Yes, there is a site on the internet dedicated to autumn leaves, called the Foliage Network. The coolest feature is their foliage reports which tell you the extent of color change and fallen leaves in various regions of the country. Check it out!
I found this video to be a great response…and I actually like the song.
It seems Cat Stevens…err…Yusef Islam should stick to making music or whatever it is he does now. In recent comments he notes how the Pope’s recent words prove the Pope is not infallible. Of course, Catholics believe that the Pope quoting a Byzantine emperor in the midst of an academic discussion is infallible. Not. "Cat" was either sleeping during the lesson on Vatican I or his teacher did a really poor job.
This is more of a philosophical point than a theological one. However, I think that moral relativism is the overriding philosophy among a large number of Westerners, especially youth…even if they don’t articulate it. I also think it leads to a general breakdown in values and morality. Any thoughts?
Also, I found a quote against moral relativism that I liked. It’s by Bhikku Bhodi, a Buddhist monk. Here goes:
By assigning value and spiritual ideals to private subjectivity, the
materialistic world view, threatens to undermine any secure objective
foundation for morality. The result is the widespread moral
degeneration that we witness today. To counter this tendency, mere
moral exhortation is insufficient…Religion must affirm, in the clearest terms, that morality and ethical
values are not mere decorative frills of personal opinion, not
subjective superstructure, but intrinsic laws of the cosmos built into
the heart of reality.” (source: Wikipedia)
I know this guy is not Catholic or even Christian but I think his statement could be affirmed by Catholics. Once again, any thoughts?
I’ve recently found a couple of great new (at least for me) blogs (via Enbrethiliel and the Curt Jester, respectively):
Chesterteens- a group of teens who love Chesterton and post about him. How cool is that? Ok, my geekiness is showing now.
Standing On My Head- a blog by former Anglican priest, now Catholic pursuing ordination under the pastoral provision (what a long descriptor!), Dwight Longenecker. He’s just started to blog, but his insights should be great.
Check them both out!
A tendency towards obesity runs in my family, something my dad constantly reminds me. With the exception of my mom, all of my immediate family have struggled to remain fit and thin. With an occasional up and down here and there, I’ve still managed to stay in consistently good shape since I’ve been a teenager. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of effort and I thought I’d share a few of my tips.
1. Count calories- I know many diets say not to, but losing weight is ultimately about math: taking in fewer calories than you burn (to maintain weight you need to eat the same number as you burn). In addition, counting calories is a good way to expose the hidden calories many people consume. I use Fitday, a free, online calorie tracker that also keeps count of nutrients, activity, etc.
2. Motivation is the key to exercise- You can’t have a great workout at the gym if you can’t get to the gym. Finding ways to stay motivated and enthusiastic about working out is vital. One thing that keeps me going to the YMCA regularly is always going there straight after work. If I get in my house and sit down, it’s all over!
3. Listen to Music- I read awhile back that people were able to work out longer (I can’t recall the details, but it was significantly longer) while listening to music. This is certainly the case for me. It may be for you!
4. Substitute or cut- When choosing foods, substitute and cut wherever possible. If a recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of butter, see if one will work. If you like beef, try ground turkey. Instead of sugar in your coffee, try Equal or Splenda. The list goes on and on.
…You’ve just been treated to the AFCM tips for keeping your ideal weight and staying in shape. "Lose Weight the AFCM Way" is coming soon to a store near you (kidding).
Yesterday my online class officially started and so far, I’m very impressed. I honestly had a few questions and doubts, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at every turn. First, the setup is extremely professional and easy to use. The discussion takes place through threaded forums and there are other opportunities to discuss class material. There are plenty of assignments and it’s always important to keep up. This will definitely help end my procrastination. Second, the class will surely keep me busy, but I don’t think overwhelmed. The topic itself, moral education, is also quite fascinating and one that is close to my heart. The teacher and my fellow students also seem great. I will keep everyone updated on how it goes. Now, I have to get back to reading…It’s so fun to be a college student again.
Just my 2 cents…
Let us pray for all those who died in the attacks and for their families. And to those heroes who risked life and limb (and for some, who made the ultimate sacrifice) going into that hellish scene five years ago: thanks from the heart.
For all the victims:
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
For the USA, the world, security, justice, peace, and yes, even for our enemies:
Lord have mercy.
Normally I don’t get much into decorating or anything related to making a house look pretty. I guess in that way I’m a typical man, although I
don’t like filth. I guess in terms of decorations and stuff I get by. However, during that time from mid-September through December, encompassing fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, I actually
care and make at least a meager effort to decorate. This weekend, I started that trend.
I got out an autumn wreath Carmel bought for our home and also bought a pumpkin at WalMart. I also got out the fake gourds and pumpkins and my pumpkin spice candle. I can’t eat the pumpkin pie blizzards at Dairy Queen…yet (I’m hoping to only eat them very rarely this year), but my house can at least smell like them (or pumpkin pie). The
leaves on the trees are still not quite ready to change, but some plants and leaves are starting to make the transition from summer to fall. The weather is noticeably cooler too. 
The highs have generally been in the low 70s F.
On another note, my football teams had mixed results this weekend. Ohio State won and are still tops in the USA and the Browns…well, they do what the Browns do best: lose. I’m hoping that things start to look up for them! I actually went to the YMCA to watch the Browns while I worked out. The second half was so exciting that I managed to burn 1200 calories and barely noticed. If the Browns played everyday I could eat those pumpkin pie blizzards with no guilt!
Have a great week.
Photo of wreath, pumpkin, and leaf by Jonathan Bennett
I love watching football. For my international readers, I mean American football, not soccer. Honestly, I tried to watch soccer during the world cup. I tried to enjoy it oh so hard, but just couldn’t. I do respect it, but just have never been personally interested. Anyway, back to American football. There’s something totally relaxing and stress relieving about sitting back on a Saturday or Sunday and watching guys clobber each other. Actually, I’m kidding since the rough part of football has never appealed to me. I’ve always been interested in the finesse. I like quarterbacks and receivers and kickers, not linemen. I root for the Ohio State Buckeyes at the college (university) level and the Cleveland Browns at the professional level. I am hopeful that both will have exciting seasons.
Also, I haven’t been able to find my camera cord for a week. I said a brief prayer to St. Anthony and literally two seconds later I found it. Awesome! Now I can take pictures again.
Just point your browser here. For some reason, this always brings a huge smile to my face.
I’ve always been a fan of cultural festivals. I find them very interesting, especially the music, food, and cultural trinkets. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio had their annual Greek festival this weekend. Since I was visiting my parents, I figured I’d go. The last time I had gone was around 8 years ago and not much had changed.
The food was great as always. I had a pastitsio with a meatball and a spinach pastry type thing. I also managed to fit in a Greek pizza and some baklava. Needless to say I didn’t go home hungry. The vendor shops were a bit on the weak side. They included more trinket type items, many with Greek themes. I’m sorry but a "not only am I perfect, but Greek too" (or something like that) T-shirt, isn’t really my style. The icons for sale were honestly too limited for my tastes as well. However, the Cathedral bookstore was great and I bought a few items. My one issue with the store is that it had hardly anything Western. In a way, this represents my biggest disappointment with Orthodoxy. To convert, a person generally has to become culturally Eastern and the Western heritage is downplayed, ignored, or even bashed. Granted, Orthodoxy is still wonderful.
Overall, the festival itself was fun and it was perfect weather! It felt like a nice fall day, which is great because some Labor Days in Ohio are blazing hot. Related to fall, Starbucks now has their pumpkin spice lattes! And my parents’ hometown finally has a Starbucks. Granted, I’m not a huge fan of Starbucks, especially the prices. Still, it’s nice to have as an option.
Happy Labor Day!
