It's Been Almost Forty Years, But This Sure Sounds Familiar

Official: Ship carrying Marines arrive in Med

Yep, whenever the politicians and diplomats fail, a bunch of highly trained young men [and now women] have to fix it with their perspiration and their blood.  Someday in the future those who survive will get an indifferent, yet polite, "thank you" from some civilian who spent his or her life safe.

Thus, warriors throughout history have learned to be content with their own company.

I See That The Civic Program To Boost Hartford's Nightlife Is Working Out

A 21-year-old East Hartford man was shot and killed after a fight inside the downtown Hartford nightclub Up Or On The Rocks.The fight broke out inside the Union Place bar after 12:30 a.m., as it was closing, police said. It moved outside, where the man was shot in the chest.This is the second fatal shooting this month that resulted from a fight inside the bar.

If only our diocese had some association with the city of Hartford that would give them a platform to speak out about the illegal use of guns and the civil causes of violence.  Oh, wait....

Really, New York Times? Hmmm, I'm Guessing The Rules Change According To Which Party Is In The White House

Otherwise, it would be "No Blood for Oil" or something.

Bomb Syria, Even if It Is Illegal

After the September 11 atrocities, a prominent bishop spoke about how we should "Bomb our enemies with love" and send the "war-mongering Republicans" a Christian message.

I can't find any bishop saying anything similar now.  It's at moments like this when I wonder why the church leadership sees our global mission in such a narrow light.

Relax, Let The Professionals Handle The Guns

Man to Sue Police After Being Shot While Walking Home Holding His Shorts

The best quotation: "You can add black underwear to the list of things cops might mistake for a gun."

Useful News

Top 5 Reasons Why Vegan Diets Are a Terrible Idea

Again

Saturated Fat is Not Bad For Your Brain, and You've Been Lied to

I Heard The Sound Of Dozens Of Diocesan Committees Imploding

World Federation of Scientists changes its policy: “Climate change in itself is not a planetary emergency.”

A Bicentennial Celebration Of Note

The Battle Of Lake Erie

Friday's Church: Daytona Beach Drive-In

Yep, it's a former drive-in movie theater converted into an outdoor church.  If you tune your car's radio to 88.1, you can hear the preacher, as seen from the balcony in the photo.  Holy Communion is dispensed by a platoon of sacred ministers from car window to car window.  They have a large congregation with a collection that enables the church to operate without difficulty.  Hmmmm....

Relax, Let The Professionals Handle The Guns

Rival campers who opened fire turn out to be sheriff's deputies

Somebody Get Him An Assault Vest And Parachute

Obama Is Willing to Go It Alone in Syria, Aides Say

Since they haven't said anything about this, I'm assuming the House of Bishops are going to hit the silk with him.  "Stand up, buckle up, shuffle to the door; jump in the sky and shout 'Vox Populi, Vox Deo'."

[Actually, it's "...shout 'Marine Corps!'", but that doesn't fit the notoriously pacifistic clergy.

Well, they're pacifists when it's a Republican in the White House.  They get terribly butch when it's a Democrat.  Maybe they're too busy working on their anti-violence campaign, like our three bishops are.

Yeah, I would think war was violent, but what do I know?]

There Will Be No Living With Her Now

We talk with Amanda about what to wear around NYC, her first 9W experience and much more!

Thursday's Biblical Recipe: Mulukhiya (Middle Eastern Chicken and Greens Soup)

2 frozen packets (1 lb. each) mulukhiya
1 onion, cut in half
½ tsp. salt bay leaf
4–5 cardamom grains
6 large boneless chicken breasts
olive oil
15–20 garlic cloves, crushed
1 Tbsp. dried coriander
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Place the frozen packets of mulukhiya into a pot of boiling water. Stir until completely thawed. In a separate pot, boil the onion, salt, and bay leaf; toss in cardamom tied in a muslin bag; then add chicken and cook until tender. Remove chicken, cut into small strips, and fry in olive oil. Throw out the bagged cardamom, as it has done its job. Mash the onion and throw it back into the soup, bringing it to a fast boil. Add the now-thawed mulukhiya and simmer for about 5 minutes. Do not overcook, as this will make all the leaves sink to the bottom of the pot; it is essential that they remain floating at or near the top. Mix together the crushed garlic and the dried coriander and fry it in olive oil until it is golden brown. Add to the boiling mulukhiya and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Serve in bowls while piping hot.

Makes 4 normal sized servings of approximately 218 calories per cup.

As The Kids Say, This Guy Brings The Boom

Our country dangles on the precipice of starting a third World War. We are on the verge of a completely unnecessary conflict where the United States will fight along side Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. This, in another day and age, might earn the crown as the Most Controversial Story of the Week. But we’re in the year 2013, and this is America, so a young pop star’s dance moves on an MTV awards show have predictably overshadowed the prospect of global chaos and bloodshed. I wrote about Cyrusgate myself, simply making the rather obvious point that pornographic sexual degradation and confusion are interwoven into virtually every facet of our society, so it’s a bit absurd to randomly erupt with shock and outrage at one comparatively minor manifestation of our collective cultural rot.

Plus this: "Seriously, only morons listen to garbage like this. Really."

Warning: There is possibly the presence of pungent language.

Sgt. Chesty XIII Retires Today; PFC Chesty XIV To Take His Place As Official Marine Corps Mascot

That's XIII on the left, in camouflage, and XIV on the right wearing dress blues.  Congrats to both.

Update: Chesty XIV has been promoted to Lance Corporal.  Disconcertingly, it means he and I are of the same rank.

Wednesday's Art: "Storm over the Sea of Galilee" by Rembrandt

This has always been one of my favorite works, completed in 1633.  I saw it at the Gardner Museum in Boston when I was fifteen and it was very striking.  I'd like to see it again, but it was stolen in 1990 and is probably lost forever.

Just for fun, Rembrandt painted himself into the work.  He can be seen in the approximate middle of the boat wearing a hat that is distinctly un-1st century.

Relax, Connecticut Has Gun Control

Upon police arriving at the scene at around 3:40 p.m., DelaPaz fled the scene on foot. When he was apprehended, police say he resisted and injured the leg of a responding officer. After being detained, police found a Sig Sauger P239 handgun, a set of brass knuckles and a voter registration card in DelaPaz’s bookbag. DelaPaz gave multiple false names before his identity was determined. Police say DelaPaz is a convicted felon.

Should I mention that not only are felons not permitted to own or otherwise posess guns, but they can't vote, either.  There ought to be a law against that, as well.  What's that?  Oh....

The Only Thing Worth Reading About Millie Cyprus (or whatever)

Most of the media backlash focused on Cyrus’ crass opportunism, which stole the show from Lady Gaga, normally no slouch in the foot-stamping look-at-me department. But the real scandal was how atrocious Cyrus’ performance was in artistic terms. She was clumsy, flat-footed and cringingly unsexy, an effect heightened by her manic grin. How could American pop have gotten this bad? Sex has been a crucial component of the entertainment industry since the seductive vamps of silent film and the bawdy big mamas of roadhouse blues. Elvis Presley, James Brown and Mick Jagger brought sizzling heat to rock, soul and funk music, which in turn spawned the controversial raw explicitness of urban hip-hop.

Tuesday's Wave

"Here is a paradox, that no one can seek the Lord who has not already found Him. It is your will, O God, to be found that you may be sought, to be sought that you may more truly be found."
... Bernard of Clairvaux

An Update To A Previous Posting

A recent history of hate-crime hoaxes