Old Travels
When I first started daily blogging in February 2005, I accumulated a bunch of blog sites that seemed like a good source of fodder. As time went on, I abandoned those sites in favor of others. I've scarcely visited those sites in the past six months. For kicks this afternoon, I went into that bookmarks folder and downloaded them into Mozilla's tab system, then flipped through them, rapid-fire like. I found a handful of interesting/entertaining things, which I present here, in mish-mash fashion.
I'm gonna have to revisit these old electronic stomping grounds more often, and a few of the ones mentioned below (CNS and Flying Stars, for instance) need to get re-loaded into my daily visit log.
At least one St. Valentine existed, as evident from third-century Roman cults. The "Roman Martyrology" mentions two St. Valentines, one a priest and one a bishop. Both were put to death on the Flaminian Way on a Feb. 14 between 269 and 273, although some scholars have argued that the cults point to the saints being the same person.
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"Suppose a priest comes at the beginning of Mass and says: 'Good morning, everybody, did your team win last night?' That's not a liturgical greeting. If you can find it in any liturgical book, I'll give you a turkey," Cardinal Arinze said.
Id.
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Now available: a study guide of G.K. Chesterton's The Blue Cross, his first Father Brown mystery.
Mrs. Brown has written a comprehensive study guide with vocabulary, discussion questions, and word study. Your student will find much food for thought while becoming acquainted with this great writer.
The study guide includes the complete text of the story along with illustrations by Sean Fitzpatrick.
"No education is complete without at least a sampling of Chesterton, and the mysteries are the best place to begin. How good of Mrs. Brown to make Father Brown so curriculum-friendly. I'll be using this guide with my children."
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"Priest. Accosted on the street one day by Moors who asked his opinion of Jesus and Mohammed, promising no harm to him no matter the answer. Perfecto explained the Jesus was the Son of God and our Savior, while Mohammed was a false prophet. When his questioners felt that enough time had passed that their promise has dissipated, they had Perfecto arrested, tried, and executed by a Muslim court for blasphemy. Martyr."
Hallowed Ground (Jeff Culbreath, a blogger who should blog more, and it's not too often I think that about a blogger--me included).
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Like a pot of bratwurst left unattended at a Lambeau Field pregame party, simmering tensions in the strife-torn Midwest boiled over once again today as rioting mobs of green-and-gold clad youth and plump farm wives rampaged through Wisconsin Denny's and IHOPs, burning Texas toast and demanding apologies and extra half-and-half.
The spark igniting the latest tailgate hibachi of unrest: a Texas newsletter's publication of caricatures of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
Protestors demonstrated against the images throughout the Badger State yesterday, with violent egging and cow-tipping incidents reported in Oconomowac, Pewaukee, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Antigo, Oshkosh, Waubeno, Wauwautosa, Waunewoc, Wyocena, Waubeka, and Washawonamowackapeepee.
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The new year's TV sensation is unmissably Fox's "American Idol." How big? Bill Carter of the The New York Times reported the show's executives have been "startled into silence" at the 2006 numbers. It's a juggernaut, widely viewed by all age groups.
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NPR News has added 50 journalists in the past three years. It now has 400 news staffers. The network's expansion has been spurred by a $200-million gift from McDonald's heir Joan Kroc in 2003.
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