Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Hans Zimmer (composer), "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?" is the song played during the concluding scenes & early credits of Man of Steel. Have I mentioned how much I love Man of Steel? It's not perfect & its flaws are glaring, but to mine eyes it is an immensely likable movie. Were it not for the certain disaster of "Batffleck" (Ben Affleck playing the Batman), I'd be wicked excited about the sequel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Oswald of Worcester, O.S.B. (d. 992), archbishop: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses forty-three & forty-four;
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-one, verses one thru nine;
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru eighteen*;
The Second Book of Kings, chapter eighteen, verses one thru twelve;
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter twenty-seven, verses fourteen thru twenty-six.

Commentary: I read all of Numbers, 25, as it is presented in my Bible, but there is a nineteenth verse placed immediately before 26:1 with an explanatory note, "This is the last verse of Ch 25." I would have to agree that 25:19 serves the narrative better after the chapter break than it would if situated before.

Mass Readings
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter twenty-six, verses sixteen thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one & two, four & five, seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses forty-three thru forty-eight.

Commentary: I generally prefer to read the whole of each day's Psalm, not just the Mass verses, but I shall make an exception in the case of Psalm 119, "the longest by far in the psalter" according to my Bible's footnotes.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, C.P. (1838-1862): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: I availed myself of the sacrament of Reconciliation ("confession") this morning & my penance was to pray a decade of the Rosary. Very apropos, methinks, on the feast day of such a devout Marian saint.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-nine thru forty-two;
The Book of Zechariah, chapter fourteen, verse fourteen.

Mass Readings
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter eighteen, verses twenty-one thru twenty-eight;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one thru eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses twenty thru twenty-six.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Robbie Williams featuring Olly Murs, "I Wan'na Be Like You" from (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: I've never seen the animated feature film The Jungle Book, from which "I Wan'na Be Like You" hails; however, in my youth I saw many, many episodes of TaleSpin. I have a combined edition of Kipling's The Jungle Book & The Second Jungle Book on my bookshelf, but I've not yet read them.

The Wikipedia informs me that "I Wan'na Be Like You" is subtitled "(The Monkey Song)." Hee hee, monkey. Go ahead, just try & say "Monkey" without smiling.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Explorers' Club, № CDXXXIII

Joel Brand (1906-1964) & the "blood for goods" scheme, which might have been a ploy by Heinrich Himmler & Adolf Eichmann to split the United Nations (the "Allies") & negotiate a separate peace without the U.S.S.R. or might have saved the lives of up to 1,000,000 Jews from the Holocaust.







Operation AXIOM
Two hundred years ago to the day, 26 February 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte—A.K.A. Napoleon I, Emperor of the French—escaped from exile on the isle of Elba, setting the stage for the Hundred Days & his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815). Bonaparte was a monster who tried to bend all of Europe to his megalomanical will, & almost from the beginning a certain strain of Western thought has worshiped him as the Übermensch, the superior man, a hero beyond such petty conceptions as good & evil. This strain of thought gave us the bloodletting of the Twentieth Century, & might yet prove the undoing of Western civilization. If there is no truth but what we decide for ourselves, no right or wrong but that dictated by the whim of the strongest or the most vicious, what recourse have the weak to justice? What hope have we as a culture? But I digress. Napoleon escaped from Elba, 26 February 1815, two hundred years ago today.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Porphyry of Gaza (c. 350-420), bishop: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Yesterday we remembered Saint Louis Versiglia, bishop & martyr (1873-1930), & Saint Callistus Caravario, priest & martyr (1903-1930): Martyr-link Lima Victor, Martyr-link Charlie Charlie, & Wikipedia-link (Nos. 115 & 116).

Yesterday we also remembered Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio, O.F.M. (1502-1600): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: I would like to provide you with more information of Sts. Porphyry, Louis Versiglia, & Callistus Caravario, & Bl. Sebastian de Aparicio, but one of my principal resources is not functioning. The rest of the internet seems to be functional, but that website is F.U.B.A.R. Functionality restored.

Scripture of the Day (Wednesday)
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-one thru thirty-four;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter twelve.

Mass Readings
The Book of Jonah, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm Fifty-one, verses three & four, twelve & thirteen, eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-two.

Commentary: Sweet fancy Moses, I loves me some Jonah!

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-five thru thirty-eight;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter thirteen (of thirteen).

Mass Readings
The Book of Esther, chapter C*, verses twelve, fourteen thru sixteen, twenty-three thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-eight, verses one thru three, seven(C) thru eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven, verses seven thru twelve.

Commentary: Curiously, the chapters of the Book of Esther are both numbered & lettered. *There is both a chapter three & a chapter C. According to my Bible's introduction to Esther, the numbered chapters are from the shorter Hebrew text of Esther while the lettered chapters are from the longer Greek text. As I understand it, our Protestant brethren, following only the Hebrew texts approved by the Pharisees, reject those pieces of Esther from the Septuagint.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Robbie Williams featuring Michael Bublé, "Soda Pop" from Swings Both Ways (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: "Come enjoy the madness…"

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Short Round, "Cleansing, Cut, Scrape" from Mailorder for the Masses (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: I woke up this morning with the music of "Cleansing, Cut, Scrape" playing in my head. I knew the name of neither the song nor the band. I made some educated guesses about where in my musical library such an unknown melody might be found & in short order I had found Short Round. I've not deciphered most of the lyrics of "Cleansing, Cut, Scrape," which by & large strikes me as a rather unfortunate title for a song.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Liudhard (d. c. 600), bishop; chaplain to Saint Bertha, Queen of Kent; & dedicator of Saint Martin's, the oldest church in the Anglosphere: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link Lima; Wikipedia-link Bravo & Wikipedia-link St. Martin's.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-eight thru thirty;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter eleven.

Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses ten & eleven;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses four thru seven, sixteen thru nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses seven thru fifteen.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, "The Shadow" (Main Titles) via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: It should be noted that the 1994 feature film, The Shadow, for which today's R.D.B.S.O.T.D. was written & served as the main theme, is utter dreck. Nonetheless, the song, "The Shadow," is solid & I remain a great fan of the character, the Shadow.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the optional memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr (c. 69-c. 156): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
Polycarp was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound & burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him.
Had 22 February not been a Sunday, it would have been the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter: Cathedra-link ūnus, Cathedra-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day (Sunday)
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter nine.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter nine, verses eight thru fifteen;
Psalm Twenty-five, verses four thru nine;
The First Letter of Peter, chapter three, verses eighteen thru twenty-two;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses twelve thru fifteen.

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-four thru twenty-seven;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter ten.

Mass Readings
The Book of Leviticus, chapter nineteen, verses one & two, eleven thru eighteen;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight thru ten, fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty-six.

The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day

Eric Olsen with Chevy Chase, "Getting Rid of Britta" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Pardon his French. Also, I'm smelling future anti-Valentine's gold.

"Saying good-bye to Britta
Was the hardest thing to do,
But when someone's a bitch and a liar
There ain't nothing left to woo.

"I'm getting rid of Britta,
I'm getting rid of the B.
(She's a no-good B.!)
I'm getting rid of Britta,
I'm getting rid of the B.
(She's a G. D. B.!)

"I didn't know when I saw her blond hair
That she could ever be that way,
So tiny and small she seemed to have it all,
But she made me say, "Bitch, hey!'

"I'm getting rid of Britta…

"It isn't like I would ever hit her,
But I would sell her to the highest bidder,
She bought me out, she bruised my soul,
She lied to my heart, she left me less than whole.

"I'm getting rid of Britta…"


Sonntag, 22 Februar
The 88, "At Least It Was Here" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: "At Least It Was Here" is the theme song to the television sitcom Community, in which I have become interested belatedly.

Gillian Jacobs Appreciation Day
I'm not saying that Gillian Jacobs, best known for playing Britta Perry on Community, is the most beautiful girl in the world, I'm just saying that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the optional memorial of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (c. 1007-1072): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
He joined the monks at Fort-Avellano, then in the greatest repute, & by his wisdom & sanctity rose to be Superior. He was employed on the most delicate & difficult missions, amongst other the reform of ecclesiastical communities, which was effected by his zeal. Seven Popes in succession made him their constant adviser, & he was at last created Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.
If memory serves, "Peter Damian" is one of the aliases used by Simon Templar (played by Val Kilmer) in the 1997 motion picture
The Saint.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-one thru twenty-three;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter nine.

Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verses nine(B) thru fourteen;
Psalm Eighty-six, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-two.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Smells Like Nirvana" from Off the Deep End (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: "Smells Like Nirvana" is one of those rare, glorious cases wherein my appreciation for a parody in no way undermines my appreciation of the original work.

"Now I'm mumblin' and I'm screamin'
And I don't know what I'm singin'!
Crank the volume, ears are bleedin',
I still don't know what I'm singin'!
We're so loud and incoherent,
We're Nirvana, bug your parents!…"

Friday, February 20, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Paul Anka, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Rock Swings (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: This is by far the most subversive rendition of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

At Mass this morning I had occasion to advise teenage girls on how to manipulate teenage boys; bless her heart, one of them was resistant to coquettish manipulation, saying, "I don't want to break any hearts!" Without really intending to, was I trying to corrupt the youth? Oh, bother.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Wulfric of Haselbury (c. 1080-1154), priest & anchorite: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses nineteen & twenty;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter eight;
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, verses thirty-one thru thirty-four.

Commentary: Jeremiah, 31:31-34 is quoted in Hebrews, 8:8-12, but I wanted to compare the texts &, at least as translated in my New American Bible, there are a couple subtle differences. The footnotes say that the author of Hebrews quoted the Septuagint, the Hebrew Bible translated into Koine Greek; if the N.A.B. Jeremiah is a direct translation from the original Hebrew, that would more than explain any slight differences.

Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verses one thru nine(A);
Psalm Fifty-one, verses three thru six(A,B), eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses fourteen & fifteen.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Tori Amos, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Autobahn
Earlier today, the Lumi, the Distaff Son of the Mousemobile was passed by a Pontiac sporting the vanity license plate BUBYE, which I read as "Buh-bye!," based, presumably on the vintage '90s Saturday Night Live sketch about the obnoxious airline stewards & stewardesses, who bid all their passengers a sneering "buh-bye!" in lieu of a polite "Good-bye" or "bye, bye." I'm not sure BUBYE was really going fast enough to justify that boastful plate, but 'tis winter, so even on dry roads he might not be driving as aggressively as he might otherwise.

Earlier in the week, I espied a Jeep with the vanity license plate ED MD. I read this as "Ed, Medical Doctor," but there are myriad possibilities. "Edie Maryland," "Education/Educating/Educated Medical Doctor," "Educated (in/at) Maryland," & the list gets sillier from there. Initials do not seem unlikely: "Echo Delta, Medical Doctor." ED MD: concise, yes, but uncommunicative due to the lack of clarity.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Conrad of Piacenza, T.O.S.F. (1290-1351), hermit: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter seven.
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses seventeen & eighteen.

Commentary: The Lenten journey through the Luke's Passion comes from The Little Black Book, a publication of the Diocese of Saginaw based on the writings of the late Most Reverend Ken Untener, Bishop of Saginaw. Lent '14's Little Black Book took us through Matthew's Passion.

Mass Readings
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty, verses fifteen thru twenty;
Psalm One, verses one thru four & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses one thru six, sixteen thru eighteen.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Explorers' Club, № CDXXXII

Operation AXIOM: The World War
"Kitchener's Army," formally the New Army—the initially all-volunteer force raised to take the place of the "Old Contemptibles," the original British Expeditionary Force that had been all-but-annihilated by the First Battle of Ypres (№ CDXX); six divisions had been raised by August 1914, twenty-nine by March 1915; composed in part of the heartbreaking "Pals battalions."









Lest we forget.

Commentary: I'm of two minds about cross-referencing episodes of "The Explorers' Club." On the one hand, the benefits are obvious, especially as our observance of the Great War's centenary continues. On the other hand, there is the very real danger of disappearing down the rabbit hole. As evinced by this episode, at present I believe the potential benefits outweigh the potential costs.

Project BLACK MAMBA



'Tis Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the penitential season of Lent: Ashes-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
Christians are invited to the altar to receive the imposition of ashes, prior to receiving the holy Supper. The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each, while speaking the words, "For dust you are & to dust you shall return" (Genesis, 3:19). This is of course what God spoke to Adam & Eve after they (had) eaten of the forbidden fruit & fallen into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death."
Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter six.
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses fourteen thru sixteen.

Mass Readings
The Book of Joel, chapter two, verses twelve thru eighteen;
Psalm Fifty-one, verses three thru six(A,B), twelve thru fourteen, seventeen;
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verse twenty thru chapter six, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses one thru six, sixteen thru eighteen.

Lies, Damned Lies, & the News
The following doesn't pertain to broadcast journalism per se, which is the usual subject of "Lies, Damned Lies, & the News," but this is the only title we have for tirades about broadcasting, so it shall have to suffice.

I listen to Christian radio. I don't always enjoy this, but for close to two decades now I've been unable to stomach Top 40 commercial radio (both current & "Oldies," the Top 40 of yesteryear), I derive increasingly little satisfaction from the bleating of National Propaganda Radio, & the A.M. Catholic station is subject to quite a bit of interference, all too often being essentially unavailable. The contemporary Christian music these stations play is often, in the word of Father John Riccardo, "vapid" & theologically unsophisticated, but I enjoy much of it & upon occasion it is how I am best able to hear His Voice. By & large, these stations identify themselves only as "Christian," which could be a nod to ecumenism, to broad-based Christian unity, sure, but is also the code by which "non-denominational" Evangelical Protestants refer to their denomination.

Yesterday, two of the D.J.s were discussing the imminent beginning of Lent. I was on a verge of screaming at my radio, "Where in the Bible is the procedure for Lent laid out, you Sola Scriptura frauds? You Pharisees!" The discussion then drifted into farce when one of them, in a pompous, learned manner, intoned, "I used to think Lent was forty days, but it's really forty-six!" The shortest verse in Scripture, the Gospel according to John, 11:35, seems appropriate: "And Jesus wept." Lent is forty days long, from Ash Wednesday 'til the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, excluding Sundays & the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. This is the absurdity & danger of Protestantism, the notion that there is no Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church), that each Christian can come to know & understand the faith herself, all by her lonesome. If there is no one to teach you that Sundays, still & always the feasts of the Lord, are not counted in the forty days of Lent (forty being a sacred number with an impressive Biblical provenance), then you spread falsehoods, such as the claim that Lent is "actually" forty-six days long. During the Flood, it rained for forty days & forty nights, not forty-six; Moses was on Mount Sinai (thrice) for forty days, not forty-six; the Christ fasted & was tempted in the desert, in preparation for His ministry, for forty days & forty nights, not forty-six. Then again, since "Christians" have cut themselves off from much grace through their denial & refusal of the sacraments, we should not be surprised when their reasoning & conclusions are pudding-minded.

Sola Scriptura is itself refuted explicitly in Scripture, so I suppose none of the resultant heresies should surprise me. I'm not the right guy to push ecumenism; I take too much joy in calling heretics heretics.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of Ash Wednesday

Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Nevermind (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: In preparation for Lent, itself the preparation for Easter, itself the preparation for the rest of our earthly lives, yesterday I read a blog post titled "40 Ways to Win Lent" (hyperlink). Way № 21 is "Spend some time around incense," with the commentary "I'm not kidding. It will concentrate your attention on God." The train from there is pretty straightforward: Spend some time around incense, incense smells like holiness, smells like "Smells Like Teen Spirit," & here we are.

Project GLOWWORM
Ash Wednesday is one of the few days of the year when I do not sport a hat on the way to Mass, & maybe the only day of the year when I do not sport a hat at all. I do this because I am vain & do not wish the hat to wipe off the ashes with which I was marked at morning Mass. 'Tis very cold today, so at least I will suffer physically & directly for this vanity.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the optional memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, formally the Order of the Servants of Mary (O.S.M., 1233): Seven-link Collective, Seven-link Individuals, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
In 1240 seven noblemen of Florence mutually decided to withdraw from the city to a solitary place for prayer & direct service to God. This group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine. Members of the community came to the United States from Austria in 1852 & settled in New York & later in Philadelphia.
Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter six, verses five thru eight & chapter seven, verses one thru five;
Psalm Twenty-nine, verses one(A) & two, three(A,C)-four, three(B) & nine(C) thru ten, eleven(B);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses fourteen thru twenty-one.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Barenaked Ladies, "Bank Job" from Barenaked Ladies Are Me (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Thinking of "Bank Job," this morning I remarked to my mother how much easier it would be to avoid sin if there were nuns everywhere you looked. "You're thinking of sinning," I said, "and here comes a penguin."

"I was the driver, you ran the show,
You had the last word, the Go or No Go,
I knew every laneway in Ontario,
But it's not what you're sure of, it's what you don't know.

"It should have been filled with the usual ones,
Throwing their cash into mutual funds,
We all had our ski masks and sawed-off shotguns,
But how do you plan for a bank full of nuns?

"Well, I guess we panicked, we all have taboos,
They were like zebras, they had us confused,
We should be in condos with oceanfront views,
Instead we're Most Wanted on the six o'clock news…"

Monday, February 16, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day

Dominik Hauser, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Season One [theme])" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: I have no faith that Guy Ritchie is the right man to adapt The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to the silver screen, but such is my affection for the television show (at least the first season) that I'm willing to give the enterprise the benefit of the doubt. After all, there are few things I love more than well-crafted spy fiction.

Sonntag, 15 Februar
Barenaked Ladies, "Sound of Your Voice" (live) from Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: "How I miss waking up to the sound of your voice…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Juliana of Nicomedia (d. c. 304), martyred under the Emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Today we also remember Saint John Scholasticus (d. 577), Patriarch of Constantinople: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Had 15 February not been a Sunday, we would have remembered Saint Claude de la Colombière, S.J. (1641-1682): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day (Sunday)
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four.

Mass Readings
The Book of Leviticus, chapter thirteen, verses one & two, forty-four thru forty-six;
Psalm Thirty-two, verses one & two, five, eleven;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse thirty-one thru chapter eleven, verse one;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses forty thru forty-five.

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
The Book of Numbers, chapters thirteen & fourteen.

Commentary: I intended to continue reading from Hebrews today, but a cross reference in today's Gospel directed me to Numbers & from thence one thing lead to another 'til I'd read the two chapters cited above.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter four, verses one thru fifteen, twenty-five;
Psalm Fifty, verses one & eight, sixteen(BC) thru seventeen, twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses eleven thru thirteen.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, & Methodius, Bishop (827-869 & 827-885), "Apostles to the Slavs:" Saints-link, Saint-link Charlie, Saint-link Mike, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
In 863 the brothers reached the Czech Republic (of today) & immediately began teaching & preaching in the Slavic language of the people. They started a school to train young men for the priesthood. They conducted the liturgical services in Slavic & eventually developed a special Slavic alphabet in order to put the Bible & liturgy in writing.
Today we also remember Saint Valentine (d. c. 269), martyr, whose life is admittedly obscure: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Note that my Anti-Valentine's venom is for the contemporary secular holiday "Valentine's Day," not the true Valentine's Day, the feast of Saint Valentine, which we observe today.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter three.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses nine thru twenty-four;
Psalm Ninety, verses two thru four(ABC), five & six, twelve & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses one thru ten.

Operation AXIOM: Be My Anti-Valentine



This has been said before, but it bears repeated so that I am not misunderstood: I am not opposed to romantic love (eros). I am not opposed to so-called romantic gestures, such as the gifting of flowers or jewelry. My opposition is the ritualization of Valentine's Day, the fetishization of heart-shaped boxes of candy, the avaricious commercialism that claims true affection can be expressed only through (1) the gifting of precious gemstones set in ornaments wrought from precious metals &/or (2) animalistic rutting. I am opposed to a culture that mistakes lust for love, a culture that utterly fails to understand God's gift of sexuality. I am opposed to red hearts & pink bunting & bow-&-arrow-wielding puttos persistently, maddeningly misidentified as "Cupid." I love love, which is why I hate, hate, hate Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day '14, Part I, Part II, & Part III

Valentine's Day '13 | Valentine's Day '12

Valentine's Day '11 | Valentine's Day '10

Valentine's Day '09 | Valentine's Day '08

Valentine's Day '07 | Valentine's Day '06

Valentine's Day '05 | Valentine's Day '04

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of Valentine's Day
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "You Don't Love Me Anymore" from Off the Deep End (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"We been together for so very long,
But now things are changing, oh, I wonder what's wrong,
Seems you don't want me around,
The passion is gone and the flame's died down.
I guess I lost a little bit of self-esteem
That time that you made it with the whole hockey team.
You used to think I was nice,
Now you tell all your friends that I'm the Antichrist.

"Oh, why did you disconnect the brake son my car?
That kind of thing is hard to ignore.
Got a funny feeling you don't love me anymore.

"I knew that we were havin' problems when
You put those piranhas in my bathtub again.
You're still the light of my life,
Oh, darlin', I'm beggin', won't you put down that knife?
You know I even think it's kind of cute the way
You poison my coffee just a little each day.
I still remember the way that you laughed
When you pushed me down the elevator shaft.

"Oh, if you don't mind me asking,
What's this poisonous cobra doing in my underwear drawer?
Sometimes I get to thinkin' you don't love me anymore.

"You slammed my face down on the barbeque grille,
Now my scars are all healing but my heart never will.
You set my house on fire.
You pulled out my chest hairs with an old pair of pliers.
Oh, you think I'm ugly and you say I'm cheap,
You shaved off my eyebrows while I was asleep,
You drilled a hole in my head,
Then dumped me in a drainage ditch and left me for dead.

Oh, you know this isn't really like you at all,
You never acted this way before.
Honey, something tells me you don't love me anymore.
Oh no, no, got a funny feeling you don't love me anymore."

Friday, February 13, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Catherine de' Ricci, O.S.D. (1522-1590), prioress, stigmatic: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter two.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Thirty-two, verses one & two, five thru seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses thirty-one thru thirty-seven.

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" from Red (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Do you think they're ever going to get back together?

"I used to think that we were for ever, ever,
And I used to say, 'Never say never.'

"So he calls me up and he's like, 'I still love you,' and I'm like—I'm just—I—I mean this is exhausting, you know? Like, we are never getting back together, like ever.

"No, we are never ever ever getting back together,
We are never ever ever getting back together,
You go talk to your friends,
Talk to my friends,
Talk to me,
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together…"

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Æthelwold of Lindisfarne (d. 740), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Today we also remember Saint Julian the Hospitaller (d. unknown): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter one (of thirteen).

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter two, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-eight, verses one thru five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses twenty-four thru thirty.

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

A New Found Glory, "Boy Crazy" from New Found Glory (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"Some girls are crazy!
Just listen to what have to say about it:
You got to watch out for the beautiful ones,
They'll twist your head right off your neck
And laugh about it with their friends,
That's just one night for them.

"They target you with their eyes
And move with their lips
And it pulls you in!
She shuts you down with her voice again,
And now, are you listening?

"This song goes out to girls
That we haven't met just yet,
This song's for stupid girls
Who think that every boy is all about them,
About them…"


Project GLOWWORM
Single-digit Fahrenheit temperatures have prompted me to sport the Finnish ushanka I inherited from Grandpa Wilson upon his demise, now over fifteen years ago. The ear flaps are still tied together at the top of the hat, but should I spend any sustained period outside they will be deployed to great effect. Wearing the ushanka is an ever greater joy since I've embarked upon the bewhiskered life, because it means everything above my scarf is one conglomerated fuzzball. And with the turn of phrase I'm now thinking about my childhood teddy bear, Fuzzball. Bonus!

Stay warm out there. This winter's a pussy cat compared to the last, but there is still plenty of fury left before the spring thaw. Love it!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

Emma Roberts, "Mexican Wrestler" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"Sometimes I wish that I was a wrestler,
A Mexican wrestler in a red vinyl mask…
I can crack all your ribs, but I can't break your heart.

"You will never love me,
And this I can't forgive,
That you will never love me,
As long as I will live.

"Sometimes I wish that I was a beauty,
A beautiful girl, the popular one,
And I'd turn your head and your friends would love me,
And I could afford to play hard to get.
We'd go to parties and you'd show me off,
Then I'd go out with your best friend…

"You will never love me,
Why should I even care?
It's not that you're so special,
You're just the cross I bear.

"You will never love me,
And this I can't forgive…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the optional memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, amongst the most famous & celebrated of Marian apparitions: Our Lady-link ūna, Our Lady-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous reported a vision of Our Lady of Lourdes. She claimed she saw a miraculous Lady in white, with a golden rosary & blue belt fastened around her waist on a hill who asked her to request that the local priests build a chapel at the site of the vision. After Church investigations confirmed her visions, a large church was built at the site, Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Our Lady of Lourdes is a private revelation, unlike Sacred Scripture, which is a public revelation, therefor no Christian is obligated to believe in the apparitions of the miraculous healings evinced at Lourdes ever since. To believe or not believe is the choice of every individual. As Saint Bernadette said, "One must have faith and pray; the water will have no virtue without faith."


Today we also remember Pope Saint Gregory II (669-731), opponent of iconoclasm: Pontiff-link ūnus, Pontiff-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Tuesday was the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin (c. 480-543): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
St. Scholastica, according to a ninth century tradition, was the twin sister of Benedict of Nursia (Wayback Machine). She consecrated her life to God from her earliest youth. She founded & governed a monastery of nuns.
Scripture of the Day (Tuesday)
Personal Reading
The Letter to Philemon.

Commentary: The Letter to Philemon is so short that it is not subdivided into chapters, comprised as it is of a mere twenty-five verses.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter one, verse twenty thru chapter two, verse four(A);
Psalm Eight, verses four thru nine;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses one thru thirteen.

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
Non-Biblical introduction to the Letter to the Hebrews.

Commentary: I was greatly impressed by the recent Mass readings of Hebrews, so I've decided to proceed with the whole letter rather than begin a chronological reading of the Pauline corpus.

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter two, verses four(B) thru nine, fifteen thru seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one thru two(A), twenty-seven & twenty-eight, twenty-nine(BC) thru thirty;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses fourteen thru twenty-three.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The Explorers' Club, № CDXXXI

Operation AXIOM: The World War
7-22 February 1915: The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes—a Central Powers offensive that saw the Germans push back the Russians in the north & the Russians push back the Austro-Hungarians farther south; Imperial Russian casualties for those two weeks—killed, wounded, & captured—topped 200,000.






Lest we forget.

Bonus! Song of the Day
Reel Big Fish, "Everything Sucks" from Turn the Radio Off (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"I know everything sucks, yeah,
I know everything sucks, whoa-oh-oh,
I know everything sucks, yeah,
And this is gonna be the last time you hear me complain…"

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

Mu330, "Favorite Show" from Mu330 (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Compared to the rest of pop music, there are relatively few third wave ska songs about love & romance, & of what songs there are more often than not they are about relationships failing rather than succeeding. From the ska kid's perspective, love is at best a lie & more probably a cruel trick.

"I'm not your favorite show anymore,
It seems my ratings have dropped
Faster than shows with singing cops…"

Monday, February 9, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Apollonia (d. 249), deaconess & martyr: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Has 8 February not been a Sunday, we would have remembered Saint Jerome Emiliani (1481-1537), priest & co-founder of the Somaschi Fathers, formally the Ordo Clericorum Regularium a Somascha (post-nominal letters: C.R.S.): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.R.S.

Scripture of the Day (Sunday)
Personal Reading
The Letter to Titus, chapter two.

Mass Readings
The Book of Job, chapter seven, verses one thru four, six & seven;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses one thru six;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter nine, verses sixteen thru nineteen, twenty-two & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses thirty thru thirty-four.

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
The Letter to Titus, chapter three (of three).

Mass Readings
The Book of Genesis, chapter one, verses one thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one thru two(A), five & six, ten & twelve, twenty-four & thirty-five(C);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses fifty-three thru fifty-six.

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

Lily Allen, "Not Big" from Alright, Still (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"I'm sorry if you feel that I'm being kinda mental,
But you left me in such a state,
Now I'm gonna do to you what you did to me,
Gonna reciprocate.

"I never wanted it to end up this way,
You've only got yourself to blame,
I'm gonna tell the world you're rubbish in bed, now,
And that you're small in the game.

"You're not big, you're not clever,
Not big whatsoever…"

Sunday, February 8, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Anti-Valentine's Song of the Day

Reel Big Fish, "Please Don't Tell Her I Have a Girlfriend" from Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Welcome to the meanest week of the R.D.B.S.O.T.D.'s whole year.

"Please don't tell her I have a girlfriend,
Please don't tell her I have a girlfriend,
'Cause it's so hard, can't even pretend
That I only want to be her friend.

"Well, I don't deserve it, you know that it's true,
But she said that she would and you know I would too,
Oh, oh, What am I gonna do?…"

Interestingly, "Please Don't Tell her I Have a Girlfriend" is the thematic opposite of the earlier "A Little Doubt Goes a Long Way," wherein the protagonist goes out of his way to avoid the infidelity relished by today's song's protagonist. Does life imitate art or does art imitate life?

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878), the "Prisoner of the Vatican:" Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Letter to Titus, chapter one (of three).

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter thirteen, verses fifteen thru seventeen, twenty & twenty-one;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses thirty thru thirty-four.

Commentary: At Mass this morning, Father Linden described today's Gospel reading, specifically verse thirty-four, as "the passage of the diocesan priest":
When he disembarked & saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; & he began to teach them many things.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "For You" from Everything to Everyone (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"And for every useless reason I know,
There's a reason not to care.
If I hide myself wherever I go,
Am I ever really there?…"

Beginning tomorrow: "Prepare—prepare to feel the wrath of the League of Evil Exes." O.K., not so much the League of Evil Exes & not all that much wrath, per se, but prepare—prepare to feel the bitterness of the bitterest week in the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.'s whole year.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs (d. 1597, A.K.A. the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan), martyred under the shōgun Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link Paul Miki; Martyrs-link & Wikipedia-link Companions.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
He joined the Society of Jesus & became a well known & successful preacher, gaining numerous converts to Catholicism. The local daimyō began persecuting Catholics for fear of the Jesuit's influence & intentions. Miki was arrested & jailed with other Catholics & was forced to march six hundred miles from Kyoto to nagasaki; al the while singing the Te Deum. On arriving in Nagasaki, Miki was crucified. He preached his last sermon from the cross. Crucified alongside him were Joan Soan (de Gotó) & Santiago Kisai, also of the Society of Jesus; along with twenty-three other clergy & laity, all of whom were canonized by (Blessed) Pope Pius X in 1862.


I include the above image mostly because I have always found the
Hinomaru, the "circle of the sun," almost hypnotically fascinating.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter four (of four).

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter thirteen, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Twenty-seven, verses one, three, five, eight(B) thru nine(ABC);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses fourteen thru twenty-nine.

He's Dead, Jim

My father wishes to set aside "several hours" to discuss my health & my mother's health. By this he does not mean to have a back-&-forth discussion, to throw ourselves into the hurley-burley of the marketplace of ideas; he means that he wishes to spend several hours delivering (based on previous experience) several poorly-organized, only loosely-connected diatribes on a wide variety of topics, culminating in my expected adoption of his "naturopathic" beliefs. Those beliefs? He claims that "prescription drugs" kill more persons a year than they save. He claims that "ninety to ninety-five per cent of diseases can be cured"—not merely prevented, but actively cured—"through the proper diet." He claims that anyone who takes a prescription drug is a fool, though this did not stop him from taking a prescription painkiller when he needed one. (Hey, do as the great man says, not as the great man does.) Also, he claims that vaccines kill more persons than they save; regarding the current measles outbreak, he says that if the afflicted children had been raised on the proper diet, they would have been naturally immune to the measles. So, yes, I'm sure I'll be adopting his naturopathic beliefs straightaway.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "For You" (live, acoustic) from Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan (Brother Nacho)

Commentary:

"In a book in a box, high upon a shelf,
In a locked and guarded vault,
Are the things I keep only for myself,
It's your fate, but it's not your fault…"

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin & Martyr (d. c. 251), martyred under the Emperor Decius: Martyr-link Unus, Martyr-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
Prayer: Saint Agatha, you suffered sexual assault & indignity because of your faith. Help heal all those who are survivors of sexual assault & protect those women who are in danger. Amen.
Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter three.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter twelve, verses eighteen & nineteen, twenty-one thru twenty-four;
Psalm Forty-eight, verses two thru four, nine thru eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses seven thru thirteen.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
They Might Be Giants, "The End of the Tour" from John Henry (Ska Army)

Commentary:

"At the end of the tour,
When the road disappears,
If there's any more people around
When the tour runs aground,
And if you're still around,
Then we'll meet at the end of the tour.

"The engagements are booked through the end of the world,
So, we'll meet at the end of the tour,
And I'm never gonna tour again,
No, we're never gonna tour again."

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Explorers' Club, № CDXXX

Operation AXIOM: The World War
4 February 1915: Germany declares a War Zone extant in all the waters surrounding the British Isles, in retaliation for Britain's 1914 declaration of a War Zone throughout the North Sea—in effect, the advent of unrestricted submarine warfare.









Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
They Might Be Giants, "Stomp Box" from John Henry (Brother Nacho)

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Joan of Valois, O.Ann.M. (1464-1505, A.K.A. Queen Joan of France), foundress of the Sisters of the Annunciation, formally the Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Saint-link Unus, Saint-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link Duchess of Berry; Wikipedia-link O.Ann.M..

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter two.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter twelve, verses four thru seven, eleven thru fifteen;
Psalm One hundred three, verses one & two, thirteen & fourteen, seventeen thru eighteen(A);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses one thru six.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of Taco Tuesday
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Taco Grande" from Off the Deep End (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Sweet fancy Moses, I love Taco Tuesday!

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the optional memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop & Martyr (d. c. 316), one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link Unus, Martyr-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link Blaise; Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
St. Blaise's protection of those with throat troubles apparently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when St. Blaise healed him.
Today is the optional memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop, O.S.B. (801-865): Saint-link Unus, Saint-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
St. Ansgar is called "the Apostle of the North" & (was) the first Christian missionary in Scandinavia. His success was due to his great preaching ability, the austerity & holiness of his life, & the miracles he performed.
Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter one (of four).

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter twelve, verses one thru four;
Psalm Twenty-two, verses twenty-six(B) thru twenty-eight, thirty thru thirty-two;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter five, verses twenty-one thru forty-three.

Autobahn
I have repeatedly seen around town a Jeep Cherokee with the vanity license plate IM THE1, which I read as "I'm the One." "The One" what is unclear. There are no bumper stickers to indicate the motorist's interests or preferences. The "Great One"? No, that's Wayne Gretzky. The "One" from The Matrix? No, that's Thomas "Neo" Anderson. The "One We've Been Waiting For"? No, that's President Obama, at least according to Candidate Obama in '08. IM THE1 remains a mystery, one I suspect I shall continue to confront outside of Saint Matthew Catholic Church, where I sometimes go for the lunchtime Mass.

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Aloe Blacc, "The Man" from Lift Your Spirits (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: This R.B.D.S.O.T.D. is dedicated to valiant Wolverine Tom Brady on the occasion of his fourth Super Bowl victory. I do not make the preposterous claim to having known that he would be as good as he has been over the last decade & a half, but I can report with fidelity that back in the day I was outraged when I learnt he hadn't been chosen 'til the sixth round of the N.F.L. draft. Hadn't those smug idiots in the No Fun League seen him play in college? The devil take the soothsaying charlatans at the "combine," all Tom Brady does is win! (Win league championships, that is, & set Super Bowl passing records.) Congratulations, Mr. Brady; 'twas a joy & a privilege to have seen you hone your craft in the hallowed confines of Michigan Stadium in 1998 & '99.

"Well, you can tell everybody,
Yeah, you can tell everybody,
Go ahead and tell everybody,
I'm the man. I'm the man. I'm the man.
Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
I'm the man. I'm the man. I'm the man.

"I'm the man!…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, A.K.A. Candlemas: Feast-link Unus, Feast-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the bulletin:
The presentation of Jesus in the temple is in fulfillment with the Jewish law. Every male child must be taken to the temple & an animal must be offered as a sacrifice. That is why (Saint) Joseph is usually depicted in this scene holding a cage & two doves.
Had 1 February not been a Sunday, we would have remembered Saint Brigid of Kildare (c. 454-c. 524), one of the three patron saints of Ireland: Saint-link Unus, Saint-link Duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day (Sunday)
Personal Reading
The First Letter to Timothy, chapter five.

Mass Readings
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter eighteen, verses fifteen thru twenty;
Psalm Ninety-five, verses one & two, six thru nine;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter seven, verses thirty-two thru thirty-five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses twenty-one thru twenty-eight.

Scripture of the Day (Today)
Personal Reading
The First Letter to Timothy, chapter six (of six).

Mass Readings
The Book of Malachi, chapter three, verses one thru four;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses seven thru ten;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter two, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses twenty-two thru forty (or, short form, 2:22-32).

Sunday, February 1, 2015

The Explorers' Club, № CDXXIX

Operation AXIOM: The World War
26 January-4 February 1915: The Battle of the Suez Canal—the successful defense of the strategically vital waterway by a British & Imperial force against a German-led Ottoman attack.









Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "I'll Do the Driving" from Out-of-State Plates (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"She knows nothing at all about nothing,
The moment I saw her was something
I found alarming—
That certain nothing behind her eyes…"