Daddy, what does theft mean?

So if I borrowed money from the bank for a mortgage and then spent it on a vacation to Malibu, how could I expect the bank to lend me more money to actually pay off the house?

So the Fed convinced Congress to lend $700B immediately under threat that failure to do so would result in major calamity, crumbling markets, total deprivation and the end of the world as we know it. With oh, by the way, no oversight. Then the Fed gets its hands on the money, drags its feet in distributing it, and changing its mind on what strategy, if any, should govern the distribution. And since they have taken their sweet time (with no discernible apocolyptic consequences) the administration decides it's going to spend the money on something else entirely. And, Congress, you can decide now to give us more money.

Mom, this is what I want to do when I grow up...

Someone who has way too much time on his hands, not like me who finds time to post it.

h/t: journey to therese via CMR

Why do I hear oinking overhead?

The Day runs a positive story about a large homeschooling family! Here's the article
and click to see the slideshow.

Rant of the day- sex and technology

The Day of New London ran this editorial on Friday which just about sent me over the edge.

The concept of sexting is not new, it's just a new delivery method, and if you didn't see this coming, you must have your eyes closed.

What burns me up is when the editor says, "Though it may not be practical or even ethical to check your teenagers' cell phone text messages and photos, don't ignore the issue." or even ethical? in this context are you kidding me?

This highlights for me not only a subversion of logic and morals, but the pervasive mentality that it is the responsibility of the parent to be their kids' friend, not their parent. I'm sorry, but if you're a parent and you provide your kids' home, food, clothing, education, transportation, entertainment, and the cell phone in question, you have every right to check the contents of your child's cell phone. Their privacy is a theory; your responsibility as a parent is a reality. Obviously, you ought to tread with sensitivity on sensitive matters, but you have to guide your children, not let them fend for themselves in adult matters when they are not yet adults!

Here are a few tips: Don't let your children have a computer or phone in their room. Computer use should be in a shared area in which anyone can see what is going on on-screen. Demand that you have 24-hour access to your kids' MySpace account, Facebook account, email and instant message accounts. Cell phones should be prepaid phones for emergencies only with no text or photo capabilities, if you even give them one.

And lastly, but MOST importantly, teach your kids to recognize that they are of infinite worth and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by themselves and others. Teach them to be modest in their actions, words, and in their dress. They are children of God, not sexual objects to be displayed for others in order to gain acceptance.

Fitting for the Immaculate Conception

Special thanks to Nathaniel Peters for linking this on the First Things blog.

We sang this one year at the sem (though not nearly this well). Biebel's Ave Maria is one of the most beautiful choral pieces I've ever heard. Happy Advent.

Please don't watch it distracted, as beauty like this deserves your attention.

Oh, my...

Well this certainly woke me up out of my grumpy morning.

Rock on faithful sillies!