13 posts tagged “books”

On the blog Angry Black Woman, karnythia writes an article titled POC and the Politics of Medical Research. I invite everyone to read this piece for information on the subjection of people to unethical experimental treatment due to their race and class. I encourage readers to follow the links provided to learn more about the subjects that are being discussed and referenced.

On Livejournal, karnythia writes a mirror post to the ABW article. I strongly recommend reading this post and the comments that follow for additional information. 

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Time

Harriet A. Washington

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington is recommended in the above linked post by karnythia. It is available on Amazon.com by following this [link]. It's only $10.85 and is eligible for free shipping.

Blini

• 1 pkg yeast
• 2 c lukewarm milk
• 3 c flour, divided into halves
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 6 tbsp soft butter
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 egg whites

Dissolve the yeast in milk. Stir 1-1/2 cups of flour and the sugar into the yeast mix. Cover and let rise in awarm place for an hour. Beat three egg yolks with the soft butter and add the rest of the flour and the salt. Beat this mix into the yeast mis. Cover and let rise again for another our. Whip three egg whites until stiff and fold them into the bater. Let the batter rest for fifteen minutes. Lightly oil a small skillet and bake small pancakes. The blini should be thin. Serve with caviar or a fruit topping.

Cascarones

• 1 small box cellulose wallpaper paste
• confetti
• clean, blown eggshells
• colour tissue paper
• egg dye or food colours (optional)
• glitter (optional)
• storage container for eggs to perch while drying

Using a large darning needle or an ice pick, make a small hole in one end of each eg and a larger hole at the other end. Blow the contents of the egg into a clean bowl. The eggs can be scrambled or used for baking. Rinse the shells carefully and allow to dry. If you like, colour the eggs with egg dye or food colours and again allow them to dry.

Cover your work surface with waxed paper to protect your table or counter and prevent eggs from sticking. Tear colour tissue into small pieces. Mix up a small bowl of the wallpaper paste according to package directions. Spoon confetti into the shells until they are about 1/3 to 1/2 full. Dip a piece of the tissue into the paste and carefully cover the hole to prevent the confetti from spilling out. Add several more pieces of color tissue to add colour to the cascarone. Springle on a little glitter or confetti to make them more festive. Perch the completed egg on a proper place until completely dry, then pack in egg cartons until time for use.

Catholic Traditions In The Home And Classrooms: 365 Days To Celebrate A Catholic Year

Ann Ball

Gospel of Mary: A Month With the Mother of God

I ordered "The Gospel of Mary: A Month With the Mother of God" by Fr. Gabriel Amorth, SSP from Amazon.com on Friday. I received it on Monday! This is a book that is meant to be read in portions daily. Again, Fr. Amorth's writing ability to so easy, that it's hard to stay disciplined and not read this entire book all at once. To supplement my cravings for more Marian learning, I've been reading "Mary: The Church at the Source" by Pope Benedict XVI and Hans Urs von Balthasar. It provides a more theological perspective, whereas Fr. Amorth is more emotive. My desire to learn about our Blessed Mother will hopefully overwhelm how boring Pope Benedict XVI writes. He's brilliant and I respect him greatly, but he writes so dry!

Mary: The Church at the Source

For the first time in my life, I ate Thanksgiving Dinner at a restaurant. Hosted by my in-laws, we ate at the wonderful restaurant, The Family Table in North Port. We all still enjoyed Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and potatoes, with none of the cooking or clean-up. Many thanks to T.L. and Georgia for providing for a good holiday dinner.

Then we went to pick up Stepdaughter2 from her home in Seminole (up by Largo). Going to Seminole involves crossing the Skyway Bridge. The surprising rainy day in Pinellas County gave way to a few moments of peeking sunshine to snap off a couple of photos while crossing the bridge southbound on the way back home.

In the evening, we settled down. For reading time before bed, I read Bailey's copy of Fairyopolis to Stepdaughter2 while the boys were supposed to be reading their own "Ology" books. Naturally, I ended up with three pairs of eyes prying over into the Fairyopolis book. I enjoyed how much she got into the book and how willing she was to read along, reading the sight-words that she's learned in Kindergarten, as well as starting to sound out words! I made it absolutely clear to Stepdaughter2 that the book is make-believe and the fairies that they talk about in the book don't really exist; that it's all about imagination and even the lady who's written the journal is make-believe. Hopefully, that will resolve any concerns from her mother if she returns home excited over the book. I greatly support the Ologies series. The key about Fairyopolis is that it's extraordinarily educational about butterlies and moths while it stimulates the child's imagination about such magical ideas like fairies in England back in the 1920's.

Fairyopolis

As you all know, my husband is going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults [RCIA] at our parish in response to God's call for him to be Catholic. Imagine my surprise to find him reading Traditions of Men versus the Word of God by Alvin Jennings. Now, to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of this book or its authour before but I knew the book came from his mother and, for me, that's more than enough information to know it's probably most likely anti-catholic.

As I researched the book while Tom sat next to me complaining about its inconsistency and incomprehensible use of scripture, I learned what a Campbellite is and how the works of Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander Campbell, formed the Restoration Movement, aka Stone-Campbell Movement. Alvin Jennings' fierce alliegance to Campbellite beliefs leads him to discredit and rebuke every Christian denomination, except for the Churches of Christ, which coincidentally, my mother-in-law is a devoted member. Ironically, the basis of protestant denominations birthed from the Restoration Movement, as demonstrated in one of the more popular mottos "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love", failed to include any credit to Æterni Patris, an Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the restoration of Christian philosophy (1879) or any other significant Scholastic theories for that matter.

For good measure, Campbellism: Its History & Heresies is the rebuke and discreditation for Churches of Christ. You'll always find a disagreement for every point of view and all of them know how to pluck scripture for their own purposes. Context can be so inconvenient when you want to pluck a few words out in demonstration for why any particular group is doomed.

Learning the history of the Churches of Christ and its relationship to the Restoration Movement has been very educational in light to its place and consideration to the Roman Catholic Church today. I was recently searching for a general list of Protestant denominations whose baptisms were considered valid, or invalid, by the Roman Catholic Church. Naturally I came up empty-handed because the sheer volume of Protestant denominations makes such a list overwhelming. If the Churches of Christ, independent as they may be, are staunchly sola scriptura then they would only perform trinitarian baptisms (Matthew 28:19). Unfortunately, there still needs to be documentation to determine if Tom's baptism is a valid Sacrament, and documentation seems to be sorely lacking. I would not be surprised if our priest shows caution and opts to perform a conditional baptism.

My beef with Protestantism is a personal one, of course, and not one that I care to impose on others, although my criticisms can be very bold. If shaking a tamborine and having pop music during service works for you and keeps you believing in God, I don't want to discourage you. I get a thorn in my paw when someone goes on the attack against Catholicism, especially when they don't have their facts straight. I was not bothered with my husband being a Protestant, as long as he understood that no amount of trying would ever have me feeling comfortable in a Protestant church. I had tried numerous times to participate and symbolic Communion offends me tremendously. It was his choice to convert and while I have helped him when it was necessary, his devotion as a catechumen is entirely his own. My mother-in-law has been very polite and respectful by never discussing religion with me but I find it disturbing that she tells her son irrational things to discourage him. I wouldn't say that her jealousy is unmerited since I think my husband is being honest with her about his positive learning experience in RCIA and how thrilled he is with it.

I don't mean to single out my mother-in-law. My mother criticises just as much. I think it's something mothers do. And then their adult children blog about it.

An Exorcist Tells His Story

Gabriele Amorth

With this book still on the nightstand, I cracked open "An Exoricst Tells His Story" by Father Gabriele Amorth. Indeed, it's easier to read about casting demons out than it is to read about the chaos they cause. Coincidentally, I opened this book exactly fifteen years after Fr. Candido Amantini, a Passionist priest and experienced exorcist whom Fr. Gabriele assisted for many years, was called to his reward from Our Lord. I like coincidences. It took me two days to read it, counting the first three hours at bedtime on Saturday night as a day. I have limitless respect for this man and have no problems taking all of what he says at face value. Consider that my opinion of this book will be automatically biased by my adoration and that, without doubt, I accept his interpretation of truth.

Fr. Gabriele is a prolific writer for the Church and has provided us with four books about our Blessed Virgin as well as two books concerning the sacramental and his specialty, Exorcism. Fr. Gabriele begins this book by introducing the basic of Christian theology principles: the Centrality of Christ. The principle quickly described as that all of God's Creation was created for Christ, in anticipation of him. While the series of events seems as though God created us and then sent his Son, it is truth that Christ was the first Created and the Trinity always was, is and forever will be. After introducing this basic principle, he briefly explains the heirarchy of angels and demons and their relationships to God and to us and the history of the sacramental. Expanding on this, he begins a chapter titled, The Power of Satan, where he addresses the pattern and vices used to inflict misery, specifying the terms and categories of how these effects are diagnosed. In following chapters, he addresses how people are attacked and proactive protections, the processes of different exorcisms and citing cases, one survivor's account of what happened to him, and a conclusion that's followed by a group of prayers of deliverance.

Most of all, Fr. Gabriele stresses the dire need for exorcists in the priesthood and that psychiatric and medical sciences do not decrease the need for exorcisms. Unlike Tom Cruise, Fr. Gabriele credits psychiatry, psychology and medicine for the advances to diagnose and treat the mind and body, and clearly underlines the importance of professionals in relation to good health. However, he is also clear that symptoms caused diabolically will never be cured or subdued through any scientific measures. As he's described, any man in the priesthood can perform the sacramental of exorcism who has received the direct and specific license to do so. There is even a manual. Fr. Gabriele cites Mark 16:17:

"These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons"

Since Canon Law 1172 clarifies a difference between sacramentals and private prayer, which you'll find defined better in canon 1166, this means that bishops and priests are able to perform the sacramental of exorcism as the Church has approved (canon 1167). Prayers of Deliverance, which are powerful and necessary, are available to all believers of Christ and are encouraged to use them, as they correspond directly with what is written in the Gospels. Fr. Gabriele includes numerous prayers of deliverance in the conclusion of this book.

With all this in mind, there should be nothing lacking in every Diocese and even every Parish. A bishop can appoint an exorcist and a parish can be saved. The Church-approved methods and formulas should be followed by all exorcists and the knowledge to gain from experiences of heavyweights like Fr. Gabriele should be sought.

Fr. Gabriele boldly asserts that Sacrament of Reconciliation, wherein there is Confession, is far more damaging to diabolical entities, ie. Satan and Co., than the sacramental of exorcism. He describes that the process of Confession empowers the believer to be free of sin, free of vulnerability, bringing him closer to God and in greater protection. He instructs priests not to be afraid of the devil or intimidated by evil since they already routinely anger the fitful beasts and Our Lord will only allow them to do as much damage as is God's Will. That's encouraging. 

There is a single inconsistency in his book, which I am still trying to digest.

In the early portion of the book, Fr. Gabriele explicitly states:

Just as it would be wrong to deny the existence of Satan, it is also wrong to accept the prevalent opinion that there are spiritual beings that are not mentioned in the Bible. These are the invention of spiritists, or followers of the occult, of those who espouse reincarnation, or of those who believe in "wandering souls". There are no good spirits other than angels; there are no evil spirits other than demons.

With so many people wanting to believe their loved ones who've passed on are still with them or looking over them, or those who have experienced apparitions that want to believe in the good-natured sincerity of them, I think these words are a harsh reality. Under no circumstance is what we see what we think it is. Fr. Gabriele is clear and there isn't debate in what he's said.

100 pages later, I had to do a doubletake at the following story concerning exorcising houses:

In other, less serious circumstances, prayer is sufficient to reestablish peace. One family was bothered by noises at night; after ten Masses were celebrated, the noises ceased completely. Could it have been poor, suffering souls in Purgatory who, with divine permission, were able to ask for intercession?

This is clearly contradictory, but he's presented it to us with uncertainty. This leads me to believe that Fr. Gabriele recognises that all things are possible with Our Lord and it's not beyond Our Lady's compassion to help souls receive peace through whatever means necessary. This also lets me recognise that Fr. Gabriele, despite all his years dealing with diabolical activity, still has immense compassion for those who atone in Purgatory and wish that they can receive peace through these means. Is it human fault to stand so boldly on the declaration that beings are either good or evil, or is it human fault to allow the thoughts that there are always exceptions?

If you're Christian, even if you're Protestant, read Fr. Gabriele Amorth's books.

Report from Ground Zero

Dennis Smith

I'd like to say that I decided to start reading this last Tuesday because it was exactly six years since 9-11-01, but I can't. I was looking for Report From Engine Co. 82. I had bought my husband both books to read during his recovery from major surgery this Summer. I found this one and decided to read it.

I'm not done with it, which could seem to make talking about it awkward, but it's extremely heavy and emotional. Everyone goes over the same three hours again and again. My husband says, "It's 9-11, what did you expect?" and that's a fair question. I expected Dennis Smith to deliver a thoughtful and concise book, built entirely by his own words. Instead, he gives some introduction to some people, but only when it was necessary, and places in bold font the personal and uneditted accounts of people who were there, their moment to moment memories, and all in their own words, from the Fire Chiefs, to the Police Commissioner, to the Probies and Rookies. There is a complete list in the front of the book with every name of every firefighter and police officer who perished so, as names pop up with uncertainty in the personal accounts, you flip to the front and hope to not see the name. So far, I've only not found one name mentioned in one personal account on the list.

This is a book that's difficult to keep reading and difficult to stop. It doesn't discuss the political misdealings behind the terrorist attacks or the ensueing mess of a misguided war. It doesn't discuss the president's slow response or pressure readers to feel inane amounts of blind patriotism. It just gives you the personal stories of the people who were there, who had no bias or concern for politics or care about personal image. It gives you what they thought, what they saw, what they had to do and why they did the things that they did. You learn things you're not told anywhere else and while the television cameras followed Mayor Giuliani through the city and every change in command central, the last person you read about in any of these stories is the Mayor. You read about the people falling from the buildings, the burned people, the people getting sucked down the elevator shaft, the people covered in dust... the difference in dust from the first building's fall and the second building's fall, which other buildings were on fire, and the combination of method and chaos that both kept people alive and consumed them.

The book is only 373 pages. I have no idea how long it will take me to read it.

How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican

Piers Marchant

The book's first page begins:

THIS MANUAL IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

____________________

signas hic (sign here)

THE POPE

From that moment on, it's a fun informative book about life as Pope in Vatican City [VC]. You're provided with a map, the hours of operation of the gas station and other VC shops, a description of your wardrobe, your many responsibilities, the job descriptions of your staff, a history of the VC, an overview on the history of popes, and what you can expect your day to be like. Did you know the pope receives over 800 pounds of mail per day? He has the help of approximately one nun and a humble office staff to read, acknowledge and respond to these letters.

This is a small and affordable book, and surprisingly educational in a very entertaining way. I'd recommend it for any Catholic's bookshelf.

Today, I made up some Banana Bread from a recipe that I've had for a long time. I haven't baked anything more complicated than a Pillsbury cookie roll in, at least, five years so I was a little awkward handling a recipe that instructed as follows:

1-3/4 c flour

2 ts baking powder

1/3 c butter

2/3 c sugar

2 eggs

4 bananas

greased pan @ 350° 50m or done.

Talk about being straight to the point. In 1997-1999, I was making this treat so often that I didn't need a recipe. Since I hadn't made it in such a long time, I thought it was necessary to test the bread first. Perfect... all the way to the middle of the loaf!

Celtic Folklore Cooking

Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala tries to be a general little source of tidbits from various "celtic" cultures and times as applicable to both pagan and christian practices, as well as some delicious recipes. It is a cursory look at religious and cultural practices of an often misappropriated people so don't take it too seriously. The recipes, at least the ones that are possible to follow, are valid and well worth a try. Not knowing how to cook anything more involved than a microwave burrito when I left home, some of my greatest feasts can be credited to the entrées and sides provided in this cookbook. Granted, I've had to buy it twice over thanks to the turn-overs of life, but I'm thankful to have not needed to buy it a third time. Coincidentally, a Thanksgiving/Harvest feast that I'd been planning in Spring of 1999 for the holidays that year was discovered in an old notebook. I think it will fit in very appropriately for this year's Thanksgiving and be far more appreciated.

After getting back into the swing of baking, I'd like to make a good round at artisan bread. I've baked artisan bread in the form of yellowmeal and honey wheat before, but that was 1998. We're nearly a decade later and I'm sorely out of practice on proportions, time, and kneading. It's a bit like riding a bike, except you get to eat the bike.

This Boy's Life

A couple years ago, I'd saw a portion of this movie at a hotel during Hurricane Wilma. I'd always wanted to watch the entire thing. I can't say I really missed any important plot points by coming in 3/4ths of the way through, but this movie is still interesting. It has its cute moments but overall it's like rubbernecking an emotional trainwreck as you see the tolerance and intolerance of abuse battle within Jack Wolff until both he and his mother finally realise the obvious. While Robert DeNiro is clearly the bad guy in this movie, Chris Cooper has a bit part that isn't too knightly. In every movie, except one, that I've seen Chris Cooper in, he's been a wife-beater and/or a prude and/or a KKK member. That's a hell of a filmography. That said, this film is based on the book by Tobias Wolff (a/k/a Jack), "This Boy's Life" which is a more indepth and involved autobiography than the movie can allow.

This Boy's Life: A Memoir

Blood Diamond (Widescreen Edition)

This isn't really the kind of movie that I voluntarily watch but I've been on the DiCaprio kick lately. He was allowed to look like a grown up in this one. As the title suggests, this film addresses conflict diamonds mined in Africa. There's the typical premise of the White Hero helping the Black Victim but they don't hide the racism, power and oppression dynamics that made it applicable in this particular storyline. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the conflict diamonds to say how Hollywooded up this film was in regards to reality, but it definitely was gory. The violence and gore didn't bother me as much as it does in Die Hard films and other such shoot-em-ups, primarily because the violence and gore is contexted in a necessary and applicable way. For example, it makes perfect sense why a man would bash another man's skull in with a shovel when it happens. As C.S. Lewis would say, Life is violent. There are typical Hollywood elements, such as facial hair never growing, the white woman's hair always being perfectly conditioned and groomed in the bush, and the white woman hooking up with the white man the minute he reveals vulnerability. Overall, the film is compelling and it will be effective to inspire people to learn more about conflict diamonds and genocide for as long as they realise not everyone gets a happy ending.