The New Ruler of Babylon?



I made my monthly visit to Sam's Club last night and as usual purveyed what books they are currently offering.



I used to think you had it made when you found one of your books in stock at a Borders or Barnes and Nobles but alas that glory has passed. Now I long for the day when Sam's Club will carry my books.



Anyway it is very instructive (in that it is a good barometer of what American's are buying) to see what they are carrying. On this visit I spyed Queen Noor's book, Rudy's latest book, all the usual diet books and a stash of books by an author I have never heard of about Biblical prophecies of "Babylon" and the end of the world. Nothing new about this last idea but obviously the Sam's marketers realize that this is currently a "hot topic."



It is then that the irony struck. For years people have referred to various parts of the U.S. as "Babylon"--New York and Hollywood come to mind. Right now the United States the most powerful nation in the world occupies the real Babylon. What will the fundamentalist Christians make of this? For years it has been easy to project anti-Christ status on Saddam Hussein but what now after he is gone?



Stay tuned...



Meanwhile-What are the Russians up to?

War, What is it Good for? Singer Dies



The song was famous during the Vietnam War and it received some airplay yesterday to note the singer's passing. Those of you who remember the song remember the answer to the question---"absolutely nothing!"



From Yahoo! News:



Edwin Starr, the soul singer who produced No. 1 Motown hits such as "War," died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday, his manager said. He was 61.

I've Been Nailed by Mark Shea!



Sean Gallagher sent out an email informing us of his little town in Indiana's attempt to protest the French by changing the name of there yearly art festival from "Tray Chic" to something less Frankish. Mark Shea responded with:



Oh brother. What's next? Declare war on Des Moines, Baton Rouge, Pend Oreille for their dangerously unpatriotic names? I enjoy loathing the French as much as the next guy, but I enjoy loathing faux patriotic political gasbags even more. It's as American as apple pie.



Oddly, some of the victims of the French Revolution were executed for failing to change their names (they were deemed guilty of the crime of having the same name as other people the Committee for Public Safety deemed enemies of the Revolution).



By the way, I think that explains Mike Dubruiel's manifest guilt, don't you? If he was a genuine 100% American he'd have done something about that French-sounding name wouldn't he? Huh? Wouldn't he?



Don't even try to defend yourself, you cunning Gallic swine! In *my* country, you're guilty until proven Anglo-Saxon, bub.



I would only add that I'm also Polish on my mother's side --which might explain a lot too, including my fidelity to the man pictured below:

Join the Pope in Praying for Peace!



"Let us pray to Mary, with both grief and trust, to intercede for peace in Iraq and in all the world's conflicts."

Prayer of Pope John Paul II

And Diocese will turn against Diocese



A first...

FromBoston Globe Online:



Calif. diocese sues Boston Archdiocese



The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif., sued the Archdiocese of Boston yesterday, alleging that Boston officials hid the history of sexual molestation by former priest Paul Shanley when he moved to California.

New Rosary Book!



Rosary 101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary





5 Key Reasons to Get This Book!



1.) True, Inspirational Stories will show you just how powerful the Rosary is.



2. Beautiful Meditations for the Complete Mysteries

Joyful,Luminous,Sorrowful and Glorious.



3. Simple, Easy Directions to Teach You How to Pray the Rosary, if you have never prayed it before.



4.) Simple, easy directions to teach you how to make your own rosary!



5.) A well researched History of the Rosary, Written by Fr. Richard Gribble,CSC, Author of "The History of the Rosary"

From Pravda (of all places)!



Pravda.RU Vatican Discovery Proves to be Apostle Peter’s Burial Ground



An important archaeological discovery was made in the Vatican when a site for construction of car parking was being cleared. Archaeologists discovered an ancient necropolis of the times of St. Apostle Peter, the same that is mentioned in the Gospel. Now this version is studied by historians; if it proves true, this in its turn will confirm another hypothesis suggested by historian Magrherita Guarducci. She supposes that an entombment of St. Apostle Peter was found under the altar that is situated under the St.Peter’s basilica dome.