http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:40:39 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/18/064039.php An American HousewifeTaken from the opening Mass at the Düsseldorf Stadium: from Cardinal Karl Lehmann..... [...] "Nevertheless, he said, there is a more important reason to convince people to make a journey: the 'call of God'. We can recognise this, the Cardinal said, by the fact that 'he pulls us out of the masses, where we would be able to stay hidden.' In other words, God frequently calls us to follow an uncomfortable path. Anyone who follows it, he said, should not 'simply be pursuing his or her own private edification or individual spiritual longings'.[...]WOW, now those are some powerful words. Would you agree? How many of us would rather stay right where we are, doing our own little thing? This especially reminds me of the young men out there who may be called into the priesthood. I have no idea how that process would go. But I do pray for the men who may be thinking of the ecclesiastical vocation.But what about the rest of us; the everyday, average Joe or Jane? I must admit I am not a "get out and get-r-done" person. No, I'd much rather stay right here in the comforts of my home, being a mom and raising decent children, running a household, having the privilege of talking and socializing with my friends, perhaps going back to school myself, even running a business, going to Mass on Sundays, ad infinitum. But I know in my heart that life is much, much more then what I have just listed. It's also about stepping out of my comfort zone. Whether it be helping someone in need, volunteering for a charitable cause, writing letters to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, stepping out and saying "NO" to abortion and to help that cause, lifting up the youth in our community, ad infinitum to that list as well. I know ya'll can add to that list. So, how about it? What else can you do for your fellow man, your community, your church?I know a friend here in my community whose wife is sick with cancer and she doesn't have a very good chance to live within the next two weeks. My name has been added to a list of people to prepare food for him and his family. I will gladly do it for it has been done for me. I would like to think I would gladly do it for this friend whether or not it had been done for me too. I saw this friend this morning and asked if there was anything else I could do besides fix a meal. I told him to call me if there was something more I could do. I have to be honest, I am a little scared to step out of my comfort zone, very selfish on my part I know. I pray that I will be able to say "yes" or "okay" when, or if, the phone call arrives. I did ask this friend if his wife would like visitors and he said, "no, not at this time". I am still thinking of other ways I can help.It has been my experience that when I am able to step out of my comfort zone I always feel better for it in the end. My eight-year-old son has been wanting to stay home from school to be with me. He says he gets all nervous and his stomach gets upset. He doesn't put up that much of a fight to stay home though. I told him this morning that he must face this fear and walk through it in spite of his fear, I told him that was called courage and that he had already demonstrated a lot of courage lately and that I was very proud of him. This morning he went to school without crying and I went on about my business without crying as well.When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Pub:NB Culture34327@blogcritics.org Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:40:39 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/14/102341.php An American HousewifeThis obsessive compulsion to be right rather than to be happy, to talk louder rather than to listen, or to get ahead rather than lift up your fellow man is not just on the internet. No, the internet is just an overflow of television, radio, movie screens, and newspapers. It can be fiction or nonfiction. It can be political or personal. It can be global or local.I was trying to think of a topic to write about today, actually the past few days, and then I found this little piece at Catholic News Service.Snippet: Holding his weekly general audience Aug. 10 at the Vatican, the pope offered reflections on Psalm 131's opening verses, which reject pride in one's self-sufficiency.This then led me to the Vatican's website to look for more. I have been wanting to blog about Pope Benedict XVI for quite some time now and found the following, General Audience, 3 August 2005, on the Vatican's website. It's very short, sweet, and to the point. Dear Brothers and Sisters,Psalm 124, one of the "gradual psalms" traditionally recited during the pilgrimage to Mount Sion, proclaims that all who put their trust in the Lord stand solid and unshakeable. As Jerusalem is protected from its enemies by the mountains that surround her, so the Lord's faithful are defended from all danger by his presence. This psalm speaks to us today. As believers we may experience external difficulties and the inner burden of our own discouragement, mediocrity and fatigue, but the Lord, the just judge, gives us confidence and encouragement. With the Psalmist who contemplates the city of Jerusalem, the symbol of God's peace, we trust in our loving Father who leads us to that peace promised in Christ to God's faithful people. Before I begin my "confessions" regarding the above blockquote, and on a sidenote, I am trying to follow in the footsteps of The Anchoress when she dared her readers to join in with her for some silence. She pronounced, and I quite agree, that things are too loud lately. Yes, indeed. And though I'm not doing a very good job in following her suggestion I still wanted to post on this subject of depending on God. If I cannot be quiet then let me speak of spiritual matters instead of spewing out my opinions on political icons, current and local affairs, or my every day run of the mill family managing skills. My confessions on pride vs. humility:I have come to realize in the 48 hours that have passed behind me I have not trusted, or depended, on God. There was a short time, recently, that all things seemed the way they should be. But Monday and Tuesday (my crappy days) I had forgotten to place my life and my will in God's Hands. Hence, the reason for feeling out of control and scared. I am only human, after all.This business of depending on God is also scary territory, for me, to trudge. However, from experience I know it is the most rewarding way and always puts my mind and heart at peace and ease.I don't know if you can tell or not but I have been trying to steer my blog in a more spiritual/faith based related theme. Lately I have noticed a tribe of word-slingers and their brassiness on the blogosphere with earsplitting shrills saturated in conceit that gives the super-sized Michael Moore a run for his fries money, all in the name of "getting noticed" by some golden calf icon blogger.This obsessive compulsion to be right rather than to be happy, to talk louder rather than to listen, or to get ahead rather than lift up your fellow man is not just on the internet. No, the internet is just an overflow of television, radio, movie screens, and newspapers. It can be fiction or nonfiction. It can be political or personal. It can be global or local.Look around your own community and you will find it in the obnoxious honking of horns in the morning rush hour traffic, you will find it in the cesspool of gossip, you will find it in the little white lies that lead to more little white lies one tells in the name of self-justification, you will find it in the soccer mom pushing her offspring into expectations of gargantuan proportion that not even the most heralded Olympian could live up to, you will find it in today's immortal-attitude youth, and you will find it "in the name of God" man-made religiosity. Yes, I have been guilty on all accounts at some time or another. Shoot, I can still be in that self-centered pit of darkness, today, when I don't stop, rest, and abandon myself to God; or at least pray and ask that His Will be done, not mine.And just what is His Will for me on any given day? The answer is simpler then one might think. Be of service to others, share and use my God given talents for His Work.Whenever I am upset at anything or anyone I must always look at myself. Where am I wrong? When I am angry I need to ask myself, "what am I afraid of?", and most importantly, when I do find my fault, and I inevitably do, I can then ask for forgiveness, make my amends, and try my best not to act in "that way" again. Sci/Tech34135@blogcritics.org Sun, 14 Aug 2005 10:23:41 EDT