Another Slow Week.

It's been very nearly a week since my last post. Much of the blame can be placed on my having changed shifts recently, putting my circadian rhythm slightly out of whack. Not only that, but I have more time to spend with wife and son.

With my new schedule, it's early to bed and early to rise; I'll read a bit before going to sleep. When I finished reading Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe (by Simon Singh) I thought my brain needed something less intellectually intense. In his review of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" , Father Robert Barron mentioned the classic horror story by Mary Shelly, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein would be the perfect follow-up to Singh's book, I thought.

Cheapskate that I am, I went to Project Gutenberg and downloaded a file suitable for Kindle. I could have gone to Amazon.com and picked up a Kindle version for $3.99, but, did I mention that I'm a cheapskate?

I was sure that I'd read the book years ago, but as soon as opened the file, I knew right away that I hadn't after all. Since downloading the book, I've been reading a few pages every evening. The story starts slowly.......I was all set to proclaim the novel "cheesy"; had I written a review after getting to the death of Victor Frankenstein's brother, William, I would have given the book a very low rating. I'm further along now and it's getting better (though the monster's narrative of the De Lacey family was a bit tedious at times).

Rather than wait until I've finished reading the entire book - that could take a while at the rate I'm going - I'll go ahead and give it a proverbial thumbs up.

I've also been occupied of late corresponding with yet another Nigerian scammer , this one claiming to be an American soldier in possession of two boxes containing $40 million which he found hidden in Saddam Hussein's secret underground chambers.

I'll be posting details of our email exchanges in the near future. All I can say now is that his name is Eddie Shields and he and Misty Meaner are getting along splendidly.

Anger and Forgiveness.

On Monday, Sept.05 I posted a a link to a sermon given by Fr. Robert Barron. I actually posted this link for a particular person. Thanks to Google Analytics, I know this person visits my blog from time to time on his iPod.

No need to provide so many details to those who have no idea who or what I'm referring to. In that same vein, I'm posting today a link to Fr Barrons sermon for Sept. 11, 2011 on - Anger and Forgiveness. Again, although this valuable lesson can pertain to each one of us, I'm posting the link with one person in mind.

Today's first reading during Mass comes from Sirach :
Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.

Are you going to hug your wrath and anger forever?

Even if you believe I am the guilty party, you might consider today's Gospel reading from Matthew which has this -

"Then Peter approaching asked him, 'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?'
Jesus answered, 'I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times........' "

This argument has gone on for far too long. The hatchet should have been buried ages ago.

No Imagination.

Note to J. Anderson Thomson and Clare Aukofer-

If you're going to try and convince us that your opinions on God are worth considering, do not quote John Lennon.....particularly not his overrated tripe "Imagine".

Regular readers of this blog are aware of my opinion of Mr Lennon.

Seriously. Take a look at the song's lyrics -

"Imagine there's no Heaven
it's easy if you try
No Hell below us
above us only sky......."

This is what passes for genius?

"If Your Brother Sins Against You..."

From Fr. Robert Barron's Word On Fire.

Sermon 556: "If Your Brother Sins Against You..." : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time.

Slow Week.

It's been a week since my last blog post; alas, there haven't been emails from fans wondering about my absence. Not one question about the results of my attempt to make homemade yogurt using a crock pot.

Actually, the yogurt turned out OK. It wasn't - at first- as thick as I thought it should be, but it thickened up after refrigeration. I'll be making a second batch tomorrow using whole milk this time instead of 2%.

A week or so ago, I was reading an article, on a Catholic oriented website, which made reference to Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh. I've forgotten the title of the article and exactly where it was located, but it did lead me to search for Singh's book. Cheapskate that I am, I could not bring myself to spend $18.45 (plus shipping) for a copy. I did, however, order a "very good" used hardcover copy for less than $6 ......shipping included. The book arrived Monday, much earlier than expected. I've been reading a few pages every night before going to sleep.

From the inside cover jacket:

"Renowned for making difficult ideas much less difficult than they might first appear, Simon Singh is our perfect guide to explaining why cosmologists believe that the Big Bang is an accurate description of the origin and evolution of the universe."

I don't recall when I first learned of the Big Bang , but I remember thinking that the theory, as I understood it, sounded remarkably like the description used the nuns who first told me how God created the universe. I've never quite understood why some Christians dismiss the theory out of hand.

Musical surprise of the week:
Just discovered Wilman De Jesus. Don't ask me to explain why I like his music.