First Links — 12.7.12

Retro-Christianity Kenneth J. Stewart, The Gospel Coalition St. Nicholas and Three Types of Praiseworthy Zeal John Sanidopoulos, Mystagogy The Complicated Domestic Life of Charles Dickens Elaine Showalter,  The Book Theory and Practice Br. Innocent Smith, O.P., Dominicana Aquinas Among the . . . . Continue Reading »

Why Critics Disdained Dave Brubeck

Scott Johnson publishes an email from Wilfred McClay noting the oddly cool critical reception Dave Brubeck received : I thought the  Los Angeles Times obituary  was pretty good, and remarkably honest about the shameful and shabby way that the critics stubbornly refused to acknowledge his . . . . Continue Reading »

Bulgarians Demand Right to Smoke Freely

The icy hand of Bloombergism extends its reach : Pro-smoking protesters rallied Thursday in front of the Bulgarian parliament in Sofia holding banners that read “Ban Increases Number of Smokers,” and “Equal Rights for Smokers and Non-Smokers”. Protesters demanded repeal of . . . . Continue Reading »

Defining Subsidiarity

The principle of subsidiarity—-which the budget plans and vice-presidential run of Paul Ryan put in the spotlight  this year—-is easily misunderstood. It is sometimes characterized simply as the idea that problems should be solved at the lowest possible level, by (say) the family . . . . Continue Reading »

India Still Coercing Family Planning

UPI reports that the government of Rajasthan, which is the largest geographical state in India, is running a very aggressive sterilization campaign to try and lower the highest fertility rate in India of 3.3 children per woman. Rajasthan has a highly specific and therefore rather creepy goal of . . . . Continue Reading »

The Greatness of Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck is one of those artists that whenever I’ve delved into the recordings just a bit, I’ve thought, “Wow, this is wonderful stuff . . . gotta explore this more,” but for some reason, perhaps pocketbook-related, just never did. Sure I have the greatest hits . . . . Continue Reading »

Live Chat With Jesus

With blogging bishops and the Pope on Twitter , it only makes sense that Jesus himself take part in social media. That’s right. Savior.org has an online Eucharistic Adoration chapel—a live webcam of the Blessed Sacrament that updates every minute, twenty four hours a day, seven days a . . . . Continue Reading »