Burn Fitness Training

Mendy's new website is now up and running, created by yours truly. Yes, even the Sarge can use pink. Check it out at fitbyburn.com

Worldcat

I'm not sure how much you all use the library and/or all the features on Google, but I found a pretty neat and useful feature today. Tomorrow I'm going to a book club. The book we're reading, Wendell Berry's What are People For? (featured in the screen shot above) is the book we're reading/discussing. Not really wanting to buy the book, and not too confident that Barnes and Noble would have it, I decided to look for an alternative. After checking the KC Public Library catalog online (all their copies were checked out probably from people from the book club)I thought I'd just search the "Books" section of Google.

Of course they have all the places you can buy the book listed on the side, but if you look a little further down you can click on a library search. What this does is hook you up with Worldcat, which is an online catalog that gives you the search power to look in the catalogs of just about every library in the world. This allowed me to find the book I was looking for in the Grandview Mid-Continent Public Library, which I'd have overlooked if I had just simply gone to the KC Public Library site.

Something else I think Google does is allow you to search and read online books that are...I guess public domain (not sure what they call it for books) so you don't have to buy or even go to the library for those books. Couple all this with the standard interlibrary loan capabilities of most libraries and you've got the information world literally at your finger tips. Who needs to go to college when you can get an education with the click of a mouse?

Power to the People!

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Philospher's Song

Mos Def - Ghetto Rock

I kina like dis how you say ghetto rock. fo sho fo sho.

Happy Trails

Last weekend I ran in a trail run event put on by a group called the Kansas City Trail Nerds. Aside from solo runs, I hadn't done an organized trail event for several years. It was the most fun I've had in long time and can't wait for the next one.

Their next event is a 10K Trail Night Run on Friday, August 8th. Sounds like a great Canteen outing to me.

Here's a shot of my muddy legs at the end of 15 miles.

Project Make McCain Exciting: Gray Ambition

What does Light Beer and American Evangelicalism have in common?

We haven't had a good religion post lately; I was getting a little worried that we'd gone too far into the secular direction so I've thrown this one into the ring from the Irish Calvinist.

People have described some of the contemporary practices within evangelicalism as being driven by consumerism. We can see evidences of this with many of the popular devices that are employed, whether it be in the altering of vocabulary, the transition from preaching to conversations, the emphasis upon felt needs rather than spiritual needs, the polling of unbelievers as to how church should be conducted, a deemphasis upon doctrine, a redefinition of Jesus as weak and effeminate, and an idolatrous portrayal of a God who’s love is able to trump his righteousness. Regrettably, all of these things are common today.

Read the entire article here.

Considering I'm Catholic I obviously disagree with Calvinism theologically, but I do believe that if you're going to be an intelligent Protestant strict Calvinism, from the theological debates I've read, is the only way to go. Everything else falls apart ultimately.

My hunch is that the reason why Calvinism is gaining popularity in many Southern Baptist circles (and other fundamentalist Evangelical circles) is that they're trying to find some "tradition" that can intellectually combat the increasing Catholic encroachment on their turf. I think this is a great move, because it will mean that we (Evangelicals and Catholics) can really begin to have an honest dialog with real understanding of the differences.

First Batch of Homemade Soap

In about three weeks these will be ready to use. If you're interested I'll give you a chunk. The essential oils I used for the fragrance are bergamot, lavender and lime.

McSorley's Old Ale House

Oldest continuously operating pub in the United States. It was established in NYC in 1854. Although the neighborhood obviously use to be Irish, when I went it seemed to be all Eastern European...Ukrainian maybe.
In the other direction is the bar. Above it there are old chandeliers with wishbones that date back to the Civil War from soldiers getting ready to head off to war. They're so old dust stalactites hang from the bones.
I think we ordered these beers in fours...or sixes, I can't remember - four/six for each hand of the server. You order either a light or a dark. If I remember correctly it's their own beer. One of their food specialties is onions and Saltines.
Great urinals, eh? Are those art deco Sarge?

McSorley's Official Website

Canteen Riders

Here's a link to Landahl Park, the trail we talked about going to next.

Also, here's one to Stocksdale Park. Stocksdale doesn't have near as much mileage yet, but it would be a good for a relatively short ride sometime.

Fairfax Lightening Strike

In Our Way

Canteen Word of the Day

por·cine /ˈpɔrsaɪn, -sɪn/[pawr-sahyn, -sin]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to swine.
2. resembling swine; hoggish; piggish.
[Origin: 1650–60; < L porcīnus; see pork, -ine1]

In light of Sarge's last post I thought the word porcine apropos. I discovered it this morning while reading an article on Fox Sports entitled Best Human Train Wrecks in Sports History. Not surprisingly golfer John Daley made the list. Here's the paragraph in which it is used:

The long driver continues to make a nice living as the PGA Tour's lone duffer. He chain smokes cigarettes on the course. He pounds beer, despite his long struggle with alcoholism. He travels to events in a recreational vehicle. Recent video footage of the porcine Daly playing shirtless furthered his Hillbilly image.

"...the porcine Daly..." I love that; can't wait to use it.

Japan versus Obesity

Interesting article (linked below) on many different levels. Although the methods might be a little extreme, at least the accountablity of this program places the burden of taking care of yourself back on the individual, where it belongs.

I wonder what the Japanese phrase for "muffin top" is...or if they even have the need for one?

Japan, seeking trim waists, measures millions

Fist and Ursus Conquer the Blue River Mountain BikeTrails