M E R R Y
C H R I S T M A S !


From the Second Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke:

2:8. And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock.
Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes et custodientes vigilias noctis supra gregem suum

2:9. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear.
Et ecce angelus Domini stetit iuxta illos et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos et timuerunt timore magno

2:10. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people:
Et dixit illis angelus nolite timere ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum quod erit omni populo

2:11. For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
Quia natus est vobis hodie salvator qui est Christus Dominus in civitate David

2:12. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
Et hoc vobis signum invenietis infantem pannis involutum et positum in praesepio

2:13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying:
Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiae caelestis laudantium Deum et dicentium

2:14. Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.
Gloria in altissimis Deo et in terra pax in hominibus bonae voluntatis

DAY 121: PLUTO HELD HOSTAGE

February 4, 2007 is International Save Pluto Day!

Thank goodness we hanged that traitorous son of a bitch years ago...

Fox News: Report: Sandy Berger Hid Classified Docs Under a Trailer
Former national security adviser Sandy Berger removed classified documents from the National Archives in 2003 and hid them under a construction trailer, the Archives inspector general reported Wednesday.

The power of Twain.

Southeast Missourian: Missing Amish boys found safe after overnight adventure to reach river
Bowling Green, Missouri - Two 12-year-old Amish boys who may have set out on an adventure, perhaps inspired by Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, were found late Wednesday afternoon after being missing overnight, authorities said.

The boys, who had walked an estimated 15 miles in an effort to get to the Mississippi River, were found by an area resident who had heard they were missing and found them passing through a field. She brought them to the sheriff's office, said Pike County Sheriff Jim Wells said.

"They just wanted to hike over to the Mississippi and they wanted to get home," he said. "They talked about this adventure. I think it was just a little mission they were on."

The boys were still an estimated 15 miles away from the river when they were found.

The discovery of the boys was welcome news after about 200 searchers -- evenly split between Amish and others in the area -- fanned out through the thick woods of rural Pike County in northeast Missouri.

Authorities did not release their names, but relatives identified the boys as William Girod and Jacob Wagler.

Wells said the boys were in school when they were sent to throw out garbage near a creek at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. They didn't return to class.

A member of the Amish community saw the boys about 3 p.m. Tuesday in a wooded area walking north about four miles from the school, but didn't know they were missing. They were spotted with walking sticks and a backpack. The boys were reported missing at 5 p.m.

"One of the young men has been reading a lot of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn books," Wells said, referring to Mark Twain's famous characters based on the people he knew growing up in Hannibal, 30 miles north of Bowling Green.

During their adventure, the boys spent the night in a barn. They had sandwiches with them but were hungry when they were found. Authorities gave them milk and cookies, and they were reunited with their parents.

"William is an adventurous guy. He loves stories about Huckleberry Finn and all of that," said his aunt, Katie Girod. "It's kind of rainy to be out there. I don't think they fully realized how cold it would be."

Overnight temperatures hovered around the freezing mark. Rain fell most of the morning.

Samuel Girod, the 40-year-old father of one of the boys, said efforts to find the boys began as soon as families realized they were missing.

The Missouri Department of Corrections, which operates a prison at Bowling Green, provided dogs for the search. The Missouri State Highway Patrol loaned a helicopter to the effort.

Wells said the parents are glad to have their children home.

"It'll make a merry Christmas," he said.

Ed Lawson, who provides educational tours of Pike County's Amish community, said there are about 85 Amish families living outside of Bowling Green, a town of about 3,000 residents 75 miles north of St. Louis.

According to the Pike County Genealogical Society Web site, the Pike County Amish are considered "Old Order Amish." Deeply religious, the Amish use no electricity, no phones, and get around in horse-led buggies rather than cars.

It's not the chocolate cake and cheeseburger combo meals after all!

The State: Stomach bacteria linked to obesity
The guts of obese people are teeming with a distinctive mix of bacteria that seems to make them prone to gaining weight, a startling discovery that could lead to new ways to fight the obesity epidemic, researchers reported Wednesday.

A steaming hot pile of justice.

If your lawyer can file enough appeals, and you live long enough, everybody who remembers your crime will be dead and then you can go home.

WGAL: Death Row Inmate Re-Sentenced; County Can't Afford Appeals
Perry County, PA - A man who killed two hikers along a remote stretch of the Appalachian Trail in 1990 is scheduled to be re-sentenced today.

The Perry County District Attorney said the county cannot afford to keep fighting efforts to appeal the death sentence of 54-year-old Paul Crews.

The DA said Crews has agreed to drop his appeals in exchange for receiving two life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Crews was sentenced to death in 1991 for raping and stabbing to death 25-year-old Molly Larue, of Ohio, and fatally shooting her hiking partner, 26-year-old Geoffrey Hood, of Tennessee.

Crews ambushed the pair as they slept in a wooden shelter near Duncannon, PA.

I get mail...

...from automated blog-searching algorithms disguised as NCAA apparatchiks.

Responding to my post on the proposal to hunt down and kill all males who practice with female basketball players,

"Joshua Centor" said

The NCAA’s official blog has had good discussion about this topic

(http://www.doubleazone.com/2006/12/where_do_you_stand_on_male_pra.html).

In an effort to get other voices chiming in, we will have a umber of guest posts from student-athletes and coaches. Today’s post is from Middle Tennessee’s Chrissy Givens:

http://www.doubleazone.com/2006/12/guest_blog_middle_tennessees_c.html.

I thought and your readers would like to stay tuned.

Best,
Josh


Josh Centor
NCAA
Coordinator of New Media Communications
317-917-6232
317-917-6831 (fax)
jcentor@ncaa.org

Expect nothing but the pc Party Line, kiddies.

Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of St. Hunger, a ninth century Bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, who fled the diocese during an invasion by Normans. Pray for us, all you angels and saints.


Today's reading is 1 Kings 1:24-28.
Today's Responsorial is 1 Kings 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8.
Today's Gospel reading is Luke 1: 46-56.


Everyday links:

The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Rosary
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Prayers from EWTN
National Coalition of Clergy and Laity (dedicated to action for a genuine Catholic Restoration)
The Catholic Calendar Page for Today
ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome


Just in case you are wondering what exactly Catholics believe, here is

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.


Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession,was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen.


St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, pray for us.


Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from Christ's side, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; Within Thy wounds hide me; Suffer me not to be separated from Thee; From the malicious enemy defend me; In the hour of my death call me; And bid me come unto Thee; That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels Forever and ever. Amen.


Prayer to St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire

Dear St. Anthony, you became a Franciscan with the hope of shedding your blood for Christ. In God's plan for you, your thirst for martyrdom was never to be satisfied. St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire, pray that I may become less afraid to stand up and be counted as a follower of the Lord Jesus. Intercede also for my other intentions. (Name them.)


Prayer To Saint Michael The Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine power, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.


Prayer to End Abortion

Lord God, I thank You today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part to end abortion. Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, and never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice, not just for some, but for all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Prayer For Vocations

Send forth your Spirit, Lord, into the hearts of your faithful people, that we may be conscious of our vocation to holiness and sevice to others. Grant that many of us may dedicate ourselves to You through the priesthood and the religious life.We pray especially for the needs of our own parish and diocese. Grant that we may always have sufficient good and holy priests, and dedicated Sisters to serve our commumities.We pray, too, for religious orders; that generous men may join them to become zealous missionaries in preaching the Gospel in word and action, especially to the poor and abandoned.We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.


Prayer Before The Crucifix

Behold, O kind and gentle Jesus, I kneel before Thee and pray that Thou would impress upon my heart the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. At the same time, with sorrow I meditate on Thy five precious wounds, having in mind the words which David spoke in prophecy: "They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones."


Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.
May the Heart of Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament
Be praised, adored and loved
With grateful affection at every moment
In all the tabernacles of the world
Even to the end of time. Amen.

DAY 120: PLUTO HELD HOSTAGE

February 4, 2007 is International Save Pluto Day!

Doy. How do they think we got so messed up?

Provo Daily Herald: Study: More than 9 out of 10 Americans - even grandparents - had premarital sex
More than nine out of 10 Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex, according to a new study. The high rates extend even to women born in the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people were more chaste in the past. "This is reality-check research," said the study's author, Lawrence Finer.

Nazi U-boats, again.

Detroit Free Press: Nazi sub with toxic cargo pains Norway
Oslo - More than 60 years after being torpedoed by the British navy, a Nazi submarine built to threaten Allied ships continues to spread fear off the coast of Norway.

The rusting wreckage of the U-864, sunk during a desperate mission to supply Japan with advanced weapons technology, now poses a major environmental threat because of its poisonous cargo: 70 tons of mercury.

Residents on the tiny island of Fedje, located in the North Sea, want the sub removed. But authorities fear a salvage operation could result in a catastrophic spill. They suggest entombing the wreck with rocks, concrete and sand.

"Local people are very concerned," Fedje Mayor Erling Walderhaug said Wednesday. "They wanted it taken away so the danger would be gone for good."

The U-864 tried to skirt Allied navy patrols to bring jet engine parts, missile guidance systems and mercury for weapons production to Germany's ally, Japan. British experts discovered the mission by breaking a German code.

The British submarine HMS Venturer stalked the U-864 for three hours before sinking it on Feb. 9, 1945, about 2 1/2 miles off Fedje.

The U-864 was only 14 months old when it sank with a crew of 73 in 500 feet of water.

The wreck lay undisturbed for 58 years until Norway's Royal Navy discovered it in March 2003. Oslo's newspaper Dagbladet has called it "Hitler's secret poison bomb."

The mercury containers are rusting, and some are leaking.

Studies showed elevated mercury levels in the silt around the wreck, but so far only fish that live inside have been contaminated, according to the Norwegian Food Protection Authority. Fishing is not allowed in the waters nearby.

After spending three years and about $6.5 million researching the problem, the Norwegian Coastal Administration recommended encasing the submarine with sand to prevent the spread of mercury. The method, it said in a report released Tuesday, had worked 30 times worldwide and was less risky than attempting to lift the 2,400-ton sub.

"Encasing and covering are seen as permanent environmental measures," said Gunnar Gjellan, who leads the government's U-864 project. "The coastal administration recommends that the parts of the wreck be covered with a type of sand as an absorption material and an armoring layer on top to prevent corrosion."

The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs said it will review the report before making a final decision.

When released into the ocean, metallic mercury, the silver fluid once used in thermometers, can become more dangerous organic mercury. Through fish, it can be passed on to humans in food. Mercury poisoning can be fatal.

The Norwegian environmental group Bellona has asked that the sub be removed, but Bellona's Marius Dalen said the group would now review the report.

Totalitarian Pennsylvania Update.

How could anyone believe the people responsible for this mess will do anything other than make it worse?

Evening Sun: Taxpayers likely solution to PA pension crunch
Harrisburg - One thing seems certain about Pennsylvania's public pensions – they are going to require an increasing amount of taxpayer support in the coming years.

The York Dispatch: PENNSYLVANIA PENSIONS: Generous benefits for lawmakers complicate reforms
Harrisburg - State lawmakers have crafted themselves a nice little retirement plan over the years -- with terms better than most other state employees, let alone their constituents.

For the nice, Alexis Bledel.

From the pages of The King Abdullah Gazette:

My, oh my.