Monthly Archives: March 2014

An Altar Boy of the Tridentine Mass

Introibo ad altare Dei I will go in unto the Altar of God.   As a boy in the early 1950s I was an altar boy – of the Tridentine Mass.   Yes, now they are referred to as alcolytes but in … Continue reading

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Ed Snowden Was Right

Ed Snowden was right. He has been vindicated. It was reported in the New York Times this week that President Obama  is set to call for an end to the NSA’s bulk collection of data.  He will supposedly support leaving … Continue reading

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Egypt and Ukraine – the Sanctity of Elections

It wasn’t that long ago that the Egyptian military granted itself sweeping powers, arrested President Morsi and dissolved the parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. So does anyone really believe anymore that the Obama administration had nothing to do with … Continue reading

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“Finlandization”

“Finlandization”. Any of you younger folks ever heard of that word?  I’ll bet not. You know about Finland.  It is that small country that borders Russia.  Always has.  Always will. How many times has it been invaded by Tsarist Russia … Continue reading

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Defining Yourself

“May you have all the happiness you can stand with just a touch of sorrow so you know the difference”. My father wrote those words in my high school yearbook in 1959.  I was 16 years old. Pretty heavy stuff … Continue reading

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Madinat al-Yasmin (for Damascus)

A Repost Oh, Madinat al-Yasmin! You of the Street called Straight ‘twas on the road to thee that Paul saw  the Christ   Abbasids and Fatimids Seljuks and Mamluks Timur and the Black Death Gone and still you live.   … Continue reading

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