I can't think of any comfort food more widely loved than pizza.
My favourite pizza is any of the ones I make myself from scratch. From the soft elastic dough to the homemade toppings.
My favourites are:
Herbed (marjoram, thyme and basil) marinara sauce, green peppers, homemade sweet Italian sausage and mozzarella.
Margherita: tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil
Pissaladière Ménagère: tomatoes, caramelized onions, black olives and anchovies on a short crust.
Pissaladière: caramelized onions, black olives and anchovies on a short crust.
I showed you mine, now show me yours!
What is your favourite pizza?
Posted by Rue at 12:22 PM.
Filed under:
Mangia! •
Permalink
I was absolutely thrilled to find Fr. Thaumatourgos' website and book! Especially since I practice Italian folk magic (stregoneria). To quote my dear Buona:
I practice the same folk magic that has been practiced by my family for hundreds of years. I am also a practicing Catholic. And for me there is no conflict.
The book I mentioned above is:
Occult Catholicism: Real Magic for Devout Catholics, Fr. Augustinus Thaumatourgos
With this book, Fr. Thaumatourgos explores the dynamics of Catholicism as an initiatory magical society, how that magic is conceptualized, theologized, and practiced, and how clergy and laity alike have access to this vast spiritual and magical powerhouse. With this book, you can learn:
* The conditions in which magic has been permitted by the Catholic Church
* The basic facts of magical theory
* Catholicism is an initiatory magical system
* The Sacraments form the levels of initiation and reinforcement in the mage's life
* Magical work qualifies as a sacramental
* How a layperson can use blessings and exorcisms
* How to compose one's prayers for maximum effectiveness
* How to set up a magical working-space
* How to make Exorcised Salt and Holy Water
* How to bless and consecrate magical tools
* The magical aspects of the Colors in the Church's Liturgy
* How to use candles
* The Nine Orders of the Angels
* The Angelic Princes, or Archangels, and how to call upon them
* The Pentagram is really a Catholic Symbol
* How to safely use aspects and rituals of other magical systems
It's very sad how Italian-American spirituality has been viewed by the Irish and German-dominated hierarchy in North America. It seems they're wanting to force a wedge between Christianity and the occult. Whereas Roman Catholics see where each flow into one another without much need for differentiation or distinction.
Posted by Rue at 11:35 AM.
Filed under:
Permalink
I'm going to be in a book!
I had the honour of being interviewed by a prominent author this past weekend! The author in question is working on their most recent book, and they contacted me wanting an interview and permission to quote my website.
We had our preliminary phone call, where I was filled in on the scope of the book and asked a few questions regarding my area of expertise.
I panicked. While the author was speaking all I could think was:
I don't know anything... Quotes? What the heck do I have to say that merits being quoted? I could barely string a sentence together. Everything I know can be summed up in one or two sentences.... 
Then something amazing happened. Towards the end of our conversation, it all started flooding back. I was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of my own knowledge, experience, and personal anecdotes.
Now that I've regained my composure, I look forward to the formal interview.
Posted by Rue at 11:14 AM.
Filed under:
Permalink
Quelle surprise
Four police officers are dead after conducting a raid on a marijuana grow operation northwest of Edmonton on Thursday.
Four, FOUR police officers were killed by a pot growing sniper during a marijuana bust. Imagine that? So much for the 'pacifist pothead' stereotype. In this case
the shooter turned the gun on himself. But what if he hadn't?
I think Canada needs to grow a pair and:
a) Have a 'life' sentence that entails the
entire natural life of the convicted killer, and not the kinder, gentler
eligible for parole after 25 years in prison. What? you were not aware that in Canada you can literally get away with murder? You can kill someone in cold blood when you're 18, get life, and 25 years later be out on parole at 43 in time to... start a new life, get married, have a couple of kids, kill someone else, whatever.
Or something very close to what I just said. I'm not a lawyer.
Here you read it.
AND
b) Consider bringing back the death penalty. They had it right in the 'good ol' days. Hang 'em at the entrance of the town and leave them there so people visiting the town get good look and undertand that John Law means business. That's what I call a deterrent.
AND THEN
That's funny. When I first read the story, it clearly stated the shooter killed himself. I just went back and that whole sentence is missing from the article. Just so you don't think I made it up.
Here's the RCMP press release:
News Release
RCMP Responding to shots fired
Mayerthorpe, Alberta March 3, 2005
On March 3, 2005 at approximately 1000 am RCMP members from Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt Detachment were conducting an investigation at a rural residence near Mayerthorpe when shots were fired.
Officers conducting an investigation at a rural residence near Mayerthorpe came under fire. At this time we are able to state that there was an exchange of gun fire however due concerns for officer safety we are not able to comment on the situation further.
We do have reason to believe the male suspect is armed with a high power rifle. The area has been secured to ensure both police and public safety. Air space over the area has also been closed as a safety precaution.
Tactical resources have been deployed including: RCMP Emergency Response Teams, Major Crimes Unit and General Investigation Section, Edmonton Police Service’s Air One and Canadian Forces Base Edmonton is dispatching armored vehicles.
There has been a lot of concern expressed for the safety and well being of our Officers. The concern is very much appreciated. We are still in the process of responding to an armed and dangerous scene it is imperative we do not release any information that could further jeopardize our members’s safety.
Additional press releases will be issued when information becomes available.
- 30 -
Media Contact
Wayne A. Oakes, Cpl
Media Relations Officer
RCMP “K” Division
Media & Communications Services
780 - 786 - 2291 Mayerthorpe Det
AND THEN
Quelle surprise. Hat-tip to
Paul.
Posted by Rue at 04:43 PM.
Filed under:
Permalink
Good Lord, the resemblance is remarkable... Except I don't wear the cap, in public that is.
My former employers would have been well advised to have issued me a taser and cuffs.
Posted by Rue at 09:55 AM.
Filed under:
Permalink
