The Lapped Catholic

Pope's gift Obamafied!

2009-07-10T10:50:00.005-04:00

The gift President Obama will present to Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the Vatican has been announced. But the precious stole, which once graced the remains of St. John Neumann, a well-known American saint, has been updated by the Obama children to be more inclusive and multi-cultural with the addition of rainbow-colored handprints.

Illustrator sketch idea for Open Source Catholic logo

2009-06-29T13:36:00.011-04:00

This is just an initial idea for the Open Source Catholic logo. I'm posting this URL to the OSC forum. Feel free to leave comments here or there. I'm not married to the color. Just wasn't sure what color to use. Later I'll work on giving it a more 3D look, I think. And I've got to figure out what typeface would work best with it.

This is another sketch based on an illustration by St. Isadore who, according to some, is the patron saint of computer programmers and users. I like the stained glass look of it and the cross that is created by the design but I think I can come up with a more cool look for the basic design. I'm going to play around with the 3D options in Illustrator I think.

UPDATE:

This is the latest version with a gradient from the top to the bottom of the logo.

Bible Science is Pretty

2008-09-26T15:26:00.002-04:00

Pretty Rainbow of Bible Science.

Follow Saint Tweet

2008-09-25T09:45:00.002-04:00

Saint info once a day from Heaven, USA!

The condescending notion...

2008-09-17T14:10:00.003-04:00

The condescending notion that mediaeval artists saw the world in linear perspective but were too crude to learn how to paint it is extremely silly. Mediaeval artists painted the world exactly as they saw it. And no accusation of crudity can be fairly leveled at them. These men built the cathedrals at Rheims and Amiens and Chartres. They designed and built them without any notion of trigonometry or calculus; without so much as graph paper. These were not men who had difficulty imagining three-dimensional spaces abstractly; they were far better at it than modern men who need AutoCAD to design a rectangular prism of steel and glass.

at The Lion & the Cardinal

Join The Posse

2008-04-09T10:54:00.007-04:00

Celebrate the Pope's visit to the U.S. by showing your support for the Pontifex Maximus!

You no fool me, Ted Turner

2008-04-04T14:45:00.005-04:00

According to Ted Turner, in the next 30 to 40 years humans will become cannibals once the earth is scorched and most of the people die. Those left over, Ted says, will be forced to become cannibals.

But in the same article it is noted that Ted has launched a partnership with Lutherans and Methodists to fight malaria in Africa.

Since Ted thinks most of us are going to be dead in 30 to 40 years, the only reason I can figure for Ted wanting to help those in need is that he plans to survive the apocolypse and wants to ensure he's got a good source of people to eat.

I'm just saying!

Our Children Are Not Safe!

2008-03-12T15:46:00.002-04:00

At least they caught the maniac before anyone got hurt!

Hijacking A Meme

2007-11-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

I'm jacking Darwin Catholic's Top 100 Films Meme because it sounds like fun.

Feel free to do the same.

All you have to do is go to the AFI Top 100 list and pick:

1) Your favorite five movies that are on the list.

On The Water Front
Apocalypse Now
The Deer Hunter
My Fair Lady
Unforgiven

2) Five movies on the list you didn't like at all.

Rebel Without A Cause
Forrest Gump
Dances With Wolves
Annie Hall
Citizen Kane

3) Five movies on the list you haven't seen but want to.

Lawrence Of Arabia
The Third Man
Chinatown
Doctor Zhivago
All Quiet On The Western Front

4) Five movies on the list you haven't seen and have no interest in seeing.

Easy Rider
Giant
Psycho
The Jazz Singer
Modern Times

5) Your favoritve five movies that aren't on the list.

Full Metal Jacket
Payback
LOTR Trilogy
Apocalypto

I have some trouble thinking of favorite movies. As I've grown older, movies have lost their shine. I just don't get very excited about them anymore. Anyway, thanks to Darwin for the meme!

Thank Who?

2007-11-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

The original George "W" lays it out there for the edification of the masses! You go Mr. President!

WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

Go and read it and tell me it doesn't sound like a breath of fresh air!

Happy Thanksgiving, All!

Uh..Really?

2007-11-16T13:45:00.000-05:00

This is just wrong, right?

We Need A New New Knighthood

2007-11-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

This is, I say, a new kind of knighthood and one unknown to the ages gone by. It ceaselessly wages a twofold war both against flesh and blood and against a spiritual army of evil in the heavens....He is truly a fearless knight and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armor of faith just as his body is protected by armor of steel. He is thus doubly armed and need fear neither demons nor men.

--In Praise of the New Knighthood by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Sign me up for NaPraGoMo

2007-11-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

The Ironic Catholic has started NaPraGoMo and I'm going to join in. I should have been using at least some of my drive time to and from work as prayer time anyway so now's as good a time to start! Thanks IC!

WILT #001

2007-11-07T12:22:00.000-05:00

"The music for the Mass is found in three books: the Kyriale (for the people), the Graduale (for the schola), and the Missale (for the priest)."

-via

I'll still probably have some trouble keeping this straight, but previous to this I had seen all three books mentioned but did not have any idea that they belonged to specific entities in the Mass. In my mind they were just a jumble of names of music books that had something to do with the Mass.

And when you look at the page linked above you'll see that this WILT could actually be WILTS #1 thru 10. I foresee the New Liturgical Movement blog providing many WILTs in the future. Thanks NLM!

What I Learned Today

2007-11-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to increase my blogging and to return to the idea of becoming an "unlapped" Catholic* I am instituting a new type of post called a "What I Learned Today" post or "WILT" post for short. I can't promise it will be a daily feature but...well, I can't really promise anything, other than I'll try to keep at it as a way to track my learning and I'll try to keep it interesting.

So, today's WILT post will follow shortly. (Do you like how I already got two posts out of this idea?)

* "lapped" as in someone who, because of poor catechesis, feels like that kid on the track team who always got lapped by the faster runners, however in this case I feel lapped by those Catholics who know more about their faith than I do.

The Scourge of Humanity

2007-10-19T13:25:00.000-04:00

The guys at Cosmos~Liturgy~Sex always state very clearly and logically the disconnected thoughts and suspicions I have about things. This time they take on the "planet Earth would be better off without man" faction. Oh that I were so articulate.

Street Apologetics with Sister St. Paul

2007-08-08T13:25:00.000-04:00

"See Timmy, this left hand is Justice and the right hand is Mercy. So first you're gonna jab with Justice, okay? So, Justice, Justice, Justice! That's it! Good! Okay, now that you've softened them up you're gonna want to show some Mercy and you do that with a very special combination. First, you go straight up with a hook, and then, appropriately, finish it off with a right cross!"

Special thanks to The Crescat for the inspiration.

Begone, Satan!

2007-07-23T12:47:00.000-04:00

Here is my latest t-shirt at CafePress. It is inspired by a quote I saw on The Crescat!

The Rule of Law

2007-07-03T08:42:00.000-04:00

On Monday, Democratic presidential contender Sen. Joe Biden called on “all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law.”

I'm not choosing sides here but how can the President, using his legal right to pardon and commute sentences be characterized as skirting the rule of law? The law says he can do what he did. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it was illegal.

I'm just sayin'!

What's next? Trial by Comfy Chair?

2007-05-23T10:32:00.000-04:00

Daniel Mitsui has been posting some interesting Mediaeval instructions and ritual prayers to be said at different trials by ordeal. Many of the ordeals are quite scary such as the Ordeal by Hot Iron. The most recent one though - Ordeal by Barley Bread - verges on the Pythonesque.

Still, always great content from Mr. Mitsui.

This Noble Science

2007-05-22T12:38:00.000-04:00

...for as divinity preserves the soul from hell and the devil, so does this noble science defend the body from wounds & slaughter. And moreover, the exercising of weapons puts away aches, griefs, and diseases, it increases strength, and sharpens the wits. It gives a perfect judgement, it expels melancholy, choleric and evil conceits, it keeps a man in breath, perfect health, and long life. It is unto him that has the perfection thereof, a most friendly and comfortable companion when he is alone, having but only his weapon about him. It puts him out of fear, & in the wars and places of most danger, it makes him bold, hardy and valiant.

As seen here: Historical Fencing Manuals Online -- Swords & Swordsmanship.

I see a new workout program in all this! Or am I just showing the first signs of RenFaire Syndrome?

Link from the always visually stunning and intellectually stimulating The Lion & the Cardinal blog.

Movie Meme from The Crescat

2007-04-25T13:37:00.000-04:00

This one is called the IMDB meme.

- Go to IMDB.com and look up 10 of your favourite movies.
- Post five (5) official IMDB "Plot Keywords" for these 10 picks.
- Have your friends guess the movie titles.
- Then tag three people

1. Russian Roulette, God Bless America, Supermarket, Gay Slur, Bingo

2. Female Sniper, Blanket Party, Gay Slur, Mickey Mouse Club, Boot Camp

3. Rise And Fall, Decapitation, Witch, Wife, Ghost

4. Directed By Star, Epic, King, Battlefield, Dauphin Of France

5. Faith, Unhappy Marriage, Costume Drama, Tragic Love, Rape

6. Elvis Presley, Irish, Band, Vulgarity, Independent Film

7. Shoe, Japan, Prison, Coin, Face Slap

8. Father Daughter Relationship, Actor, Daughter, Ex Wife, Father (sorry, those were the only keywords)

9. Butterfly Knife, Organized Crime, Narrative, Piercing Ripped Out, Anti Hero

10. Fall From Height, 16th Century, Blowgun, Heart Ripped Out, Quicksand

Tagging: Kyrie Eleison, Regular Thoughts, and Journey Woman.

A little early for triumphalism but...

2007-04-18T13:35:00.000-04:00

10:26 a.m. ET Wednesday, April 18, 2007

High Court Backs Partial Birth Abortion Ban

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure Wednesday, handing abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench.

The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2003 does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

The outcome is likely to spur efforts at the state level to place more restrictions on abortions.

Underestimating children

2007-04-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Why must people continue to deny to their children their cultural heritage!

Below is a comment I left at this article at the Poetry Foundation web site. This kind of thing just makes me mad.

Would we want to return to a time in which infant mortality was high and children were often alone in bed, sick with polio or measles or other diseases that are now mild afflictions or no threat at all? No, of course not.

Though these things don't exist for a majority of American children there are still many things in this world that effect them negatively. Divorce, crime, abuse, war, cancer, accidents, terrorism all effect children in some way. Either directly or indirectly as a source of percieved potential threat.

Candy coating traditional rhymes and stories to protect children's sensibilities only serves to make them cynical as they begin to realize the world their parent's are peddling doesn't match up to the world they see around them. It also keeps them from being able to deal with such things in a safe environment where parent's can answer their questions and calm any fears they may have.

Watering down these poems removes the possibility of parents helping their children deal with the concepts of good and evil and how to deal with it in the real world. What's next, do we update Shakespeare to say that Macduff made Macbeth stand in the corner because our highly sheltered kids turn into teens who can't handle the dramatic turn of events at the end of Macbeth?

Literature should help the reader to make sense of the world around them. These updated poems are merely entertainment, which has it's place, but in the end does no service to children or poetry.

What we do is secret!

2007-04-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

There is a great review of THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne at The Review Revolution. I agree with Ms. Riess' comments and her final assessment ("This Book Blows"). And no, I don't think I need to read the book to come to that conclusion.

I think however that maybe the Catholic Church has something to learn from THE SECRET and how it has been marketed. Why not repackage "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" under the title "The Truth" with new agey sounding reviews from celebrities. Have the Pope or maybe Cardinal Arinze go on Oprah and have Oprah help peddle "The Truth". Just an idea.

Oh, and extra points to anyone who can tell me where I got the title for this post. Hint: it's a punk thing.

Ecclesia Virtualis Video

2007-03-29T14:17:00.000-04:00

I attended this panel discussion at St. Joe's University and have yet to comment on it. Check it out for yourself while you are waiting for me to chime in.

Silly words

2007-03-29T12:58:00.000-04:00

Journey Woman has a fun contest going on at her blog! Here are my three silly words for your review:

Splurge - it sounds like a Batman sound effect gone wrong.
Polynomial - I just like the way it sounds.
Blurb - another sound effect gone wrong.

Go to Journey Woman's site and enter the contest yourself.

Garage sailing

2007-03-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'd have to take out a second mortgage to buy all the stuff I would want! Any thoughts on what might be for sale at this garage sale? I'm thinking I'd want the Communion of Saints collectable drinking glasses from back in the day when they were a premium for filling up the Popemobile at the Vatican Oil gas station.

Annunciation Surprise

2007-03-27T09:31:00.000-04:00

I was very surprised to hear this commentary on NPR of all places. The local NPR station is my second choice for drive home listening when my classical station starts to drop out. Usually I'm yelling at the radio when NPR is on but this time I was pleasantly surprised, especially after their story about the early church just previous to the commentary (don't get me started!).

Still, NPR never fails to disappoint. Their headline for the commentary (Feast of the Annunciation Celebrates a Proud Mary) is confusing since a prideful Mary isn't mentioned in the commentary and as far as I know pride isn't one of the attributes associated with Mary. Methinks some bored intern or web lackey thought a reference to Ike and Tina Turner in a commentary about the Blessed Mother would liven things up. *sigh*

Book meme

2007-03-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

Here's a meme I got from the Kyrie Eleison blog.

A List of Books: Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you want to read, cross out the ones you won’t touch with a 10 foot pole, underline the ones on your book shelf, and asterisk* the ones you’ve never heard of. I've also added a ? to those that I can't remember if I read.

1. ~~The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)~~
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)*
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)*
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. ~~Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)~~
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)*
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. ~~The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)~~
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)*
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. ~~The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)~~
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)*
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)*
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)*
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)*
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)*
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)*
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)*
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)*
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)?
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)*
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)?
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)?
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)*
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger) *
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)?
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. ~~Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)~~
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)*
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. ~~The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)~~
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)?
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)*
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)*
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)*
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)*
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)*
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)?
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)*
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)*
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)*
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

I won't tag anyone but if you feel like doing this one, be my guest! Just leave a link to it in the comments so I can go take a look!

Attention All Philadelphians!!

2007-03-19T09:57:00.000-04:00

This should be good:

"Ecclesia Virtualis: Catholics in the Blogosphere "

A Panel Discussion with:

Amy Welborn
Author of the blog "Open Book"

Rocco Palmo
Author of the blog "Whispers in the Loggia"

Grant Gallicho
Associate Editor, Commonweal

Panel Host:

William McGarvey
of BustedHalo.com

Responses from:
Brent A Smith, PhD., Assistant Professor of Marketing, SJU
James F. Caccamo, PhD., Assistant Professor of Theology, SJU

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph - Michael J. Smith, S.J., Memorial

Call 610 660 3290 for more info.

The Ultimate Answer!

2007-03-14T14:46:00.000-04:00

Slashdot reports that Stephan Hawking believes the universe spontaneously popped into existence from nothing.

This has just rocked my world! I thought the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything was "42". Apparently I was wrong. According to Hawking the answer is "magic"!

You can read all the comments on Slashdot if you're interested in following this.

Let's call them...

2007-03-12T14:27:00.000-04:00

The Green Shirts.

...the debate on global warming has been "hijacked" by a powerful alliance of politicians, scientists and environmentalists who have stifled all questioning about the true environmental impact of carbon dioxide emissions."

Anyone else have any good names for them?

Eikon

2007-03-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Trying to figure out if this magazine is published in English as well.

All this is the fruit of a rather pessimistic observation that in the affected contemplation of itself, contemporary art has reached the point of mere phantasmagorical, empty self-reference - a theatre of images that are the offspring of blind, narcissistic fascination*.

* my emphasis

Before the fall...

2007-03-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

Pride begins to enter Brother Karl's thoughts.

h/t to
BB Blog

Koontz on Beauty

2007-03-07T13:08:00.000-05:00

“I can walk in the rose garden, watch the joyful capering of my dog, and see the indisputable work of God. The key is beauty,” says Koontz, who converted to the Catholic faith while in college. “If the world is merely a complex and efficient machine, beauty is not required. Beauty is in fact superfluous. Therefore beauty is a gift to us. If we were soulless machines of meat, the survival instinct would be all we needed to motivate us. The pleasures of the senses — such as taste and smell — are superfluous to machines in a godless world. Therefore, they are gifts to us, and evidence of divine grace. The older I’ve gotten, the more beauty, wonder, and mystery I see in the world, which is why there are ever more of those three things in my books.“

Hat tip to Amy at Open Book

Another author I've got to add to my "to read" list.

Quote of the Week!

2007-03-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

So much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot. -- George Orwell

Take a number!

2007-02-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

Warten aufs Christkind

Trust secular materialistic culture mavens to turn a joyous time of anticipation into a tedious time of impatience. Or maybe it's just because they're Lutherans.

Actually, this might be a good idea for Lent as well if they put prayers and admonitions on each ticket instead of "practical-ironic-philosophical-humorous tips".

Disney literary adaptations

2007-01-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure how this came up, but it's interesting what a little traffic-jam time with my high-schooler will generate. In the long tradition of Disney's adaptations of literary classics like The Prince and the Pauper and The Three Musketeers, we were wondering what a Disney adaptation of Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men would look like...

Of Mice and Goofs

Hmmmmmm?

World of SaintCraft?

2007-01-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

Strangely enough, these demons attacking St. Anthony look suspiciously like many of the Horde characters and beasts that routinely attack my Alliance character in World of Warcraft.

Although, when I think about it, it may not be that strange. It's possible the artists who create the characters for WoW have used such images as inspiration and reference.

And as an aside, I wonder how long before the WoW Expansion - The Burning Crusade- comes under attack for it's politically incorrect title?

New Liturgical Ministry

2007-01-15T15:17:00.000-05:00

I knew there was a reason I was shying away from becoming an usher, uh, sorry, Minister of Hospitality.

I now know the Holy Spirit has been holding me in reserve for use as a beadle. Why else would I be so tall and big (okay, fat) and bald if I wasn't born to be a ~~bouncer~~ beadle. I suppose the name will have to be changed. Off the top of my head I'm thinking Enforcement Ministers or Ministers of Extra-Ordinary Wrath would be good.

Talking Turkey with Gilbert K.

2007-01-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

A turkey is more occult and awful than all the angels and archangels. In so far as God has partly revealed to us an angelic world, he has partly told us what an angel means. But God has never told us what a turkey means. And if you go and stare at a live turkey for an hour or two, you will find by the end of it that the enigma has rather increased than diminished. - Gilbert K. Chesterton

Art Solidarity

2007-01-08T11:33:00.000-05:00

I like the way this guy thinks: Art Solidarity.

In a perfect world I would be blogging about things like this. I am very interested in the subject of "beauty in art" and "beauty as truth". These guys seem to have it going on!

Alphabet Meme

2007-01-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

A fun little alphabet meme. Stolen from the vast reaches of the interweb!

[A is for age]: 45 years.

[B is for beer of choice]: Bass Ale

[C is for career]: Graphic Artist

[D is for favorite Drink]: Hot tea made from the teabags me Mum sends me after she visits Ireland.

[E is for Essential item you use everyday]: Computer

[F is for Favorite song at the moment]: Der Holle Rache (Aria of the Queen of the Night) from Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute).

[G is for favorite Game]: World of Warcraft. My Level 34 Human Warrior Totally Pwns!

[H is for Home town]: Cincinnati

[I is for Instruments you play]: None. Sorta played the cello a million years ago.

[J is for favorite Juice]: Orange.

[K is for Kids]: Three.

[L is for last kiss]: Kissed my son on the head last night as I put him to bed.

[M is for marriage]: Happily for 20 years.

[N is for full Name]: Timothy Francis Patrick.

[O is for Overnight hosp stays]: Tonsils, age 5. Wisdom teeth (yeah, really!), age 17. Alcohol poisoning, age 21 (aka young and really stupid).

[P is for phobias]: Heights and large bodies of water.

[Q is for quote]: "But man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured, His glassy essence, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep. William Shakespeare.

[R is for biggest Regret]: Not killing my big brother when I had the chance.

[S is for sports]: Used to run cross-country. Would love to cross-country ski but it's not really an option around here. Otherwise, not really a sports guy.

[T is for Time you wake up]: 6-ish.

[U is for color underwear]: Mostly gray. And yes, they were always gray.

[V is for Vegetable you love]: Brussel Sprouts.

[W is for Worst Habit]: Procrastination.

[X is for X-rays you've had]: Teeth, of course. Wrist, foot and shoulder.

[Y is for Yummy food you make]: Buttered eggs.

[Z is for zodiac sign]: Usually Leo, sometimes Virgo, depending on which newspaper or teen magazine you read.

I'm tagging, Happy Catholic, The Crescat, Some Have Hats, Regular Thoughts, and Scrutinies.

Archdiocesan Boy Choir Christmas Concert

2006-12-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia will be presenting their 2006 Christmas Concert, Sing Choirs of Angels, December 17th at 3:00 PM at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia. If you are in the area you should definitely go see them. If you have a blog and you live in the Philadelphia area, I'm sure they'd appreciate a plug.

And if you can't make it to see them, order one of their CD's or sponsor a choir boy so he can go on their next pilgrimage. Find out more at their web site.

The "Evil" makes all the difference

2006-12-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

These are cool but I'm waiting for the Evil Flying Monkey version. I always said that if I went to the Great Wizard of Oz and he asked me what I wanted, I wouldn't ask for a heart or a brain or courage. I'd ask for a couple of those Evil Flying Monkeys the Wicked Witch had. Heck, I'd be doing a good deed. They'd need a good home after she melted and all. Yeah, Evil Flying Monkeys totally rock!

X-tra Lite Blogging

2006-11-20T15:48:00.000-05:00

At my best I'm not a heavy blogger but a number of things have converged in my life that are keeping me from even blogging lightly for all my fan (sic). In no particular order:

Deadline at work that isn't helped by the Thanksgiving break.

Preparing for upcoming travel to Cincinnati, Ohio for Thanksgiving. Skyline Chili, here I come! Oh, yeah, I'm going to see family there, too, but a man has to have his priorities straight.

Being sucked into the World of Warcraft after thinking it would be a good way to study game interfaces and how I might apply such things to my work (with special thanks (not) to my almost 16yo son for talking me into it).

It's time to do the ad book and posters for The Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia's Christmas Concert and as usual time is short. I'll blog more about them and their amazing music after I get back from Cinti!

Send an email!

2006-11-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

Here's the email I sent to Tampa Bays 10 News after reading about this on Amy Welborn's blog. You should do the same.

The story titled "Sex Allegations: National Association of Evangelicals pastor resigns" found at this URL: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/national/article.aspx?storyid=42893 is accompanied by a picture of a collar of a Roman Catholic priest. As your story has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church your use of this image shows either a complete ignorance of religious culture within the United States or a willful attempt to denigrate the Roman Catholic Church through misinformation. In either case your use of the picture is an insult to millions of Roman Catholics and should be removed immediately and a written apology should be added to the story. It is shoddy and biased work like this that has made the term Yellow Journalism redundant.

The email I used was 10news@tampabays10.com. Though you may also want to send a copy here Desk@tampabays10.com.

Smart Soldiers vs. Stupid Kerry

2006-11-01T14:02:00.000-05:00

My latest CafePress creation!

Get them while they're hot!

UPDATE: Here's some smart soldiers!

UPDATE: More fun with the Massachusetts Senator!

Trick or Trick?

2006-10-31T13:31:00.000-05:00

You'll have to decide whether this little MP3 Halloween gift is a trick or a treat! It comes to you from the time in the mid-eighties when I spent a year and a half dressed up like a punk rocker.

Death Rock.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Very Very Short Stories!

2006-10-26T12:21:00.000-04:00

Slashdot had a post about some Very Short Short Stories all written in six words. I like Hemingway's ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") though it seems like a very sad story. I prefer to think its a story about a hillbilly baby who never had to wear shoes and spent her days frolicing barefoot in the dew-laced bluegrass of Kentucky.

There was one by Ben Bova (?) with religious overtones that I liked ("To save humankind he died again"), though if I was his editor I'd have changed it to "mankind" so it wouldn't sound so affected.

Here's mine, which also has religious overtones. Actually I had two similar ones but only posted one on the Wired blog. Here they are:

Jesus!?! When did you get here?

Jesus!?! Um...we weren't expecting you!

Add your (religious themed or not) six word stories in the comments.

5 Little-Known Things

2006-10-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged! Woohoo! Journey Woman has tagged me with the 5 Little-Known Things About Me meme.

As I was trying to think of 5 Little-Known Things I only seemed to be able to come up with things related to the arts which I thought might skew how people thought of me so I came up with a couple military items to keep things balanced. It's possible some of these could have been part of my list of 5 Silly Things About Me that I was tagged with a while back but I'll let you decide for yourself.

1) I was the only male member of two school dance troops in my elementary school days. I think I started dancing because one of my sisters did. The only thing I remember about the one dance troop is that we did a rendition of the Chimney Sweep song from Mary Poppins and I had a crush on a really cute red head who was in the troop with me and who I actually met years later in high school. The other troop was an after school group that did basic folk and party type dances like the Hava Nagila and The Alley Cat. After four years of dancing with that troop I was awarded a baseball bat and ball which even at the time I thought was kind of goofy. I would have preferred a book.

2) I played the cello for a short period of time during elementary school. It was more like I pretended to play the cello. From what I remember of it I don't think I really knew what I was doing. Every once in a while I think it might be fun to try taking it up again. Maybe in my twilight years.

3) I graduated from the Air Assualt School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky when I was a reporter for the base newspaper. All I can say is that waking up early to go on forced marches and perform physical training with telephone poles while getting yelled at by guys who could kill you three times before you hit the ground was a small price to pay for being able to jump out of helicopters.

4) While a reporter for the 8th Infantry Division newspaper in Germany I was able to qualify for the German marksmanship badge the Schutzenschnur or Shooting Cord. I got to fire a number of German Army weapons including the Luger pistol. I think I only got the bronze version but I was allowed to wear it with my dress uniform, which was always rather impressive.

5) I was the lead singer for a punk rock band out of Cincinnati, Ohio in the mid-80's. We were only together for about a year and a half but we put out an album and got a glowing review from Maximum Rock n' Roll magazine, the punk periodical of choice. We opened for some nationally and internationally known groups including Black Flag and G.B.H. Locally we played in Newport and Lexington, KY; Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, OH; West Lafayette and Bloomington, IN. We also went on an underground tour across the United States where we played in Portland, ME; Syracuse, NY; Lansing and Flint, MI; Lincoln, NE; Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; and Burbank and Los Angeles, CA. We only got kicked out of one bar and were refused entrance to Canada where we were supposed to play two gigs. Otherwise it was a blast, as long as you don't count the malnutrition and the nervous breakdown it induced.

Okay, I have to tag some people now. How about some of the winners from the poster contest! The Roman Sacristan, Another Catholic Mom, Upper Canada Catholic, and Veritatis Splendor.

We Have Winners!

2006-10-22T22:02:00.000-04:00

Well, the judging is over and the votes have been counted and we have winners in the Lapped Catholic's Motivational Poster Contest!

And the winners are...

In the Humorous category the winner is The Roman Sacristan for the Liturgical Whimsey poster. The prize is a Pope Innocent the III action figure as seen here.

In the Inspirational category the winner is Another Catholic Mom for the Life poster. The prize is a CD by the Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia.

And the winners of the random drawing from entrants are Upper Canada Catholic and Veritatis Splendor. The winners will have a choice of items including a St. Teresa of Avila bookmark with third class relic and a hand-knotted twine rosary.

Honorable mentions go to Anathema Sit for both the Liturgical Dance poster and the St. Francis poster in the Humorous category and Hermeneutic of Continuity for the Conscience poster in the Inspirational category. Honorable mentions will also have a choice of items mentioned above.

Winners will be contacted soon with the particulars of claiming their prizes.

Thanks to everyone who participated. It was a lot of fun hosting the contest and I hope it was fun for everyone involved.

UPDATE: I also wanted to thank the judges for their participation. We had three blogging judges and three real-world judges. The blogging judges included myself, The Crescat and The Curt Jester. The other three include family members who will remain nameless as they like to maintain a level of plausible deniability when it comes to my web endeavors. : )

I'm a winner and doggoneit, people like me!

2006-10-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

I entered a contest at Book Buds the other day and what do you know, I won!

I won't dwell on the fact that my entry was the only one in the Poignant category because in my book, a win is a win! Go there and read what I would say if I was the first person to step foot on Mars. Don't worry, it won't be a total waste of time, the winner in the Funny category is worth the trip.

(Lack of) Intelligence Test

2006-10-19T09:10:00.000-04:00

Nancy over at Journey Woman linked to some very interesting Intelligence Tests. I did pretty well on the first one but the subsequent tests made me feel less than intelligent. Go over and try your hand at it.

I liked them so much I tried to come up with some of my own. See if you can figure them out.

All are in this format:

24 H in a D = 24 hours in a day

where you have to fill in the right side.

3 B G G =

1 is the L N =

10 L I =

3 M I =

1 F the R =

It T 2 T T =

2 H A B T O =

P of 8 =

4 S and 7 Y A =

2 C G =

1 T P =

3s a C =

4 O T F =

45 D A =

99 L B =
(HT to SFO Mom)

Use the comments to let me know how you do.

Let the judgement begin!

2006-10-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

The entry phase of the Motivational Poster contest has ended and we have a great many entrants. It will be a difficult job selecting the winners. As stated before I hope to have the results by Sunday the 22nd.

A couple of judges have had to pull out of the voting for personal reasons so if you didn't submit an entry and want to be a judge, please contact me. If you did submit an entry but want to be a judge instead let me know and I'll add you as a judge and take you out of the competition. If you have contacted me before about being a judge I will be in touch.

So, don't forget to check in later for the results (or add me to your rss feed reader so you know when the results are in). Until then enjoy the brain teaser in my next post.

We have a contest!

2006-10-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

UPDATE - The contest ends at midnight (Eastern Time Zone) on October 18th, 2006 so depending on when you read this, you've got twenty four hours or less to submit a contest entry. Once the contest is over judging will take place and results should be available by October 22nd. - Updated 11:57 AM October 18th.

Okay, it seems there is interest in the Motivational Poster contest I mentioned in passing so here are the rules.

1) Use the Motivator Tool to create a motivational poster with a Catholic theme. There will be two categories. Humorous and Inspirational. You may enter as many posters as you like in each category.

2) Post the poster(s) on your blog/website and leave a comment here with a link to the poster(s). Don't forget to tell me which category the poster falls into.

3) There must be at least 10 individual contestants in a category for a prize to be awarded. So spread the word.

4) The contest will go on for the next two weeks. So if my finger calculations are correct that means it will end around midnight on the 18th of October. I reserve the right to extend the contest depending on the response.

5) There will be a prize for best humorous poster, a prize for best inspirational poster, and a raffle prize for one contestant (who didn't win the other prizes) picked at random. Currently the prizes are: a Pope Innocent III Action Figure for the most humorous poster; two scapulars made at the Carmelite convent in Coimbra, Portugal where Fatima seer Sister Lucia lived for the most inspirational poster; and a St. Teresa of Avila bookmark with an imbedded third class relic for the raffle prize. There may also be some hand knotted twine rosaries thrown into the mix for good measure.

6) The posters will be judged by a panel yet to be named. If you'd like to volunteer to be a judge (which means you can't be a contestant) then email me.

7) If you have any questions, email me.

8) This is all in good fun. Let's keep it clean and charitable.

9) Check back here for updates and to see the entries.

Entries so far:

Humorous:

Catholic Pillow Fight

Catholic Knitwit

Proecclesaia

Shaking Off Sleep

Catholic Caveman

Shaking Off Sleep

Anathema Sit

College Catholic

Upper Canada Catholic

Waffling Anglican

Wheelie Catholic

Catholic Caveman

Regular Thoughts

Hermeneutic of Continuity

Shaking Off Sleep

Hermeneutic of Continuity

Brendan Allen

Waffling Anglican

Ironic Catholic

Laura the Crazy Mama

St. Jude Intercession

Anathema Sit

In Hoc Signo Vinces

Transcendental Musings

The Crescat

Christus Vincit (BMP)

Gather Reprehensive

Irish-Catholic and Dangerous

More Irish-Catholic and Dangerous

The Roman Sacristan

Young Philothea

More I-C and D

Veritatis Splendor

The Age of Uncommon Nonsense

Even More I-C and D

Scrutinies

Inspirational

GOP Soccer Mom

Domestic Vocation

SFO Mom

Anathema Sit

Catholic Mum

Upper Canada Catholic

Another Catholic Mom

Wheelie Catholic

My Domestic Church

Catholic Caveman

Regular Thoughts

Mary Meets Dolly

Regular Thoughts

Another Catholic Mom

The Hermeneutic Of Continuity

Proecclesia

Edith OSB

College Catholic

St. Jude Intercession

Transcendental Musings

Shaking Off Sleep

A Catholic Life

Ostritch Tracks

Catholicism, holiness and spirituality

Crystal

American Phoenix

Bare Foot Catholic

Pearl Girl

Scorpion Stalking Duck

St. Peter's Helpers

Contemplative Sea Roses

I hear North Korea needs movie directors

2006-09-29T15:12:00.000-04:00

Another self-hating American liberal gets coverage from the self-hating American liberal press.

Terrorism is a manageable action. It can be lived with," said Stone.

Well, yeah, unless you are the one who got blown up! But at that point I guess terrorism is pretty much a non-issue for you so 'problem solved'.

If he's so ashamed of America I'm sure there are a number of countries that would be more than happy to take him in. I understand Libya is nice this time of year.

Milingoing, going, gone!

2006-09-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

Milingoing, going, gone!, originally uploaded by gigocorp.

I'm having a little too much fun with this Motivator tool. I've gotta think up a contest that uses this.

They've also got a Trading Card maker which could be fun.

Let me know if you make one of these and I'll link to it!

Motivation

2006-09-25T08:24:00.000-04:00

Motivation, originally uploaded by gigocorp.

I just found a great site for making your own motivational posters.

I feel a contest coming on.

Buy a Friend a Book Week Contest

2006-09-20T15:51:00.000-04:00

BAFAB week approaches and Debra over at Book-blog is hosting an event. You can win an autographed copy of her book, Trying Neaira, if your entry is chosen. For details on how to play, see this post.

Here is my entry:

The gossip and anecdotes were so much animal noises and buzzing insects to the girls as they played with the bunnies, imperturbably oblivious to the attacks on their self worth.

For the record

2006-09-19T08:27:00.000-04:00

I'm a member of the Pope's Posse! Are you? Show your support!

Who do I make the check to?

2006-09-15T09:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, please, let's send Madonna to outer space!

What? Oh, it's a round-trip ticket?

Nevermind.

But me wench calls me Capt'n Pookie BooBoo

2006-09-14T14:34:00.000-04:00

My pirate name is:
Iron Tom Kidd

A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you're a tough person. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!
Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

H/T to ~~The Happy Catholic~~ Black Jack Flint.

And don't forget to stock up on your Pirate Swag! Don't you have a Cutie Pirate who needs some PirateWear?

My Disco Mermaids Entry

2006-09-02T00:36:00.000-04:00

The Disco Mermaids are having a contest to win an autographed copy of the dePaola Code and the above logo is going to win it! Don't you think!?! Well, I do!!

Imagine That!

2006-08-31T11:17:00.000-04:00

Mark Shea at Catholic and Enjoying It! talks about the song that makes my brain explode every time I hear it. It's always sure to start me on a rant. It also causes me to have uncharitable thoughts so I'm going to go back to listening to WRTI's soothing and beautiful classical music.

The Dangers of Googling

2006-08-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

I'm dumbfounded. This of course begs the question: Do they have a moon bounce version available for the parish picnic?

Johnny Mnemonic Contest

2006-08-24T10:58:00.000-04:00

The vote is in and Pluto is no longer considered a planet!

So obviously we need a new mnemonic for remembering the ~~nine~~ eight planets. And of course the best way to get a new mnemonic is to have a contest!

The old mnemonic was:

My (Mercury) Very (Venus) Excellent (Earth) Mother (Mars) Just (Jupiter) Served (Saturn) Us (Uranus) Nine (Neptune) Pizzas (Pluto)

Tell us what you think the new one should be. Extra points for originality, humor and rememberabilityness.

Email your entry(ies) or post them in the comments. The winner, as decided by a yet undecided panel of experts will win a handful of Homestar Runner drink coasters or a Pope Innocent III action figure, or something cool like that.

UPDATE: I suppose I'm disqualified from the contest so this doesn't count as an entry but here is a decidedly Catholic mnemonic to give an idea of the possibilities.

Mary Venerated Extensively May Just Satisfy Unmet Needs

5 in 5 Meme

2006-08-23T10:04:00.000-04:00

Five People in Five Categories Meme
Julie at HappyCatholic tagged me. (Woohoo, I got tagged!) This may not be the best meme for me since I'm not what many would call a people person, but I never get tagged so here goes.

"If you could meet and have a deep conversation with any five people on earth, living or dead, from any time period, who would they be?" (Explaining why is optional.) Name five people from each of the following categories:
Saints, Those in the Process of Being Canonized, Heroes from your native country, Authors/Writers, celebrities.

Five Saints:

St. Francis of Assisi
St. Patrick
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Katherine Drexel (I've got a growing interest in American saints and she's a Philadelphia favorite.)
St. Declan of Ardmore (To find out what Declan translates to or means. It is said the name is so ancient that its original meaning has been lost.)

Those in the Process of Being Canonized:
(This is where my Lappedness shows itself. I've got to do a Google search to find a list of the beatified. Once I do I'll update this list)

Pope John Paul II
Junipera Serra

Five Heroes from your native country:

I have a hard time accepting the notion of heroes so I'm gonna leave this go until I can think of at least one person I consider heroish.

Five Authors/Writers:

Graham Greene
Robert A. Heinlein
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Oscar Wilde
Jane Austin
(The last two would be so I could introduce my daughter to them. Boy would she owe me big time after that!)

Five Celebrities:

Elvis Costello
Sinead O'Connor (Because I want to believe that deep down she's really just a fine Irish lass who lost her way in her youth.)
Tony Hawk (So I could introduce him to my youngest who is very into skateboarding right now.)
Jack Black (I so totally want to party with that dude!! Okay, I'm not really a partier. Okay, I'm not a partier at all. I'm just trying to think of celebrities that I don't actively dislike and he's all I could think of.)
Joan Cusak (She so funny. She make me laugh.)

Tag Five People:

Tagging five randomlyish selected B-Teamers! Go B-Team!
For God, For Country and For Yale
Transitus Tiber
Narrow at the Outset
College Catholic
Thoughts of a Regular Guy

The DePaola Code

2006-08-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

Unlike The DaVinci Code, we will not spill the secrets of the Priory of Sion. We will not expose the influence of Opus Dei. We will deal with a much more restrained group...the Benedictine monks. Popular belief portrays these men as the silent type (though they have been known to break into some rockin' chants from time to time). But these monks have a secret. A secret cloaked beneath a veil of…well…a veil of itchy brown fabric. And one man holds the key to unlocking that truth for the rest of us.

Not sure how I missed this during the DVC hubbub. As a big fan of Tomie DePaola I'm much more interested in his code.

Our Lady of Prompt Pownage!

2006-08-15T13:19:00.000-04:00

Gleaming in her Varia Suit, she kneels among sand and rocks, with her smoking arm cannon raised upward and the lonely Zebian desert reflected in her visor...a symbol of permanence and power and invincibility.

This is more a story of looking for meaning in all the wrong places than finding meaning in unexpected places, IMHO.

You will never forget a videogame you've played. You may forget the plot and the characters and even the title, but once you have played a videogame and loved it, that happy fact remains with you when you need it most. It is a promise that no hurricane can destroy: You once were happy; you will be again.

Now, I love a perfectly executed head shot as much as the next guy and agree that there is a sort of joy in laying waste to your enemies in a video game but I don't confuse that fleeting thrill with a lasting happiness that only comes from He who conquered death and is the only promise that cannot be destroyed.

This is Fun!

2006-08-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

GottaBook: A List -- famous authors and the children's books they'd write

Here's the list I came up with:

Rice - Chicken Soup With Vampires

Kerouac - And To Think That I Saw It On The Road

Doctorow - Rag Doll Time

Dostoevsky - The House of the Napping

March - The Bad Carrot Seed

Conrad - Harriet, the Secret Agent

And if cookbook authors count:

Lagasse - Make Way For Dumplings
(snitched from here)

Redesign it, please!

2006-08-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

Space.com reports that the NASA Moon mission now has a logo. I've got to think it's actually one of the losing versions they are showing. First off, never, never, never use a graphic element as a letter, especially when it's such an obvious one as a planet in the place of an "O". And what, did the font budget get cut at NASA? What is that, Gill Sans? Couldn't they come up with something a little more Space Agey? Of the fine tradition of cool logos and patches coming out of NASA over the years, this has got to be their low point.

Maybe we, the American people, can sponsor a contest to come up with a better logo. I've got a pack of Homestar Runner coasters I can put up as a prize! Who's with me?

Children of Men

2006-08-11T15:18:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd heard something about this movie a while back. Apparently it's coming out soon. I need to find out more about it. At first blush it seems promising. I'll let you know what I find out.

Book stats

2006-08-11T13:24:00.000-04:00

Some very interesting statistics for readers and writers. (Two things I once was and aspire to be again one day.)

Hat tip: People of the Book

Traditions of the Assumption of the BVM

2006-08-08T19:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a question for the Catholic Blogosphere:

My wife and I were talking about the upcoming Feast of the Assumption on August 15th and she mentioned that when her family spent their summers "down the shore" that on the Feast of the Assumption everyone made sure that they went into the water. She said they had to carry her Grandmother down to the beach so she could be carried into the ocean. Some even drove down from Philly just to walk into the water on that day. Does anyone know where this tradition comes from? Is it just a Jersey Shore thing, an Irish thing (my wife's family is Irish) or what? I thought it might have some thing to do with Stella Maris but I'm not sure. Does anyone else have local or family traditions that they participate in on the Feast of the Assumption? I'm interested to find out more about this.

Now I'll have to email a few choice Catholic blogs and bleg for them to mention this post so I can get an answer. So thanks in advance to The Happy Catholic, Amy Welborn, and The Donegal Express.

UPDATE: There a number of great comments at Open Book after Amy Welborn so graciously posted my bleg.

Chuck Norris Bridge?

2006-08-03T09:50:00.000-04:00

A new bridge in Hungary could be named after the action film actor Chuck Norris after officials left the naming to an internet vote.

It looks like after this news broke the computer hosting the web site might have been overcome by hits from those wishing to register their vote. Or more likely, Jack Bauer found out the computer was a terrorist and killed it.

The Worstest Generation

2006-07-28T09:51:00.000-04:00

Alan Ehrenhalt confirms my conclusions in Newsweek yet seems to want us to feel sorry for him and his lot.

1-2-3, Awwwwwwwwwwwww!

Hat Tip to C-L-S!

The Lion and the Cardinal and the Proceedings

2006-07-17T15:47:00.000-04:00

It is links like this that make me glad I've got The Lion and the Cardinal on my feed reader.

And while maybe I don't yet Heart Jesuits as much as some the Proceedings certainly engender a better appreciation for the history of the Society.

Only Five?

2006-06-30T16:27:00.000-04:00

Found this free-for-all "Lighten Up Friday" meme on Some Have Hats and thought I'd participate.

Here are 5 silly facts about me:

1) I once won a costume contest dressed as Super Grape.

2) Just thinking of hundreds of ping pong balls being dropped on Captain Kangaroo makes me laugh hysterically. Come on, you gotta admit, that is just so damn funny!

3) I was a Jewish Webelo. I don't know why they let a Catholic kid join a Jewish troop or why my parents thought it was a good idea or why I didn't just join the local Catholic troop, but there you have it. I was a Jewish Webelo. Sounds like a title for an After School Special.

4) I once ate a cigarette on a dare and washed it down with Mr. Pibb (it's kind of like Dr. Pepper without the PhD). To this day I can't drink Mr. Pibb or Dr. Pepper without gagging.

5) I had a Mohawk haircut at age 3 and once again twenty years later.

And believe it or not, no alcohol was involved in any of these scenarios.

Take this meme if you like and let me know if you do. I'd like to read about it.

Spread the news!

2006-06-23T15:39:00.000-04:00

I've requested this info be posted on the Amateur Catholic website so a few more eyes get to see it and then hopefully a few more ears get to hear the Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia. If you read this, please help spread the news.

My son is a former member of the Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia and I still help them out as I can with poster design and ad book production. Now I'd like to help them get the news out about their summer pilgrimage.

The Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia is heading to Boston and Canada on pilgrimage so if you live in the area you should definitely go hear them and also help get the word out.

The Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia sings sacred music throughout the year in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and travels on pilgrimage yearly to places like Avila, Spain; Fatima, Portugal; Rome, Italy; and Washington, D.C. to name a few. This year their pilgrimage will take them to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, MA; the Mission Church in Boston, MA; the Notre-Dame-du-Cap Shrine in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada; and St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal (Quebec) Canada.

Their schedule is as follows:

6/26
Divine Mercy Shrine, Stockbridge, MA
1:30 Rosary
2 PM Mass
3 PM Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

6/27
Mission Church, Boston
12:10 PM Mass

6/28
Notre-Dame-du-Cap Shrine
8 PM Mass followed by candlelight procession

6/30
St. Joseph Oratory
4:30 PM Mass

The boys are amateurs because they don't get paid but they definitely sing like professionals as they continue the tradition of chant and polyphony in the Church. The boys sing in many different languages, including Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Gaelic, and Greek. They are a joy to hear whether they are singing Mass or performing a concert. Once you hear them live you will be hooked. You can hear some snippets from three of their five CDs on their web site.

Feel free to contact me for more information about the choir and for other sources of their audio clips. And if you do attend let them know you heard about them on the web.

By the way, the boys are also singing the 11AM Mass tomorrow for the EWTN 25th Anniversary Family Celebration at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Admission is free so if you live in Philadelphia this may be your last time to hear them until the fall.

If you live near these sites please attend and if you've got readers who live near these sites please pass the word along. Thanks!

What's he Hawking?

2006-06-15T10:56:00.000-04:00

Anybody know if there is a way to prove or refute this. I'd be interested to hear what the pope actually said as opposed to what SH says he said.

Update: Apparently this isn't new news. I wonder why Hawkings is bringing it up again. Sounds like it might be a case of "Controversy Marketing". Does he have a new book coming out? Or is it just a case of pope bashing?

More Updates: It looks like this is pope bashing and just part of his standard presentation as I've found another article that talks about another presentation that sounds like the exact same article just written 8 months earlier.

Did find an old but interesting Wired article while searching Google for "hawking +pope"

Ironic Catholic Haiku Contest

2006-06-05T13:24:00.000-04:00

Wrote a few haiku
For Ironic Catholic blog
Find them if you can

I'm so hip hop!

2006-05-05T12:29:00.000-04:00

I've added a new t-shirt design to Glib and Flippant's Curiosity Shoppe. Perfect for Mother's Day...well, maybe not perfect but it'll do in a pinch. Check it out and all the other wonderous items I'm trying to sell to give my kids a great Catholic education.

Mmmm, chicken!

2006-05-02T09:37:00.000-04:00

Savage Chickens taste so funny!

Hey buddy, can you spare a grand?

2006-04-27T13:22:00.000-04:00

I want to go to Summer Chant Camp and take my son the former choirboy with me. Please pray for the money to drop into my lap! :]

Maybe we'll be able to drive down from Philly and do a day session. Wish me luck.

I Hate Hippies

2006-04-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

And this is why. They were the American Khmer Rouge declaring the Year 1 and helping to throw away the cultural inheritance of future generations. Someone should write a book about how much they screwed things up. I already have a title for it, "The Worstest Generation".

Sorry, but I had to get that out of my system. It's the old punk in me coming out.

Planned Parenthood finds God?

2006-04-03T13:36:00.000-04:00

Planned Parenthood's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

A speaker talks about having a Christian attitude when dealing with Pro-lifers:

"They're a religious tradition, too, and they are moved by Scripture," he said, although the Bible says nothing explicit about abortion*.

*Yeah, as long as you don't count "Thou Shall Not Kill". That's really kind of an ambiguous commandment, don't you think? I mean, really, that could be interpreted in so many different ways, right?

The quote that makes me think of black pots and kettles:

Mr. MacColl quoted the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr: "'Sometimes the worst evil is done by good people who do not know that they are not good.'"

Carroll set free, interpreter still dead.

2006-03-31T09:18:00.000-05:00

After being released by her captors, 28-year-old freelance journalist Jill Carroll said the kidnappers "never threatened me in any way" and that she was "treated very well".

Her interpreter at the time of the kidnapping, Allan Enwiyah, a 32-year-old Christian Iraqi, was not available for comment.

You know you're a lapped Catholic...

2006-03-29T13:22:00.000-05:00

when you use a mental image of a cardinal holding a 9mm pistol to help you remember what a biretta is and a mental image of the pope driving a Chevy muscle car to help you remember what a camauro is.

Not all of us can be Catholic Nerds, but we can aspire!

HT to Julie D. for the link.

Virtual Crucifixion

2006-03-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

I find this amusing and I predict that the marketers of this game are hoping for some high profile Controversy Marketing. I know it's the kind of news item the local news likes to broadcast. They just need somebody to rail against it on camera and it's an instant story.

Britain will witness its first crucifixion for almost two millennia later this week, when Cynewulf is nailed to a cross as punishment for ganking other players as they first appear. Cynewulf, (in real life a 27 year-old electrical engineer from Flint, Michigan, USA) has no need to worry about suffering any permanent pain to his hands or feet, however, as this barbaric sentence is due to be carried out in cyberspace; in the virtual world of Roma Victor®

Roma Victor is an online recreation of Britain in Roman times, where players live virtual lives as slaves and citizens of that all-conquering Empire.

“Roma Victor has been designed from the outset to offer an historically authentic and realistic virtual world. Although crucifixion is nowadays synonymous with persecution and religious symbolism, in 180CE it was just one of many severe punishments used by the Romans to punish criminals and to send a clear message out to other potential wrong-doers. And since our online world is historically authentic, we feel that applying this punishment to cheats, hackers and other virtual wrongdoers is not only appropriate, but also adds to the gaming experience by resonating with classical history.”

I think that I shall never be...

2006-03-22T13:53:00.000-05:00

You Should Be A Poet

You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways.
And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery...
Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever.
You're already naturally a poet, even if you've never written a poem.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Maybe if I write Prose Poetry and Visual Poetry.

HT to The Happy Catholic

Litigation Marketing

2006-03-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

From a Times Online article entitled "Authors were told: don't be fools":

When Holy Blood Holy Grail was first published in 1982, it became a best-seller itself. Now, with the current trial achieving widespread publicity, sales have enjoyed a late boost and are now thought to be over two million. Dan Brown, who finished his stint in the witness box yesterday, has also enjoyed increased sales.

The question is, would they be fools for bringing the legal action and losing the case or fools for not bringing the legal action and losing out on the chance for all the free publicity and increased sales?

My cynical guess is that it's a finely tuned marketing ploy pulled off by both sides. Nothing like knowing how to manipulate the media for fun and profit.

Laurel resting and revisionism

2006-03-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

I found this on Slashdot and it piqued my interest since I just got finished reading this book this weekend.

The Slashdot post tells of a website that shows 1001 Inventions of Islam and a news article that picks out the top 20. The comments on the Slashdot post are very informative. Below is an excerpt:

From TFA: By the 9th century, many Muslim scholars took it for granted that the Earth was a sphere. The proof, said astronomer Ibn Hazm, "is that the Sun is always vertical to a particular spot on Earth". It was 500 years before that realisation dawned on Galileo.

The fact that the Earth was round (contrary to popular belief) was not big news in the 9th century. The ancient Greeks knew very well that the Earth was a sphere, and they too had calculated the circumference with surprising accuracy several centuries B.C. (not to mention before Mohammed). Also Galileo wasn't controversial because he claimed the Earth was round - it was because he claimed that the Earth revolved around the sun, and not vice versa. Sigh.

Another comment includes a link to an interesting letter written in response to a speech given by Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett Packard Corporation, on September 26, 2001.

Makes me think the 1001 Inventions is more about PRopaganda and historical revisionism than anything else. The problem is that many who look at the site and read the news article will take it at face value and not be concerned at all about it's lack of historical accuracy. That's another recurring theme I've seen lately and makes me more motivated to catch up on what I don't know about history.

H2OMG

2006-03-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

H₂Om, is

a crystal clear natural spring water brand infused with the power of intention through words, music and thought. We gratefully offer you an interactive invitation to drink in and resonate with the vibrational frequencies of Love and Perfect Health

This product is not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. However, we do believe in the power of intention, and that anything is possible. Please email us with your H2Om water experiences and miracles.

Where to start with this? Which angle to take? There are so many...

It's all about faith - The makers have faith that P.T. Barnum was right.

It's New Age holy water - All the benefits without the pesky belief system?

Marketing is everything - And they said my packets of Dehydrated Spring Water wouldn't sell!

Quote of the Week

2006-03-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

I don't have a quote book like Julie D but I do like my quotes. I've just found a new source to add to my other sources so I might as well start passing on my favorites. Here's the first:

"Culture is a sham if it is only a sort of Gothic front put on an iron building -- like Tower Bridge -- or a classical front put on a steel frame -- like the Daily Telegraph building in Fleet Street. Culture, if it is to be a real thing and a holy thing, must be the product of what we actually do for a living -- not something added, like sugar on a pill."

Arthur Eric Rowton Gill (February 22, 1882 November 17, 1940) was a British sculptor, typographer and engraver. And apparently a Catholic. I've got to find out more about this guy.

I'm pro-Amateur, and I vote!

2006-03-08T22:41:00.000-05:00

Der Tommisar says I'm in but I won't believe it until I see my application email on the Amateur Catholic blog.

Freedom From...

2006-03-06T13:02:00.000-05:00

"Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it." ~ G.K. Chesterton

The Ashes of Wednesday

2006-03-02T09:43:00.000-05:00

A rememberance of Ash Wednesdays of childhood from a site about visual poetry that I frequent. I especially like the visual of the ash crosses as plus signs adding us all together like one big math operation with the sum being "one holy, catholic and apostolic Church".

CNN: Offending Catholics Since 1999!

2006-02-07T13:06:00.000-05:00

Exhibit A: Story posted today on CNN about the cartoons that are causing such an uproar. At the bottom of the story, just before the copyright is the line CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons out of respect for Islam.

Exhibit B: An article dated September 28, 1999 displaying a picture of Chris Ofili's "The Holy Virgin Mary".

Exhibit C: An article from March 27, 2000 displaying a picture of Chris Ofili's "The Holy Virgin Mary".

They've been displaying this material on their website for over six years despite common knowledge that it is not respectful of the religious beliefs of a specific religious community. So what the heck does a religion have to do to get some respect from CNN?

Oh yeah, riot and threaten to kill anyone who doesn't believe what you believe.