Dan Allen's Take On MySpace

The saddest MySpace moment is having an "actual" friend not accept you as a MySpace friend and you receive the message "your request is still pending..."

Read it all here.

Person Of The Day: Frederick Buechner




Frederick Buechner is one of my favorite authors, which makes him perfect for the person of the day. Not just anyone can follow the Cookie Monster, but I feel that this literary master can hold up to the test!
Buechner was born on July 11, 1926. He entered Princeton University in 1943. During his time at Princeton he spent two years in combat duty during World War II. After the war, he returned and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1947. In 1948, he became a teacher at Lawrenceville School.
Two years later he published his first novel A Long Day's Dying. Buechner quit teaching in 1953 and moved to New York to become a full time writer. He then began attending Union Theological Seminary and received a Bachelor of Divinity in 1958. He was then ordained as a Presbyterian Minister.
Buechner has received several awards including, The National Book Award (1952); The O. Henry Award (1955); and the Critic’s Choice Books Award (1990). Additionally, he has received honorary doctorates from Virginia Theological Seminary (1982); Lehigh University (1987); Cornell College (1989); Yale University (1990); and Wake Forest University (2000). Godric, the first book of Buechner's that I read (thanks to Fr. Brad), was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1981.

The Reason Chickens shouldn't Be Allowed Around Welding Tools!

This fire is crazy! Read it all here. Make sure you read all the way to the last line!

Person Of The Day: The Cookie Monster






I realized that after having the Pope as my person of the day yesterday, it would be pretty impossible to have a follow up. I mean, who do you make the person of the day right after the holy father? Then it hit me. Who has been around for about as long as Joseph Ratzinger? Who has brought joy into many children's lives for decades? And who was it that taught us a great excuse for bringing home a merely average report card..."But, mom, the Cookie Monster said that 'C' is for cookie and if it's good enough for him than it is good enough for me!" After that, I was usually sent to my room for being a smart ass. Oh well, here's to the big blue guy, the one and only Cookie Monster!

Person Of The Day: Joseph Ratzinger

Joseph Ratzinger (aka Pope Benedict XVI) was born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. In 1939 ,Ratzinger entered the minor seminary in Traunstein. In 1944, he was drafted into the compulsory German army. By the Spring of 1945, Joseph deserted the army and headed back home to Traunstein. In November of the same year he re-entered seminary. Two years later Ratzinger entered the theological institute, Herzogliches Georgianum, which is associated with the University of Munich. On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29 of 1951, Joseph (along with his brother George) was ordained into the preisthood. Two years later he received his doctorate in theology from the University of Munich. In 1959 he took a chair of fundamental theology at the University of Bonn. For the next three years, Ratzinger established himself as one of Germany's leading theologians. He became so respected, that he was asked to be the chief theological advisor to Cardinal Josef Frings of Cologne, Germany at the Second Vatican Council. In 1957 Ratzinger met liberal theologian Hans Küng at a congress of dogmatic theologians in Innsbruck. Ratzinger and Küng soon became friends. In 1966, Ratzinger took a second chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen. His appointment was vigorously supported and secured by fellow professor Küng. Later on, Ratzinger would distance himself from Küng's theology and even had him inhibited from teaching Catholic theology when Ratzinger was the Prefect for the Congregation fordoctrineorine of the Faith. On March 24 1977, Ratzinger was named Archbishop of Munich and Freising. In only one month later, he was elevated to Cardinal of Munich by Pope Paul VI. In 1981, Pope John Paul II named Cardinal Ratzinger the Prefect for the Congregation fordoctrineorine of the Faith. In this position he tirelessly defended the faith. He did his job so well, that he earned the nickname "God's Rottweiler." As a theologian, he has written numerous books. My favorite's include The Spirit of the Liturgy, God and the World, and Introduction to Christianity (all published by Ignatius Press). On April 19 2005, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was elected to the See of Rome, becoming Pope Benedict XVI.
As an Anglican, it may seem a bit odd that Ratzinger would not only be the first "Person of the Day" for my blog and one of my hero's, but when you look at all that he has done in his life to the glory of God, it is easily understood. He has become one of the greatest and most well respected theologians of our time. It is no wonder that he is now a successor to Peter.

Demi And Ashton: It's Official!

Now, the first question I have to ask is.....WHO CARES???
I mean, it is just one other couple in a long list of celebrity marriages. Why should it be so news worthy. Yes, I think it is cool and all that Ashton and Demi's ex-husband (The) Bruce Willis get along and all, and it is even sweet that Demi's kids refer to Ashton as M.O.D. (my other dad)....even though he's about ten years older then her oldest kid (yes, you're right that is disturbing).
But, I think the most important news story should be that Punky Brewster was at the wedding!
Seriously! Soleil Moon Frye (who names their kid that!!!) was at the wedding. The guest list included: Bruce, Lucy Lui (Demi's co-star in 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'), Danny Masterson (That 70's Show), Wilmer Valderrama (That 70's Show star who dated Mandy Moore), and PUNKY BREWSTER!! Which one of these does not belong.....?

Maybe it was a sympathy invite:
Ashton: Hey, Demi, let's punk Soleil Moon Frye by sending her an invitation to our wedding, but have her show up at someone else's wedding. Like, maybe Elizabeth Taylor. I'm sure she's due for another wedding soon.
Demi: You mean, Punky Brewster?! Aww....Ashton we can't punk her. I feel bad for her. She hasn't had a career in about over 20 years. You know, when you were seven. Let's make her feel good by inviting her to our wedding, so she can actually be surrounded by working actors.
Ashton: oh, ok. But, I still think we should punk her. Or at least sign her up for 'Surreal Life'.

Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri delivered again!



In danger of falling to 1-2 to start the season, Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri delivered again. In a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game, Brady drove the Patriots 37 yards in just
over a minute to set up Vinatieri's game-winning 43-yard field goal with one second left to lift New England over the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20 on Sunday. Brady finished with 372 yards passing as the Patriots improved to 2-1.


Once again, Vinatieri proves that he is the best Kicker in the League! The Steelers played a good game, but the champs were the better team. With Brady and Vinatieri, nothing is impossible!
Can anyone say three-peat!!!

Pittsburgh Pub Tour






The inagural pub of the Pittsburgh Pub Tour is none other than "Piper's Pub" located at 1828 E. Carson St. If you are looking for the authentic pub atmosphere, this is the place to be. They have plenty of great beers on draught from England, Ireland, and Scotland which makes their catch phrase, "A taste of the British Isles", more than true! The food is fantastic as well. The servings are the size of two meals (or one if you are really hungry, or go by the name of Danny Garland Jr.), so you definitely get your money's worth. I recommend the Guinness Beef Stew with a pint of the black stuff. And for dessert, nothing goes better than a nicely poured pint of Young's Oatmeal Stout!
Plus: Being served our food by a lady with her entire right arm covered in tatoos.
Minus: NO PIPERS!!!