An interesting series of articles from Fortune magazine on the future of nuclear power in the US. I've been saying for a while that if people are serious about global warming, we are going to need more nuke plants. Lots more. The government should certify one or two base designs that can be replicated in large numbers, which would alleviate some of the cost and time associated with these one-off designs we seem to get.

Today is my dad's 77th birthday! Happy birthday Dad!!

I will see him next week.

Today's the second anniversary of my brother Greg's death. *sigh* I really miss you, bro -- could really use your advice and love right now.

Some good coverage in today's Oregonian on Intel's next generation of processors, code-named Penryn. Also an interesting post on the Silicon Forest blog -- Why Oregon?

I have a lot of crap going on in my life right now, but I really love working at Intel. Thanks be to God for a good job!

Yesterday I attended a Latin Mass with the Cantores in Ecclesia. The Mass was at Immaculate Heart Church (built in the 1890s) in NE Portland. It was the Paul VI Mass, not the Tridentine Mass.

It was a somewhat surreal experience. The congregation was quite small (25 - 30) and the church was quite warm (summertime in Oregon and most places around here don't have AC, unfortunately). The music was .. amazing. Truly amazing. The Mass parts were the Byrd "Mass for Five Voices" and the rest was plainchant and a Byrd Motet, I believe.

I'll definitely go again, but preferably when there's air conditioning!

My Mom passed away 23 years ago today.

I miss you Mom, and I love you.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

Predictably, the mainstream media have been falling over themselves about the latest document from the SCDF on the doctrine of the Church. It's unfortunate that the reporters either haven't read the document or didn't understand it, because they (actually, the headline editors are worse) have put a pretty horrible spin on it... the truth is that the new document doesn't say anything new, it's just a reiteration of Dominus Iesus. Sheesh.

Since I couldn't sleep, I checked the news and sure enough, the new motu proprio on the Tridentine Mass has been promulgated. I've not read it yet but it appears that the main difference is that the faithful can ask for the Tridentine Mass without having to go through the bishop. I'm not sure how this is going to work in practice since presumably the bishops could still forbid priests to use the 1962 Missal without prior approval. Despite all the hoopla I expect this decree won't mean a thing to the average Catholic in the pew. For those that are interested in the Tridentine Mass though, it should be very welcome news.