Good News/Bad News

When Good Morning America reported that Kindle "books" outsold real book this Christmas, I took it as a sign of the End Times, but this article looks a little deeper at that claim. Most heartening is that they were specifically talking about Christmas day when traditional shoppers were probably not buying books, but those who received a Kindle wanted something to read on the darned thing. I'm guessing iTunes music outsold traditional CDs on that day also.

I'm glad to report that my lovely new cookbook is taking up space on my shelf when I'm not paging through it in a delightfully random fashion.

And yes, I realize there are notable advantages to having thousands of pages contained in something you can tuck into your backpack. I'm just an old-fashioned girl who likes the smell and feel of a printed page for which a tree has given its life.

Do Not Call List

When Grandpa got his cell phone recently, he was given an information sheet stating that cell numbers go public this month. If you'd like to put yours on the National Do Not Call List, call 1-888-382-1222. You must call from the phone you're putting on the list and it won't need to be renewed for five years.

I did it and it took about 30 seconds. (Two "press 1 at the prompt"s, and "enter your 10-digit telephone number.")

Marketing

In this week's mail:

2009/2010 Notre Dame Football

BOWL GAME TICKET APPLICATION

I can apply for tickets to the following games:

Gator Bowl

Rose Bowl

Sugar Bowl

Cotton Bowl

Fiesta Bowl

Orange Bowl

BCS National Championship (Rose Bowl)

or any non-BCS Bowl (TBD) should ND participate in a bowl not listed on this application

Yeah. Just in case.

Read the Last Line

Judge temporarily blocks higher ed officials from changing UND's Fighting Sioux nickname
DALE WETZEL, Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. - A judge has temporarily blocked higher education officials from changing the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname.

The president of North Dakota's Board of Higher Education, Richie Smith, said Tuesday that the order could delay the university's efforts to join the Summit League and re-establish its football rivalry with North Dakota State University.

Smith says he'll talk with the state attorney general about challenging the order, which was issued Monday.

The dispute has its origins in the NCAA's August 2005 declaration that the Fighting Sioux nickname and Indian head logo should be abolished.

The judge's ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by eight Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who support the nickname.

Hat Tip- Dad

Is your love tank full yet?

Spotted at De LaSalle High School:

Bathroom Affirmations!

I wonder if they get federal funding for this program?

New St. Cloud Bridge to open Thursday

After 17 months of detours, inconvenience, and economic impact, vehicles are about ready to start crossing the Mississippi on St. Cloud's Highway 23/Division Street again.

Gee Kate, we may have to drive over it just for the pleasure of not taking that annoying detour again!

Details here.

SCARRY Halloween Sighting!!

Spotted at St. Joe's (home of the youth group art project about the misunderstood Muslims and the "WWJD? - recycle, save water, ride his bike more" projects)

We obviously have a lot to learn here.

Tonight's dinner conversation

Jenny (on her way to a dance this evening):

"I'm going to go shave my legs so they're more aerodynamic."

Makes you wonder who's "really" using the supplies, doesn't it?

I think we're going to get along just fine

The church and health care

It does not surprise me that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church opposes health care reform ("Bishops taking stand against health plan," Aug. 28). They have become a vital unit of the right wing of the Republican Party. They use the abortion issue as a cover, but really they are just another wealthy group that opposes change.

It is unfortunate that a church that used to support the lower and middle classes has changed into a group that is against giving 40 million poor a chance of joining a health care plan.

I am a Catholic, or at least I was before I wrote this letter.

Jim R. Miller, Winona

And the response:
Pioneer Press

Updated: 09/05/2009 04:59:22 PM CDT

On Wednesday afternoon I drove from St. Paul to Duluth for a 30-minute meeting with Congressman Jim Oberstar, members of the staff of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, representatives of two other Catholic dioceses, a Lutheran pastor, and an Orthodox priest. We discussed with Mr. Oberstar our shared concern as Christians about the current version of the health insurance bill. Yes, we did make our point with him about our opposition to mandatory coverage for abortion - about which he, a Democrat, agrees with us - but we also shared with him our conviction that health care is a human right and should be accessible to all, and our hope that the reformed program will give special consideration to those people who live below the poverty level. Even before the current debate began, the Catholic bishops of this country have consistently called for reform of the health care system and have championed the cause of the poor. Because we include unborn citizens among the poor and most vulnerable, we are deemed obstructionists by those who have another agenda.

I returned to St. Paul, picked up the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and read the letter to the editor "The Church and health care." In an uninformed rant, the writer castigated the Catholic hierarchy for opposing health care reform (they do not), for being a "vital unit of the right wing of the Republican Party" (they are not), for using the abortion issue as a cover (a cover for what?), and for being another "wealthy group that opposes change" (I challenge the writer to examine my bank account and then call me wealthy). The writer ends by saying that he is, or used to be, a Catholic. If he is a Catholic, he should be ashamed of himself for shaking a fistful of falsehoods at his own leaders, leaders who are working as hard as they can to promote positive change. If he is no longer a Catholic, it is too bad because he stood a better chance of seeing his hopes realized by pitching in with the bishops and other members of the very institution he has abandoned. Either way I will pray for him.

Most Reverend Lee A. Piché

The writer is Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

We can only go up from here

It's going to be a big year for Nick.

A slight miscalculation

You wouldn't believe how much thicker mattresses and boxsprings are these days!

Solution? We returned the boxspring since the mattress is fully supported on the waterbed frame anyway.

We now also have a (mostly) fully functioning guest room.

Field Trip?

In our own neighborhood, a chapel modeled after the Hagia Sophia. More in this week's Catholic Spirit.

BEWARE!

You think you're just purchasing a fair time treat, but in reality you're supporting all that is evil in the world!

Really,

1. it's good to be warned and
2. don'cha just love channel 5 news? (They're very serious about what they do.)

Jesus is my homeboy

Or not. A well-reasoned response to a familiar attitude can be found at Darwin Catholic's blog:

Christ the King, enthroned in eternal splendor into union with whom all Christians wish to enter for life everlasting. Christ Crucified, pouring out his blood for the sins of the whole world. Christ Risen, triumphing over the reign of death which had doomed humanity since the Fall. Christ in the Eucharist, kneeling before the glittering monstrance in which the Body of Christ forms the center of a sunburst of golden rays, with the crucifix above and the tabernacle behind.

When I look for Christ, my gaze is naturally upward. I don't picture throwing my arm around His shoulders and asking, "How's it going, buddy?"

One year ago...

I didn't want the weekend to pass by without remembering this anniversary!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

God ascends to shouts of joy!

Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him.  Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth.  For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.

~Saint Augustine~

Happy Day!

May 3, 1997

It was such a crazy weekend, I almost forgot!

Just Because

I was on Mom's computer when I noticed it had "Paint" on it and this was the outcome. (I've been playing call of duty lately.) 

Procrastination:

or 

"Why you should take your Christmas wreath down in a timely manner so you're not guilted into leaving it up way into summer, much to your humility and inconvenience."

A word to the wise - use the garage door if you don't want a very alarmed mother bird flying at you when you try to use the front door.

Five years ago today

Spring Cleaning

Because you know you missed hearing it at Mass today ...

What did we see? Holy Thursday edition

Kind of a mixed bag:

CA deacon in a dalmatic

CGood vestments

CThe Roman Canon

CO Salutaris

CReadings proclaimed nicely

CWe got to sit by some well-behaved Koops

CNo Servant Song

CNice procession to the chapel at the end

CFather very firmly announced that there would be silence in the nave and all the hallways.  He went around after "reminding" offenders. 

CPeople actually were silent in the church!

CThere was a full house

DDancing girls but Cthey didn't dance for some reason (they just brought up the gifts)

DGod and Man at Table are Sat Down :-(

DThe drama queen Our Father

DDramatic lighting effects 

D80's music choices Cbut good execution

DWrong Psalm

DWe saw the feet of seven people being washed.  (7 men, women and children.  What the heck?)

Vatican rebuffs Obama ambassador picks

The Obama administration has put forward three candidates for consideration as US Ambassador to the Holy See but each of them have been deemed insufficiently pro-life by the Vatican, commentator Massimo Franco says. Source

To help clear up some of these disagreements, a meeting between the Pope and the President is seen by some as a matter of urgency, particularly in view of Obama’s campaign pledge to build consensus between both sides of the pro-life debate. Failure to do so will confirm what some Vatican officials already suspect of Obama: that his talk of reaching out to all sides was empty talk, designed to deceive. Source

Wow.

One morning in March

I had some free time this morning and was able to go to Mass and Rosedale before I had to pick up Nick. (So here's a brief, random photographic summary.)

When did Epiphany put those giant screens in? I don't remember seeing them before. It was like everything I don't like about sports bars (but with a crucifix). Very bad. I would take the most obnoxious tambourine Mass at St. Paul's before sitting through this one again.
Yes, Father had to turn around during Mass to sing what he didn't have memorized. This in no way counts as ad orientem.
We were told by the giant screens to sing "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field." This will not be on my iPod >:-(
Fortunately, the day perked up when I saw the cutest dress ever at White House, Black Market.
... and a guy repairing the elevator. Nick, you were wondering what it looks like under there. The guy I talked to said it's just a big conveyor.

Indulgences (and Fr. Jon) in the Strib

Indulgences: What's old is new again

That opinion is supported by postings on Internet blogs, where people write about finding "a sense of comfort, connection and renewed hope" and the security that comes from "reclaiming historical traditions in a time of uncertainty."

"We're seeing a resurgence in the interest of traditional piety, especially among the young," said the Rev. John Paul Erickson, director of the Archdiocese's Office of Worship.

At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, student after student confirmed Erickson's view.

HELP!

(really)

UPDATE: I emailed Father, who graciously took responsibility for the oversight. We now have an oasis next to our desert.

Portion Distortion in Home Kitchens

It's not just fast-food restaurants that have supersized the way Americans eat. Cookbooks share the blame.

So-called portion distortion, the trend of eating larger and larger servings, is as much a problem with recipes as it is restaurants, and it has been going on even longer, according to a study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The study, which looked at how classic recipes have changed during the past 70 years, found a nearly 40 percent increase in calories per serving for nearly every recipe reviewed, about an extra 77 calories.

The study identified the trend in numerous cookbooks, but it focused on American kitchen icon "Joy of Cooking," first published during the 1930s and regularly updated with new editions since then, most recently in 2006.

Of the 18 recipes published in all seven editions, 17 increased in calories per serving. That can be attributed partly to a jump in total calories per recipe (about 567 calories) and also to larger portion sizes.

Only the chili con carne recipe remained unchanged through the years. The chicken gumbo, however, went from making 14 servings at 228 calories each in the 1936 edition, to making 10 servings at 576 calories each in the 2006 version.

Read the full article here.

Just in case...

Finally! Something worthwhile has come from an Obama administration

I could make this stuff up, but I'd probably never develop the idea to the point where I could sell it on the 'net.

Now I just need to decide which is my favorite: Determined Chia Obama or Happy Chia Obama.

Go to their site - you can watch it "really grow" before your very eyes!

In honoring our 44th US President, the Chia Pet company presents this Special Edition Chia Obama.

On the side of the Chia Obama planter are his famous words:

'"YES WE CAN."

Can you grow one?

YES YOU CAN.

Easy to do..... Fun to Grow.
Full growth in 1-2 weeks