David Ancell / Tuesday, April 29, 2003 / Comments(0)
It seems that every patient whom I talk to takes vitamins. Here is an interesting NY Times article about the subject. It seems to suggest that taking too many vitamins may actually be harmful.
As a pharmacist, I’m not too happy about the vitamin and/or health food craze. The problem is that everyone I know assumes that they are safe. I cringe when I hear advertisement that say that their product is “all natural, completely safe, with no side effects.” Let me assure you that nothing, that’s right, nothing, is completely safe and without side effects, not even vitamins. As one pharmacy school professor put it “Cyanide is completely natural, but it is very harmful.”
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David Ancell / Sunday, April 27, 2003 / Comments(0)
Well, well, it appears that our Saintly Salmaguni was in my neck of the woods this weekend. Well, actually, he was on the other side of town from where I am. Besides, I’m out of town visiting my parents in the great Southeast Missouri town of Sikeston. Ironically, I like to go to the BBQ place while I’m here.
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David Ancell / Saturday, April 26, 2003 / Comments(0)
I hate it when I buy something only to have something much better come out soon. I bought a Tunsten T about 2-3 months ago, and now they have a device that solves the one problem I have with Palm . . . not enough memory. The 16 MB devices just weren’t cutting it for me.
However, I can’t help but balk at their marketing scheme that boasts that you can go meet a client for coffee and take the office with you (see the Product Tour). It also says you can take critical work out to your home or even edit your spreadsheet while you wait for an elevator.
Hmmmm . . . . who wants something that is going to tie them to work everywhere they go? I often want to use those times to take a break and gather my thoughts. It would make good prayer time if I made use of it. All of these are also essential, but then again the executives of the world haven’t figured that out yet.
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David Ancell / Saturday, April 26, 2003 / Comments(0)
I read this post from Fr. Rob Johansen some time ago about Bishop Dolan. I think he’s right in reminding us of the situation in Milwaukee, and I think that such will be the situation in the whole Church in this country.
We didn’t get the way we were overnight, and we won’t get back to holiness overnight. It is going to take a lot. First, we will have to evangelize our own members. When reform is taking place, it is important that the reasons for it are communicated to the faithful. If not, the result will be confusion.
Full reform is going to require a reform of the family. One reasons that kids who go to any form of religious education don’t learn their faith is because the parents don’t reinforce learning of it. The DRE at my parish sees this all the time. Either the parents have to go fight the bull that is being taught or reinforce the orthodox teaching, depending on the quality of the class. However, parental involvement is a must.
Finally, much prayer is going to be needed. We must get people back to daily prayer and adoration of the Eucharist. If your church is locked all day, then maybe it’s time to check the feasibility of leaving it open at least part of the day. Then we must trust God to act.
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David Ancell / Saturday, April 26, 2003 / Comments(0)
Of all things, the New York Times is reporting on consecrated virginity and in a positive light at that. Read on.
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David Ancell / Friday, April 25, 2003 / Comments(0)
I have had quite a week. I can’t believe just the weirdness of all I had to do. I’m ready to go visit my parents for the weekend. I haven’t been there since I was at the wedding in January. It’s time to see them again. I may blog from their house since I like to play with my dad’s computer.
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David Ancell / Wednesday, April 23, 2003 / Comments(0)
It seems that the recording industry is cracking down on college students who are trading music. Apparently, some are trying to get billions out of college students (talk about blood out of a turnip).
No matter how you rationalize it, stealing music in this matter is just that, stealing. It is immoral and carries the duty of reparation. You can talk all you want about CDs being too expensive and the artists getting little money from then, but this is just rationalization. Because these recordings are a luxury and not a necessity, one would be hard-pressed to come up with moral justification for taking them without paying the rightful copyright owner. Please note that if this downloading is permitted by the rightful owner, then of course it is morally permissible.
Of note is that universities are trying in vain to tell students that it is wrong to copy music. Let’s not forget that these students are often taught that there is no right and wrong and that morality is subjective. Is it any wonder that they don’t listen when they are taught a moral lesson?
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David Ancell / Monday, April 21, 2003 / Comments(0)
Well, welcome back to all those who gave up reading blogs for Lent. You now have many days of my posts to read. Ok, so maybe you won’t.
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter! I went to a friend’s house. This friend graciously invited us all over and cooked an awesome dinner. She wanted me to take some home, but I really didn’t want to augment my ever-expanding wasteline.
I also spent some time configuring my new Dell Axim X5. So far, I like it. The only thing that I am having trouble with is the infrared. Does anyone know if Dell just packed a crummy infrared or if I should be concerned about mine.
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David Ancell / Saturday, April 19, 2003 / Comments(0)
Now, we come to the last day in the Easter Triduum. It is Holy Saturday. Jesus is in the tomb, and we wait. At least on Good Friday a Passion service was held. The only people who are getting anything other than Reconciliation or Annointing of the Sick are those who receive the Eucharist as Viaticum.
Yet, we know how the story ends. When night falls, we will celebrate a joyous Easter Vigil. We know that Jesus has risen from the dead and is alive today, not just in our hearts but really and trully.
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David Ancell / Friday, April 18, 2003 / Comments(0)
I learned something new today at a local fast food restaurant. Apparently, the words “fish sandwich” can easily be heard as “double cheeseburger”. I ordered a fish sandwich through the drive-through window, and I happened to check my bag to see what I had. Lo and behold, there was a double cheeseburger. When I went back to the window, the lady said “I’m sorry, I thought you ordered a double-cheeseburger.” They were out of fish, so I had to get a baked potato.
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