Random stuff I find interesting and you may not.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill is one of the most elite parish locations in the United States. Thanks to it being the official local parish of the House of Representatives, one regularly expects to share kneelers and holy water fonts with congressmen, prominent members of the media, and the assorted “that guy” provincial … Read more
The promise of strong bones meant something very different to us as children. We thought obtaining the physique of our favorite superhero was as simple as drinking as much milk as possible. Turns out, we were wrong about the prize and the best way to achieve it. According to a new study published in The … Read more
Every power, every faculty, every gift of our nature was given to us for good. Fr. Basil Maturin, Christian Self-Mastery, Page 41 Related PostsSpiritual Guidelines for Souls Seeking God What men need is not to crush and kill their powers, but to find their true use and to use them “What men need is not … Read more
In the increasingly brainwashed world we live in, it is incredibly refreshing when experts are willing to speak the politically incorrect truth. In Thursday’s edition of the Wall Street Journal, biologists Colin M. Wright and Emma N. Hilton provide extensive commentary on the transgender fad and the notion of gender fluidity. What does the science … Read more
Robert Conquest’s Second Law of Politics helps explain American journalism: “Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.” What I saw in my twenty years of working in newsrooms was liberals — even skeptical ones — collapsing in the face of therapeutic progressivism around race, sex, and gender, and other progressive shibboleths. This … Read more
For the first time, there are more residents of the nation’s capital who make at least $100,001 than residents of any other income group, the clearest sign of the economic gap between those who run the federal government and Middle America. Income figures released by the District government found that 87,759 of 354,901 taxpayers in … Read more
WHY TIGTA DID THE AUDIT This audit was initiated in response to concerns raised by Congress and other stakeholders. Their concerns relate to whether the Free File Program is operating as intended, and eligible taxpayers attempting to prepare and e-file their returns at no cost are diverted to tax return preparation services that are not … Read more
At my age, you don’t learn anything, according to current fashionable wisdom (which is always wrong). It also denies that memory is, or can contribute to, learning. (My “always” will cover that, too.) Things which made no sense when they were happening, gain clarity of explanation, after years of experience and thought. We all start … Read more
The Times of London recently reported this protest at Oxford University: How do you respond when placard-waving students occupy your 15th-century quadrangle and refuse to leave until you sell the college’s shares in oil companies? As this is Oxford, naturally you present them with a philosophical dilemma. Two students at St John’s College wrote to … Read more
The Constitution creates a government of enumerated powers, which means the federal government is only authorized to do things that are specifically listed in the Constitution. And that list is relatively short. The list appears in Article One, Section Eight and enumerates the proper objects of congressional legislation. . . . But who ended up … Read more
Among the 75 most populous cities in the U.S., New York City ranks last for the state of its finances, having $63,100 in liabilities per taxpayer, according to a Truth in Accounting (TIA) analysis of municipal data released last month. The nonprofit group, which promotes financial transparency in government, gave New York City a grade … Read more
“We must never make the mistake of thinking signficance is measured by the media….” “The Restoration of Christian Culture,” by John Senior (page 141) The Thomas More Center for the Restoration of Christian Culture Related PostsThe Blather and the Bile Local Broadcasters Forget Journalism Ethics, Air Amazon PR Fluff Instead
In Kansas, the opponents of abortion have gone through the democratic process to pursue their goals and continue to rely on that process; their opponents, in contrast, have consulted the esoteric scrolls and from them decocted a mandate, previously invisible to all readers of the 19th-century document, that just happens to align with their preferences. … Read more
God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not … Read more
Consider, then, this text from Hebrews: Since the children have flesh and blood, [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Heb 2:14-15). … Read more
I am intrigued by this idea via Marc Andreesen that there are no bad innovations — only early ones. The list above shows a variety of start up and more seasoned companies that eventually succumbed to failure, only to see more successful versions appear and thrive a decade or two later. No Bad Ideas, Only … Read more
“Sister Calling My Name,” written by Buzz McLaughlin, is currently being performed by Storm Theatre Company and the Blackfriars Repertory Theatre at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in Manhattan. I’m a friend and fan of all the aforementioned, but I had no idea what I was in for when I walked into the … Read more
Gilles Desaulniers moved to San Francisco 40 years ago, settling in the ‘friendly, quaint and affordable’ city after running out of cash while driving from Canada down the West Coast of America. Today he runs a grocery store filled with fresh fruit, vegan snacks and organic wines typical of this famously liberal Californian city. But … Read more
According to a new survey, Gen Z’s most trusted brands are Google, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and Playstation. What does it mean? Gen Z’s Top 5 Trusted Brands Are WAY Different Than Boomers’
Left to Right: – Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus, and Andrew form a group of three; all are surprised. – Judas Iscariot, Peter, and John form another group of three. – Jesus. – Thomas, James the Greater, and Philip are the next group of three. … – Matthew, Jude Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot are … Read more
The growing patchwork of state internet sales taxes that has emerged since the landmark 2018 Supreme Court decision regarding out-of-state online sellers has hamstrung small businesses with costly compliance burdens. Halstead Bead Inc. an online jewelry supply store in Prescott, Arizona, has found complying with the online sales tax vexing. “It’s been quite challenging,” said … Read more
To speed up clothes drying and prevent lint build-up, install a smooth metal dryer vent. These step-by-step directions walk you through the tough parts. Rigid metal vents are safer than flexible plastic and metal types, which catch more lint, require more cleaning and can retard airflow. Even worse, flexible ducts are easily crushed, which blocks … Read more
If you think every item sold at a home center meets your local building code, think again. There are national, state and local codes and home centers don’t limit their offerings to only what is building code compliant in your local area. It’s up to you to know which products meet code and which ones … Read more
As older adults age into later life, they often face disruptive changes that make their dwellings, neighborhoods and communities seem less appealing. When they retire and seek new leisure, volunteer or career activities, they may be disappointed by what is available nearby. After their children depart, older adults may feel that their homes are uncomfortably … Read more