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Zinfandel: The good, the bad and the whatever
I don't think I've devoted an entire blog posting to Zinfandel, but I did a Zin flight yesterday that put me in touch with my inner Zinman, which is to say, it resurrected years of thoughts about this frustrating, inconsistent, loveable, problematic, unique and sometimes great variety of wine.
I can't recall the first Zinfandel I ever drank, but the first I ever took a note on was Wine and the People's 1976 bottling from Sonoma County. I opened it at the age of seven (no, not when I was seven, when the wine was seven). It had cost me all of $10 when I bought it, in 1979. I liked it a whole lot. The alcohol was 13.5%, and it was absolutely dry.
In the 1980s, Zinfandel was undergoing review by the then famous critics, who were declaring that it was actually a great wine, California's only authentic variety. I took them at their word. But by the time I started to actually review wines, I was over my Zinfatuation. Too often the wines were overripe and pruney, with high alcohol and residual sugar. This problem was particularly acute in the Sierra Foothills and in certain Sonoma bottlings. When Paso Robles Zinfandel began to appear on the scene, in the 1990s, it too joined the parade of awkward, sweet freaks.
I always thought Napa Valley produces the most claret-like Zins, that being a compliment, although if you were a purist, you could object that they were too elegantly tailored. They were made to resemble Cabernet Sauvignon, and did, but didn't reflect Zinfandel's truest nature, which is or should be rustic, like a country cousin who likes Wayne Newton, wipes his nose in the napkin at the table and, all too legitimately, makes fun of citified ways. This high estimation of Napa in my mind is, however, a construct of the sort wine reviewers often form without checking the facts. For, if I revert to my database at Wine Enthusiast, I see that I scored 24 Sonoma Zinfandels higher over the years than anything from Napa Valley (which in this case was Rubicon's 2007 Edizione Pennino Zinfandel, from Rutherford). The reason why I think of Sonoma Zinfandel being not as high as Napa Zinfandel is because, on average, there are far more bad Sonoma Zins than from Napa. But that's mainly because there are waaay more Zins from Sonoma than Napa, which distorts one's county-wide perception.
It's not likely I would ever buy a Zinfandel, were I a normal wine consumer. I can't think why I would. That's my guilty secret. When I'm of split mind regarding Zinfandel, I always suggest pairing with barbecue. If you understand my reviews you know this is a code word that means, basically, "This isn't the greatest wine ever, and in fact it's a little rustic. But then again, if you're grilling burgers, you're not particularly fussy." Such wines have their place in our lives. But Zinfandel for me is a little too country cousin. I actually have such cousins, and I like seeing them every few years. But please, not more than that.
The highest score I ever gave a Zinfandel was 96 points, which was for Hartford Court's 2007 Highwire Zin, from Russian River Valley. It cost $55. That's a lot of money to pay for a Zin, and I wouldn't. Of those other 24 Sonoma Zins I've given high scores to over the years, the cheapest was Joseph Swan's 2003 Lone Redwood Ranch, which back in 2007 when it was released cost $25. That was an anomaly. In yesterday's tasting that I just referred to, Ravenswood really starred. It is gratifying that Constellation, which owns Ravenswood, so far has kept quality high; we'll have to see if that remains the case. On the other hand, I have to admit to being disappointed by the Ridges, which have been too alcoholic and sweet. I hope that's just a lapse on their part, rather than a permanent degradation of the wines.
All this makes me yearn for that Wine and The People of olden days. I wish I could retaste it now and see if I thought as highly of it as I did in 1983. Would I find a 13.5% Zinfandel green and leafy? Back then I called it "fruity and elegant" and I don't believe my palate has changed that much over the years. How they managed to get a Zinfandel that low in alcohol that good, I don't know.
Get thee to Lodi, my man! 🙂 Some amazing older vines there, with fruit going into stuff like Gnarly Head because the grape prices are so low (for now, anyway…).
The Amador/El Dorado Wineries(Sierra Foothills)have some truly wonderful representations of the varietal. The venues are considerably less stuffy than their Sonoma/Napa counterparts and the scenery no less impressive.
There is also a bit of history in the region, as some vineyards go back to the days of prospecting, and a lot of new technology, as some wineries are mere months old.
I tend to agree about Zin being a bit too blowsy and overblown — reminds of Anna Nicole, especially the latter years.
I was impressed with the last batch of Ravenswood vineyard designate wines that I tasted (IIRC it was the 06 vintage); did you have a chance to taste those at your recent tasting? The Teldeschi and Barricia were particularly impressive.
Steve, I definitely know what you mean about Zins being too overdone (Fruity and Alcoholic). That said, many of the Sierra Foothills wineries have "pulled it back" a bit and are crafting more balanced efforts true to the terrior of the ava. If you haven't been up to Amador in a while you should check it out and see what I mean. Old stand bys like Easton and Cooper make some nice Zin (Noceto too) and even newer wineries like Andis and Helwig are making a zin with a lighter hand and much less burn on the palate and gloppity gloop fruitiness.
Steve – I recently enjoyed a 1976 Dehlinger Zinfandel that was off-the-charts delicious. It had tons of fruit left (blueberries!) and this wonderful slate-like quality. The stated alcohol? Just 12.3%! And not green or leafy at all. (photographic evidence of the bottle: http://twitpic.com/5hiblm)
One word: Turley
I also greatly enjoy zin from Dutton Goldfield and Williams Selyem, both renowned pinot masters. Different than Turley (and from each other) but very good in my not so humble opinion.
I don't drink much Zin myself but was delighted by Ravenswood's Zin two weeks ago too. Mayby it was the setting.
If you miss the People's Zin, go down to Oakbarrel, I am sure Homer can find an old bottle around. 😉
Hi Steve – thanks for your persepective regarding Zinfandel and bringing attention this variety.
Living in the cosmic epicenter of Zinfandel here in the Dry Creek Valley, I can tell you first hand there are some really passionate producers of the variety. Zinfandel at its best expresses a true sense of place. When I taste a blind flight of Zinfandels, more often than not, I can pick up those wines from the Dry Creek Valley. The redish soils of the valley give our wines an earthy, dusty complexity, that is yes rustic, but also fascinating to taste.
I would argue that Zinfandel deserves the same respect as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon or any of the other more "classic" varietals. Yes, it can be big and jammy and maybe a tad sweet at times but Zinfandel has earned its reputation as America's wine grape and for that we should all be thankful.
Hi Steve,
We enjoy wines from around the world and we were basically weaned on Zinfandel.
We take tremendous pride and satisfaction from growing it, crafting it, sharing it, telling its colorful stories, and keeping the old California tradition going.
Every wine category has its disappointments but California Zinfandel's, quirkiness, deliciousness, and people-pleasing nature earns it a place on our roster of the world's most loveable wines.
we try to take our amador zin grapes in at 25 brix maximum…..
I think some of your negative memories of sierra foothills zins should be relegated to the past…..
most the zins up here are well balanced with ph's in the 3.4-3.5 range with low 14 alcohols………..
Steve, I'm really pleased that you liked my wines. In your review, I hope that you will state clearly what it was that you liked about them. Critics, arguably to some extent, drive wine style. Those big, oaky sweet wines from the Sierra Foothills of the late 1970's and early 80's, as well as many of the Zins from the early to mid 90's received high scores and ovations from critics who seemed, at that moment in the cycle, to love big, rich, frequently over -the -top Zinfandels that made a statement. These obsessions influenced consumer behavior, the direction of wine style and retail sales behavior. Given your comments in previous writings concerning the current trend of some wine critics to be obsessed by alcohol content, I was a little surprised to hear you opining for the good old days of lower alcohol. I personally think that residual sugar may be an equal problem and frequently goes hand in hand with high alcohol. Given current consumer trends associated with sweet reds like Cupcake and Apothic Red, it seems unlikely that R.S. will be going away any time soon. For the record, I think that 13.5% alcohol is where Zinfandel starts to be good, especially in drought years like 1976. Over 15% alcohol with residual sugar and heavy oak is where is starts to go bad. So Steve, please tell us what you like about the Zins you like, and can score highly- you may start a movement!
I find it unfortunate that your mind has pigeonholed Zinfandel as rustic and analogous to someone's country cousin. You may, of course, feel the same way about the wines of Northern Italy or the Rhone (Cousin Luigi and Cousin Marcel?). If you do, we are in very good company. Zinfandel certainly has the capacity to be as interesting , complex and stylish as those wines. Perhaps you find the European countryside to be more romantic, and therefore, less rustic than the countryside of California?
By the way, a $10 bottle of 1976 Zinfandel in 1979 was a fairly expensive wine. Ravenswood single vineyard wines, the only kind that existed then, sold for $7.50, which is about what a deeply discounted bottle of Ravenswood Vintners Blend sells for today. Depending on which index is used, you were paying between $30 and $50 in today's dollars for that fine bottle of Wine and the People. That wine was definitely a lovely wine for the people and well worth the outrageous price.
Any notes on Zinfandel from Storybook in the 90's Steve. High up in Napa Valley Dr. Jerry Seps and his wife focused on claret style wines that I remember as lighter and elegant, a departure from the Zin style of the time. B.
You gave me inspiration to start the day. I preferred my 1975 Wine And The People Zinfandel. I am still trying to provide claret style Zins from Sonoma Mnt. & Mendocino, mostly to home winemakers.
Am now battling for recognition for the vibrant wines of the Columbia Gorge AVA.
Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed the 1976, I may have a bottle or two in the cellar.
While i will admit to enjoying a blowsy, port like Zin every now and again (a natural pairing with ribs), I also quite enjoy the more structured versions — both from the field blends like Bedrock and the "Zhone" blends like Linne Caldo (Zin + syrah,mourvedre, petite sirah etc). I think that both of these concepts represent the future of Zin in California
I am glad that you met the country cousin thing as a positive atribute. For too long "rustic" and associations like country cousin have been used to Damn Zinfandel with faint praise. I once tasted with Michelle Rolland who found Zinfandel entire too rustic on the palate. This, of course, was stated in the best of gallic highbrow demeanor. Translation, Zinfandel is not Cabernet. Mon Dieu!
I agree with you about Zinfandel. I work in a tasting room in Napa and we sell one old-vine Zin. I just say it goes great with Cheetos. That is about it for me. Wouldn't drink Zin if I were paid to do it, except some of the Ridge Zins.
Thanks for the commentary, Steve. I hope your writing doesn't spoil all the fun that I have up in Amador, being the only one at the tasting bar about half the time. Too many favorable reviews will kill the place.
I tend to agree except, good grief…have you been to Truett Hurst recently? Lambert Bridge? I tasted an unreleased Zin recently that drank like a pretty and peppy Pinot but was… I won't even tell the ABV. And yet no love, still, for the decidedly unblowsy Zins of say, Harvest Moon? As a category, there are a lot of dogs, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the clear focus of more recent efforts.
Napa Zin is nice indeed, and boring, unless we're talking about Storybook.
Once again, you have a touch for exciting the natives. I am coming to admire you as a Machiavellian blogger. But I'd rather have my ass rubbed with a brick than send you one of my wines. Bunt
As I am in agreement with most here, I will simply add another Zin to the list of acceptable offerings. I find the Zins at Woodenhead to be particularly expressive and authentic. Check them out. I think more of the lean-style Zins will be made now, given the zeitgeist.
I grew up in Europe and tested completely different wines growing up but I fell in love with Zinfandel when I tried Brown Zin from Chiles Valley in Napa almost 10 years ago. I have been looking for good Zins ever since. I found Storybook and Green and Red among my favorites too. I just opened a 2005 Brown Chiles Valley Zin (I paid $36 for it in 2006) and it was a big wine with lots of layers and a kick of being rebellious but elegant and velvety smooth. I called it "my naughty inner twin" not "my cousin" and that was the appeal. No mater how highly publicized Napa Cabs are, for my palate, they rarely and with only few exceptions win over French Bordeaux. Off course, price point is also an important measurement but most good Cal Cabs cost no less than $50 per bottle or more, many can only last in a bottle for 10 years and then go off the cliff. Storybook Zin/Petit Bordeaux blend is a great wine that will cost you today $40 per bottle and will only improve over the next 10 years. Green & Red is $23. A good Zin can be paired with so much more than hamburgers…. So, why are Zins overlooked and snubbed? Are we all here so refined that our palate only accepts Pinots and Cabs or are we simply going with the flow and liking what we are sold and told to like?


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Developers at Google have released an experimental tool—for Gmail and other Web-based services—that's designed to streamline the highly cumbersome task of sending and receiving strongly encrypted e-mail.
On Tuesday, the company unveiled highly unstable "alpha" code that in theory allows people to use the Google Chrome browser to generate encryption keys, encrypt e-mails sent to others, and decrypt received e-mails. Dubbed End-to-End, the Chrome extension also allows Chrome users to digitally sign and verify digital signatures of e-mails sent through Gmail and other services. The code implements a fully compliant version of the OpenPGP standard, which is widely regarded as providing virtually uncrackable encryption when carried out correctly.As Ars documented last year, the problem with just about every e-mail encryption software available today is they require much more time and effort than sending plain-text mail. Microsoft's Outlook application, for instance, frequently crashes when working with the open-source GnuPG encryption suite. Some Outlook users, including this reporter, also experience problems when receiving encrypted e-mail from Mac users, since the encrypted messages are included in an attachment, rather in the body. End-to-End is intended to ease such burdens.
"While end-to-end encryption tools like PGP and GnuPG have been around for a long time, they require a great deal of technical know-how and manual effort to use," Stephan Somogyi, a Google product manager for security and privacy, wrote in a blog post published Tuesday. "To help make this kind of encryption a bit easier, we're releasing code for a new Chrome extension that uses OpenPGP, an open standard supported by many existing encryption tools."
The blog post and the accompany code release were quick to point out that End-to-End is not yet ready for general use. That's because it's extremely hard to create reliable encryption ciphers and it's even harder to securely implement them in software. Security experts are rightly extremely cautious of new algorithms and implementations until they have been vigorously tested by a large number of users over an extended period of time. Google has expanded the scope of its bug bounty programs to offer cash rewards for reports of exploitable security bugs in End-to-End.
"The End-to-End team takes its responsibility to provide solid crypto very seriously, and we don't want at-risk groups that may not be technically sophisticated—journalists, human-rights workers, et al.—to rely on End-to-End until we feel it's ready," a note included with the code release stated. "Prematurely making End-to-End available could have very serious real world ramifications."
At the moment, there's good reason to suspect End-to-End may have extremely serious flaws that could completely compromise an end user's security. Private keys are stored in memory unencrypted and are controlled with code based on JavaScript, a programming language that has suffered its share of vulnerabilities in the past. JavaScript crypto is also subject to so-called side-channel attacks, which ferret out private keys by measuring power consumption, electromagnetic emanations, timing differences, or other indirect channels of a crypto engine. Some of the risk may be minimized by a design in End-to-End that wraps in-memory private keys inside the Chrome security sandbox, but until that protection has been thoroughly tested, it shouldn't be relied on to prevent other apps from being able to pluck out and compromise these crown jewels. Even still, Tuesday's alpha release has already sparked interest among cryptographers and privacy advocates. End-to-End holds great promise.
Separately on Tuesday, Google issued a transparency report that estimated as much as 50 percent of e-mails sent between Gmail and other e-mail providers aren't encrypted by the transport layer security (TLS) protocol as they travel over the Internet. Google servers have supported such SMTP-TLS encryption for years, but the offering is meaningful only if both services provide it.
According to American Civil Liberties Union technologist Chris Soghoian, ISP Comcast is weeks away from deploying server-to-server e-mail encryption on its network.

subset: commoncrawl


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Air Canada
iPhone App
Air Canada introduces a new application, specifically designed for Apple iPhone users, that makes tracking your shipments easier than ever!
- My Cargo: Track all your cargo traveling on Air Canada and Jazz flights from a single location.
- Cargo Schedule: Find flight and truck schedules from origin to destination for your cargo.
- Cargo Notifications: Subscribe to receive cargo notifications directly to your text enabled mobile device or email.
- Track Cargo: Track cargo traveling on Air Canada and Jazz flights.
- My Flights: Track all your Air Canada flights from a single location.
- My Messages: My Messages is the link between you and Air Canada Cargo while you're on the go. You'll receive all your Air Canada messages in one inbox.
- Find Flight: Find any Air Canada or Jazz operated flight.
How to download the app:From your iPhone
From your iPhone's home screen, tap the "App Store" logo
- Tap the Search tab within the App Store
- In the Search box, type "Air Canada", then tap "Search"
- Select Air Canada from the results list
- Tap the "Free" button, the button will change to an "Install" button
- Tap the "Install" button
- Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, then tap "OK"
- The Air Canada App will then download and install automatically on your iPhone
- Click the image below to launch iTunes* and download the Air Canada iPhone App
- Click "Get App"
- Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, then click "Get"
- The App will download to your iTunes.
- Once the download is complete, sync your iPhone to install the App on your iPhone.
*Don't have iTunes? Download iTunes.


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The Gangnam Style! sensation is all over the internet, complete with parodies that both honor and mock the original. This first video is the original, which in a few short months received well over 200 million views on YouTube and shows no signs of slowing down. PSY is a legitimate star, appearing on the Today Show, with Ellen DeGeneres and Saturday Night Live to name a few.
This video is flashy, arrogant and decadent, but in a self-referential style. The goofiness isn't just unintentional comedy, but part of the intended critique of the song. Still, the playful absurdity has made this a perfect target for parodies (including Saturday Night Live), and it's infectiousness is difficult to explain or quantify still Korean rap has never had such an impact on the global scene (who ever never of ANY Korean rapper before this?). My cultural geography class has been discussing the meaning behind this.
Questions to Ponder: Considering the concept of cultural diffusion, what do we make of this phenomenon? What cultural combinations are seen in this? How has the technological innovations changed how cultures interact, spread and are replicated?
This first parody from the SNL crew highlights the inexplicable, highly-infectious nature of a viral pop culture sensation.
The University of Oregon parody put in their own impressive performance:
The Haka performed by the New Zealand rugby team (the "All Blacks") is itself a combination of traditional and popular culture. Here in this photo mashup, it gets blended into other cultural motifs.
This next one is a dramatic departure from the other parodies, since Korean culture has received so much attention, those creating this parody have taken the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the political oppression in North Korea. Gangnam Style here is a platform for greater global awareness.
In addition to the cultural impact of this video, it is important to look at the economic context of South Koren Music industry (as this NPR podcast nicely does).
Now to the original context of the video. PSY's continual reference to Gangnam, is important: it's an affluent neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea. The entire video can be seen as mocking reference to the disproportionate social influence that the neighborhood has in South Korea. The infographic below notes that Gangnam a neighborhood of only 15 square miles, accounts for 7% of the NATIONAL economy. The most elite university in South Korea, Seoul University has 41% of its students coming from Gangnam. Major corporations such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai are headquartered there. An article in the Atlantic also examined the subtext within this video. Does this change geographic context change our interpretation of Gangnam Style and the intention of PSY's work?
For additional context, here is the full infographic.


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Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
Tridentine Judaism
is alive and well at the
"smells and bells"
Saint John Cantius in
Chicago, Illinois
"smells and bells"
Saint John Cantius in
Chicago, Illinois
Some of the priests at Saint John Cantius were invited to The Art Institute of Chicago for a viewing of Marc Chagall's blasphemous painting, the "White Crucifixion". They were so delighted to see Francis' favorite painting that they posted photos of themselves viewing it on St. John Cantius' social media accounts at facebook and at twitter. Surprised? We at Call Me Jorge... are not for Saint John Cantius church in Chicago and its associated programs are all about the "smells and bells" in the post-Summorum Pontificum 1962 Indult and the Novus Ordo Missae offered there daily as their official website explains. We call it Tridentine Judaism as they bestow upon Talmudic Judasim (this time with the Hasidism of Chagall's blasphemous painting) an undeserved honor as being the eternal victims instead of being the transgressors that they are. Why would a Catholic pose with, much less promote blasphemy such as the "White Crucifixion"? Ignorance of Talmudic Judaism? Ignorance of the Catholic Faith? Or simply, love of "smells and bells"?
(click images to enlarge)
source for three above snapshots: facebook, Saint John Cantius Church, 19 April 2016
More on the White Crucifixion
Maurice Pinay's posts on the White Crucifixion
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 4:41 PM 12 comments:
Labels: blasphemy, Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, Chicago, Illinois, Marc Chagall, noahide, Summorum Pontificum, Talmudists are always the victims, Tridentine Judaism, White Crucifixion
The attendance at Francis' Urbi et Orbi is flat compared to last year's
Some blame it on terrorism, others that Christmas day fell on a Sunday but we at Call Me Jorge... believe it is Francis fatigue. Since the reign of Francis has begun he has managed to alienate most of the Vatican bureaucracy and to burn out several reporters. The crowds have never really shown up for Francis as they did for Benedict XVI. His 'Urbi et Obi' had seen a marked decline until this year when attendance was flat even though the Jubilee Year of Mercy had just recently finished. According to Vatican reporter, Rocco Palmo, "Thanks to Jubilee, attendance at 2016 Pope events in Rome was 3.95mil – up from 3.2m in 2015, but still marked decline from 5.9m in 2014." Could it be that people think the man is irrelevant? Looking at the social media and mainstream media that's been crafted by Opus (ju)Dei's Greg Burke it's little wonder why he is thought of in this manner.
(click images to enlarge)
The crowd looks a bit sparse.
People are still trickling in.
Still a lot of empty space.
As full as St. Peter's Square gets these days.
About as many in attendance as last year's Urbi et Orbi.
screenshots taken from Vatican's official youtube channel video, 2016.12.25 Christmas Message and Urbi et Orbi blessing
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Francis the 'humble'? Nope, more like Francis the 'liberal'!
In an excellent essay at TomNaegeleBlogs titled, Francis the Liberal (in five short parts), the blogger compares Francis to the term 'liberal' as defined by Fr. Félix Sardà y Salvany in his 1886 book Liberalism is a Sin. One particular quote from the book, Liberalism is a Sin, used in this essay stands out as prescient of Francis:
"From the Gospel he is careful to cite only those texts flavored with milk and honey. The terrible invectives of Our Lord against Pharisaism astonish and confound him; they seem to be an excess of language on the part of our Divine Saviour! He reserves these denunciatory texts to use against those provoking Ultramontanes who every day compromise, by their exaggerated and harsh language, the cause of a religion that he thinks should be all peace and love. Against them his Liberalism, ordinarily so sweet and gentle, grows bitter and violent. Against them his zeal flames up, his polemics grow sharp, and his charity becomes aggressive."
After demonstrating that the humility of Francis is false, the author concludes with one question, 'Can one be both a liberal and a Catholic?' Click the links below and read to find out.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
the new evangelization in Brazil
The lifetime achievement award
for mockery, blasphemy, sacrilege,
and making a spectacle goes to...
...the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida!!!
for mockery, blasphemy, sacrilege,
and making a spectacle goes to...
...the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida!!!
"Proselytism is solemn nonsense it makes no sense."
Social Justice Warriors unite: misery, hunger, injustice, drugs, racism, and unemployment!
Is Jesus getting a blood transfusion or giving one?
A Francis look-alike brings in the Bible!
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
The oldie everyone loves — the roller skating circus-like atmosphere!
Plenty of nonsense but none of it solemn!
the false light of Hanukkah
Listen to the United States Under-Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Adam J. Szubin, invoke Chabad's Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's message of Hanukkah and don't miss the shout out to President Ronald Reagan for naming it the "National Menorah".
Ever wonder what the miracle of Hanukkah, the 'light' of the eight days of oil, represents?
Additionally, in the opinion of one scholarly skeptic, Hanukkah's sub rosa significance, communicated esoterically through the image of the menorah, is as a testimony to "the supreme position which the Holy Judaic People occupy in God's eyes. …The secret of Hanukkah was disclosed by Rabbi Levi Isaac ben Meir of Berdichev (known as 'the Kedushat Levi' after his eponymous treatise), an important eighteenth century halachic [legal] authority, who revealed the fact that lighting the Hanukkah menorah does not commemorate the victory of the Biblical Maccabees.
(source: Hanukkah: A Brief Introduction)
The arcane traditional doctrine of Chazal (i.e. the "sages" of the Talmud) concerning Hanukkah is that it commemorates God's "delight in the Jewish people" themselves, and their vainglorious celebrations. The secret teaching of Hanukkah is that God supposedly provided a mythical eight days of oil not as a means of facilitating a victory, or of guaranteeing the successful completion of a sacred duty, but rather as a sign (halacha osah mitzvah), of His continuing adoration of the Judaic people, which all the rest of us are supposed to emulate, as we do indeed whenever a menorah is erected where a Nativity scene is banned.
(source: The Hanukkah Hoax and Hatred for Christmas)
How did Hanukkah originate?
The Chanukah 'miracle of the oil' has its origin in Talmud tractate Shabat 21b and is generally accepted as originating 600 years after the events recorded in Book of Maccabees. Numerous rabbinic scholars have determined that the fable was invented at a time when militant Judaism would be a liability (c.f. the Bar Kochba rebellion), and so the 'miracle of the oil' was contrived and emphasized over the militant theme in the Book of Maccabees to mollify fanatics and thereby avoid backlash. This is an example of Judaic dispensationalism at work. For our time, when fear of backlash is less, we can see that the militant theme of Chanukah is more heavily emphasized (c.f. George W. Bush's White House Chanukah party speeches, Chabad Chanukah literature).
(source: For Advent, 'The Remnant' Offers 'Hope' in Rabbinic Fables)
Why is Dreidel-Man at the menorah lighting?
Synagogue and State
David Ben-Gurion, Israeli Prime Minister, and Abba Eban, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, presented Harry S. Truman with a menorah in the White House on May 8th, 1951. It was the first menorah in the White House.
Gerald Ford's 1975 letter to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The Chabad-Lubavitch sect of Hasidism, of which Schneerson was the head of, is responsible for the public display of the 'National Menorah' on federal government grounds.
Navy operations Spc. Eric Sanders, left, watches Rabbis Elazar Bogomilsky, right, and Eli Estrin give a blessing after lighting an electric menorah aboard the USS Ford on Thursday at Naval Station Everett on the fifth night of Hanukkah. Sanders was instrumental in getting the menorah on board ship, December 30, 2005.
Jimmy Carter lighting the National Menorah at Lafayette Park with Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, December 17, 1979.
President Reagan Meeting with the Friends of Lubavitch, Abraham Shemtov, Moshe Herson, Shlomo Cunin, Samuel Raichik, Moshe Feller, Israel Shmotkin, Yoseph Groner, Sholom Wineberg, Abraham Korf, and Zelig Rivkin, December 15, 1987.
President George H. W. Bush speaking with children at 1991 White House Staff Hanukkah Menorah lighting.
Bill Clinton became the first president to actually light the menorah in 1993 with a dozen schoolchildren in the Oval Office.
Rabbi David Twersky with President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House on December 22, 2000.
George W. Bush lights the menorah in 2001, the same year he inaugurated the White House Hanukkah Party.
George W. Bush later lit this Hanukkah menorah in White House on December 15, 2008.
Barack Hussein Obama at the White House Hanukkah Ceremony in 2010.
Barack Hussein Obama's words at the White House Hanukkah Ceremony on December 2, 2010.
Barack Hussein Obama with the 'displaced persons' menorah in 2011 celebrating Hanukkah.
Barack Hussein Obama words at the White House Hanukkah Ceremony on December 8, 2011.
Ten days early, Barack Hussein Obama cites the Prophecy of Isaias (Isaiah) from the Old Testament as stating that the Jewish people are the messiah or "a light unto the nations" as first done by Shlomo Yitzchaki (aka Rashi), jokes that the mainstream media is Jewish, and invokes a 'tall tale' from the Hasidic High Priest of Holocaustianity, Elie Wissel, as well as says that Wiesel corrected him many times, and endorses Talmudists as the eternal victims on December 16, 2016.
Ten days early, Barack Hussein Obama has his second menorah lighting and cites a fable as truth "George Washington and the menorah of Valley Forge" and says that Hanukkah inspired America's founders two centuries ago to revolt from the British Crown, and Barack give a shout out to the deceased terrorist Shimon Peres and his family in attendance.
For more on Hanukkah read:
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 2:55 PM 3 comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, chabad, Elie Wiesel, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Hanukkah, Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, menorah, Orthodox Talmudic Judaism, public menorah displays, Ronald Reagan, Schneerson, White House
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Look at the crib the infant Christ-child is sitting in????!!!!
A boat for the Moslem invaders & a rainbow flag for the infant Christ!
Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi a conservative Novus Ordo champion of Summorum Pontificum celebrated two Novus Ordo Messes on Christmas Day. One in the train station of Bologna and the other in its Cathedral. Here we have a Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) friendly cardinal offering his mess in a train station for the forgotten, the peripheries as Francis would say, with a boat for the "refugees" and a rainbow flag under the infant Jesus symbolizing any and/or all of the following: the seven Noahide laws, peace, homosexuals & other degenerates. One never knows as Zuppi is a member of the Community of Sant'Egidio. Zuppi was appointed a bishop by the false conservative Benedict XVI and elevated to archbishop by the radical revolutionary Francis. The entire affair remind us at Call Me Jorge... of Don Paolo Tondelli, the curé of Novellara, Italy had two St. Josephs and no Blessed Virgin Mary at his church's Nativity Scene back in 2013, inspired by Francis' words, "Who am I to judge?"
One shudders to think of the garbage spouted off by Zuppi during his homily.
Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi & Francis
The screenshots are from this video.
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 3:17 AM 5 comments:
Labels: Benedict XVI, Bologna, creche, Ètvrete7, false conservative, Fraternity of Saint Peter, FSSP, homosexual, Indult, Italy, LGBT, manger, Matteo Maria Zuppi, noahide, Novus Ordo conservative, peace, Sant'Egidio, sodomy, Summorum Pontificum, Zuppi
the new evangelization in New York City
There's nothing that says Christmas quite like dancing
and singing around a menorah on a table!
Monday, December 26, 2016
Pharisee Timothy Dolan & Company on Christmas
"It's not at all obvious there is a war against Christmas, looks to me the whole world is Christmas..."
In that same year of A.D. 2009 Pharisee Dolan...
...went to the Jewish temple Congregation Emanu-El in New York City and lit the menorah on the 11th of December under the watchful eye of Rabbi Dr. David Posner for the Talmudic hoax, known as Hanukkah,
and had the world's largest public menorah display in his diocese at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue created by Yaacov Agam and paid for by the Chabad-Lubavitchers!
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 11:07 PM 3 comments:
Labels: 2009, chabad, chasidic, David Posner, Hanukkah, Harlan J. Wechsler, hasidic, lubavitcher, New York Archdiocese, noahide, rabbis, Timothy Dolan, war on Christmas, Yaacov Agam
A noahide Christmas with the late terrorist mastermind Shimon Peres...
...a Christmas without Christ
under the watchful eye of Francis' photo
The title of the video below reads: the President's visit during Christmas to a church of the Franciscan Catholic community in Ramla, Israel. The text description reads: Children dressed in their finery and in Santa Claus costumes, "sang the traditional songs in English and Arabic along with the President, Mayor Mary Church.
The president of Israel on 22 December 2013 at the time this video was made was none other than the late Shimon Peres. Besides being a terrorist mastermind, Peres was a personal friend of Francis. In fact, Shimon thought so highly of Francis that he proposed that Francis lead a new organization — a United Nations for religions. Peres was also the impetus for Francis visit to Israel where he escorted Francis to the grave, of the Zionist Theodor Herzel, and where Francis placed a wreath of flowers. One could speculate that this friendship between the two began because they pray to the same god, especially after knowing that Peres endorsed Francis' book, Rome and Jerusalem: Rabbi Talks with Pope, which names Jesus the Christ in the Hebrew as "Yeshu" (the rabbinical acronym for "May his name and his memory be wiped out") as well as refers to priest with "komer" (the Hebrew for "idol worshipers"). Remember, Francis' favorite painting also contains this blasphemy against Our Lord.
Now we return to the video. What are the 'traditional songs' are sung in the video? Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont. Yes, a song written by an atheist in 1971 and another by a unitarian in 1857 qualifies as 'traditional' in the Noahide Novus Ordo. Neither author believes in the Catholic Faith instituted by Christ nor do they mention the Christ-child in their lyrics. What a celebration of Noahidism!
A Haredi Jew, Szymon Perski, celebrates the
'traditional' Noahide Novus Ordo Christmas
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 11:35 AM 2 comments:
Labels: chasidic, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), haredi, hasidic, Israel, Jewish-Catholic noahide partnership, materialism, noahide, Santa Claus, Shimon Peres, Szymon Perski, terrorism, Theodor Herzl
Blast from the not so distant past — Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica tweets in 2015
The embedded video at JewishNewsOne's youtube
account is dead but can be watched below.
More from Rosica:
- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J. a modernist & the mentor of Thomas Rosica
- Fr. Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica guest conducts the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- Fr. Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica serves up a double-shot of Noahidism!
- iPope Francis
- Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica rants about bloggers
- Remember when Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica interviewed Bp. Bernard Fellay?
- Pepper + Darkness and the "New Evangelization"
- Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica declares, Francis "IS the new evangelization!"
- Thomas 'three Martinis a day' Rosica is a fan of Martin Luther & his 95 Theses!
- Francis, "believe me, in my pastoral work, there is no place for homophobia.""
Bergoglio writes preface to book on Hegel
(click images to enlarge)
Spanish transcription of Bergoglio's 2006 preface:
- Tierras de América, BERGOGLIO, HEGEL y AMERICA LATINA. Notas de filosofía del cardenal Bergoglio en el margen de un libro de Amelia Podetti
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Joy to the world, A Savior is born!
And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.
And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Who did Bergoglio celebrate Christmas with?
left to right, Claudio Epelman and Julio Schlosser
Dear readers, who do you celebrate your Christmas dinners with? Your loved ones and your family, are we right? Well Francis, back when he was Cardinal Bergoglio spent his Christmases with his relatives didn't he? Or maybe with some fellow Novus Ordo priests and nuns? Nope, the man never ceases to amaze. Bergoglio spent Christmases with Talmudic Jews, the heirs of the Pharisees from the Old Testament. You know those guys who are always following the 'traditions of men' or what we now call the 'oral tradition' aka the Talmud. A tip of the hat to Martina Katholik for sending us this news story! The Times of Israel: 'Our Christmas dinners with the pope' by Gavriel Fiske
According the website of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio gave the homily on these Christmas Eves: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011. One wonders if the great Rabbi Bergoglio also participated in the kabbalistic 'Nittel Nacht' traditions which take place on both Christmas Eves; tearing toilet paper, referring to Christmas by derogatory names, avoiding Talmud study, reading the Toledot Yeshu, playing cards, playing chess, sewing (the favorite of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson), paying bills, balancing the books, or spinning the dreidel. Who will Francis have over at the Vatican this year as his guests and will they celebrate the Talmudic hoax, Hanukkah, which glorifies the supremacy of Klal Yisroel (the Judaic people) over the rest of humanity? As always the underlines are ours for emphasis.
'Our Christmas dinners with the pope'
Argentina's Jewish leaders describe an extraordinary relationship with Francis I, who comes to synagogue for 'selichot' and loaned out a cathedral for a Shoah event
By Gavriel Fiske March 18, 2013, 5:15 pm
THESSALONIKI, Greece – Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina made history last week by becoming the first pope from Latin America and the first from the Jesuit order. This week, Argentine Jewish leaders, attending a World Jewish Congress meeting in Greece, predicted a new era for Catholic-Jewish relations and described a man who is very close to the Jewish community, who regularly visits synagogues and has invited Jewish friends to Christmas dinner.
"I think it is the first time a pope has been elected that the Jewish community knows previously, and has a long history [with]," said Claudio Epelman, director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, speaking to The Times of Israel on the sidelines of the weekend meeting, held in the northern port city of Thessaloniki in conjunction with public events memorializing the near-destruction of the ancient Sephardic community during the Nazi occupation of northern Greece during World War II.
Epelman said Sunday he was "very, very optimistic" about Catholic-Jewish relations under the new pope, who took the name Francis I and has embarked on what has already been described as a humble, hands-on papacy, eschewing the pope-mobile in favor of shaking hands and meeting children on his first Sunday in office amid the vast crowds at the Vatican.
"If you had to choose a pope by Jewish interest, you would have had to choose Bergoglio," Epelman said.
"He is a real friend of the Jewish community," he continued, describing Francis as "totally committed to interfaith activities." He "loaned out" the Buenos Aires cathedral to the Jewish community to hold a memorial event honoring the victims of Kristallnacht and the Holocaust, Epelman recalled.
"I have been with him many times," Epelman said, "not only for organized meetings and activities, but also just to discuss and learn from each other. I've never spoken about it, but for the last six years I have had Christmas dinner with him, just myself and a few others. It is very private, very intimate… It's a major holiday to share with a Jew, and he is very kind to hold the dinner."
Julio Schlosser, the other Argentine delegate in Greece, who is the president of a Buenos Aires synagogue, called Francis "my friend and a friend of the rabbis" who is "very close to the Jewish community."
Schlosser described how for "many years," Cardinal Bergoglio has come to his synagogue for selichot (the series of evening penitent prayers held before Rosh Hashana), where he would also give a formal talk.
"It's very important for the world Jewish community to have somebody like this [in the papacy] because he is very open," Schlosser added. "He works for the relationship between the Church, not only with the Jews, but with Muslims and other communities."
Schlosser, who has also had Christmas dinner with the pope, confirmed that Francis I often prefers public transportation to his official car. After a visit to the AMIA Jewish community office building (which was bombed 19 years ago by alleged Iranian and Iranian-backed operatives, with the loss of 85 lives), Bergoglio eschewed his official vehicle in favor of the subway, he said.
Overall, "everything is fine" for the Jews in Argentina, he said, except that "Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua… are leftist-run countries who by extension have close relations with Iran." And despite the recently announced joint Argentine-Iranian probe into the AMIA bombing, he said, "Iran will never accept responsibility for it."
Schlosser may have an opportunity to discuss these and other issues with his friend the pope in person: He and Epelman left Greece Monday to arrive in Rome as the pope's personal guests for his Tuesday inaugural mass.
And we find further confirmation over at Dario Uno in their article, Histórico e inédito: católicos, judíos y musumalnes argentinos viajarán a Medio Oriente y el Vaticano juntos:
"We believe we can make a contribution to the world, us 45 traveling Argentineans," said Epelman who spent seven Christmases with then Cardinal Bergoglio at Mass and afterwards at dinner.
Previously, he was the only Jewish observer of General meeting of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops in Aparecida in Brazil where the agent was Bergoglio and thereafter met the present Pope."
For more information on the hateful Hasidic 'Nittel Nacht':
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 6:45 AM 2 comments:
Labels: AMIA, Argentina, Buenos Aires, chasidic, Christmas dinner, Christmas Eve, Claudio Epelman, DAIA, Hanukkah, hasidic, Julio Schlosser, Nitel Nacht, Novus Ordo Missae, talmudic, Times of Israel, Toledot Yeshu, WJC, World Jewish Congress
Friday, December 23, 2016
Franciscan Friars celebrate the birth of Mohamed
It's another one from the
you can't make this stuff up file!
An interfaith celebration of Eid e Milad ul Nabi & Christmas
excerpt from the Asia News, Lahore's Franciscans celebrate Muhammad's birthday
The Franciscan friars of Lahore celebrated the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad along with some Muslim families. The interfaith celebration was held yesterday at the "Dar ul Naeem", center of Franciscan formation, during which the two religious communities also exchanged Christmas wishes.Fr. Jamil Albert, coordinator of the Justice Peace and Integrity with Creation (JPIC), told AsiaNews: ""This is the first time we invited everybody for the joint Eid and Christmas feast. The clerics are more than our friends, many showed up despite differences within Islamic sects as to whether the day should be observed or not. The example of Eid celebration in Christian's house will inspire the whole country".
The ceremony began with the recitation of excerpts from the sacred books of both religions. Some Islamic clerics offered evening prayer in the chapel of the Franciscan center. Then Christmas carols and the naats (songs of praise to Muhammad) were sung and later Christians and Muslims shared dinner. The festivities ended with the cutting of a cake, gifted by the Muslims.
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 1:59 PM 10 comments:
Labels: Eid e Milad ul Nabi, Franciscans, interfaith, interfaith relations, Jamil Albert, Justice Peace and Integrity with Creation, Lahore, modernism, Mohammed's birthday, new evangelization, Pakistan
Francis the Destroyer?
'It's not impossible that I will go down in history as the one who split the Catholic Church.'
— self-critical remark Francis said to his inner-circle —
The full quote from a recent Der Spiegel article, Kritik an Franziskus "Der Papst kocht" by Walter Mayr, reads, "In his innermost circle, Francis is said to have once self-critically articulated himself thus: 'It's not impossible that I will go down in history as the one who split the Catholic Church.'" (translation from NovusOrdoWire — Francis: "I may go down in history as the one who split the Church"!) The remainder of the brief article mentions the reason for this is that Francis is undermining key doctrines of the Church and as a result is loosing support among the church hierarchy. Francis doesn't like this one bit nor does he appreciate that the little support he has is hollow and is said to be 'steaming'. It could be the reason be that St. Januarius' blood
failed to liquify was that the human volcano known as Francis is getting ready to blow and we will see the wrath of "a man sick with power". St. Francis of Assisi before he died warned of a "Destroyer" who will cause "great Schisms" in a prophecy. Much of what he prophesied (see below) rings true to Francis. Could it be? We hope not, instead may God help Francis discover and learn to love the Faith.
The Saint Prophecies great Schisms and Tribulations in the Church
A short time be the holy Father's death, he called together his Children and warned them of the coming troubles, saying:
"Act bravely, my Brethren; take courage, and trust in the Lord. The time is fast approaching in which there will be great trials and afflictions; perplexities and dissensions, both spiritual and temporal, will abound; the charity of many will grow cold, and the malice of the wicked will increase.
The devils will have unusual power, the immaculate purity of our Order, and of others, will be so much obscured that there will be very few Christians who will obey the true Sovereign Pontiff and the Roman Church with loyal hearts and perfect charity. At the time of this tribulation a man, not canonically elected, will be raised to the Pontificate, who, by his cunning, will endeavour to draw many into error and death.
Then scandals will be multiplied, our Order will be divided, and many others will be entirely destroyed, because they will consent to error instead of opposing it.
There will be such diversity of opinions and schisms among the people, the religious and the clergy, that, except those days were shortened, according to the words of the Gospel, even the elect would be led into error, were they not specially guided, amid such great confusion, by the immense mercy of God.
Then our Rule and manner of life will be violently opposed by some, and terrible trials will come upon us. Those who are found faithful will receive the crown of life; but woe to those who, trusting solely in their Order, shall fall into tepidity, for they will not be able to support the temptations permitted for the proving of the elect.
Those who preserve their fervour and adhere to virtue with love and zeal for the truth, will suffer injuries and, persecutions as rebels and schismatics; for their persecutors, urged on by the evil spirits, will say they are rendering a great service to God by destroying such pestilent men from the face of the earth. But the Lord will be the refuge of the afflicted, and will save all who trust in Him. And in order to be like their Head [Jesus Christ], these, the elect, will act with confidence, and by their death will purchase for themselves eternal life; choosing to obey God rather than man, they will fear nothing, and they will prefer to perish [physically] rather than consent to falsehood and perfidy.
Some preachers will keep silence about the truth, and others will trample it under foot and deny it. Sanctity of life will be held in derision even by those who outwardly profess it, for in those days Jesus Christ will send them not a true Pastor, but a destroyer."
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 9:52 AM 4 comments:
Labels: Der Spiegel, great Schisms and Tribulations in the Church, not a true Pastor but a destroyer, papacy, prediction, prophecy, schism, sick with power, St. Francis, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Januarius, Walter Mayr
Thursday, December 22, 2016
The Nativity scene in St Peter's Square...
Includes a fallen shattered Cross!
The purpose of it, ostensibly, is to raise money to help rebuild the church in the town of Norcia which was struck by an earthquake on 30 October 2016. The broken Cross is a from the destroyed Basilica of St. Benedict. The Nativity also paid tribute to the plight of the Moslem invaders of Europe with a boat. Don't worry Francis still found room in the manger for the Holy Family. Isn't it a bid odd that a nativity scene, the purpose of which is to honor Our Lord's birth, is instead focusing on Francis' pet causes once again?
(click to enlarge)
screenshot of Nativity from Catholic News Service video, Vatican prepares for Christmas
The Basilica of St. Benedict in its better days.
The Basilica of St. Benedict post earthquake.
Christmas is about welcoming the Moslem invaders into Europe!
Christmas is about welcoming the Moslem invaders into Europe!
The broken cross can be seen at 6:58,
29:47 37:19, 54:46, 55:14 in the video.
Scalfari writes, "Francis agrees with Lutheran theses"
Inventor of Christianity? On December 17th, the anti-Catholic Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, to whom Pope Francis talks regularly, revealed in La Repubblica how Francis answered the question which saint he prefers. Francis said, "The first is obviously Paul. He is the one who constructed our religion."
Lutheran theses coincide with what happened in the first centuries: At the end of his article, Scalfari writes, "In the early centuries of Christianity, the sacraments were celebrated directly by the faithful and the priests only served." Scalfari continues, "Francis agrees on these Lutheran theses that coincide with what happened in the first centuries." The Vatican did not deny Scalfari's claims.
"When Pope Francis participated in the celebration of Martin Luther and his Reformation it captured the essence of the Lutheran thesis: the identification of the faithful with God with no need of intermediation of the clergy but occuring directly. [from the people] This brings us to the one God and assigns a secondary role to the priesthood. So it was in the early centuries of Christianity, when the sacraments were celebrated directly by the faithful and priests only did the service. Francis agrees on these Lutheran theses that coincide with what happened in the first centuries."
Scalfari: "80 years of my revolutionary Pope"
Posted by hereisjorgebergoglio at 5:02 PM 1 comment:
Labels: 500th anniversary of the Protestant Revolution, 95 theses, atheists, communist, death of the Novus Ordo, Eugenio Scalfari, La Repubblica, Martin Luther, modernism, priesthood, revolt
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