Mummers

Rocco Palmo has an interesting post with some great photos at his blog "Whispers in the Loggia" about the Mummers parade in Philly.

Feast of the Holy Family

Today, the Sunday after Christmas, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Gospel reading at Mass (Luke 2:41-52) was the story of the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple:

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.

After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"

But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

In The Rough

Last night, we saw "Blood Diamond," a film about the illegal diamond trade and civil war in Sierra Leone in West Africa.

It is an important movie to see -- to learn more about conflict diamonds and how First World brides encourage their flow. But, with some iffy acting and contrived action sequences, the film itself comes up short.

I had trouble with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role of the diamond mercenary. Except for a good final scene, I was never able to accept him in the part. Maybe it was the accent.

Jennifer Connelly, playing an American journalist, saves every scene in which she is featured.

Djimon Housoun was excellent as the father dragged away from his family and plunged into the chaos. I would not be surprised to see him receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the part. (Although, some might argue it's another MAAF role.)

Michael Sheen had a bit part at the end of the movie as a London-based diamond merchant. While he has only a few lines here, be sure to check him out as Tony Blair in "The Queen."

Juxtaposition

The juxtaposition in today's news of the execution of Saddam Hussein and the funeral services of Gerald Ford is telling.

Saddam Hussein was an absolute dictator who achieved and maintained executive power through mass killings, repression and fear. His decades of tyranny came to end via a spider hole and a hangman's noose.

Gerald Ford was a true democrat who had executive power thrust upon him by constitutional means. After less than three years of service, he lost an election and peacefully exited. He died surrounded by his family and is now honored by a grateful nation.

May God bless democracy. May it spread peacefully throughout the world and improve the quality of life for all people.

Putting Out Fires

Terri Johnson penned an article in yesterday's O-R about discussions at a Washington City Council meeting on understaffing at the WashPA Fire Department -- and the effect of the all-paid FD on the city's troubled finances.

Also, there is a letter to the editor from City Councilman Bob Nicollela in today's paper about financing for the city's downtown revitalization project.

Long But Good

Last night, we saw the new spy movie "The Good Shepherd." It stars Matt Damon as an operative in the formative years of the CIA.

It was a bit too long but overall worth seeing.

I thought director Robert De Niro did a good job showing connections between World War II and post-war intelligence gathering and Cold War intelligence gathering. (The fictional relationships in the movie specifically make a connection to the botched 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion.)

Several big names had supporting roles. Joe Pesci had an unnecessary cameo. Michael Gambon, who portrays Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, played an old English spy masquerading as a Yale poetry professor.

Presidents

As democratic as we Americans like to consider ourselves, I think there will always be in our national psyche some Old World fascination with the high and powerful among us -- our modern-day royalty if you like.

This fascination and interest is often seen in regard to American presidents. It's likely one of reasons The West Wing was such a popular television program.

The death yesterday evening of Gerald Ford brings this point home. In his case, however, I think President Ford will be more remembered for his times than for his own life -- but his impact upon those times was great.

Had President Ford not pardoned Richard Nixon for his Watergate sins and been elected in 1976, it's impossible to know what America would look like today. Perhaps we would not have known the Reagan era and the Clinton era -- and all the changes those times entailed for our body politic and our American culture.

To borrow words from John Henry Newman, President Ford was "a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons."

(The photo above is from the National Archives via wikipedia. Pictured are Presidents Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Reagan, Carter and Ford with their wives at the April 27, 1994, funeral of Richard Nixon.)

Merry Christmas!

From the Gospel of Luke 2:1-14:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. For behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

(Image above from Catholic Online.)

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, many Christian traditions consider today both the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve.

In the last week of Advent, many Catholics pray what are called the "O Antiphons." These ancient prayers speak to an increasingly urgent longing for the coming Messiah:

O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.

O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.

O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.

O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.

O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.

Literal

Last night, ABC re-aired the Barbara Walters special "Heaven: Where Is It? How Do We Get There?". The special included interviews with several religious leaders, among them Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Dalai Lama and Pastor Joel Osteen. According to ABC:

Osteen's televised sermons attract about 7 million viewers on Sunday mornings, and 36,000 evangelicals pack his Lakewood church in Houston every week, the largest weekly religious gathering in the country.

There is much to appreciate in Pastor Osteen's message -- which is positive and hope-filled. We need more of this in our world. But, I do have a critique.

Early in the interview with Walters, Osteen states he believes in the Bible literally. Later in the show, he speaks favorably of prosperity and is seen praying for people to get promotions, raises and bonuses.

From my reading of the Gospels, seeking material wealth is what Christ says we are not to do -- if we are taking a literal interpretation of Christ's words. I am specifically thinking of the following passages from the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 6:24-26; 12:13-21; 16:13-15, 19-31; 18:9-14, 15-25; 1:50-53.

This is from Luke (18:18-25):

An official asked him this question, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother.'"

And he replied, "All of these I have observed from my youth."

When Jesus heard this he said to him, "There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But when he heard this he became quite sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus looked at him (now sad) and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

Road Trip to Cleveland?

As unlikely as it seems to be saying this, I think it may be time for a road trip to Cleveland.

Purpose? To visit the "A Christmas Story" House. The wood-frame house in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood has been restored to how it looked in the movie. It's now open to the public for tours. They even have the "major prize" illuminated in the window.

CNN and NPR and the P-G have already been there. Marylynne Pitz of the P-G called the house "a kind of glowing, Midwestern Taj Mahal."

(Photo from achristmasstoryhouse.com which credits Scott Shaw of The Plain Dealer via the AP.)

Shopping

Last night, I bought one last Christmas present while shopping at J.C. Penney at the old Washington Mall. I'm pleased to report that there were some Christmas shoppers at Penney's and there were a decent number of cars in the parking lot (in front of the remaining stores).

It was good to see activity at the Washington Mall, which these days is usually a ghost town. The mall's wikipedia entry refers to it as "ailing" and notes that Penney's will move in 2007 to a new site less than a mile away.

The photo above of an empty corridor in the Washington Mall is from an article at labelscar.com, "the retail history blog." The article provides background on the mall's demise.

I was once a more frequent shopper at the Washington Mall. As a kid, it's where we went back-to-school shopping. I shopped there when I was first out of college and working in WashPA. But, like others, as so many of the food outlets and stores left the Washington Mall, I found myself headed more often to the other newer retail centers in the vicinity -- as well to Robinson Town Center and The Pointe at North Fayette.

In fact, I only went there last night because I was in the area and wanted to use a Penney's gift card. (I admit it. I was re-gifting. Don't hate me.)

In Washington County, we have many elected officials and bureaucrats (at the county, state and local levels) who talk a good game about economic development projects and all that they have done for job creation... blah...blah...blah...

Here's hoping one of these Masters of the Universe steps forward and pushes/assists the owners of the Mall toward the reinvigoration of this once-vibrant retail hub. It has an excellent location adjacent to I-70 and Route 19. Instead of applauding the development of more green space for new retail activity, why not actively encourage the revitalization of this existing mall?

Speaking of economic development and government officials ... on to the topic du jour in Southwestern Pennsylvania:

Sick of the cheesy carols that dominate so many radio stations this time of year, I was listening to talk radio in the car after leaving the mall.

The show was about the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's decision to award the City of Pittsburgh's only stand-alone slots casino license to a location on the North Shore -- and the bleak outlook for the Penguins franchise in Pittsburgh due to the losing bid for the slots parlor attached to a new arena Uptown.

One caller, who identified himself as a union carpenter, said something provocative.

This caller suggested that perhaps there is a behind-the-scenes (and he implied sinister) connection between the award of the license for the "Majestic Star" casino and the construction of the North Shore connector (a the light rail line soon to be built between Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore underneath the Allegheny River).

Huh.

No Synergy

The AP's Alan Robinson has an article in today's papers about the displeasure of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates organizations with the decision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to locate a slots casino on the North Shore west of the Carnegie Science Center.

The Penguins wanted it and didn't get it. The Steelers and Pirates don't want it -- and they got it. So much for synergy and coordinated efforts among Pittsburgh's major league sports franchises.

If the Rooney family and the McClatchy/Nutting group didn't want a casino on the North Shore why didn't they put their significant political and economic clout into stopping it?

(Hat-tip: Chris Lilik of GrassrootsPA.)

Sleeping in Airports

Website of the Day: Sleeping in Airports

Be sure to check out what stranded sleepers have said about PIT.

Hat-tip: NPR's Marketplace. They featured this site in a segment on Wednesday evening.

Patricia Lowry on the slots parlor

For many years, I have enjoyed the writing and perspectives of Patricia Lowry, the P-G's architecture critic. Yesterday, her column was about the three proposals for the slots casino slated for the City of Pittsburgh.

She gives a nod to the "Majestic Star" casino proposed for the North Shore. But didn't Dan Rooney say he doesn't want it there? The Steelers owner probably knows the Northside better than anyone.

Ms. Lowry references an op-ed piece in last week's P-G by Pittsburgh-based architects and urban designers Dan Rothschild and Ken Doyno in which they endorse the North Shore plan.

A majority of PUMP members favored the Isle of Capri plan for the Hill District that would include building a new arena for the Penguins.

If the Isle of Capri plan were to be successful, I wonder its impact on Epiphany Catholic Church (pictured below). Being across the street from the site, a casino there could pose a challenging but unique opportunity for ministry.

According to an article in today's P-G, the successful applicant will be announced this a.m.

Tearjerker

Last night, we went to see the new Will Smith movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness." (They talk about the incorrect spelling in the movie.)

It was pretty good. Look for Smith to get an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Chris Gardner.

Take some tissues.

The film references the phrase "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" from the Declaration of Independence.

Update: Yesterday on NPR's Fresh Air, David Edelstein called "The Pursuit of Happyness" an "economic cliffhanger." He used the same term in his New York Magazine review. It's a very apt description.

People of Spirit

Sometimes obituaries are the most compelling part of the newspaper:

In today's O-R: Stella Olesky, 84, who played Championship Girls B'Ball at Wash High in the late '30s and then served in the Air Force during WWII and Korea.

In yesterday's P-G: Rev. Benjamin Walker, 76, a Benedictine priest who loved God and the Steelers.

Letters on WashPA's debts

Dueling Letters to the Editor appear in today's O-R about the City of Washington's financial problems. The first was penned by Councilman Matt Staniszewski and the other by former Councilman Lou Waller, Jr.

A Tom Collins for Toronto

The newly-announced archbishop-designate of Toronto has an appreciation for John Henry Newman and "The Lord of the Rings."

Sounds like a good guy to me.

Hat-tip: Whispers in the Loggia, a blog about Catholic Church-related matters by Rocco Palma, age 23, of Philadelphia. Rocco also writes for BustedHalo.com.

Rejoice!: The Third Sunday of Advent

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, or what Catholics call "Gaudete Sunday," when the pink or rose-colored candle is lit on the Advent wreath. ("Gaudete" translates from the Latin as "rejoice" -- reminding us to be joyful as we contemplate the coming of the Messiah.)

The second reading at Mass today was from the Letter to the Philippians (4:4-7):

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.