I'm very discouraged. I got my latest blood work results back, and my cholesterol is up again. I had gotten it down to 196, which is good, but this latest test shows it at 227! And my triglycerides are high too. I have to make an appointment with my doctor, I suspect he's going to put me on something. I so do not want to be a person who has to take pills every day, but it looks like I'm headed that way. It's very depressing.

Very sad news. CNN reports Pfc. Lori Piestewa's body was found at the hospital where Jessica Lynch was rescued. I blogged about it on Monday that I know someone who is a friend of hers. I don't know what I will say when I see her Monday.

David Morrison writes eloquently (as always) on the real cost and value of love.

Christ’s ennobling and terrifying message for people living with same sex attraction is that we are created, loved and responsible. It ennobles us because it sees in us the reality of our Creation as human beings in God’s image. It terrifies us because it puts the ball firmly into our court. Christians who may not know the Gospel might try to tell us that God doesn’t love us because of our same-sex attraction, but we know that’s not true. God doesn’t base his love on what temptations we have or don’t have. Others might try to tell us that acting out our sexual desires, particularly with someone we feel we love, is also not wrong, but we know that’s not true either. Love doesn’t give itself away in half-measures or objectify its subjects. No, the hard truth is that love dies to self and gives itself away. Love is the Cross.

Aristotle Esguerra has been reviewing the new GIRM, specifically the parts that relate to music, on his blog "Confessions of an Accidental Choir Director". Check it out, there's good food for thought there.

This op-ed piece by the Houston Chronicle's Mike McDaniel asks, Is TV showing a sanitized war?. Sydney Schanberg, former NYT correspondent, is quoted as saying:

"If ours is truly a democracy, the people should be told and shown - even if they wish to turn their eyes away - exactly what is being waged in their name," he wrote in the Village Voice last week.

I wonder if he'd agree to showing pictures of exactly what happens in an execution or an abortion. After all, those things are being done "in our name". I suspect he'd agree on the first but not the second. Hypocrisy!

Arizona Daily Star columnist Bonnie Henry comments on the A Mountain flap (which I've blogged about several times) -- 'A' - that's for 'absurd,' this mountain of nonsense.

YAY! FreeBSD 4.8 has been released. I've been waiting for this update for some time, as I have a couple of machines I want to install it on. I grabbed the .ISOs last night from a mirror -- fortunately, I got the email before Slashdot posted the announcement, otherwise I'd have never gotten through. Check out the release notes.

From CNN's coverage, this scary bit of info (as of this afternoon):

Checkpoints around the capital are closed and Iraqi civilians are not being allowed to leave Baghdad, a source in the city told CNN.

However, Iraqi government vehicles were going through neighborhoods near the airport and ordering residents to leave their houses and walk toward the airport. A number of people were complying with the order, the source said.


This looks to me like either a) massive "human shield" or b) massacres by the Iraqis that will be blamed on us. I hope I'm wrong.

The new General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) has finally been promulgated!

A neat piece from Peggy Noonan -- We Can Take It. Thanks to Catholic Light for the link.

The world will be reminded that America still knows how to suffer. In a county as in an individual, the ability to withstand pain--the ability to suffer--says a great deal about character. It speaks of maturity and courage, among other things. The world knew half a century ago that America will absorb pain to reach progress. It is not all bad that they are seeing it again.

It was a strange day. We had a layoff today at work, which included three people from my department. I'm not entirely sure why I wasn't among them, but there it is. The irony is that I also received a bonus check today since we made our numbers for 2002 (clearly, we are going to have a problem doing that for 2003). Still, I'm glad to have been spared.

While I was driving last week I wound up tuning in a country station, something I rarely do. While I was listening, I heard Darryl Worley's song, Have You Forgotten. I liked it a lot, and the words resonate for me:

Have You Forgotten?
I hear people saying we don't need this war
I say there's some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground?
We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down
They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in
Before you start preaching
Let me ask you this my friend

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it every day
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
After 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And we vowed to get the ones behind Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers
Who've gone away to war
And you can bet that they remember
Just what they're fighting for

CHORUS 2
Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Yes, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?

Wow, a great post on Summa Contra Mundum, it's Athanasius' Guide to Latin in One Easy Lesson. Good stuff! Thanks to The Whys Guys for the link. Also check out yet another example of why ICEL was slapped down.

Since I was a Department of Navy employee for over 6 years, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the big gray boats. Here's a nice piece on the USS Constellation (CV-64), on her last deployment before decommissioning.

It's a small world. At Collegium Musicum rehearsal tonight, I realized one of my choirmates is also from Tuba City, Pfc. Lori Piestewa's hometown. Piestewa is missing along with her colleagues from the 507th Maintenance Company. It's at times like these that the cost of war hits home in a special way. Please say a prayer for Lori, her friends and family, and all those who are missing or captured.

Thanks to Lady of Shalott for this link to a story on the Saddam Fedayeen. I don't understand how people can not be appalled at a leader who sets up his own Hitler Youth. There's also this great Steyn piece on the war and how much of a double standard is being applied.

Wow! I finally got to watch my tape from yesterday of the World Figure Skating Championships. Michelle Kwan won her 5th world title. It was an incredible, incredible performance. Michelle is known, of course, for her grace and elegance, but this performance was the BEST I have ever seen her skate. Not just grace and elegance, but ease, expression, and emotion. It's a performance MK fans are going to treasure always.

The Diocese has released 6 more names of clergy with credible accusations of child abuse -- 6 more clerics named as child abusers. One is a permanent deacon.

Update: The Diocese has issued a press release.

Happy Birthday Jeanetta!

Head on over to Jeanetta's blog and wish her a happy 21st birthday. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, good Catholic girl that she is, she answered, "Well, since I already got leopard print sheets... there isn't much more a gal could want... how about peace on earth to men of good will?" So please say a prayer for peace today in honor of J's birthday.

I'm having some problems with my zaft.org domain renewal -- my hosting service claims they didn't get payment, whereas Amex shows differently. Anyway my domain hasn't been renewed yet so mail to zaft.org is bouncing -- if you need to reach me you can email me at zaft at gordonzaft.com.