Hide, quick, he's coming!

It's Egg's Benedict time. Let me see...Here's a nice little gem from the past:



On a serious note, Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical "Deus caritas est" (the first of his Pontificate) has been published in numerous languages. The motif of the piece, as you might gather from it's title, is divine and human love.

For the most part, in my eyes, his thoughts about love are just out of this world. In the first section he is already bouncing ideas off of giants from the past like Nietzsche, Descartes, Virgil, and the list continues.

And all this is coming from a humble man who took time during the Conclave process to pray that he not become Pope. Well, anyways. If you wish to read it, do yourself a favor and skate on over to the Vatican website.

+-[State of the Union]

Ya know, this is the way that Bush really seems to many people in this world, and, from my experience, Europe is by no means an exception. If the loading time is a bit sketchy, try to let it sit for a sec in pause mode and then play it.

My job is to presidate

P.S. Watch for (Left) Dick Cheney's rude gesture and (Right) Speaker Dennis Hastert's food habit. Funny how the shot nearly mimics the imagry from a judgement scene in Christian art. Just a thought.

Anyhow, the 2005 speech for those interested: State of the Union.

Bella Roma*

Strolling down the street after class the other day, a friend of mine casually said, "It's beautiful, Rome. Small, but beautiful." And it made me stop and think. Such a simple, passing phrase that meant so much. It poked me on the shoulder and carried me back to my first impressions of this little city. What I noticed the moment that I arrived is that the Italian culture is one that places a large emphasis on the body and on space. Italians walk together, they eat well, they visit the places that they treasure from times past, all the while chatting away as if they have just been reunited after years of separation. Memories made, memories shared.

It is a rare thing, by the way, to see an Italian with shabby clothes who looks like they have taken less than 45 minutes to prepare before leaving the house. After all, care for their body is care for themselves. That's just what they do. And all of this takes place in an itty-bitty living space (thank you Robin Williams), and always has. So, just like we learned in Kindergarden (well, those of us who listened at least), we share because we have no choice. On the street, a bump here, a brush there. No problem. And it's not just Italians with this mentality either. Rome is incredibly international. Being that close often brings people together, I find.

Ok, it's true. Rome is not a paradise of fairy-tales and bubble-gum. Humans live here, not Roman gods. But, in the end, that is what makes Rome so beautiful is people. I do wish that I could share a lot of what goes on here with you all. But, sadly, we are also restricted by this whole body/space thing. But, ok. That is also what makes a visit to Rome that much more inticing, right? Until then, here are some pictures from first semester that I compiled.

*Nota bene. Here is a quick way to communcate the content of the posts which you find on this blog. In the title, there will appear these symbols fittingly:

That which reguards... my experience of Rome*

... +-[news and current events] (a plane with a banner, see it?!)

... jokes, games, videos, etc. (no symbol)

Counterfeit Christmas

See! In no way was I kidding. The tree was as fake as the hairs atop Howard Cosell's head.

P.S. The video is quite long, so for the best view, fast forward to about 55:00 where they illuminate the star. Oh glory of glories.

For those who are a bit lost, there we are: Why we do it better

The Preachin' Man

No-handed Bible thumpers unite!

Kudos to Ness for this one.

Eggs Benedict v 7.0

It's getting kind of late here, and I'm writing a stupid paper in Italian on some guy named Platone. So, I thought to myself I said, "self, how better to spend your time than to make a new post on the ol' blog?" Here are a list of comments made by late night talk-show hosts. Oh and, they are all kind of brief so use your imagination a bit. You know, an audience and then, an incredibly elaborate, although short and snappy at the same time, opening monologue. Popcorn. The whole deal.

Sooooo, here's benny.

Fun with Philosophy

See, before I thought I was just lazy and liked Family Guy, but now I know that I'm actually a contemplative, which of course I knew all along. I just had to be reminded. You can be too.

+-[Uh oh, someone's fabulous!]

And now for today's headlines: 800 million children world-wide suffer from malnutrition and other forms of neglect...Mental illness a serious issue in Australia's World Day for the Sick...and, this just in from Rome, breaking news: Pope Benedict XVI gives happy response after papal appartment gets face-lift. Wait...I'm sorry, what?!

That's right! Alongside these and other pertinant stories, we have an all-important report of our beloved Holy Father's so-called "Extreme Makeover: Vatican Edition." And his response is my favorite thing of all. "I can only admire the things you've done, like these beautiful floors." What, he couldn't just say, "wow, how beautiful?" or how about "Great job." Alas, what can one expect from a German Pope. Everything he says must be Über-profound, ya ok we get it.

Is it absurd to anyone else that they cover this shop-talk in the media? To add to the misery, while more children than I can count in my entire lifetime are starving throughout this dumn world, 200 people helped to remodel B-16's personal quarters in the Papal Palace. How many clowns does it take to screw in a light bulb? Well, we are talking Italy here, I suppose.

Look here for yourself.

Blonde Joke

I'm such a sucker for a blonde joke.

Why we do it better

So, I'm leaving tommorrow again to get on my marry way to Rome after the holidays. I'm so gleeful... oh alright I'll say it, Rome again Rome again, jiggidy jig. There, it's done and you can't do a thing about it, but you CAN keep reeding because the worst part of the post is over. So ha! It is, nevertheless, time for all good little boys and girls to be grateful and reflect on the past few weeks of holiday fun and cheer. Here it is... my top 5 reasons to celebrate Christmas in the States (or the 'U.S.' for those opposed to 'the States.' You know who you are.):

#5... Better Christmas carols, we've got enough holly, jolly tunes to keep the whole family singing from noon until night fall. Hey, who took frosty's nose???

#4... Let's face it, where else is it legal, let alone cute and adorable, to actually steal Christmas? Wow, those children's authors just get better and better each and every year, eh? You know it's times like these when I'm glad that they're required to have doctorates to publish. And those rhymes. 'Who-hash!' haha, get's me every time... 'Who-hash.'

#3... A kinder, gentler Santa: in the rustic Latin-American rendition of the story, ol' Saint Nick has a helper who eats naughty children. Yikes, flesh-hungry elves make a stocking full of coal look like a family bar-b-que at grandma's.

#2... Real Christmas trees, none of this putting up the same thing every year dribble. My family and myself visited Rockafeller Center in NYC where they had a sizable live tree from the raging forests of Oregon. A true wilderness adventurer chopped that tree down. Paul Bunyan methinks, whose sturdy ox, oh I don't know, let's call him "abe," braved the harsh terrain carrying said evergreen hundreds of miles through the snow, and what did I see when fixing mine eyes upon the festivities of St. Peter's, the greatest of all shrines built in our Lord's name?...arbor fabricated by human hands... Ya, plastic! These silly European Catholics have no clue...

.... AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN THE STATES IS ....

#1... Duh, cooler presents. Can anyone say iPod and endless accessories? Hello?? After all, what would I do without my music-pumping, picture-porting, video-viewing, bread-toasting, custom circumcision-performing, gator-training, justice-serving, dash-administering device swinging anew from in and around my hip? All-in-one might I add. I don't know about you, but, uh, I am that vain.

Ok, so that was silly. But anyways, that's where we stand on the whole Christmas thing, and that's the story. But, seriously, I hope you all had a wonderful time during the holidays, and don't worry, I didn't mention hanukkah, etc because there is only so much space, ya know. Besides, the 'Dradle, Dradle, Dradle" door has been knocked on too many times. After all I am a friend of the Jews, what with living in an interreligious-friendly community and all. 'Who doesn't like a Jew?', I always say. Go dial-up Adam Sandler about that list, ok? He's dun' beat that horse dead... Have a great new year everyone.

A Reflection on Things New*

What a difference a year makes, eh? It is less than twelve months ago that I was in the humble classrooms of Flagler College, scared witless, stiffened by times icy touch and the immanent boot-to-the-streets-of-the-real-world that was approaching with exponential speed and importance. There I sat day by day in lectures and discussions, unable to concentrate on my studies, my loved one's, my life, because I looked too much to the future with those big dreams of mine - study in Europe, speak another language, travel the world and become great like the great who came before - that I began to live in the future with those things and was fighting a Gollum-scale battle of inferiority with myself. Ya, you know the one. The kind that drives you a just a bit mad, that shows you indeed how human you are. 'You won't cut it in Europe, look at you, an ignorant American child trapped in the body of a 22 year old man. You can't even make a decent score on the GRE. You might as well throw in the towel. Why don't you go work at Waffle House where you shall be useful?'

Well, I won't lie to you, it got worse. I was told this penetrating news one day: it wasn't possible to ship me off to Europe to study because of finances. Not only this, but also thoughts filled my head comparing life as a student in the States with that in the European system. (Of course I was kidding myself into accepting less than my dream) ‘For the prices of time and money that I would spend to study in Europe, I could get a quicker and less pricy education in the US.’ I began to lean away from going to Europe at all costs, ‘maybe I should take this easier route that is becoming simpler and more appealing as each moment passes. Any amount that I would have to sacrifice to go to Europe and spend more time on my studies seemed negligent and wasteful in light of my other lucrative options. (Not true) Besides, who needs Europe? I don’t. (I did, so bad, with a desire as intense as the smell of every scent in every train station in Europe) They can take their haughty, enlightened attitude and go where they belong. (I love that about them). I’ll just go over for the summer sometime or something. (I already did that, I got a taste and I wanted so much more).

Shortly after that, as if this wasn't enough, the main school to which I applied in the states, the place where I was a sure 'full-ride scholarship candidate,' didn’t even accept my application. DENIED. Do not pass ‘go,’ do not collect $200. And even if you do happen to wander by this ‘go,’ be sure to grab a complimentary tissue from the counter, wipe that pathetic tear...then be off with you. What a smack in the face. What shame. Am I going to fulfill that solitary dream in which my head has rested for years now? It would seem not. Waffle House, here I come… 'How would you like your hashbrowns sir?' Covered with disappointment, or smothered by the shards of my dreams? What a life. Guess I’ll spend it whiling the time away. That juke-box just there in the corner is kind of neat I suppose. Enough already. That life isn’t for me. You get it.

But, I’m here to tell you that things changed for the better very shortly. Light peeked it’s warming face through the overcast as the possibilities, a ray of hope, began to pour in. Something very unexpected happened. Through some connections that I had with the diocese of St. Augustine, I soon arranged a meeting with the Bishop, in which we spoke of many things. One of which was that he had a sum of money that had interestingly been just fermenting since he came to his position a few years back. He said, if I was serious about wanting this education thing to happen at the Greg that he, a Gregorian alumnus, would support me with a helpful sum each year for as long as he could. Soon after this, I began to become so hopeful for my path ahead. After that day, additional support for me came so quick that I still can hardly keep up with it all, from my parents most of all, but Greg helped, we had another benefactor give a bursa di studi or scholarship to the Greg for US native (that fits me) lay (also me) students (me too) who needed loans to come study, (which I also did). In the end, nearly my whole first year in Rome is paid for in full. All I can say here to describe my feelings has already been expressed in the words quoted by the eminent philosopher Walter Sobchak from must-see film The Big Lebowski, ‘If you will it, it is no dream dude.’ Ya, well. It helps to have a bit of support too. Thanks to all who make these days in Rome possible. You literally are the ground on which I stand, it is your help and care, not any merit of my own, that proves invaluable to the development and fruition of my life. I stand edified and full of gratitude.

+-[We made it!]

So here we are... I'm glad to see that you survived the space-time warp. Let me know what you think of the layout here. If it's too light or too much somehow, let's get that changed. The old site is here if you wish to read older posts.