Weddings

As a note, my sister Brenna got married this past weekend to Brett Philbrick. Brett is the younger brother of Ryan Philbrick, who was part of the skater crowd back in high school. I always felt the skaters were a group that tormented me, though looking back I have a hard time recalling exactly how they were. I know sometimes we were at odds, especially those skaters who were Catholic, but as far as the name-calling, tripping in hallways, and so on... I recall that those things happened, but not who did them anymore. I guess I'm growing up.

Anyway, I was uneasy at first with Brenna dating Brett, but as we got to know him better, I started feeling comfortable, and then appreciative of the man who has now become my brother-in-law. We have few things in common, true, but I respect him and am happy for both him and my sister. I hope to earn his respect, as he has earned mine, and I hope our future occasions together will be close.

NFL Week 17

I didn't quite get around to making my picks, but here's the rundown of how I would have called the games:

NYG @ MIN: NYG
STL @ ATL: ATL
NE @ BUF: NE
DET @ GB: DET
CAR @ NO: NO
CHI @ HOU: CHI
CLE @ PIT: PIT
KC @ CIN: KC
TEN @ IND: IND
OAK @ TB: TB
JAC @ BAL: BAL
MIA @ NYJ: MIA
DAL @ PHI: DAL
WAS @ SF: WAS
SEA @ ARI: ARI
DEN @ SD: DEN

This would have given me a record of 7-9, not very good. So this is how my season went:

Week 17: 7-9
Week 16: 9-7
Week 15: 7-9
Week 14: 13-3
Week 13: 13-3
Week 12: 13-3
Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

My tally will be 31 games short, missing weeks 1 and 2, but for the 15 weeks I did call, I was 144-81, which means overall my guesses were much better than coin flips. (If you flipped a coin, you'd expect to have guessed correctly on around 104-120 games in that duration. For all 256 games, the range is about 120-136.)

Now, we just have the playoffs, which Denver so gracefully missed, having a 3 game lead on San Diego with 3 games to go. But this is Denver we're talking about. And I can only say: better luck next season.

Right now, I'm hoping for a Manning-on-Manning Super Bowl. I think that would be the greatest showdown in football yet.

American Catholic Doings

I have a new post up at the American Catholic detailing the problem with premarital sex. It was tough to sit down and figure out how exactly I wanted to write this one, which is why I procrastinated two weeks on it, writing a filler pointing a post by Steve Greydanus and writing about Catholics and guns. Ah well. It is finally up. I originally wanted to include adultery in this post, but the topic of premarital sex ended up filling my quota (which is keeping the post to a length that first covers all the points I want to make and second isn't too long). So I'll try to hammer out some good things on adultery for my next post.

NFL Week 16

IND @ JAC: IND 24-22

BAL @ DAL: BAL 16-14

CIN @ CLE: CIN 17-12

PIT @ TEN: TEN 13-9

SF @ STL: SF 24-10

SD @ TB: TB 34-20

MIA @ KC: KC 21-20

NO @ DET: NO 33-21

ARI @ NE: NE 24-21

HOU @ OAK: HOU 27-16

BUF @ DEN: DEN 30-20

NYJ @ SEA: NYJ 24-17

ATL @ MIN: ATL 24-23

PHI @ WAS: PHI 31-14

CAR @ NYG: CAR 22-14

GB @ CHI: CHI 30-21

Confidence: 10-6

Week 15: 7-9
Week 14: 13-3
Week 13: 13-3
Week 12: 13-3
Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

Day Without a Gay Bust

So it seems that the "Day Without a Gay" protest drew little attention and few participants. Apparently a few people have commented that, given the bad economy, it simply wasn't prudent to strike, that such a an effort would have a backlash on the gay community.

That explanation doesn't seem to work, to me. Maybe I'd be a bit more ruthless in this, but a poor economy would, to me, be the best time, so that the message hits home hardest. But then, I suspect that maybe the reason the protest didn't find wide participation is because, in contrast with similar protests by blacks and Hispanics, homosexuality doesn't manifest visually in terms of unalterable traits. While I'm willing to concede to the theory that "homosexuality is not a choice", nevertheless homosexual actions do involve choice. One can choose to engage in homosexual sex, or one can choose to refrain. One can choose to be "flaming", or one can choose to appear no different than any other random Joe on the streets.

The problem the gay movement is having, I think, is this. The black movement truly and honestly dealt with discrimination that targeted something blacks simply could not change. Moreover, blacks were fighting to be recognized as far more than just a skin color. Those in the gay movement, though, are largely discriminated against for their behavior (and not their sexual preference per se). What this amounts to, then, is that in order to equate their struggles as being discriminated against as something that they are, they have to reduce themselves to nothing but gay, and I don't think most people with homosexual tendencies want to completely subsume themselves under a single label.

To simplify, because the onus is on the behavior, not on an unchangeable trait, people in the gay movement have to make that behavior an unchangeable part of their being, essentially make "gay" the sole qualifying detail about themselves. They have to reduce themselves to a single label in order to make this discrimination fit, and I would conjecture that the human mind find such a reduction of self unappealing.

NFL Week 15

NO @ CHI: NO (It is a big gamble betting on NO on a road game, but CHI has been just an inconsistent as NO. While Ortan may be back in good shape and the passing defense has stepped up, Brees should still be able to pick apart CHI. I expect this to be high scoring and close. 32-28)

SF @ MIA: MIA (Two things will work against SF: the first is turnovers, and the second is traveling to the east coast. 19-10)

TB @ ATL: ATL (I see no reason to believe that TB will upset the home-streak in the NFC South. But then, all four teams are very capable, and this will be a showdown as much as any other NFC South game. 35-33)

WAS @ CIN: WAS (CIN's woes just continue unabated, and while WAS has struggled, they should be equal to CIN. It will probably be a low-scorer. 17-9)

SD @ KC: KC (I have a feeling SD is going to try too hard and blow this game. I think Rivers will throw two critical interceptions that will undermine the whole game, and SD will lose a close one in Arrowhead Stadium. 21-20)

GB @ JAC: GB (GB should be able to top the woeful JAC, who are without their best receiver and might be short one of their two primary running backs. Couple that with poor performance overall, and GB should not have to worry about a last minute comeback for victory. 27-18)

TEN @ HOU: TEN (It is hard to see how TEN could blow this one. They're still driving strong, and while HOU is resurgent late in the season, they will fall to 6-8. 27-21)

SEA @ STL: SEA (I give this to the team with the exiting coach, who will want to play hard for him. Maybe, having played close several games against play-off contending teams, SEA will find the opportunity here to post another W. The least that can be said is that at least one of the teams will have 3 wins after this game. 24-10)

DET @ IND: IND (DET seems to be on the verge of running through QBs the way DEN is running through running backs. This mix-up will make it very difficult for DET to mount an offense, and its woeful defense will not stop Manning. 30-10)

BUF @ NYJ: NYJ (Mainly, due to Edward's injury, I doubt that BUF will manage their first AFC East victory. After two losses, Favre will be ready to go. 27-13)

MIN @ ARI: ARI (MIN at times has been inconsistent, and they might be having some problem with the QB position, after Frerotte's injury. But I pick the home team in a contest that should be close. 30-28)

NE @ OAK: NE (I think we might see a reprise of Favre's performance in blowing OAK after his father's death. Cassel--and let us all offer prayers for his father--might come back and lead NE to a much needed victory. OAK, on the other hand, is struggling and struggling and, more important, struggling. If NE can keep OAK from scoring on special teams, they might be able to keep OAK from scoring altogether. 17-6)

PIT @ BAL: BAL (Of the two, BAL has shown more resilience of late, but it will be a nail-biter. 19-17)

DEN @ CAR: DEN (Once again, just making my team the winning pick. CAR should have this one in the bag, but DEN has been surprising before, and might just sweep the NFC South. 34-30)

NYG @ DAL: NYG (I expect the woes to keep piling up on DAL, and NYG to be resurgent after last week's loss. But then, DAL should win if NYG receivers still can't catch the ball. 24-22)

CLE @ PHI: PHI (If this is a contest, then Reid and McNabb better be working on their resumes. 30-9)

Confidence: 10-6

Week 14: 13-3
Week 13: 13-3
Week 12: 13-3
Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

NFL Week 14

OAK @ SD: SD (While SD has had its share of struggles and is only one game ahead of OAK in the division, I expect they'll come out swinging harder than OAK. It will be a tough game, though, just like the game against KC was tough. 17-6)

JAC @ CHI: CHI (Expect CHI to regroup from last week in their typical swing of good to bad to good. JAC, on the other hand, is pretty much out of the playoff picture, is in disarray, and is only fighting to avoid losing a fifth straight game. The only boon is that they're on the road, where they're 3-3, versus 1-5 at home. 21-17)

HOU @ GB: GB (I think this game will just be a matter of GB outscoring HOU, especially since HOU has such a bad track record away from home. 33-28)

MIN @ DET: MIN (It is hard to see how MIN can give this one away, which probably means they will. It is a division rivalry game, and those are always harder than any other games. 24-16)

CIN @ IND: IND (CIN seems to be continuing to spiral downwards in Palmer's absence, while IND seems to be creeping back to healthy players and healthy play. 24-14)

CLE @ TEN: TEN (Losing both first and second string QB's is a blow. CLE will play their hearts out, I'm sure, but it won't be near enough. Mistakes will only seal the deal for TEN. 27-9)

PHI @ NYG: NYG (This should be a close game. Missing Burress will have an effect, undoubtedly, but NYG is still running strong. PHI, on the other hand, has been inconsistent, and it likely the NYG defense will pressure McNabb into a few costly mistakes, especially late. 34-30)

ATL @ NO: NO (Home field is magic in the NFC South. NO is especially prolific at home. I expect Brees to throw for 380+ in a high-scoring game. 33-28)

MIA @ BUF: MIA (Edwards is either out or questionable, and that will make a huge difference. Playing in Canada probably won't aid BUF, either. 17-14)

NE @ SEA: NE (After the bruising PIT handed them last week, NE will probably come back in peak performance. SEA, on the other hand, just isn't doing well, even with Hasselbeck back. The 34-9 loss to DAL does not bode well for this meeting, even if it is at home. 24-20)

KC @ DEN: DEN (Hopefully DEN will keep consistent from last week. They had spark and fire and played defense moderately well. They have to keep in mind that any division game won't be easy, no matter the records. That destroyed them in Week 4, and again against OAK in Week 12. But they should be able to avenge their previous loss to KC. 34-12)

NYJ @ SF: NYJ (Last week was a wake-up call to NYJ, and wide awake, they should manage to win handily against SF. 31-17)

STL @ ARI: ARI (Home field and a weak opponent, even a division rival, should be enough to set ARI back into action. 30-20)

DAL @ PIT: PIT (I expect snow to make a difference, but this will be a game to watch. 10-9)

WAS @ BAL: BAL (It is possible that WAS will stand up to BAL's defense, but their record in the past few games hasn't been impressive. 21-14)

TB @ CAR: CAR (This is a tough call. TB might be the better team, but I think it is reasonable to stick with the home field magic in the NFC South. It is by no means a guarantee, but the NFC South leads the league in home wins, having only lost 2. (The AFC West is worst, with 16 home losses.) 34-33)

Confidence: 10-6

Week 13: 13-3
Week 12: 13-3
Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

Doing a Little LDS

So I've been meeting with a couple of Mormon missionaries. Before anyone gasps in horror and shock, I must say that the reason is merely to learn more specifically what their doctrine is through personal interaction, as opposed to reading books. Now, a missionary may not be as well catechized as some Mormons, but they are supposed to know enough to make conversions, so it is a good place to start. There's some hope that as we compare Mormon doctrine to Catholic doctrine, they'll start to understand Catholicism a little better. I'm not seeking any conversions here, but a chance to learn the particulars of another faith through a non-hostile lens (I won't say unbiased), and a chance to know where I'm particularly lacking in my own faith.

One thing I'm doing to help meet with the missionaries is to actually read the Book of Mormon. In a way, I feel bad about spending time on it, since I haven't read the full Bible yet, but it is a chance to see what is there and make critical evaluations of it. At the very least, I'll be able to tell future missionaries that I've read it!

I must say that I'm in agreement with other skeptics that the BOM overuses the phrase "And so it came to pass", but that's a literary critique, not a theological critique.

So far, I've felt at times the warm fuzzies that are supposed to convince one that the BOM is true, and at other times I've felt absolutely disgusted with what I've read. (An example of the latter is the portion in Moroni where Mormon writes, calling anathema on any who preaches infant baptism; an example of the former was actually in 2 Nephi talking about the role Christ's sacrifice plays in the history of salvation.)

The biggest sense I have from the BOM (and I'm by no means done with it; I've read bits and pieces of all four Nephi's, Alma, Mormon, and Moroni. That's not the whole thing by far) is a sense of incredulity. 600 years before the birth of Christ, Nephi recorded with vivid accuracy just what Jesus would do, and how it would play into the role of salvation. I find this foreknowledge, so clearly written down, a little far-fetched, given the foreknowledge (or lack thereof) that the Jews in Israel and Judah had of the Messiah. Unlike the Jews, who were very concerned with the Law of Moses and the covenant, the Nephites were already ready for Jesus to come, knowing full well what He would do. From this, I feel most people are justified in claiming that the BOM is the work of a man in the 1800's who had knowledge of what Christ's sacrifice at Calvary meant.

At the same time, I feel I understand why people are swayed by the BOM. I think it is primarily because of the clarity. If one is willing to believe that it was written between 600 B.C. and 400 A.D., one finds a very clear description that isn't obfuscated behind hundreds of lines of poetry or songs of praises. The Old Testament is as clear as a brick wall in comparison. One reading what Nephi purportedly inscribed on brass tablets finds doctrines spelled out and explained (though hardly in an orthodox manner).

There's also, for Americans, a particular allure in believing that Christ came personally to the Americas. Just as the British like to believe that Christ came to England (And did those feet in ancient times / walk upon England's mountains green / and was the Holy Lamb of God / on England's pleasant pastures seen?), and the original inhabitants of England were Trojans who left from captivity and sailed to the misty isles in search of a new home (see Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of England), so would Americans enjoy a special connection with Christ that makes them a chosen people.

I myself am not satisfied with what I've seen so far. I hope to learn more, but--and I apologize to my Mormon friends--I have no intention of leaving the Catholic Church.

NFL Week 13

TEN @ DET: TEN (DET is struggling so much, and just when it seems they might be able to start putting things together, more things fall apart. I don't think they'll have the ignominy of being the only team to go 0-16, but this won't be the game to reverse their fortunes. Collins is still doing very well, and if his receivers can catch the ball, TEN should be able to deliver on both the pass and the run. 27-12)

SEA @ DAL: DAL (Two quarterbacks back in action for the third game after injuries, and Romo looks pretty good, while Hasselback is still struggling. What with the passing game and a decent run defense, DAL should dominate. 33-21)

ARI @ PHI: ARI (Frankly, right now Philadelphia is probably going to be more hostile towards their home team than the other team. If McNabb isn't stellar, he is going fighting down the resounding chorus of boos. That kind of strips away the benefit of home field advantage. PHI seems to be crumbling, and at the moment, I don't see any reason to believe that the crumbling will stop. McNabb seems to be on his way out, and a big rebuilding process looms in the horizon. On the other hand, ARI--while coming off a loss--is a team that is all together and performing well. The only problem will a west team going east, which so far has spelled doom. We'll probably see a first half controlled moderately well by PHI, but ARI will probably come alive in the second half and win not just the game, but their division. 24-23)

SF @ BUF: BUF (Hopefully Edwards has rediscovered confidence, especially after a high-scoring thumping of KC. SF is doing all right, but they have a number of factors against them. Their season is essentially over, while BUF is still fighting for a playoff berth, and they are a west team coming east. While I think ARI will overcome that, I don't think SF will. 32-19)

BAL @ CIN: BAL (A top notch defense against the league's worst offense should at least keep this a low scoring game for CIN. Flacco is doing well, still, and I expect that he'll keep the race alive atop the AFC North. 24-9)

CAR @ GB: GB (It wasn't until the second-half, as NO started to open the divide between the two teams, that GB progressed from workman-like to forced to struggling. Against the league's highest powered offense, GB stood toe to toe until one mistake really turned the game against them. Both teams, though, have fluctuated with lopsided victories and losses. However, CAR in the last three games has lost big, and then played very close games, very sloppy games, against two of the league's worst teams. In GB's last three games, they lost big to NO, thumped CHI, and very nearly beat MIN. I think they have the edge this game. 30-27)

NYG @ WAS: NYG (NYG is steamrolling at the moment, and WAS has just started to get their feet back under them. However, they are at home, and this game is by far more important to them than to NYG. If WAS wins, then they'll have only split their games head-to-head, not devastating by any means, and NYG will maintain a 2 game lead in any case. Normally this would lead me to lean towards WAS, but NYG's defense is still playing strong. They won a high-scoring match against ARI, squashed BAL, and won a shoot-out against PHI. WAS has lost against DAL, lost against PHI, and only picked up a win against hapless SEA. It will take some serious effort on their part to win, and I don't think we'll see it. 24-20)

NO @ TB: TB (While NO is great at racking up the yards, they don't do well on the road. Moreover, TB has a top-rated pass defense, which means that Drew Brees might struggle. NO is predominantly a passing team, and it will be interesting to see if TB can truly ruin the passing game. Either way, it will be tough. If it comes down to a shootout, TB will still probably eek out a win, but it will probably be TB in the lead the whole time, though never comfortably. 27-24)

IND @ CLE: IND (Manning seems to be back in rhythm, while CLE has to go on without their star rookie QB, as Quinn has a broken finger. We'll probably see more of a running game, but IND should keep the game well in hand. 27-16)

MIA @ STL: MIA (MIA has been doing fairly well this season, though their record might make them seem slightly better than they are. But while STL has won a pair of interesting games, they've done nothing since, dropping five straight. In the past three games, they've averaged barely more than a touchdown a game. MIA should be able to run all over STL. 27-13)

ATL @ SD: ATL (I think that what we'll see is a game predominantly controlled by ATL's running game, assisted by a passing game that should do well against SD's last-place pass defense. While Rivers will probably be able to keep it close, ATL should be able to punch it home with their running duo. 31-21)

KC @ OAK: KC (While OAK managed to run up the score on DEN, KC has been more consistent in their play of late. They've managed to score points and play some good games in their recent losses. Even the blowout against BUF shouldn't be that demoralizing considering KC scored 31 points. KC should be able to move the ball against OAK and score. OAK, on the other hand, is struggling, even with their victory over DEN. In their four prior games, they barely managed to meet that total they scored against DEN. In this case, the more consistent play should win. 28-13)

PIT @ NE: PIT (This will be NE's first big challenge to their offense, and it is quite possible PIT will shut them down. Expect this one to be close. 20-17)

DEN @ NYJ: DEN (And only because I feel obligated to pick DEN. NYJ looks to have this well in hand, with a power offense that has taken on beaten down the league's last undefeated team. DEN looks sloppier and sloppier, though that in part is due to injuries. The hope will be that Cutler will be able to throw the ball sufficiently to keep the game a tight race, and that DEN will come through at the end with a last-second field goal. 34-31)

CHI @ MIN: MIN (In CHI's last four game, two have been losses, and the two wins were against teams that currently have two wins between them. When CHI and MIN last met, it was a 48-41 shootout, and it will probably seem that way at first. MIN will probably take control of the game late in the third and never look back. 30-21)

JAC @ HOU: HOU (HOU played it close last time, and for their record they're doing fairly well. JAC, on the other hand, is really struggling. Isn't about time that HOU didn't end up at the bottom of their division? Well, if they win this one, they'll have at least one week not there. 23-20)

Confidence: 10-6

Week 12: 13-3
Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

NFL Week 12

CIN @ PIT: PIT 24-10

NE @ MIA: NE 33-20

PHI @ BAL: BAL 17-10

HOU @ CLE: CLE 28-24

SF @ DAL: DAL 34-26

NYJ @ TEN: NYJ 24-23

BUF @ KC: BUF 21-19

CHI @ STL: CHI 24-10

MIN @ JAC: MIN 28-27

TB @ DET: TB 21-9

OAK @ DEN: DEN 34-16

CAR @ ATL: ATL 31-25

WAS @ SEA: WAS 24-20

NYG @ ARI: NYG 21-17

IND @ SD: IND 30-22

GB @ NO: GB 34-30

Confidence: 11-5

Week 11: 13-3
Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

American Catholic Doings

I have a new post up at the American Catholic, another Screwtape letter like this one, only addressed back to Wormwood, like C.S. Lewis' original work.

NFL Week 11

NYJ @ NE: NYJ (I just think that it is time. Favre has improved with NYJ continually, and they're capable of racking up the points. NE is still a a great team, but will be hard pressed. 30-21)

OAK @ MIA: MIA (OAK is terrible, and while MIA is only about average, they have everything they need to keep their winning streak alive. 20-9)

DET @ CAR: CAR (DET is still floundering, and a couple of weeks isn't quite enough to work a new quarterback into an offense. 28-17)

CHI @ GB: GB (This will probably be a tough struggle for both teams. I expect turnovers to make a large difference, and GB will sneak past with a fourth quarter field goal. 31-29)

NO @ KC: NO (KC did well against SD last week, but SD's offensive performance left much to be desired. Brees will probably throw for another 400+ yard game, but this time I think he'll find the endzone often enough to carry a win. 27-21)

BAL @ NYG: NYG (In the end, I think Manning will lead his team to victory, though Flacco will have played his heart out. 21-20)

PHI @ CIN: PHI (McNabb will probably lead his team to some big scoring. 28-17)

MIN @ TB: TB (I give this to the home team, but this will be a game to watch. 24-21)

HOU @ IND: IND (IND finally seems to have found traction, and HOU looks to have lost what they had. Still, this will probably be a close game. 24-18)

DEN @ ATL: DEN (Home team call on this one. If Cutler can cut back on throwing interceptions, he should be able to lead the Broncos to score. And I'm predicted that Ryan will be so surprised at how BAD the DEN defense is, that he'll fumble the ball. 31-27)

STL @ SF: SF (This is a great match up. Hopefully one team will emerge with third victory this season. I think SF is better prepared to do that, and has the home field advantage. 24-10)

ARI @ SEA: SEA (I'm picking this as my upset of the week. Hasselback looks to be coming back, and that could revitalize SEA. ARI was not exactly stellar on Monday, and now they're at SEA, which is notoriously hard to play in. 27-23)

TEN @ JAC: TEN (I don't think it is time just yet. JAC will probably struggle on the run, but keep up with TEN until the end. 16-13)

SD @ PIT: PIT (I think Big Ben will tear apart SD's secondary, and SD won't mount much on offense. 24-14)

DAL @ WAS: DAL (Romo's back, and PIT showed what it takes to crush WAS. I think the rivalry makes it a tough game, but DAL will avenge its home loss to WAS. 26-20)

CLE @ BUF: BUF (I just don't find CLE to be a convincing team. They were doing well against BAL, true, but their score against DEN isn't that surprising, given how terrible DEN's defense is. I think Quinn will make mistakes, Edwards will be a little more consistent, and BUF will pull out a close win. 22-20)

Confidence: 11-5

Week 10: 11-3
Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

Atheists At It Again, This Time in DC

There's a new story today about atheists running ads saying "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." What is so disturbing about this is that it is attack against the religious, and their only justification is this:

Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.

This is beyond absurd. First, there's a spirit of Christmas that all can share. Second, these atheists who feel a little alone during the holidays, if they really do exist in any significant number, are whiners at best. They're the equivalent of the sulking child who didn't want to go to the party, and once there refuses to have fun. If they're feeling alone and left out, especially because of the religious traditions surrounding Christmas, that's because they're determined to be alone and left out, isolating themselves because they cannot be bothered to accept that most other people appreciate Christmas in one form or another.

This is as just as idiotic as becoming upset about someone wishing you "Merry Christmas" when you don't celebrate Christmas. The only reason to take offense at someone wishing you well at the holiday times is because of a chip on a shoulder and a grudge against religion.

American Catholic Doings

I have a new post at The American Catholic blog, talking about the benefits of a well-applied eighth commandment for the Republican Party. I know that the Democratic Party would benefit from it as well, but I'm more concerned with the party that at least claims to represent my views.

Good News in AIDS Research

It seems scientists have developed a new killer T cell that is much improved in tracking down the HIV virus, even in infected cells where HIV tends to hide quite nicely.

Yet there are some questions to ask. While I'm all for developing a vaccine or cure, I have to wonder. How much would this treatment cost? Hopefully not much, but we're talking about genetically engineering white blood cells. I would almost think that they would have to be taken from the patient to avoid the immune system from battling the augmented T cells themselves.

I ask about cost for one reason alone. We funnel billions of dollars annually into AIDS research, AIDS awareness programs, AIDS treatment, and so on. And yet, AIDS would practically vanish from the world in a generation if those who had AIDS stopped having sex. And not having sex is free. I know that is highly impractical, and that there are other ways to contract AIDS than from sex, even ones that don't involve drug use with needles. Yet still I wonder just how much money is spent every year because we humans believe that it is more important to enjoy momentary physical pleasure than to stop the spread of this lethal disease.

NFL Week 10

DEN @ CLE: DEN (Two struggling teams, but I think DEN's offense will be able to move the ball against CLE. I expect it will be a tough game for both teams, with lots of mistakes, and lots of blown defensive opportunities. 28-25)

NO @ ATL: NO (NO has had a rocky season thus far, but ATL is not as impressive as they may seem. They blew out OAK last weekend, but more impressive was NO's defeat of SD in London. Even with injuries, I think NO's high-powered offense will come through. 32-20)

TEN @ CHI: TEN (I think Grossman will have a difficult time moving the ball against TEN, but I think it will probably be another close one. 16-14)

JAC @ DET: DET (This is probably a mistake, but I think this is DET's chance to make their first (and possibly only) win this season. 24-23)

SEA @ MIA: MIA (I still don't think MIA is all that good, but SEA is doing pretty poorly, as well. IF MIA can slow down SEA's 31st-ranked offense, they should win handily. 21-10)

BUF @ NE: NE (I think BUF has the ability, but that homefield advantage will be the deciding factor. 21-19)

STL @ NYJ: NYJ (STL is having issues, and despite two wins after changing coaches, they're not on track to do much better than they started. Favre might make a few more mistakes this week, but I don't think that will be enough to turn the game around for STL. 24-14)

GB @ MIN: MIN (I don't have any good feel for this, so I'll take the team with a good rusher over the team with a poor run defense. 28-24)

BAL @ HOU: BAL (BAL seems to be chugging along strong, while HOU is struggling somewhat with injuries. 14-12)

CAR @ OAK: CAR (CAR should have this one handled. 27-13)

IND @ PIT: PIT (Even without Big Ben, PIT's defense may be more than Manning can handle. 21-18)

KC @ SD: SD (If SD loses this one, they're in a world of hurt, but I sincerely doubt KC stands much of a chance. 31-13)

NYG @ PHI: NYG (It will be a tough game, but NYG has the defense to shut down PHI (although that doesn't mean the defense will do so) and Manning is doing well this season. If he avoids throwing three picks like he did against CLE, this should be a NYG victory. 28-27)

SF @ ARI: ARI (ARI is doing well, SF is struggling and went down hard against a poor SEA team. 26-19)

Confidence: 9-5

Week 9: 8-6
Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

Indoctrination.

You just have to catch them young and tame them, right?

Funny how when you do it, it is simply teaching the children the truth about life, the universe, and everything. When someone else does it, it is brainwashing.

It would be nice if there were some kind of objective standard to measure against, wouldn't it?

American Catholic Doings

I have a new post on American Catholic, an acerbic quiz showing how Obama fails on many Catholic social teachings, things that seem to keep cropping up whenever debating with people on the left.

NFL Week 9

HOU @ MIN: HOU (I think HOU has the drive and the ability, but they still have yet to prove themselves. MIN has been inconsistent as well. They're weak on defending the pass, but strong offensively on the run. It will be interesting to see which proves to be the dominant factor. 24-23)

NYJ @ BUF: NYJ (I think Favre is going to have one of his "on" games, and if he can strike early, it will mean that BUF has to scramble to keep up. With the mistakes Edwards has been making, it is quite likely NYJ will break is losing streak to BUF. 21-15)

DET @ CHI: CHI (I'm not quite willing to say this will be the week for DET. It is coming, though. 27-20)

BAL @ CLE: CLE (Back in the Pound, CLE will probably do well. 17-14)

TEN @ GB: GB (TEN losing. It has to happen one of these days, right? 30-17)

ARI @ STL: ARI (Against a division rival that ARI has performed well against, we should see the NFC West leader pick up another game. 31-20)

TB @ KC: TB (Either KC will show up like they did against DEN, or this will be an excellent chance for TB to turn their game around after last week's loss to DAL. 35-10)

JAC @ CIN: JAC (CIN needs a high-powered offense to keep up with what its defense lets through, and it just isn't up to snuff yet. 27-15)

MIA @ DEN: DEN (Home team sentiment here. DEN has to prove they can stop the opponent on defense. If it becomes a high-scoring punch-out, DEN can't keep slipping by with last second luck. 33-23)

ATL @ OAK: OAK (Two rookie QB's combat! I think this might be a battle of pratfalls. 23-20)

DAL @ NYG: NYG (I think NYG's defense will prove the crucial factor here, sacking Johnson at least 4 times. 28-19)

PHI @ SEA: PHI (PHI is just the better team. SEA made strides against SF, but hasn't managed anything decent against tough opponents. 35-26)

NE @ IND: IND (This might just be a prejudice pick, but I think IND will put NE down. IND is capable, even banged up as it is, to go the distance, and NE's last two victories have been over STL (total of 5 wins over the past 23 games), and DEN, who folded like a lawn chair. IND showed some capacity at defense last week, and that might be the difference. 24-21)

PIT @ WAS: PIT (PIT's defense should shut Portis down, and while Big Ben might face a few more sacks and a lot of blitzes, he can manage his team to victory. 23-20)

Confidence: 8-6

Week 8: 8-6
Week 7: 6-8
Week 6: 8-6
Week 5: 9-5
Week 4: 7-6
Week 3: 12-4

Solidarity in action

A very touching article about a woman who purchased a foreclosed home and then gave it back to the original owner. That we could all be this charitable.