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I realized a new iPhone trick this afternoon. I couldn’t find it on any blogs so I thought I would post it here. I don’t know how many people will find it.

 There are a number of ways to key a period. The conventual way is to hit the punctuation key and then a period. A trick has been found of hitting the punctuation key and sliding your finger to the period or other punctuation before lifting your finger.

 For periods at the end of a sentence, however, double tap the space bar. It adds a period and a space.

~cv

Yesterday marked the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion in the United States. A great deal of discussion has been had in the last few days on both sides of the argument.

I will not drone on about a topic that is so clearly obvious to me and yet still so polarized. Instead, I will offer a fact and an observation.

According to a CRS Report for Congress titled “American War and Militarty Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics” (RL32492) dated 29 June 2007, 1,008,112 American lives have been lost fighting 10 wars and 8 military operations since the formation of our country in 1776. That is one American life every two hours.

The best estimates for abortions, as acknowledged by the abortion industry itself, are that, since Roe v. Wade in 1973, 48,000,000 lives have been lost to abortion in the United States. That is a death rate of 313:1.

That is not to say that war is good; neither is abortion.

~cv

It is no secret the work I have done for people with disabilities. It is clear then, why this story from Sports Illustrated peaked my interest.

While the SI story meets journalistic standards, I think the details ought to be reordered in order to form a less biased opinion.

Oscar Pistorius, a South African sprinter, was born without fibulas, the thin outer bone joining the knee to the ankle. He was just 11 months old when both his legs were amputated blow the knee.

This week, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled that he is ineligible to compete in the Olympics this summer, in Beijing, or any other able-bodied (AB) competitions.

So, one might ask what would lead a governing body to disqualify a athlete with disability since birth from AB competitions; after all, he has a disability, right? He should have to work harder to do the same thing.

The IAAF delayed its decision some time while Pistorius’ “Cheetah” racing blades were studied. Pistorius spent two days testing the legs with German professor Gert-Peter Brueggeman. Brueggemann found that the blades allow Pistorius to run at the same speed at AB runner with 25% less energy and that the blades returned nearly three times as much energy as the human ankle.

That said, the IAAF’s decision was based on the conclusion that the “Cheetah” blades give an athlete an unfair advantage.

Last winter we saw a phenomenon known as “thundersnow”. I hadn’t even known “thundersnow” existed, or that there was, however straightforward, a name for such an event. But we did, and there is. Apparently, a “thundersnow”, “winter thunderstorm”, or “thunder snowstorm” is an exceptionally rare meteorological phenomenon with nearly identical causes as a thunderstorm, with the obvious exception of snow rather than rain. Additionally, it usually happens in areas where the ground temperature is at or near freezing.

Last year, of course, was also the year of record snowfall, with 14 to 18 inches of snowfall overnight throughout the area.

This winter has seen the longest period of snow I can remember, with four separate snowstorms in less than five weeks. But today marks the oddest “winter” weather I have seen: tornados.

I stopped by Columbia Catholic School to talk to one of the network administrators. After the dismissal bell rang, another bell sounded. I looked, perturbed, at the computer teacher and immediately heard the two quick tones capable of making any astute adult’s blood pressure shoot through the roof. We were under a tornado ***warning*** and 600+ students had to take cover.

Twice this afternoon students crouched on the floor in fetal positions as schools across central Missouri held their students. I remember the tornado of 1990 and the hours we spent in the basement; I can handle sever weather but if I never have to endure getting students to safety, not knowing what is going on, as children are crying, it will be too soon.

Apple released its much anticipated new OS X, otherwise known as “Leopard”, on Friday. I installed it this weekend and have been very pleased.

The addition of stacks (a single icon in the dock that gives the user quick access to frequently used files) is utterly ingenious, particularly for downloaded files. While previous version of OS X have placed downloaded files on the desktop, Leopard puts them in a convenient stack for easy access, leaving the desktop clean and pristine. The addition of Time Machine is also very nice. Not at all like Windows System Restore, Time Machine allows the user to find lost files as well as older versions of files now no-longer useable.

Perhaps one of the most usable new features that users ought to take the time to setup is Spaces. The OS come with Spaces setup in a 2×2 configuration for 4 spaces total but it can be customized up to 4×4 for 16. Grouping programs to open in specific panes automatically makes the feature all the more usable. Quick Look is certainly another feature not to be over looked. Being able to see a preview of a document without launching the entire program makes seeing a document a breeze.

Of course, Apple has added over 300 new features. Many of which are behind the scenes.

Not all of the changes in Leopard are good. iCal is missing its Info pane, making adding new appointments a royal pain. Someone ought to lose their head, or at least their job, for that stupid mistake.

~cv

It has been a while, and there is a lot going on. The Holy Father announced this morning that there will be a Consistory on 24 November. The announcement came as no surprise to those in the know. Among others on the list were John Patrick Foley, Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. The official announcement is available from the Vatican in Italian. Whispers in the Loggia has the complete list in English with continuing coverage.

Additionally, Apple announced, yesterday, the arrival of the much-anticipated OS X 10.5, aka, Leopard. Originally slated for release this past spring, the first major update to Apples OS in years was delayed due to the need to devote extra resources to the iPhone project. Apple may well have, in the process, created the Vista effect for itself. Hopefully Leopard can live up to the expectations.

Finally, the Dalai Lama is in the US to receive the Congressional Gold Medal today. Needless to say, the People’s Republic of China is not happy and has promised that such an award damages US-China relations. Any fallout will be worth following.

~cv

Floyd Landis was striped of his 2006 Tour de France title yesterday, though not without continued controversy. The arbitrators did warn the lab about sloppy practices and training of employees. The AP has a rather lengthy article that can be found at cnn.com

This is just another step in the ongoing doping problems in the great sport of cycling.  Hopefully, with the 2006 Tour now behind us, both cyclists and fans can begin to move on.

Congratulations to Óscar Pereiro for wining the 2006 Tour de France.

~cv

D-Day has come and gone and the world has failed to cease to exist. I am talking, of course, about 15 September 2007, the date the motu proprio Summoroum Pontificum became effective. While many of the faithful rejoiced, the document caused great anxiety among many. I would say that my home parish is rather moderate. For the most part, our liturgies are good; though not the best, they are by no approximation bad. Nevertheless, there seems to be plenty of division on the topic of liturgy.

Personally, I do not a particular devotion to the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy. I do, however have a devotion to good liturgy and an appreciation for the Extraordinary Form. It is, after all, the way the Church celebrated the Eucharist for 400 years. I was reading the Scelata blog today.

“the Extraordinary Form would not be my first choice. But now, praise Benedict and the motu proprio, I am at least entitled to ask for that, whereas I am not entitled to ask for the Ordinary Form with the Ordinary sung in Latin. Or the Ordinary Form with the priest facing ad orientem. Or the Ordinary Form with no jokes. Or the Ordinary Form without being asked to squawk Lord of the Dance. Or the Ordinary Form without a glad-handing rotary convention inserted where the Pax Christi is offered. Or the Ordinary Form where no adolescent in a football jersey will address me from the sanctuary. Or the Ordinary Form with no mention of Jambalaya or sports enthusiasms. So I am asking for the Extraordinary Form. And my aspirations are rightful.”
-Scelata

I thought about the Extraordinary Form quite a bit after the release of the motu proprio. I decided then that I would become involved in the Extraordinary Form to the extent of my abilities and make an effort to learn it for a number of reasons: I have never attended Mass according to the 1962 Misal and would like to know more about it; To deepen my appreciation for the history and traditions of the Church; To aid those with a special devotion to the 1962 Misal to deepen their faith and love of God, in hopes helping them gain their own salvation. Now, however, I have considered again my interest in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and while I don’t have a particular devotion to it, I do have a devotion to good liturgy. My knowledge of those devoted to the Extraordinary Form and those priests who celebrate it with them assures me that good liturgy is something one can count on at an Extraordinary Form Mass. There for, “the Extraordinary Form would not be my first choice. But now, praise Benedict and the motu proprio, I am at least entitled to ask for that, whereas I am not entitled to ask for the Ordinary Form with the Ordinary sung in Latin. Or the Ordinary Form with the priest facing ad orientem. Or the Ordinary Form with no jokes. Or the Ordinary Form without being asked to squawk Lord of the Dance. Or the Ordinary Form without a glad-handing rotary convention inserted where the Pax Christi is offered. Or the Ordinary Form where no adolescent in a football jersey will address me from the sanctuary. Or the Ordinary Form with no mention of Jambalaya or sports enthusiasms. So I am asking for the Extraordinary Form. And my aspirations are rightful.”

Thanks to Scelata for pointing out what I had missed.

cv

I have spent a lot of time trying to decide how to address this topic. It is not what I had originally planed but I think it achieves my intention.

A great commotion has been made regarding new revelations that Bl. Teresa of Calcutta struggled spiritually. Though not expected, this is not terribly surprising to me. A great number of holy men and women, long having received their eternal reward, have struggled similarly. St. John of the Cross is know for having first described the “dark night”. I think the most important thing to learn from such a revelation is how to live the faith of the Church even amidst spiritual turmoil. Despite her difficulties, Mother Teresa never gave up her work and the world and the Church are better for it. While the Saints are themselves imperfect humans, they struggled valiantly to serve the Lord. It is this strength, and not their weaknesses, that we must imitate.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

The Lord knows that we are all imperfect. Nevertheless, we must strive again and again to follow him. The rest is that for which there is grace. Despite her own struggles, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta strove daily to more fully show the love of Christ in all that she did; this is that which we must follow.

Zenit reported in late July that 4 Chinese priests had been arrested for refusing to join the Patriotic Association, a government agency that monitors the practice of religions in the country. Zenit also reported that at least five bishops and 15 priests are also imprisoned along with and unknown number of lay people.

This is toped by MSNBC/Newsweek reporting that China has required government permission for Tibetan Buddhist Monks to reincarnate. The State Administration for Religious Affairs is quoted as calling the new law, “an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation.” The MSNBC/Newsweek article goes on to explain that the Chinese government is attempting to suppress the Buddhist presence in Tibet by controlling who the new Dalai Lama is.

These are two recent examples of the Chinese Government’s continued crimes against human rights. The existence of basic human rights has been acknowledged since the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. The very acknowledgement that human rights exist begins to pave the way for a logical progression that recognizes the basic right of the free expression of religion. Neither the Catholic Church nor the teachings of Buddhism offer any substantial threat to the operation of an earnest government serving the needs of its subjects. These acts of the Communist Party of China to deny the basic rights of its people coupled with its continued censorship of the press and Internet stand in bold testimony to the corruption of the Communist Party.

And yet, these are not the only examples of human rights violations by the CPC. Who can forget the shootings in Tiananmen Square in 1989? It seems that anyone who dares question the CPC is quickly impression, killed, or otherwise silenced.

The 20th Century showed that Communism is neither a practical nor an effective form of government. Perhaps the greatest socio-political achievement of that century was the defeat of a system that dominated its political landscape and caused international turmoil. The international community to work diligently to protect the rights of those living in the PRC and at least reform, if not replace, a government plagued with corruption at the expense of its citizens.

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