Top 10 Electric Shavers Reviews In 2016

You can even rinse several new electric razors or utilize them in the shower, while some even have LED screens. Today, "high tech" is not limited to laptops and smartphones. If you want to reap the benefits of modern stubble-slaying technology, listed below are the top electric razor reviews for guys 2014 so that you can consider.

Electric Razor Reviews For Men

10. Remington R4-5150A Titanium Rotatry Shaver

With this Remington R4 Rotary Shaver which includes Pivot and Flex Technology, you may get a classic and close shave. This electric razor will contour towards the angles on the chin and jaw line simply because of its 3 independent flexing heads, whilst it will also reach areas which might be tough to shave, as if your neck, simply because of its pivoting neck.

Remington R4-5150A Titanium Rotatry Shaver

9. Remington F5-5800A Rechargeable Foil Shaver

This Remington Rechargeable Electric Foil Shaver is certain to give you professional-quality shaves in minimal passes. You can easily cut 72 hours worth of growth due to the integrated intercept trimmer. Similarly, the angles and contours of your respective face are going to be effortlessly accompanied by the surgical steel foils caused by its Pivot and Flex Technology.

Remington F5-5800A Rechargeable Foil Shaver

8. Wahl 7060-700 Bump-Free Shaver

Wahl 7060-700 Bump-Free Shaver is usually a splendid grooming solution which has a hypoallergenic gold foil that can prove to be ideal in case you have sensitive skin. The foil also makes certain that you get a bump free shave to your face, head and neck, while its extendable trimmer can provide an even closer and even more precise shave.

You can run it from cord or batteries.

Wahl 7060-700 Bump-Free Shaver

7. Wahl 5 Star 8547 Rechargeable Hypoallergenic Free Shaver

This Wahl Rechargeable Hypoallergenic Free Shaver can be an upgraded version in the Wahl 8061 5 Star Electric Shaver, which had been quite favored after it was first introduced. Since this is really a Deluxe Rechargeable Cordless Shaver, it ensures mobility and portability once it really is fully charged. The anti-allergenic gold foil with this shaver not just ensures hypoallergenic shaves but additionally bump free shaves also.

Wahl 5 Star 8547 Rechargeable Hypoallergenic Free Shaver

6. Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade Rechargeable

This Panasonic Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Shaver has Nanotech Blades that provide exceptional shaving. It is built with four cutting blades and also a quadruple foil, while Panasonic has expanded the cutting surface by 32%, consequently a better shave emerges with every stroke. Panasonic's linear motor powers the blades, in order that they shave including the thickest of beards.

Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade Rechargeable

5. Braun 3Series 340S-4 Wet & Dry Shaver

If you would like to shave your personal way, this Braun Wet & Dry Shaver will work both in and out in the shower. You can use this electric razor with shaving foam or gel to customize its performance for better comfort while shaving. The SensoFoil technology of the electric razor will glide across your epidermis for additional comfort and control.

Braun 3Series 340S-4 Wet & Dry Shaver

4. Panasonic ES8103S Men's 3-Blade (Arc 3)

This fully loaded dry/wet washable electric razor comes complete with innovative, smart features that deliver a cozy and remarkably close shave. This electric razor includes a 3-blade shaving system, which ensures maximum closeness and coverage, even for the parts within your face that happen to be most difficult to shave. The razor will float effortlessly simply because of its flexible, pivoting head.

Panasonic ES8103S Men's 3-Blade (Arc 3)

3. Philips Norelco PT730 Powertouch

The efficiency and longevity of classic Philips Norelco razors happen to be combined having a better looking design and improved functionality within this Philips Norelco Powertouch Electric Razor. Easy and quick cleaning beneath a running tap is manufactured possible from this electric razor, whilst you can enjoy the ease of mobility due to its cordless operation

2. Braun Series 7 - Pulsonic Shaver System

This 790cc advanced shaver through the Braun Series 7 may be designed to give the ultimate grooming experience. Revolutionary Pulsonic Technology is included on this electric shaver that captures a lot of hair in each stroke by making use of over 10,000 micro vibrations. Additionally, a cozy and thorough shave is that is generated by its powerful linear motor.

Braun Series 7 - Pulsonic Shaver System

1. Philips Norelco 1150X SensoTouch 2D

With an easy-to-hold, innovative design, this Philips Electric Razor has an exceptional shaving experience by employing GyroFlex 2D technology. A lithium-ion battery powers this electric razor for cordless portable operation, and it is user-friendly features such as SensoTouch 2D make shaving a pleasure rather than a chore. This electric razor can be excellent for travel as it a storage pouch can be included.

Philips Norelco 1150X SensoTouch 2D this one is kinda as equal as wahls electric shaver

If you are prepared to make the jump and convey a touch of modern-day technology in your shaving routine, you then should choose one in the above top electric razor for males. If you loved my article do share on your social media profile, thanks for reading.

2016 Nerve Movie For All Ages

I rarely go to the cinema and when I do, I'm very choosey because I want to see something especially action-packed or moving when I go to the big screen. There are movies that make great outtings to the cinema and others that are only worth watching at home after they've been released to DVD. Nerve was an excellent choice to revisit the theater after having not been in over a year! Here are my thoughts on the movie in further detail.

Many people love movies based on books and true stories. Nerve was based on a book I hadn't seen already, but assume contributed to its success. I personally loved the subject matter and cast most. Main character, Vee played by Emma Roberts lives in her social butterfly and adrenaline junkie best friend's shadow. Grieving her brother's death last summer and turning down her choice college to stay with her otherwise empty nesting mother makes for an unfulfilling existence, until Nerve. Nerve is a secret online video game made up of anonymous watchers who've paid for their membership and 'players' who earn money by completing the dares initiated by their following. The relevance of this movie theme rings too true with the recent Pokemon Go app obsession. The movie creatively sheds light on a few growing problems with 21st century youth, the heavy influence technology has on its users and the lengths that bullying can reach. I know what you're thinking, pre-circa 1990 viewers. Producers made sure their vision wasn't clouded by an overly sexual, uncomfortable or disgusting approach. Tastefully done through out, with a moral message you'd approve, I won't spoil its ending.

I felt that the characters had great chemistry and that there was time spent with casting, attention to detail, and joint collaboration, a real and current piece of art, unlike the common tripe that comes out of Hollywood these days. Like me, you might've been unaware of the brilliant artists behind the piece of work. Ariel Schulman, a co-director of Nerve, is Nev Schulman's older brother and was largely responsible for creating another of my favorites, Catfish The Documentary. Another favorite brother and familiar looking face joined the cast as well; Dave Franco, James Franco's younger brother. I didn't recognize that Machine Gun Kelly played the character of Ty, another pleasant surprise. You could almost create an entire Nerve themed Trivial Pursuit with the abundance of fun facts in this thriller.

As a 26 year old adult, I found it checked off all my boxes; romance, action, a clean ending and a good message. After telling Facebook I learned my niece loved the movie too, no surprise. And for those concerned it's too 21st century teeny boppy for them, it actually might make you reminiscent of older computer/technology sci-fi movies such as Not Quite Human and War Games. For parents and teachers it's a good refresher on the current slang and mentality of teens (individually and in groups) and a good conversation starter between them and their kids.

Ring - A Beautiful And Precious Jewelry Forever

Wearing ornaments is a very old trend, but still in vogue throughout the world. We often watch people wearing a vast collection of jewelry around us. When someone talks about ornaments then suddenly women strikes in one's mind because women are considered as a queen of the jewelry world. No doubt, women are the beautiful creation of the god and they look pretty even without any kind of ornaments. But, adornment adds spice to their natural beauty. They look more attractive and alluring after wearing tempting designer jewelries. The jewelry also helps to make the men admirable. Even, men are also fascinated by the most stylish adornments. They love to prefer different designer jewelries to look more handsome. The ornaments work efficiently to make a positive impression among all.

Well! All the adornments are very effective in order to groom up the personality of an individual. There is a number of ultimate jewelry available for men and women, whether it is about chains, earrings, bracelets or pendants. But, the attractive ring has maintained its unique and special position in the heart of many people.

The ring is the best jewelry for men as well as women. There are various auspicious occasions where adornments work in an effective manner like, anniversary party, birthday party, festival party, marriage party, etc. The marriage plays a vital role in one's life. If I am not wrong then marriage is one of the best and memorial moments in one's life, especially for a girl. She's been dreaming of this unforgettable moment since she was a child. She thinks even about her bangles, clothing, footwear, jewelry, etc. The most precious ornament about which she thinks a lot is the wedding ring. She literally imagines about a sparkling diamond ring on her ring finger. It is considered that the ring finger has direct connection with the heart. It is believed that it improves the love life of the married couples in an efficient manner. This ornament attracts men too. In other words, they also like to wear such fashion jewelry very much. In fact, this stylish and designer ornament gives a standard look to the men.

There are various types of metals like, Gold, Palladium, Platinum, Silver, Titanium, etc., which can be used to design alluring ring. A silver or gold ring studded with precious gemstones looks more tempting and fashionable too. After all, each stone has its own importance; either we talk about Aquamarine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz or Zircon. Many people like to wear the latest designer ring studded with different gemstones. Each gemstone has widely different properties. It is considered that wearing a gemstone ring according to the zodiac timeline is a sign of good fortune. It also provides healthy and wealthy lifestyle to an individual.

Types of Rings

Engagement: The engagement ring is one of the best ways to create a constant connection in between the two, whether they are physically together or not.

Wedding: The wedding ring is actually more than a ring for both women as well as for men. It is considered that it always reminds them about their unbreakable relation. This fashion accessory makes them feel the presence of each other, especially when they are alone.

Friendship: A friend is that special person to whom one can share everything. A ring makes the friendship of the two persons more pure and trustworthy.

Five Metals: This ring is the amalgam of five different kinds of metal, including, gold, silver, copper, tin and lead. It is believed that this metal accessory is very powerful and saves an individual from different mishaps.

Multi-finger: There are many kinds of ring and multi-finger ring is one of the most preferable among all. It is very famous because they are made for multiple fingers. It gives a stunning look to anybody from a fashion point of view.

Well! There are thousands of online shopping portals which offer a wide range of fashionable rings at reasonable cost. An individual can easily purchase different designer rings online, according to their choice by sitting at their home.

Seema Rawat is a skillful content writer. She likes reading as well as writing very much. She has been writing since last two years in different subjects. She has written many articles for Homeshop18 on different topics. Homeshop18 is one of the trustworthy e-shopping websites as it delivers a wide variety of quality and inexpensive wedding ring to the consumers.

Chanel Replica Handbags - Too Good to Be True?

When you say Chanel, it means glory. Many women envy other women who can grab an authentic Chanel handbag at the boutique without even battling her eyelash for the price. Envy grows even more when their striking outfits are finally complemented by that Chanel purchase in a chic, dramatic flair. And here you are just a sucker for all things glory!

Die no more! These days, you can get the same glory of designer bags with the release of replica handbags. And yes, there is an ultimate replica for Chanel, without the worry of a mind-blowing tag price and the quality at stake. Replicas are often termed as fakes. Never mind the term. Let them call it as they want to. The thing is the replicas or fakes are now the biggest hit makers in the fashion industry. What is not to be obsessed about replicas against designer originals? Dear, they are almost as original as the real thing.

What is with these replicas, anyway? If you have not seen a replica of Chanel, they are completely similar with the originals. They have the same logos, colors, designs, and styles than any Chanel bag that comes out in the market. And there is no realizing that the bag in front of you is merely a copycat.

This happens because Chanel replica producers have taken into consideration all the aspects or details that surround a real Chanel brand. They take into account the distances on which the logo is marked on, the exact colors of real Chanel products, and definitely, the style is counted with it. Apart from that, the quality of replicas is 100% reliable. Despite not having the authentic material for the bag, replica producers make it sure that theirs is topnotch leather-based material that is still similar to the original bag's appearance.

With the recession that most Western countries are suffering from these days, it is not anymore practical to even shell out cash for thousands of dollars worth of designer bags that you will only use once or twice in a party or any other occasion for that matter. Though you continue to dispute the fact that designer bags give you glory wherever you go, you can always have that same glory with the replicas - less the price, of course! You can still match that amazing black dress outfit with a sleek Chanel handbag, the replica way!

Authentic Chanel designs come and go. To keep up with the trend is quite impossible if you remain to stick with the originals. Purchasing one after another one is like robbing the bank everyday or swiping your cards like there is no tomorrow . The next thing you know, you have all the original Chanel bags in the world, but you have no decent food left on the table. What is more pathetic than that? It is better to walk your way with a replica at hand, but continue to live in comfort and grace than to live in grace alone.

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A College Boy

My college classes start tomorrow morning. I'll have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and soon I will have a part-time job on the alternating days. This is not to mention that I also plan to have a social life of some sort! This all adds up to the probability of much less blogging which will probably be restricted to weekends or the very limited free time I'll have through the week. And since I already have responsibilities that I have to meet at Sollicitudo Rei Socialis and the Christian Alliance for Progress, this blog may not see more than a post or two per week, at the most. I just wanted to make sure all of my readers know that I won't be around as much.

As for school, I'm really excited about it! I'm majoring in political science, which I think is a pretty good fit for me. I would appreciate your prayers as I start this new chapter of my life.

Ohio's 6th District

http://www.charliewilson.com/blox.asp (D-Bridgeport) is running for Congress in Ohio's 6th congressional district, a seat that's been vacated by Rep. Ted Strickland (D), who is running for governor. St. Sen. Wilson has repeatedly been endorsed by http://www.ohiolife.org/, which adds a twist to the usual debate between pro-life Republican Catholics on the one hand and pro-choice Democratic Catholics on the other. Of course his opponent, St. Rep. Chuck Blasdel (R-East Liverpool), has also been repeatedly endorsed by Ohio Right to Life.

Confession: Good for the Soul

"Confession is good for the soul." Interesting piece of trivia: This often repeated quote is actually an English proverb from the mid-17th century.

I went to confession before Mass yesterday for the first time in about a year. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't intimidated; I've built up a lot of sins to confess over the past year, both mortal and venial. But it was still very liberating to hear the words of absolution and to know that my sins, no matter how grievous or how minor they may have been, are all forgiven. It didn't take long for me to commit a plethora of venial sins after Mass. Just a few minutes after Mass I was overly critical of a decision that my diocesan bishop has made. While we were at Wal-Mart shopping for school supplies later, I was visited by the ogling demon and I invited him in for a cup of tea. And I concluded the Wal-Mart adventure by having an argument with my mother that was at least partially my fault. This all occurred within two or three hours after Mass. For me, it certainly drove home St. Paul's point:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Why do we "rejoice" on the Fourth Sunday of Lent? After Laetare Sunday, the journey to the Cross begins in earnest. And yet we rejoice. We rejoice because God is bringing us out of our exile, just as he brought the Jews out of exile in Babylon (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:14-23; Psalm 137). We rejoice because "God, who is rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4), has saved us by his grace through his gift of faith. We rejoice because Christ has been lifted up on the Cross for us "so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). We rejoice because "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins." We rejoice because, like the prodigal son, the Father comes to meet us and to forgive us while we are "still a long way off" (Luke 15:20). We rejoice because even though there is horror in the Cross, the Lord Jesus endured that horror for us.

If you haven't been to confession for a while, you don't know what you're missing. You're missing your chance to run back to the Father, who loved us so much that he sent his own Son to meet us on the Cross while we are "still a long way off." Confession won't make us instantly perfect; it's not a magic formula to turn us into saints overnight. It's our opportunity to turn back to the Father and say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers" (Luke 15:20-21). But we know in the sacrament of reconciliation that the Father is running toward us while we are still so far away, and that he is waiting to celebrate a feast with us in the Eucharist.


"Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment in her consoling breasts." Amen. Let us find contentment in the Church which offers us Christ's forgiveness and enables us to receive him as true food and true drink, the nourishing Lord who, little by little, turns sinners into saints.

What I'm Reading

I finished reading Truly Our Sister and By Little and By Little some time ago, although I didn't get a chance to write reviews for either of them. The former did impact posts I wrote for Sollicitudo Rei Socialis and the Christian Alliance for Progress, and the latter also inspired another post I wrote for the Christian Alliance for Progress. I suppose you could read those posts to get a glimpse of what I got out of these two books.

I've just finished reading God's Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church by George Weigel, and now I'm working on Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings edited by Marcus Borg (who, thankfully, has very little to say and leaves the talking to Jesus and Buddha).

Regarding God's Choice, I think it's safe to say that there are a number of things I don't agree with George Weigel about. Perhaps the most notable among these disagreements is George Weigel's conservative interpretation of the just war doctrine and my near-absolute opposition to all war (even that which meets the criteria of the just war doctrine). With that said, though, I respect Weigel as a historian and as a biographer, and he didn't let me down with this new book about Pope Benedict XVI and the direction his pontificate could go in.

I think what I took away from Weigel's book is the profound sense that God's hand guided the death of Pope John Paul the Great, the interregnum period, and the conclave. For instance, did you know that Pope John Paul died after celebrating Mass for the Vigil of Divine Mercy -- the liturgical feast based on the apparitions to St. Faustina Kowalska, a liturgical feast he instituted based upon apparitions to a Polish saint he canonized? And did you know that Pope Benedict XVI was elected to the Chair of St. Peter on the Memorial of Pope St. Leo IX, the last German pope before Pope Benedict? Even skeptics would have to admit that this confluence of events is too astonishing to be dismissed as mere coincidence.

Another crucial thing that I took away from Weigel's book is Pope Benedict XVI's personality, which is remarkably like my own. As a youth, he was quiet but passionate about life; shy, introverted, and intellectual. He hated sports because he was no good at them, and he was overjoyed when his school moved to a place that was more conducive to outdoor activities like hiking (which I also enjoy) instead of team sports. As much as I loved Pope John Paul the Great, we had little in common: he was charismatic, he was an actor, he was an extrovert, he loved sports as a youth and even as an older man. He was many things I'm not. While I loved Pope John Paul II and while I've struggled with the election of Pope Benedict XVI, I'm beginning to realize that Pope Benedict is in many ways more "my pope" than his predecessor ever was. Now that I've decided to let myself, I find that I can relate to this pope better than I ever thought I could, and it's helping me to overcome the negative feelings I had for him before. If for nothing else, I appreciate Weigel's book for this reason.

- - -

Note: Yes, both the adorable little boy and the handsome young priest (with a bad hair day!) are Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). I know this may come as a shock to some who believe that the pope came up from the seventh circle of hell as a superhuman (subhuman?) "Great Deceiver." Deep breaths!

Darth Benedict, Redux

From Gerald Augustinus (The Cafeteria is Closed): Apparently, this week must have been Hate the Pope Week and someone forgot to send me the memo. This time it's a column in the San Francisco Chronicle written by a former Catholic, Gustavo Arellano, who apparently could deal with the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Diocese of Orange but who couldn't take the election of Pope Benedict XVI to the Chair of St. Peter. Arrelano just couldn't deal with the election of a man who "represents a step back into the darkness, away from the light of ecumenism, of giving the faithful a greater voice in running the church. Away from a church of love."

Really? A step away from ecumenism? Perhaps Arellano is referring to a different pope; surely he is not referring to the pope who mentions Christian unity in just about every address, speech, and homily he delivers, who has made ecumenism one of the cornerstones of his pontificate from the very beginning. Are we really moving away from "giving the faithful a greater voice in running the church"? It's true that Pope Benedict XVI (and, with him, most Catholics) affirm the hierarchical nature of the Church. We are not a congregationalist Church, nor are we a democratic Church. Pope Benedict XVI does not believe that truth can be made subject to a majority vote, and neither do most Catholics. But I don't think it's fair to say that Pope Benedict XVI is against lay involvement in the Church, even in its governing structures. This is the same pope who was recently praised by the press for talking about opening new doors to women in the Church's institutional structures. And what about that "church of love" thing? Well, Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical was titled Deus Caritas Est -- God is Love.

Given the tone of his article, it seems that Arellano is the one who has abandoned the concept of a "church of love." Two of my favorite descriptions of the pope are "Great Deceiver" and "shape-shifter," descriptions which lead one to wonder if Arellano has found a new home in one of the fundamentalist Christian churches which still refer to the Vatican as the Whore of Babylon and the pope as the Anti-Christ. If Satan is the father of lies, what does it imply when one calls Pope Benedict XVI the "Great Deceiver" in capital letters, as if this is a title he should list along with "Supreme Pontiff" and "Bishop of Rome"?

If you couldn't already tell, Arellano's column is long on vitriol but short on facts. One cannot be sure how many errors are Arellano's and how many belong to the book he's reviewing which was written by Robert Blair Kaiser, a book referred to by Arrelano as the "gospel" of disgruntled and former Catholics who either have left or are thinking about leaving the Church over the election of Pope Benedict XVI. Kaiser apparently launches a full out assault against the Church by chronicling "the major schisms, popes, reforms and problems", "the various maneuverings, murders and malaise" -- "enough to make any Catholic turn Episcopalian." His answer to all of these problems? Catholics standing up and claiming "ownership, and, just as important, citizenship" in the Church. Funny, I was under the distinct impression that Jesus Christ is the sole owner of the Church, and I didn't think that the People of God were citizens of a state, or members of a social club, but parts of the Mystical Body of Christ. For us to stand up and claim "ownership" of the Church for ourselves is for us to become the guillotine severing the Head from the Body, removing Christ from the Church. Is that what Arrelano and Kaiser want?

After subtly (or perhaps not so subtly) declaring that the Catholic Church should set itself ablaze and rise from the ashes as Christianity Lite, Arrelano and Kaiser go on to demonize Pope Benedict XVI and make him the scapegoat for all of their complaints in a kind of unholy parody of Yom Kippur. Reading the column further, we are told that Pope John Paul the Great was some kind of idiot, a puppet controlled by Cardinal Ratzinger.

It was Cardinal Ratzinger, after all, who "put a clamp on the liberation theology movement" -- even though Pope John Paul the Great himself was rather outspoken against liberation theology, working to undermine (for instance) the Sandinista government of Nicaragua which was often supported by the liberation theology movement. Both Pope John Paul the Great and Cardinal Ratzinger were critical of liberation theology because it was and is Marxist ideology which makes use of Christianity to further its agenda; not because they did not believe in the liberation of the poor in Latin America. Both Pope John Paul the Great and Cardinal Ratzinger expressed their strong support for human liberation, but they believed that this liberation must be firmly rooted in the Gospel, in the Cross and Resurrection of Christ. They did not believe in a false liberation which cooperates with and at times endorses atheistic communism.

Moving on. While Pope John Paul the Great "made nice with other religions," Cardinal Ratzinger was undermining "his boss in 2000 by publishing Dominus Iesus, a 2000 document that stated that 'there is no salvation outside the Church.'" Oh, the fallacies! These are the reasons that I was so unhappy, miserable really, with Catholic liberalism. It must first be pointed out that if Pope John Paul the Great's work with other religions was being undermined, then it was he who was doing the undermining: he authorized Dominus Iesus with a special authorization, referred to as in forma specifica, meaning that he invested it with his own personal apostolic authority instead of the general authority of the Roman Curia. It must also be pointed out that the quote attributed to Dominus Iesus in this column cannot actually be found in the document. "There is no salvation outside the Church" -- this is not a quote from Dominus Iesus. One would think that Arrelano (or Kaiser, if the quote came from him) could have actually read the document before trying to speak authoritatively about it.

Although I have been rather critical, I actually feel bad for Arrelano (having not read the book and knowing virtually nothing about him, I don't know yet if I feel bad for Kaiser). I have hated Pope Benedict XVI this much. I have participated in the unholy parody of Yom Kippur which loads the burden of my own problems onto the back of the pope and sends him off into the desert with them. Some would say, given my own past remarks about the pope, that I have no right to criticize Arrelano. But it's precisely because of my own past remarks that I can't continue to let these kind of things go. The hate fest against Pope Benedict XVI, which is being perpetuated by the dying liberal movement in the Church and by a media hungry for controversy but bored with facts, has to stop. Pope Benedict XVI was elected by at least a two-thirds majority of Cardinal Electors. He did not appoint himself pope, the Cardinal Electors did that; he did not appoint himself prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope John Paul the Great did that; he did not appoint himself bishop, Pope Paul VI did that; he did not appoint himself an expert at the Second Vatican Council, the Archbishop of Cologne did that; he did not ordain himself a priest, the Archbishop of Munich-Freising did that.

It's time for Arrelano and so many others to come to terms with the fact that their real problem is not with Pope Benedict XVI, but with the Catholic Church. It is a problem with Pope John Paul the Great, Pope John Paul I, Pope Paul VI, even the much-idolized Bl. Pope John XXIII, and with all of their predecessors before them. It is a problem with innumerable cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful. It is a problem perhaps with God himself: with a Father who loves too much to let his children trade freedom for anarchy; with a Son who loves too much to let the lost sheep wander off into oblivion; with a Holy Spirit who loves too much to leave us in the sad condition we're in. But we want our anarchy, we want our oblivion, we want our spiritual malady. We are angry that God will not let us have it, that he will not give up on us, and we hate him for it -- but rather than admitting that hatred, we transplant it, we redirect it. We don't want to think that we hate God, that we hate the Church, that we hate the bishops, that we hate the cardinals, that we hate Pope John Paul the Great. And so we just hate Pope Benedict XVI, because it's easier somehow.

I pray that God will open the eyes of all who hate him in his servant to the servants of God, as he has opened my own, so that they can turn away from their hatred and live with him in the love that he's still offering from the Cross. He is Love, and we can have him if we want him.

Woo Hoo, 22

Today was my birthday -- I'm 22. It was a pretty good day; nothing spectacular, but the really exciting birthdays are 16 (driving), 18 (voting), and 21 (drinking). The next exciting birthday will be my 25th, when I will no longer be eligible for the draft. After that, I'm pretty sure birthdays just get depressing!