joelunch

Junk that pill: Contraceptives may prevent women from choosing Mr Right

2008-08-15T09:49:00.002+10:00

If you are having relationship problems, you might be able to blame it on the contraceptive pill.

New research from the University of Liverpool in Britain shows taking the pill can lead women to choose the wrong partner - and lead to all sorts of problems when they stop.

From the ABC here

"Oral contraceptives totally disrupt the normal hormonal cascade. When the hormonal system is disrupted, cardiovascular disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other serious illnesses will increase. My clinical experience has clearly shown that it is impossible to adequately treat these illnesses if there is an imbalanced hormonal system."

From the lifesite

In addition to altering women's natural attraction to suitable partners, the pill also permanently damages sex drive over long-term use, according to one study (Read http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/may/05052603.html).

Related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Birth Control Pill May Cause Prostate Cancer and Bladder Disease in Mothers' Children
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/may/05050411.html

The Pill is Deadly to Babies and Women
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1999/jan/99011203.html

Online Video: Noted Endocrinologist Explains How the Birth Control Pill Causes Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07080303.html

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Olympics opening had fake fireworks footage for TV - amongst other stuff!

2008-08-13T16:39:00.001+10:00

What is Truth in a communist country anyway?

Apparently some of the fireworks at the opening ceremony in China were faked.

According to The Beijing Times what people inside the stadium and watching on television saw were computer graphics inserted into coverage.

What other untruths are being told in China?

From Charles Happell on Crickey;

"Today, we find out the sweet little girl dressed in red who sang the national anthem on Friday did not sing it at all but was doing a Manilli Vanilli impersonation and lip-synching the whole thing. What we heard, in fact, was a recording of another child, seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was dropped from the opening ceremony at the last minute because she was deemed to be not "flawless in image"... in their desperate quest for perfection, the Beijing authorities have instead left themselves open to ridicule...

"So the message is clear: once politburos and politicians get involved in Olympic Games, look out. Things are never going to turn out well.

"To add to those glitches, there is the issue of those empty seats at the swimming which have supposedly been reserved for corporates. But the corporates are up in the dining room gnawing on their Peking duck and showing scant interest in all that flailing going on down in the pool. As a result, the parents of international swimmers are locked outside and reduced to watching the action on television, or begging for tickets.

"Tight security is one thing; complete overkill is another. And, on that theme, did we really need to see members of the People’s Liberation Army goose-stepping their way through a section of the opening ceremony."

So can a Catholic support a “pro-choice” candidate?

2008-08-08T13:18:00.002+10:00

"The answer is: I can’t and I won’t." Archbishop Chaput who recently spoke to Theology on Tap in Sydney at WYD, recently wrote on the important issue of Catholics and Politics, here is a link to the full article;

10 points for Catholic citizens to remember

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Faith on Tap

2008-08-02T10:25:00.002+10:00

Faith on Tap launches August 11 in Brisbane. Pineapple Hotel @ 706 Main Street Kangaroo Point.
Every 2nd Monday of the month @ 6:30.

***** 11 August: WYD FoT Launch Party with Jessica Aravena,

After the impact of WYD08 celebrate with Jessica Aravena, Brisbane local, just back from 4 years in Europe. She worked in London and the past year as a Catholic volunteer in Poland working with Catholic Youth and getting them active. Come and hear her amazing story (Jess was also one of the crowd at WYD Sydney!). We will be celebrating some of the highlights of WYD08 in Sydney!

Check out www.faithontap.org.au

Pell to Youth: Get Committed

2008-08-01T13:33:00.001+10:00

"Don't spend your life sitting on the fence, keeping your options open, because only commitments bring fulfilment. Happiness comes from meeting our obligations, doing our duty, especially in small matters and regularly, so we can rise to meet the harder challenges. Many have found their life's calling at World Youth Days."

From Cardinal Pell's Homily at the opening Mass for WYD08 Sydney

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Not all Nations are Free

2008-07-31T10:23:00.001+10:00

The flag that is arguably most visible at the closing Mass of WYD isn't even an official flag of a nation, but one that is said to be banned in its home country.

The yellow flag with three horizontal red lines is the former South Vietnamese flag known as the Vietnamese Heritage or Freedom Flag.

With this flag we are reminded of those around the world who are oppressed and have their human rites violated and of governments who oppress the free practice of religion and speech in their nations.

About the flag;
“At the present time. there are absolutely no freedom and no democracy of any kinds in Vietnam. Human rights are seriously abused by the Vietnamese communist regime.

During the course of fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights of the people in Vietnam, we must have our whole-hearted support to maintain and wave high this National Flag of Free Vietnam until the freedom, democracy, and human rights are finally realized in Vietnam.That is why, each time seeing the Free Vietnam National Flag, the majority of freedom-democracy-loving Vietnamese, in Vietnam as well as around the world, feel as if they saw the nation's savior.”

From http://www5.brinkster.com/vla/pkt1.asp

In the United States, at least 11 states and 113 cities have adopted resolutions recognizing the former South Vietnamese flag as the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag.

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Life and Death Protest

2008-07-31T10:22:00.001+10:00

Pre-World Youth Day, and during World Youth Day in Sydney the media filled the tubes with talk of protest and draconian laws to stop protesters. The only protest that we came across during the entire WYD week was a silent one. (Ok maybe not totally silent as they had a brass band).

The "protest" in question was by Falun Gong members in China Town as the WYD pilgrimage from Mary Mckillop's passed on way to the Randwick Racecourse Vigil. The issue was the forecable organ harvesting of Falung Gong Practitioners in China. This protest realy puts the media coverage into perspective and makes as ask what is realy important in this world if it isn't ones very life.

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Chinese Olympics: journalists face harassment.

2008-07-31T10:19:00.001+10:00

Journalists are having trouble going about their work in advance of the Beijing Olympics. Several reporters, photographers and TV camera operators have suffered harassment, from both police and citizens. C M Yeung, of Hong Kong-based Now TV, says he was attacked by bystanders while filming a dispute among people queuing to buy tickets for Olympic events. Police, who refused to intervene, instead demanded that footage of the incident be deleted and that Yeung and his colleague, Melanie Chau, should sign a form agreeing that the matter was now closed. They refused to do so. The day before Yeung was pulled backwards off a ladder by police while filming ticket queues. -- Roy Greenslade, The Guardian.

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Live Blogging from WYD Sydney 08

2008-07-11T17:20:00.003+10:00

Recently I posted that we will be live blogging from wyd08 in Sydney. Well we now have the address!;
www.ebenedict.org/wydblog

There is a story here on WYD Live Blogging.

Also fot our WYD flickr photos you can go here
www.flickr.com/photos/ebenedict

or to a larger group here

www.flickr.com/groups/wyd2008

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WYD internet access/wifi?

2008-06-16T13:15:00.006+10:00

I notice in a press release the following. Telstra (Australia's previous monopoly provider) will be providing;

"on the ground interactive centre's including wireless internet, green screen studios, commemorative WYD08 photo messaging and music downloads."

Great so I can get the latest Britany tunes to listen to. They are also doing cheap prepaid phone deals. So the following is interesting. Only those with the advanced new expensive "Nevt G" phones will get access to this;

"· Next G (TM) Regional Catechesis webcasting"

I would love to know more about the Wifi. Will it be real internet or just to a few sites like Telstra's music store?

Also "NSW Government cancels free Wi-Fi plans".

"Plans to provide free wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) across areas of NSW in time for World Youth Day were canceled by the NSW State Government yesterday[May 1st 08]. "

So all those governments who looked so hip going wifi are quietly backpedaling there...

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World Youth Day 08 Live Blog - Blogging Live as a Pilgrim

2008-06-06T10:57:00.007+10:00

With World Youth Day (WYD08 ) coming up in Sydney I'm planning to "live blog" the event. I've been involved with the setup of www.ybenedict.org - Daily Pilgrim News on WYD. So when the event hits I'll be there. Hopefully with full media accreditation so I can live blog and have access to the media centers.

The final location of the content isn't certain yet. But I will make that known closer to the date on this blog. I've got a 3g phone, Canon D350 SLR and a laptop so stay tuned for updates on the ground at WYD08 in Sydney!

The mainstream media can let you know what is going on, but they can't give you the insiders perspective from a pilgrim who gets it. If you are also interested in live blogging let me know. We may be able to work something out.

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Student Union Gags UQ Newman Society

2008-05-27T16:09:00.001+10:00

The UQ Newman Catholic Society have had a runnin with the University of Queensland Student Union and its president Josh Young. All for displaying an pre-born baby (at 8 weeks).

The story broke in the Australian Newspaper. ;
Student body forbids 'anti-abortion' poster

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23700857-5006786,00.html

The new yBenedict.org site has further on the topic;
UQ PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRO-LIFE REFERENDUM

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yBenedict

2008-05-27T16:06:00.001+10:00

New media play a key role in the communications surrounding the upcoming World Youth Days in Sydney, Australia. Recently we heard that the pope will send text messages to the mobile phones of pilgrims to the event, and Satuday, cardinal Pell launched another initiative to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting Sydney this year: yBenedict.

http://fatherroderick.sqpn.com/

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Anger over Rudd's 'butler'

2008-05-27T16:05:00.001+10:00

From the Courier Mail;

"We've got this man who is travelling overseas with a butler or a valet or a footman or manservant, whatever it might be," he told a Senate estimates committee.

"If he puts out the ties and polishing shoes in the morning he's probably a valet. If he gets a cup of tea in the morning he's probably a butler, and if he carts the luggage around he's probably a footman.

"So here we are at a stage in this country where petrol is $1.60 a litre and here we have Jeeves, whose position as a travelling assistant to the prime minister is travelling around the country putting out clothes for the prime minister in the morning.

"Is that an appropriate course of action for this government to be taking at this time?"

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23766388-952,00.html

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Moral assault on our humanity

2006-10-19T10:07:00.000+10:00

"Under Senator Patterson's Bill aborted baby girls could become mothers of human embryos that will themselves be killed for research! This is sick science; this is a moral assault on our humanity, on the meaning of the human family, and on the inviolable right of any living human being not to be exploited and killed as subhuman material." David van Gend

Three great websites on the topic are;
www.cloning.org.au
www.makeastand.org.au
davidvangend.blogspot.com

catastrophic and sudden failure

2006-06-09T11:50:00.000+10:00

This bizarre message came up on the ACU website when going there from Google. It makes me laugh and remember all the politics involved with IT and universities. It relates to why they seem to have removed all pages from a webserver by the name of mcauley.acu.edu.au. An IT admin having his last public comeback to the situation;

"I have reviewed the operation and status of the machine and have come to the conclusion that the risk of a catastrophic and sudden failure of the machine is quite real and is something that can happen at any time. Even though we are not supporting this facility, some staff will still have an expectation that if a facility is provided by the University then it must therefore meet some very basic operational standards. If a machine does not meet these it should not be made available. My analysis of the Mcauley web server indicates that this machine no longer meet these very basic operational standards and we therefore cannot expect staff to use this machine. I am therefore authorising the server to be shutdown."

The page may still be up here mcauley.acu.edu.au or there may have been that "catestrophic and sudden failure".

Forget the Da Vince Code, this is the real thing.

2006-06-06T17:03:00.000+10:00

There is a new movie out called "Into Great Silence" which goes for 2.5 hours and has only 2 mins of dialogue.

It's about the Carthusian monks of Great Chartreuse. The Grande Chartreuse, the mother house of the legendary Carthusian Order, is based in the French Alps. "Into Great Silence" will be the first film ever about life inside the Grande Chartreuse. A film about awareness, absolute presence, and the life of men who devoted their lifetimes to god in the purest form.

21 years passed between the original idea and the completion of the film (including 16 years waiting for permission to film in the monastery).

It's a great box office success in Germany (running more than 25 weeks since Nov '05, grossed 1,000,000 EUR) and Italy (grossed 500,000 EUR in 4 weeks).
Premiered in the category “Orizonti” (Horizons) at the 62nd International Film Festive in Venice! Awarded the "World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary" at the Sundance Film Festival 2006. Awarded with the Premio Paoline Comunicazione e Cultura 2006 by the Pontificia Università Lateranense. Nominated for "Best Documentary Film" for the German Film Prize 2006. Munich-based world sales company Bavaria Film International has sold the distribution in Australia to Dendy Films so expect to find it in the Dendy's upcoming program.

The website: diegrossestille.de

The Trailer:
bavaria-film-international (the first download was a bit slow for me but if you play it a second time it will play continuously without interruptions).

Dendy Films: dendyfilms(screening dates to be advised).

"Da Vinci Code" secret is out: most critics hate it

2006-06-06T16:49:00.000+10:00

Some reviews of the film;

Todd McCarthy, Variety "Nothing really works. It's not suspenseful. It's not romantic. It's certainly not fun."

Stephen Schaefer, The Boston Herald "I kept thinking of the Energizer Bunny, because it kept going and going and going, and not in a good way."

The Da Vinci Code drew "lukewarm praise, shrugs of indifference, some jeering laughter and a few derisive jabs"

Baz Bamigboye, London's Daily Mail "Too long. And boring. If you want to see a movie about the Holy Grail, see Indiana Jones."

And it goes for two and a half hours!

Full bagging review from the SMH here;

The sound of no hands clapping

Daily Prayer Podcast pray-as-you-go.org

2006-06-06T16:33:00.000+10:00

This is a great 10 minute podcast with the days readings and relevant music to help you pray along the way. Comes from Jesuits in the UK.

http://pray-as-you-go.org

The science of attraction

2006-06-06T16:23:00.000+10:00

"The message here is trust your instincts - except that there is an alarming exception. For women taking hormonal contraceptives, the reverse is true: they prefer men whose MHC genes are similar to their own. Thus women on the Pill risk choosing a mate who is not genetically suitable."

"Having sex can also complicate the way you perceive a potential partner. After sex, the brain releases oxytocin, which results in that warm, companionable feeling of love and the creation of the social bonds that facilitate cooperative child-rearing. Watch out: Sex on a whim can lead to feelings of love for a person who is entirely wrong for you."

"...The researchers found that the optimum proportion of possible mates to examine before setting your aspirations and making your choice is a mere 9 percent..."

From New Scientist

In a poem St Thomas More advised "Observe what kind of parents a lady has, make sure she has a virtuous education, make sure she would not yield to pride and prosperity nor grief and distress even though misfortune strikes her down."