Does anybody have any suggestions as to what type of reflector telescope I should look into buying for some amateur stargazing? I don’t expect to discover the next Shoemaker-Levy 9, or anything. I’d just want something on a tripod that keeps an object in the viewfinder despite the earth’s rotation. I’d like to keep it at least somewhat inexpensive, though. So…. any suggestions?
With some of these new-fangled tools that are available (like WordPress), it’s pretty easy these days to get a web site up and running. As an example, take a look at this one that I’ve thrown together for the women’s prayer group that my mother belongs to. They’re putting together a conference, so they wanted a web site to advertise it. I think it looks pretty cool.
Taylor Marshall is reporting that the Russian Orthodox delegates walked out on a Catholic-Orthodox discussion in Ravenna, because Estonian Orthodox representatives were present.
Sad, but entirely too typical of ecumenism.
After experiencing questions from RCIA catechumens and candidates on this topic, I decided to write a short description of the specialized garments used in Catholic liturgical celebrations, as a reference for people who are interested in - but unfamiliar with - the subject.
More information about vestments - both liturgical and non-liturgical - in Catholicism can be found at http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/vestments.htm.
The Alb
The alb is the liturgical garment (or “vestment”) which is proper to all the baptized. It is, in fact, the baptismal garment. From the Rite of Baptism:
{Name} you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
Needless to say, the alb is always white in color. It should be long enough to completely cover the “street clothes” that the wearer has underneath (i.e. reaches the floor). Since every baptized Christian may wear this garment by right, you will often see it worn by the altar servers.
Some albs are designed to be worn with a cincture (a rope used as a belt) while others are not. “Monastic”-style albs have a cowl (a hood), while standard albs do not. Ordained ministers wear the alb beneath their other liturgical garments.
A variant on the alb is the surplice, which is also a white garment. Unlike an alb, however, a surplice is not long enough to reach the ground. Instead, it is designed to be worn over a cassock (a long, black robe that may be worn by priests at any time). When I was a boy, altar servers work a cassock and surplice, rather than an alb as they do today.
The Stole
The stole is the liturgical garment proper to all ordained ministers when they preside or assist at any of the sacraments. Deacons wear the stole over their left shoulder (and joining at the right hip) much like a sash. Priests and bishops wear the stole around their necks (resting on both shoulders) with each end hanging down in front.
The Dalmatic
When a deacon assists at Mass, he may wear a dalmatic. Derived from the body-shirts which were the everyday attire of men in the Roman Empire, a dalmatic is a sleeved garment which is worn over the alb. It is the garment proper to a deacon, although bishops have the option of wearing it in addition to a chasuble at Mass.
The Chasuble
In addition to wearing an alb and stole, as he does at all liturgical functions, a priest will also wear a chasuble when presiding at Mass. A chasuble is a sleeveless garment worn over the head and resting on the shoulders (much like a poncho). It is the vestment proper to the Order of Presbyters (priests), although bishops also wear it at Mass.
The Miter
In addition to wearing a chasuble when presiding at Mass, a bishop will, at various times during the Mass, wear a miter. The miter, which is the vestment proper to a bishop, takes the form in the Western church of a tall pointed hat with peaks in front and back. It takes its name from the official headdress of the ancient high priest in Judaism. (See Exodus 28:36-39.)
Liturgical Colors
The color of vestments is determined by the particular feast or season the Church is observing. For seasons, Ordinary Time is observed by the use of green vestments. Advent and Lent are observed by the use of violet vestments, and Christmas and Easter are indicated by the use of white.
Red vestments are word at feasts in honor of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles, or saints who were martyred. Feasts of Our Lord, Our Lady, and certain other saints are indicated by the use of white garments. At funerals, the priest may wear white, violet, or (exceedingly rarely) black vestments.
I took a few pictures of my lot tonight, before any sort of work begins - sort of a “Before” photoshoot, to be compared with “During” and “After” shoots. It was raining, so the pictures aren’t as good as they could have been.
Bookeen posted a picture of the upcoming Cybook’s packaging on their blog. Link here.
While Fuller’s London Pride is Griffin Brewery’s most popular beer among the British, their ESB is their most popular beer among Americans. And I must say, both beers have their points. They’re both good. Really good.
ESB has a pleasant, complex aroma - the analysis of which somehow eludes me. It pours a nice copper color with an average-sized head. Although the label doesn’t indicate what type of ale it is, the taste reminds me of a classic English pale ale. It’s smooth-drinking, with a nice finish. The finish contains the distinctive flavor of hops, but does not overpower you with it.
This is a good beer.
Rogue’s American Amber Ale has a delightful aroma. It smells very faintly of chocolate and roasted malt. It’s a medium-bodied beer with a cloudy, dark copper color. It has a very strongly hoppy finish - almost, but not quite, as hoppy as an IPA. It’s not bad.
This is pretty funny.
Breckenridge Trademark Pale Ale is a classic English-style Pale Ale. A more robust beer than Breckenridge’s Avalanche Ale, it tastes much like other English pale ales. It seemed to have a fruity - almost flowery - aroma, which faded away upon the first sip. It’s a smooth drinking beer, with a bit of bitterness at the finish. It’s a very likeable beer.
Well, the bank approved my request for a loan. (Cue cheering and applause.) I got the call at 4:24 pm CDT, just as I was preparing to leave work for the day.
We close on the lot on Wednesday.
The other day, I finished L.E. Modesitt’s Natural Ordermage, a book in the “Recluse” series. It was good, as expected.
Update: I noticed that the picture above has red text. The dust jacket on my hardback copy has blue text. Odd, that.
According to wikipedia, the only effective treatment for sufferers of Celiac disease is a life-long gluten-free diet. Gluten is naturally found in grains such as wheat and barley. As such, one would assume that Celiac sufferers (who are ineligible for priesthood in the Catholic Church, because of the nature of their disease, by the way) would be unable to enjoy a beer. One would be wrong.
Introducing Bard’s Tale Beer. The Bard’s Tale Beer Company was created to market gluten-free beer to the 1.5 million adult Americans who have Celiac’s. A brilliant idea, not just from the point-of-view of tapping a new market, but also from the point-of-view of introducing people to beers made from grains other than barley.
Last night, I tried their first beer, Dragon’s Gold. I was extremely impressed with this blonde ale lager, which was made with sorghum, a grain native to Oceania and Australasia. The beer was a bit darker than appears in the photo to the left (a rich, copper color), but it had a light, refreshing taste. It was low in bitterness (sorry hops lovers!), but smooth-drinking. When I had finished the bottle, I wanted more.
Update: Here is a better review than I can write.
I was going to write a review of Samuel Adams’ Octoberfest, but then I realized I already did.
Dragon’s Milk Ale, from the New Holland Brewing Company is an experience. Since I won’t be able to do it justice, I won’t even try. It’s a dark beer with a slightly smokey aroma. It came in a 1-pint, 6-ounce bottle, and it was a meal. I was still full when I got up the next morning. When I began to drink it, it was refrigerator-cold, but was room temperature by the time I completed the bottle. In that time, the taste of the beer changed by temperature, with different flavors coming to the fore at different temperatures.
An adventure, but a happy one. Everyone should taste this beer.
