friends

[	Tags	\|	links, psychology	]
[	mood	\|	calm	]

According to this article in the Wall Street Journal, willpower is a very limited mental resource. Check this out:

In one experiment, led by Baba Shiv at Stanford University, several dozen undergraduates were divided into two groups. One group was given a two-digit number to remember, while the second group was given a seven-digit number. Then they were told to walk down the hall, where they were presented with two different snack options: a slice of chocolate cake or a bowl of fruit salad.

Here's where the results get weird. The students with seven digits to remember were nearly twice as likely to choose the cake as students given two digits. The reason, according to Prof. Shiv, is that those extra numbers took up valuable space in the brain—they were a "cognitive load"—making it that much harder to resist a decadent dessert. In other words, willpower is so weak, and the prefrontal cortex is so overtaxed, that all it takes is five extra bits of information before the brain starts to give in to temptation.

Crazy, no? This might explain why I just had like 10 Altoids while concentrating on a problem at work.

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[Dec. 26th, 2009|12:29 pm]

Methinks these words are words to live by:
This is what God is like. The Angel had said to the shepherds: "This will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Lk 2:12; cf. 2:16). God’s sign, the sign given to the shepherds and to us, is not an astonishing miracle. God’s sign is his humility. God’s sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love. How we would prefer a different sign, an imposing, irresistible sign of God’s power and greatness! But his sign summons us to faith and love, and thus it gives us hope: this is what God is like. He has power, he is Goodness itself. He invites us to become like him. Yes indeed, we become like God if we allow ourselves to be shaped by this sign; if we ourselves learn humility and hence true greatness; if we renounce violence and use only the weapons of truth and love. (From the Holy Father's Christmas sermon)

Christmas and the Ordinary

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[Dec. 25th, 2009|01:15 pm]

gaudium_et_spes

[

mood

contemplative

]

Often we like to focus on the extraordinary of Christmas. The choirs of angels. The star. The wise men from the east. It's easily to look at Christmas from a miraculous perspective because, well, it was pretty miraculous.

But there's another perspective from which it is equally as important to look at Christmas from and that is the perspective of the ordinary. Mary and Joseph never saw the angels. They had no idea about the star. Until the shepherds showed up, the first Christmas for them was all about giving birth to a little boy in somewhat difficult circumstances. No miracles. No angels. Just the ordinary travails of humanity.

I think this second perspective is a critical one to look at, because by focusing only on the miraculous of Christmas, we lose sight of God's presence in the ordinary, the hum-drum, and the occasionally boring episodes of daily life. God did not come to earth on a cloud, or as a stately king. But rather, "There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him" (Is 53:2). More than all the miracles, all the extraordinary moments, all the heroes, and famous men, God came to sanctify the ordinary. There is no moment of human life and human existence too base or boring for God. The little baby Jesus nursed, slept and pooped just like all the rest of us. And in doing so, he sanctified all of it.

I fear that we look for Jesus too often in the big things, the outstanding experiences and the famous people. But if we truly want to find him, perhaps we should look at the little things, the quiet places and the unknown and unwanted. For he has sanctified those no less.

Merry Christmas!

Jesus I Trust in You

[Dec. 24th, 2009|01:57 pm]

daniellij

[

Tags

advent, divine mercy, jesus, prayer, trust

]

Throughout the past few months, the image of Divine Mercy and the prayer 'Jesus, I trust in You' keep reappearing. So, I decided to write a prayer on it. I looked through my Bible to find different passages on prayer (I didn't have the internet or a concordance with me, so most of them ended up being from the Psalms). However, when I went to write the meditation, I couldn't think of anything to write. The only thing that I could think of was what a priest had told me a few weeks ago during confession, "Pray 'Jesus I trust in You' three times; once for your past worries, once for your present worries, and once for your future worries."

It may be difficult to actually do, but in principle, trust is very simple.

Trust

For all my past worries… Jesus, I trust in You.

For all my present worries... Jesus, I trust in You.

For all my future worries… Jesus, I trust in You.

Divine Mercy

Further scripture meditation:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom am I afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

“God, I praise your promise; in you I trust, I do not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:5).

“O Most High, when I am afraid, in You I place my trust” (Psalm 56:3-4).

“Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust” (Psalm 27:3).

“My soul be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope” (Psalm 62:6).

“Worry has brought death to many… Worry brings on premature old age” (Sirach 30:23, 24)

Mary trusts God completely in her fiat, her yes. She is the handmaid of the Lord (cf. Luke 1:26-38)

The poor widow trusts God to provide for her financial needs when she donates all she has (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4).

The Centurion has great faith and trusts that Jesus has cured his servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)

Body and Soul

[Dec. 24th, 2009|01:28 pm]

daniellij

[

Tags

advent, body, prayer, soul

]

In the rush of everyday life, it is easy to forget to make time for taking care of something that is vital for our existence here on earth... our bodies. I know that I am guilty of eating unhealthy food or forgetting meals because I'm "too busy," not exercising because I "don't have enough time," not getting enough sleep because "I have too much to do," and delaying regular doctor visits because "it takes too much time" ...all in all, I'm often too busy to take care of, well... me.

The importance of our bodies is often taken for granted-- we're too "comfortable in our own skin." After all, spiritual needs are objectively much more important than physical/bodily needs. However, try telling that to a mother who has no food for her crying baby. Bodily needs sometimes need to be taken care of before people can focus on fulfilling their spiritual needs.

Lately I have been trying to pay more attention to taking care of my body, being a better steward of the beautiful gift God gave me. I don't know what it would be like without my body, and God never intended for the body and soul to be separated. From a human perspective, Catholicism would not be fully appreciated without a human body, either; it is a religion where what is invisible is made visible through the physical. I heard somewhere that if angels could be jealous, they would envy our ability to 1) show our love for another through our bodies 2) receive the Eucharist-- both which are only possible for physical beings.

Body and Soul
“More precious than gold is health and well being…
no treasure greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart!” (Sirach 31:16).

Holy Spirit, please give me the motivation to take care of my body as I should, as it is the temple in which you reside. Help me realize that I am not a spirit trapped in a body, but that my spirit and body are united as one. I offer my whole self to You—body, mind, and spirit. In all I do throughout the day, help me to glorify you with my body (cf. 1 Cor 6:20). Let every action be offered as a prayer, a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing” to You (Romans 12:1).

I want to care for and to cherish the gift of my body more fully. Let me glorify you in caring for my bodily needs: eating, following medicinal care, sleeping, and exercising. Help me to identify the importance of these bodily needs with spiritual needs: The food I eat to nourish my body is like the Eucharist that feeds my soul. The medicinal care that helps heal my body is like the healing power of Confession. The sleep that rests my body and restores my energy is like the quiet surrender of prayer that energizes my soul. The exercise that strengthens my body is like carrying crosses in my spiritual journey.

“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:1). Please strengthen my flesh that I may praise You more completely.

Further scripture meditation:
·        “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body (1 Cor 6:19-20).
·        “The body is… for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body” (1 Cor 5:13).
·        “For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his body (Ephesians 6:29-30)
·        “For I was hungry and you gave me food…” (Matthew 25).
·        “He cured many who were sick with various diseases…” (Mark 1:34)

Mary's Trust

[Dec. 24th, 2009|01:06 pm]

daniellij

[	Tags	\|	advent, prayer	]
[	mood	\|	good	]

So... I wasn't very good at posting my reflections/prayers each week. But I did write them. I figured since they aren't advent-exclusive, some people may still want to read them. Here is one about Mary which I wrote December 12, the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe. It was the same week as the feast of Immaculate Conception.

Mary’s Trust

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the gift of your mother, Mary. From her creation, you preserve her from the stain of sin. With her “fiat,” you became a child in her womb (c.f. Luke 1). Mary, help me to set aside my fears and trust God completely.

Mother Mary, when I don’t understand a path that God sets before me, let me say, “may it be done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Please remind me when I am weak: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5). For I know that only in trusting in God will I find eternal happiness. Also, let me never forget to thank God for what He has done for me. Help me rid my life of despair and anxiety and instead live in hope and joy as I learn to trust in Christ more deeply. May I rejoice as you did when you visited Elizabeth, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoice in God my savior” (Luke 1:46-47).

[Dec. 24th, 2009|09:22 am]

I am posting from my new computer, a computer with all the keys still attached to the keyboard. It's awesome. Let me also say that I loved Matthew Aldermann's review of the Vierne Mass on NLM, although I was giggling every time the video showed Daniel Roth. He's a great organist, but his speaking skills aren't quite as good as his playing. At least, they aren't in English.

[Dec. 23rd, 2009|11:50 pm]

I just made the mistake of reading Jeffrey Tucker's take on Christmas Carols at Christmas Mass. I hate to sound elitist, but I wish that NLM would replace him with someone who had a few more semesters of music history and a bit more experience as a liturgical musician. After 9 semesters of music history and music literature and research just for the fun of it, I have to say I couldn't sign my name to something so stupid. Chant is good. Throwing out popular tradition just for some idealistic vision is bad. Plus, he seems to have forgotten that some Catholics have Christmas sing-alongs before Christmas and that liturgical Protestants wait for Christmas to sing Christmas carols. If he's a guiding star, I'll just go to sleep and let others follow to some non-destination.

Zephyr moments during Danielle's visit

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[Dec. 22nd, 2009|11:02 pm]

christine_920

Zephyr and Danielle and I took a tour of Notre Dame with some friends of ours. It was great, but Zephyr started shivering even with his coat on. Poor dog can't handle the weather. But Danielle got to see my building, Touchdown Jesus, the Dome, the outside of the Basilica (it was locked), the stadium, and the Grotto. It was great.

Danielle and I were drinking wine and watching House. Suddenly Danielle started asking Zephyr if he had drunk some of her wine. We didn't see any dog drool on the sides of the glass, but decided it was better to be safe than sorry. Especially when Danielle took her glass to the sink and Zephyr followed excitedly staring at the glass the whole way.

I didn't realize how good Zephyr has been for me until Danielle told me that I should never live without a dog again. It's the first time she's seen me as a dog owner, and she said she noticed a huge difference in me. It's good to have outside confirmation that getting a dog was a good idea.

Zephyr has begun to rip an ear off his elephant and has also taken off one of its legs. It needs to be sewn back together, probably by a sewing machine. When Danielle and I went to the pet store to pick up some more dog food for Zephyr, I found a monkey toy that's designed the same way as the elephant. I bought it for Zephyr. He loved it. Later that afternoon, I noticed that the seam on the back of the monkey had come apart. I felt bad taking away Zephyr's new toy. So I sewed it together again, but I didn't have any string. I used dental floss instead. It worked really well. Now Zephyr can play with his monkey again.

Christmas Trees

[Dec. 22nd, 2009|12:26 am]

We put up our tree on Saturday. The artificial tree. We bought it last year on clearance at Meijer. 70% off.

Nick strung multi-colored lights on it. Super pretty. And we didn't do garland.

I decorated it with all our family ornaments. Nick's three first Christmas ornaments and John's two. They bring back memories.

Nick put on his Hallmark ornaments. Star Trek ornaments, mostly. All kinds of battle cruisers, Klingon birds of prey, and communicators.

I love our tree. It's super us. John loves it too. Especially the colored lights. He reaches for it.

He's one.

It's his second Christmas. He's too little to understand Christmas. But he loves the lights.

But what about your trees? Do you have trees in your homes? With lights?

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stuck at work links

[Dec. 21st, 2009|10:24 am]

[	Tags	\|	links	]
[	mood	\|	chipper	]

This is a 70 minute video review of "The Phantom Menace" (some NSFW language). The voice is a little weird, and there are some weird offtopic bits, but overall it's entertaining and pretty spot-on. The bit at the end of Part 1 where he asks people to describe the characters in the original trilogy vs. the prequel is pretty awesome.

'Tis the season for cable company disputes. Here's Time Warner's take on the issue versus Fox's. I find it amusing that they think that setting up websites is going to lead to consumers reading both of them, weighing the facts, and deciding who to be mad at or something. Hint: I get my cable through Time Warner, and if all of a sudden I can't see shows on Fox, I'm going to be mad at Time Warner, regardless of whose "fault" it is. I better be able to watch Lost in February!

The health care bill in the Senate passed a critical test early this morning and it looks like it's going to pass on Christmas Eve. Now to the conference committee!

Heading out to Houston tonight. Happy Christmas!

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[Dec. 20th, 2009|10:39 pm]

ephraemsyrus

[

Tags

christmas

]

The tree is lit. This is important because we've barely had time to breathe all Advent, much less unpack the decorations. We certainly won't finish tonight, but we shall be done by Christmas.

To decorate for Christmas is to touch my family's history. After our wedding, my mom shipped all the decorations to my wife and me, presuming we'd make more use of them than she would, and I cannot open the box of ornaments without recalling Christmas decorating from my youth. I can smell the tree, which I always insisted must be a balsam fir; I can taste peppermint candy and hot chocolate, and pizza for dinner when all the work is done. I can see my mother arranging the figures of the creche, placing them this way and that, over and over until she is satisfied. I can hear the recording of Christmas carols directed by Sir David Willcocks, with its companion book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These things are not mere memories; it is as if they are present to me again, in this time.

To decorate for Christmas is liturgical, in its way; with each ornament, the tree unfolds according to its own inner logic. It is the work of many hands over many generations, with pieces from different times and places juxtaposed within the whole. It is not Apollonian, but neither is it Dionysian; it has no controlling architecture but it is not unrestrained chaos. Fantasy starships do battle inches from icons of the Theotokos, which in turn yield to plain glass balls and wooden zoo animals. He whom heaven and earth could not contain was born for us a little child, very man and very God. Therefore, let us decorate trees with Klingon battle cruisers and lights, glass and wood and plastic in bright array. The helpless baby in the manger gave us all of them, so why should we not use them in His honor?

Danielle

[Dec. 20th, 2009|02:14 am]

christine_920

Danielle is here visiting me in South Bend. It's the greatest, most wonderful thing that's happened in a long time.

are the holidays here yet? links

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[Dec. 17th, 2009|01:33 pm]

[	Tags	\|	links, politics	]
[	mood	\|	bored	]

Health care reform - is it going to happen, and is the public option-less bill even worth passing anymore? Nate Silver asks 20 questions for people who answer "no", responds to people who answered them, and explains why he thinks it's still worth passing. Meanwhile, Atul Gawande (the guy who wrote that article about the rising cost of health care in McAllen) says that having lots of pilot projects (like the Senate bill does) is a good way to go and has worked in the past for farming.

For me, the holidays now have an odd association with Mythbusters since we seem to watch them when we're at my folks place a lot. Here's an old interview with the Mythbusters which I found pretty entertaining.

You know those Predator drones the Army is using in Iraq to target insurgents? It turns out the video they transmit is unencrypted(!) and insurgents have been able to intercept it easily.

A computer scientist looks at ICBM security.

my first WebOS app published!

[Dec. 16th, 2009|04:49 pm]

[	Tags	\|	palmpre, programming	]
[	mood	\|	excited	]

PasswordHash is now officially available on the Palm App Catalog! After some initial hiccups I was able to install it to my Pre and it works just fine. Hopefully my other app will be approved soon...

Speaking of my Pre, I had been having some problems with it lately - it thought that headphones were plugged in to the headphone jack all the time, and so I couldn't listen to music or use the phone except on speakerphone, which got annoying pretty quickly. I tried some internet-suggested remedies that worked for a little while, but this weekend even those stopped working, so I took it in to Sprint to see what they could do.

I dropped my phone off at the nearest Sprint service center, got lunch and returned to have them tell me I'd be shipped a new phone and it would probably arrive the next day. And they let me keep my phone in the meantime (and ship it back when the new phone arrived). Lo and behold, yesterday it arrived, today I took it in to be activated, and it seems to work like a charm. After being careful not to nuke my existing backup (not actually sure if this is a problem anymore, but better safe than sorry!), it transferred over my contacts, apps I had installed, and even bookmarks! So +1 for Palm and Sprint for taking care of the problem.

first semester done!

[Dec. 16th, 2009|10:54 am]

christine_920

I am now done with my first semester of grad school. I would have been done yesterday, but I was too sick to take my final then, so I took it today.

I'd heard a lot of people tell me that the first semester of grad school is always really hard. I was quite worried about it, to be honest. Fortunately, however, and surprisingly, I didn't seem to have much of the first semester horrors that lots of other people do. I've been depressed, but not unusually so. If anything, at least the first month of the semester was better than usual. My classes were very challenging, and I definitely felt the stress of the workload, but it wasn't that much worse than my undergrad program (finally an intensive undergrad pays off!) I wish I hadn't been sick so much (I still haven't recovered from Thanksgiving's sickness), and the roommate situation could be better, but those issues could both have been a lot worse, and I don't really consider them part of the whole "first semester of grad school" difficulties I'd been told about. Moving to a new town was a challenge, but not nearly as much as I thought it would be. If anything, getting out of Champaign actually helped.

So overall, this semester was very challenging. It wasn't easy. I'm still struggling with my depression. But on the Christine scale of things, it was a good semester.

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[Dec. 15th, 2009|11:32 pm]

The paper is written and turned in. The jury finished. Tomorrow is the Christmas program. Thursday, I will get my spring program ordered and planned. Friday, after school Mass I will crash.