This comes as no surprise...

I'm an Amateur Catholic®.














http://amateurcatholic.blogspot.com

Thank you - again

Well kids, you did it. What can I say but THANK YOU? It was you who brought The City to second to last place for the Best Presentation award in the 2006 Catholic Blog Awards, ensuring that Brother Tom will be "first". I truly am unworthy, and all you folks who voted for The City are so very kind and I appreciate it.

I'd especially like to thank my pals with whom I had a great time with during the award process and who are particularly responsible for helping get the vote out.

Brother Tom, who was the inspiration to break my blogging silence, an inspiration in general. Boy, did he work it! Not to mention, that I used him to promote my cause...I mean, to help him be first in the eyes of God. Tom was up against some real heavyweights like Jeff Miller, Amy Welborn, The Anchoress, Mark Shea, and the Whappers, among other distinguished bloggers. Yet he still managed third in Most Bizarre Post, and the other side of fourth for Best Presentation and Best Political. I still think Best Design is where he really should have been because his design is A-1 stuff. Special Congratulations to Jeff Miller for taking the Most Bizzare Post.

Jay Anderson helped Brother Tom to be "first" in the Best Political category. As I said before, me and Jay go back to the earliest of my blogging days. He's a great guy and has always been good to me, and there has been no exception during the award process. With Brother Tom, he went into an uphill battle. Special congratulations to The Anchoress for her victory in that category, she does a fantastic job and is always a delight to read.

Maureen Martin took thrid in Most Humorous. Jeff Miller is the gold standard in the humor category and I so wanted to see Maureen right up there with him. She really has a marvelous talent. Her parodies are truly well written news articles, which is why when I was writing the spoof that was to become Musum Pontificalis I hit her up for advice. Special congratulations to Jeff Miller for taking Most Humorous. I don't think there's a person around who wouldn't think that was well-deserved.

Julie, Julie, Julie... She took first place in Best Blog by a Woman, edging out the powerhouse Amy Welborn, of all people. That's quite an accomplishment. I just hope that doesn't mean that she'll ban my IP from her comments now that she's "a great". Julie's a good friend and it was her post this morning that sent so many people by by that resulted in votes. Thank you Julie, and thank you, her readers. Special congratulations to Amy Welborn. She's one of the biggest players around, and I believe she was very gracious by maintaining a low key. She knows her might. Her graciousness was not lost on anyone that I know.

Steven Riddle took second in the Most Devotional category. A Carmelite bested by Dominicans! What is this world coming too? Then again, I suppose it could be worse, he could have lost to Jesuits. Anyway, Steven is my favorite "spiritual" read. He's very humble and gifted and I suspect my heavenly girls, Theresa and Therese like him too. Special congratulations to the beautiful brides-of-Christ at Monailes for placing first.

I had another horse in that race, Moneybags. He came in fourth there, but he was also in Best New Blog and Best Apolegetics. I was pulling for him in the latter two and he managed to yield a fourth place in Best New and ended up in fifth place for Best Apologetics. Not a bad showing for a new guy on the block, huh? Special congratulations to Jimmy Akin for his hardy win in Apologetics and Gerald Augustinus for Best New Blog. Gerald was up for a number of things and has a really good thing going on over there.

Special thanks again to those ever-so-kind and vocal supporters, The Darwins, Fidei Defensor, Catholic Caveman, and Anglemeg. Anyone else? Oh yeah...

Congratulations to Danielle Bean who was nominated in a few things and took the honors in Best Design, in which you folks pushed me over Jeff Miller into second place in the waning hours of voting. Once again, I'd like to mention Credibility which is a beautiful blog and took fourth place. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis rounded out fifth.

I'd also like to congratulate the Whappers for their victory in Best Presentation. I don't recall any point in which they weren't ahead handily. Amy Welborn came in second, Christopher Blosser came in third...and you know about me and Brother Tom.

Hey...and what about that Josh LeBlanc fella? What a good job he did putting on and administering this thing. We had all the fun and he had all the headaches and expense. Thank you, Josh, and thanks to those who helped you administer it. We are all very grateful, I'm sure.

Okay, so with a final thank you to all who participated, and especially those who participated on my behalf, thank you very very much and God bless you.

Now back to my cave...

Brother, could you spare a vote?

Don't say it...

You couldn't possibly be more ashamed of me than I am of myself. However, the important thing for us to be concerned about is charity. We only need about 10 votes in Best Presentation to topple Brother Tom and ensure that he will have the glory of being last. Let's get out there and spread the love, people!

PS, I'm giving 10 points to anyone who helps me help Brother Tom. It's the least I do.

Don't forget Julie, Jay, Maureen, Jeff, Steven, Moneybags, and Brother Tom (for Most Bizarre Post)

Update 10:40 AM. You're doing it, you saints-on-Earth. We're tied. We tied earlier but then dropped back down a couple tenths of a percent, but we're back at it.

Thank you. Whoever is responding to this appeal to charity, feel free to drop me a line in the combox so I can thank you personally, then I will put your names up here (unless you ask me not to).

Let's not have to resort to a lecture about the dignity of babes. Time is short.

Hey girls, look!



Awww, the cute little puppies want you to go vote. How sweet. And they even match your handbag!

Update 11:29 AM We just passed Brother Tom by .1%. Good job, kids. Thank you. It's far from over though. So all you kind folks coming over from my friends' places, please take the time to give me a hit on Best Presentation. I see actually just passed Jeff on Best Design. Might I recommend that you vote for Credo in that category. Frankly, he's probably got the best design going and deserves more votes than he's received so far. Or vote for Jeff, because I think he should finish higher than me. Thank you, again.

And remember, Julie is not out of the woods yet. Give her a vote for Best Blog by a Woman and solicit some votes for her.

What's a guy to do?

As most of you know, the Catholic Blog Wars are raging... err, I mean Awards. I am officially on leave of absence from blogging because I don’t know when to say when, which is just one of many character deficiencies of your humble blogger.

That being said, there is a lot of hype surrounding the CBA. St. Blog’s is a pretty tight-knit community and I think most people are having a lot of fun with this (at least those folks I associate with most). I’ve been having some fun in the comboxes and in a few e-mail exchanges and have of course been supporting my pals, as has My Lovely Wife, Rhonda. Here’s my dilemma, though. At first I really didn’t want anything to do with the CBA other than give my friends the nod. I certainly didn’t want the temptation to pride that would accompany a competition for recognition. I do pretty good at not succumbing to that stuff, because I have been blessed with a moderate sense of competition and I generally flee from such dangers – either literally or by resorting to humor.

Some very kind people nominated The City for an award and I’m flattered. I broke my hiatus to post a thank you, but refrained from any sort of campaigning on my own behalf. That kept me a safe – until now.

You see, I know I don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning. In the Best Presentation category I’m up against Whappers and Amy Welborn. Like the rest of us nominees really stand a chance, anyway. The thing is, there really is such a thing as last place. Often times, I prefer last place. It keeps me straight and I always have the consolation of Our Lord’s words, which inspires me to desire last place. Shamefully, I caught myself shirking from that virtue and had to do great violence to myself.


But then, the angel Gabriel came to me and said, “Hail, Full of Vainglory! The Lord still kind of likes you in spite of your miserable self, and He still wishes to bestow abundant graces upon you even though you don’t deserve squat. But He kind of likes your brother Der Tommissar too, and wishes to bestow grace upon him. It would be an act of charity for you to help Brother Tom to place last, so that he may be first.” I said, “How can this be, for I am not linked to by Amy Welborn or Mark Shea? Gabriel said, “The holy little Therese will come down upon thee and beat thee with roses and then varied endorsements will arise.

"And behold, your brother Tom is already three days into the competition and has been trash-talking for weeks. Because the Lord has heretofore forsaken him to his pride.” And I said, “Behold, I am the moron of the Lord, let the Lord’s will be done.” Then the angel departed.

St. Therese came down and gave a scolding for being so willing to blog a post, but said she’ll let it pass because she desires that the will of God be done too.

Rising up to my computer I went to my e-mail inbox. To my dismay, it was full of endorsements!



First was an endorsement by the Girls of Lost. They are so grateful for my defense of the dignity of chicks everywhere, they wanted to use their clout as the stars of television’s most popular series to give me a boost in the Best Presentation and Best Design categories.


Sensational Sarah (Julie Bowen) said that she was so touched by my defense of the dignity of the human person and her fellow cast members that she read Theology of the Body twice. She said she only wishes she had been a regular cast member so that her own inner beauty could have shined forth in my great presentation. According to her, I should be given an award just for helping promote the wholesome traditional Catholic craft of knitting. Sarah has a real connection with this blog because she considers its impressive design even more beautiful than herself. She also thanked me for more continued defense of dignity and said that she envied my Lovely Wife Rhonda. Well, not really the last part, but you get the idea.

Click to enlarge






Sweet Shannon (Maggie Grace) said that because I had shown Julie D. and her sexist chums, like MrsDarwin, that she did indeed have merit as a human being, she was able to graciously accept being killed off the show without feeling like a failure and owes it all to this meritoriously designed blog.









Hot Kate (Evangeline Lilly) said that because of the example I set in my thoughtful presentation on my thoughtfully designed blog, she physically gets sick when the director tells her to act as if she likes Sawyer. She said it makes her feel dirty and cheap, but because of me she knows her inner beauty is appreciated by many.






Lovely Claire (Emilie de Ravin) wrote to say that she had never seen such a wonderful presentation of true charity in all of her young years and thought it carried more weight by being published on a wonderfully designed blog. Even Claire’s dog, Bella, treats her with more dignity now.

That’s not all, either!

I received an endorsement for my insightful presentation on the plight of lesbian cheerleaders gone wild by a special home where they offer a 12 Step program for those poor misguided girls. There is one from Acme Stickpin Company because they saw a sharp increase in sales after my alarming presentation of the Happy Balloon Jesus Resufix.



But here's the coup de grace of endorsements: Pope Benedict XVI!

ADMONITIO GRAVIS DE SUFFRAGATO
A BENEDICTO PP. XVI
SUMMO PONTIFICE
EPISCOPIS
PRESBYTERIS ET DIACONIS
VIRIS ET MULIERIBUS CONSECRATIS
OMNIBUSQUE FIDELIBUS FILIIS PAROECIAE SANCTI BLOGIS
DE RE NECESSARIA SUFFRAGARI RICKI LUGARII

A strong suggestion about voting
by Pope Benedict SVI
Supreme Pontiff
To the bishops
Priest and deacons
Consecrated men and women
and all the faithful children of St. Blog's Parish
Concerning the necessity of voting for Rick Lugari

Vote for Rick because we are all called to be saints and Tom needs a little boost. Vote for Rick’s friends because they have proven themselves to be saints on Earth because they not only put up with Rick, they are even kind to him.

Jay Anderson who is in contention for Best Political Blog has been one of Rick’s best blogging buddies and has been so the longest. He has shown great patience with Rick by listening to and entertaining many long-winded rants. Jay and his dear wife Sarah are expecting their third child, so a vote for Jay is a vote for life.

Jeff Miller is in contention for everything that is humorous, bizarre and creative. If anyone deserves to dominate a multitude of categories, it is he. Jeff is St. Blog's veteran wit, and probably one of the most all around decent fellas you'll come across in the blogosphere. From early on in Rick's blogging career, Jeff has been very generous to him, both in kind words and links.

Maureen Martin is the new wit around town and she has been nominated for Most Humorous Blog. This puts her in opposition to their mutual friend, Jeff. This is not a problem really. Maureen understands that it would be difficult to best the veteran Jeff, and most likely doesn’t expect to. However, because she has exhibited heroic virtue by befriending Rick, we would like to see her fare well and at least land a strong second place.

Julie D. is running for Most Informative Blog and Best Blog by a Woman. This poor child is up against Amy Welborn in both categories, and is also battling Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli and Gerald Augustinus in Most Informative. Julie has the patience of Job. Even though she tries to run a respectable blog, she still hasn’t banned Rick’s IP from the comment section. God knows she has had every right to, because Rick has a way of reducing any good conversation to the basest level. On the other hand, Julie has had some struggles of her own, in which Rick, in that rare moment of selfless charity has tried to help her in overcoming her faults. Nevertheless, to give all your votes to Julie would be the Catholic thing to do. After all, she has suffered much at the hands of Rick and voting for her would make you like the Good Samaritan who helped the victim on the side of the road.

Steven Riddle is too genuine and good for any hype, so he deserves your vote for Most Devotional Blog. After all, he’s a Carmelite, so the Blessed Virgin and St. Therese are pulling for him and you wouldn't want to disappoint our Holy Mother.

Don’t be fooled by Moneybags’ name. That just means he’s generous. He is running for Best Apologetics Blog and Best New Blog. Moneybags, if you recall is the gracious gentleman who offered to help everyone in St. Blog's get their special saint for the year. He’s up against Jimmy Akin for Best Apologetics Blog and all I can say for him there is good luck with that. I’m handing out endorsements, not miracles. However, Best New Blog does present an opportunity for him, so do your duty and help the nice gentleman out.

Der Tommissar is a fun guy and one of Rick's newer friends. Even though Tom would will that Rick be placed at the bottom of the heap, we do think he merits to be considered for Most Bizarre Post. Of course, we’d all like to help him out with the presentation award, but we wouldn’t want to go against the will of God now, would we? Besides St Therese came to me in a dream and said she’s handing out roses to everyone who votes for Rick and his friends. And we all know what Therese's roses mean.

In conclusion, may all of Rick’s friends be blessed; those mentioned above and all those who have given vocal and/or moral support; faithful Catholics like DarwinCatholic and his lovely bride who happens to be expecting number 3 very soon, Fidei Defensor, The Catholic Caveman, Angelmeg and Rick’s very Lovely Wife, Rhonda and her family and friends.

Given in Rome, in the papal apartment, with Chico on my lap, on 16 February in the year 2006.

Of course, the USCCB issued their own translation of the above text:

Don't vote for Rick.

So remember, kids. It's all about love and dignity - mixed in with a little light-hearted fun - here at the City. Vote every day and if there are any dead people from Chicago reading this, call your friends!

Latin text courtesy of Darwin

On a side note. If anyone is talented with computer graphics, like creating logos, please stop by Funky Dung's and see if you can be of any help. Funky, does a lot of things for the parishioners of St. Blog's and it would be nice if we could do something to chip in. Oh, and he's a big Pink Floyd fan, so we owe it to him. ;)

Thank you

The Catholic Blog Awards voting has begun and I think I would be remiss if I didn’t violate my hiatus in order to extend my thanks to those who were kind enough to nominate and vote for De Civitate Dei. I am truly humbled, and even surprised. I had been aware that some kind folks had nominated me for a few things, but I hadn’t known about the nomination for Best Design, and had previously given it little thought. However, I find that nomination in particular quite rewarding because it has nothing to really do with the bad kind of pride that I am prone towards, but allows me to take some pride in my work (the good kind).

When I was working as the City Planner, I wanted something unique and quite readable. I considered ever aspect of what I wanted to do as far as column design / behavior, fonts and colors. It was no small chore getting satisfactory results in both browsers (that blasted Internet Explorer), but it paid off. Frankly though, I am elated that someone else - anyone else – thinks the City is noteworthy. Thank you very much. Some kind souls also nominated me for Best Presentation, for which I am equally grateful for.

Now for some plugs: I am pleased that a number of my favorites are nominated, though sometimes in the same category – uh oh! I guess I’m gonna have to spread the love. Anyway, when you vote please give some consideration to Happy Catholic, The Curt Jester, CatholicNews.org, Pro Ecclesia, The Donegal Express, Flo Carmeli, and The Anchoress.

So like a ninja, I now return to my hermitage for my Pre-Lent exercises and wish you all a very Mortifying Lent and a Glorious Easter. God bless you.

City Holiday

Well kids, it’s been nearly a year since I stepped into this thing known as the blogosphere. I really enjoy blogging. I find it somewhat therapeutic in that it allows me to spout off about things that I hold dear, is a great outlet and inspiration to exercise some of my creativity (something that had gone somewhat dormant in my life over a number of years), and it serves as a distraction from things that trouble my soul. It has also allowed me to connect with a great number of people who share common interests and viewpoints.



On the other hand, blogging serves as a distraction from things that I would be better served doing. In the past year I have seen my prayer life (as pathetic as it was) diminish considerably, ditto that to my book reading. Another problem is that blogging is not unlike beer; it goes great with cigarettes. And that’s not very conducive to kicking the habit.

One of the things that has enabled me to blog fairly regularly is that things have been very slow at work for quite some time now, but it’s really taking it’s toll on us financially. This time of the year is my busiest (not business wise, but the BS that goes along with year-end details and then preparing for ISO audits). I don’t know what the future holds for this 40 year old jack of all trades, master of none, but I’m in the midst of a nine day negotiation with my girl, Therese, and my new friend Benedict.

There is only one thing clear to me at this time, and that is I need to quit blogging. The decision was both tough and easy to come by, which in part, explains why it has taken me a week get this post up. Reason tells me, and my heart backs it up, it’s the right thing to do at this time. Quitting will also serve as a sacrifice (something that I haven’t been doing a lot of over the past year either). My passions are resisting though – it almost seems like giving up a child. Here you nurture this thing from that first post entitled “Testing”, which nearly everyone has enough ego to delete for fear of having their introduction to the blogosphere look amateurish and silly; the exception of course, is the ever humble Papa. You spend countless hours interacting with it, feeding it and pampering it. Blogging really becomes a way of life, for better and/or for worse.

It also feels like you’re giving up friends. That is in part why I think I am going to still hang around St. Blog’s, visiting my friends and stuff like I always do. Giving up the blog is one thing, but to stop reading blogs is another.

I’ve probably gone on longer than I should have, but out of respect for my friends/regulars I felt an explanation was due. I’m pretty much a what you see is what you get kind of guy, I try not to make myself out to be anything I’m not, I don’t consider myself a pundit, or a brilliant mind, nor do I fashion myself as a “citizen journalist.” Hell, I don’t even fashion myself as being literate, let alone insightful. Nor do I have deep-seated narcissistic tendencies. Lest anyone think that I’m throwing my own funeral to see how many people will come; only to resume blogging three days later as if I had never even written these words.

That’s not to say that I have sworn off blogging forever. You never know, maybe in six months to a year I will be mature enough to blog responsibly, though I highly doubt it. Then there’s Musum Pontificalis, what do I do about that, if anything? A number of people have expressed their desire to read more papal musings. I still don’t know what I’m going to do yet, however I have purposely excluded Musum Pontificalis from my non-blogging commitment. Therese seems to be all right with that, so as things slow down around here and I have available time, I will revisit the idea of helping Papa get some content out there.

Thank you to all my blogger friends for their kind words, links and support, and most of all thank you to the commentators – not just those here at The City, but those from back in the Unam Sanctum days, and especially at Musum Pontificalis. I think the comboxes are the fuel that powers the blogosphere and they are what make the experience worthwhile.

I feel compelled to name names complete with links, but alas the list would be too great. Suffice it to say that you know who you are and I consider myself blessed to have made your acquaintance. So, I guess I’ll just see you around in the comboxes from now on. God bless you and thanks for the good times here in The City.

New year meme

Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me with this New Year meme.

What was your favorite movie in 2005?
I don't think I've seen a 2005 movie yet. The last movie I saw at the movies was the Passion of the Christ, that was the first time I had been to the movies since Silence of the Lambs.

What was your favorite book in 2005?
I'm reading Mother Angelica now, which is the first "new" book I've read in years.

Are you richer or poorer?
Poorer

Thinner or fatter?
If I got any skinnier, Bob Geldolf would hold a concert for my relief.

What kept you sane this past year?
That's such a relative term.

Which personal accomplishment in 2005 are you most pleased with?
Staying alive.

What resolutions have you made for '06?
To focus more on my spiritual life.

Which bad habit are most motivated to break?
Smoking.

Which do you expect to keep?
All of them.

What are you most looking forward to in 2006?
Reading: increasing my book to blog ratio. The Mrs. ordered Warren Carroll's latest volume to his History of Christendom series for me for Christmas. It is being released tomorrow, so by the time I finish Mother Angelica, I'll be jammin' on that.

I hereby tag anyone who wants to do this. Those who are blogless, feel free to use the combox.

Creature of habit

I’ve been tagged by Moneybags at A Catholic Life and Jeff Miller, The Curt Jester for the Weird Habits meme. The object of it is to list 5 weird habits and pass it along to five others.

I’m having trouble with this because I don’t know if I have any habits that would be considered “weird” even though most people may not share them. They are certainly bad habits that I wish weren’t habits.

1. Smoking. I managed to quit for Lent and started to fall of the wagon a month or so after Easter. I used Zyban and nicotine inhalers to quit last time and they were quite helpful. I’ve got a doctors appointment tomorrow so I can get that help again.

2. I bite my nails. What a dork, huh?

3. I am way too drawn to seeing what’s going on with blogs. Even when I am feeling burnt out on the whole thing, I find myself always having to check out my comments section and other people’s posts.

4. I love to be organized and sometimes that means NOT having things put away in a particular place (having it handy). The problem is that over time not having a lot of things put away becomes NOT being organized, so I find myself in this never-ending cycle of organization and chaos.

5. I guess this one classifies as weird. Jeff admits to reading everything in sight, even product labels. I have a similar quirk, but it’s more specific. I can’t just take care of business when sitting on the throne. If I don’t have a book handy, I will either read product labels of air freshener, shampoo, etc. or I will pray. Often times I will pray a decade of the Rosary. But to sit there without “amusement” just can’t be done.

I hereby inflict this meme on my new quasi-neighbor, Jay; the lovely and ageing MrsDarwin; he with the frostbitten toes, M.Z. Forrest; the red state Canadian exiled to a very blue state, Patrick Coffin; and the delightful and resourceful, Ma Beck.

Picked by a saint

Update: Moneybags has informed me that he has a new post up where he is posting the results of the saint matches. Please click here to request your special patron for 2006.

Moneybags at A Catholic Life has a wonderful thing going on. Actually, if I understand it properly he is facilitating this for someone else. Anyway, go see this post about having a saint choose you for their patronage. I asked for one and Moneybags graciously forwarded my name for selection and I now have a year to look forward to the great St. Benedict’s intercession.

I hope they don’t get overwhelmed with requests, but I’m sure they are most happy to participate in such a charitable exercise.

His original post is HERE and the current one is HERE. Stop in and put in a request to have a saint choose you.

Ten worst Americans (U.S.)

Jean at Catholic Fire linked to a blogosphere challenge at All Things Beautiful. Following up on the story about the Ten Worst Britons, Alexandra asks for a listing of the ten worst Americans. I had actually been considering doing something like that after posting the British story yesterday; but being concerned that I don’t have time to give proper consideration to the matter, I decided not to. Now that I’ve seen “the challenge”, I’m motivated to get something out, even if it fails to meet the sniff test and keeps me from doing what I should be doing.

One thing I will try to avoid is your everyday (or everydecade) common psychopath. I mean folks like Charles Manson are evil, but let’s face it, in the grand scheme of things the reach of their evil only goes so far. I’m more interested in the destructive cultural forces like Margaret Sanger and the nefarious leaders/players, etc.


Margaret Sanger – Evil, evil, evil. Fascist, racist, pro-baby-killing, eugenics pushing evil bitch who started Planned Parenthood and paved the way for the moral destruction of this nation – and quite possibly the rest of the world (due to the U.S. strong influence and economic might).








To her eternity can go Alfred Kinsey whose “work” has had such far-reaching consequences that I doubt that there is one of us who hasn’t been directly negatively tainted because of his influence on modern culture. I know I have felt the effects first hand – I struggle with them to this day.



Alger Hiss, commie traitor bastard who to this day remains the poster child for the commie traitors who are present at every level of our government, then and now.















Speaking of treachery: How about Jane Fonda? Were there worse? Yes…but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone more personally revolting. More current examples of leftist anti-Americans pale in comparison to the demoralizing sight of Hanoi Jane mounting the enemy’s artillery and lending moral support to the enemy (and let’s get this straight – it wasn’t just an enemy, their cause was downright evil!). In comparison to Hanoi Jane, Michael Moore is a lightweight, both in treachery and self-aggrandizing.






As bad as this next entry is, four years ago I wouldn’t have considered nominating him. Since then he has paraded himself in a major way which has essentially demanded that we examine his existence. If for nothing else (dogged support of the murdering of innocent babies, scandal to the Catholic Church, etc), John Kerry is making this list because his actions during the Vietnam War scandalized and brought disgrace to every American who donned a uniform and offered their service to our great nation, and his actions were treacherous. I am not a veteran, but I hold every veteran who served honorably in high esteem, whether it is peace time or war. We would not be a great nation, and not have the potential to be as great as we should be if we not for those who sacrifice(d) for us. John Kerry should have been dragged straight to the firing squad. It’s sad commentary about our nation that few at the time (or now) even considered it.

Here’s a tough one for me and I’m sure there are many who will dispute it. Much can be said about Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The man did good - and the man did evil, and everything he did had far-reaching consequences. Since I think that others could have accomplished the same good and not done the evil, I’m going to include him in this list. Even if we avoid the contested subject of the New Deal and his paving the way for a larger and socialist minded government, we have plenty to work with concerning World War II.

I am pleased that he got us into WWII, but disappointed that he didn’t deal with the matter squarely. I sincerely believe that he “allowed” or “provoked” Pearl Harbor in order to rally support for the war. I don’t call that leadership, even though I agree that our entrance into the war was necessary and just.

He did many good things in support of the war effort and was very successful in marshalling the nation into the military machine that it became. Kudos to FDR on that.

Yalta, Yalta, Yalta. Stalin, Stalin, Stalin. The betrayal of Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe was about as evil of an action he could have done with all his accomplishments. It was SO unnecessary, duplicitous, and amounted to more evil being done to a greater number of people than could have ever been done by being an enemy of Joe Stalin rather than his buddy and enabler. If the world has anything to despise the United States’ global policy/actions, that is one. He took a just war – a war whose outcome could have ensured greater peace over a greater period of time and pissed it away. You can blame FDR, and to some extent, Truman for the many lives lost in Eastern Europe, Asia, Central and South America and certainly our boys in Korea and Vietnam who had to stand up to the menace that is Global Communism.

Yes…FDR belongs on this list. I’m sorry, Poland, et al. Please accept my president Reagan’s efforts as atonement.



Jesse Jackson. Need I say more? And don’t anyone dare say, “But he showed up for Terri Schiavo.” No, he showed up for himself – as he ALWAYS does. He has created an industry out the politics of hate. If it weren’t for his example, the Al Sharptons, Bill Clintons and Teddy Kennedys of the nation wouldn’t have half of their divisive power.





Going further back into history, what list would be complete without General William Sherman. If any foreign general had done what he had did, we would still be clamoring over it. That he was one of ours sickens me. It seems that we usually tend to dismiss his actions or neglect to consider them, perhaps because it is so ugly. However, I don’t think we should run from it – we should remember it in order that we don’t become what we despise ever again.



Aaron Burr, the self-serving pseudo-patriot who was the arch-nemesis and killer of Alexander Hamilton. I never was big into Alexander Hamilton, I think there were pros and cons to him like many other of the Founding Fathers, so I don’t name Burr out of spite based on the duel with Hamilton. I name him, because I’m looking for someone from that era and frankly, he was a worse kind of enemy to the budding republic. Benedict Arnold came to mind as well, but he was but a punk in the grand scheme of things. Burr was more of a destructive force than anyone I can think of off-hand.



There’s many more I would like to mention, but I’m going to end on a surprising note: Michael Jackson, the thing from Neverland, if only for how he typifies the excesses American pop culture and all the vices and shallowness of our contemporary society. I mean…just look at the dude, would ya!





Now I can't believe I did this. I had a name written down on my "working" list, and then scooted it back while I collected images, etc. for these other entries. When all was said and done I neglected listing this character, but I don't want to delete anyone else to make room for him. So, let's do this: Whereas Michael Jackson personifies pop culture, William Jefferson Clinton amalgamates all ten of the people on my list. How's that for an example of the worst America has to offer?

Pope Benedict XVI - Fashion celeb?

Whether it's Prada and Gucci, or just fancy ecclesiastical tailoring, Pope Benedict XVI is his own man when it comes to dressing.

Just days before Christmas, Benedict showed up at his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square wearing a fur-trimmed stocking cap that could have passed for a Santa Claus hat.

Earlier this month, he made another fashion statement when he donned a red velvet cape trimmed in ermine for the traditional papal visit to the statue of the Madonna near the Spanish Steps that marks the beginning of Rome's Christmas season.

Coming after gossip about his wearing Gucci sunglasses and bright red Prada loafers, the vintage styles have turned Benedict into something of a fashion celebrity.

'Those red shoes have made quite an impression,' said Vatican historian Alberto Melloni.
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But those who know Joseph Ratzinger from his years as head of the Vatican's doctrinal office dismiss any notion of vanity in the new pope's dressing habits.

'He wouldn't know Gucci from Smoochi,' said Marjorie Weeke, a former official at the Vatican's Social Communications office.

She recalled Ratzinger's daily walk across St. Peter's Square from his home just outside the Vatican walls to his office, wearing a black beret and black overcoat and carrying a worn leather briefcase.

'He probably donned the cape because it was in the papal closet and would keep him warm on a winter evening,' she said of the mozzetta.

I have to agree Ms. Weeke. I don't think Pope Benedict is trying to be chic or anything of the sort. "It's cold, I need a hat, what does a pope wear to keep his head warm? A Camauro; that's what I will wear." "I need shoes, what kind of shoes do popes wear? Red slippers/loafers; that's what I'll wear."

I think it's clear that the Holy Father finds merit in dressing according to the customs of his office, and I can really appreciate that. I just find it hard to believe for a moment that making a fashion statement ever crosses his mind.

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Policies for tolerance must understand humanity, says pope

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- If policies aimed at promoting tolerance and respect for religious, cultural and ethnic differences are to benefit society, they must be based on "an authentic understanding" of humanity, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Welcoming Francis Campbell, Great Britain's new ambassador to the Vatican, the pope said the values of tolerance and respect for differences "derive from an appreciation of the innate dignity and the inalienable rights of every human person."

However, the promotion of these values must take into account God's plan for humanity, which includes protecting all life and safeguarding the family, he said in his Dec. 23 address to the new ambassador.

"It requires us to recognize and protect the sanctity of life from the first moment of conception until natural death. It requires us to acknowledge the indispensable role of stable marriage and family life for the good of society," Pope Benedict said.
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Campbell, a 35-year-old diplomat, is the first Catholic ambassador to the Vatican since the Reformation.

His appointment also marked the first time the British government appointed an ambassador after advertising for the position in the British press.

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Are these the 10 worst Britons?

The Independent takes a stab at listing the ten worst Britons. Jack the Ripper makes the list, but not Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. Surprised? I suppose not - though I would have put them at the top of the list - along with Cromwell and Cranmer. Now given that the blood-thirsty heretics, Henry and Elizabeth, weren't listed, I was surprised to see William, Duke of Cumberland made the cut.

The one that really gets me is they listed St. Thomas Becket as one of Briton's worst. Why they stopped there and didn't list St. Thomas More, I don't know.

As the patron saint of Roman Catholic secular clergy, Becket is nominated for the divisions he caused England. These seemed unlikely when the previously carefree and pleasure-loving courtier Becket became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. Yet once in office he became an ascetic prelate, devoted to the ecclesiastical hierarchy. In the schism which at that time divided the church, Becket sided with Pope Alexander II, who was devoted to the same strict hierarchical principles and, to the dismay of Henry II, sought to exempt the church from all civil jurisdiction and secure unfettered control for the clergy. After returning from exile, he excommunicated the bishops who had crowned the king and an enraged Henry uttered his fateful plea to be rid of Becket. His subsequent murder brought Becket everlasting revenge on Henry. He was canonised and credited with martyrdom. A shrine to him remains at Canterbury.

Nominated by John Hudson of St Andrews University. He said: "He divided England in a way even many churchmen thought unnecessary."

Another person I would have included is Neville Chamberlain, just because he was such a twit. Oh, and in honor of General Patton and brilliant military strategists the world over I would have to include General Bernard Montgomery too. ;)

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