A DOWNER TO START THE NEW YEAR

A new Rasmussen poll finds that voters want to go to great lengths against Flight 253 bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, with a majority saying he should be waterboarded to extract information.

The poll asked: "Should waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques be used to gain information from the suspected bomber?" The result was 58% yes, to only 30% who said no.

Doesn't matter that interrogation experts say that torturing suspects results in misinformation, rather than facts. Doesn't matter that the experts say that the persons being tortured will say whatever they think the interrogators want to hear just to stop the pain. Doesn't matter that nothing worthwhile will be gained by torture. Torture them anyway.

And that's to say nothing of my obviously minority view that it's MORALLY WRONG to torture people, and I'd very much prefer that the people of my country would not support torture under any circumstances.

From TPM.

"OH DEAR! OH DEAR! I SHALL BE TOO LATE!"

Ah, but only one day late, so not so very late. Shown above is the official calendar from the Diocese of Wenchoster. See the details in my post here. It's possible that a few calendars are left for sale. If you'd like to buy a copy, go to the gift shop of the diocese and inquire.

UPDATE: OHHSV stands for the Order of the Holy Hankie of St. Veronica. The relic is housed in the Mandylion Chapel in Wenchoster Cathedral. Click the link to visit the chapel and see the relic.

Allen Toussaint's "The Bright Mississippi"

South Louisiana delivered yet another bounty of CDs in 2009.

None shined brighter than Allen Toussaint's "The Bright Mississippi," his jazzy collaboration with producer Joe Henry and an all-star cast of modern jazz musicians.
....

If you only buy one New Orleans CD?

Make it Allen Toussaint's "The Bright Mississippi" (Nonesuch Records). Producer Joe Henry's bold concept involved using jazz standards by Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington instead of Toussaint's own compositions; deploying only one New Orleans' musician, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, along with the likes of Joshua Redman; and recording in New York. But the utterly enchanting result is as New Orleans as the wrought iron balconies of the French Quarter, similarly intricate and sturdy, and equally impressive up close or at a distance.

And that's the truth! And it took a foreigner, Master of Music MadPriest, to call my attention to the new collection by Toussaint. You can listen to excerpts from the tracks at the Nonesuch Records link.

From Lagniappe at NOLA.com.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

LOT'S WIFE

The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot 's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!'

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?'

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'

DID NOAH FISH?

A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?'

'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms.'

HIGHER POWER

A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?'

One child blurted out, 'Aces!'

MOSES AND THE RED SEA

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother, 'What did you learn in Sunday School today?'

'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.'

'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his Mother asked.
'
Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Ricky was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous... When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'

UNANSWERED PRAYER

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.

'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.'

'So, how come He doesn't?' she asked.

BEING THANKFUL

A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?'

The little boy replied, 'Thank God he's in bed!'

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER

During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews.

Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?'

Tommy answered soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!'

TIME TO PRAY

A pastor asked a little boy, 'Do you say your prayers every night?'

'Yes, sir.' the boy replied.

'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked.

'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'

SAY A PRAYER

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.

'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer,' said his mother.

'I don't need to,' the boy replied.

'Of course, you do,' his mother insisted. 'We always say a prayer before eating at our house.'

'That's at our house,' Johnny explained. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!'

Thanks to Bob.

IT'S...

Why does 2010 feel so much like 2009? Perhaps because I'm pretty much the same person today that I was yesterday, despite attending my first New Year's Eve party in many years.

2009 was a year mixed with joy, sorrow, and regret, which included much to be thankful for, losses to grieve, and regrets for things done and things left undone. I expect that 2010 will be pretty much the same. I call it life.

Anyway, I'll take my lead from Psalm 118:24 and try to live the words.

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Is this my New Year's resolution? No. Resolution is too strong a word. My only resolution is the the one that I stole from Doxy.

THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS OR, THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

MASTER of AB Monogram - "The Circumcision" - c. 1530 - Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

James Kiefer at The Lectionary says of the feast day:

On January 1st, we celebrate the Circumcision of Christ. Since we are more squeamish than our ancestors, modern calendars often list it as the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, but the other emphasis is the older. Every Jewish boy was circumcised (and formally named) on the eighth day of his life, and so, one week after Christmas, we celebrate the occasion when Our Lord first shed His blood for us. It is a fit close for a week of martyrs, and reminds us that to suffer for Christ is to suffer with Him.

Luke 2:21

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Readings:

Psalm 8
Exodus 34:1-8
Romans 1:1-7
Luke 2:15-21

PRAYERS

Eternal Father, who gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Image from the Web Gallery of
Art.

Take A Few Quiet Breaths Now...

...because the season of Mardi Gras is on the way. Above is a picture of the 2009 Maid of Orleans in the new Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc parade.

If you're in the French Quarter Wednesday -- Epiphany -- don't be surprised if you see women dressed in medieval garb on horseback and a throng of followers accompanied by bagpipes and Gregorian chants.

It's not a Renaissance fair come to town; it's Joan of Arc's birthday.

The Maid of Orleans, so named for her figurative leadership in France's tide-turning battle against the English at Orleans during the Hundred Years' War, turns 598 on Jan. 6, and for the second year local St. Joan fans will turn Decatur Street into a moving tableau of her life.

The procession is one of two events that help kick off Carnival season on Twelfth Night. The other is the Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar party, which rolls on Wednesday on the St. Charles Avenue line (see below).

For fans of Joan, however, events have grown to include the Joan of Arts Fete on Sunday, featuring costume workshops, a free French class, Medieval chamber music, theatrical performances, a silent auction and panel discussions all celebrating St. Joan.

The schedule for the 2010 Fête of the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc can be viewed at their website.

Breathe slowly and deeply.

From the Times-Picayune.

New Year

This is to be used as a "first footing" prayer. In Scotland and the northern parts of England, New Year is given much importance: folk go from house to house wishing each other a good year ahead, and celebrate their good wishes with food and plenty of drink. It is often seen as important who should be the first to cross the threshold and 'bring in the year' once midnight has passed.

This song (spoken or sung) asks Christ Himself to come and 'first-foot' for us. The door is opened to welcome Him in and invite His blessing whether He comes in silence or in the company of other guests.

This day is a new day
that has never been before.
This year is a new year,
the opening door.

Open the door

Enter, Lord Christ -
we have joy in your coming.
You have given us life;
and we welcome Your coming.

I turn now to face You,
I lift up my eyes.
Be blessing my face, Lord;
be blessing my eyes.
May all my eye looks on
be blessed and be bright,
my neighbors, my loved ones
be blessed in Your sight.

You have given us life;
and we welcome Your coming.
Be with us, Lord,
we have joy, we have joy.
This year is a new year,
the opening door.
Be with us, Lord,
we have joy, we have joy.


From Celtic Daily Prayer.

Image from The Gutenberg Project.

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

AFTER SERIOUS & CAUTIOUS CONSIDERATION...YOUR CONTRACT OF FRIENDSHIP HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR THE NEW YEAR 2010.

IT WAS A VERY HARD DECISION TO MAKE...SO TRY NOT TO SCREW IT UP!!!


May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.

May the problems you had forget your home address!

In simple words...



Thanks to Doug.

Photo of fireworks on the Mississippi River in New Orleans from Ruba.

Bears!

TRY AND TELL THIS JOKE WHEN YOU'VE HAD A FEW DRINKS IN YA ! HA HA HA ..... A bear walks into a bar in Billings, Montana and sits down. He bangs on the bar with his paw and demands a beer. The bartender approaches and says, 'We don't serve beer to bears in bars in Billings. 'The bear, becoming angry, demands again that he be served a beer. The bartender tells him again, more forcefully, 'We don't serve beer to belligerent bears in bars in Billings...' The bear, very angry now, says, 'If you don't serve me a beer, I'm going to eat that lady sitting at the end of the bar. 'The bartender says, 'Sorry, we don't serve beer to belligerent, bully bears in bars in Billings. The bear goes to the end of the bar, and, as promised, eats the woman. He comes back to his seat and again demands a beer. The bartender states, 'Sorry, but we especially don't serve beer to belligerent, bully bears in bars in Billings who are on drugs. 'The bear looks at him quizzically and says, 'I'm not on drugs.' (You're gonna love me for this...) The bartender says, 'You are now. That was a barbitchyouate.


Don't blame me. Blame Bob. Don't say it. He's already been asked to leave the stage.