Will The Last One To Leave Please Turn Off The Lights?

A blessed New Year's Eve to all.  Here is the view from our front porch.

Proof - I Am Way Ahead Of The Curve

When it comes to pop music, I was an expert at an early age.  In 1974, I came across a sound on the radio (likely an AM transistor radio) that I thought was different from the other music.  Over the years, I have come to appreciate that sound even more.  The sound is not superficial - no "one hit wonder" here (although many at the time predicted this sound would be a one hit wonder.  35 years after their introduction to the world's pop music stage, ABBA has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I look at this recognition as somewhat of a Lifetime Achievement Award.  The music of ABBA is more popular now than it was 30 years ago.  To all that have mocked me for my continuous claims that ABBA is the greatest pop music group of all time, I can only say this:  Nyah!  Nyah!  Nyah!  I told you so!

St. Birgitta is smiling!

There's No Business Like Snow Business

When I went to bed last night, there was just a dusting of snow on the ground - one could still see the grass.  When I awoke this morning, there was over a foot of snow on the ground - and on just about every other object.  As you might expect, our immediate world sort of stops for a day when this happens - no school, no work, no newpaper deliver, no garbage pick up, etc.  Although our driveway is now clear (thank God for snowblowers), we could not yet get anywhere since the streets have yet to be plowed.  While I was clearing our driveway, a man drove by on his snowmobile (snow machine if you are related to Sarah Palin). 

After a weather even like this, it is always interesting that so many people say that they enjoyed the day.  While it was somewhat inconvenient not to be able to drive anywhere, people spend the day "stuck" with family.  They actually are forced to do things with each other!  It seems strange that a weather emergency is required to bring about this perspective.

Almost Midnight Mass

The news that Pope Benedict will celebrate Mass on Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm rather than at midnight has some people worried.  Is the Pope sick?  My wife and I have had the opportunity to attend a Mass at which His Holiness was the presider.  It is no easy task for anyone, let alone a man in his 80s.  He has to hop around quite a bit and do a fair amount of singing - all while wearing some vestments that are not too light.  I am just fine with the Pope celebrating the Christmas Eve Mass a bit earlier, especially since he can't ask the parochial vicar to handle the Christmas Day Mass the next morning.

A Race To Get Out Of The Woods

I have to hand it to the National Enquirer (yes, I am a subscriber as I have an "enquiring mind".  They broke the story about the alleged affair between golf great Tiger Woods, a married man with two small children, and a New York woman.  Even if the story is accurate, I doubt that it will have much of a negative impact on Tiger Woods' public persona.  He is a black man in a white man's world - that world being the Professional Golf Association.  Given that, if the allegations of marital impropriety are accurate, they will be seen by others in the white man's world as nothing more than exceptional indiscretions.  Had Tiger Woods been a black man in a black man's world - e.g. the National Basketball Association, these same people would be claiming that, if the allegations are accurate, that Tiger Woods is the typical "gang-banger whose primary activities involve rapping, doing drugs and having sex with as many women as possible".  It is all a matter of perspective, a perspective that is often "out of whack" due to people placing more value in a person's ability to generate income (for themeselves and for others) than a person's ability to see others as valuable simple because they are people. 

Virtually Anything Is Possible

Once again, I am a generation too late.  I came across an article from Catholic News Service about interns from the United States gaining valuable experience in positions at the Vatican.  The Vatican is also gaining from the interns.  Some of the interns have worked to upgrade and update the official Vatican website to include virtual views of many famous Vatican-related sights.  I did some snooping around and found the page that includes a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel.  After seeing some of the fruits of the work of the interns, I have to admit that I probably wouldn't be qualified for a Vatican internship and, even if I were, I would spend to much time trying to stick my nose into curial affairs.

Perhaps the most prolific fruit from the internships will be the "people-to-people" experiences.  Hopefully, Vatican officials that come into contact with some of the U.S. interns will develop an understanding that U.S. citizens do not all fit into the perceived mold that many Europeans have of us.  Some of us do recognize that our existence is not just about us/U.S. - there are other people out there that we can support and that can support us.