As you may recall, I have a good friend who has organized a charity benefit — trading items on Craigsist until a home is obtained for Toussaint Academy in San Diego:

Toussaint Academy in San Diego, a division of Father Joe’s, is a long term Homeless Shelter for children ages 14-18 years old. On any given night there are approximately 2500 homeless youths on the streets in San Diego. The Toussaint Academy is able to house 39 children long term. These children graduate high school and most go on to graduate college. For more information, click HERE.

He has an update:

Well, we just made our 8th trade!!!!

Thank you to Alon David of Alon David Photography. Not only did he trade $2400.00 of his photography services but he gifted back the 10 day “Hawaii Trip” to House for Charity making the total value $4400.00. The total package will make a great gift for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, family reunions, holiday events or anyone else you can think of.

See all the trades and propose one of your own at www.HouseforCharity.com

Also, follow us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/houseforcharity for more updates.

Alon David — this week’s winner of the Angels Among Us Award!

MUT NOTE: I came across an absolutely fabulous Catholic bog — and I wanted to give it a big shout-out and note is now added to the blogroll: Why I am Catholic. Why I am Catholic also has a Facebook page (click HERE). The writing is witty and poignant; I love the personal perspectives. This is a my new must-read site when it comes to faith issues. About them:

“Why I Am Catholic” is a blog on the joy and inexhaustible meaning we find in the Faith; an on-line gathering of Catholics and those in discernment.The writers are Frank Weathers and Allison Salerno. Joan of Arc, the warrior saint, is our patron.

For example, I want to see the movie “Bridesmaids” with my husband on a date night — and here is a review from a savvy Catholic viewpoint: Musings After Seeing the Movie “Bridesmaids”

I also laughed so hard at some of the over-the-top gross-out humor in the movie that I was crying. And some of the events in the movie tugged at my heart. The movie also provoked me to question how best to live in a world that doesn’t always reflect my beliefs.

Finally, a great piece by Rev. Robert A. Sirico via Crisis Magazine (previously Inside Catholic) — The Great Lie: Pope Benedict XVI On Socialism

And, for those of you following current events, the wonderful John Zmirak has a great piece on Osama Bin Laden’s death: DING, DONG THE WAROCK’S DEAD.

Luke 24:1-12

[1] On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words.

[9] When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [11] But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. [12] Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Please pray for Christians persecuted and killed for their faith.

Approximately 5 years ago a man in Canada traded a red paperclip up to a house. He basically bartered his way up from the paper clip to a pen, the pen to a door knob, the door knob to a stove…..well you get the idea.

With two friends / partners I am doing the exact same thing for a very worthy local charity. Toussaint Academy in San Diego, a division of Father Joe’s, is a long term Homeless Shelter for children ages 14-18 years old. On any given night there are approximately 2500 homeless youths on the streets in San Diego. The Toussaint Academy is able to house 39 children long term. These children graduate high school and most go on to graduate college. For more information, click HERE.

The financial crisis has made it more difficult to keep the doors open……so we are going to assist.

Toussaint Academy San Diego

Craig says that there are the steps to follow should people want to donate:

1. Visit our website at www.HouseforCharity.com Decide if you have something to trade and log it in.

2. “Like” our House for Charity Facebook page to continue following along in our journey.

3. Help us go “Viral” and forward this link to all your friends.

Craig concludes: “Homelessness is a terrible thing that can happen to any one of us. I just want to do my part in helping the community. The Toussaint Academy has a great track record of assisting homeless youth so obviously I want to do everything possible to help them with their mission.”

First, a hero who should inspire us all: Hideaki Akaiwa

Hideaki Akaiwa

After surviving the historic earthquake and 100-foot tsunami, Akaiwa dons SCUBA gear and rescues his wife of 20 years and his mother. The compelling account, written in Bruce-Willis-Die-Hard vernacular ends:

Today this 43 year-old Japanese badass rides out every single day, multiple times a day, riding around on a bicycle with his legs wrapped in plastic to keep himself dry. His only equipment – a pocketknife, a canteen, a flashlight, a change of clothes, and a badass set of aviator sunglasses – packed into a trusty trio of backpacks, he rides out in search of people needing rescue, a modern-day, real-life action hero.

Also, it is my pleasure to be acquainted with the Former Honorary Consul General of Japan, Mr. Michael Inoue. He was one of my wonderful RCIA instructors, and I was privileged to hear his experiences about being Catholic in Japan. Last week, I asked him if he could specifically suggest organizations that were focused on assisting Japan recovery from the earthquake-tsunami-volcano-nuclear disaster suite that is inflicting that country. He indicated the Japanese Red Cross. CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO THE ORGANIZATION’S DONATION PAGE; you can also surf that site for additional details. Yes, Japan is a land of survivors!

Also, directly: http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/

More details can be found from this wonderful video, filmed in San Diego’s own Japanese Friendship Garden: A Musical Note of Hope & Love for the Japanese People -

He also indicated the consulate was also taking donation. So, I will additionally recommend the following contact information:

Consulate General of Japan
5154 Via Playa Los Santos
San Diego, California 92124-1555
Ph./fax: 858-576-6866

Michael also provided some additional material I wanted to share: KPBS recently broadcast the Fukushima Koriyama Junior High Choir’s “Gloria” (only 30 miles from the Fukushima nuclear reactors) via videos forwarded by Urasenke Prof Ayako Katayama provided the YouTube. The school remains closed, but you can hear their award winning choir sing:

Gloria

Kyrie

Benedic Domino, anima mea

Mike also prepared a wonderful presentation which I wanted to make available to everyone. It contains a summary of the most significant news items, information on fake donation sites, and details on the nuclear plant crisis: 3-­‐11 Triple Whammy “Can any Good come out of this tragedy?”

As this is a Catholic faith site, I would be remiss if I didn’t share something about an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that appeared in Akita, Japan: Our Lady of Akita seen by Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa near the this city in 1973. Sister Sasagawa said that the Virgin Mary told her: “Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach.” It seems that all of Japan was able to watch the tears appearing on the Statue of the Virgin on television at this time.

From Marianland: Our Lady of Akita

For details on this Apparition check the EWTN site and click here for Marianland.com’s review: January 4, 1975 – the statue of the Blessed Virgin began to weep. It continued to weep at intervals for the next 6 years and eight months. It wept on 101 occasions. In 1988, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger(the current Pope), gave definitive judgment on the Akita events and deemed the messages as reliable and worthy of belief.

Actually, this will be a sacrifice. I work and write many hours a day, on top of keeping up with my son and husband. The relaxing 30-60 minutes that I spent laughing or chuckling 2-3 nights a week will be missed. I am really going to feel it Thursday, as the “Big Bang Theory” will be airing a new episode that seems like it will be a hoot. However, it seems to be the proper choice for this year. I will make it a point to add Charlie Sheen to my prayers, as I have often enjoyed his work (especially Major League). In fact, here is one of my all-time favorite movie scenes:

While Two-and-a-half- Men is not the most tasteful show ever aired, there were lots of moments of redemption and near redemption (especially concerning family relationships), and it was one of my “guilty pleasures”. I will also pray that ABC senior executives pull the plug early on this insulting and highly unoriginal programming: “Good Christian Bitches.”

I already watch little of ABC; this will not inspire me to watch more. And I suspect that if ABC continued on as it plans, a boycott of advertisers will be organized.

The EWTN posts a report about the church’s promoting the three pillars of Lent: Catholic dioceses use fresh initiatives to promote traditions of Lent:

As Roman Catholics begin Lent with the traditional distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, dioceses in the U.S. are seeking to pass on the ancient practices of the liturgical season in new ways.

The three traditional “pillars of Lent” – for Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, as well as some Protestants who observe the tradition – are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through these three essential practices, Pope Benedict XVI said in his 2011 Lenten message, “Lent teaches us how to live the love of Christ in an ever more radical way.”

And EWTN also passes on some fasting tips and guidelines: Fasting and Abstinence

Please chime in with what you are giving up for Lent! I would love to know, and it could help me when I have to make a 2011 choice.

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.
—Genesis 3:19

On our last visit to this family, the mother asked me about being a Christian — as well as the differences between Catholics and Protestants. I told her what I knew, blessing the fact that I had completed the RCIA instruction last year so I could answer with some details. Today, she was excitedly about a book she is reading: Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. She seemed happy to have someone to confide in, telling me about the joy of reading the Bible and how this differed significantly about how she felt when reading the Koran (which didn’t really appeal to her at all). The children also identify themselves as Christian.

Needless to say, she is unsure of how much farther to go forward — as we both knew many Muslims in the land from which she hails would be quick to punish anyone declared an apostate who left Islam. She and her family return back to the homeland occasionally. We discussed the sacrament of baptism, and a little about my son’s baptism last year. She is uncertain how to proceed, but continued prayer and learning seemed the best advice to give. She is contemplating several faith options at this point.

It is difficult to know what to say to someone you care about when Baptism by Blood seems like a genuine possibility.

Baptism of blood signifies martyrdom of an unbaptised person, that is, the patient bearing of a violent death or of an assault which of its nature leads to death, by reason of one’s confession of the Christian faith, or one’s practice of Christian virtue.

Jesus Himself attests the justifying power of martyrdom. Mt. to, 32: “Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in Heaven.” Mt. 10 39 (16, 25): ” He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me shall find it.” John 11 12, 25: ” He that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal.”

So, if you have advice to give, please feel free. During the conversation, I shared a little bit about a near-miraculous experience I had last week, and how much I had come to appreciate the guiding love of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life. For example, the friend’s mother really enjoyed about the near-instant intersession of St. Anthony of Padua on my future writing career.

A friend of mine also wrote today of a Christian killed recently, after he challenged Pakistan’s blasphemy laws: And speaking of freedom…

Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistan government’s only Christian minister (he was Roman Catholic) was assassinated while on his way to work in Islamabad on Wednesday. Bhatti was in the process of pushing for the reform of harsh blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam.

To highlight the fact that persecutions of Christians could occur anywhere, even in a deeply Catholic country, I told her a story about the Mexican persecution of Catholics in the 1920′s, which I discovered only recently. This comes from a short biography of Saint José María Robles Hurtado:

Persecution of Catholics throughout Mexico, known as the Cristeros Era, lasted roughly from 1917 to 1937. The name Cristeros, derived from the Spanish Cristo Rey, Christ the King, refers to Anti-Government Rebel Fighters, including hundreds of Knights of Columbus.

“¡Viva Cristo Rey!” – “Long Live Christ the King” -, and “¡Viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe!” – “Long Live Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe” – were the last words of many Cristeros, Catholics and martyred Priests and Knights. Emulating Christ on the Cross, they would open their arms wide and yell out these words with their last breath. Photographs of these Martyrs were cherished as holy cards. Some were reprinted in Columbia Magazine during the Order’s extensive Campaign of Education about the Persecution of the Church. To the Government of Mexico these declarations of Faith were clearly rebellious and treasonous. Yet the holy words were ratified by Pope Pius XI, who officially established the Feast of Christ the King in 1925.

Saint José María Robles Hurtado

JOHN 11:25-27: Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? She said to him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

The first Catholic prayer I ever said was asking for St. Anthony’s intersession, looking for my lost keys (yet, again)

St. Anthony, St. Anthony
Please come down
Something is lost
And can’t be found

Frankly, I say that prayer more than the Hail, Mary. And my lost things are always found (or, if not, I usually figure out what happened to them).

I have been mulling over trying my hand at self-publishing a novella for tweens on something that might interest my son’s peers. After offering my thanks for the wonderful things that happened to me, I got a bit greedy. I requested St. Antony’s intersession for assisting me in the process of writing and publishing something great, utilizing the new self-publishing tools and e-book resources that are available. In fact, I was so brazen as to say 10% of any profit would go directly to my parish in St. Anthony’s name.

So, after Mass concludes, I say hello to one of my former RCIA teachers, Mike. Mike is one of the nicest and most intelligent man I have ever met, and his lessons were always steeped in science, reason, and profundity. He had a draft of an essay that we wanted me to review, and perhaps edit. It seems that he also has been tagged by a Self-Publishing firm to prepare a book. It looks like I will be able to assist him with this process, too.

Bonus: Today, one of my favorite bloggers is giving lessons in self-publishing.

Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you, St. Anthony.

The proponents of the AGW state that there is “scientific consensus” and little disagreement with their conclusions. It has been my pleasure to meet some of the best scientists in this country, and they have the following message: THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON MAN-MADE GLOBAL WARMING. I had the chance to hear Dr. S. Fred Singer speak during a presentation by the Lynceans. There were AWG proponents in the audience. There was debate. There was no consensus. Yet, it was a very polite and civilized exchange of data and interpretations.

Singer is the Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia and the Chairman of the NIPCC (Non-governmental International Panel on Climate Change). His NIPCC group, among other activities, analyzes the data utilized by the IPCC (the United Nation’s International Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC says these data demonstrate that man is causing global warming. However, using the same material, the NPICC asserts that 20th century global warming was the result of natural causes. Singer theory is that the bulk of climate change is the result of natural causes.

“The IPCC used adjustable parameters,” noted Singer. “The analysis is simply an exercise in curve-filling. The NIPCC emphasizes a broad collection of real data.” To sum-up for the non-scientist:

• IPCC relies on computer models, in which many different parameters can be selected at the discretion of the individual scientist.
• NIPCC uses almost exclusively real data actually attained in the real world.

Nothing beats using real data to do real science!

Below is a graph that displays the difference between the models and the hard data. the context is the prediction by the climate models (shown in red) that there should be a “hot spot” at upper altitudes in the tropical zone – an altitude where the temperature would increase much faster than it does on the surface. This hot spot would then be a “fingerprint” of human-caused greenhouse gas warming. The problem is that the observations (blue and green) do not find such a hot spot, when data taken over several decades are compiled. The warming trend is observed trend actually decreases with increasing height in the atmosphere, and there is actual cooling at some altitudes.

“When the IPCC report was released, and it became apparent the observations of actual data did not agree with the model, they fudged,” Singer said. “The IPCC’s Executive Summary simply said there was some trouble with the tropical zone But the tropical zone is important because of its large area and the huge amount of energy it receives from the sun.

Singer and his team then prepared a report in March 2008: Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate. The NIPCC took a look at the collected data and came to the conclusion that natural causes impacted the climate most significantly. The IPCC would have none of that! Supporters of strong anthropogenic global warming prepared a counter-report, based on even more computer model information (the core of that analysis is presented graphically below). The green curve is typical of the actual data obtained from balloons over several decades, and the thick black curve is an average of the model predictions.

Singer explained that the IPCC did its best to make it seem like the computer models used actually mirrored the data collected from balloons and satellites. “The trends from the re-analysis are spurious,” noted Singer.

Singer then turned to a display of the actual satellite-measured global average temperature.

Singer discussed a better way to analyze the data: The degree change per decade over a 30-plus period of time in the Middle and Lower Troposphere – which shows no truly significant change, especially in the last few years.

Singer covered one of the major problems with the IPCC computer models: chaos. “The models are non-liner differential equations, which by their nature are highly chaotic. The trend line calculated during one run can be ten times of another. Models produce results that are highly variable.” This graphic shows how variable the model results can be:

How many runs does a computer model need to complete before it stops being so variable? To examine this, he used 1000 years of temperature data, dividing it into 25 chunks of 40 years each and using an “unforced model.” Singer found fairly steady results after a minimum of about 10 runs.

How many runs do the IPCC model results rely on? “Running ten models would be very expensive; about half the 22 data points the IPCC used were based on 1-2 runs, and the most runs on a model would be about five. Furthermore, because the IPCC is international, it had to use data from all models submitted – not necessarily the just best ones.”

“Nature changes climate all the time; the time-scale is what differs,” described Singer. “Over millions of years, it is plate tectonics; over hundreds-of-thousands of years, it is changes in the Earth’s orbit; over decades, it is solar activity.”

Singer points to stalagmite records in Oman as just one of the many proofs that the climate is influenced the most by solar activity. The cave readings show Carbon-14 levels (a proxy for solar activity) is directly proportional to Oxygen-18 levels (a recognized proxy for temperature). When the sun is more active, the Earth is warmer. This same fluctuation is also observed on other planets.

What can be done about climate change? Lorraine Yapps Cohen sums up Singer’s thoughts in her piece:

Breaking from protocol with a few economic and political remarks, Singer announced that climate change is a non-problem. Regarding politicians holding climate change as a social issue, Singer lamented that they’re destroying the economy.

“The best solution is to do nothing,” he said, adding an opinion that “it takes real courage for politicians to do nothing.” After all, politicians must think we elect them to do something, even if that something does nothing, costs dearly, or, at the worst, ruins the nation.”

Dr. Singer’s authoritative grasp of climate science was fully evident. During and after the talk, an attendee from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography argued that Singer was ignoring the basic temperature trends. He was not; rather Singer was dissecting the trend data to examine what was happening at higher altitudes in the Tropical Zone. Dr. Singer simply replied “That’s interesting” and was seen later giving the SIO gentleman a consultation.

GOSNELL’s CLINIC UPDATE

Sadly, the Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots did not view the Gosnell Clinic/Charnel Housethe same way I did — an example of bureaucratic waste, fraud and corruption that cried out for recall/removal of Pennsylvania Health Department and State Department cronies. That being said, the local people are in a position to know what group may make a better impact on this matter for the sake of Pennsylvania’s citizens — born and unborn. The coordinator of Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots kindly directed me to the PRO-LIFE UNION OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. I am playing a bit of phone tap with its chief, Mike McMonagle.

So, for those of you who wish to make a difference in preventing another Gosnell-style clinic from occurring again, and seeking redress from those institutions that failed to carry out the law and their public duties, please head here: http://www.prolifeunion.org/.

According to a phone message Mike left for me, Gosnell had been on the group’s radar for some time — and is not the sole clinic where similar violations in health and safety codes have been observed. From a recent press release (click here for full document):

The Gosnell coverage should help the Pa. Dept. of Health do their job. Over the years, we have discussed this delinquency with Harrisburg, but pro-abortion Governors were disinterested. The legislature has work to do as well. As Phila. DA Seth Williams pointed out, “Nail salons are more regulated than abortion.” The Grand Jury Report also cited University of Penn Hospital for their silence concerning the women they treated who were abused by Gosnell.

The Pro-Life Union has a press release with specific names and action items: Abuses, Fraud and Violations of State Law by the Pa. Abortion Industry Continue to be Ignored by Public Officials and the Media. Highlights of the document include the following:

* The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office: State law requires that ACs committing abortions after 14 weeks have a trained pathologist on staff (to ensure that all of the baby’s pieces have been removed by the “abortion procedure.”) Yet, the DA’s office has refused to take action when presented with clear evidence of these violations.

* The Pa. Department of Health and Steven Brigham: Steven Brigham is an abortionist and abortion chamber operator whose record of abuses and violations of local and state law is extensive and highly documented. He has lost or surrendered his medical license in five states, including Pa. He once operated five ACs in Pa. In recent years, his ACs in King of Prussia, State College and Erie have closed because of violations of zoning and personnel licensure requirements. In July 2008, the Pa. Dept. of Health (PDH) ordered his two remaining ACs in Pittsburgh and Allentown to close because of his continuing violations of personnel licensing requirements. Brigham’s response was to change the name of his ACs from “American Women’s Services” to “Rose Health Services” and transfer ownership to Judith Fitch, who is Brigham’s 70 year old aunt living in Toledo, Ohio. Brigham continues as the de facto CEO for these ACs. Chief Legal Counsel, Ken Brody, Esq., on behalf of the PDH, finds no basis for fraud in this transfer and refuses to pull the license for these two ACs owned and operated by “Rose Health Services.”

*The Philadelphia Health Department ‘s Dr. Donald Schwarz: Dr. Donald Schwarz is the Secretary for this Department. As a private practice pediatrician, Dr. Schwarz referred some of his patients to Gosnell. He claims to have stopped these referrals when they often returned with venereal diseases. Dr. Schwarz has received very little media scrutiny as to his possible role in violating state abortion laws and as to why he did not act to expose Gosnell when he became the Secretary. We call on Dr. Schwarz to immediately resign and for Mayor Nutter to fire him if he fails to do so.

* Another Case to Review: Lee Tripp is an abortionist from South Jersey who commits approximately 25% of all of the abortions in Pa., as he is a “circuit rider” who commits abortions at Planned Parenthood facilities in Philadelphia, West Chester, Reading and Allentown. The facts about his “abortion practice” are (1) has been prosecuted by Commonwealth of Pa.; (2) has 16 counts of lack of quality care; (3) his license is under reprimand by Pa. Board of Medicine (Docket 0412-49-95); the Board has ruled that his work must be supervised and he has claimed “serious emotional problems and “Adjustment Disorder.”

THE EGYPTIAN CRISIS

My wonderful pastor listed Egypt in our group prayer intentions today. I was truly grateful. I am following the looting and damage to Egypt’s ancient antiquities in my other blog, Temple of MUT — PHARAOHS’ MUMMIES BURNT IN EGYPT: Unrest threatens priceless legacy. I wanted to share with you some of the highlights.

1) Several items from the tomb of King Tutankhamen seemed to have been plundered from the Cairo Musem (see this report for full details).

2) I was struck by how grief-filled the eyes of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General, The Supreme Council of Antiquities, were in a BBC interview. Hawass is a staple of television specials featuring ancient Egypt. To me, it as if he is trying to keep it together while discussing the loss of a family member. This tells me the loss to Egyptology is worse than we can possibly imagine.

I asked for the intersession of St. Michael the Archangel, as I fear there is great evil trying to gain ground in Egypt.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the worldseeking the ruin of souls.
Amen..

(Also see note below).

It vaporized my piece on Philadelphia. I am going to temporarily refer everyone to the Grand Jury report and Covert Conservatives while I make arrangements to publish this material elsewhere.

UPDATE: It is a miracle, truly. A good friend (and a true angel) had my post up and did a series of screen captures. For those of you interested in reading my initial remarks, please head over to my box.net files:

INTRODUCTION: REVIEW OF GOALS
#1 REVIEW OF GOALS WITH CLINIC PRICE SHEET
#2 TEA PARTY TARGET
#3 TEA PARTY INFORMATION
#4 INITIAL LIST OF CLINIC PROBLEMS

Miracle 2: The piece has been restored! TEA PARTY TARGET: Gosnell’s Little Clinic of Horrors