St Constantine Cyril Patron of Europe

The fresco St Cyril, dating from the ninth century in the underground basilica of St Clement, Rome.

We Remember The Most Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Trinity, icon written by Monika Glass. It is to be seen in Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

The icon takes us back to the oaks at Mamre: Abraham and Sara the unseen old couple have visitors. Their visitors are the Divine Presence. At table the Three are One. The icon, commissioned for Ballintubber Abbey, reminds us that the Trinity was central to St Patrick's spirirtuality.
There's an echo of St John's gospel in this icon, with Jesus speaking so strikingly of the Father and the Holy Spirit; echoes, too, of St Paul's greetings in his letters to the young Christian communities, and a sense of the wonderful hymns of praise to the Lamb of God in the Book of Revelation (4-5)
The icon is profoundly eucharistic. It is liturgy in itself: table, altar, chalice, meal, all lead us towards prayer and song, inspire us to praise, to share. The icon's colours, in their harmony and density, accentuate this aspect of celebration.

St. Kieran (Ciaran) of Clonmacnoise,

St. Kieran (Ciaran) of Clonmacnoise, also known as St. Kieran the Younger, was born around 512 AD in Connacht, Ireland, a town located in the northern part of County Roscommon. The son of Beoit, a carpenter and chariot-builder, Kieran inherited a love of learning from his mother’s side of the family, as his maternal grandfather had been a bard, poet, and historian. Baptized by deacon Justus (“the righteous one”), who also served as his first tutor, the boy Kieran worked as a cattle herder. Even this early in his life, stories testifying to Kieran’s holiness are told. Some later believed that his work as a herdsman foreshadowed the care he would offer the many who sought his wisdom.

Kieran continued his education at the monastery of Clonard, which was led by St. Finnian. Yet another story, that of the “Dun-Cow of Kieran,” is associated with his move to this abbey. What is quite certain is that Kieran quickly gained the reputation of being the most learned monk at Clonard, and was asked to serve as tutor to the daughter of the King of Cuala, even as he continued his own studies. His friend and fellow student, Columcille of Iona, testified to Kieran’s brilliance by saying, “He was a lamp, blazing with the light of wisdom.” Besides being renowned for his brilliance, Kieran also had a great capacity for friendship with other leaders of the early Irish church. In addition to Justus, Columcille, and Finnian, Kieran counted Enda of the Aran Islands as his mentor, and both Senan of Scattery Island and Kevin of Glendalough as friends and colleagues. Kieran’s years of residence at Clonard were also marked by miraculous events that benefited the entire monastery.

After completing his studies under Finnian, Kieran left Clonard and moved to the monastery of Inishmore in the Aran Isles, which was directed by St. Enda. While a member of this monastic community, Kieran was blessed with the vision of a great tree, which anticipated his own foundation of a renowned monastery. From Inishmore, Kieran went to visit his religious brothers at Isel in central Ireland. His stay here was brief, as the other monks envied his fame as a scholar, and resented what they considered his excessive charity to the poor. Asked to leave Isel, Kieran was led by a stag to Inis Aingin, or Hare Island. While he lived here for 3 years and 3 months, brothers from all over Ireland came to study under Kieran, and more miracles attested to his holiness.

Old Postcard of the Ferry Hotel Windermere

I have in my possession a booklet of old postcards of the Ferry Hotel on Windermere Lake. They are in a 'Duplex' book of ten pictures all of the Ferry Hotel in its heigh day. The hotel is now a research base for The Freshwater Research Association. I will publish some of the other photographs soon.

The Ferry Hotel Windermere Lake

City Building

City Building  Listen to Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson’s work long enough and you may wish to kill yourself

The Folks of DUMBartonshire, are Dumb

West Dumbartonshire Council Boycott Israel Councillor Bollan

Doesn't this clown know one of these authors is an American? or does just not like Jews?
Who voted them in?

Writing?

Celia Celia by Adrian Mitchell | The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor

“I think all writing is a disease. You can't stop it.”

—William Carlos Williams

Fire & Music

Something sad and moving about this music and video
By the Fire

A Beauty?

Often folk say they object to the muslim covering of faces, but in this case I can assure you this lady is a real beauty

Alice - Per Elisa WOW WOW!!

Love Lives Beyond The Tomb

Love lives beyond
The tomb, the earth, which fades like dew-
I love the fond,
The faithful, and the true.
Love lies in sleep,
The happiness of healthy dreams,
Eve's dews may weep,
But love delightful seems.
'Tis seen in flowers,
And in the even's pearly dew
On earth's green hours,
And in the heaven's eternal blue.

'Tis heard in spring
When light and sunbeams, warm and kind,
On angels wing
Bring love and music to the wind.
And where is voice
So young, so beautiful, so sweet
As nature's choice,
Where spring and lovers meet?
Love lies beyond
The tomb, the earth, the flowers, and dew.
I love the fond,
The faithful, young, and true.

John Clare

Hot or Cold?

Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them,
and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them
wrathful.
Kind words also produce their own image on men's souls;
and a beautiful image it is. They soothe, quiet, and comfort the
hearer.
-- Blaise Pascal

I don’t go to Funerals says Simon Cowell

I know one he definitely go to!!!

Googlw Wave Invites

I have a number of 'Google Wave' invites. If you want one post a comment asking. First come first served.

mad world

Bad Karma

US balloon boy

US balloon boy case 'was a hoax'

A US sheriff has said the case of six-year-old Falcon Heene who was believed to be adrift in a hot air balloon, prompting a major alert, was a hoax.

Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of the boy were actors and had put on a "good show for us, and we bought it".

New Books in the Library

"Please Don't Hurt Me" by I. Bruce Easley

"The Proper Use of Sunscreens" by Justin Casey Burns

"Allegiance to the King" by Neil Downe

"Bad Falls" by Eileen Dover

"The State of General Motors" by Mitch Egan

"Karate and You" by Marsha Larts

"Cry Wolf" by Al Armist

"A History of the Tour de France" by Cy Kling

"Explaining Yourself" by Clara Fie

"The Lumberjack's Life" by Tim Burr

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | New Jersey fury at Gaddafi 'stay'

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | New Jersey fury at Gaddafi 'stay'
Where will he pitch his tent NOW!!

Lockerbie bomber freed from jail- "The Hero returns"

BBC NEWS | Scotland | South of Scotland | Lockerbie bomber freed from ja
Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, anyone who thinks this man's release is about compassion and not oil & politics is mad.
His son did not meet with Mandelson for nothing.

BBC - Newsbeat - Desperate Romantics 'the new Entourage'

Not watched this yet, but from the reviews and rushes I have seen this will be really dire
BBC - Newsbeat - Desperate Romantics 'the new Entourage'

Stupid people doing stupid things

It always amazes me how some folk can get others to do stupid things. In Trafalgar Square there is an empty plinth as we no longer have any artists able to place a decent piece of art on here. Someone has conned people into standing on the plinth and got them to pretend to be works of art. It is rather like these email scams which purport to tell you that you have a large chest of money in Nigeria just waiting for you to collect it. There are always people who fall for this and there will always be people prepared to stand on a plinth in Trafalgar square also.

One of the strangest MP's Expense claim Lembit Opik

"Lembit Opik
Sometimes you just have to purchase hil-a-rious wigs as the best way of using taxpayers' money. Opik purchased two pieces of headwear - The Mother of All Wigs, costing £19.99, and a Filmstar wig costing £9.99 - to wear at a charitable event."
Quote from "Ten Funniest Expense Claims". Not only has this MP a 'funny' claim, he also has a 'funny' name. OK i know we should not mock people because of their parents.

"The campaign to expose MPs' Commons expense claims has become so personal that
it has started to resemble a McCarthy-style witch-hunt, a Tory backbencher
said today.
Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, also warned that the relentless drip-drip of leaked claims was creating such an atmosphere of terror that there was a real risk of an MP committing suicide.
"People are seriously beginning to crack," Ms Dorries told the Today
programme on BBC Radio 4. "The last day in Parliament this week was, I
would say, completely unbearable. "I have never been in an atmosphere or environment like it, when people walk around with terror in their eyes and people are genuinely concerned, asking, 'Have you seen so and so? Are they in their office? They've not been seen for days.'

One MP is very concerned that the expenses row will cause a suicide, this would be very sad. Is they saying that they should not have been exposed with their snouts in the trough because the revelations are upsetting their delicate feelings.It does seem that this Ms Dorries is not in touch with reality, folks don't trust MP's unde normal circumstances this has just confirmed our suspicions.

U.N. Surprise: Victim of Qaddafi Torture Confronts Libyan Chair of Durban 2

"Must-See Video: Head of U.N.’s “Anti-Racism” Conference Caught Like a Deer in Headlights

Today Iranian President Ahmadinejad — the world’s leading Holocaust denier — will be in Geneva to address the U.N.’s “anti-racism” conference, known as Durban II. The U.N. gathering claims to be about fighting racism and discrimination, but in fact it’s organized by the world’s worst perpetrators of racism, discrimination and human rights abuses, and was designed to scapegoat Israel, America and the West. A representative of Libyan dictator Col. Muammar Qaddafi, Mrs. Najjat al-Hajjaji, chaired the Durban II Preparatory Committee for the past two years, and today was elected chair of the Durban II Main Committee.

In an unprecedented coup, the rank hypocrisy of Durban II was exposed before the world this week when UN Watch surprised the Libyan chair — by bringing a victim of Qaddafi torture to confront her on Libya’s brutal torture and scapegoating of five Bulgairan nurses and a Palestinian doctor. The video clip has been broadcast around the globe."

MIHALNA - Great singer

I spotted this really great jazz singer purely by accident when someone posted another band.

The Lost Book

How is this for a lost book story. On Thursday last, Maundy Thursday, I went to Exeter to go to a Service at the Cathedral. As I passed "Waterstones" book shop Satan tempted me and I went in. There he passed before my eyes a wondrous world of books. Then he dangled before me final temptation 3 for 2 three books for the price of two. He had me in his evil grip I could not resist. I bought 'Marlborough' the new biography in paperback 'Requiem' by Robyn Young and 'The Shack' to give to a friend. I handed them in I did notice the assistant had some trouble with scanning the books in, but that was all. I arrive home later that day with my bag of books ready to read my 'Marlborough' At this point I can hear Satan laughing or is it the Lord?. My beloved "Marlborough" has been replaced by a 'Phillipa Gregory bodice ripper. "Woe is me, I cry". Exeter is 40 miles from my home town.

Vatican disappointed by sequel

It looks like the publicists are gearing up to try and promote the new film follow up to the Da Vinci Code. Angel & Demons a film based on Dan Brown's best seller is due out soon. I enjoyed both books, but I hope the new film is better than the Da Vinci Code film it was mind blowingly boring. The height of the excitement was when our hero said 'We must find a library'

Mandy and the Green Custard

It seems that Mandy did not like the green custard thrown at him by Ms(she would have to be a Ms) Deen of Plane Stupid. See BBC video
My thoughts are as one famous statesman said 'It is the unalienable right of every Englishman to have the freedom to throw a dead cat at any politician'. Cat or Custard Ms Deen is following in a great English tradition more power to her elbow. Applaud her and sack Mandy's security people.

MY EVIL PLAN

Created at Darksites Congratulations on being the creator of a new Evil Plan (tm)!

Your objective is simple: Widespread Misery.

Your motive is a little bit more complex: Sadistic pleasure

Stage One

To begin your plan, you must first assassinate a wall street executive. This will cause the world to sense a grave disturbance in the force, terrified by your arrival. Who is this nightmare beyond comprehension? Where did they come from? And why do they look so good as a dark gunslinger?

Stage Two

Next, you must sabotoge the internet. This will all be done from a obsidian citadel, a mysterious place of unrivaled dark glory. Upon seeing this, the world will die in a way you just don't want to think about, as countless hordes of the undead hasten to do your every bidding.

Stage Three

Finally, you must let loose your plague of doom, bringing about rivers that run red with blood. Your name shall become synonymous with fuzzy bunnies, and no man will ever again dare cross you. Everyone will bow before your superior firepower, and the world will have no choice but to whisper your name in fear.

Sarit Hadad - kah et hakol -Take All

This is a tremendous voice.

Anti Semitism in Tennis

Something I did not know,, and as far as I can tell has not been reported on the BBC The American tennis star Andy Roddick withdrew from the Dubai tennis tournament in protest for the ban of Shahar Peer the Israeli tennis player.

The Hill of Crosses

I was watching a programme on TV about different faiths. The programme seemed to be fronted by some sort of crazy Anglican Priest. I was very intrigued with with a reference to 'a hill of crosses', this I discovered is in Lithuania and has a fascinating story attached to it.

Geert Wilders Banned from England

"A Dutch MP who called the Koran a "fascist book" has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK.

Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders had been invited to show his controversial film - which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords.

But Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office.

He told the BBC it was a "very sad day" for UK democracy.

The Dutch ambassador was also at Heathrow to make clear his government's opposition to the ban on Mr Wilders entering the UK."

This it appeared has backfired, I tried to check out the 'controversial video'. The demand on the site was so great it had collapsed.........O'Dear. I like most people I imagine had never wanted to watch the video until my caring government thought I shouldn't.

Scary Christ

Art101B--Aguilar - Christ Pantocrator in the Church of Daphni. c.1100 A.D.

The Day the Music Died

"In one of music's most tragic accidents, a light plane carrying three people who changed the face of Rock forever crashed in an Iowa field shortly after leaving a concert on Feb. 3, 1959. Buddy Holly had chartered the plane to take his band to their next gig in North Dakota while other artists and staff took the usual means of tour bus."
From the Yid with the Lid

Inventory of Normality

From Paulo Coelho and his Warrior of Light blog

I decided to conduct a survey among my friends about what society considers to be normal behavior. What follows is a list I have made of some of the absurd situations we face in day-to-day life, just because society sees them as normal:

1] Anything that makes us forget our true identity and our dreams and makes us only work to produce and reproduce.

2] Making rules for a war (the Geneva Convention).

3] Spending years at university and then not being able to find a job.

4] Working from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon at something that does not give us the least pleasure, so that we can retire after 30 years.

5] Retiring only to discover that we have no more energy to enjoy life, and then dying of boredom after a few years.

6] Using Botox.

7] Trying to be financially successful instead of seeking happiness.

8] Ridiculing those who seek happiness instead of money by calling them “people with no ambition”.

9] Comparing objects like cars, houses and clothes, and defining life according to these comparisons instead of really trying to find out the true reason for being alive.

10] Not talking to strangers. Saying nasty things about our neighbors.

11] Thinking that parents are always right.

12] Getting married, having children and staying together even though the love has gone, claiming that it’s for the sake of the children (who do not seem to be listening to the constant arguments).

12ª] Criticizing everybody who tries to be different.

14] Waking up with a hysterical alarm-clock at the bedside.

15] Believing absolutely everything that is printed.

16] Wearing a piece of colored cloth wrapped around the neck for no apparent reason and known by the pompous name “necktie”.

17] Never asking direct questions, even though the other person understands what you want to know.

18] Keeping a smile on your face when you really want to cry. And feeling sorry for those who show their own feelings.

19] Thinking that art is worth a fortune, or else that it is worth absolutely nothing.

20] Always despising what was easily gained, because the “necessary sacrifice” – and therefore also the required qualities – are missing.

21] Following fashion, even though it all looks ridiculous and uncomfortable.

22] Being convinced that all the famous people have tons of money saved up.

23] Investing a lot in exterior beauty and paying little attention to interior beauty.

24] Using all possible means to show that even though you are a normal person, you are infinitely superior to other human beings.

25] In any kind of public transport, never looking straight into the eyes of the other passengers, as this may be taken for attempting to seduce them.

26] When you enter an elevator, looking straight at the door and pretending you are the only person inside, however crowded it may be.

27] Never laughing out loud in a restaurant, no matter how funny the story is.

28] In the Northern hemisphere, always wearing the clothes that match the season of the year: short sleeves in springtime (however cold it may be) and a woolen jacket in the fall (no matter how warm it is).

29] In the Southern hemisphere, decorating the Christmas tree with cotton wool, even though winter has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.

30] As you grow older, thinking you are the wisest man in the world, even though not always do you have enough life experience to know what is wrong.

31] Going to a charity event and thinking that in this way you have collaborated enough to put an end to all the social inequalities in the world.

32] Eating three times a day, even if you’re not hungry.

33] Believing that the others are always better at everything: they are better-looking, more resourceful, richer and more intelligent. Since it’s very risky to venture beyond your own limits, it’s better to do nothing.

34] Using the car as a way to feel powerful and in control of the world.

35] Using foul language in traffic.

36] Thinking that everything your child does wrong is the fault of the company he or she is keeping.

37] Marrying the first person who offers you a position in society. Love can wait.

38] Always saying “I tried”, even though you haven’t tried at all.

39] Putting off doing the most interesting things in life until you no longer have the strength to do them.

40] Avoiding depression with massive daily doses of television programs.

41] Believing that it is possible to be sure of everything you have won.

42] Thinking that women don’t like football and that men don’t like interior decoration.

43] Blaming the government for everything bad that happens.

44] Being convinced that being a good, decent and respectful person means that the others will find you weak, vulnerable and easy to manipulate.

45] Being convinced that aggressiveness and discourtesy in treating others are signs of a powerful personality.

46] Being afraid of fibroscopy (men) and childbirth (women).

47] And finally, thinking that your religion is the sole proprietor of the absolute truth, the most important, the best, and that the other human beings in this immense planet who believe in any other manifestation of God are condemned to the fires of hell.

Either/Or/Or

The Rev. Susan Bear, sent this letter-to-the- The ReThe Living Church:

"I was chosen by the Church Pension Group to participate in a survey more or
less about ordained women and second-career clergy that evidently was
mandated by General Convention. It had the usual "extremely satisfied, somewhat
satisfied . . .dissatisfied . . ." opportunities to respond. There were some
yes/no, etc. The survey took more than an hour.

Finallly the survey asked for biographical data. Are you "married,"
"single," "remarried after a divorce," "widowed," "living with a partner not
married," and several other options. Mind you, this is a survey that targets mostly
ordained people. The clincher was "Gender." There were three choices--Male,
Female, Other (type in something). Evidently "male and female God created them"
is no longer adequate for our sophisticated, politically correct times.

Frankly, I always thought if you had something whacked off or something
added on you simply moved to the other side of the aisle. Silly, old-fashioned
me. I guess this means I'll have to add a third bathroom in the Parish Hall."

At first I thought this was really funny, but the more I considered it I realised it is very very sad.

Epiphany Adoration of the Magi

Epiphany (Pieter Dancart; ca. 1488), Cathedral of Santa María Seville, his depiction of the Adoration adorns the high altar:

Death to all ???

I find it difficult to comment on this. As I am not sure which kind of 'Juice' he dislikes so much. This picture says a great deal about the American education system, or maybe the Mullah only taught him how to spell death.
Photo taken at a protest in Manhatten

What Israel is doing is nothing to do with peace but its own selfish security concerns

I post this from the blog of the lovable folks at "Simply Jewish"

"In London the mainstream media have been warned to avoid the subject in phone-in's to avoid escalating tensions, but that is unrealistic.  What Israel has done again, is look at its own security concerns and forget that of other nations like ours.

4000 known active Islamic terrorists operate in the UK, what more of an excuse do they need now to carry out a heinous act on people who are not from Israel?"  The full piece can be found at The London Daily News

Military Official escapes from Iran

This story can't possibly be true, the lovable President of Iran gave his Christmas message on Channel 4. I am sure they would not give a torturer space on their Channel!!
"According to Tabnak’s( Tabnak is one of the most credible news agencies in Iran. Turkish sources, Colonel Arian escaped because he was against the torturing of Iranian opposition figures inside Iran. To raise awareness, he subsequently started communicating with international human right agencies via email. This raised the suspicion of Iran’s intelligence agency, which installed hidden spy cameras in his office. Arian’s life was also threatened, and as a result of this he decided to escape to Turkey with his family."

Mary Meets Elizabeth

Here is a link to a rather remarkable painting of Mary meeting Elizabeth. I think it picks up beautifully the 'she went with 'haste' in the biblical story
3554005

The Church of the Holy Punch

How these Christians love each other...A really sad piece of video, these people should be ashamed of themselves

Groyse Metsie feat Fishi Hagadol - Politicay

A great group, some super music

St Syrus of Pavia

His potrait

Advent Hope

I came upon these words this week whilst doing my Advent reading and the they touched my heart

There is a God whose light shines in every darkness
There is a God who hears every lament
There is a God who transforms even the deepest grief
Therefore you have hope:
You shall sing again, but with a different tune
You shall dance again, but with a different step
You shall laugh again, but with a different breath
Not yet, but one day,
For there is a God who heals your wound with the gentlest hand.

Scrooge is Alive in Aberdeen

"Due to cuts there are no wisemen this year, we apologise for any inconvenience". says Aberdeen Council

“It is a sad state of affairs when the council can’t even provide a decent Christmas for the people of Aberdeen.”

The main events for the Winter Festival, including a carol concert, Christmas lights switch-on and Hogmanay street party – are still due to take place.

An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “No decisions have yet been taken on the Winter Festival. A report on this year's events will be considered on Tuesday by the resources management committee, whose members will make decisions.”
It appears to be a spokesman(surely spokesperson0 you have to be an idiot who celebrates a "winterfestival" whatever that that is

The Sinister Side: Titian’s Diana and Actaeon

I found this very interesting the idea that the left side is some howevil or bad..

During the Renaissance, a woman’s left side was regarded as her most beautiful side. Not only was this the ‘heart’ side, and thus the side of feeling, but it was also less used (by right-handers) and so likely to be less worn or marked. In one of his love lyrics the poet Tasso called it “the soft side”, while the Venetian courtesan and poet Veronica Franco, in a verse letter to her favourite lover, says that her own beauty will be dedicated to making him happy, and she will make him taste the delights of love, “when he is close to her left side”. Titian gives us an extraordinary uninterrupted profile view of the whole of Diana’s left side and raised left arm, and there is no doubt that this is the best view: the goddess’ right leg, which is being rubbed down by one of the nymphs, is crude and ungainly in comparison to the elegantly turned left leg. It is also less brightly lit.

Meteora

The pic is of Holy Trinity one of the monasteries I visited in 2007

Meaning ‘suspended in air’ the name Meteora soon came to encompass the entire rock community of 24 monasteries. There were no steps and the main access to the monasteries was by means of a net that was hitched over a hook and hoisted up by rope and a hand cranked windlass to winch towers overhanging the chasm. Monks descended in the nets or on retractable wooden ladders up to 40m long to the fertile valleys below to grow grapes, corn and potatoes. Each community developed its own resources and by the end of the 14th century, the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community. Its wealth included landed estates, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle. Today though there are only six monasteries surviving visitors can reach them without risking life or limb as long a they do not mind a long climb.

Another Catherine, Catherine of Alexandria

25. November is the feast day of: Catherine of Alexandria (d. ca. 305, supposedly).  The virgin martyr C.'s historicity is very poorly attested.  Here is a English-language site on the monastery dedicated to her on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt (whither her body is said to have been miraculously transported and where her veneration is unmentioned in any of the surviving late antique pilgrim accounts):
A virgin and martyr whose feast is celebrated in the Latin Church and in the various Oriental churches on 25 November, and who for almost six centuries was the object of a very popular devotion.
Below is from the catholic online encyclopedia

Of noble birth and learned in the sciences, when only eighteen years old, Catherine presented herself to the Emperor Maximinus who was violently persecuting the Christians, upbraided him for his cruelty and endeavoured to prove how iniquitous was the worship of false gods. Astounded at the young girl's audacity, but incompetent to vie with her in point of learning the tyrant detained her in his palace and summoned numerous scholars whom he commanded to use all their skill in specious reasoning that thereby Catherine might be led to apostatize. But she emerged from the debate victorious. Several of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death. Furious at being baffled, Maximinus had Catherine scourged and then imprisoned. Meanwhile the empress, eager to see so extraordinary a young woman, went with Porphyry, the head of the troops, to visit her in her dungeon, when they in turn yielded to Catherine's exhortations, believed, were baptized, and immediately won the martyr's crown. Soon afterwards the saint, who far from forsaking her Faith, effected so many conversions, was condemned to die on the wheel, but, at her touch, this instrument of torture was miraculously destroyed. The emperor, enraged beyond control, then had her beheaded and angels carried her body to Mount Sinai where later a church and monastery were built in her honour.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

This is really very American, but I thought it was very funny. Some of this could be applied to the UK

Induction & Installation at Exeter Cathedral

Today I have been to the Induction and Installation of our local Rector as a Canon(Prebendary) of Exeter Cathedral. This is considered an honour in the Church of England. The service was conducted within the normal Cathedral Evensong Service. The worship supported by the Cathedral Choir was inspiring, but below is a quote from the service sheet about what the Canons got up to before entering the Cathedral.

CEREMONIES IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE

¶ At 2. 45p the College of Canons, vested in copes, and the Commissioner for Oaths proceed from the Canons' Vestry to gather in the Chapter House.

¶ The bells shall be tolled meanwhile in the accustomed manner.

.    ¶ The Dean, acting as President of the College of Canons, then nominates the Installers of the new Prebendaries.

¶ At 2.50pm the Clerks to be collated and installed, habited in cassock and surplice, are conducted from the Chapel of St John the Baptist to the Chapter House.

¶ The Clerks shall make the customary Declaration of Assent, the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, and the Oath of Canonical Obedience to the Bishop of Exeter. Having signed the declarations and Oaths, they are then vested in a cope.

¶ The Dean shall then say:

Will the Virger ascertain if there are any contumacious persons without?

¶ The Virger, having drawn back the wicket and looked without, shall say All is well without, Mr Dean.

¶ Then the Dean shall say:

Let the Great Doors be opened.

¶ At 2.57 pm the members of the Cathedral body shall leave the Chapter House and proceed to enter the Cathedral by Bishop Brewer's Door and go to their places in the Quire.

This procession was led by the Virger carrying the "Dog Whippers Stick", by the way this is the correct way to spell 'Virger'

Contumacious (kon-too-may-shuhs) is an adjective that means rebellious, disobedient, obstinately resistant to authority, stubbornly perverse, insubordinate, and rebellious

St. Cecilia of Rome

Here's a view of her supposed resting place

 Cecilia of Rome   C. is a poorly documented but much celebrated martyr of the Via Appia, absent from the _Depositio Martyrum_ of the Chronographer of 354 but attested liturgically from the sixth century
onward, when her legend was already in existence in some form.  This
makes her a virgin betrothed to a pagan husband, Valerian, who
preserved her virginity and who, after his conversion to Christianity,
actively proselytized along with C. and suffered martyrdom along with
her.  The story, which includes among its _personae_ pope St. Urban I and the martyrs Tiburtius and Maximus, is a typical late antique confection uniting various catacomb worthies in a single narrative.

A resting place in a part of the Catacomb of Callistus first used
towards the end of the second century was believed in the early Middle
Ages to have been C.'s.  It was rediscovered by de Rossi in the
nineteenth century.  

ISTP - The Mechanics

Apparently this is me! according to Typealyzer

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned
to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges
that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for
themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.
The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and
highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their
work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in
driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This feast, celebrating an event not mentioned in the Bible but present in the infancy gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, is thought to be probably of Syrian origin. In the Greek church it is first documented from the eleventh century; by the later twelfth century it was important enough in Constantinople that the law courts did not sit during it. The feast spread to the Latin West in the later fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. After some vicissitudes earlier in the sixteenth century it was definitively included in the Roman Calendar by Sixtus V in 1585.

Smoking Doctor

I use Scoutle a widget for finding other blogs. I thought it was supposed to find like minded blogs, but all I appear to get is atheists and nutters. Possibly this says something about my blog. Here is one that came up on my 'Scoutle'. I can't work out whether he is genuine or not. If he is a real 'doctor'. My fervent prayer is 'please Lord don't let him treat me' Here is a link to the 'Smoking Doc'

Ninth Bishop of Texas - is a Gonk!!!

I could not resist this photograph of the ninth bishop of Texas! His name is Andy Doyle this is the photo he uses on his blog. Unless it is a spoof blog.

Jedi Squirrels

I am sure this is making the rounds on the internet. I found it on Stumble, and don't know where it came from but it is brilliant!!

Martin the Charitable.

Martin de Porres was born at Lima, Peru of a Spanish father and an African mother in 1579. As a boy he studied medicine which later as a member of the Dominican Order he put to good use in helping the poor. He was so noted for his kindness and gentleness with the sick and needy that he was called "Martin the Charitable." He led a humble and disciplined life, having great devotion both to Christ Crucified and the Blessed Sacrament. He found great strength in meditating and contemplating these great mysteries. Martin died in 1639, and was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962.

This is my kind of Saint, mind you he does look familiar!!

Woman arrested for killing virtual reality husband

From CNN A lovely story...
A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.
Online environments such as "Second Life" -- where users control avatars -- have emerged in recent years.

Online environments such as "Second Life" -- where users control avatars -- have emerged in recent years.

The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.

She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.

My Shrapnel Life as a "Poor, Sad, Heroic, Victim of Terror"®

I came across this interesting Blog 'My Shrapnel'Here in her own words a description of who she is"

Message from the Bombing Victim Muppet
I am, of course, neither sad, nor heroic nor particularly victimized. What I am is an "ordinary Joe" who was seriously injured six years ago in a suicide bombing while waiting for a bus at the Machane Yehuda open air market in Jerusalem.

Gila 'a nice Jewish girl' worth a read.

Hugh O'Flaherty - 'the Vatican Pimpernel'

Now, 40 years after his death, the Israeli Government is planning to award its highest honour on the Irish priest to whom the only memorials to date are the film, the Scarlet and the Black, starring Gregory Peck and a grove of trees in Killarney National Park. The Israelis are planting another tree in his honour at the Yad Vashem holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. The Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Authority also plans to confer the title, “Righteous Among Nations” on Monsignor O’Flaherty, who is the first Irishman to receive this honour, in appreciation of having saved the lives of thousands of Rome’s Jews from the Holocaust.
There is now a book about him by Brian Fleming, 'The Vatican Pimpernel the wartime exploits of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty
In Killarney National Park where a grove of Italian trees, planted in 1994, is the only memorial in Ireland to the Monsignor. Beside the trees is a brass plaque which reads, “To honour Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty (1898 - 1963). In Rome during World War II, he heroically served the cause of humanity.”

To mark the planting of the trees, Brendan Kennelly wrote a poem:

Hugh O’Flaherty’s Trees
There is a tree called freedom and it grows
Somewhere in the hearts of men,
Rain falls, ice freezes, wind blows,
The tree shivers, steadies itself again,
Steadies itself like Hugh O’Flaherty’s hand,
Guiding trapped and hunted people, day and night,
To what all hearts love and understand,
The tree of freedom upright in the light.

Mediterranean Palm, Italian Cypress, Holm Oak, Stone Pine;
A peaceful grove in honour of that man,
Commemorates all who struggle to be free.
The hurried world is a slave of time,
Wise men are victims of their shrewdest plans.

World's largest Hummus

From the Hummus Blog, yes there really is one
Over a 1000 tones of hummus were eaten last week, during Israelis Independance Day (”Yom Haatzmaut”). 400kg (881 pounds) of which in a Jerusalem event, out of a single Guiness-Record size plate.

It was last year when the American Sabra hummus manufacturer set the first Guinness Record for eating hummus in a New-York event. They served their hummus in a plate with a diameter of 3.5 meter (3.8 yards).

Last week a new the record was set in Mahaneh Yehuda market in Jerusalem: Hummus Tzabar, an Israeli hummus manufacturer, served some 400kg (881 pounds) of hummus in a 4 meter (4.35 yard) plate. This incredible hummus feast was documented of course, to verify the Guinness Record commitee it really happened. Here’s one of the pictures:

My Oh My Beautiful

I don't understand the words, but it is lovely

Glitter payout sparks outrage

From Yahoo music news.
"Shamed pop star Gary Glitter is to receive a GBP100,000 pay cheque from computer giant Hewlett Packard after bosses chose to use his song Do You Wanna Touch Me in a new TV advertising campaign.

The singer, real name Paul Gadd, was recently released from a prison in Vietnam, where he served nearly three years for sexually assaulting two girls aged nine and 11.

He has since been deported back to his native Britain - but is in line to receive the cash sum from Hewlett Packard chiefs over the use of the 1972 track to promote a new touch-screen model.

The adverts actually feature the 1982 cover by Joan Jett, but Glitter is set to get the money in royalties.

However, the deal has angered child protection organisations in the US.

A spokesperson for Child Abuse-watch.net says, "It shows a distinct lack of sensitivity." "
I won't be buying my next printer from HP that's for sure...

Blessing to Purify Beer in which a mouse or weasel has drowned

"Benedictio potus si mus aut mustella mergitur intus.
Benedic, Domine, hunc potum, et haec vasa sicut benedixisti sex ydrias
lapideas capientes metretas binas vel ternas, et vinum factum de aqua
in Chana Galileae, sic benedicere digneris cervisam istam, ut sint sani
et inmaculati omnes qui ex eo bibituri sunt, per invocationem nominis
tui, Domine, qui regnas in saecula."

"Bless, O Lord, this drink, and this vessel, as you blessed the six waterpots
of stone, containing two or three measures apiece, and made wine from water
in Cana of Galilee, thus by blessing you will vouchsafe this beer, that they
may all be healthy and immaculate who drink of it, by the invocation of your
name, O Lord, who reigneth for ever and ever."
It is a pity that to Mihai Stanescu, 32, a Romanian man did not know this Blessing. As he ended up in an emergency hospital with food poisoning after finding a dead mouse in his bottle of beer.He said: “I simply opened the bottle and took a few gulps. The tastewas very strange and when I looked closer I noticed the mouse floating in my beer.”The man alerted local consumer protection officials who have launched an investigation.Chief trading standards inspector Mihai Miclaus said: “We will check the whole batch of beer to see if there are other such cases. Then we’ll contact the producer and see who is responsible for this.”

OBAMA, NO MERCI BEAUCOUP

Great fun, whether you agree or not. Making fun of politicians is always the way.

The Sadness of Atheism

I am using a widget? on my blog called Scoutle. It is supposed to find me like minded bloggers, but all i seem to be being linked with are pro-atheist blogs. Having looked at these blogs they strike me as being rather sad. They are promoting their belief or no belief that there is no such thing as a god. That life is essentially meaningless apart from the meaning we can give it ourselves. But as there is no meaning or purpose in life apart from the meaning or purpose I give it myself. No purpose or meaning is more valid than any other. So I ask myself why are these atheists so angry because people belive something. As it does not matter what one believes in the long or the short run. We all cease to exist, the world will cease to exist, everything will cease to exist. It will be as if we had never been as there is nothing to notice our coming or going. One statement in the bible is true for the atheist at least 'vanity all is vanity'

BBC boss says Islam should be treated more sensitively than Christianity

The Director General says we should treat Islam more sensitively than other religions. This was reported in the Telegraph. In the feed back section of the paper as far as I could see not one person agreed with him. I know that often the mad the bad and the down right weird contribute to these discussions, but not one person agreed with him!!!

Only in America!!

Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed the lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God who he said made terrorist threats against him and his Omaha constituents.

Additionally, he said God inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".But Senator Chambers, a law school graduate, thinks he's found a hole in the judge's ruling.

He said: "The court itself acknowledges the existence of God. A consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience.

"Since God knows everything, God has notice of this lawsuit."

Senator Chambers, who has served a record 38 years in the Nebraska Legislature, has 30 days to decide whether to appeal.
This idiot  has a political position, there are people in Nebraska who voted for him...???

Mireille Mathieu sings La marseillaise

Absolutely fabulous song and singing. Pity Le Crapauds can't fight

Run Off to Meet Jesus A little prayer by NT Wright

I am reminded that there is no such thing as a 'little prayer'

“Run off to meet Jesus.
Tell him the problem.
Ask him why he didn’t come sooner,
why he allowed that
awful thing to happen.
And then be prepared for a surprise….
Jesus will meet your problem
with some new part of God’s future that can and will burst
into your present time, into the mess and grief,
with new possibilities.”

- N.T. Wright,

1066 and All That

I was looking on my library shelves and found a copy of "1066 and All That" published in 1930 it is still a very amusing book. Below is a Test paper from the first Chapter

TEST PAPER I

UP TO THE END OF 1066

1.Which do you consider were the more
alike, Caesar or Pompey, or vice versa ? (Be brief).

2. Discuss, in latin or gothic (but
not both), whether the Northumbrian Bishops were more schismatical
than the Cumbrian Abbots. (Be bright.)

3. Which came first, A.D. or B.C. ? (Be careful.)

4. Has it never occurred to you that the Romans counted backwards ? (Be honest.)

5. How angry would you be if it was suggested

(1) That the Xth Chap. of the

Consolations of Boethius was an interpolated palimpsest?

(2) That an eisteddfod was an agricultural implement ?

6. How would you have attempted to deal
with

1. The Venomous Bead ?

1. 
   

2. A Mabinogion or Wapentake ? (Be
   quick.)

   
   

7. What would have happened if (a) Boadicea had been the daughter of Edward the Confessor ? (b) Canute had succeeded in sitting on the waves ? Does it matter ?

8. Have you the faintest recollection
of

(I) Ethelbreth

2. Athelthral ?

   3.Thruthelthrolth ?

How to get your head on a UK Stamp

This is the 'Lady' who cut her son out of her will for marrying a short sighted woman outraged at the damage to her bloodline. "Are these puny faced gaunt, blotchy, ill-balanced, feeble, ungainly, withered children the young of an Imperial Race. Her Planned parent Society was designed to remove ' the diseased and the racially negligent......the feebleminded......and inferior infants. I wonder what she would have made of the recent Para- Olympics. Not surprisingly she admire Hitler and sent him poems.

Are Beatles Fans Morons?

After seeing a picture of Paul McCartney in some Liverpool McDonalds the super star was clearly upset a spokesperson for Sir Paul, a vegetarian, said it was “ridiculous and insulting” of the company to use the images.
“What sort of morons do McDonald’s think Beatles fans are?” Geoff Baker, who called for a boycott of the company, said.
I suppose Beatle fans are just normal 'Morons' not necessarily veggie morons.
The final word from PETA

“We hope anyone who sees his picture on the wall will be reminded that he’s a vegetarian and skip the Big Mac for a veggie burger.” YUK!!!!

Sympathy for the Prince of Darkness

The Prince of Darkness, as he is termed in the Dailies has returned from his exile in Europe, he has escaped from "I spend my life thinking about whether I am going to get an aisle seat on airplanes so I can get out faster, and go to the loo without trampling on anybody," he said "I'm always thinking about what bags I can get on without having to check them in, and whether I've got enough liquid for the flight. This is what my life has come to," he said."(from Ambrose Bierce's Blog). The Prince has returned from this to save the country, sadly he did not ride into his new office on a red or a pale horse. The creepiest piece on the news this morning were the pictures his staff who had been lined up to clap him as he arrived. I wonder if those who failed to clap for the stipulated time had their names taken.

Ricky Gervais IS FAT!

Simon Pegg takes a swipe at Gervais star of the Office here in the UK "If you go to Los Angeles,
you can get sucked into [losing weight]. I've seen people go there and
suddenly become rake thin because there is a slight pressure to be
thin. I've also seen a lot of fat people there. "He's one of the fat people in LA, yes." Please note Simon Ricky is FAT in the UK also.

A different view of the trees

I was thinking of what Chesterton said."It is the opposite of what we think. The trees from time to time, to wave their branches and create the wind!" I find this idea most appealing..

Merton's lovely lines from his poem — The Storm at Night:
The mind fights homeward to the beach,
Works loose, half dead from the huge seas,
And lets its poor mute mask be lifted to the light;
So sleep can leak away and leave
The water-dazzled eyes to wake and wonder.
For morning works a miracle of sun and silence,
And light drowns in the trees.

Wind and light how often are these words used in poetry to convey, not only beauty but also fear ,blinding light' or 'howling wing', 'gently breeze' or 'dappled light'.

The Story Of San Michele by Axel Munthe

Axel Munthe devoted his retirement to looking after animals. In his book - The Story of San Michele - he has, near the end of his life a dream. In his dream he has died and is come to Judgement. After hearing much evidence of Munthe's life of debauchery, St Peter is about to condemn him to Hell, when the singing of birds and the barking of dogs is heard. S. Francis, in his ragged brown habit appears, surrounded by a flock of birds and a pack of dogs. `You may be right in all you say about this man,' Francis says, `but he loved animals!' St Peter is instantly disarmed. With a weary gesture he motions Munthe to take the
gate to Heaven. 'Always the same when they have loved animals,' he says, `this pale Umbrian appears with his flock of birds and his pack
of dogs and............well, what can I do?

The 13th Apostle and more

This is an ongoing post, I took out a book from the Library last night 'The 13th Apostle' it is a 'New York Times Bestseller' so I assume this is a good thing. I t is about some lost scrolls and people who want to destroy them for some reason. It made me think how many books are there in circulation with this theme. Obviously 'The Da Vinci Code' , another by Sam Bourne 'The Last Testament' , I am sure there are others which when I find them I will list here.

John McCain is he still alive?

I watched a film by Kurosawa in which the Emperor died and a double took his place it is said John McCain has been trying to look younger on the campaign trail by using a make-up artist named Tiffany who works on “American Idol.” True story, yeah. Tiffany says, “Making John McCain look younger is easy, but what is really hard is making Paula Abdul look sober." This may be true or has John McCain a double is he even still alive? Look at some of his photographs and make up your own mind

From 'POOR BLOGGER'(with apologies) "Hymn to St Michael on this his day from the Carmina Gadelica"

Thou Michael the victorious,
May I travel under thy shield,
Thou Michael of the white steed,
Of the bright and shining steel,
O, Conqueror of the dragon,
Be thou at my back,
Thou ranger of the heavens,
King's warrior, demon's bane.

O Michael the victorious,
My pride and my guide,
O Michael the victorious,
The pride of mine eye.

I travel this an all days,
With Michael as my guide,
On the hill or in the meadow,
Always at his side;
Though I should cross the ocean
The whole of the world
No harm can ever befall me
'Neath the shelter of thy shield;

O Michael the victorious,
Jewel of my heart,
O Michael the victorious,
God's shepherd thou art.

Be the Sacred Three of Glory
At peace with me,
With my wife and with my children,
With flocks and my land.
With the crops growing in the field
Or ripe in the sheaf,
On the machair, on the moor,
In cole, in heap, or stack.

To the Sacred Three of Glory,
Belong everything,
And to Their servant, Michael,
The victorious.

Redding Loaves and Fishes Food Bank - Poverty

I came across this video, it shows the two Americas. Sadly it only had 286 views when I viewed it, when a funny dog can get thousands says plenty about our world.

Labour Boost for Palin

I spotted a report in a blog by someone called Andrew Sparrow on how Hazel Blears( my brother is a bus driver) had attacked the Republican candidate Sarah Palin. I assume her comments were approved by this Sparrow chappy as he gave a rather glowing report on the fact that she had called the politics of Palin 'horrendous'. My only thought on this was any endorsement by a member of the labour party at the present time can only be a positive thing.
Apparently
"Gordon Brown irritated the John McCain campaign recently with the
publication of an article that was interpreted as an endorsement of
Barack Obama." I am sure if Barack reads the opinion polls he will not be happy either.

Episcopal Church Imploding

Here in the UK the goings on in the Episcopal Church appear rather strange. The battles over property would not happen here in the England. The last thing most Bishops would want is to be saddled with an ancient Church. I realise that there is value in church property in the USA that the authorities can sell.
A church that deposes its bishops for sticking to Scripture surely is in a very sad state. See Pittsburgh website 


Anglican Leaders Voice Support for Bishop Duncan — The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh

Also offering support was Archbishop Mouneer Anis of Jerusalem and the Middle East. "It is with great joy that I welcome you alongside the ranks of St. Athanasius who, as Bishop of Alexandria, was deposed and exiled from his see. St. Athanasius did not waver and stood firm. History proved that his stance for orthodoxy was not in vain. I trust it will do the same for you! So please count it as honor my brother."

A Child's Prayer

I came across a blog by a Father Stephen Freeman, in one of his posts there was a delightful prayer by one of his sons. He apparently had a statue of St Michael in his bedroom.

"Dear St. Michael, guard my room.

Don’t let anything eat me or kill me.

Kill it with your sword. Kill it with your sword. Amen."

On the face of it a simple prayer.

TODAY Talk like a Pirate Day

Today apparently is Talk like a Pirate Day. Very weird but fun if you want to join in go to the
The Poopdeck.

The Pope's Toilet - El bano del Papa

A film about a lavatory set up in Uruguay for the Pope's Visit in 1988. This is fiction, but in a Midlothian eco-friendly house which used re cycled items is the real Pope's Toilet when John Paul II visited Scotland.

A Good Night Out

Last night Val and I were take out for a meal by our youngest daughter Caroline. We went to a small village pub called 'The Boot' in a Bedfordshire Village Langford. When we went in to the restaurant. I thought the bar man was familiar, it turned out he had starred in a restaurant reality show on TV. The food was very good with quite a good choice, I hade wild mushrooms on toast for a starter, followed by the days special Lamb Pie, very tasty. Finally the the pudding I chose was absolutely delicious Ginger sponge, baked pear with Lavender Ice cream. An excellent evening in a pleasant atmosphere. 

Reading Motorway Stop - Coffee stop

Last Sunday we stopped at the Reading motorway stop for a caffein fix as we journeyed on to Bedfordshire. Ritazza Coffee sounded good. Big mistake, I think the cup of coffee were were served wa one of the vilest brews I had tasted in a long time. Recently we had thought there had been a big improvement in motorway coffee which in the past has been notoriously bad, but were clearly proved wrong. Has we waited for our £2.05 cup of coffee we watch a blue bottle crawl amongst the uncovered cakes on the coffee bar. When we mentioned this to the girl serving who to be fair did not seem to have much English just smiled and vagualy waved her hand at the offending fly. The thermos flask will be accompanying us on our next motorway journey.

Is Mr Obama Confused?

Is Barack confused about who he really is? Here in the UK one of Tony Blair's advisers said 'we don't do god', when asked about Tony's faith. Possibly Mr Obama needs to take this advise or at least decide which religion he is

Ethiopian orthodox church song

A beautiful song.

Amazing Grace History

Amazing Video!

RHS Rosemoor

We visited the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Rosemoor, This is well worth a visit. Below is a small snip from a video I made whilst there....