MUST WATCH Video Tuesday: "Baccconnnn!" Baby Tries Bacon for the First Time

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Not Halal and enjoying it

One of the YouTube commenters writes that infants have more tastebuds than adults. If it's not true, it should be.

Bacon.

Or more appropriately,

Baccconnnn!

Enjoy the video.

Video Tuesday: Awkward Meeting Between Sean Penn and Shimon Peres

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"Look . . . but to be frank . . ."

As I understand it, Peres and Penn were meant to acknowledge their mutual commitment to relief work in Haiti. The meeting was at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel-Aviv, which appears to have more small objects displayed along its foyer wall than your average mid-range seafood restaurant.

This interaction really makes me feel for Sean Penn, who seems to be making a great effort to maintain the proper attentive and grateful facial expression as the 92-year-old former Israeli president's quasi-intimate and ernest advice continues for almost two minutes, though it's often hard to make out what he is actually saying. Then Penn almost flubs it by responding, "while I appreciate your words tremendously, it's a little embarrassing..." causing Peres to momentarily wince.

Peres: That's the real Mystic River inside you. You didn't know that you had it. 

Penn: I'm happy to be alone together with you.

Here's to the ideal of showing proper gratitude and respect, even when it's awkward. I think we've all been there.

From The Times of Israel via Israellycool:

Video Tuesday: Can We Make HIM Pope?

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England is in some ways the cradle of free-speech. Up until a few years ago it was in some still the capital of it. Most famous is Hyde Park Corner where anyone can mount a box and say anything. Long live the Queen! Down with capitalism! Jamaicans are lazy! Subsidize hemp! Whatever.

Some may not like that. I do.

But in regards to free speech, contemporary England is now choking on it. "Islamophobia" has been criminalized. If I lived in England, I would be on trial now (if anyone wanted to make an issue of it).

And even good old Hyde Park Corner is under pressure. It now abuts a heavily Muslim district, and Muslims like using the parks.  Denounce Allah from your box and you'll soon get a swarm of bearded and five-o'clock shadowed hecklers. Heckling is what they'll do if you're lucky.

But here's a faithful Christian who doesn't give a fig. His brand isn't mentioned, but I assume he's Protestant. Any informed Christian would assume so, and that makes me sad. Since Vatican II, western Catholics have largely abandoned evangelizing for Christ, especially to hostile audiences.

They would rather denounce the death penalty to friendly audiences.

But one brave man chose to defend Christ amidst a smirking horde.

A grinch was defied, even with kabob breath.

This faithful Christian has been labeled as "elderly". Compared to us, he's twenty-five.

Can he be the next pope, please?

Video Tuesday: Pope Francis and the Gypsies

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Crowd of Gypsy children arrive to escort the Pope out of the hall

This Catholic News Service video is surely one of the oddest of his pontificate. It must be seen to be believed. The actual story was reported by the Daily Mail, among others.

"Hey Papa, would you like to meet my sister? Hey Papa, you may meet two of my sisters if you choose it. You no like my sisters? You no like nudie? Papa, I have cannelloni, spumoni, gelato. You want Hans Kung out-of-print? You want gold mirror to see your pope face anytime? You want us put curse on Edward Pentin? We get it for you, Papa. We get it."

Video Tuesday 2: I am that Jew

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He could teach Cupich a thing or two.

No one will be saved but through Christ and His Church. That goes for all of us. However:

As far as God is concerned, they had a head start.

Remember that.

Via Bare Naked Islam.

Video Tuesday: Rob Roy Turns Traitor

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Twenty years ago, Liam Neeson played a Catholic hero. Now he is playing an anti-Catholic scourge.

Previous to that he saved the lives of 1100 people from the Nazis. Now he's become a collaborator in a much larger holocaust.

Neeson just did a voice over for an Amnesty International commercial recommending the legalization of abortion in Ireland. See first video below.

The short piece drips anti-Christian and anti-Catholic hate.

Remember when Amnesty International stood for saving people?

The second video below contains one of the most moving scenes from Schindler's List.

You will always be Rob Roy and Oskar Schindler to me, Mr. Neeson.

Not just some dumb actor.

Video Tuesday: Ecclesia Dei Strikes Back: "I find your lack of mercy disturbing."

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It is with no small amount of pleasure, dear Readers, that We present to you all video footage of a secret conference concerning the innermost dealings of the present Synod, graciously provided for Us by one of Our most beloved and prolific readers. Posted by Ecclesia Dei Strikes Back on Monday, October 5, 2015

The video may take a few seconds to load. Please be patient. The result is well worth it.

It is with no small amount of pleasure, dear Readers, that We present to you all video footage of a secret conference concerning the innermost dealings of the present Synod, graciously provided for Us by one of Our most beloved and prolific readers.

Here is the most recent offering from the extremely funny Traditionalist Catholic Star Wars Parody site Ecclesia Dei Strikes Back.

That's right, I said "Traditionalist Catholic Star Wars Parody site."

I know, I know. Boring. You've seen so many of those before.

You can find it on Facebook until the Emperor shuts it down.

Video Tuesday: Mark Steyn in Copenhagen: "Live as free people!"

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Here is the keynote speech by Mark Steyn at the Danish Free Press event commemorating the tenth anniversary of the publication of the Muhammad cartoons by Jyllands-Posten*. The speech was sad, inspiring, funny and true.  Steyn, the organizers and every attendee at this event risked their lives to protect what we take for granted and what we are now voluntarily relinquishing to savages.

Pray for those who were murdered. Or honor them by refusing to be a coward.

As a friend once said, reality is when it happens to you.


*Via Gates of Vienna.

"Mystery Pugilist" Says He Wasn't Scared, Expresses Annoyance at Turks For Fighting With Sticks and Chairs

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Kuwaiti-born Irish national Mohammed Fadel Dobbous--who singlehandedly fought off a mob of more than a dozen Turkish shopkeeper jackals (see the previous post)--just gave a brief interview to Turkey's Show TV.

I confess that I had started to wonder whether the "mystery pugilist" was indeed real, or whether there was some deep twist in the story that wasn't being reported--like the rumor that a drunken Mr. Dobbous had started the whole thing. It seemed odd to me that after more than 24 hours nothing else about the man had turned up.

But the interview appears to confirm the basic story, as well as adding some interesting details. In it we learn:

• The brawl actually took place on August 1.
• Mr. Dobbous is still in Istanbul where he has been in contact with the Irish consulate.
• He appears to have more than a casual link with Turkey as he speaks Turkish--albeit with a "thick Irish-Kuwaiti accent"
• He broke his hand, injured his shoulder and received a knife wound in the back during the fight. His left arm is still in a sling.
• He also lost his phone, a watch and a gold chain.
• He claims not to have been scared but expressed annoyance that his attackers wouldn't "fight like men...with their bare hands."
• Mr. Dobbous says that he doesn't drink and after accidentally spilling the water bottles, he tried to apologize to the shipowners before he was set upon by the mob.

Here's the original Show TV report, featuring the now famous fight video.

For the fun of it, here's another video of the brawl, this time with a play-by-play by Irish sportscaster Pat Spillane:

Video Tuesday: Erdogan Shopkeeper Jackals Pick Wrong Tourist to Mess With, Kuwaiti Born Irish Pugilist Defeats Entire Mob of Angry Turks

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Finally. Good news.

This incredible video looks like a scene from a James Bond or Kung fu movie. But it's real. A Turkish shopkeeper overreacts when a tourist accidentally knocks over some water bottles. Other shopkeepers and hangers on quickly join a mob, armed with sticks, chairs and other found weapons. But the tourist--a trained boxer--methodically defends himself, laying a number of them out. At one point he calmly moves his sunglasses to the top of his head and then continues the fight.

Interestingly, this video has gone viral in Turkey, where thuggish shopkeepers are identified with the authoritarian Muslim government. From the  Independent:

An Irish tourist who was caught up in a mass brawl with local shopkeepers in Istanbul has become an unexpected hero among Turkish social media users. 

The video shows a man described in Turkish media as an Irish tourist and apparent “professional boxer” getting into a fight with locals after accidentally spilling a fridge full of water bottles. 

Far from criticizing the tourist, who can be seen taking on more than a dozen shopkeepers armed with sticks and chairs, the response in Turkey has been overwhelmingly positive by many. 

It’s not simply a case of backing the outnumbered underdog – though there is undoubtedly an element of that in the reaction. 

More so, Istanbul’s shopkeepers have become something of a symbol for the division in the country between a progressive left and the conservative government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

Shopkeepers attacked demonstrators during the 2013 anti-government protest in Gezi Park, Istanbul, famous in part for an image of a policeman spraying a woman in a red dress with tear gas.

According to the Hurriyet newspaper, four suspects accused over the fatal beating of protester Ali Ismail Korkmaz were all local shopkeepers working at a bakery at the time. 

In 2014, President Erdoğan sparked anger when he implied support for shopkeepers taking the law into their own hands. Speaking while the trial over Korkmaz’s death was taking place, the president said: “My shopkeepers, when necessary, can be soldiers, fighters, heroes, police and judges.” 

Some Turkish social media users mocked the shopkeepers shown in the video which emerged today in this context. One user reportedly joked: “This Irish guy turned out be an Alevi, anti-Erdogan, and CHP (Republican People’s Party) sympathiser.” 

A source at the Irish consulate in Istanbul told The Independentthat the “fun incident” had been tweeted about 75,000 times in Turkey in less than 24 hours. 

He said the Irish national had been “attacked” by shopkeepers in Istanbul’s Aksaray district. 

“The fist and stick fight began after the tourist accidentally knocked over the bottled waters stored in the cooler,” he said. 

“The shop owner overreacted and attacked the tourist with a stick. The surprising thing is that the tourist turned out to be a pro boxer and knocked down the angry shopkeepers one by one.”

The man has been identified as Mohammed Fadel Dobbous, a Kuwait-born Irish citizen. As of this writing there seems to be no additional information on him. If he is a professional boxer, he doesn't appear to be registered in Ireland.

Video Tuesday: Frank the Hippie Pope

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Today's featured video is a from TheLutheranSatire series, a project of Hans Fiene, Pastor at River of Life Lutheran Church in Channahon, Illinois, and a frequent contributor to The Federalist.

It's very funny.

Any serious Catholic or Lutheran knows that there are fundamental differences between the two faiths (one of the quotes at the end of the video reminds us of this). But in general I think the video highlights the fact that faithful and orthodox Christians from different traditions are now united in many things, including unfortunately a growing annoyance and distaste (to put it mildly) for Pope Francis.

From this selfish Catholic's point of view, someone like Hans Fiene would seem to be good convert material. But of course, all Catholic apologists are working with a major handicap now. It's like that Kurt Vonnegut story where everyone is forced to be equal. The graceful dancers are strapped with weights and the beautiful people wear ugly masks. To me, the Catholic faith is the obvious default for Christians. It's the most logical and reasonable alternative, especially for students of history. So to compensate they have to hang a hippie pope around it.

For the fun of it, I've reprinted a few of the YouTube comments. You get a good sampling of opinions-including some from a few atheists. But as far as I can tell, the plurality if not the majority of the commenters on this one are Catholic.

I'm a Catholic and I found this immensely funny. Well done. 

I'm a serious Catholic, a lay Dominican, and I find the Pope's approach to media inquiry confusing and unsettling. What's with this? 

I'm a Catholic. This is hilarious.

Then there's the inevitable, it's-all-the-media's-fault soapbox crank:

I liked this channel until this video. Oh and it's not what Papa Francisco is saying, it's what the media is misinterpreting then feeding to our gullible society. 

By the way, why do so many of the it's-all-the-media's-fault people pull the "I liked you until..." thing? I've gotten that myself a million times. They're just like your bitchy ex-girlfriend.

Finally, there's this comment from someone who practically defines "charity":

I don't mind making fun of people who have unreasonable beliefs, but this is going a bit far. He may not be the best Pope we've had, but he's trying.

Oh, man, as much as I disagree, I just want to hug that kid.

Video Tuesday: The Old Mass vs. The New Mass

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This brilliant video has been on YouTube for over two years now, though it doesn't have as many "views" as I would have expected. In a span of ten minutes it contrasts clips of a "typical" New Mass with those of a "typical" Old Mass (actually more than one Old Mass is shown).

Some would claim that the video creator stacked the deck somewhat. I'm not so sure this is true. Though I am a parishioner at a traditionalist Church, I have attended numerous New Masses for one reason or another. To me, the one shown in the video is sort of an average of what I have witnessed. There are no glaring irregularities such as liturgical dancers, puppets or clowns. It is arguably reverent in its way. And I would say it is 90% similar to the Mass my family and I attend every now and then in the Chicago Loop when we can't get the family out in time to make the 12:30 at St. John Cantius.

Similarly, the Old Masses shown are 95% similar to the Masses we assist at at St. John Cantius.

But the differences between the two experiences are stark.

No doubt some die-hard Novos Ordo partisans would say they would still prefer the first Mass. There's no "fake" pomp or pretentious glitter (which after all is not what Jesus was really about, etc., etc.). Just ordinary people gathering together for their communion meal.

But I've shown this video to some of my non-Catholic friends and they're amazed when I tell them that 98% of Catholics attend the New Mass, not the Old. "That's what you guys have to go through?" some seem to be thinking. It's certainly not what they might have seen in the movies with Montgomery Clift or Robert DeNiro presiding at the foot of a beautiful and towering alter.

Yes, that's what many of us have to go through.

Just so there's no misunderstanding. I like Ashokan Farewell. It's a lovely piece of music. Then again, I like Miles Davis and Led Zeppelin too. Just not at Mass.

Also, just so there is no misunderstanding, I have nothing against the anonymous New Mass priest. That he comes off as sort of frumpy is true but not really the point. Many of us middle-aged Catholics are probably headed in that direction, after all. I would say, though, that one of the virtues of the Old Mass is that it is much less about (or rather, not really about at all) the appearance, personality or "style" of the priest. Perhaps a New Mass with Montgomery Clift or Robert DeNiro presiding would be more riveting. Most priests don't look like that. But in the Old Mass, it doesn't matter. You're standing in your respondent vestments, at the head of, if you will, an army. A holy army, there to offer up a Sacrifice to God. And for a few moments you in a sense become Christ Himself. That's better than being any movie star.

I don't know who made the video. "Nina A"--whom I have never met--uploaded it to YouTube. But little information is posted with it, and she turned off the comments. The brief credit at the end lists the catholiclatinmass.org as a resource, but there's no sign of this video on the current site, and I'm not sure whether it might not be referring to another entity that formerly occupied the address. Perhaps a reader can enlighten me as to the video's origin. In any case, it deserves a wider audience.

Enjoy (sort of) and pray that more and more Catholics will experience the "real thing"--not a quasi-pennance that one attends partly out of duty, but "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven".

Video Tuesday: Brit Hume Slams Abortion

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Say what you like about Fox News--and I should confess that opinions among my Catholic friends are mixed at best--they have a much greater proportion of Christians among their broadcasters and journalists than any other major network. Among other things, this in part leads them to do things no other network would.

Here is Brit Hume, the former long-time anchor of Fox News, and now "Senior Political Analyst" discussing abortion in the wake of the recent and sickening "selling of body parts over salad" revelations:

Whatever comes of the revelations about Planned Parenthood and its participation in the traffic in fetal body parts, those revelations will have achieved one thing--they have parted the veil of antiseptic tidiness behind which the abortion industry has for so long operated. The sight of a senior Planned Parenthood official--and a doctor to boot--discussing the market for fetal body parts, in between bites of salad and sips of wine was stomach turning. That's because it laid bare the essentially brutal nature of abortion. 

Let's be blunt--abortion involves the extraction and killing of a human life, which within a couple weeks of pregnancy has a beating heart. Five weeks in, its hands and legs begin to grow. It is these tiny creatures, and too often ones that are far more developed that are pulled from a mother's womb and crushed with forceps, oh but oh so carefully lest body parts that can later be sold are preserved. 

This gruesome procedure shows the extent to which we as a people have been anesthetized by the estimated fifty-five million--fifty five million!--abortions performed since the Supreme Court discovered a Constitutional right to that procedure, forty-two years ago. 

Will we as a nation not someday come to look upon that decision and what it has done to us, not to mention the fifty-five million, with horror and regret? One can only hope we will.

-Hat tip: Jeremiah Rauwolf

Video Tuesday: Who Would Dare to Love ISIS? The Most Amazing Video of the Year

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This may be the most moving and powerful video you will see this year, or for that matter, any year.

Who Would Dare to Love Isis? (A Letter From the People of the Cross) is a project of Michael Chang, a 26-year-old Los Angeles filmmaker. The beautiful text was cowritten by Jeanette Fu. The website of Chang's company, Mighty, is not up yet but it has a Facebook page that is now gaining "likes" at an exponentially increasing rate.

I first saw the video yesterday on Steve Skojec's One Peter Five. Apparently, it was one of his most popular posts and was quickly picked up by Fox News. But at the time Steve knew almost nothing of its origins. The filmmaker contacted Steve shortly after and One Peter Five had a fascinating interview with him today. Among other things we learn that Chang is a non-denominational Christian who left his day job two months ago to focus on his craft. In the meantime, the video has gone viral, appearing on more and more Christian blogs and sites.

From the interview:

People dying for their beliefs is noble. A lot of people do that. But people dying for their enemies…that’s almost unheard of. This kind of love is what drew Christians to adore Christ in the first place. A kingdom is conquered in one of two ways. Either by force or by winning over the hearts of the people. Jesus won our hearts over. And it’s the opposite of ISIS is doing now – conquering by force. I don’t like the term conversion, but yes, the blood of our martyrs speaks louder than teachings, and I believe God will save many ISIS members through them.

Actually, Chang is not a pacifist. Read the interview to see precisely what he says on this.

I should add, in just a bit of perusing I've seen it on Traditionalist Catholic sites (including One Peter Five), Orthodox sites and Protestant sites--including "liberal" ones with a focus on "social justice", etc.

But this is not because the message is dumbed down or "averaged" to appeal to everyone. Rather it's sharp, radical (in the best sense of the word) and, well, extreme.

Just as Christ's message was.

If this isn't the New Evangelization, the term has no meaning.

Steve confessed to "choking up" each time he saw it. I'll double down on that and say I got teary just thinking about it on my way home from work.

If you don't, that says nothing about your religious sensibilities or beliefs. Rather, it will prove you're a Vulcan.

The people of the cross gather at your gates with a message
Love is coming after you...

Though your sins are like scarlet
They can be washed white as snow
Though you call yourselves servants
He will make you into Sons...

You die for your god but our God died for us...

Christ has been crucified once. And for ALL.
To make sinners like you and me into brothers
Even you.
Even now.

There is a full transcription here.

Video Tuesday: "Nothing is Going On Here. There is No Bomb. Stay Seated. I Am Not a Madman."

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Gates of Vienna featured this earlier today. And a number of other blogs have referenced it in the intervening years.

On the evening of September 3rd,  2011, Dutch Queen Beatrix and a sold out audience at the famous Amsterdam Concertgebouw eagerly anticipate the beginning of a classical music concert. With the musicians on stage awaiting the entrance of the conductor, a well-dressed man takes the microphone and starts speaking. From the reactions it looks like most initially thought he was part of the program.

"I am sorry. I know it is not appropriate," he begins politely. "In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful. I'm sorry. I know it's not appropriate to do this this way."

It is now clear that he is an interloper who wishes to "invite" the Queen and the rest of the audience to worship Allah. He is speaking to the queen publicly because, in his words, "I have issued some requests to see you. They were ignored."

The man continues to speak in a level voice. They are not violent words, per se. Quoting Jesus in the Koran, he says, "(Allah) hath enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live. He hath made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable."

The Queen, even after realizing what is going on, looks unflustered. Everyone stays in their seats except the musicians who at a certain point start to silently file off the stage, carrying their instruments. When the man sees this he says in slightly agitated surprise, "Nothing is going on here. There is no bomb. Stay seated. I am not a madman." The musicians continue to file out quietly.

A few seconds later, three men in tuxedos (security? stage hands?) arrive to escort him off the stage. He goes quietly without resisting. We see him next standing in front of what looks like the lobby bar, politely handing over some identification papers to the men.

Jihad Watch would claim that the man was "known to the police." I assume that means he was on file as a crazy or quasi-crazy guy, known for stunts like this or whatever.

The first video is shorter. The second has more background and is taken from a different angle:

With respect to my Islamophobic brothers and sisters, I'm going to take a slightly different tack than some of them.

When the three men come to escort the speaker away, the crowd starts applauding. It's been alleged by some that the applause is directed against Islam; by others that it's directed in favor of the man's words. I think they just wanted the weirdo to leave so they could hear the concert.

I don't think this is so horrible. It's an "incident", certainly. But it's obviously not terrorism. And while seizing a microphone and making an uninvited speech is obviously not "appropriate", the man is deferential and even polite in his way. He doesn't threaten. And leaves calmly when approached. He is handsome, well-spoken and dressed in a nice suit.

Okay, he's probably a bit mental but still...

I'll take him over Jihad John (or Jihad anyone) any day.

I want him for our side.

If this were typical of Muslim "incidents", we'd all be fine.

When he says, "I am not a madman" (as he realizes he's literally losing his audience), I am actually sympathetic...

I have tried to find his name, and perhaps what he is doing now, but have come up short. Any reader information on this would be welcome.

There's hope for all of us until death--Christian, Jew, Muslim or subscriber to any other creed or non-creed--whether or not we are crazy, sane or royalty.

"He hath made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable."

The "He" would be God. I hope in the end, our well-dressed friend finds Him.