The Kevin House Show

new blog

2007-07-10T06:15:56Z

for those of you who actually still read this blog, i have a new one that you need to start checking out.

http://thekhouse.blogspot.com/

thank you.

-kevin

A Reflection

2007-04-17T16:11:14Z

Yesterday at the Virginia Tech University 32 people’s lives were taken and many others left wounded in what is being called the worst shooting massacre in United States history. It is still hard for me to comprehend. Over the last six years this country has seen the worst terrorist attack it has ever known on September 11, the worst natural disaster with Hurricane Katrina, and now the worst shooting rampage ever just yesterday at Virginia Tech University. It was hard for me to just go through my day yesterday after hearing the news of what happened on the campus of Virginia Tech. I struggled to understand how such carnage could be possible. It seems that we hear of death and turmoil everyday coming out of Iraq, parts of Africa, parts of Central America, and all around the world, but we do not think of our country as being vulnerable or prone to these types of gruesome acts. I think we need to look at this country with a new perspective after reflecting back on the last few years and all the horrible and tragic events we have seen. We are a country that is being humbled from the safe and secure image we so long had.
I do not question why things like this happen because I know in the end I will never find an answer that satisfies me but I do know this: I can see how something like this can happen. We live in a culture of death and we have become completely numb to the beauty and sanctity of every single life. We are surrounded by death and because of it we have become numb to it. Everyday we pick up a newspaper or watch the news and hear how many today were killed in Iraq or on the streets of our own city and then we just move onto the weather and sports. We become numb to these people that are killed. These are people that have lives and families but for our own sanity we move on. Everyday countless numbers of children are taken from us because of abortion yet we are not moved as a country to protect the unborn, the most defenseless of those around us. We make ourselves the ultimate judge on who deserves to live and does not with barbaric and mindless state sponsored executions. Our country tortures and humiliates in secret under notion of national security. And now there are some who wish to pass laws that allow doctors to kill their patients in what they believe to an act of mercy. I pose this question, when does it end? It is my prayer and hope that something like what took place at Virginia Tech yesterday can at the very least shed some light onto the reality of how special, sacred, and fragile human life is. God has given life to us and by no means do we have the right infringe upon that. Not ever. We all have been given a great gift and we must defend it. We must refuse to become numb to those who killed, tortured, marginalized, forgotten, defenseless, and unprotected in this world or this world will continue to become a more frightening place for us all.

yelp.com

2007-01-08T19:40:18Z

So I have recently became hooked on yelp.com. Basically it is a site that has user reviews on just about anything. I just registered and started writing some reviews. Here is one that I am particularly proud of:

Wrigley Field

As a White Sox fan it hard for me to give Wrigley Field a fair and non-biased review. Although, most of the reviews for Wrigley are fairly biased as it seeing how they are written by Cub fans who grew up loving the entire Wrigley field experience.

I have been to Wrigley Field three times in my life. Two of those times I was there I was fortunate enough to see the White Sox beat the Cubs. The third time I was there was this summer while I was working at a summer camp and we took the kids to the "friendly confines."

I honestly do believe it is a place that all baseball fans should go to once in their life. I felt the same way when I went to Fenway Park. That being said, it is not the mecca of all things baseball. The Cubs have some great fans but for me its the people that show up at Wrigley Field looking to just get drunk and leave by the 6th inning to go to the bars that ruin the place for me. I once was at a game and there were a group of girls all decked out in their Cubby blue sitting directly in front of me. One of them turned to me ask if the 7th inning stretch was coming up. I politely told her that the 7th inning stretch was not for another four innings and she became very confused. "So what is that 7 doing up there?" she asked pointing to the scoreboard. "The Cubs have 7 hits..." I responded. She then got on her cell phone to call her friends to plan what bar they would meet up at after they sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." There should be a baseball IQ test before you allowed to step into this place...

The last game I was at I saw the Cubby faithful shower the field with trash after the most hated player in baseball, AJ Piersynki, hit a home run in the 9th to put the Sox up. I kept yelling to the fans "Stop throwing trash on your beloved Wrigley Field! There is already too much of that here as it is!"

This place is always packed. For at least the last ten years it has been like that. Do not let a Cub fan fool you into thinking that the Cubs have always had the most loyal fan base in the world. In fact one year in the 1980s the Cubs drew less than 500,000 fans the entire year. It was not until Wrigley Field became a party destination rather than a baseball field that this place started to sell out again.

The team that happens to show up and play in Wrigley Field is really bad but the fanbase does not seem to mind. I do not understand this about Cub fans. If I go to a restaurant and order a steak and I am served raw hamburger meat I am not going to come back. Even if this restaurant has hot chicks, is in a cool location, and serves all the overpriced ice cold Old Styles I can handle. But thats just me...

Top 10 Albums of 2006

2006-12-30T23:23:08Z

10. Nelly Furtado- Loose
9. The Sounds- Dying to Say This to You
8. TV on the Radio- Return to Cookie Mountain
7. Rhymefest- Blue Collar
6. Lupe Fiasco- Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor
5. Junior Boys- So This Is Goodbye
4. Cat Power- The Greatest
3. Kaki King- ...Until We Felt Red
2. Ben Kweller- Ben Kweller
1. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins- Rabbit Fur Coat

Thoughts?

Done.

2006-12-15T20:32:51Z

My first semester at St. Joseph College Seminary is done. I can honestly say I am pretty happy about that. Often times people ask me "How are you liking the Seminary?" and I politely respond something to the effect of "I like it a lot."

And I do like it. There are some really great people and I have had some good times. I do like it at St. Joe's. Just not all the time. At the start of the semester I spent a lot of time with my friends outsides of the seminary and I was also helping plan Kairos XII. Both those really helped me stayed grounded, happy, and normal. Towards the end of this semester I felt as if I was losing my sense of self. I do not really have one event or person or feeling that I can point to as a result of this. My batteries had been drained and I was becoming a cynical person towards others, the world, the Church, and the entire seminary system as a whole.

I am so happy to be home. All I have been doing in the last few days has been sleeping and reading. It has been wonderful. I am done with the semester and do not have to deal with any of the things back at the seminary for a month.

I am really looking forward to all my brother and all my friends coming home. Hopefully I can return to school in a month with a fresh approach and attitude.

Tired...

2006-12-06T22:07:24Z

I feel a big update is coming on but i have been just so busy lately with school...

Merry Christmas everyone.

summer report card

2006-08-03T02:05:02Z

do you remember when you were a kid and summer was the most amazing time to be alive? my fondest summers were those of junior high spent riding my bike and playing n64. i can still own anyone in mario cart or star fox battle mode.

these days i could care less for summer. maybe its that i don't have as many friends that live around here. maybe its the heat. maybe its my job. maybe its another three months living at home. maybe its that im starting at a new school shortly.

i have been to a bunch of chicago white sox games. i was even fortunate enough to go to two sox/cubs games both with the outcome coming on the side of the world champion chicago white sox. although another source of summer frustration has come in the recent skid the champs have taken since the all star break.

i only have 7 more days of work left. 7 more days. and then i get a little nice break before i have to report at the seminary on the the 23rd of august. the first day of classes for the year is the august 28 which also happens to be my 22nd birthday. which also happens to be the day when i start counting down the days till its summer again.

khouse @ 2006-03-09T21:55:00

2006-03-10T04:14:09Z

I wish my computer was working. I am currently using my dad's and it is the slowest darn computer.

-----

I am not doing very well with giving up tv. I find that in order to do it I have to be anti-social in my house. I think I just need to spend less time here at my house anyways. I really get nothing done here. I rarely work on homework when I am here or do anything productive.

-----

I need to find a new job. Although I enjoy the title of being a "Popcorn Chef" after moving back in with my parents it is not feasible for me to drive all the way to Oak Park for 4 hours of work on random days. I am once again applying to be a tour guide in Chicago. I really want to have a job somewhere in the loop or downtown area. I thought joining the vendors union again and actually put in some work at Wrigley Field but I probably would not show up.

-----

Break starts tomorrow. Two big things going on over break. First the South Side Irish Parade this Sunday. I love this parade. I remember watching my older siblings step dance in various St. Patrick's Day parades and events as a little child and for some reason St. Patrick's Day always reminds me of those times when I thought it was really cool to be Irish. Second I am going to the Jenny Lewis concert on Tuesday. Should be a rocking time even though I am going by myself. I'll post some pics of the parade on Monday.

----

WBC GO USA!!!!!!!

A Tale of Two Ballparks

2006-02-27T16:26:12Z

I had to write a paper for English 101 on why one thing is better than the other. I am quite aware it full of grammar errors but enjoy it anyways:

The national perception of the Chicago Cubs home ballpark, Wrigley Field, is one of summertime fun in one of the oldest sports stadiums still standing. While it may be true Wrigley Field is old it far from comfortable or fun or even historic; that is unless you choose to call the team that makes Wrigley Field it’s home historic for the sheer fact they have been a loosing baseball team for nearly 100 years now. The often overlooked other ballpark in Chicago, US Cellular Field, is vastly superior to Wrigley Field in every aspect. It is a modern ballpark with a real Chicago neighborhood surrounding it, top notch amenities, great sightlines, and believe it or not, trumps Wrigley Field in “history”.
Cub fans seems to be just as enthusiastic about their dilapidating ballpark as they are their already dilapidated baseball team and will defend Wrigley Field, in all its glory, with much vigor. They often speak of the wonderful neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field and overall ambience of “Wrigleyville”. Although, I would argue Wrigleyville is as about as authentically Chicago as Bloomington, Indiana. The whole neighborhood is filled with twenty and thirty year olds transplants who wish to live in an area that openly promotes and celebrates the party lifestyle. What Wrigley Field enthusiasts see as the ambiance of Wrigley Field and its surrounding area, I perceive as a giant frat party with no parking. When you go to US Cellular Field you are not going to get all the sights and sounds of Wrigleyville but what you will find is a real baseball stadium, a real Chicago neighborhood, and you will be actually be able to park your car in the area. What a concept! The neighborhood surrounding US Cellular Field, Bridgeport, is a true working class neighborhood that is true to the roots of the city and also exemplifies its diversity. You will find all walks life in the area from Polish to African American to Mexican to Chinese. While parking at Wrigley Field is next to impossible it is never a problem at US Cellular Field. US Cellular Field has many parking lots in the surrounding area of the ballpark.
Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and when you go there it shows. It is actually starting to fall apart. In the 2004 season there were incidents of falling concrete from the upper deck seating to the seats down below. What did the Chicago Cubs organization do to alleviate this problem? Well, they installed nets to catch the falling concrete. Nets, that’s right, nets; so now the fans can enjoy the game there without the worry of falling concrete. Even with or without the nets Wrigley Field has some other serious problems and drawbacks. The bathroom facilities are still ancient and too few and far between. Often the lines go out the door and if you are a woman you will even have a harder time in the bathrooms. As far as the ballpark food is concerned there is probably a reason that many of the fans come to the ballpark just to drink because their concessions is obsolete compared to any major sports stadium today. There are also several areas of the stadium deemed “obstructed view” seating; which pretty much means that you have a giant pole blocking you from watching the game. On the other hand at US Cellular Field (which was completed in 1991) you have no falling concrete, up to date bathroom facilities, a wide variety of delicious ballpark food, and no obstructed view seating in the whole stadium. As well, you have many other modern amenities and entertainment such as areas for children, a ballpark museum, jumbo-screen, luxury suites, a sports bar in right field, and a fan deck overlooking center field.
One baseball team in Chicago has the shortest World Series title drought while the other has the longest. The Chicago White Sox this year went from the start of the season to the end of the season in first place and finishing with the most wins in the American League. They play an exciting brand of baseball at US Cellular Field that mixed power and speed with great pitching from their starters to their bullpen. The White Sox marched through the playoffs to capture the World Series title. Even though Wrigley Field is 77 years older than US Cellular Field it has never seen its home team, the Chicago Cubs, win a World Series title. While Wrigley Field is an old stadium, it hardly the type of history you would want associated with a ballpark or a baseball franchise. In fact, the last World Series title the Chicago Cubs won was in 1908, six years before Wrigley Field was even finished. The Chicago Cubs continued their losing way this past summer at Wrigley Field finishing 4th place in their division by playing inconsistent, uninspired, and unentertaining baseball; which is something Wrigley Field is used to hosting.

Random Thoughts

2006-02-27T00:56:03Z

Lent is upon us. I have decided to give up the television (minus Chicago White Sox games). This should be a challenge even though I feel most of the programing on TV is trash. The TV is always there when you want to be idle and mindless and giving up that will not come easy but I feel the fruits of that will include more time for prayer and devotion to my studies.

------------------------------

I saw an Iowa license plate on the expressway today. Whenever I see an Iowa license plate it reminds me of my time at St. Ambrose University. Sometimes I forget I ever went there. I was so miserable while I was there. It only took me a month to realize that SAU was not right for me. I actually thought about visiting again this year but I could probably count the people I would really want to see on my left hand that still attend SAU.

------------------------------

Recently I have become an uncle. Last Thursday my sister Katie gave birth to a baby girl. Katie and Jerry named her Alia Elizabeth. I got to hold Alia last night for the first time. It was a pretty remarkable experience for me. To look at her in my own arms and to think about all the possibilities for her future. I began to think that someone once looked at me the same way. I will post some photos of her on here tomorrow.

Shani Davis What What

2006-02-19T01:09:15Z

Native South Sider Shani Davis representing the World Champs after winning his gold medal.

"Evidence Doesn't Matter" in APA Abortion Advocacy

2006-02-17T04:33:34Z

Read this and comment if you choose. But read first:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/feb/060216A.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Springfield, IL (Feb. 15, 2005) -- According to a spokesperson for the American Psychological Association, the APA's pro-choice position, first adopted in 1969, is based on a civil rights view, not on scientific proof of any mental health benefits arising from abortion.

The admission that ideology, not science, governs the APA's support for abortion came in response to a request by a Washington Times columnist for the organization's reaction to a new study linking abortion to mental illness. The study tracked 25 years of worth of data on women born in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The researchers had expected that their data, drawn from one of the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal studies in the world, would definitively refute a recent series of studies linking abortion to higher rates of mental health problems. The Christchurch team, led by a self-professed "pro-choice atheist," Prof. David M. Fergusson, expected to find that any mental health problems occurring after abortion would be fully explainable by prior mental health problems, which some believe are more common among women who have abortions. Instead, the New Zealand research team found the opposite. Even after the researchers controlled for this and numerous other alternative explanations, abortion was clearly linked to elevated rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior.

The findings so surprised Fergusson's research team that they began reviewing the studies cited by the APA in its claims that abortion is beneficial, or at least non-harmful, to women's mental health. The researchers concluded (1) that the APA's publications defending abortion are based on a small number of studies that had major methodological shortcomings (a view that echoes former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop's complaint in 1987 that the research on abortion was too inadequate to draw any definitive conclusions), and (2) that the APA appeared to be consistently ignoring a body of studies published in the last seven years that have shown negative effects from abortion.

The Christchurch team's criticism of the APA's selective and strong assurances of the mental health benefits of abortion prompted Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist and newspaper columnist, to call the APA for comment on Fergusson's criticisms. He was referred to an APA expert and spokesperson on abortion and women's issues, Dr. Nancy Felipe Russo. Russo was among the leaders within the APA who, in 1969, led the organization to adopt an official position in favor of abortion as a civil right. She has subsequently been active in research and advocacy efforts opposing parental notification and mandatory informed consent statutes related to abortion.

APA Is Not Neutral On Abortion Science

When asked to comment on the New Zealand study and the pro-choice authors' criticisms of the APA, Russo told Throckmorton that the APA's position on abortion was established on the view that abortion is a civil right. As quoted in Throckmorton's Washington Times column, Russo explained that the Christchurch study would have no effect on the APA's position because "to pro-choice advocates, mental health effects are not relevant to the legal context of arguments to restrict access to abortion."

In the first draft of Throckmorton's column, which he sent for comment to another expert on abortion research, Dr. David Reardon of the Springfield, IL-based Elliot Institute, Russo was quoted more bluntly, saying, "it doesn't matter what the evidence says." Throckmorton and Russo subsequently agreed to the clarification of her statement as it appeared in the Washington Times.

According to Reardon, an author of several of the studies on abortion that have been ignored by the APA, Russo's statements "confirm the complaint of critics that the APA's briefs to the Supreme Court and state legislatures are really about promoting a view about civil rights, not science. Toward this end, the APA has set up task forces and divisions that include only psychologists who share the same bias in favor of abortion."

Reardon believes the APA's task forces on abortion have actually served to stifle rather than encourage research. "When researchers like Fergusson or myself publish data showing abortion is linked to mental health problems, members of the APA's abortion policy police rush forward to tell the public to ignore our findings because they are completely out of line with their own 'consensus' statements which are positioned as the APA's official interpretation of the meaningful research on abortion," he said.

When is Relief Not Relief?

Reardon is especially disturbed by what he decries as the "one note" optimism found in position papers by the APA, Planned Parenthood, and other organizations supporting abortion.

Among the studies most frequently cited by abortion supporters are those that have asked women to check off a list of feelings they have after their abortions, often within just a few hours, a week, or a month of the procedure. The list may include words like "relief," "regret," "guilt," and "happiness." These studies have found that the most commonly reported reaction after abortion is relief. Indeed, the phrase, "the most commonly reported reaction is relief," frequently shows up in information and consent forms for abortion.

"All the emphasis on women experiencing relief is misleading because most women reporting relief also report negative reactions," Reardon said. "Indeed, when you add up the number of women reporting negative reactions, it regularly exceeds the number of women reporting relief."

The problem, Reardon says, is that while statistics on "relief" may have value in marketing or lobbying for abortion, they have little or no value as a scientific measure.

"Women are simply presented with this single word," he said. "So women who feel relief that they survived an unpleasant surgery, relief that they will no longer face their boyfriend's badgering to have an abortion, relief that they are no longer having morning sickness, or relief from any number of other stresses, are all lumped into the same category, even though their experiences are different. Lumping all forms of relief together helps to makes it sound like most women are reporting that abortion has fundamentally improved their lives, but it's a sloppy and misleading data variable. In fact, when you really look at the data, most of the very same women who are reporting 'relief' are also reporting grief, shame, traumatic reactions, or other negative feelings."

"Thirty-five years ago, when the APA joined in the effort to legalize abortion, they were promising more than just 'relief,'" he added. "They were insisting that abortion would fundamentally improve women's mental and physical health by sparing them the burden of unwanted children. But 38 million abortions later, there is still not a single statistically-validated study that has shown that abortion has actually improved the lives of women who abort compared to those who carry to term.

"Instead, if you look at the data instead of consensus opinions, depression rates are up, not down, among women who have had abortions. Suicide and substance abuse are up, not down. Premature deliveries are up, not down. But instead of including this data in their statements on abortion, the APA's self-selected panels of abortion advocates continue to distract the media from the all hard evidence linking abortion to higher rates of suicide, substance abuse, depression and anxiety by promoting meaningless statistics about relief."

Reardon says he is thankful that Russo has finally helped to call attention to the fact that the APA's position on abortion is principally based on a commitment to defend abortion as a civil right.

But this admission, he says, "should be weighed in light of criticisms against the trend toward 'consensus science' as a means of influencing politics. As one critic, best-selling author Dr. Michael Crichton, creator of Jurassic Park and ER, has succinctly observed: 'The work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics.'"

******************************

CONSENSUS SCIENCE IS NOT SCIENCE

Outside the context of the abortion debate, best selling author Michael Crichton, M.D., a 1969 graduate of the Harvard Medical School, described the disturbing trend of "consensus science" at a Caltech lecture in 2004, a brief portion of which is excerpted below:

I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had.

Let's be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.

There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period.

Excerpted from Michael Crichton, Aliens Cause Global Warming," Caltech Michelin Lecture, Jan. 17, 2003. (available online)

# # #

Sources:

David M. Fergusson, L. John Horwood, and Elizabeth M. Ridder, "Abortion in young women and
subsequent mental health," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 47(1): 16-24, 2006.

Warren Throckmorton, "Abortion and mental health," Washington Times, January 21, 2005.
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060120-091648-6456r.ht...

David, H., " Retrospectives" From APA Task Force to Division 34," Population & Environmental Psychology Bulletin 1999, 25(3):2-3.
http://web.uvic.ca/~apadiv34/contents/PEPB/PEPB253.pdf

2006 Chicago Cubs Promotional Schedule

2006-02-08T18:19:07Z

I found this in a message board. Enjoy:

2006 Chicago Cubs Promotional Schedule

April 7: Home Opener and raising of the "Attendance Flag" to commemorate the magical 2005 season in which the Cubs were a bigger draw than any of their hated rivals. Not being raised: World Series Champions flag.

April 8: Presentation of the "Nice Neighborhood" rings to members of the 2005 squad in commemoration of their capturing of the city's heart by playing in such a cute little part of town. Not being presented: World Series Champions rings.

April 9: Home Opener Weekend festivities conclude with the Cardinals completing a sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley.

April 24: Win a Mark Prior autographed picture! 100 lucky fans will receive a 5 x 7" photo signed by the Cubs' 11-game winner!

April 25: Turn Back the Clock I with throwback jerseys, old-timey music and special guests and relive the magic of the Cubs' epic loss to the Florida Marlins in the 2003 NLCS.

May 13: Turn Back the Clock II with authentic 1984 uniforms jerseys and an even-more-authentic loss to the 1984 NLCS champion San Diego Padres.

May 14: Precious Moments figurine doll to the first 10,000 female fans*.

June 15: Kerry Wood bobblehead day. The first 10,000 fans will receive a bobblehead doll of the Northsiders' all-time leader in simulated strikeouts!

June 16: Turn Back the Clock III - Kick off a rematch of the Cubs' most recent World Series appearance as they welcome the Detroit Tigers and try to beat them for the first time since 1945.

June 30: Crosstown Amnesty Day - All managers and first 25 players on the White Sox active roster will receive a complimentary win.

July 1: Turn Back the Clock IV - 1906 World Series rematch. Authentic memorabilia will be given out to lucky Cub fans, as will an authentic 1906-style massacre of their lovable losers.

July 2: Lovable Loser Day - First 15,000 losers get to fall in love with the Cubs even more as they are handed yet another staggering loss at home by yet another area team that has built something more substantial than their own ticket-scalping empire**.

July 14: Harry Caray Day, featuring an all-star tribute to the late and beloved former White Sox and Cardinals announcer.

August 1: Nine Games Back Day - First 10,000 fans in attendance to correctly explain what "Nine Games Back" means receive a Cubs t-shirt***.

August 19: Playoff Day. Come out and root for the Cubs as they stand on the brink of elimination against the Cardinals with forty-one games still left to play in the season. First 20,000 fans wearing Cubs gear receive a White Sox t-shirt.

September 2: Turn Back the Clock V - Cubs fans, come out and party like it's 1989 in this showdown against the 1989 NLCS champion San Francisco Giants!

October 1: Final Home Game / Wait 'Til Next Year Day - First 39,538 fans are idiots.

(*) This one's real, believe it or not. Precious Moments? Come on.
(**) Wrigley Field Premium Ticketing Services, 3717 N. Clark St.
(***) Contest runs through the end of the 2006 season. Okay, 2007 season.

khouse @ 2006-01-24T17:08:00

2006-01-24T23:12:05Z

Your Political Profile

Overall: 35% Conservative, 65% Liberal

Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

I am not too surprised about the results although it does not take into account which of these issues take more precedent when I actually define myself politically.

If you were to ask me I would say I am a pro-life Democrat, which means for the most part I vote for Republicans.

Summer Vs. Fall

2006-01-10T18:37:46Z

Here is a letter I wrote the Chicago Tribune Sports editors today.

The other day the Chicago Cubs took out a full page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune with Wrigley Field in all its glory on beautiful sunny summer day. The advertisement read "Summer Starts February 24" referring to when individual tickets go on sale.

As a White Sox fan I can not but help to find this advertisement campaign funny. While the White Sox ads last year focused around their "Win. Or Die Trying" slogan the Cubs have gone down another route and decided to promote summer time fun at Wrigley. The differences in ad campaigns pretty much sums up for me what are the differences in the fan bases here in Chicago.

So go ahead Cub fans, enjoy summer.

I will be enjoying the fall much more though.

khouse @ 2006-01-09T19:21:00

2006-01-10T01:59:40Z

If I have not yet told you, or blogged about it, I am just about to start the application process for St. Joseph's College Seminary.

I want to clear up the common misconceptions people often have.

First of all, if I do choose to attend the college seminary it does not mean that I am committed to becoming a priest. St. Joe's is set up to help college level students better discern their call to the priesthood and help those enrolled become closer in their relationship with the Lord. It is not until the post-grad seminary where you are required to be serious and sure of your call to the priesthood.

The majority of questions concerning the possibility of me becoming a priest I get are from a more secular or non-religious perspective. It is always made it hard for me to give an answer that really does my faith justice when someone asks something like "Don't you want to have sex?"

All these questions are things I have dwelt upon but it comes down to my faith in God and that is a difficult thing for me to relate to a secularist.

I have realized I just leave myself unsatisfied if I am not true to my intentions. So I am no longer going to dilute my own reasons to make them more universal to people not of my own faith.

khouse @ 2006-01-06T11:00:00

2006-01-06T17:02:11Z

My Ipod has changed my life.

So This Is The New Year...

2006-01-02T06:13:50Z

Before we welcome in 2006, let us take a moment for reflection on 2005.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! WHAT WHAT WHAT!

I still get so much joy and happiness from saying that.

As far as 2006 is concerned I have many resolutions and hopes for this year.

I want to do really good in school.

I want to work a lot and save up a lot of money.

I want to read a lot of books.

I want to listen to a lot of new music.

I want to go to more museums and cultural events.

I want to meet new and interesting people.

I want to take my faith more seriously.

I want to be challenged and taken out of my comfort zone.

I want to get back to volunteering.

I want to STOP wasting my time.

I want to become a more responsible and mature person.

I'm sure I can I could go on for a long time but I got to get to bed.

Go Bears.

Top Songs of 2005

2005-12-31T05:26:52Z

These are my favorite songs of 2005 (in no particular order):

1. Swing Life Away by Rise Against
2. Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
3. Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
4. Banquet by Bloc Party
5. The Denial Twist by The White Stripes
6. Somebody More Like You by Nickel Creek
7. Everything is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack
8. King Without a Crown by Matisyahu
9. 10 Dollar by M.I.A.
10. Drive Slow by Kanye West
11. Dare by the Gorillaz
12. I Will Follow You Into Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
13. The Corner (remix) by Common, Mos Def, and Scarface
14. Talk by Coldplay
15. Girl by Beck
16. Brighter than Sunshine by Aqualung

17. Anything that Kelly Clarkson Sings

Add your own please...

My Top Albums of 2005

2005-12-29T16:25:29Z

1. Live at Stubb's by Matisyahu

2. Come on Feel the Illinoise! by Sufjan Stevens

3. Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap

4. Funeral by The Arcade Fire

5. Be by Common

6. Why Should This Fire Die? by Nickel Creek

7. Plans by Death Cab for Cutie

8. Silent Alarm by Bloc Party

9. Takk by Sigur Ros

10. Picaresque by The Decemberists

Honarable Mentions: Live In Phoneix EP by Tegan & Sara, Get Behind Me Satan by the White Stripes, Late Registration by Kanye West, Set Free by the American Analog Set, Demon Days by Gorillaz, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes and, Arular by M.I.A.

THIS IS SO COOL!

2005-11-29T19:05:54Z

In celebration of the Chicago White Sox winning the 2005 World Series, the Chicago Transit Authority unveiled a train wrapped in a White Sox design to honor the team at a ceremony on the afternoon of October 31, 2005 at Sox-35th station, adjacent to US Cellular Field.
Two train cars are wrapped in artwork featuring the Chicago White Sox name, the black diamond white sock logo, the World Champion phrase in bold, black lettering on the train's side, and the White Sox logo on its doors. In addition, the top of the 3200-series cars -- unit 3311-12 -- features the word "Chicago." The interior of the cars feature congratulatory car cards for the team's accomplishment.

The artwork is based on a wrap designed by Maryland-based M.T.H. Electric Trains for a Chicago White Sox O Gauge model train set that will be shipped in December. CTA® modified the design to reflect the team's status as world champions and M.T.H. will be incorporating the CTA® design in a two-car add-on set.

Back

2005-11-28T01:40:24Z

Right now I am writing this blog entry from my apartment. I am very happy to be back here even though there is not as much food as there is at my parent's house. I had been at my parents home since being back from Kairos and for whatever reason I feel that house sometimes brings out the worst in me. At least recently it has been that way.

Since returning from Kairos I have been doing some serious soul searching on what the future holds for me. Sometimes I feel I am so ADD about what I step I want to take next. I have come to realize that I need a more disciplined and structured setting if I am to return to college. Besides that, since being on Kairos, I feel my call to become a priest has gone from a quiet whisper to a clanging gong in the back of my head. I have contacted someone at the college seminary here in Chicago to get more information and to have someone to talk to about all this. I am still going to continue to look into other avenues but I feel after Kairos I can no longer go on ignoring what I have discerned to be a call to become a priest. This is a very difficult decision for me to even come to terms with but at the same time exciting.

Happy Thankstaking

2005-11-24T02:50:50Z

God bless us, everyone.

Kairos XI

2005-11-23T02:26:43Z

This past weekend I was blessed to be an adult leader on the St. Norbert/Our Lady of the Brook Kairos retreat. This was my fourth Kairos experience and everytime I have gained something new. This time around, more than any other Kairos, I feel was affirmed and found new faith in my own ability to minister to others. I just want to thank everyone involved with the retreat, from the leaders to those attending the retreat for the 1st time. You all showed me so much and taught me a great deal. You will all always be in my heart and prayers. Thank you.

khouse @ 2005-11-15T20:56:00

2005-11-16T03:27:49Z

I ended up going to 10:00 P.M. mass at Loyola with some St. Norbert's chums of mine on Sunday. I felt like crap pretty much the whole day but being the dogmatic Catholic I am I couldn't miss church so I went to the latest Catholic service I knew of. I enjoyed it, for the most part. I have never found a service on a college campus I have been completely impressed with though. I don't understand why it is so rare to find kneelers in campus Catholic Churches. Maybe the thought is they would like to make the hour the kids have in church as comfortable as possible so they come back. I'm against watering anything down for the sake of retention. But that all aside I enjoyed the mass and I enjoyed going with my friends at Loyola.

Do you ever wonder how people perceive you? Not just the obvious things but like a real unfiltered perception of who you are? I know I do all the time.

Friday I leave for my 4th Kairos. This year I will be taking upon the position of adult leader on the retreat. I am quite excited about this retreat and ask for all my loyal readers to keep me and the rest of the retreat team and people attending in your prayers.