A Brief U.S. History of Corporate Whining

Heh. Before you get your dander up, turn red in the face trying to scare me with the facts of the imminent demise of all that is right and true about the American Way, I've got one word for Corporate America: quitcherbellyachin'.

For Pro-Life Thoughts Inspired By A Food Critic

I unwittingly came across one of the best Pro-Life articles I’ve ever read (via the mainstream media) in the latest on-line edition of Time magazine. The funny thing is, the author probably didn't realize that is what he was writing about. But that’s the wonderful way unintended graces work themselves out. You write one thing, and I see another, which in a nutshell is why sola scriptura is nonsense (but that's a post for another day).

I Hate It When This Happens! (Friday Funnies)

Cut it OUT! Sheeeeeeeeeeesh! Now I have to install a cloaking device. Do you have any idea how much that will cost?! I'm going to take that out of your allowance Boy Wonder.

Pray For Anu Garg? You Betcha!

Remember me and my pal Anu Garg? We went around the block a few times. Well unlike all the other times I've posted about him and his A.Word.A.Day website, this time my hat is off to him. Maybe caught wind of today's readings.

When New Media Users Meet the Christ...

They will actually have to do more than just "friend" Him. The poster above says that in a nutshell, doesn't it? An encounter with Christ doesn't demand that you do more...you just want to do more. H/T Brandon Vogt (whose book review will be posted this evening...promise!).

Update: Remember this? Seems like 10 years ago!

Catholic Blogger Goes Missing In Action...

And there are several reasons why:

Reason #10. It's September 24th, which means it's only 5 weeks until Halloween! Time for my youngest to get outfitted for the event. Let me present Jango Fett, the father of Boba Fett. Bounty hunting: it's the growth family business of the future. Henchmen lackies of the world...UNITE!

A Message on Mortgage Debt from the World

Just a quick note to parish finance committees from Joe Six-Pack, Catholic layman (in the world, but not of the world). The chart above shows the interest rate on the 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note from 1962 until the present. See the dot on the chart in July 2001? That is just for your reference.  The 10 Year Treasury is a bench mark for mortgage rates. If at all possible, it's probably a great time to refinance parish debt. Or your own mortgage if you can (and haven't already).

That is all.

Because This Makes Me Speechless

And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy One? Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, not one of them was missing. (Isaiah 40:24-25)

The awesomeness of the above photograph cannot be denied. That's the latest shot taken by the Cassini probe to Saturn (and her moons). I just saw it on Yahoo! and had to share it with you.

Labor Day 2011 (Music for Mondays)

In the United States, the first Monday of September is a federal holiday celebrating the contributions and dignity of workers. Nothing gets done without them! But on this day we stretch the weekend out a little longer, wrap up our summers, and have one last barbecue. And here, since its a Monday, I get to throw together some songs celebrating us working stiffs too!

The Fig Harvest Begins!

‎And Amos answered and said to Amasias:"I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs."

Ok, so they're cultivated in my case. Either way, here at Casa del Weathers, it's harvest time! The storm damaged baby tree (5 years old) came through in a big way. God is good!

10 Reasons Why I Won't Publish Your Uncharitable Comments UPDATED

Another ironic sign. 

"Dear Frank,

I wrote a comment on your blog and you didn't publish it. May I ask why? I didn't use any curse words or anything. What gives?"

Quote of the Week

The real trouble with this world of ours is not that it is an unreasonable world, nor even that it is a reasonable one. The commonest kind of trouble is that it is nearly reasonable, but not quite. Life is not an illogicality; yet it is a trap for logicians. It looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is; its exactitude is obvious, but its inexactitude is hidden; its wildness lies in wait. —G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, Chapter V.

"The Kid" Goes to Madrid!

This past Saturday, I shared a little e-mail I received from someone who was converted and called to a vocation while attending World Youth Day back in 2005. Nobody read that post, which means it must have been a pretty important one. No one ever reads posts like those.

Around the World in 3 Minutes: Move, Learn, Eat

One of my favorite lines from scripture concerns "the earth and its fullness." As a Catholic Christian, you should know that this broad, nay, "catholic" expression describing the world and its wonders is to be lived and experienced with joy by us all.

Remember that Confession Video by "the Kid?"

Great news...Marc Barnes, aka "the Kid,"from BadCatholic was awarded a $1000 scholarship from the i-Confess contest.  The contest was put on by the Diocese of Brooklyn in conjunction with both the Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Rockville Centre. Great job Marc! Here are the Top Ten results,

Because Yes, Baseball and Faith Are Compatible

H/T to Our Sunday Visitor for catching this ground ball and throwing it to me on second base. I first learned of Florida Marlins manager Jack MeKeon's piety while watching  the video Champions of Faith with my children a few years back.

Because Irony Is God's Way of Lightening Our Load (Friday Funnies)

Photo credit: Sameli 

Go ahead...I dare you not to crack a smile at these. Push all liquids away from your keyboard, swallow any food you have in your mouth, and don't forget to breathe. I'm probably the last person to have seen them.

To Visit Provence Again, As A Catholic

It's the Feast of St. Martha, you know, "the Dragonslayer" today. Yes, you read that right. Father Steve of Word on Fire has a few words about that and they prompted me to dust this off and bring it to the top today. Enjoy!

I ate at a McDonald's in Avignon once. I like to see how Mickey D's adapts to local tastes abroad. My wife and I also walked around the streets briefly too, before we had to get back on the tour bus that was taking us from Nice to the Burgundy country. See, we rewarded ourselves with a European trip after we graduated from college. It was the Summer of 1993.

Would You Believe for the Fallible Facepalm?

So we were driving to Mass this past Sunday, like we've done every Sunday since forever. Listening to the radio, with the kids riding in the back, something prompted my wife and I to start naming off the Seven Sacraments.

For Anti-Democratic, Dictatorship Loving, Theocratic Fascist Thoughts...Not!

Check out my cool sword! Can't wait to use it... 

There I was, writing about pluralism. So my friend Mark Shea has been catching some heat lately for commenting on a video where self-proclaimed Catholic role-model, and all around knowledgeable guy, Michael Voris, blasts the hymn Amazing Grace for leading all Catholics into perdition's flames. There's a host of similar conspiracies that have been hatched on us too, and MV dutifully warns us of them all.