Luck O' the Irish?

Domer fans think so.

Here's my take on the outcome of "Hated Ones" Bowl '06:

From a USC Football Fan Perspective

Tomorrow is the the "Hated Ones" Bowl.

vs.

Kelo and Prop. 90

Such was the topic at a symposium I went to today that was co-sponsored by the Chapman University Federalist Society and the Pacific Legal Foundation. Although most of the audience appeared to be anti-Kelo and pro-Prop. 90 (which I, myself, am) the 3 panels of symposium speakers were equally divided.

One of the speakers, who is a professor of law at Chapman University, made an incredibly bizarre argument in support of the majority decision in Kelo. Basically, this professor asserted that the Constitution, i.e., the 5th Amendment, does not prohibit the government from taking a person's property and giving it to another private party for their own personal profit. In light of this, Kelo was made under a strict constuctionist jurisprudence, and according to this professor, to criticize Kelo for what it allowed necessarily reflects a preference for judicial activism (which conservatives, like myself, generally disfavor and denounce).

Needless to say, I had a big eyeroll moment. Then again, seeing as how this professor had once clerked for Justice Stevens, the author of the Kelo majority opinion, I shouldn't have been very surprised to hear what I heard.

From this symposium, it seems most of the opposition to Prop. 90 is based upon a fear that it will cause all kinds of needless and costly litigation, because the initiative is allegedly poorly written. I didn't particularly find these arguments convicing, and I especially found it interesting that many of the groups who are wringing their hand in opposition to Prop. 90 were also vigorously opposed to the great and revolutionary Prop. 13.

Voting Dem is a Bad Risk

So too is sitting out the election. A frightening, but very real, reminder of why:

Magisterial Fundamentalist™ at it Again

Big time Bush Derangement Sydrome induced screed. When, of if, you get through that, click over to Seeking Justice for some calm and rational discussion that may or may not persuade you (I, myself, lean toward the former).

"Full of Grace"

Such is the name by which God, through the Archangel Gabriel, called Mary, who was the topic of discussion last night at a lecture I went to given by Catholic apologist Tim Staples. Lots of useful information in defense of the Catholic position that Mary was without sin. One of the things that I really found fascinating, though, is the parallels in the Old and New Testaments which clearly show that Mary was, and is, the Ark of the New Covenant. Click here for an article by Steve Ray that expounds more upon this issue.

Addendum: One of these days, I'm going to have to spend the time to read/unpack this encyclical on Mary since I understand it contains a lot of good apologetics materials.

Psalm 58

I just got back from the monthly meeting of the St. Thomas More Society of Orange County, where the featured speaker was Fr. Hugh Barbour, a Nobertine priest and Prior of St. Michaels Abbey in Silverado. Fr. Barbour's lecture topic, which was understandably condensed, was the Psalms and their functional history (i.e., the history of the Psalms as a form of regular prayer by the faithful).

As a humorous aside, Fr. Barbour pointed out Psalm 58, which he said could be recited whenever you're feeling particularly oppressed by anyone. Not a bad idea. (In context, Fr. Barbour said this psalm is a prayer for protection from the devil and/or evil).

Pathetic

Instead of owning up to his bad behavior, the disgraceful Mark Foley has tried to blame it on a priest who allegedly molested Foley when he was a child. Now Foley, as part of his "healing process," is set to name that priest.

Baseball's Real Golden Age

Any somewhat affirmative reference by George Will to the Dodgers will get a mention here.

Another Close One

But the good guys win again.



We're also #2 in the BCS.

Thanks for Stopping By

Especially to those who came by way of the following Google word searches: "ca best day to report for jury duty" and "guadiam et spes".