It just doesn’t seem like the last day of the year, but such it is and none too soon by my lights.

May 2003 bring peace and all good.

Another football post!

One birthday when I was a little fellow, I spent part of the day at Mile High Stadium on a special thing for Cub Scouts, so I’ve always thought of football on my b’day.

Brian Griese is the second-coming of Mark Herrman. If you’re an actual Bronco fan rather than a Johnny-come-lately bandwagon-jumper, you’ll know what I mean. If only we could get half as much in trade for Griese as we did for Herrmann!

I’m a fan of Tuesday Morning Quarterback* by the tastefully-named Gregg Easterbrook, even if it hasn’t been quite as good since some time around the 2000 election. I’ve seen the real-life name of another pseudonyumous member of St. Blog’s quoted in TMQ, but I shan’t list it here.

Anyway, one of the most fun features of TMQ is the alternative nicknames that he (or, in many cases, a clever reader) has given to the NFL teams. I’m going to recount all those I recall from TMQ and then offer some of my own for the teams that don’t yet have TMQ names of their own.

TMQ’s names (alphabetically):
- Arizona (Caution, May Contain Football-like Substance) Cardinals;
- Baltimore Nevermores;
- Bay of Green;
- Chesapeake Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons.
- City of Tampa;
- Cleveland Oranges (Release 2.1);
- Detroit Peugots;
- Houston Moo Cows;
- Indianapolis Lucky Charms;
- Jersey/A;
- Jersey/B;
- Miami Marine Mammals;
- New Orleans Boy Scouts;
- Oakland Long Johns;
- St. Louis Mouflons;
- Seattle Blue Man Group;
- San Francisco Squared Sevens; and
- Tennessee Flaming Thumbtacks.

Gregg the Obscure’s additions with explanations (non-alphabetical)

Denver Predominantly Orange – When announcing the uniform change that took place shortly after the most disgusting game result in the history of team sports, the team’s owner said the new uniforms would be “predominantly orange”. Does anyone have some kind of weird optical condition that makes that statement anywhere close to true? (Note: some Denver Post writers have used this name for a while, but it’s too good to pass up. To my knowledge, all others are original, even if some of them have been independently developed elsewhere.)

Los Angeles’ Once and Future Team (Chargers) – (Pending Al Davis’ latest lawsuit about how the LA area is “his territory”, although he undeniably did to it what dogs to their territory). Please bring back the baby blue jerseys.

Cincinnati Nepotism Object Lesson – This team’s great success in the past decade (in which they’ve become the losingest team in the NFL after having gone to 2 super bowls in the previous decade) coincides with the scion of the team’s founder acting as GM. Coincidence?

Buffalo Zouave Detectives – They can help the team’s most famous player of the ‘70s “find the real killers” while dressed like the most flamboyant military personnel of the 19th century. (See a picture of Zouaves in uniform here .) Heck, Drew Bledsoe et al probably already spend as much time and money on trying to “find the real killers” as does the team’s famous alum.

Minnesota Purple Drain – With apologies to the whack-job formerly known as Prince (himself a Minneapolitan), that seems to be where Mr. Moss is taking his teammates down.

Philadelphia Experiments – Play one fewer exhibition than usual when the turf isn’t up to snuff? Ok. Try the new high-tech fake turf before anyone else? Uh huh. Put in the second string quarterback? No problem. Third-string? Yep. Also the team that’s changes uniforms the most, but always looks spiffy.

Atlanta Dixie-can’ts– When they moved into the Georgia Dome, the then-owner wanted to play “Dixie” to celebrate, only to find out that the initial owners had contracted that the team would never allow that song to be played at a game in Georgia. Had Strom Thurmond been elected back in ’48, we wouldn’t have had that problem!

Champaign Flutes -- at least until Soldier Field re-opens, then there’s a bit of a new nickname issue.

Dallas Ointments – The other thing packaged with a blue star that frequently gets put in embarrassing spots.

Kansas City Linux – Mr. Vermeil’s charges wear red helmets. The company Red Hat sells Linux. Good thing they don’t sell original Unix!

New England Close Shaves – They had a few of those in the playoffs last year, the play at a stadium named for a razor company and the fella on the helmet doesn’t have a lick o’ facial hair (nor did his predecessor).

Carolina Bruises – Between the black and blue uniforms and the propensity for losing players to injury, it’s about the only one I could think of. Open to any and all suggestions on this one.

Pittsburgh Condiments – The stadium’s named for ketchup. The pants look like mustard. (Another one where I’m open to better suggestions.)

Ville of Jackson -- in keeping with above City of Tampa and Bay of Green. (There are two that I like much more, but they don’t reflect a spirit of Christian charity.)

*Beware that some of the cheerleader photos may be near occasions of sin if you’re drawn to skinny girls in skimpy costumes.

The other day, while discssing an errand trip that included getting stuff at the grocery store and dropping other stuff off at the thrift store, my (sleepy) better half had a great spoonerism: "When you stop at Safeway de Paul . . . "

I can just picture the religously oriented grocery store now. Instead of the usual sales they'd have, "Buy Two and We'll Donate One to the Needy!" specials. The meat department wouldn't be open on Friday. The whole store would shut down on Sunday. Of course they'd be picketed for refusal to provide contraceptives. Perhaps it's for the best there isn't such a store.

So ya wanna know a little bit about Boulder, Colorado?

Thirty-nine years ago today I was born. Henceforth I think I might emulate my pastor and, when asked my age, reply “Thirty-nine ninety-five plus shipping and handling”. Either that or start to play the violin badly in emulation of the perpetual 39-year-old.

The following has always seemed to me to be a particularly appropriate verse for any occasion. (I haven’t linked the tune as it’s too dirge-like).

"The Lord hath Helped Me Hitherto"

1. The Lord hath helped me hitherto
By His surpassing favor;
His mercies every morn were new,
His kindness did not waver.
God hitherto hath been my Guide,
Hath pleasures hitherto supplied,
And hitherto hath helped me.

2. I praise and thank Thee, Lord, my God,
For Thine abundant blessing
Which heretofore Thou hast bestowed
And I am still possessing.
Inscribe this on my memory:
The Lord hath done great things for me
And graciously hath helped me.

3. Help me henceforth, O God of grace,
Help me on each occasion,
Help me in each and every place,
Help me through Jesus' Passion;
Help me in life and death, O God,
Help me through Jesus' dying blood;
Help me as Thou hast helped me!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn 33 from
Author: Aemilie Juliane, 1699
Translated by: August Crull, 1882

The 8:48 post is necessitated by another instance of a blogger upset at being directly quoted without having had permission for the quotation sought in advance. Some may remember a similar kerfuffle involving Mr. Sungenis several weeks ago.

17 U.S.C. §107 (emphasis added)

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include -

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors

Warning – this post is long and arcane, like its author.

This got a burr under my saddle. I realize it was posted twelve days ago, but circumstances got in the way of a more prompt response. (The author requested that I not quote the post directly here, but merely link to it. In short, the author hopes that Archbishop Chaput does leave Colorado as she has a series of complaints about him.)

I don’t share the author’s opinion of the Archbishop in the least.

I’d say that one of the largest reasons for Abp. Chaput’s popularity is that he, in contrast to too many of our current bishops, is not shy about preaching the Church’s teachings – particularly those that aren’t popular in our culture. I was at the All Saints’ Day Mass where he mentioned (neither in passing nor as the central theme of the sermon, but as an example of an issue where most people in our society have the opportunity to grow in holiness) the importance of Catholic teaching on sexuality. Some rich and prominent people walked out at the offering, but that didn’t deter him. There’s more to him than his skill as a speaker. He expects us all to be serious about growing in holiness. I have farther to go than most in that regard, but even as depraved as I am, I recognize that this is the central message of the Church.

There are more continuing educational opportunities for priests, deacons and interested laity through the extension programs of the John Paul II Institute for the New Evangelization and the new Catholic Biblical School. They aren’t all held at the JPII center either – if you look in the diocesan paper, you’ll see that courses on any number of good topics are offered in many locations and times. (Both of those “projects” were initiated by the current archbishop.)

This diocese is one of the larger ones in terms of geography in the United States, though it isn’t especially large in terms of number of people. That brings its own set of difficulties. That has a lot to do with the recent addition of Assistant Bishop Jose Gomez (himself a most impressive man). Last spring my wife and I took a brief vacation to a few mountain spots in celebration of our wedding anniversary and the conclusion of the spring semester of school. We found out that the Archbishop would be celebrating a special confirmation Mass on our anniversary in Edwards -- a town not far from where we were -- so we went. The priest gave a few remarks in which it was clear that he appreciated very much all the many means of support which this booming and bustling parish – and he personally -- was receiving from the archdiocese.

The most recent issue of the diocesan paper included the audited financial statement for the last fiscal year (something that’s been discontinued in many dioceses recently). It shows a series of ongoing projects in and outside metro Denver.

The priest shortage is a real problem, and a long-term one. Colorado’s population has increased substantially in the past two decades. There are all sorts of new parishes in newly developed areas. The priest shortage isn’t limited to the Boulder area – it’s endemic to the Western world. We’re in one of the few dioceses in the nation (and, I daresay, the Western world) where the number of seminarians has shown consistent increases in each of the past several years. That’s due in large part to the hard work of Abp. Chaput and his choice of the new seminary administration. It takes a long time for seminarians to become available, so he’s also done quite a bit to bring in priests from outside the archdiocese. The Oblates of the Virgin Mary have taken charge of Holy Ghost parish, with more of them to come soon. The staff at the Cathedral has been reduced significantly, with no reduction in the availability of the Sacraments. (Bp. Gomez is a very hard-working man, as is Fr. Misziura!) All of those changes freed up several priests for other duties. Multiple priests from abroad have recently come to Denver. This problem is being addressed – maybe not as quickly as would be ideal, but it is being addressed. I’m sorry you haven’t seen results around Boulder.

I’ve never heard a dunning letter. I heard letters of thanks at two parishes for their generous contributions in excess of the goals that had been set. (The generosity of these parishes, especially during hard times, is telling.) I’m unable to comment on the dunning letter. Similarly I have no idea what the vicar for the clergy may have said. I can say that there are only two priests I’ve had negative experiences with in this diocese. One is Jesuit, the other Vincentian. Neither is on staff of any parish. They’re both bitter old men. One actually spent a big chunk of a sermon complaining that the Church spends so much time opposing abortion compared to the death penalty. (Does he have any clue as to the number of people killed by each? ) The other quotes pop psychology in the confessional. I’ve had a few experiences with the chancery, all of which left me impressed with the holiness and competence of the people with whom I’d dealt.

Given the sociology of Boulder compared to most of the rest of the state, I’m not surprised that the Archbishop is less popular there than elsewhere. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Boulder area wasn’t very high on the priority list. Boulderites are more likely to be rich, healthy, non-immigrants and childless than most other Coloradans. The ministry of this archbishop doesn’t focus so much on such people as on those with the opposite traits.

That all being said, I’m not so sure that His Excellency should stay here much longer. I agree that he’s in line for the red hat. I can’t say that my hometown, as dear as it is to me, is a major enough center of the Church to have the dignity of a cardinal archbishop. As for a successor, Jose Gomez, the Assistant Bishop, would be an excellent choice (although I’ve always thought he’s in training for bigger things – Los Angeles, perhaps?).

Video Melioria has the ultimate Canadian Christmas picture. I’d love to know the story behind it!

All in all it was an odd start to Christmas.

Highlights:

* Midnight Masa at the Cathedral – one of the most reverent and moving worship experiences in my life, including the Schubert Sanctus. (There’s a profound connection to I Corinthians 12 in singing the ordinary in harmony – even more so when the music is so good that one can picture it being sung my the angels and saints) and Eucharistic Prayer I.

* Seeing my friend’s four-year-old son playing with an assortment of yesterday’s bounty with such pure excitement.

Lowlights:

* The computer still doesn’t recognize the @#$#@%#@$ digital camera (an HP, no less).

* Hearing the incessant chatter of so many of the Midnight Mass attendees during the hour before the pre-service music. That would have been a much better opportunity for prayer if people could have been more respectful of both Him whom we were there to celebrate and of their neighbors. I should treat that as a reminder to myself of the need to treat our Father and all His children with greater kindness and respect and not just at Christmas.

A hymn from my childhood (well, it's actually a bit older than me, but about as old as I feel today) in celebration of the glorious Feast of the Nativity:

"Let Us All with Gladsome Voice"

1. Let us all with gladsome voice
Praise the God of heaven,
Who, to bid our hearts rejoice,
His own Son hath given.

2. To this vale of tears He comes,
Here to serve in sadness,
That with Him in heaven's fair homes
We may reign in gladness.

3. We are rich, for He was poor;
Is not this a wonder?
Therefore praise God evermore
Here on earth and yonder.

4. 0 Lord Christ, our Savior dear,
Be Thou ever near us.
Grant us now a glad new year.
Amen, Jesus, hear us!

The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) Hymn #97
Author: unknown, 1632
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Lasst uns alle froehlich sein"
Tune: "Lasst uns alle"
1st Published in: _Gesangbuch, Ander Teil_ Dresden, 1632

The fourth verse has long been my favorite prayer for the last week of the old year and the first week of the new. (The tune's available -- and, as usual, played too slowly -- here.)

A most blessed Christmas to you and yours!

Thanks for your prayers and kind words this past week in the wake of my father's passing.

Yet another odd note. The service was on Saturday December 21. His pastor had a brief autobiography of Dad's (which I hadn't seen, although I'd seen one very like it) dated December 21, 1992. I was glad that we heard it.

It was good that my Dad's last surviving sibling made it. Gladder yet that a cousin I hadn't seen in many years made it, along with his 22 year old son that I'd not yet met.

In keeping with the Advent motif, good stuff is coming to Vita Brevis! (Of course I don't know the day or the hour.)

Good news abounds:

1. My wife’s second biopsy results came back benign. The most important good news of the day.

2. At last I was able to find Dad’s nomadic sister to inform her that she’s the last of her generation in the family.

3. Trent Lott has seen at least a little bit of light and will step down as majority leader.

4. The one first cousin who shares my last name should be able to come to town for the funeral. I haven’t seen him since our grandfather’s funeral 16 years ago this week.

5. Dylan posted Psalm 90 in the beautiful 1928 BCP translation here. (We’ll have that Psalm at the funeral, but in the latest clumsy “literal” translation that my Dad’s Lutheran congregation has adopted.)

6. This morning, being much more cloudy than is customary, had one of the most magnificent sunrises I’ve ever seen. The horizon shone with color in every direction and streaks of gold and rose reached nearly to the apex of the sky.

This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Requeiscat in pace.

Eighty years ago today, my father was born on a farm in eastern Colorado. All year long whenever anyone asked him how old he was, he’d say, “I’ll be eighty at my next birthday – if I make it that long.” His statement hit home yesterday afternoon when he passed from this life.

Strangely enough, my wife and I had planned to have two couples over for dinner this Saturday. (The dinner’s now cancelled as there won’t be time on Saturday for all the preparations.) In July we had planned to have the same two couples over for dinner one Saturday, but my mother died on the Wednesday before the planned dinner. Needless to say, I’m a bit doubtful as to whether we’ll invite that same foursome for dinner again! (Then again, we are fresh out of parents, so maybe it would work out.)

The best comment came from a friend’s seven year old. When told about my Dad’s death he said, “You mean he could have died on his birthday? That would have been the worst birthday of his whole life.” Methinks my little friend has it wrong.

Disputations poses a dilemma: what are the Dominicans to do in a situation where the Jesuits are both for and against a particular thing?

A: The Dominicans would be neither for nor against it.

Thank you very much. I'll be getting back to the day job per your kind request.

Way back when I was an undergrad there was a bookstore in Denver that had the following slogan: “A book is the finest portable university known to man.” I liked the slogan so much I put it on something or other of mine. A roommate (the same fellow who became entangled with the sauce-less sorceress I mentioned yesterday) misread “university” as “universe” – thus was born the concept of the “portable universe”.

Mr. Den Beste has two great posts today: one on the Holy Land and one much longer post on the Korean peninsula.

A picture that’s not really worth the full thousand words.

The RTD, the mass transit agency for Denver and her environs, has a nifty promotion going on. Anyone who shows a valid ticket or pass for RTD’s light rail system is eligible for a discount on dinner at 4 or 5 nice restaurants near the end of the new rail line. All in all a good promotion. The poster to announce the promotion, though, is another matter. (Sorry, but I can’t find an internet mention of it yet.)

The caption says “Waiter, I’ll have the RTD LoDo Light Rail Dining Deal.” Not inspired, but it does convey a message. The picture with the caption conveys something entirely different.

The background has several people seated at round tables. Seems reasonable for a restaurant setting. There are five figures in the foreground. At the right is a face in a quarter profile. The figure is the nightmare of an ENT doctor, as there are no ears, nose or mouth visible. Since the others aren’t looking that way, it’s safe to assume the figure isn’t the aforementioned waiter. Maybe he’s some kind of security robot. He’d be good in a restaurant, since he couldn’t overhear confidential chats. Any secret would be safe with him, as he couldn’t tell a soul. Anyway, he sets the creepy mood.

At the table are four people. Two couples sitting boy-girl-boy-girl. Immediately next to the robot is a blond woman in pink. She’s got a smile on her face and her hands are in her lap. She’s nestled rather close to a blond man to her left. He’s wearing a black tux and is also smiling. One of his hands (the one next to the blond woman) is visible. Nestled close to his other side is a dark-skinned brunette woman in blue. She’s smiling and keeping her hands behind the table. They all seem to be looking at the center of the table, but there’s nothing there. (I don’t mean to imply any hanky-panky based on the unseen hands.)

The last figure is most problematic. The two women are as far from his as possible with good reason. We see him in a quarter profile also. He has the same dark skin as the woman in blue, with black hair. He’s wearing black too. It’s probably an accident of the drawing, but it looks like he has a Fu Manchu mustache that starts at the bridge of his nose. But wait, there’s more.

The first three diners have dessert in front of them (two slices of cake and one of cheesecake). The last one, though, has what appears to be a mixing bowl in front of him. The bowl is full of something that’s mottled yellow – chicken soup would be my guess. Characteristically, Mr. Odd is preparing to karate chop the giant bowl of soup. We can only imagine why. We can hope that he doesn’t get soup all over the desserts or his companions (who at least have the sense to avoid riling him, even if they don’t have the sense to get away from him).

If that group of whack-jobs is now ordering a meal, what’s the poor waiter to do? It’s a good thing he has the trusty security robot handy.

Lileks is, as always, great. Today he hits on a topic of special concern to me: the dumbing-down of pizza. It appears that Mrs. Lileks wants the family to try all the different pizza places in their vicinity. Well . . .

The chain pizza places are making stuff that has little resemblance to pizza any more, as the stuff lacks sauce. I don’t understand this hostility to sauce, as sauce is actually rather healthy.

Way back in the college days of early 1986 I was briefly dating a winsome red-haried lass. We got pizza one night, but she insisted on ordering it with “half sauce”. That moment did more than any other single moment to deter me from pursuing anything serious with her. After all, what type of person objects to pizza sauce? Read on and learn!

I didn’t say it was because of the sauce, but I broke things off with her. Within weeks she was dating a geeky friend of mine (not that I wasn’t plenty geeky myself at the time!). In short order they had a kid, got married (I stood up at the wedding), had another kid, burned through all his money despite his working two jobs (she eventually took to seeing “gentleman callers” while he was at work – I was his detective to confirm it), and she left him on the verge of bankruptcy: a nervous wreck fearing that she’d infected him with a social disease – never mind the dread of what she was doing to their two kids. Those are the people the pizza chains are chasing by reducing the amount of sauce on pizza. (Oh, let’s not forget those who eat pizza while driving – a similarly savory lot.)

Seems to me there’s a moral obligation to only get pizza that has sufficient sauce. Those tend to come not from the big chains, but from the mom and pop joints.

Hey: I just saw that Instapundit agrees with me on this! I wonder if he knew that girl too . . . .

Last night we went and saw the latest Star Trek movie. It’s neither one of the better ones nor one of the worse ones. I’m not a die-hard Trek fan, but I have seen all the movies and all the episodes of the original series and TNG and most DS9s (even though I liked that series best, it just wasn’t that handy). I’ve watched rather few of Gilligan – er, Voyager – or Enterprise.

FWIW, here’s my classification:

First rate II (Khan), VI (Undiscovered Country), VIII (First Contact);
Some major flaws IV (Voyage Home), X (Nemesis), I (“The Motion Picture");
Badly flawed VII (Generations), III (Search for Spock), IX (Insurrection);
Abysmal V (Final Frontier).

So, better than any odd-number, but not up to any previous even-number. Given that its immediate predecessor was the second-worst of the bunch, I think it might be time to send Trek movies out to pasture for good.

Non-spoiler bullet-point critiques:

- Too much of an “action-adventure” motif as opposed to having strategy, suspense, wonderment, etc. This has really hurt the last several movies.

- A scene that seems to exist primarily to create demand for certain spin-off toys. This has also really hurt the last several movies.

- Too many plot elements were lifted from earlier movies. (When there’s less risk of this being a spoiler, I’d really like to discuss.)

- Too little of the Romulans, who were always a rather compelling adversary.

- Why did the Remans (whom I don’t remember seeing in previous Trek scenarios) look like Nosferatu the Vampyr? If anything, the bad guys in Insurrection would have been better qualified for that look.

- The primary villain doesn’t have a good enough motivation to explain his most villainous goal. (Also a problem in Generations.)

- There’s not much reason for the Remans to support their leader in his nefarious endeavors either.

- The convenient easy chink in the adversary’s armor didn’t ring true at all, it was only there to allow a particular character to get to the climactic scene.

- The inconsistency of when alien languages are intelligible (depending on the needs of the plot for more action) is annoying.

I can’t offer you any compelling reason to go see it –even at matinee prices. Unless you’ve got an uncontrollable jones for popcorn, you might as well stay in.

More from the mutt . . . .

Tuesday I bought some raspberry scones. I had momentarily forgotten that my better half can’t stand scones or I wouldn’t have bought so many. They’ve been my breakfast for the past three days. The mutt was quite persistent each of the past two mornings in begging for a bit of my breakfast, unlike ordinary days as he’s not too interested in the usual toaster waffles or oatmeal. Today I relented, to his great delight. (He tried to chew them quite vigorously, which was amusing.)

There’s a matter that’s been weighing heavy on my heart for nearly five months now. Seeing the mutt’s persistence pay off encourages me in my (apparently) as yet unanswered prayer. And so I shall persist.

Thanks be to God for ice water!

I agree with Miss Emily – Cardinal Law’s resignation is not an occasion for glee. It is, or at least seems to me to be, a necessary step in the arduous process of healing as it has the potential to restore the archdiocese’s credibility. I hope it will also be a motivation to other bishops and clergy to work to resolve the issue rather than papering it over.

Back to the (long-interrupted) game of "Who Is Nihil Obstat?"

A tantalizing clue (or is it a red herring?) in the comments found at the post. The name given doesn't google as anything other than a rare phrase in Russian.

Let's see if this works. . . . .

Today I had the distinct privilege of attending midday Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Even before my conversion to Catholicism, I found the Guadalupe image to be a warm, lovely and believable representation of the Blessed Mother. She looks like someone who could experience great joys and great sorrows. She looks real. She could be Aztec or Jewish or any other number of actual ethnicities other than porcelain doll. I just don’t see that in the Lourdes or Fatima images, to name a couple other popular ones – meaning no disrespect to the apparitions or messages.

The fact that La Guadalupana appeared in a mountainous corner of the western hemisphere is one that draws my attention. Her gentleness – even when St. Juan Diego was avoiding her and asking for a sign – is not only attractive, but a compelling sign of authenticity. The double sign (the ephemeral roses at Tepeyac contrasted with the enduring image on the tilma that so surprised St. Juan Diego when he first saw it) is a wonderfully poetic and profound touch.

Her appearance to a society that practiced widespread human sacrifice – and the rapid abandonment of that grisly practice immediately thereafter, gives hope even today and even here. Her role in the large-scale conversion of what had been a vehemently anti-Christian society gives hope too.

There were more people than are usual at a midday Mass, but not as many as I’d have hoped for our continental patron. Kudos to the good father for mentioning the human sacrifice issue as it affected 16th century Mexico and 21st century America.

Well, it looks like he’s going to resign. Sure took him long enough. Too bad he didn’t grasp the enormity of the situation sooner. Wonder who’ll succeed him in office? What a mess to clean up!

The above applies both to Cardinal Law and to Senator Lott. (Leave it to a neo-Catholic such as myself to call to back away from Trent and for Law to become less prominent – sorry, couldn’t resist the admittedly horrible pun.)

As for the lesser case of Mr. Lott, I bet Jeffords would come back to the GOP if he were promised the majority leader spot. (Like that would happen!)

McCain might be floated, but I don’t think he’s enough of a team player. McConnell’s too much of a team player as the media would go berserk at the thought of him as ML.

There just aren’t many imposing figures in the Senate – not that Lott himself was ever impressive. All the GOP’s eggs are in the administration or the gubernatorial basket. (Aside: I’d be for legally changing the name of the office of “governor” to “gubernator”, solely because it would be so much fun to listen to TV and radio newscasters, not to mention commercial announcers, say it.)

As for the more critical case, I can’t venture anything better than a guess as to whether or not the Holy Father would be inclined to accept the resignation. The Shea theory (that Law is staying in place as a penance and to do what he can to repair the damage) makes sense to me. Then again, there’s probably much more going on than either of us know. I trust that the Church will eventually do what’s right, as she has in crises large and small, near and far, recent and ancient. It just might not be right now. We mortals still can be quite good at resisting the Holy Spirit.

In any event, I certainly hope that the second conjecture posited by Mr. Dreher doesn’t come to pass. If it does, the mess won’t be cleaned up for decades.

A difficult bit of waiting is over. My wife’s first biopsy produced a benign result. Deo gratias! The second one, next week, isn’t nearly so threatening now. Thanks to all you good folks who have prayed for her.

Please . . . .

pray for Victor Lams.

Lots of news afoot.

As for Trent Lott: he should resign as majority leader. I doubt he’ll do so on his own. I’d suggest that Mr. Ashcroft, a former colleague whom Lott presumably respects, should ask Mr. Lott to do the right thing.

Why should Lott resign?

1. Thurmond’s platform in 1948 was segregation. It was wrong then and now. Lott’s comments are a clear endorsement of segregation and, as such wrong in and of themselves. Lott’s public comments have not acknowledged that. He’s playing as much of an unrepentant wrong-doer with self-serving spin as did Mr. Clinton a few years ago. Those who called on Mr. Clinton to resign are morally obligated to be consistent in calling for Mr. Lott’s resignation.
2. The last thing Lott’s party needs is to have a visible member that can credibly be characterized as a segregationist. He’s hurting his party tactically. No party leader can do that in good conscience.
3. Mr. Lott is retroactively endorsing a candidate of another party against the candidate of his own party. That lack of party loyalty is unbecoming in a party leader.

As for Stanford’s clone factory: it’s a sad milestone, and one of many. As the story mentions, U of Wisconsin and UCSF are already doing the same thing on a smaller scale. The State of California is officially encouraging this type of research. I’d be surprised if the med schools of UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine don’t jump on the bandwagon soon.

What is to be done?

How about tighter federal restrictions on use of human tissue in research?

How about action at the state level (hard to do in both CA and WI given their political climates, but still important) to recognize the dangers inherent in this type of research?

How about the Church getting her affairs in order well enough to have credibility in speaking to the general public on this issue? (A man can dream, can’t he?)

And huzzah for the Most Catholic Kingdom of Spain!

The Miami uniforms in the game last night are now the undisputed champions in the contest for ugliest sports uniforms by a major professional team in North America. Yikes!

Mr. Cork posts my other favorite Advent hymn, so I don't have to. It's probably the only thing I could still play on the piano after so many years away from it -- so I'm probably not a good choice to be the musical entertainer at your next party!

Scroll up and you'll see a thought-provoking post on the tension between ecumenism and doctrinal clarity. Good stuff!

Twice now I’ve been to Mass in Denver where the sermon was preached by a member of the Order of Preachers and each time the sermon has been among the worst I’ve heard. Isn’t that odd?

The first one was an elderly priest holding forth on how things had changed since he was a boy. No connection to the readings for the day or the situation of the parishioners. Since he was such an old man, though, I didn’t think much of it.

The most recent one was bad because it was so rambling and disorganized that I couldn’t figure out what his point was. The good father was probably in his early 40s and very enthusiastic. I’ve no doubt that he’s a devoted and holy priest. He has a fine voice. I would encourage him, though, to get some feedback from his fellows on composing a sermon that’s cohesive and that addresses the readings of the week. In many ways this is more frustrating than a well-composed but poorly delivered sermon by a foreign priest. We all know many people who’s grasp of the language has improved over time. It’s rarer to find someone who’s progressed from muddled thinking to clarity.

Mr. O’Rama concurs with Mr. Riddle regarding weather. I could not concur less. It’s the hot weather than makes me lethargic and muddle-headed. Cool weather (15 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit and dry) promotes alertness and rapidity of movement and thought. When it’s both cold and wet, that’s another story. That’s unpleasant. ‘Tis a privilege to live in the one of the driest cities in the US!

Well, that absence was longer than I’d intended.

And Advent, the time of preparation and waiting, is a time of yet more preparations and yet more waiting.

Preparations for this semester’s finals – echoing the lovely Miss Emily.

Waiting for results from my wife’s Friday biopsy (which may come as soon as tomorrow). Waiting for the equipment to be repaired enabling the second biopsy.

Preparations for a three-day business trip to northern California (Sacramento, Oakland and SF!) in the first week of January have taken some time and energy.

Preparations for a pleasure trip to New York later that week (which takes the place of gifts between my wife and me for this Christmas) give me hope.

Odd thought: in the course of one week in January I’ll be in Denver, Sacramento, the Bay Area, Denver again and New York. I’d qualify as a jet setter if it weren’t for the fact that I haven’t been on a plane since November 2000.

Of course all of this is in the shadow of the bigger set of waiting and preparation which we commemorate at this time of year. Veni, Emanuel!

In looking about St. Blog’s, I find that much of what bothers me the most doesn’t bother others quite so much and vice versa. The same has been true in recent months in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I obsess about a particular category of sin only to find the confessor much more interested in addressing another category. I don’t honestly believe that it’s because the holy priests find me incorrigible in one particular area, just that I need the input of someone who isn’t me to remind me of what’s most crucial. Left to my own devices even my conscience doesn’t necessarily discern what’s best for me.

Thus I urge you, though I’m sure none of my readers are nearly so wicked as am I, to take advantage of this season as an opportunity to scrub the soul anew in the confessional. I can’t envision a reason anyone might regret it.

Today, for the first time ever, I saw a lily blossom that actually had some resemblance to the fleur-de-lis. I've been tramping about this dusty planet for almost 39 years now, so you'd think I'd have seen such a thing a bit sooner, no?

This post from Mr. O'Rama is a fun look at the novel. I always thought it would be a hoot to write a novel (or at least a short story) in the second person. Then again, I'm more than a bit odd.

This post at Kairos is terrific and says a great deal about the best way to observe the Advent season.

A quiz! (Thanks to Victor Lams and Kat Lively.) It was fun going to the Whose Line taping a few years back. They taped about three episodes in one sitting. I can’t remember ever laughing so hard. There were quite a few things they couldn’t broadcast (especially from Mr. Stiles).


Which 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' actor are you!?
brought to you by Quizilla

Oddly enough, the priest at our neighborhood parish looks just like Ryan Stiles and even has a few similar gestures. It’s more rare for me to get distracted by this than it once was, but it still happens. At least I don’t look like Drew Carey!

I thought Mr. Lileks would have mentioned this at some point, but he hasn’t that I’ve seen. There’s a nifty new product: Glee Gum.

It’s Lileksian in that:

1. it’s a nice product;
2. with great graphics on the package;
3. that’s available at Target; and
4. it’s a hoot to walk around with a box of Glee in your pocket.

Would that it were so easy to give real glee to others – or better yet, real joy.

Eia waern' wir da!

FYI -- Updated the blogroll just a bit. Please let me know if it has any errors.

As a public service . . .

I'm posting this e-mail, which I've now received twice. Just in case anyone out there fits the profile, e-mail me so I can give you contact information for this "special" individual:

Hello,

I'm sorry I have to send this again, my last email account died.

If you are a Time Traveler I am going to need the following:

1. A modified mind warping Dimensional Warp Generator # 52 4350a series wrist
watch with memory adapter.

2. Reliable carbon based, or silicon based time transducing capacitor.

I need a reliable source!! Please only reply if you are reliable. Send a
(SEPARATE) email to me at: [omitted]

My office is right across the street from a large hotel that often hosts major events. About six weeks ago, the President gave a midday speech in support of a local congressional candidate. Today the Vice President had an appearance at the same hotel. The security precautions for Mr. Cheney appeared to be significantly more thorough and elaborate than those for the Commander-in-Chief, at least in terms of things like streets being blocked off. (I don’t know whether that had anything to do with any concrete threat, or whether there’s just heightened security these days. Also Mr. Cheney didn’t draw the gaggle of protesters that were here in October.)

Hundreds of people worked on the security details in functions from barricade emplacement to directing traffic to searching cars to standing guard. Thousands had their morning routine altered to accommodate this unusual event.

This season of Advent is meant as a time of preparation for an event of an infinitely greater scale than a speech by the Vice President. I’m not even sure what my role is in the great preparation.