BOREDOM AND A WHOLE LOT MORE… R.J. Snell is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern University.  He is also Executive Director of the Agora Institute for Civic Virtue and the Common Good. The following interview is based on Snell’s latest book, Acedia and its Discontents: Metaphysical Boredom and the Empire of Desire. The following interview was conducted by David George Moore.  Dave blogs at www.twocities.org. Moore: I somewhat randomly landed upon a talk of yours where you discuss a few of... Read more

Coffee and the, well, colon: For some people, coffee brings on more than just a caffeine buzz. The latest video from the American Chemical Society’s Reactions series tackles its effects on our insides with science. So, yeah. About 30 percent of humans feel the need to defecate after drinking their morning joe. If you’re one of that lucky three out of 10, you’ve probably wondered what’s up with that. Mary Bowerman tells a wonderful story about Josh Cyganik and Leonard Bullock: After... Read more

Source: From an article on hypersensitivity on college campuses, in an article about coddling the American mind with political correctness. Common Cognitive Disorders A partial list from Robert L. Leahy, Stephen J. F. Holland, and Lata K. McGinn’s Treatment Plans and Interventions for Depression and Anxiety Disorders (2012). 1. Mind reading. You assume that you know what people think without having sufficient evidence of their thoughts. “He thinks I’m a loser.” 2. Fortune-telling. You predict the future negatively: things will get worse, or there... Read more

Jesus became a wrecking ball to life in Galilee and Judea as he came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:13-14). With his cousin, John the Baptist, arrested, Jesus roared into action. Jesus came out of the wilderness with a sense of urgency, a vision with unparalleled clarity, and insight that there is more to any moment and situation than meets the eye. Time was pregnant with the kingdom of God and Jesus announced its... Read more

Source: A Catholic priest and archaeologists in Israel are excavating an ancient synagogue and a site that may have been the home of Mary Magdalene, who has been called Jesus’ most beloved disciple. Archaeologists say Jesus could have preached in the temple as he is said in the Gospels to have preached at synagogues in the Galilee and no other synagogue from his lifetime has been found. Six years ago Juan Solana, a Catholic priest, bought some property in the... Read more

Ralph S. Blackman: The tidal wave began in 1978. John Belushi chanting, “TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!” in National Lampoon’s “Animal House” ignited a litany of iconic scenes on movie screens over the years, each conveying a narrative of the ultimate partying experience in college. From Will Ferrell exclaiming, “We’re going streaking!” in “Old School” to the newer generation of the stereotypical frat boy Stiffler in “American Pie 2″ or Fat Amy in “Pitch Perfect,” audiences nationwide soak in the drunken, boozy,... Read more

A while back I was given a short book by Marc Baer, Mere Believers: How Eight Faithful Lives Changed the Course of History (HT JP). Marc Baer is a Professor of History at Hope College. His specialty is modern British history. In this book he looks at eight Christians in Britain examining how their lives, inspired by Christian faith, made a difference. The individuals range from Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707-1790) to Dorothy Sayers (1893-1956) spanning some two and... Read more

Now Target has gone ahead and done it, or at least some think Target has. “Our teams are working across the store to identify areas where we can phase out gender-based signage to help strike a better balance. For example, in the kids’ Bedding area, signs will no longer feature suggestions for boys or girls, just kids. In the Toys aisles, we’ll also remove reference to gender, including the use of pink, blue, yellow or green paper on the back... Read more