Trousered Ape
An exercise in presumption.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
It's over.
Rest eternal grant her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her.
She has passed through the valley of the shadow of death; may the Lord prepare a table for her in the presence of her enemies; may her cup overflow; may she dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Lord, have mercy on us all, and especially on those complicit in her death. Please forgive us for any evil we have done, or any good we have failed to do, that caused her life to be taken from her.
Rest eternal grant her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her.
She has passed through the valley of the shadow of death; may the Lord prepare a table for her in the presence of her enemies; may her cup overflow; may she dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Lord, have mercy on us all, and especially on those complicit in her death. Please forgive us for any evil we have done, or any good we have failed to do, that caused her life to be taken from her.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Via Dawn Eden, a bright spot in a dark world: Terri Schiavo was allowed to receive the Blood of our Lord on Easter Sunday. Thanks be to God!
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Monday, March 21, 2005
It isn't over yet. Keep up the praying!
(If you will pardon a little comic relief: also spotted on Drudge, an unfortunate juxtaposition of headline and photograph.)
(If you will pardon a little comic relief: also spotted on Drudge, an unfortunate juxtaposition of headline and photograph.)
Thursday, March 17, 2005
I have been challenged by TSO of the blog whose name is longer than its URL:
You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451. Which book do you want to be?
Anything in cuneiform. [Update: It appears, from seeing this game elsewhere, that "being a book" in "Fahrenheit 451" actually means being a person who has memorized a book; so the question, in effect, is which book would you choose to memorize. Never having memorized a book, I do not know how easy or difficult it would be, or if a long book would require a more intense (as opposed to simply prolonged) effort than a short one; nor could I possibly decide which book I ought to choose, there being so many that ought to be preserved; I will therefore punt, and say, "Assign me a book and I'll do my best to memorize it."]
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Not that I can remember (though once upon a time I had a soft spot for Eve Halliday of P. G. Wodehouse's "Leave it to Psmith"). (The problem with having a crush on a fictional character is that almost anyone worth having a crush on winds up married to a better man then I; so why bother?)
The last book you bought was . . .
"The Face of a Stranger" by Anne Perry;
The Gormenghast novels ("Titus Groan", "Gormenghast", and "Titus Alone") by Mervyn Peake.
The last book you read was . . .
"Throy" by Jack Vance (the third and concluding book of the Cadwal Chronicles).
What are you currently reading?
"Babylon" by Joan Oates; alternately with "Mansfield Park".
Five books you would take to a desert island:
I always cite G. K. Chesterton's definitive answer to the book(s)-on-a-desert-island question: "Thomas's Guide to Practical Shipbuilding".
What three people are you passing this stick on to and why?
The Dizzy Disciple (because she said I could);
alicia of Fructis Ventris (or, as my spell checker would have it, Fructose Ventures) (because she scored higher than I did on the Commonly Confused Words test);
The Two Sleepy Mommies (because they haven't posted anything in a while).
[Update: alicia has risen to the occasion.]
You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451. Which book do you want to be?
Anything in cuneiform. [Update: It appears, from seeing this game elsewhere, that "being a book" in "Fahrenheit 451" actually means being a person who has memorized a book; so the question, in effect, is which book would you choose to memorize. Never having memorized a book, I do not know how easy or difficult it would be, or if a long book would require a more intense (as opposed to simply prolonged) effort than a short one; nor could I possibly decide which book I ought to choose, there being so many that ought to be preserved; I will therefore punt, and say, "Assign me a book and I'll do my best to memorize it."]
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Not that I can remember (though once upon a time I had a soft spot for Eve Halliday of P. G. Wodehouse's "Leave it to Psmith"). (The problem with having a crush on a fictional character is that almost anyone worth having a crush on winds up married to a better man then I; so why bother?)
The last book you bought was . . .
"The Face of a Stranger" by Anne Perry;
The Gormenghast novels ("Titus Groan", "Gormenghast", and "Titus Alone") by Mervyn Peake.
The last book you read was . . .
"Throy" by Jack Vance (the third and concluding book of the Cadwal Chronicles).
What are you currently reading?
"Babylon" by Joan Oates; alternately with "Mansfield Park".
Five books you would take to a desert island:
I always cite G. K. Chesterton's definitive answer to the book(s)-on-a-desert-island question: "Thomas's Guide to Practical Shipbuilding".
What three people are you passing this stick on to and why?
The Dizzy Disciple (because she said I could);
alicia of Fructis Ventris (or, as my spell checker would have it, Fructose Ventures) (because she scored higher than I did on the Commonly Confused Words test);
The Two Sleepy Mommies (because they haven't posted anything in a while).
[Update: alicia has risen to the occasion.]
Monday, March 14, 2005
YES!! President Bush stiffs a terrorist:
President George Bush has ordered that Mr. [Gerry] Adams be frozen out of official engagements during his visit to America, furious that the Sinn Fein leader had betrayed his efforts to help restart the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Bush now views Mr Adams in the same unfavourable light as he did Yasser Arafat, a senior presidential adviser said.
"The President no longer considers Mr Adams a reliable partner for peace. He doesn't want to meet him."
Mr Bush was enraged to learn that at the same time as he was pressing Mr Adams late last year to reactivate a power-sharing deal, the IRA was planning the £26million ($63million) robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast...
Mr Bush's displeasure has forced Mr Adams to abandon plans to raise money while in the US. The Government made it clear that it would not grant him a visa that permits fund-raising...
[Adams] said he was disappointed but not offended that he was not invited to meet Mr Bush at the White House on Thursday, St Patrick's Day.
Mr Adams was invited to a St Patrick's Day reception at the White House by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and given permission to start raising funds three years later. While he and other Irish political leaders are not on Mr Bush's guest list for St Patrick's Day celebrations, the President will welcome the sisters and fiancee of Robert McCartney, the Catholic man murdered by a gang of IRA thugs in January.
(Via Power Line. Also, Mark Steyn comments.)
If we're going to have a War on Terror, then by all means let's put the bloodthirsty goons of the IRA on the hit list. How dare they smirch and sully and pervert the Catholic faith with their evil. Islamic terrorists are merely enemies; these people are traitors.
President George Bush has ordered that Mr. [Gerry] Adams be frozen out of official engagements during his visit to America, furious that the Sinn Fein leader had betrayed his efforts to help restart the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Bush now views Mr Adams in the same unfavourable light as he did Yasser Arafat, a senior presidential adviser said.
"The President no longer considers Mr Adams a reliable partner for peace. He doesn't want to meet him."
Mr Bush was enraged to learn that at the same time as he was pressing Mr Adams late last year to reactivate a power-sharing deal, the IRA was planning the £26million ($63million) robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast...
Mr Bush's displeasure has forced Mr Adams to abandon plans to raise money while in the US. The Government made it clear that it would not grant him a visa that permits fund-raising...
[Adams] said he was disappointed but not offended that he was not invited to meet Mr Bush at the White House on Thursday, St Patrick's Day.
Mr Adams was invited to a St Patrick's Day reception at the White House by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and given permission to start raising funds three years later. While he and other Irish political leaders are not on Mr Bush's guest list for St Patrick's Day celebrations, the President will welcome the sisters and fiancee of Robert McCartney, the Catholic man murdered by a gang of IRA thugs in January.
(Via Power Line. Also, Mark Steyn comments.)
If we're going to have a War on Terror, then by all means let's put the bloodthirsty goons of the IRA on the hit list. How dare they smirch and sully and pervert the Catholic faith with their evil. Islamic terrorists are merely enemies; these people are traitors.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
The only good drummer is a dead drummer.
- Valdemar Kutte, Director, Grand Salon Orchestra of Gladbetook
- Valdemar Kutte, Director, Grand Salon Orchestra of Gladbetook
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Recently added to the blogroll:
Contemplating the Laundry
Just Your Average Catholic Guy
Minivan Mom
Vita Brevis
With Issue
Contemplating the Laundry
Just Your Average Catholic Guy
Minivan Mom
Vita Brevis
With Issue
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Before the day is out, I would like to record my continuing love for my inestimable and incomparable Bride on this occasion of her birthday.
And another quiz (funny, the percentages don't seem to track too well with the relative scores):
[Update: sorry, forgot to mention that I found this at Jeanetta's De Fidei Oboedientia.]
| English Genius You scored 93% Beginner, 86% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 77% Expert! |
| You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog. |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid |
[Update: sorry, forgot to mention that I found this at Jeanetta's De Fidei Oboedientia.]
I knew there was a reason I liked Russell Crowe. His reaction to an alleged plot by al-Qaeda to kidnap him:
Crowe joked about what it would be like if he had been captured: "I think it was a bit odd. But I also thought, mate, if you want to kidnap me, you'd better bring a mouth gag. I'll be talking you out of the essential philosophies you believe in the first 24 hours, son. I might chew through the first one, too, so be prepared."
(Found at Relapsed Catholic.)
Crowe joked about what it would be like if he had been captured: "I think it was a bit odd. But I also thought, mate, if you want to kidnap me, you'd better bring a mouth gag. I'll be talking you out of the essential philosophies you believe in the first 24 hours, son. I might chew through the first one, too, so be prepared."
(Found at Relapsed Catholic.)
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Unable to resist this one (10 things you've done that most people probably haven't):
1. Graduated from college 3 times with a bachelor's degree each time (math/economics; civil engineering; and computer science).
2. Came in dead last in a charity gold tournament, thus winning the "Most Honest Golfer" accolade.
3. Married a Protestant missionary.
4. Made the acquaintance of said missionary through a national singles organization.
5. Gone through a (fortunately brief and mild) bout of Meniere's Disease.
6. Been in the same room with three Buckley brothers: William F. Jr., James, and Reid.
7. Traveled nonstop from Miami to New Jersey in a small sedan with three other people (two of whom were too young to drive), a great deal of luggage, and a kitten. [Update: M'lynn of Scattershot Direct pulled off a similar feat, only hers was Olympic heavyweight class.]
8. Qualified for "Jeopardy" three years in a row (alas, never made it on).
9. Saved one of my children from drowning.
10. Scored a combined 1550 on my SAT (sorry, Zorak).
1. Graduated from college 3 times with a bachelor's degree each time (math/economics; civil engineering; and computer science).
2. Came in dead last in a charity gold tournament, thus winning the "Most Honest Golfer" accolade.
3. Married a Protestant missionary.
4. Made the acquaintance of said missionary through a national singles organization.
5. Gone through a (fortunately brief and mild) bout of Meniere's Disease.
6. Been in the same room with three Buckley brothers: William F. Jr., James, and Reid.
7. Traveled nonstop from Miami to New Jersey in a small sedan with three other people (two of whom were too young to drive), a great deal of luggage, and a kitten. [Update: M'lynn of Scattershot Direct pulled off a similar feat, only hers was Olympic heavyweight class.]
8. Qualified for "Jeopardy" three years in a row (alas, never made it on).
9. Saved one of my children from drowning.
10. Scored a combined 1550 on my SAT (sorry, Zorak).
Saturday, March 05, 2005
I am pleased to announce that the Bride has been inspired to start her own blog. You can find her at The Dizzy Disciple.
TSO, at Video meliora (and so on) tells of a proposed corporate policy that not even my own Moonbeam has thought of:
...we have employee satisfaction surveys which were recently renamed employee engagement surveys. Apparently these are used to gauge morale and it's to the big guys' credit that they seem to care about the scores. The best companies apparently have the highest "engagement" scores.
Our scores were none too high. Especially on one of the company maxims, which is "to have fun". Seriously. One of the company goals is that we have fun. The fun score for our area was so low that the higher-ups were feeling pressure. At a meeting discussing ways to improve our fun quotient it was suggested that we have department-sponsored pizza lunches. The VP brings pizza to the conference room and we all bond. But what is outside hilarity is the VP asked the other managers to have us sign a sheet at the pizza lunch saying we were having fun! You can't make this stuff up. I can only guess the idea is that low engagement scores on fun would be refuted by this documentation, acquired under duress (i.e. no signature, no pizza - ala the Irish Soupers). My manager, attempting to keep a straight face, helped talk the VP out of it. Only in America.
...we have employee satisfaction surveys which were recently renamed employee engagement surveys. Apparently these are used to gauge morale and it's to the big guys' credit that they seem to care about the scores. The best companies apparently have the highest "engagement" scores.
Our scores were none too high. Especially on one of the company maxims, which is "to have fun". Seriously. One of the company goals is that we have fun. The fun score for our area was so low that the higher-ups were feeling pressure. At a meeting discussing ways to improve our fun quotient it was suggested that we have department-sponsored pizza lunches. The VP brings pizza to the conference room and we all bond. But what is outside hilarity is the VP asked the other managers to have us sign a sheet at the pizza lunch saying we were having fun! You can't make this stuff up. I can only guess the idea is that low engagement scores on fun would be refuted by this documentation, acquired under duress (i.e. no signature, no pizza - ala the Irish Soupers). My manager, attempting to keep a straight face, helped talk the VP out of it. Only in America.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Greg Popcak at the Heart, Mind, & Strength blog has a suggestion that those who care about Terri Schiavo could join him in fasting until March 18 and, if necessary, beyond. It sounds like an excellent idea. I will do so.
Latest on the home front...January, of course, zipped by, and so did February (I have heard it speculated that time seems to go by faster as one ages because each day is a smaller fraction of one's life to date; no notion as to whether it's true or not, but it sounds plausible).
The Bride came down with a slight case of vertigo on New Year's Day and it has been hanging on ever since. It doesn't much impede her day-to-day life, but after two months she is heartily sick and tired of it. After seeing her doctor and an ENT specialist, she starts something called "vestibular rehabilitation" on Monday.
Work has been going - for the moment - remarkably smoothly. The customization project I was working on for the city in California (for convenience, let's call it Upscale City) is complete and paid for, and they have managed, it appears, to complete their end: the aim of the project was to use a table in our database as a central street address table for all our applications; this table to be populated exclusively from a separate address database owned and managed by the City's IT department. After much work, they have been able to unload their address data into the file format that we agreed to at the start of the project. My other current projects are: continuing work on upgrading our Real Estate Tax package, and running data conversions for clients migrating from older versions of our Tax software to the current version.
The oven died again, so we finally bit the bullet and got a new stove (from Home Depot this time - I don't think we'll deal with Sears again for major appliances, as their customer service leaves much to be desired), and Agway installed it with a minimum of fuss and bother; so the children can have French fries for lunch again...and again...and again.
I may have to rename the Equestrienne "The Authoress". She has been working on writing for months; she finds it easy enough to start a story, but usually bogs down before she can finish it. However, under the stimulus of a library writing competition, she finally finished one (perhaps not surprisingly, the plot revolves around a riding stable). I think there's definitely some talent there; with practice, and a good editor, she might go places.
I finished our 2004 Federal tax return last weekend and mailed it in. We'll be getting enough of a refund to get a new riding mower, and some left over for a cushion. We got the old mower when we moved here in 1992 and it's had a lot of hard work: we have about 3/4 of an acre of grass to cut, and as a previous owner kept sheep, some of the ground is very fertile.
From time to time it snows and we shovel it.
The Bride came down with a slight case of vertigo on New Year's Day and it has been hanging on ever since. It doesn't much impede her day-to-day life, but after two months she is heartily sick and tired of it. After seeing her doctor and an ENT specialist, she starts something called "vestibular rehabilitation" on Monday.
Work has been going - for the moment - remarkably smoothly. The customization project I was working on for the city in California (for convenience, let's call it Upscale City) is complete and paid for, and they have managed, it appears, to complete their end: the aim of the project was to use a table in our database as a central street address table for all our applications; this table to be populated exclusively from a separate address database owned and managed by the City's IT department. After much work, they have been able to unload their address data into the file format that we agreed to at the start of the project. My other current projects are: continuing work on upgrading our Real Estate Tax package, and running data conversions for clients migrating from older versions of our Tax software to the current version.
The oven died again, so we finally bit the bullet and got a new stove (from Home Depot this time - I don't think we'll deal with Sears again for major appliances, as their customer service leaves much to be desired), and Agway installed it with a minimum of fuss and bother; so the children can have French fries for lunch again...and again...and again.
I may have to rename the Equestrienne "The Authoress". She has been working on writing for months; she finds it easy enough to start a story, but usually bogs down before she can finish it. However, under the stimulus of a library writing competition, she finally finished one (perhaps not surprisingly, the plot revolves around a riding stable). I think there's definitely some talent there; with practice, and a good editor, she might go places.
I finished our 2004 Federal tax return last weekend and mailed it in. We'll be getting enough of a refund to get a new riding mower, and some left over for a cushion. We got the old mower when we moved here in 1992 and it's had a lot of hard work: we have about 3/4 of an acre of grass to cut, and as a previous owner kept sheep, some of the ground is very fertile.
From time to time it snows and we shovel it.
