Friday July 18th 2008
he idol of oil...
At St. Ann's Parish in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the Rev. Edward McDonagh has decided to institute a drawing for a $50 gasoline card at weekly mass.
The drawings are symbolic gestures and not intended to boost attendance, he said.
"When Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana, the groom ran out of wine, he produced the wine for them," he said. "In that spirit, we feel that this might be comparable."
Source: Yahoo! News
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Friday July 18th 2008
hrift and thought on the part of an NBA rookie:
Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love, 19, whose contract guarantees him $5.4 million for the next two years, won't be buying a Cadillac Escalade or similar luxury sport utility vehicle like many of his teammates. "Maybe a Prius, because gas prices are so high," he said. "I'm all about saving money so I can have some security. I'm not chasing money; I'm chasing the game."
Source: Pioneer Press
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Monday July 14th 2008
here are, quite naturally, some things that I do in my free time for which I might feel guilty later, because I can say that I wasted time: for example, playing Half Life for a couple hours straight or watching a full two hours of America's Got Talent. But then there are activities after which I do no feel guilty, one of my more common such activities being running, getting exercise. Today I spent a few hours watching the Home Run Derby, and while watching the first seven out of eight contestants seemed like a waste of time, that all changed when Josh Hamilton's turn came.
Josh Hamilton, who grew up in Raleigh, was drafted first overall in 2003 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and was touted as someone who would be a great baseball player. But right away he fell into heroin addiction and poverty, leaving baseball behind and losing millions of dollars that he was guaranteed if he stayed clean and played the game. Then in 2005 he started to turn his life around. He became a Christian, fought his drug addiction, and returned from idleness to baseball. Last season was his first in the Major Leagues, and his return was impressive as he hit well and displayed the natural skills that earned him his accolades coming into the 2003 draft. His off-field life was impressive too as he retained accountability in guarding himself from returning to his previous lifestyle, and while he shared his story with struggling kids in America.
Now he has emerged as a great baseball player, and he set a record tonight at Yankee Stadium with 28 home runs in the first round of the home run derby (pitched to by a 71 year old who used to pitch batting practice to Josh when he was a teenager, and to whom Josh promised that he would take with him to the Home Run Derby if he ever made it there). The next closest competitor hit 8.
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Saturday May 31st 2008
n Wednesday I saw something really lame on tv. It was a commercial for this summer's America's Got Talent show on NBC. Last season in Britain's Got Talent, the winner was Paul Potts, a heavyset phone salesman who unexpectedly could sing opera really well, revealing this in his first audition by singing Nessun Dorma. In one of the previews for this year's America's Got Talent, a heavyset insurance salesman who unexpectedly could sing opera really well, reveals this in his first audition by singing Nessun Dorma.
I really enjoy watching professional hockey, but if the National Hockey League (NHL) touts Sidney Crosby like he's the only thing they've got, then the NHL does not deserve more fans.
Saw something irresistible on CNN.com this morning. The headline to one of their featured videos mentioned that a man claims to have caught a space alien outside his house on video camera. Unfortunately, for unclear reasons, the man's video could not be aired on CNN. A still photo from the video was fodder encouragging skepticism. The simulations were lame. Like the X-Files, I want to believe. Apparently this guy has had multiple encounters, which oddly enough makes me even less inclined to believe the witness. I can't directly link to the Larry King interview, but go to http://www.cnn.com/video/ and search for "aliens among us".
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Monday May 26th 2008
eavenly Father, today we remember with pride and with sorrow our soldiers whose blood was spilled in distant hostile lands. We are thankful for their sacrifice, and the loss endured by their wives, parents, children, and comrades, so that we can continue our quality of life in our free and beautiful nation. There is no greater love than that a man should give his life for his friends, and yet more for friends unknown. We beg of you that you found these soldiers before they gave their lives, and promoted them into your celestial army. Forgive their sins, and comfort their friends and families here at home. Do not let their deaths be in vain: the sands of Arabia are dry and parched and cannot receive their fill of blood, but we pray for the day when those wildernesses are transformed into a garden. Amen.
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Saturday May 24th 2008
his holiday weekend comes at a good time for my needs, as work continues to be stressful. So far this spring, the Raleigh area has been blessed with gorgeous weather. I resumed working with my personal fitness trainer a month ago, so Saturday mornings consist of an hour with him followed by an hour or two of running. It's good exercise that almost makes up for sitting in a chair most of the work week. With my trainer I have already started losing excess weight from the wrong places, and I feel better when I run. While some may be surprised that I have excess weight, people who see how I usually eat during the week would understand.
Right now I am feeling content, so it would be remiss if I wasted the moment and the beautiful afternoon in front of this computer.
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Wednesday May 14th 2008
his looks fun.
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Saturday May 10th 2008
ow many superdelegates are at stake in states 51-57, Mr. Obama?
Yahoo releases a subtly useful new security feature to show what links returned in a search might contain dangerous downloads or might take your e-mail address for the purpose of sending spam. Attention to details and taking care of the small things are signs of a company that cares about its user-base.
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Thursday May 8th 2008
find this to be some truly beautiful photography from a lens-wielder in Karachi, Pakistan.
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Saturday May 3rd 2008
atching two Philly games live on my computer, both games tied. One team is fighting to wrap up a playoff series victory (Spoiler: they win)
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E l s e w h e r e
Schoolboys punished with detention for refusing to kneel in class and pray to Allah (link added 07.06.08)
How long before this happens in America?
Read it
Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol (link added 06.16.08)
Crude oil is being created from genetically modified bug excretions.
Read it
Pringles can designer buried in his work (link added 06.03.08)
Designer of the Pringles can was cremated and his remains kept in a Pringles can.
Read it
P o e t r y
Contented Wi' Little, And Cantie Wi' Mair - Robert Burns
Contented wi' little and cantie wi' mair,
Whene'er I forgather wi' Sorrow and Care,
I gie them a skelp, as they're creepin alang,
Wi' a cog o' guid swats and an auld Scottish sang.
I whyles claw the elbow o' troublesome Thought;
But Man is a soger, and Life is a faught.
My mirth and guid humour are coin in my pouch,
And my Freedom's my lairdship nae monarch daur touch.
A towmond o' trouble, should that be my fa',
A night o' guid fellowship sowthers it a':
When at the blythe end o' our journey at last,
Wha the Deil ever thinks o' the road he has past?
Blind Chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way,
Be't to me, be't frae me, e'en let the jade gae!
Come Ease or come Travail, come Pleasure or Pain,
My warst word is:- ' Welcome, and welcome again!'
S t o r y
R e a d
