Happy Halloween!!

Stay safe, folks. If you have little ones who are going to go out trick or treating, needless to say, GO WITH THEM. Too many weirdos out there who see this night as an opportunity.





I shall leave you now with one of the greatest opening paragraphs to a short story in the history of literature.

"DURING the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher."

By the way, I saw this image of this crazy kitty and I couldn't stop laughing. Doesn't he look psychotic?

The Choice is Clear

"I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that questions with specificity is above my pay grade."

Coward. He couldn't even commit himself to a clear answer.

The above quote was Obama's response to the question as to when an unborn child acquires rights. Yet if he is in favor of destroying unborn human life, hasn't he answered that question while making the same $?



Self-explanatory.


Self-explanatory.

Thanks to Paramedicgirl for the video.

I should mention, if I had my way absolutely, this is the man I would have on the presidential Republican ticket this 2008 election year.

Dr. Alan Keyes

Drawing the best stick figures

In the upcoming semesters, I will probably start taking art-related courses in school. I've always had an interest in drawing with pastels, but this interest never fully materialized as anything significant. While these courses may involve handling several materials, I cannot let the opportunity to work with pastels pass me by.

I've been thinking about this for quite some time, and, after evaluating my motives, I've concluded that this is not just a passing fancy that will fade away over time. Needless to say, this hobby will inevitably expose me to other types of media, so this sphere of interest will probably increase to include oil paints, acrylics, charcoals, graphites, etc. But one thing at a time.

Recently, I purchased the Sennelier 120 count Oil Pastel box. These are some of the best pastels in the market, and are recognized for the rich colors and smooth textures, albeit difficult to work with. I'm also eyeing the Holbien pastels, which many prefer over the Sennelier. This is the Sennelier box:

Do any of you use pastels or other types of media? I'd love to hear - even SEE! - some of the stuff you've done. Again, this is just a hobby for me, and I've no intentions of becoming the next Picasso, Matisse, or Terry Nelson.

On a different note, I'm changing the title of this dump - my blog. Let's face it, folks, there is very little discussion about science here since most you, my blogger friends, don't care for it. So, I have to come up with a different name that incorporates the many things I babble about, while at the same time implying the religious component of my personal interests. While I haven't come up with anything yet, I've decided that the new blog title should be twice as long as the current one (just kidding!).

Cashing in on Oprah

Somebody we ALL love is in trouble, folks. Ogre Winfrey is being sued for allegedly fabricating false accusations that led to the incarceration of a Louisiana man. The man seeks damages that top 180 million dollars.

You know, I don't take it lying down when someone picks on my favorite yeti. Sure the Oprah isn't perfect, but who is? The notion that she would fabricate lies to put an innocent man behind bars is an accusation without merit. I know my Oprah!

By the way, did you guys know that Oprah and her significant other, Stedman, had a HUGE falling out not too long ago while on vacation? Apparently, Stedman got up in the middle of the night groggy and sleepy-eyed and called the front desk of his hotel room to report a broken cooler when he mistook Oprah for the fridge.

A Crick in the Neck Pic

Now, why can't I get this picture to post right-side up? I've tried flipping it every which way you can think of but horizontally is the ONLY position that it will NOT post. It must be the Critter. Anything remotely associated with him becomes cantankerous and difficult to manage.

Oh, and I almost forgot. The Critter, thanks to the folks at ACORN, gets to vote for the first time this year. Isn't it wonderful! He says he likes Obama because his leg seems fit enough to pee on. I explained to him that was no way of casting his vote, especially in this year's historic elections. So I convinced him that we could have it both ways. He could pee on Obama and still vote for McCain.

He wagged his tail.

Bad Critter. Bad Little Critter.

Mystical Experience

"That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse." ~~ From "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman

I remember being at work a few years ago and being jolted by an experience that thrust me into discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood. It was not the type of mystical experience that is characterized by the serenity and ecstasy that so many mystics recount, but rather it was an acute, and profound awareness that I existed, that the universe existed, and that the words from Scripture were not mere symbols on paper, but living, inexorable testamentations of the existence of God. I automatically associated this experience with the image of Jesus Christ, and his mother Mary.

I was outside in the open when this experience occurred, and the sky was clear and blue. Having always possessed an interest in the dialogue between science and religion, I looked up at the sky began to ponder the vast, incomprehensible immensity of all Creation. The idea that I should travel this universe until the end of time, for eons and eons and eons and find no end to it was both mesmerizing and terrifying, for I became cognizant of the fact that I was dealing with qualities infinitely more powerful than I was. I know this is going to sounds silly and exaggerated, but for sometime after this initial experience I was unable to look up at the sky without apprehension.

I have never shared this story with anyone before, not even with my vocations' director, Father Tony. Although the sensation of the experience eludes me, off and on the experience returns but with a variation of the original experience, and maybe not quite as powerful. But these "openings" (to paraphrase Reynolds Price) can surge at any given moment, even while doing the most medial of tasks, and they no longer have to happen in the outdoors.

Today, one of these similar experiences surfaced while I was at a bookstore reaching for a book. It was like waking from a deep sleep. These words rang profoundly in me and left me semi-concussed: "I am here. He exists. Life is not a dream."

If you've ever had an experience that you would describe as mystical, please share.

More than just Halloween

Now that Halloween is coming up, I see more of this film on the DVD racks of department stores than at any other time of the year. While I admit that I like to watch a horror flick late at night with a bag of popcorn in my hand or some other kind of junk food, I think this film goes a little beyond mere entertainment. I like the priests in it, and I like how they are portrayed. The ending has two scenes - for those of you who remember it - that are quite powerful. Father Karras frees Regan of the demon and allows himself to be possessed. Before harming the child, he jumps out the window and takes the demon with him. The next powerful scene comes at the finale when Regan and her mom, Chris, are moving away from the house and are met by Father Dyer, Father Karras' good friend. Chris explains to Father Dyer the Regan has no recollection of what transpired, but Regan, nonetheless, has some idea of what saved her. She glances momentarily at the Roman Collar Father Dyer is wearing, then proceeds to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Don't Hide

I sometimes wonder about the authenticity of the things people write on their blogs. I also find myself doubting the ferocity of their convictions, easily imagining them forsaking the side they defend and adopting the cause of the opposing majority when out numbered. Some people write about stuff other people want to hear and write it in a way those same people want to hear it. This reveals how politically correct their sensitivities are. That's not a good thing. You can state your convictions sternly but politely, without the need for vulgarities and other inflammatory phraseology, or by sugar coating the facts as you see them. To me, people like these are intellectually and morally feeble, and their claims can't be trusted by either side of an issue.

After last night's debate, I'm in a serious mood to thrash Obama (politically speaking) and say a few things about his judgement that some people may find offensive. I shall refrain from doing that until the right words come to me.

Now guess who's being politically correct?

To All the Critters Great and Small

Blessing of the Animals

God Our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by estoring our relationship with You we will also restore it
with all Your creation. Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect for they are Your creation.

We pray for all animals
who are suffering as a result of our neglect.
May the order You originally established
be once again restored to the whole world
through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary,
the prayers of Saint Francis
and the merits of Your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Who lives and reigns with You
now and forever. Amen.


May the Lord bless all those small, big, furry, flabby, lazy, mischievous, four-legged members of your family!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On a sepparate note, no, you ears are not playing tricks on you. I've added Christmas music to my blog which shall remain there till at least Epiphany- m'kay, grumpy? :0)

Guilty

Guilty of all 12 counts, including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and use of a deadly weapon. Can you imagine how Nicole Brown's family and Ron Goldman's family feel tonight? Simpson is going to jail for a very, very long time. As a matter of fact, his last days might be spent there.

Where was this jury in 1995?