Thursday, March 29, 2007

Smarter Than A Fifth Grader

So I took the CBC's Test The Nation test, and this is where I rank.


Not too shabby, 'cept for that poor score in language. That's a slap in the face, I tell ya.

Try it yourself.

See if you can beat me.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

A Snowball's Chance

Can the Leafs make the playoffs and win the cup?

[snicker] Probably not. At least they won't get bored in springtime TO.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

A Conservative on Conservation

This picture makes me smirk.


Manitoba Hydro has placed this billboard on St. Mary's Road here in Winnipeg. The propeller spins 24/7.

Makes me wonder how much energy that electric motor uses.

And then I see their TV ad featuring a species of sturgeon that's been around since the dinosaurs' time. Manitoba Hydro is taking steps to study this fish's habitat so as not to cause it to go extinct. A noble cause? Sure, I guess. Do I want my hydro rates artificially high so some grad students can build aquariums? Not really.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Death Grip

A good interview with Bishop Robert Finn on the nature of pornography in today's world:

[...]

Using this type of stimulation seems to foster a preference for using images for our gratification. Clearly, it is easier to turn to this medium than to work on a human relationship. The use of pornography is an exercise of sexual infidelity, with all that goes along with that. It can lead to sexual acting out, often in private ways -- e.g. masturbation, increased time searching for more explicit materials.

We become more self-centered, less other-centered. It takes time away from the responsibilities we have for our work and family. Use of pornography robs us of supernatural grace. The deepening of grace, vital to the growth of married love, is impeded. We don't get the grace needed to sustain Christian marriage.

Check it out.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Identify This

I took this picture a few months ago with the intent of making my readers guess what it is.

Put your guess in the comments.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Nobody?

My dear friends and family, none of you have contacted me for a check-up regarding my request from a few weeks ago.

I therefore issue a gentle rebuke. You are my sainted siblings in the Saviour; my collective cousins in Christ - it is your responsibility to heed your stumbling brother's call. Of course, I have a responsibility to avoid sin as well, but I occasionally need a helping hand. "Share each others' burdens," and all that jazz.

Let me assure you too that in the event you require an accountability check, I will gladly oblige.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Religion & War

A whitewashed communistic belief has resurfaced in Atlantic City.

The local paper is abuzz with a debate, via letters to the editor, that Christianity and all the monotheistic religions should be disappeared. Anthony D'Auria asks, "Who would deny that the sudden demise of the religions of Abraham today would result in instant peace and the eradication of biblical blood-letting?"

Mr. D'Auria is trying to rebuild modern society's respect for human dignity by first eradicating those who are the caretakers of that very message, and then erecting his new amoral (and yet somehow benevolent and altruistic) social order on top of their shallow graves.

Indeed, it has often been the wish of one side in a war that the other side would hurry up and lose so peace could ensue. There's nothing like wiping out the object of your hate to create a world full of love.

Yet this is where the sign of contradiction that Christ brought into the world makes immense sense: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." For if we hate our enemies to the literal death, what will happen to our hate when they die? Hate does not vanish like incense; it sticks like tar. And it must always have somebody or something to stick to.

The only thing which can eradicate hatred in the heart is the love of God, received freely and with a sacrificial submission to what his love requests in return for its gift of salvation.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Baby Coming

I've been kicked out of my office. This isn't as bad as it sounds; currently I'm set up in the basement, and the introvert in me is going to love it down here.

Over the next few days/weeks, I'll be transforming the room of which Trebler once commented while visiting, "So this is where the blog magic happens," into a light-green haven of babyness.

My wife is due April 5, and it's starting to click in with me (and her) that the house is about to get tossed upside down again. It's hard, it's frustrating, it's a strain on the marriage, but I love every minute of it. The joy of bringing new life into the world and seeing this tiny little soul develop is irreplaceable.

It wasn't that long ago that our youngest was born, and today she made us all laugh with a 3 minute babbling prayer before supper. A few of her words were unintelligible, but most were easy - thank you for my blankie, thank you for the chicken, thank you for the table... it was priceless. The next-oldest added a prayer for the poor to have the food they need, and the eldest one made a perfect sign of the cross.

I can still remember holding our first girl hours after she was born. Mommy was sleeping and I was sitting in the rocking chair in the birthing room, cuddling my new little creation in my arms. A nurse had given her to me, and nobody told me that I was free to put her down in the crib. My arms got really tired & sore, but I didn't mind - I just kept holding her and holding her for hours, until the same nurse looked at me funny and told me I could put her down if I wanted.

Now we're approaching number four (number five, counting Rachel).

God, I love this.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Nut-Ella

'Nuf said.

Do you run Internet Explorer 7?

To find out, go to your Help menu and choose "About Internet Explorer."

If that's what you've got, you simply must try this.

Just a sampling of what bad people can do - only the guy that wrote that isn't one of them.