The Divine Lamp

Due to reasons which have nothing to do with stblogs, their service, or the stblogs community, I have decided to make THE DIVINE LAMP accessible on a Wordpress hosted site. I will continue to post content here, however, the blog on my new site will have much more to offer.

Unfortunately, I cannot reproduce the formating on this blog, so I’ve posted it on my other site.  People who are linked to this site are asked to update their link.  Everything on this site, and more besides, can be found there.  Here is a link to the specific post on Notre Dame.

I’m in the midst of doing a series of daily posts on Our Lady for the month of May, but I’ve also decided to do a series of post preparing for Pentecost.  My First Post is a sermon from St Thomas Aquinas.  If you are only acquainted with Aquinas the Theologian/Metaphysician you may think this sermon will be rather dry and difficult, but you’d be wrong.  Do check it out on my other site, and be sure to check out the links I’ve included in the short introduction I wrote.

A notice to infrequent readers of this blog: this is no longer my primary site, but I will continue to post at least some of the content from my new site on this one.

Wednesday Vespers

Before the Office is begun, it is commendable to say the following Prayer, the singular number being used throughout; for which Pope Pius XI granted an indulgence of 3 years (S. Ap., November 17, 1933).

Prayer

OPEN my mouth, O Lord, to bless thy holy name: cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil and distracting thoughts; enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, that I may worthily recite this Office with attention and devotion, and deserve to be heard in the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

O Lord, in union with that divine intention with which thou didst praise God on earth, I offer to thee this Hour.

OUR Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

HAIL, Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, JESUS. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. O God, come to my assistance.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

¶ Alleluia is thus said at all the Hours, except from Compline of the Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday until Compline of Wednesday in Holy Week inclusive; for then there is said:

Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

Ant. 1 Blessed are all they.

Psalm 127

The fear of God is the way to happiness.

[BLESSED are all they] that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.

Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

And mayst thou see thy children’s children, peace upon Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord.

Ant. 2 Let them all be confounded.

Psalm 128

The church of God is invincible: her persecutors come to nothing.

OFTEN have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity.

The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up:

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.

And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Let them all be confounded who hate Sion.

Ant. 3 Out of the depths.

Psalm 129

A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of God.

The sixth penitential psalm.

[OUT of the depths] I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.

Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.

My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord.

Ant. 4 Lord.

Psalm 130

The prophet’s humility.

[LORD,] my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty.

Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul:

As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Lord, my heart is not exalted.

Ant. 5 The Lord hath chosen.

Psalm 131

A prayer to the fulfilling of the promise made to David.

O LORD, remember David, and all his meekness.

How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob:

If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:

If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.

We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood.

Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.

Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.

For thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed.

The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne.

If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them:

Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.

For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.

This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.

Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.

There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. The Lord hath chosen Sion for his dwelling.

Little Chapter, 2 Cor. 1, 3-4

BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our afflictions. R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

O GOD, whose hand hath spread the sky

And all its shining hosts on high,

And, painting it with fiery light,

Made it so beauteous and so bright:

Thou, when the fourth day was begun,

Didst frame the circle of the sun,

And set the moon for ordered change,

And planets for their wider range:

To night and day, by certain line,

Their varying bounds thou didst assign;

And gav’st a signal, known and meet,

For months begun and months complete.

Enlighten thou the hearts of men,

Polluted souls make pure again:

Unloose the bands of guilt within,

Remove the burden of our sin.

Grant this, O Father, ever One

With Christ, thy sole-begotten Son,

Whom, with the Spirit we adore,

One God, both now and evermore.

Amen.

V. Let my prayer be directed, O Lord.

R. As incense in thy sight.

At the Magnificat Ant. (Common of Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary) All generations.

Canticle of the Blessed Virgin

Luke 1, 46-55

MY soul doth magnify the Lord;

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is his name,

And his mercy is from generation unto generation to those that fear him.

He hath showed might in his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

He hath received Israel, his servant, being mindful of his mercy,

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. All generations shall call me blessed, for God hath regarded his lowly handmaid.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Prayer

(Common of Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

GRANT, we beseech thee, O Lord God, to us thy servants, that we may evermore enjoy health of mind and body: and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting gladness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Suffrage of All the Saints

(if it be said)

Ant. May the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, and all the Saints intercede for us with the Lord.

V. The Lord hath made his Saints wonderful.

R. And he heard them when they called upon him.

Prayer

Let us pray.

DEFEND us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all dangers of mind and body: and through the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of God, of St. Joseph, of thy holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, in thy loving-kindness grant us safety and peace; that, all adversities and errors being overcome, thy Church may serve thee in security and freedom. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

OUR Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

This was taken from the iGoogle gadget Breviarium Romanum developed by Doug at THE HERESY OF PROGRESS Blog.  It can be downloaded to your iGoogle home page or to your blog (not all blogs accept it).  The text for the home page is available in either Latin or English, the text setting for the blog appears to allow only Latin.

I’ve posted those instructions on my sister site in the iPaper format, which I cannot reproduce here. This document contains brief instructions/explanations of the antiphons, prayers, and readings for the Mass. It also contains a brief Q & A on the Lord’s Prayer; and an excerpt from the Catechism of the Council of Trent on that prayer; and notes on the Gospel reading from St Augustine. Finally, I’ve also included some links to online resources, including the Catechism of Trent, the Catechetical Instructions of St Thomas Aquinas, St Cyprian’s Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer, and a booklet on that prayer by Peter Kreeft.

Since you people in the Chi-town like to vote early, often, and even when dead, I’m seeking your help in order to win a contest I have no chance of winning.  Go to my sister site for details.

Please note that this post begins with a doctrinal summary of this Sunday’s Mass, focusing on the gift of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Father’s greatest gift.  The theme of joy is also touched upon.  Following this there is a sermon on the Gospel from St Augustine.  To view my resources on the Epsitle Reading for this Sunday go HERE.

Sources of the liturgy: Introit, Ps 97:1-2-  Epistle, James 1:17-21-  Alleluia verses, Ps 117: 16 and Rom 6:9-  Gospel, John 16:5-14- Offertory, Ps  65: 1-2, 16- Communion John 16:8.

In the liturgy of the fourth Sunday after Easter, we find mingled joy and sadness.  The joy appears in the Introit, which is a canticle of triumph in honor of the great prodigy of the Resurrection, the remembrance of which fills the whole earth; in the verses of the Alleluia which speaks of the Resurrection of Jesus as a definite victory gained over death; again this joy appears in the offertory which extols the advantages which this great miracle has obtained for Christian souls.

On the other hand, we seem to see the sadness clouding the faces of the apostles when our Lord tells them that the moment approaches in which He must leave them.  His words recorded in the Gospel for this Sunday were spoken on Holy Thursday, the eve of His Passion, but they find a suitable place here on the eve of the Ascension.

Our Lord consoled His apostles in their sorrow by showing them the benefits which would result from His leaving them, namely, the sending of the Holy Ghost upon this earth; the judgment and condemnation of the world by the Spirit of God; and the teaching of all thee truth by this same Spirit.  In order that the mission of the Holy Ghost might be fulfilled amongst us, it was necessary that Jesus Christ should go away.  We must here remark that th external operations of the three divine Persons succeed each other in time, conformably to the order of the processions in the divine essence: as the Son proceeds from the Father, and the work of Redemption succeeds the work of creation, the former being assigned to the Son, and the latter to the Father; so the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son, and the work of Sanctification, assigned to the Holy Ghost, succeeds the work of Redemption.

The mission of the Holy Ghost, whose coming amongst us could not be effected until our divine Lord had left this earth, was to condemn the world on account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; of the injustice committed by those who refuse to believe the Gospel; and because of the judgment pronounced against the devil and on all those who follow him in his revolt.  The invisible presence of the Holy Ghost will bring forth in the full light of this condemnation, and thereby render testimony to the divine mission of our Lord.

Our Lord tells us that when the Holy Ghost has come, He will teach men all truth.  No doubt our Lord had revealed to man all that is necessary for salvation  But before the coming of the Holy Ghost, this revelation was not understood, even by the Apostles.  It was necessary therefore, that He should come to give the explanation, Thus it is that His mission was but the continuation and the development of the work of Jesus Christ.  The Church is so anxious that this doctrine should be impressed on us that she gives utterance to it twice in the Mass of the fourth Sunday after Easter-in the Gospel and in the Communion.

The Epistle still further enlightens us as to the mission of the Holy Ghost.  In telling us that every best gift, and every perfect gift is from above and descends from the Father of lights, the Apostle, St James, intimates to us that the Holy Ghost is sent not only by God the Son as indicated in the Gospel, but also by God the Father, for the Holy Spirit is pre-eminently and above all the gift of God.

In the Collect the Church asks for her children that in mind, in will and in heart they may be all united in aspiring to the joys of heaven.  In the Secret she implores God that through the admirable exchange realized in the Sacrifice we may all participate in supernatural life.  Finally, in the Postcommunion, the Church prays that we may receive the grace which will purify our souls from all stain of sin, and that strength which will protect us from all dangers.~Le Catechisme Liturgique, by Dom Desire Camille Leduc

Gospel: John 16:5-14
Joh 16:5 But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?
Joh 16:6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
Joh 16:7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go. For if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin and of justice and of judgment.
Joh 16:9 Of sin: because they believed not in me.
Joh 16:10 And of justice: because I go to the Father: and you shall see me no longer.
Joh 16:11 And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged.
Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself: but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak. And the things that are to come, he shall shew you.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: because he shall receive of mine and shall shew it to you.
1. When the Lord Jesus had foretold His disciples the persecutions they would have to suffer after His departure, He went on to say: “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you; but now I go my way to Him that sent me.” And here the first thing we have to look at is, whether He had not previously foretold them of the sufferings that were to come. And the three other evangelists make it sufficiently clear that He had uttered such predictions prior to the approach of the supper:1 which was over, according to John, when He spake, and added, “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.” Are we, then, to settle such a question in this way, that they, too, tell us that He was near His passion when He said these things? Then it was not when He was with them at the beginning that He so spake, for He was on the very eve of departing, and proceeding to the Father: and so also, even according to these evangelists, it is strictly true what is here said, “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning.” But what are we to do with the credibility of the Gospel according to Matthew, who relates that such announcements were made to them by the Lord, not only when He was on the eve of sitting down with His disciples to the passover supper, but also at the beginning, when the twelve apostles are for the first time expressed by name, and sent forth on the work of God?2 What, then, is the meaning of what He says here, “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you;” but that what He says here of the Holy Spirit who was to come to them, and to bear witness, when they should have such ills to endure, this He said not unto them at the beginning, because He was with themselves?

2. The Comforter then, or Advocate (for both form the interpretation of the Greek word, paraclète), had become necessary on Christ’s departure: and therefore He had not spoken of Him at the beginning, when He was with them, because His own presence was their comfort; but on the eve of His own departure it behoved Him to speak of His coming, by whom it would be brought about that with love shed abroad in their hearts they would preach the word of God with all boldness; and with Him inwardly bearing witness with them of Christ, they also should bear witness, and feel it to be no cause of stumbling when their Jewish enemies put them out of the synagogues, and slew them, with the thought that they were doing God service; because the charity beareth all things, which was to be shed abroad in their hearts by the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this, therefore, is the whole meaning to be found, that He was to make them His martyrs, that is, His witnesses through the Holy Spirit; so that by His effectual working within them, they would endure the hardships of all kinds of persecution, and, set aglow at that divine fire, lose none of their warmth in the love of preaching. “These things,” therefore, He says, “have I told you, that, when their time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them” (ver. 4). These things, I say, I have told you, not merely because ye shall have to endure such things, but because, when the Comforter is come, He shall bear witness of me, that ye may not keep them back through fear, and by whom ye yourselves shall also be enabled to bear witness. “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you,” and I myself was your comfort through my bodily presence exhibited to your human senses, and which, as infants, ye were able to comprehend.

3.”But now I go my way to Him that sent me; and none of you,” He says, “asketh me, Whither goest Thou?” He means that His departure would be such that none would ask Him of that which they should see taking place in broad daylight before their eyes: for previously to this they had asked Him whither He was going, and had been answered that He was going whither they themselves could not then come. Now, however, He promises that He will go away in such a manner that none of them shall ask Him whither He goes. For a cloud received Him when He ascended up from their side; and of His going into heaven they made no verbal inquiry, but had ocular evidence.

4. “But because I have said these things unto you,” He adds, “sorrow hath filled your heart.” He saw, indeed, what effect these words of His were producing in their hearts; for having not yet within them the spiritual consolation, which they were afterwards to have by the Holy Spirit, what they still saw objectively in Christ they were afraid of losing; and because they could have no doubt they were about to lose Him whose announcements were always true, their human feelings were saddened, because their carnal view of Him was to be left a blank. But He knew what was most expedient for them, because that inward sight, wherewith the Holy Spirit was yet to comfort them, was undoubtedly superior; not by bringing a human body into the bodies of those who saw, but by infusing Himself into the hearts of those who believed. And then He adds, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you:” as if He had said, It is expedient for you that this form of a servant be taken away from you; as the Word made indeed flesh I dwell among you; but I would not that ye should continue to love me carnally, and, content with such milk, desire to remain infants always. “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.” If I withdraw not the tender nutriment wherewith I have nourished you, ye will acquire no keen relish of solid food; if ye adhere in a carnal way to the flesh, ye will not have room for the Spirit. For what is this, “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you”? Was it that He could not send Him while located here Himself? Who would venture to say so? Neither was it, that where He was, thence the Other had withdrawn, or that He had so come from the Father as that He did not still abide with the Father. And still further, how could He, even when having His own abode on earth, be unable to send Him, who we know came and remained upon Him at His baptism; yea, more, from whom we know that He was never separable? What does it mean, then, “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;” but that ye cannot receive the Spirit so long as ye continue to know Christ after the flesh? Hence one who had already been made a partaker of the Spirit says, “Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [Him] no more.”8 For now even the very flesh of Christ he did not know in a carnal way, when brought to a spiritual knowledge of the Word that had been made flesh. And such, doubtless, did the good Master wish to intimate, when He said, “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”
5. But with Christ’s bodily departure, both the Father and the Son, as well as the Holy Spirit, were spiritually present with them. For had Christ departed from them in such a sense that it would be in His place, and not along with Him, that the Holy Spirit would be present in them, what becomes of His promise when He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world;”9 and, I and the Father “will come unto him, and will make Our abode with him;”10 seeing that He also promised that He would send the Holy Spirit in such a way that He would be with them for ever? In this way it was, on the other hand, that seeing they were yet out of their present carnal or animal condition to become spiritual, with undoubted certainty also were they yet to have in a more comprehensive way both the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But in no one are we to believe that the Father is present without the Son and the Holy Spirit, or the Father and the Son without the Holy Spirit, or the Son without the Father and the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit without the Father and the Son, or the Father and the Holy Spirit without the Son; but wherever any one of Them is, there also is the Trinity, one God. But here the Trinity had to be suggested in such a way that, although there was no diversity of essence, yet the personal distinction of each one separately should be presented to notice; where those who have a right understanding can never imagine a separation of natures.

6. But that which follows, “And when He is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, indeed, because they believe not on me; but of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye shall see me no more; and of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (vers. 8-11); as if it were sin simply not to believe on Christ; and as if it were very righteousness not to see Christ; and as if that were the very judgment, that the prince of this world, that is, the devil, is judged: all this is very obscure, and cannot be included in the present discourse, lest; brevity only increase the obscurity; but must rather be deferred till another occasion for such explanation as the Lord may enable us to give.~St Augustine, Tract 95 On The Gospel Of John.

This post appears on my other site with a video included.
Oh, and this town
is my town–alright?
Love or hate it–it don’t matter
’cause I’m gonna stand and fight
This town–is my town
She’s got her ups and downs
But love or hate it–it don’t matter
’cause this is my town.

At a Tuesday evening Oneida common council meeting a local business owner told the council: Downtown is falling apart.  If everyone goes home there wont be a downtown.  Letting people work from home is not getting a business space donwtown rented.”  She was at the meeting to voice her concern over a re-zoning plan that would allow city residents to use their homes in residential areas as places of business.   The woman owns and works at a hair and beauty salon on Main Street.  In order to help cover the cost of running the building which houses her livelihood she rents out space to other hair stylist who cannot afford to open their own business’s downtown, and she is concerned that the proposed zoning changes will make it harder for her to rent those spaces.   Losing any of the five people who rent space from her will place her own business and her ability to maintain the building in jeopardy.  All of this seemed to be lost on one councilperson who said: We’ve already pretty much destroyed downtown.”

So I guess if the zoning changes become a reality we should consider it a coup de grace for for downtown; the illogical finish by the present city elders who have chosen to continue the decades old tradition of political mismanagement.

Oneida used to be a beautiful, thriving, pleasant place to live, with attractive buildings in late nineteenth and early twentieth century style, as this series of old photos I once posted helps to show.  Now, however, the entire north side has exactly three retailers; a convenience store, a drug store, and a dollar store, though there is also a fish shop and diner as well.  A number of the old (an often historic) buildings are now gone, having fallen victim to fires.  They’ve been replaced- not with new buildings-but with parking lots.  Almost all business is now located at the extreme end of the south side, near the city boundaries, and sometimes people find it necessary to travel 1 or 2 miles just to buy a lousy loaf of bread.  A fine lot of good those parking lots are going to be now.  They’ll become just another place for late night riff-raff to congregate, dump their garbage, and harass decent people who are unfortunate enough to have to brave walking through downtown at night for some reason.

It’s currently illeagal for kids to roller-blade and and skateboard on city streets and lands,  so I suppose one of the parking lots could be converted into a place for kids to do such things; but inasmuch as the city elders have been so proactive in destroying downtown, while at the same time giving the bum’s rush to those parents and kids who seek such a place, I’m not holding my breath.

The Crescat is holding a blogger’s award contest and, not surprisingly, I’m not nominated.  To correct this atrocious oversite I’ve decided to run my own contest.  I’d appreciate your vote.

The nominees for BEST DAMNED BLOG EVER BY A MEGALOMANIAC are: (Please vote in the combox)

1. The Divine Lamp
2. Hitler Was A Nice Guy Blog.