More idiocy from the French. In this CNN story, the French ambassador is quoted as saying:

"'If Saddam Hussein were to use chemical and biological weapons, this would change the situation completely and immediately for the French government,' Jean-David Levitte said. "

Mssr. Levitte, how can this be? Your government would seem to believe that Iraq doesn't have such weapons. After all, we know if you believed them to have such weapons you would have supported your old ally the United States, oui?

Well, like most of you I suppose, I watched the President's address to the nation. While I don't think it was his best speech ever (I would think it's the September 20, 2001 speech), it was effective. So now we wait, and hope, and pray.

We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.

Cal Thomas expresses his indignation with the UN -- Change of venue?. He does have a point. If the UN, which was formed in the aftermath of the war that Hitler started, can't do any better than the League of Nations at preventing dangerous people like SH from threatening their neighbors, have we really learned as much as we thought?

Thanks to Catholic Light for the link.

From Slashdot, this amusing story of Family Tech Support. Some of you will nod in agreement, others just won't understand. And the sickos among you will say "Just get a Mac!" :-)

Music for Mass
SSPP Latin Schola
2nd Sunday in Lent, Cycle B

Prelude: (instrumental)
Gathering Song: Parce Domine (vs. 2)
Penitential Rite: Kyrie (Chant Mass)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116 (Dominican tones)
Gospel Acclamation: (Chant, Domincan tones)
Preparation of the Gifts: Voce Mea ad Dominum Clamavi (Pius X #32)
O Bone Jesu (Palestrina, Pius X #216)
Jesu, Salvator Mundi (Pius X #215)
Holy,Holy: Sanctus (Chant Mass)
Memorial Acclamation: (Chant Mass)
Great Amen: (Chant Mass)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei (Chant Mass)
Communion: Lord of All Hopefulness (trad. Irish melody)
Recessional: This Day God Gives Me (trad. Gaelic melody)

Doesn't anyone proofread anymore? Check out the headline on this CNN story as of 8:42 p.m. EST 3/15/03: Spears sued for breech of contact. Of course they mean breach of contract. Sheesh!

My telemarketer encounter for today....

Me: Hello!
TM: (silence, then:) Hello, I'm calling for Gordon from the American Express Small Business Network...
Me: (interrrupting) No thank you!
TM: What?
Me: No thank you!
TM: No thank you what?
Me: No thank you, sir! Bye! (hang up)

Some folks have blogged about their favorite saints and so forth. Michelle blogged last month about her favorite saints-yet-to-be-canonized. So, here's my list:

1. Mother Teresa
   
2. Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus
   
3. Bl. Junipero Serra, founder of the California missions
   
4. Fr. Eusebio Francisco Kino, founder of the missions of the Pimeria Alta (northern Mexico and southern Arizona)
   
5. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
   

Who are your favorites?

Okay, this really torques me off (as we used to say). Antiwar protesters trash 9/11 memorial. The nerve!

I was over at Disputations (a fine blog) and I noticed his link to Blogrolling.com. Apparently it's a service that will help to organize one's list of links on the side (i.e. one's blogroll). Anyone using it have any feedback?

My copy of the Gregorian Missal for Sundays came yesterday. It's very cool. I'm thinking I might be able to get our Schola to sing some of this stuff next year. Currently we chant the basic Mass parts but not the Credo or the Our Father. It also might be neat to see if we couldn't start chanting the Psalm in Latin (currently it's in English). That might take some doing, though.

Page 2 continues its new fascination and asks 10 Burning Questions for Jennie Finch.

I'm preparing a... well, a rant :-) about the inclusion of "liturgical dance" in the Rite of Election. I'd appreciate if any of you who experienced the R of E in your diocese could leave a comment saying whether the Procession of Baptismal Symbols at your Rite was done as a dance. Thanks. I'll be sure to share my finished rant with y'all.

Lest we forget...

It's been 1.5 years since the horrors of September 11, 2001. I have not forgotten. I trust you haven't either. I hope on this day we can stop and say a prayer for those who died, and for those who mourn them, and for those whose job it is specifically to make sure it doesn't happen again. God bless them all. Here's a nice tribute.

More news on Bishop Moreno -- first, a Letter from Bishop Moreno Announcing Retirement and second, a Statement on Bishop Moreno's health. This quote is classic, and very typical:

My decision to submit my request to retire was not an easy one, because I love you.

Jim Glock, who is the Director of the City of Tucson's excellent Transportation Department, wrote this opinion piece -- Shortsighted county shortchanges city on traffic programs. It's nice to see this issue being aired, as it has been a source of concern and consternation for some time now. The Arizona Daily Star did a series on the county's mismanagement of its contracting efforts some time ago, which only added fuel to the fire. Also, many place some blame on the county's woes for the defeat of the city's attempt to raise a 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation issues, since many voters make little distinction between the city and the county, not to mention their transportation departments. I've learned a lot about this stuff during my 2 years on the Citizens Transporation Advisory Comittee.

This was reported on Slashdot. Check out Stem Cells Heal a Broken Heart. This is very encouraging because the stem cells in question were the boy's own.

The Arizona Daily Star has had a lot of coverage of Bishop Moreno's resignation and Bishop Kicanas's accession. See Pope grants Moreno's wish, and also this look at Moreno's episcopacy, and this issue summary(love the picture!). Also Bishop Kicanas's comments on Moreno's episcopacy. Finally, a timeline of Tucson's bishops. Bishop Moreno was our first Hispanic bishop. Hopefully he won't be our last.

Also, see the Star editorial.

The Diocese of Tucson is a big place. I finally did some looking around in the Statistical Abstract of the United States and found a good comparison: Virginia. The Diocese of Tucson is almost the same size as the state of Virginia -- about 43,000 square miles. And of course Arizona is the 6th largest state. That's one reason our bishop logs so many miles.

Big news from The University of Arizona(tm). The Arizona Board of Regents has voted on a 40% tuition hike for next year -- $1K hike in tuition gets OK of regents. Not surprisingly students aren't happy, although many seem resigned to it. Check out the Arizona Daily Wildcat story.