Interesting H.I.F. Retail sales of alcohol are up 10% over the past year. Link [http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-22/how-americans-are-celebrating-recovery] . That's a pretty phenomenal number.
The Wolf Did you go see The Wolf of Wall Street? I thought about going to it, but after reading this open letter [http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/12/wolf_of_wall_street_prousalis.php?page=2] from the daughter of one of the protagonist's partners in crime, I
Interesting but Old News H.I.F. I remember reading (5? 10?) years ago that 10% of Americans are ex-Catholics, so this is no surprise: "According to recent demographic surveys, it seems there are presently 30 million people in the U.S. who identify themselves as 'former Catholics.'" Link [http:
Interesting H.I.F. "The halo effect discussed earlier contributes to coherence, because it inclines us to match our view of all the qualities of a person to our judgment of one attribute that is particularly significant. If we think a baseball pitcher is handsome and athletic, for example, we
The Hobbit Let me be as blunt yet precise about this as possible: If you are a Tolkien fan, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug sucks. I am not making an unqualified statement about the cinematic merit of the film. I am simply speaking as a long-time Tolkien fan. I bristled at
Friday BYCU The headline from this article [http://www.lewrockwell.com/2013/12/no_author/reject-teetolitarianism/] appears to be the misleading: "Regular but moderate consumption of alcohol makes you healthier and happier than total abstinence." I'm happy to see such a study, of course, but the headline
Interesting H.I.F. 7 Foods and Herbs to Fight the Common Cold: Vitamin C, Kiwi, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger, Echinacea, Oregano Oil, Zinc. Link [http://naturalsociety.com/7-foods-herbs-fight-common-cold/]. It's hard to say, but I think I've had success with zinc and echinacea.
Merry Christmas A Christmas Carol by G.K. Chesterton The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap, His hair was like a light. (O weary, weary were the world, But here is all aright.) The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast, His hair was like a star. (O stern and cunning
Something for Christmas Eve Morning "We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice." Pope Paul VI “There were only two classes of men who heard the cry that night: Shepherds and Wise
Mencken Monday Miscellaneous Rambling Professor Charles Rice used to comment during jurisprudence class that a person didn't need long hair and sandals to be a radical. A person just needed to be a good Catholic. I've long sympathized with that observation. It was brought to mind when I