomism.  Grant the principles that Aristotle saw in nature -  especially the most basic, like actuality and potency – and one must logically and rationally conclude that there is a God. (Aquinas’s natural theology is essentially an exposition on what the god known to reason must be like. It is neither revelation nor mysticism, but a clear, succinct, and eminently reasonable treatise.)  Not only must there be a god, but also there must be absolute truth, right and wrong, good and bad action…all the things which our culture tries so hard to do away with.

Indeed, Aristotelianism has been trashed, but in name only and superficially. Modern quantum mechanics is understood in Aristotelian ideas couched in other terms. The flaws in Newtonian physics could have been (and were) exposed by concepts that ultimately derived from Aristotle’s Physics. Even the great non-teleology of Darwinian evolution is steeped in teleology, but by another name.

But why deny the obvious? Why deny that there are final causes when there manifestly are? Why routinely and automatically deride one of the greatest minds? Why would certain enlightenment philosophers try to prove the same things as Aristotle and Aquinas but reject their principles, the principles which really lead to the desired conclusions? It doesn’t make any sense when one regards only the intellectual.

But when you consider where these principles lead morally, then it makes sense.

Coach Chollo

Fr. Berg on the Legionairies

More seriously, the lived manner in which Legionaries practice obedience is laced with the kind of unquestioning submission which allowed the cult of personality to emerge around the figure of Maciel in the first place and covered for his misdeeds. Legionary seminarians are essentially trained to suspend reason in their obedience and to seek a total internal conformity with all the norms, and to withstand any internal impulse to examine or critique the norms or the indications of superiors.

[h/t AMP]

Four Seasons

The wife and I were discussing the best places to live the other day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t name a place that has perfect weather year round (if you’re looking for seasons.) I think the ideal would be: New England’s fall and winter, Virginia’s spring, and Calgary’s summer (not too hot, no humidity, only a few thunderstorms).

Literary Oasis

I think it may be because I am in a sort of intellectual wasteland most of my days, but every novel I have read this summer has been as enjoyable as my first ice cream after lent.

I started off with Into the Wild by Krakauer (not actually a novel), which was very thought provoking but also quite frustrating. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do before you are misled by the movie. It overglorifies a figure which I think ought to be, if not criticized, praised only with reserve and caution.

The next was a return to Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Illyich.” What a fantastic writer! His descriptions of Ivan’s sickness and despair in the face of death were so real as to make me feel slightly nauseated. I had to put down my lunch when reading.

The third was a third stab at Joseph Conrad. The first two books I read of his were at an unfortunately early age, leaving me with a lack of appreciation for his amazing talent. This time I read “Under Western Eyes”, a thoroughly moving story with equally enjoyable writing. Conrad’s first language was Polish, which makes me think that having English as his second language enabled him to be particularly aware of his wording, leaving his descriptions remarkably apt. The predominant feeling I had when reading him – besides the emotions corresponding to the story – were “If I had any power of description, that is exactly how I would have described that!”

Finally, I am reading my first Somerset Maugham novel – A Razor’s Edge. I am only about half way through, but I can hardly put it down. I am accordingly hesitant to comment extensively on it, but I doubt if I would unhesitatingly recommend it upon finishing.

Where Sheep may Safely Graze

Being Stupid is Humbling

Athletes, actors, politicians, basically anyone who on occasion is publicly recognized or awarded something, they have a habit of saying that they’re humbled by this. WTF is that about??? Shouldn’t you be proud?

“Hey man, here’s a gold statue and $100,000 because you are so awesome!” How humiliating!

It irritates me when people say that – not so much because it’s false, but because they don’t know what the eff-word they’re saying.