Papal Deathwatch 2005
It is in full swing, and as usual, the media just doesn't get how ghoulish they are acting.
But even as John Paul II battles to recover, Irish bookmakers Paddy Power have begun taking bets on the identity of his successor.
The company has made 70-year-old Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, the Archbishop of Milan, its firm favourite as next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Archbishop Tettamanzi, at 5-2, is ahead of 74-year-old Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, 3-1, and 68-year-old Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino of Cuba, 11-2.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
I Knew He'd Cross Over Sooner or Later
The conversion of University of Texas political theory professor J. Budziszewski to Catholicism isn't a real big surprise to me. When I was still attending the Evangelical law school I eventually graduated from a few years ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of lectures on natural law that Prof. Budziszewski (pronounced "Bud-ja-zev-skee") had been specially invited to give. While I was listening to him talk, I kept thinking to myself, "This guy can't be an Evangelical."
The conversion of University of Texas political theory professor J. Budziszewski to Catholicism isn't a real big surprise to me. When I was still attending the Evangelical law school I eventually graduated from a few years ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of lectures on natural law that Prof. Budziszewski (pronounced "Bud-ja-zev-skee") had been specially invited to give. While I was listening to him talk, I kept thinking to myself, "This guy can't be an Evangelical."
Fatima, 13 and the Fall of Soviet Communism
Joseph Bottum ties them all together in a nice little tribute to the late Sister Lucia dos Santos.
Joseph Bottum ties them all together in a nice little tribute to the late Sister Lucia dos Santos.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Saturday, February 19, 2005
I Had Dinner with the Pope
Not literally, but at the Buca di Beppo restaurant I went to last night for the first time, there was an encased bust of JP II in the middle of my table. On the walls around my table, there were numerous framed pictures of not only JP II, but of Pope John XXIII and I think St. Therese. Being that it was a Friday during Lent, I couldn't have thought of a better place to have dinner.
Not literally, but at the Buca di Beppo restaurant I went to last night for the first time, there was an encased bust of JP II in the middle of my table. On the walls around my table, there were numerous framed pictures of not only JP II, but of Pope John XXIII and I think St. Therese. Being that it was a Friday during Lent, I couldn't have thought of a better place to have dinner.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Buckley Jumps the Shark
It's one thing to hold the opinion that John Paul II in no longer effective and should resign from the papacy, but to actually pray for his death in order to have a new pope is just plain nuts.
It's one thing to hold the opinion that John Paul II in no longer effective and should resign from the papacy, but to actually pray for his death in order to have a new pope is just plain nuts.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Still Around
Just really haven't had an opportunity to post anything lately. Almost all this week, I was preparing documents and trading nasty phone calls with a jerk-wad opposing attorney for a case that was set trial on Monday, but now has pretty much gone away because the parties yesterday agreed on a settlement where nobody gets anything.
Since I'm still kind of new at litigation, it's taking me a heck of a long time to put together a pleading that a more seasoned attorney could probably do in an hour or two. Yeah, I know there's a normal learning process, but man is it discouraging.
Anyway, still hoping that things will start to settle down so that I can more regularly update the blog.
Just really haven't had an opportunity to post anything lately. Almost all this week, I was preparing documents and trading nasty phone calls with a jerk-wad opposing attorney for a case that was set trial on Monday, but now has pretty much gone away because the parties yesterday agreed on a settlement where nobody gets anything.
Since I'm still kind of new at litigation, it's taking me a heck of a long time to put together a pleading that a more seasoned attorney could probably do in an hour or two. Yeah, I know there's a normal learning process, but man is it discouraging.
Anyway, still hoping that things will start to settle down so that I can more regularly update the blog.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Update On Me
Things have been kind of busy the past couple of weeks, what with the new job and all. For the first time in my relatively brief career as a civil litigator, I "argued" my first motion last Thursday. Inside legal speak: The motion was specially set on an ex parte application, so there wasn't any kind of tentative ruling from the judge, as is the usual practice here in California. Needless to say, my performance was less than stellar as there were some comments made by opposing counsel that I probably should have made a rebuttal to but didn't, and I had overlooked some details that I didn't realize I overlooked until after the hearing was over. Based on the moving papers that I submitted, it seemed as though the judge was pretty much on our side, but now I don't know.
Other than experiencing the growing pains of being a "young" lawyer, I'm still looking for a permanent place to live down here in the OC. Rents are so ridiculously high that I've decided I'd be better off buying a condo.
Anyway, that's the latest on me. I'm hoping things will settle down in the next few weeks so that I can regularly update this blog.
Things have been kind of busy the past couple of weeks, what with the new job and all. For the first time in my relatively brief career as a civil litigator, I "argued" my first motion last Thursday. Inside legal speak: The motion was specially set on an ex parte application, so there wasn't any kind of tentative ruling from the judge, as is the usual practice here in California. Needless to say, my performance was less than stellar as there were some comments made by opposing counsel that I probably should have made a rebuttal to but didn't, and I had overlooked some details that I didn't realize I overlooked until after the hearing was over. Based on the moving papers that I submitted, it seemed as though the judge was pretty much on our side, but now I don't know.
Other than experiencing the growing pains of being a "young" lawyer, I'm still looking for a permanent place to live down here in the OC. Rents are so ridiculously high that I've decided I'd be better off buying a condo.
Anyway, that's the latest on me. I'm hoping things will settle down in the next few weeks so that I can regularly update this blog.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Driver Licenses for Illegals?
If you're an advocate of it, which I most certainly am not, you can pretty much kiss the cause goodbye if it turns out the guy who caused the Metrolink train wreck in Glendale yesterday is an "undocumented" alien.
If you're an advocate of it, which I most certainly am not, you can pretty much kiss the cause goodbye if it turns out the guy who caused the Metrolink train wreck in Glendale yesterday is an "undocumented" alien.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Brand New Start
Just finished my first week at the small civil litigation firm that hired me recently, and so far so good. The managing attorney is a bit too free in dropping the f-bomb and other choice four letter words, but he's a pretty nice guy, as is the rest of the office staff. In terms of the work itself, I'm getting thrown into the deep end of the pool a little sooner than I like -- next week alone, I'm going to have to argue an ex-parte motion and might have to go to "trial" on a single issue in a workers comp case -- but the expectations on me aren't all that high, and it's a great learning opportunity.
Just finished my first week at the small civil litigation firm that hired me recently, and so far so good. The managing attorney is a bit too free in dropping the f-bomb and other choice four letter words, but he's a pretty nice guy, as is the rest of the office staff. In terms of the work itself, I'm getting thrown into the deep end of the pool a little sooner than I like -- next week alone, I'm going to have to argue an ex-parte motion and might have to go to "trial" on a single issue in a workers comp case -- but the expectations on me aren't all that high, and it's a great learning opportunity.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Wussies
Word in the blogosphere is that the Fox network has caved in to CAIR's complaints about the portrayal of Muslims as terrorists in the show "24".(link via Michelle Malkin)
Word in the blogosphere is that the Fox network has caved in to CAIR's complaints about the portrayal of Muslims as terrorists in the show "24".(link via Michelle Malkin)
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thanks for Filing and Wasting Our Tax Dollars
For striking out on his latest stupid crusade against religion, Michael Newdow should be required to have a big "L" tattooed on his forehead.
For striking out on his latest stupid crusade against religion, Michael Newdow should be required to have a big "L" tattooed on his forehead.
Another Reason to Homeschool
Based on the reported conversation that occurred in the classroom, I'm wondering if there might not be some criminal charges involved.
According to Fried and students who attended the talk, Fried told one group of about 16 students that strippers can earn as much as $250,000 a year and that a larger bust -- whether natural or augmented -- has a direct relationship to a dancer's salary.
He told the students, "For every two inches up there, it's another $50,000," according to Jason Garcia, 14.
Based on the reported conversation that occurred in the classroom, I'm wondering if there might not be some criminal charges involved.
According to Fried and students who attended the talk, Fried told one group of about 16 students that strippers can earn as much as $250,000 a year and that a larger bust -- whether natural or augmented -- has a direct relationship to a dancer's salary.
He told the students, "For every two inches up there, it's another $50,000," according to Jason Garcia, 14.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Representative Democracy is So Yesterday
Check out this recent quote from Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer:
"U.S. law is not handed down from on high even at the U.S. Supreme Court," he said. "The law emerges from a conversation with judges, lawyers, professors and law students. ... It's what I call opening your eyes as to what's going on elsewhere."
And you thought having a constitution and voting for a so-called lawmaker actually meant something. (See more at Powerline).
Update: American University law professor Kenneth Anderson says the Breyer quote above was misreported by AP. It appears Breyer was speaking within the narrow context of interpreting legal texts that have already been established and informed by various democratically elected institutions. Nevertheless, the level of deference that Justice Breyer gives to international law in the interpretation of U.S. law -- as reflected in the last quoted sentence -- is something that Anderson has a bone of contention with.
Check out this recent quote from Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer:
"U.S. law is not handed down from on high even at the U.S. Supreme Court," he said. "The law emerges from a conversation with judges, lawyers, professors and law students. ... It's what I call opening your eyes as to what's going on elsewhere."
And you thought having a constitution and voting for a so-called lawmaker actually meant something. (See more at Powerline).
Update: American University law professor Kenneth Anderson says the Breyer quote above was misreported by AP. It appears Breyer was speaking within the narrow context of interpreting legal texts that have already been established and informed by various democratically elected institutions. Nevertheless, the level of deference that Justice Breyer gives to international law in the interpretation of U.S. law -- as reflected in the last quoted sentence -- is something that Anderson has a bone of contention with.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Diplomatic Bunglehead
Other than out of anti-American sentiments, I just don't see why Cardinal Pio Laghi felt the need to publicly complain that President Bush broke some vague "promise" to him about fighting the Iraq war "quickly" and "favorably." Indeed, my suspician about Cardinal Laghi's actions being driven by sheer hostility toward the U.S. seems to be supported by comments he made back in March 2003 where, after meeting with the President, he stated that "military force [in Iraq] can only be taken within the framework of the United Nations." (news link via Drudge).
Other than out of anti-American sentiments, I just don't see why Cardinal Pio Laghi felt the need to publicly complain that President Bush broke some vague "promise" to him about fighting the Iraq war "quickly" and "favorably." Indeed, my suspician about Cardinal Laghi's actions being driven by sheer hostility toward the U.S. seems to be supported by comments he made back in March 2003 where, after meeting with the President, he stated that "military force [in Iraq] can only be taken within the framework of the United Nations." (news link via Drudge).
Good Call by the SCOTUS
In what could be interpreted as an affirming nod to federalism (i.e., states' rights), the Supreme Court declined to review a challenge to a Florida law that prohibits self-identified homosexuals from adopting children. Now if the Court would just extend the principles of federalism to things like sodomy and abortion.
In what could be interpreted as an affirming nod to federalism (i.e., states' rights), the Supreme Court declined to review a challenge to a Florida law that prohibits self-identified homosexuals from adopting children. Now if the Court would just extend the principles of federalism to things like sodomy and abortion.
The People Have Spoken
Caught the tail end of The People's Choice Awards last night -- I was watching the season premiere of 24, which IMHO, is the best show on television right now -- and was very happy to see that The Passion of the Christ won the award for best movie drama. It looks as though The Passion is going to be snubbed from Oscar consideration, but in view of the fact that the Hollywood elite is falling all over films about abortionists, Che Guevara and deranged sex researchers, this probably isn't a bad thing.
Caught the tail end of The People's Choice Awards last night -- I was watching the season premiere of 24, which IMHO, is the best show on television right now -- and was very happy to see that The Passion of the Christ won the award for best movie drama. It looks as though The Passion is going to be snubbed from Oscar consideration, but in view of the fact that the Hollywood elite is falling all over films about abortionists, Che Guevara and deranged sex researchers, this probably isn't a bad thing.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Eighth Grade Name Calling
Asked to point out an example in support of his charge that Justice Clarence Thomas is an embarrassment because he writes poorly written opinions, Democrat U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid brought up the case of Hillside Diary, Inc. v. Lyons. In Reid's view, Justice Thomas' opinion in this case resembles an "8th grade dissertaion compared to somebody who just graduated from Harvard."
After reading Thomas' part concurrance and dissent in Hillsdale Diary (which is little more than a paragraph), I share in the perplexity expressed by others over the charges levelled by Reid. In an age when Supreme Court decisions can be readily accessed by anybody at anytime, and the MSM no longer has a monopoly on reporting news, I'm amazed that someone like Harry Reid still seems to assume that nobody is going to check out the validity of what he is saying and expose any flaws. (Hat tip to PSB).
Update: In addition to refuting Reid, former clerk to Justice Thomas, John Yoo, writes an interesting piece here where he essentially argues that Thomas would lose influence on the Court if he were ever to be named Chief Justice.
Asked to point out an example in support of his charge that Justice Clarence Thomas is an embarrassment because he writes poorly written opinions, Democrat U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid brought up the case of Hillside Diary, Inc. v. Lyons. In Reid's view, Justice Thomas' opinion in this case resembles an "8th grade dissertaion compared to somebody who just graduated from Harvard."
After reading Thomas' part concurrance and dissent in Hillsdale Diary (which is little more than a paragraph), I share in the perplexity expressed by others over the charges levelled by Reid. In an age when Supreme Court decisions can be readily accessed by anybody at anytime, and the MSM no longer has a monopoly on reporting news, I'm amazed that someone like Harry Reid still seems to assume that nobody is going to check out the validity of what he is saying and expose any flaws. (Hat tip to PSB).
Update: In addition to refuting Reid, former clerk to Justice Thomas, John Yoo, writes an interesting piece here where he essentially argues that Thomas would lose influence on the Court if he were ever to be named Chief Justice.
Sadly Not Surprising
After three years of a legally recognized marriage, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his soon to be ex-wife are getting a divorce. The reason? The "demands" of being a bicoastal couple. With such a compelling reason for ending a marriage, I can now really see why Newsom thought it would be a good idea to give marriage licenses to homosexual couples.
After three years of a legally recognized marriage, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his soon to be ex-wife are getting a divorce. The reason? The "demands" of being a bicoastal couple. With such a compelling reason for ending a marriage, I can now really see why Newsom thought it would be a good idea to give marriage licenses to homosexual couples.
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