tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90999307891659968822023-11-16T00:40:32.518-06:00Spe Salvi in Real LifePro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-CatechismRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-66043509654033654982009-11-11T19:01:00.002-06:002009-11-11T19:01:48.575-06:00Different From My Usual PostsBut I feel like my Tea Party readers would enjoy this video:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzZ0nz7XVFo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzZ0nz7XVFo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-9014052921708772602009-11-09T16:00:00.000-06:002009-11-09T16:00:01.432-06:00Swine FluSorry about not being to put up many posts recently. I was suffering from swine flu all last week and I have been playing catch-up with all my classes this week. Thank goodness for understanding professors!<br />
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There is not much going on around Franciscan these days. Mostly, everyone is winding down from Fall Break and bracing themselves for the end of the semester. So far there hasn't been any major Pro-Life events this week, but I am sure that will change soon. The Students for Life club here is not silent for long.<br />
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One thing has changed on campus and has garnered the attention of our campus newspaper. There is a branch of Feminists for Life that is starting a club on campus. I haven't gone to any meetings nor have I gotten any emails from them, but I am looking forward to seeing what this club is all about. Since the Students for Life club is so big here, I hardly have any influence there. So I am thinking about joining this smaller pro-life club in order to take on some more leadership-y roles. I will let everyone know how that goes!<br />
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Other than that, I am just about complete my monster of a theology paper. I know, I know, I shouldn't be complaining about theology classes at Franciscan. I am just saying that this paper is a lot of hard work (and hard research!). Ironically, my paper is about innocent suffering. Maybe I will post bits of it later.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-19071709683100521022009-10-28T16:31:00.001-05:002009-10-28T16:31:16.853-05:001256447689848<div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/cb431bed-e4fe-49ec-bfe8-3a676cd86d5c_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-79149098846815698022009-10-28T16:30:00.001-05:002009-10-28T16:30:57.816-05:00Does anyone know...?<div class="pp_item" align="left"><p>...who the patron saint of flying is? I know I have heard of a saint who could apparently fly. Might have been Lawrence, but I probably just made that up.<br /><br />Anyway, Fall Break has officially started here at Franciscan University. I will be flying to visit my favorite Jesuits back at Spring Hill College before making my way back home to New Orleans. Hopefully everything will go well. <br /><br />Patron of flight, whoever you are, intercede for me!</p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-8916532386323430102009-10-26T15:09:00.001-05:002009-10-26T15:10:23.119-05:00Pro-Life Pumpkinsfrom @MatthewWarner - (follow him on Twitter)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk5PSmE6MsxCvzYlMcRc4ul37xnYgk91JVrwALKaRe3lIwz_NQVJTweHe-OQBxuBKVNDq1wrP5DfmHzZLEKWE-hpkHg1w7ZP6S9tvW0s5HovUXTx2VNCVCH2IIK-4D44XhtoGJup5CZ8/s1600-h/prolife_pumkin-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk5PSmE6MsxCvzYlMcRc4ul37xnYgk91JVrwALKaRe3lIwz_NQVJTweHe-OQBxuBKVNDq1wrP5DfmHzZLEKWE-hpkHg1w7ZP6S9tvW0s5HovUXTx2VNCVCH2IIK-4D44XhtoGJup5CZ8/s320/prolife_pumkin-300x225.jpg" /></a><br />
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Give out more than just candy this Halloween, give out the message of life!<br />
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Send pictures of your pro-life pumpkin <a href="http://www.fallibleblogma.com/index.php/halloween-pro-life-pumpkins/">here</a>.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-15500743664644976452009-10-25T21:11:00.000-05:002009-10-25T21:11:01.176-05:00The Mismeasure of WomenI don't know how I got onto the New York Time's website. One minute I was playing on Farmville and the next I was reading editorials. I must be my mother's daughter.<br />
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I came across <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/opinion/24lipman.html?em">this op-ed</a>, published a few days ago and written by Joanne Lipman. "The Mismeasure of Women" attempts to explain how women have made so many gains in the past 30 years and how now, more than ever, women are facing a stalling of their progress.<br />
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Now, I am the last woman to define herself as a "feminist" and I cringe when I hear the word. No worries, this editorial does not make any claims like abortion has liberated women - it's not even mentioned. (I was surprised!) The piece merely states the reasons why women aren't making the advances they used to. However, I feel like Joanne Lipman left out some finer points about it.<br />
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I think the status of women could be improved if the view of <i>femininity</i> can be improved.<br />
<b>Women in the workplace are so often viewed by two extremes.</b><br />
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1) The progressive modern woman: Other women in the workplace see them as co-workers, colleagues, and sometimes bosses. They are looked at in respect and sometimes fear.<br />
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2) Ungodly evil woman: Ultra-conservative men and women see working women as women who are trying to be "like men." They are denying their submissive nature and femininity.<br />
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I disagree with both. Women in the workplace are just women that work. Not all women are called to have a job in the home. Just face it guys, some women are smarter than you and deserve your job because of that. Hire on merit, not on sex.<br />
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<b>Women in the home are viewed by one of two extremes:</b><br />
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1) Oppressed, ignorant women: The more liberal and progressive women's rights groups see stay-at-home moms are being under the oppressive control of evil husbands.<br />
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2) Good, God-fearing women: Other stay-at-home moms (homeschoolers, ultra-conservative or religious) see their fellow unemployed women as fully embodying their womanly duties - educating children, cleaning the house, and letting their men be the big breadwinners.<br />
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I disagree with both. Stay-at-home moms are merely responding to a particular call. Some women make great teachers for their home-schooled children, but not all women are cut out for it. Everyone has different skills and intellects. Progressive feminists need to understand that staying at home is not oppressive, but it is a choice that women now have.<br />
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If only people could come to understand that <i>femininity </i>is not defined by what the woman DOES, but is at the heart of who the woman IS. All women are born feminine and no matter where they work, they bring that workplace something a man never can - something distinctly female. Maybe if the world could acknowledge the work that all women do - regardless if its in the home or in an office - women will finally have an equal place among men. For if women are viewed as <b>who we are</b> and not by <b>what we do</b>, we will no longer be restricted.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-60605068362925024012009-10-18T21:19:00.000-05:002009-10-18T21:19:01.666-05:00Not Evil, Just WrongTonight at Franciscan University the new anti-global warming hysteria documentary, "Not Evil, Just Wrong" made its world premiere. I have no idea if "world premiere" refers to just this campus or to America or the world in general, that's just what the poster said.<br />
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I dragged my new Yankee friend to go watch it with me and I enjoyed every minute of it. Here' the breakdown:<br />
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The documentary dealt specifically with Al Gore and his misleading climate data, it worked to uncover all of the exaggerations that are putting human lives at risk. Now, I just finished the documentary about 20 minutes ago, and I have not done hardcore research into the filmmakers or their subjects. In fact, I can't name anyone in or involved in the movie, I didn't take note. However, here are some of the highlights of the film: (I will try to be as accurate as possible, so basically I will NOT be Al Gore)<br />
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1. Al Gore's worship of Rachel Carson and her work in "Silent Spring" is largely based off unscientific assumptions about DDT and its affects on the environment. DDT kills malaria infected mosquitoes and it DOES NOT cause breast cancer - something environmentalists argue a lot. The banning of DDT is disproportionately affecting poor, developing countries like Uganda because of the increase of malaria instances. DDT is harmful to birds, so its important to determine which is more important - bird lives or human lives.<br />
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2. The hottest year on record was 1934 (before SUVs, before the population boom, before airplanes, etc...), not 2006 like Al Gore says. NASA made the mistake and is very quietly correcting their data. VERY QUIETLY.<br />
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3. The "hockey stick" graph used to show the "dramatic increase" in temperature and carbon dioxide is flawed. The hockey stick graph is not statistically accurate and any set of data can be made to look like one. It has been discredited.<br />
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4. The ICPP's report on climate change determined that sea levels will rise about 20 feet within a few millennia, not a few years like Al Gore claims.<br />
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5. The ICPP includes only meteorologists and climatologists on their panel, but do not include geologists, biologists, and astrophysicists. All of these other fields of science are concluding that climate change is a natural process brought about by the earth itself, but they have been shunned from the ICPP. The view on climate change by scientists is anything but "settled."<br />
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Now, the film makes excellent cases for each of my points above and many more flaws about Al Gore's environmentalism are addressed. These are just a few that I managed to remember. I recommend the film for anyone interested in learning the truth about climate change. However, I also recommend everyone watch "An Inconvenient Truth" as well, for no other reason than to understand what "Not Evil, Just Wrong" is addressing. The problems make more sense when you have actually seen Al Gore's argument. <br />
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The film, while not labeling itself as being pro-life, definitely comes across as being pro-human. It does address the issue about overpopulation. It addresses exactly who we should get rid of first if the earth really is so overpopulated. Obviously, they keep this question rhetoric, and address it to people and politicians like Al Gore who believe the earth needs a reduction of humans. We all know Mr. Gore will not be first in line to sacrifice his own life for the sake of the planet. Most likely this will be the poor, the minorities, and those in still developing countries.<br />
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While I do believe the environment is important and that we should be stewards of the earth, I also believe that I and the rest of humanity are part of the environment. I do not believe we are a cancer that is infecting and killing the environment. Humanity is not the problem here. I want to protect our environment, but not at the expense of human life. I will gladly sacrifice the peaceful sound of birds outside my window if it means saving over 300 children a day from dying of malaria.<br />
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To find out more about the documentary, visit their <a href="http://www.noteviljustwrong.com/">website</a> and find out how to host a screening of your own!<br />
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Thanks to FUS College Republicans for the viewing and the free snacks!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-13742763756944393722009-10-13T14:00:00.001-05:002009-10-13T14:00:53.917-05:00Huh?<div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d117cce5-573a-4051-8387-69169854cd1d_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /><p>Can a Biblical scholar explain this one to me?</p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-86905671155428602802009-10-08T15:52:00.001-05:002009-10-08T15:53:21.751-05:00I love Daniel Craig...because I'm a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5973OT20091008?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews">good Catholic</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuBO-QWj5dxD_ponN3EXL81tnNJWMd4W3fzjhJ4SpArGcMkllVwbn7tm05bosV1xfpigkw7_0Tl4YJQuv8MyoDdt_WMH4vTDH1BUletRx9lJG1wKFNN57dOZt43EIbbSuLXdA8VEA56k/s1600-h/daniel_craig_300x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuBO-QWj5dxD_ponN3EXL81tnNJWMd4W3fzjhJ4SpArGcMkllVwbn7tm05bosV1xfpigkw7_0Tl4YJQuv8MyoDdt_WMH4vTDH1BUletRx9lJG1wKFNN57dOZt43EIbbSuLXdA8VEA56k/s320/daniel_craig_300x400.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pictured: </b></span><br />
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</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-35984279007040382242009-10-07T20:06:00.001-05:002009-10-07T20:06:00.235-05:00Rosary<div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/3afce70b-d1cb-4888-a397-89aaf338ac1d_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /><p>starting the procession </p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-87272071089975841642009-10-07T19:49:00.003-05:002009-10-07T19:49:21.827-05:00Trial run of mobile blogging<div class="pp_item" align="left"><p>This post will be a test for my new mobile blogging app on my G1. I am on my way to the Marian Rosary Procession on campus, so I will also be testing pictures.</p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-58787446312216173162009-09-29T10:47:00.000-05:002009-09-29T10:47:20.050-05:00The Interwebz is back! And it's a Feast Day...Since last Friday, I have been without internet in my dorm room. If you're a college student, you will understand how devastating that kind of problem is. If you're not, you will probably think I have an addiction. I don't. I just take FarmVille very seriously.<br />
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My guardian angels must have been looking out for me because the internet has decided to come back to Marian Hall!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-F81kRn2p1kH68KKNzUiWJS0J5Wx4DE6erbfyDlzUQqb4hTPtVb29hMiC3HpNsFh6Y5HvjgREqTWU2Qz73MsFqXgWKCgbHcHfbBbpjgjjD1oaRTz49lZUtptjxDiDhB587csWgVpT58/s1600-h/archangels+yay!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-F81kRn2p1kH68KKNzUiWJS0J5Wx4DE6erbfyDlzUQqb4hTPtVb29hMiC3HpNsFh6Y5HvjgREqTWU2Qz73MsFqXgWKCgbHcHfbBbpjgjjD1oaRTz49lZUtptjxDiDhB587csWgVpT58/s320/archangels+yay!.jpg" /></a><br />
And of course, today is the feast of the Archangels - St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.<br />
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As you may or may not know, the Archangel is only one of the nine choirs of angels, the others including:<br />
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Seraphim<br />
Cherubim<br />
Thrones<br />
Dominions<br />
Virtues<br />
Powers<br />
Principalities<br />
and Regular Angels<br />
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Each play their own role in the Kingdom of God, but the Archangels have the distinction of being the leading angels when it comes to revealing God's plan in salvation history.<br />
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They also announce critical events - like the Apocalypse and whatnot.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-84022328469415670392009-09-23T21:32:00.000-05:002009-09-23T21:32:39.973-05:0015 AbortionsIf you talk to any pro-choice person, at some point in the conversation you will here this line:<br />
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"It's a very difficult choice. No woman WANTS to get an abortion. No woman LIKES abortion."<br />
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Unfortunately, if you look at the case of <a href="http://jezebel.com/5364904/why-did-this-woman-have-15-abortions">Irene Vilar</a>, the above statement is absolutely false.<br />
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In one of the most tragic news stories that I stumbled upon today (thanks, again, to YouTube), this woman I named above has suffered through 15 - yes 15 - separate abortions. Although statistics show that once a woman does have one abortion she is more likely to have another one (I think that number is about 45%), it is still hard to believe that a woman could actually go through that torturous ordeal more than once. Why did she do it? According to her autobiography:<br />
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She "needed another self-injury to get high."<br />
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Yes, because of this woman's disturbing childhood (a suicidal mother and two heroin addicted brothers) and abusive relationship, she was forced into this manic abortion state. Her husband was very stern when it came to having children by stating repeatedly that children ruined his sexual desire. Self-centered much? Of course she was forced to take birth control pills but as she became more and more addicted to abortion, she intentionally started skipping months. All of this occurred in the past 16 years, meaning this woman had abortions scheduled annually. Yikes.<br />
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I believe that instead of judging her or praising her (depending on what side of the abortion debate you stand), we should all just pray for her. It seems like she is far beyond any human intervention on the matter and given the troubling history of mental and social problems in her family, she may be unreachable for a very long time. It certainly is a shame that no one had reached out to help her sooner.<br />
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I have not read her book and I am not going to. Why? It's not because I am intolerant. It's not because I am judging her. I would love to get to know more of her story. However, this statement on her official <a href="http://www.irenevilar.com/home/">website</a> is why I cannot:<br />
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" 'Impossible Motherhood' is committed to eliminating the stigma of abortion by creating new ways to talk about abortion honestly and publicly."<br />
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All I can say is, may God help her and her family. I am going to the Tomb of the Unborn here at Franciscan tomorrow to pray for the 15 children that have lost their lives.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-9244336153140579452009-09-22T13:33:00.001-05:002009-09-22T13:34:02.061-05:00Mutant Robots from Outer space!!... well ok, not from outer space.<br />
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In a recent interview, Dr. Ray Kurzweil dropped the news that he believes humans will become immortal in 20 years. How is this possible, you might ask?<br />
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We will become robots. DUH.<br />
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Or to put it in Dr. Kurzweil's term, "cyborgs."<br />
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I found the article about this prediction <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6217676/Immortality-only-20-years-away-says-scientist.html">here</a> at Telegraph.co.uk. I assume it's going to spark some interesting debates about bioethics and end of life issues. Not to mention the problem science is having playing God.<br />
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Here are some key sentences from the article:<br />
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"I and many other scientists now believe that in around 20 years we will have the means to reprogramme our bodies' stone-age software so we can halt, then reverse, ageing. Then nanotechnology will let us live for ever."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"Virtual sex will become commonplace." </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"So we can look forward to a world where humans become cyborgs, with artificial limbs and organs."</span></span><br />
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Dr. Kurzweil is talking about immortality based around technological advancements that would replace and "improve" on the human body. Effectively this is saying,<br />
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"Dear God,<br />
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Anything you can do, we can do better. We can do better anything better than you.<br />
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In your face,<br />
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Humanity"<br />
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It doesn't sound like a very nice statement, does it? I think the whole venture into "improving the human body" will lead to incredibly dangerous ramifications.<br />
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Come on, Dr. Kurweil, haven't you read any Michael Crichton?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-46008760245348198612009-09-22T10:48:00.000-05:002009-09-22T10:48:17.201-05:00American UniversitiesBeing a student of higher learning, after my catechetics class, I went on YouTube. Although YouTube has a lot of really sketchy and ill-produced videos, there are some gems that can be found.<br />
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Today I discovered Steven Crowder. In a recent video, he went on campus to UC Berkeley (you know, the one with all the hippies) and uncovered what has happened to education in the hands of liberal professors.<br />
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The video highlights the failings of misinformation, revisionist history, and propaganda - all favorites of socialist, communist, and totalitarian governments. Oh, and also a big favorite among the liberal professors that make up 35% of all university professors.<br />
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Watch the video and see why its so crucial that American children learn REAL American history, before they get to the stage of mindlessly following anyone who calls themselves an "intellectual."<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BUybMMYmpxo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BUybMMYmpxo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-20646103256247655682009-09-16T16:33:00.004-05:002009-09-16T16:38:30.204-05:00The Daily Show Gets it Right?Since my mother is leading the New Orleans Tea Party, I hear about ACORN from time to time. to time. to time....<br />
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It gets mentioned a lot.<br />
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BUT FOR GOOD REASON.<br />
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So it's not news that they are a very corrupt organization that uses all our tax money for evil. Just about anyone involved in politics has seen at least one clip from Fox News unravelling all that. Most notably, a few weeks ago, the story broke about ACORN helping a man jump start his underage prostitution ring.<br />
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Wait, sorry, sorry, his "performance art" ring. My bad.<br />
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What may be news to a lot of Tea Party members, Fox News watchers, and Catholics is Jon Stewart's (the host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central) reaction. I was actually pleased.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/95804/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-tue-sep-15-2009#s-p1-so-i0">Watch the September 15 show here.</a><br />
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In this show, Jon Stewart does nothing to defend ACORN (which I would have expected), but instead does what he does best - makes fun of them. AND he proves that Fox News is the only news network out there reliably showing what ACORN is doing to our community.<br />
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A+ to Jon Stewart.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-49449021576681821912009-09-11T14:53:00.000-05:002009-09-11T14:53:47.445-05:00Not a Good Start to the WeekendNews blurb from Culture War:<br />
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<a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/09/antiabortion_activist_shot_in.html">A recognized pro-life activist was shot and killed outside of a Michigan high school. </a><br />
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<br />
His soul, his family and the soul and family of the murderer are in my prayers - they should be in yours too.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-4728343914142146532009-09-04T15:25:00.004-05:002009-09-04T15:34:03.972-05:00Week in ReviewSince the school year is still in its beginning stage, a lot of clubs and organizations on campus have been hosting preliminary and educational meetings to welcome new students (and newly interested students) into their ranks. Of the many, I decided to attend two: Students for Life and College Republicans.<div><br /></div><div>I think it might be the same club.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, so there are some differences but central to each is the culture of life movement. I haven't been on campus very long, but I feel as if these two clubs probably work together a lot (along with Democrats for Life). </div><div><br /></div><div>So really, the hard part is trying to choose which club I want to be the most active in. As one of four or five active members of the Students for Life club back in Mobile, I feel a special calling to be a leader here as well. The only problem? The ENTIRE CAMPUS is in Students for Life here. How would a transfer sophomore, not belonging to any households, really get any recognition at all? I could join core team, but some of their commitments conflict with my class schedule. So it looks like participation in Students for Life will be limited to prayers outside the abortion clinic in Pittsburgh. </div><div><br /></div><div>At least it's a little more than what I accomplished in Mobile - although our few members were certainly strong enough to hold that club together and keep it as a recognized voice in Mobile (if not only with the 40 Days for Life people...)</div><div><br /></div><div>So maybe College Republicans?</div><div><br /></div><div>They do a lot of pro-life work - usually in conjunction with Students for Life - and they have cake on Ronald Reagan's birthday!</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I want to make sure I will go with them to protest the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh! My mother would be proud.</div><div><br /></div><div>Is there a Tea Party in Ohio?</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-77848613492611349102009-09-01T14:41:00.002-05:002009-09-01T14:42:03.202-05:00A Little Laughter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4vPRTjNNJBd6kL1_jUf9Tj3pFqiyvvFiLNkNqeOxR2CqBEg8vgkod_YYdi_gLM5qjFfKDzZ2KjiypWPD2-yeGhzWSZNm0s0rYY4x-fq_GwbKWbEEZRpNALO04KEPQKn-tjAiyTW7P8E/s1600-h/ludicrous+speed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4vPRTjNNJBd6kL1_jUf9Tj3pFqiyvvFiLNkNqeOxR2CqBEg8vgkod_YYdi_gLM5qjFfKDzZ2KjiypWPD2-yeGhzWSZNm0s0rYY4x-fq_GwbKWbEEZRpNALO04KEPQKn-tjAiyTW7P8E/s400/ludicrous+speed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376586547335252434" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-59663173982002954682009-08-30T11:17:00.002-05:002009-08-30T14:20:32.377-05:00Sunday...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofhUovCqnmSCsjlWyr1aLKcZaXipcdLrIkYk5SEGi0AAsVpTU0bO9513dbnlUc6rP-oWn4hyphenhyphen2g0f7BAh6P9LdoASUIbyE4KOmnqAUEG-DNUr8r5gHLZpPdPN3mD5an5-4ZU6OMM-RCeE/s1600-h/manolos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofhUovCqnmSCsjlWyr1aLKcZaXipcdLrIkYk5SEGi0AAsVpTU0bO9513dbnlUc6rP-oWn4hyphenhyphen2g0f7BAh6P9LdoASUIbyE4KOmnqAUEG-DNUr8r5gHLZpPdPN3mD5an5-4ZU6OMM-RCeE/s400/manolos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375838830726949330" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><b>It happens to all of us.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; ">{<a href="http://postsecret.blogspot.com/">postsecret</a>}</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-8667007665988215282009-08-29T17:49:00.005-05:002009-08-29T18:03:48.960-05:00Our Lady of Prompt Succor<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pSLftyLcbaCbwn8IzMJs5yJiN3AvTRDcNRVeFd8px_Q5YDPNOzwxUH9U-ZJgtEp7vKO338tGlrgDAeNgifcnWUvNsXRrjysB2j4cc5o-8ozp9mBjuAN_aYL0dfb6FLhRl4mN-2YoPwo/s1600-h/olps.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pSLftyLcbaCbwn8IzMJs5yJiN3AvTRDcNRVeFd8px_Q5YDPNOzwxUH9U-ZJgtEp7vKO338tGlrgDAeNgifcnWUvNsXRrjysB2j4cc5o-8ozp9mBjuAN_aYL0dfb6FLhRl4mN-2YoPwo/s200/olps.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375523666644837698" /></a>Hasten to Help Us!<div><br /></div><div>Today marks the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall and subsequent destruction New Orleans. </div><div><br /></div><div>The city is in considerately better shape now, although many places still bare the scar of the storm. However, with time, they have moved from painful reminders to bittersweet memories of a strange and turbulent time in the Crescent City. But even after all of these years, its impossible to forget the images, smells, and feelings from that day. It's still possible to hear the deafening quiet I came back to a few weeks after the storm - when many people were still away in Houston or Atlanta. It's still possible to recall that awful scent from the very depths of Satan's lair that is the refrigerator left alone without power for a month. (Don't open it, I beg you!) And it's still possible to visualize the National Guardsmen and HUVs rolling down the streets of Mid-City.</div><div><br /></div><div>New Orleans as it was and as it is will always remain a unique place. Even to this day, as I am stowed away in middle-of-nowhere, Ohio, people still come to talk to me about the storm and what its like to live in the most interesting city on Earth.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRJthIubwuJD5bmN7PjuoS1Qk2NYZ-ii3jYps0e6cDfZPFQhdgA6fFltGHl8oP3n03zSoYqRjF6UI7GGsR8E2cLu3-aO_M9osLKLeX7uIiIR515IFPmcjnJ9UKOzm_tpQ3bATf_1svUA/s200/olps+pendant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375523892485801778" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and GO SAINTS!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-22183341850559861452009-08-25T14:03:00.004-05:002009-08-25T14:13:43.053-05:00Ministry FairLast night the Franciscan University of Steubenville hosted their annual ministry fair. The fair consisted of multiple departments of ministry including chapel, evangelization, outreach, and mission trips. <div><br /></div><div>I arrived about 20 minutes early and already the JC Williams Campus Center was packed with students and presentations. I was immediately attracted to the mission trip set up in the Atrium. What really caught my eye was the advertisement for the mission trip to New Orleans, my sweet hometown. We were listed right along with Belize and Jamaica. Nice. Of course I signed up. The trip goes down to New Orleans during Spring Break, so even if I do not go with Franciscan, I am going to be in the area anyway. Maybe I'll just stop by. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was the first one to sign up for more information about that trip, but hopefully a lot more people were interested. Although the area has seen vast improvement since 2005, there are many neighborhoods and people still looking for a little extra assistance. It never hurts. After witnessing the insurance fiasco at my summer job at the law firm, I can still see the need present. </div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from the mission trips, the chapel ministries tables were swamped. It was near impossible to get anywhere close to the Eucharistic Minister sign up with fighting a few people off. (Or distracting them with free root beer floats.) Of course, with its popularity comes a series of hoops to weed a few people out - including a mini-reflection paper and such. If I ever get around to filling that out, I can start trying to participate in the very active and popular chapel ministry program here at Steubenville. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although I haven't seen any of the previous ministry fairs, I would comment that it seemed to be quite a success. By 7:45 it was hard to move throughout the campus center - each floor was packed! I like to like it was because of the eagerness of holy people looking to serve the Lord, but it could have been because of the free root beer floats too. </div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-12778924198917346062009-08-22T10:51:00.003-05:002009-08-25T14:18:18.496-05:00Back in the Saddle AgainOk, so I decided to take a summer break from blogging. Even though you would think that summer allowed more time to do unpractical and unimportant things, my summer did not. I finished working at the law firm about two weeks before the vacation would end so that I would have time to see the friends that I had missed all last year and during the summer. I also needed to take some time to start packing so I could go to....<div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">Franciscan University of Steubenville!</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div>I have finally made it into the wilds of Ohio! Although technically I moved in on Thursday, I did not figure out how to work the internet until late last night. This required numerous treks (really, treks, there are so many hills!) back and forth from my room to the campus center and to the RAs office. But alas, I have found the internet and can start blogging again!</div><div><br /></div><div>Classes haven't started up yet, but that will change come Tuesday. Right now, I am stuck going through yet another Orientation. Orientations - they have their goods and their bads. Some parts seem repetitive and unnecessary, but other aspects I have found are quite helpful. Franciscan has organized small groups within the dorm buildings to meet nightly and go over the day. I am happy to say that these small groups are a great improvement over the most awkward small group of all time I had to endure at SHC. Who's idea was it to put my gay ex-boyfriend in the same group as me? Who? Not cool, Jesuits.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am living in Marian Hall this year, which is the oldest and hottest dorm on campus. Seriously, there is no air conditioner or coke products in the vending machine. Ohio, what is going on?</div><div><br /></div><div>The room is small, but sweet. The place is full of possibilities for feminine bonding. Although some of the rules seem a bit strict for me (no boys except during open hours, but only with the door open!) but at the same time, I understand where they are going with them. (Feminine community, once again). That should be interesting - and challenging for when my boyfriend comes to visit me from Mobile in October. Will he even be allowed to do the actual visiting part? I guess that will just take careful planning.</div><div><br /></div><div>I shall post pictures of my dorm room shortly, to give everyone a feel for what Marian Hall is like. At first I was a little disappointed, but I think the mold is growing on me.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Just kidding - there is no mold...just moths.)</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-49041554107701165602009-06-27T17:01:00.003-05:002009-06-27T17:08:03.551-05:00You Know it is Hurricane Season When......daddy drags out the MREs.<div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmgUPjj3uYKplN_BECOgRkN1BTjS6w3RVyTG8FWK5i4JVxatw5d3nU2fBHUgef7BJCLo9lgqWqQhATGC2E8K_SFnndzjIO9X0mTAZHo1yr1gAA9nVx2p6adwi6I9VK468OSz5WAJ_tGQ/s320/2009-06-27+16.50.23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352131158353082994" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">pictured: survival</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thus, there is the Prayer for Renewal which was recently passed out by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">God our Father, Creator of all life,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and new life in Christ Jesus,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">we stand before you, strengthened by faith,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">with gratitude for the many blessings</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">you have bestowed upon our Archdiocese.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Embraced by love</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">we offer deep appreciation for all that nurtures and strengthens us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">in our individual and parish journeys of faith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Give us an openness</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">that will enable us to undertake</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">the mission and ministry that you want for us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">in your Church.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">send forth your Holy Spirit</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">to heal hearts that are broken.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Give us the courage to become all</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">that you have called us to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Make us a vibrant and evangelizing Church,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">grounded in the Eucharist</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and in service to one another.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Our Lady of Prompt Succor</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">St. Louis King of France</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">St. Martin de Porres</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">St. Vincent de Paul</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">St. Katherine Drexel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">St. Juan Diego</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Vietnamese Martyrs</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Blessed Frances Xavier Seelos</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Pray for us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">woot woot.</div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9099930789165996882.post-21434611441285478052009-06-27T12:04:00.005-05:002009-06-27T12:15:15.496-05:00Little Happiness at WorkThe past two weeks at the law firm have been very stressful. Considering the social justice aspect of the class action law suit I am working on, I have been feeling extra spiritual pressure to help our 80,000 clients. 3, 082 of them could not be located to be sent incredibly important affidavits or they returned the affidavit incorrectly (making them useless). <div>My boss put me in charge of getting those affidavits back to those 3,082 people that have been mistreated by insurance companies during Hurricane Katrina. Keep in mind, these people are elderly, poor, uneducated, disabled, or illiterate too. It was a big responsibility.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Alas, it has been accomplished! With a little extra grace and patience, all 3,082 have been located and have had affidavits mailed to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>And my brother and I stuffed and processed every single one of them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>WHEW!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that that phase of the class action is over, I can relax and start enjoying my job and summer. (Hopefully this will include more blog posts)</div><div><br /></div><div>During my Dorito break last Friday, I wandered into the kitchen and opened a bag of the cheesy treat - which, by the way, comes in spicy flavors now. Sitting at the floral-topped table, I glanced over the the stove,</div><div> where many meals are cooked by the sole female attorney in the office, and saw this:</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXnvAvFZkCQx93msQeq-mP0kZu4SgTNOK5OTIOVM_C5B83HRNXUOtap5tRAkOBUa3q77NsTBopCKPB45ZY7K6PxazaNKxqw4DMK2MRrStnvjH6-07jyRmECPd9HQjtBCl0uD-3u4bG_s/s320/2009-06-26+14.54.22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352055992216028962" /><div style="text-align: left;">Isn't that a nice reminder?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And later on in the day, while opening the mail I came across this stamp:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicno9pi7eXnHsvRDSGkGpiFRqaT2u3TCUAYXtrxmM3zbuXcx2-E5HNY54H4mRJKaDj6e5yRvh78SyDyhldNbx-3KW01U5eyJT-v0zRWSFr8k2H8m6M6LZT19pZneoRbAawXtMD1En6ttU/s320/2009-06-26+15.15.32.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352056728910479826" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So the week ended well at the firm and hopefully we will be receiving those 3,082 affidavits back in the mail in the upcoming weeks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe they will have nice stamps.</div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733850325390299408noreply@blogger.com1