EMPTY NICHES. One day–I think it was during the year I spent in New Haven after graduation–a Catholic friend and I were walking through campus when he pointed to one of the many pseudo-Gothic buildings. “Look there,” he said; I looked there and came up blank. What was to see that I hadn’t seen a thousand times before? “Look at the niches.” Oh. As soon as he said that, I realized what those strange recesses were–the large, lozenge-shaped nooks, with... Read more

LATE THIS AFTERNOON, I’m heading up to Fair New Haven for the 50th Anniversary Banquet of my college debating society. I will of course not be blogging a) during the hectic weekend, nor b) about the activities of the POR. (Although I will probably file a report from the conference on Roe v. Wade that will take place tomorrow at Yale Law.) But the group has been much on my mind lately, and so today’s blogging will be devoted to... Read more

Bright college years with pleasure rife, The shortest, gladdest years of life; How swiftly are ye gliding by! Oh, why does time so quickly fly! The seasons come, the seasons go, The earth is green or white with snow, But time and change shall naught avail To break the friendships formed at Yale. In afteryears, should troubles rise To cloud the blue of sunny skies, How bright will seem through mem’ry’s haze, Those happy, golden, by-gone days! Oh, let us... Read more

JEREMY LOTT, who has an interesting blog, has a surprisingly sympathetic take on the “Christian culture industry” here. I think he’s too willing to settle for “people are using this kitsch to build their identities, so hey, not my problem”–surely it’s possible to challenge people, without condescending or being an elitist jerk, to build a better identity that is less reliant on schlock. “Every building is an icon”; our things shape our identities as well as expressing them; insert further... Read more

Shouting out loud, A blogwatch, alone… Ted Barlow: Good roundup post on the wealth/income/race stuff. The Rat: The Age Gauge (interesting diversion); and she reminds us of this classic Yale Daily News correction. Truly, a winner. Will Wilkinson: SOTU. Read more

THE WAR: Jim Henley posts his basic case against (escalating the) war on Iraq; and Regions of Mind links to this piece arguing that war on Iraq will make Al Qaeda stressed, less-armed, and more-catchable. I note that both arguments predict that if the US continues to press toward war (uber-likely), Al Qaeda’s attacks on the US will speed up in the months to come. What fun. Off to ride the D.C. Metro…. Read more

“THE VIRTUE OF HATE”: That’s the title of an excellent article in the current First Things, by Rabbi Meir Y. Soloveichik. The article is by far the best thing in the issue, and highly recommended; it’s about the difference between Christian and Jewish beliefs about forgiveness and the attitude toward unrepentant sinners. There are a couple things in the article with which I take issue–I think Rabbi Soloveichik is glossing over some relevant similarities between the two religions, sometimes by... Read more

IN MY CURRENT QUEST to blog only about stuff no one is talking about (well, it’s not so much a quest, more a series of accidents…), I missed the SOTU speech. Read more

POETRY WEDNESDAY: From Spenser. “Nicer” means basically “too fastidious.” Which when that Champion heard, with percing point Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore, And trembling horrour ran through every joynt, For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore: Which shaking off, he rent that yron dore, With furious force, and indignation fell; Where entred in, his foot could find no flore, But all a deepe descent, as darke as hell, That breathed ever forth a filthie banefull smell.... Read more

AMY WELBORN is doing a series on Catholic education–the good, the bad, the ugly. Very much worth your time. Read more