The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Lord's Day: Ascension

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
The Daughters of Mary, "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" from De Profundis (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Chasing the Sun Away" from A Jackknife to a Swan (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Outside, the sun rose,
And you stayed inside, you kept your eyes closed,
Pulled down the shades on your window,
You decided to hide out from the sunlight,
It's too bright,
Just doesn't sit right
With the way you're feeling today:
You're cloudy and gray. (Hey!)

"You're chasing the sun away! (Hey!)
You're chasing the sun away! (Hey!)
You're chasing the sun away! (Hey!)
You're chasing the sun!"

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

'Tis the Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, "All Good Ska Is One" from Ska Me Forever (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"We'll all unite like all good ska music…"

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Matthias — Stand By

'Tis the Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

The Intercepteurs, "Pirates" from You Are Hear (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

In most of the world, 'tis the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: Ascension-link, Wikipedia-link Ascension, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

In much of these United States the Ascension has been transferred to the following Sunday, displacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter, in which case today is the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Be Like Max, "Sin City Rude Kids" from Against All Odds (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "Papa's Got a Brand New Ska" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

The Popish Plot
"Pope's Prayer Intentions for March 2021"

'Tis the Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Operation ÖSTERREICH — Please Stand By

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

'Tis the Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Closer to Nowhere" from While We're at It (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Time waits for no man, but I still think of 2018's While We're at It as the "new album," having not yet mentally readjusted to the brand-new When God Was Great.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Reel Big Fish, "I Know You Too Well to Like You Anymore" from Candy Coated Fury (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The title says it all.

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

The Popish Plot
"Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Blessed Peter To Rot, Martyr for a Marriage"

'Tis the Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Explorers' Club, № DCCCXV

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 50th Anniversary of Mariner-Mars '71, Part I
9 May 1971: The Mariner-H probe (also known as "Mariner 8") lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station atop an Atlas-Centaur rocket; shortly after staging, the Centaur upper stage began to tumble out of control, both the rocket & the probe crashing into the Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico; the cause of the failure was eventually traced to a malfunction in the guidance system.

Commentary: Just as the summer of 2020 saw the launch of three robotic missions to Mars—by the United States of America (Mars 2020, Perseverance rover & Ingenuity helicopter), the People's Republic of China (Tianwen-1, Zhurong rover), & the United Arab Emirates (Emirates Mars Mission, Hope orbiter)—so too the May 1971 Mars launch window saw a flurry of activity from the United States & the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as we shall explore in the weeks ahead.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: Mariner-H
Aqua, "Back from Mars" from Aquarius (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.

Saints + Scripture: VI Sunday of Easter — Stand By

'Tis the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The R.B.D. Song o' the Lord's Day: VI Sunday o' Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter
J.J. Heller, "Invisible Love" from Painted Love (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party!

The Aquabats!, "Ska Robot Army!" from The Return of the Aquabats! (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Skammentary:

"They're coming to take over,
To terrorize the earth,
They're skanking in their best suits,
Beware of the ska robot army!"

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Catch 22, "Keasbey Nights" from Keasbey Nights (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"When they call for me I'll be sitting at my desk
With a gun in my hand wearing a bullproof vest,
Sing, 'My, my my, how the time must fly,
'When you know you're gonna die by the end of the night'…"

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

'Tis the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Rebel Black Dot! Songs o' the Day: SKAfter Party!

Matamoska!, "El Jefe de Ska" from Slacktivist Swing! (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: El Jefe de Ska means "the boss of ska."

"All hail el jefe de ska!
All hail el jefe de ska! (Oh yeah!)
All hail el jefe de ska!
All hail el jefe de ska! (Oh yeah!)"

&

The Aquabats!, "Ska Boss!" from The Aquabats! B-Sides (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Skammentary: In contrast to "El Jefe de Ska," "Ska Boss" is principally instrumental, with the only words being background dialogue betwixt the various characters.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "I Don't Believe in Anything" from When God Was Great (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Super new music!

"I've had enough of all of the tough love,
I'd like to get back to the normal that I knew.
If what you're saying here is, 'Stay away from there,' then
That's not something that I'm gonna do.

"As we calmly start to panic,
All the mayhem makes me manic.

"So don't tell me that there's a downside,
Can't you see it's going worldwide?
I don't believe in anything!
Baby, I don't believe in, I don't believe in.
Don't tell me what your rules are,
Usually that won't get you too far,
And you know, you, too, can't believe it,
What I believe is I don't believe in anything!…

"You tend to talk down the fucking lockdown,
Drag out and knock down, who are you talking to?

"We are slowly going faster
Headlong into a disaster.

"So don't tell me that there's a downside,
Can't you see it's going worldwide?
I don't believe in anything!…"

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

The Popish Plot
"Saints for Every Occasion (in May)"

'Tis the Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

'Tis the First Friday o' the month: Wikipedia-link First Friday & Wikipedia-link Sacred Heart.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Kalles Kaviar, "24-7 Ska" from Probably the Next Big Thing (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Every day of the week
Listen to the punching beat,
24-7 ska…"

Intellectually, I know there are other genres of music, yet a part of me remains incredulous, astonished by the magnificence & significance of ska & bewildered by the idea that anyone would listen to anything else.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Death of Guitar Pop, "Ska Is the Bollocks" from In Over Our Heads (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"I went from washing cars
To eating caviar,
Because ska is the bollocks…"

Saints + Scripture: Pascha

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter fifteen, verses seven thru twenty-one;
Psalm Ninety-six (R/. three), verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, & ten;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses nine, ten, & eleven.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, the two most important words in our Gospel today are joy and commandments. "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." And, "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love."

These are not terms that we readily juxtapose. We usually associate commandments with the carrying out of duty and responsibility, or with moral rectitude, and that normally seems opposed to joy.

However, in Thomas Aquinas’ treatment of human behavior, the first question raised is not about law or virtue, but rather joy. Thomas wonders what the nature of true happiness is. What all of us seek, whether we are young or old, Christian or non-Christian, male or female, rich or poor, is joy.

The whole point of the moral life is to make us happy. So how do we become happy? Thomas’ answer, which is in line with the great tradition, is through the proper ordering of one’s desire, through learning how to desire the right things and in the right way. And that’s precisely what Jesus commands us to do.

Video reflection by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (U. S. C. of Catholic Bishops): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Severed Spine, Day 18
The Second Book of Kings, chapter five, verses fifteen thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: Naaman Is Cured of Leprosy (cont'd; 2 Kings, 5:15-27).

The Explorers' Club Special: Mercury-Redstone 3

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Mercury-Redstone 3
5 May 1961: Mercury 3 lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying Alan Shepard (1923-1998), U.S.N. aboard the Mercury capsule Freedom 7 atop a Redstone rocket; he became the first American, & the second man, in space during the suborbital flight; the Freedom 7 splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean & was recovered by crewmen from the U.S.S. Lake Champlain.

Wayback Machine: № DCCXLVII, "The Space Race—The 59th Anniversary of Mercury-Redstone 3"

Commentary: Shepard's suborbital flight came three weeks—twenty-three days—after Yuri Gagarin's orbital flight (12 April 1961, Vostok 1). Had Shepard's opinion prevailed & he launched atop the Mercury-Redstone Booster Development flight (24 March 1961) that proved the malfunctions of Ham the Astro-Chimp's Mercury 2 flight (31 January 1961) had indeed been corrected, Shepard would have beaten Gagarin into space by three weeks. Either way, though, Shepard's flight would have been suborbital & Gagarin's orbital; the United States would not launch an orbital flight 'til February 1962. That said, Shepard was the pilot of his spacecraft, while Gagarin was a passenger.

Semper exploro.

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

'Tis the Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Operation ÖSTERREICH — Please Stand By

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Less Than Jake, "Richard Allen George… No, It's Just Cheez" from Hello Rockview (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Everyone to the bar!…

"Ai, ai, ai, ai,
Cindo de moustache!
The kids that are hip
They grow hair on their lip,
They throw down their razors
And don't give a shit!
Then grow and grow and grow,
So let your moustache show!
Oh yeah!"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

MU330, "Tune Me Out" from Crab Rangoon (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Pascha — Please Stand By

'Tis the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The Explorers' Club, № DCCCXIV

Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars
24 April 1921: Bloody Sunday—Hundreds of Fascists descended upon the German-speaking town of Bozen (Italian: Bolzano), in South Tyrol, recently annexed by Italy from Austria, & attacked the parade in conjunction with the town's Spring Fair; one man was murdered & dozens wounded; the Italian military escorted the Fascist attackers safely back to the train station & no one was ever prosecuted.

Lest we forget.

The Stars My Destination: Crew-1 Splashdown

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, 2 May, hours before the dawn, the Crew Dragon Resilience splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, safely returning to Earth the Crew-1 quartet of N.A.S.A. astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, & Shannon Walker, & J.A.X.A. astronaut Soichi Noguchi. A night splashdown is not the ideal scenario, but was necessitated by the weather conditions at the recovery zone. The safe return of Crew-1 marks yet another milestone on the return of routine spaceflight to & from the International Space Station from & to the United States.

The Resilience set a new American spacecraft endurance record, spending one hundred sixty-seven days in space, surpassing the previous record of eighty-four days set by the Skylab 4 Apollo module in 1973-1974.

Bonus Song o' the Day: Crew-1 & the Resilience
Real Can of Yams, "Late Night Swim" from CODENAME: Koala (Remastered) (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Wayback Machine Tour of Launch America
Crew-2 Launch
Crew-1 Relocation
Crew-1 Launch
Demo-2 Splashdown
Demo-2 Launch

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saints Philip & James

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month—Saint Alphonsa: 1st Female for India & Syro-Malabar Rite"

'Tis the Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Feast of Saints Philip & James, Apostles (died circa 80 & 62, respectively): Apostles-link ūnus & Apostles-link duo, Apostle-link Papa & Wikipedia-link Papa, & Apostle-link Juliett & Wikipedia-link Juliett; Apostles-link Twelve & Wikipedia-link Twelve.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '18.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Ss. Philip & James
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Nineteen (R/. five), verses two & three, four& five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses six thru fourteen.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we read the wonderful and mysterious passage from the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel. The disciples are gathered around Jesus at the Last Supper, abiding in intimacy with him, asking questions and seeking wisdom.

Then listen to Jesus’ words: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Paul refers to Jesus as the "icon of the invisible God." What both Jesus and Paul are saying is that Jesus’ words are the Father’s words and his deeds are the Father’s deeds.

Philip, one of the first disciples chosen, still doesn’t get this. He says, "Master, show us the Father." What he missed was the humility of the Logos: "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works." Neither the words nor the deeds of Jesus are "his own." They are received from the Father.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Severed Spine, Day 15
The Second Book of Kings, chapter five, verses one thru eight.

Commentary: Naaman Is Cured of Leprosy (2 Kings, 5:1-8).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"All the pure in heart are, in a certain sense, mystics, because, as Christ proclaimed, they are candidates to 'see God.' But we should all be pure in heart, all good, simple, & childlike. We should all be able to want, be able to yearn, be able to receive."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Today God continues to call—you & me—but do we listen?"
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Pay no attention to sufferings or to enjoyment, but give your attention to your beloved God."
—St. Paul of the Cross, C.P. (1694-1775, feast:19 October)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"I was talking to a young woman who was in an iron lung for twenty-one years. The only part of her body that she could move was her head. She told me that she was visited the week before by six seminarians. They told her they were about to be ordained priests. She told them, 'I hope you're also going to be ordained victims. Because our Lord was not only a priest, he was a victim; he offered himself for others. So you have to do that.' They replied that the Lord didn't want them to suffer. She said, 'You young men are imposing a tremendous additional penance on me to make you worthy of your priesthood.' She was filling up in her own body the sufferings that were wanting to them. So those of us who have the faith have to begin restoring the idea of reparation."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

The Skluttz, "Ska Police" from the Confidence Is Key E.P. (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Of course, we did highlight a Smash Mouth song, "Road Man," during SKApril XI.

"I always wonder why they want to run us out of town,
Like loving certain bands will make you better than the crowd,
If you love first wave, 2-tone, third wave, reggae, dub, ska-punk,
Just let the people have their music, like, who gives a fuck?

"'Do you like ska?'

"'Oh, I love ska!'

"'So, what's your favorite ska band?'

"'I love Reel Big Fish.'

"'Ugh. Well, actually—'

"If there's a ska show, then you know I'm gonna wanna go,
It doesn't matter if there's horns or if it's northern soul,
But at the end of the night you know someone's gonna say,
'I bet Prince Buster must be rolling over in his grave!'

"Is this ska?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Didn't reggae come first?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
You wear too many checkers!
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
What wave is this again?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Now here come the rudies and they look a little meaner,
If you like Streetlight it's a Class A misdemeanor!

"So many people with so many tastes, can't please them all.
So many different sounds that all seem to unite in ska.
But all these different sounds they always seem to cause a furor,
Get at a ska revival feuding over who is right.

"'Do they even have a horn section?'

"'Man, seven people and not one Fred Perry shirt!'

"'This, you know, this is, this is really more reggae than ska.'

"'The only good song they played is a cover.'

"If we could come together, set aside our differences,
No one would have to feel ashamed about their preferences,
So have your first wave, 2-tone, third wave, reggae, dub, ska-punk,
The only thing that really matters is we pick it up!

"Is this ska?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Didn't reggae come first?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
You wear too many checkers!
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
What wave is this again?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Now here come the punks and they look a little meaner,
If you listen to The Specials it's a Class A misdemeanor!

"Is this ska?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Didn't reggae come first?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
You wear too many checkers!
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
What wave is this again?
(Ska Police are coming for you!)
Now here come the mods and they look a little meaner,
If you like The Interrupters it's a Class A misdemeanor!

"Ska Police are coming for you!
Ska Police are coming for you!
Ska Police are coming for you!
Ska Police are coming for you!

"(Woah-oh-oh) Ska Police are coming for you!
(Woah-oh-oh) Ska Police are coming for you!
(Woah-oh-oh) Ska Police are coming for you!
(Woah-oh-oh) Ska Police are coming for you!

"This band is basically Smash Mouth."

Saints + Scripture: V Sunday of Easter — Stand By

'Tis the Fifth Sunday of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

The R.B.D. Song o' the Lord's Day: V Sunday o' Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Matt Maher, "Abide with Me" from Saints and Sinners (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Nothing for Something, "Ska Kids" courtesy Sergeant Ska (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Well, many guys will leave the show tonight
With a little girl in tow (All right),
For us it's always just dance, dance, dance,
And we never will get a chance.

"'Cause ska kids (Hey!),
We never get laid
And ska bands (Hey!)
They never get paid,
Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAfter Party

Reel Big Fish, "Ska Show" from Life Sucks… Let's Dance! (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Welcome to the SKAfter Party!

"Hey, everybody, let's go
Downtown to the ska show,
There's a ska show,
Come on, let's go!
Let's go!

"We want to dance and sing
And forget about everything,
Don't want to fight or cry,
Just have some fun before we die!

"And there's never any doubt
That's what it's all about!

"Hey, everybody, let's go
Downtown to the ska show,
There's a ska show,
Come on, let's go!
Let's go!

"This invitation is for all,
It doesn't matter who you are,
It don't matter where you're from
'Cause everybody is welcome…"