Prayer to St. Michael

A couple of years ago, after a couple of especially egregious abuse stories broke about the Catholic church, our church adapted the Prayer to St. Michael at the end of mass.

Thank God!

As a practicing Catholic, I believe that evil exists in our world.  I also believe that if evil had their druthers, the place they'd most wish to be made manifest is in the Catholic church.  The horrific abuse that has be perpetrated for decades now, to me, is a total sign of that.

As much as it pains me to say it, Satan has established a strong beachhead in our church.  

That's why I love us reciting the prayer.  We all know evil has a foothold in our church, and beyond just praying to God for her, we're seeking proactive protection, not only for the church, but for all of us.  If priests can be turned, the laity certainly can be as well.

Evil is literally everywhere in our world.  Seeking an ally in our fight against it seems like a wise thing to do.

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Saturday Song Share: Lucious Jackson - Ladyfingers

These guys never made it big, and I'm not sure why (other than they do crappy videos).  As protegees of the Beastie Boys, you would have thought the path would have been paved well for them.

Too bad, good band.  Bad, bad video.  Good band.

Flying Again

After previously holding Gold status with Delta, and having at least Silver since the early 2000's, my current gig doesn't require me to fly.  Hence, I've done maybe a trip a year or so for the past four years.  

Now, all of the sudden, I have three trips in the next month.  Unfortunately, I forgot what it was like to fly with zero status, and to be relegated to the back half of the plane, and likely in a middle seat to boot.  

Despite the multiple upcoming trips, there's nothing else on the horizon, so odds of me getting far enough to get back to Silver are damned slim.  Thus, it's to back of the plane I go.

No drinks.  No legroom.  No fun.

I think I'd rather stay home.  

The Real Difference Between the Sexes

Recently there has been a call to dust off the Equal Rights Amendment because women somehow are still massive victims of the patriarchy.  

How bad is it for women/girls right now, and how good to men/boys have it? Consider this chart, curated by University of Michigan professor Mark Perry:

I'm not ignorant enough to say that in our history women had it bad - they did.  And it wasn't ancient history, either.  In some instances, it was just a couple of decades ago.  Regardless, the pendulum has swung, and as it pertains to education specifically, has swung too far.  

Singer Joe Jackson penned in the song Real Men: 

If there's war between the sexes
Then there'll be no people left

We're there, folks.  We have got to stop the hating on boys and men.  I fear what we are going to reap when we have multiple generations which have endured this abject hate.

Running at 55

About a month ago I headed out for a rare December run in the Minnesota outdoors.  We were in the 20 degree range, the sun was out, and there was no wind, so I decided to give it a shot.  Our winters are so brutal, and the treadmill is so boring, that when one gets a chance to get outdoors, one takes it.

I had gone perhaps 600 yards when my right calf started barking.  At my age, something is always barking, so I told myself I'd run through it as my body warmed up.

100 more yards and the barking was constant.  50 yards later, the bark turned into a scream.

I pulled up with a significant limp.  I limped my way home; angry at myself for not listening and ending up on the disabled list.

Since that time, it's been a lot of stretching, elliptical, and bike work.  I tried running a couple of times but always ended up pulling up as the twinge in my calf returned.  

Finally, today, I was able to complete a two-mile run.  My cardio was really solid, but I definitely wasn't in "running shape."  That's something I can build to - the goal now is to do so while remaining healthy.  

There's a lot of things that suck about being in your mid-fifties.  Staying healthy is probably at the top of that list.

LSU - National Champions

In a highly entertaining game, the LSU Tigers defeated Clemson 42-25.  The game was close for a half - indeed, with Clemson jumping to a quick lead, it appeared that the Bayou Bengals my have their dream season end in a nightmare.  Those concerns quickly faded as the defense settled down, and Burrow heated up.

The net result was domination.  Not to the level of LSU's playoff game against Oklahoma, but the second half was one of LSU exerting their will on an overmatched opponent.  

What a great season!  Between Coach O's back story, to Burrow's Heisman season, to being able to play their Championship game at the Superdome, to their undefeated record, we may have seen one of the greatest football teams in history.  

It couldn't happen to a nicer coach, couldn't happen to a nicer star QB, and couldn't happen to a nicer community.  

Congratulations, LSU nation.  You are National Champions.  Hard earned, and well deserved. 

On the Loss of Neil Peart

Rock and roll lost its greatest drummer.  You can have your Bonham and Moon - nobody was better than Peart, period.  

Neil's playing was far from rote - sly notes and drops were added, making the drum kit not just a beat-keeper, but a true band instrument.  Here's a great example featuring Rush's biggest hit.  Beyond the above, also note what he's doing with his feet:

Beyond his drumming, Peart was the lyricist for the band, and two generations of marginalized youth owe him for the belonging he provided them through his words.  He was an incredible poet in the true definition of the word. 

There are a lot of reasons why getting old sucks.  It seems like beloved people are dying on me on a nearly weekly basis.  That certainly applies in this instance.  

Given the nature of music, we'll not have another talent like this for a long time, if perhaps ever again.  I feel fortunate that I was able to see his craft live, and that his songs were a soundtrack for a good chunk of my life.

Minnesota Vikings Flat Dominated by San Francisco

Our beloved Vikings were completed dominated by San Fransico yesterday in a game that was actually worse than what the 27-10 score showed.  The 49ers were dominant on the line on both sides; so much so that our guys were getting shoved around at the end in embarrassing fashion.

Our running game which was so critical for our victory over New Orleans could never get going, and Cousins could not throw downfield.  We were left with small, impotent screen plays which usually were defended impeccably for short gains.  

The Vikings are not a good road team, especially on the west coast.  Likewise, with only six days to lick our wounds from our game against the Saints, we flat looked tired.  The 49ers, on the other hand, looked fresh and physical.  The net result was an unmitigated butt kicking.

The first-round bye isn't the end-all of the NFL playoffs (ask Baltimore), but in this instance, it was critical.

For the Vikings to make any kind of playoff run, we need home field.  Until we find a way to be better in the regular season to derive that home field advantage, Vikings fans can expect more of the same.