In January, part of a decades-old sewer line in Maryland collapsed by the Potomac River. Over the following days, the broken pipe dumped more than 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac near Washington, D.C.

Since then, the utility that manages the line, DC Water, has been setting up a system of pumps and a steel bulkhead to divert wastewater around the broken section of pipe so crews can begin repairs. The area's drinking water hasn't been contaminated, but scientists and environmental advocates say the damage could still be severe in a watershed that stretches to the Chesapeake Bay.

“There's a ton of nasty stuff in raw sewage. It's not just waste and bacteria, but you have all sorts of pharmaceuticals that end up in the pipe system. You have different chemicals that people pour down the sink or into drains," says Gary Belan, senior director of the clean water program at American Rivers, an advocacy group. "So a lot of that stuff can sink to the bottom of the river, have impacts on fish reproduction, bird reproduction, killing a lot of the insects, contaminating the soil."

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sjastro said:

In @Mountainmike's long winded response on defending his windmill pseudoscience nonsense of which 99% was irrelevant including the statement of scientists assuming the speed of light c is constant over the history of the universe.
This is a typical YEC narrative but our self professed genius doesn't seem to comprehend the contradictory nature when applied to the Murchison meteorite.

The strength of the electromagnetic force is governed by the fine structure constant α which depends on c.

View attachment 376259

To fit in with a 6,000 year old, 10,000 year old universe or whatever the current fashion is, c must have been orders of magnitude higher a few thousand years ago and α considerably smaller.
If the strength of the electromagnetic force was very much weaker in the past, the formation of organic compounds in the meteorite would have been impossible as thermal energies would exceed the disassociation energy of the covalent bonds.

In fact complex (organic) chemistry can only survive within small range of α.

View attachment 376260

Here α is the variable and αₒ is the present day value.

Then there is the dating of the meteorite using independent isotopic systems such as U-Pb, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and Al-Mg where their error bars overlap and give an mean value of ~4.56 billion years.
It's remarkable how these different systems produce the same error if we are to believe the narrative presented here.

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But then I’m not YEC, so you should not assume.
im just a sceptic of what we cannot know for sure.

There was indeed a paper at the time I was director of an astrophysics lab, querying the assumption as to whether some anomalies went away if C had Varied . It is a fair question. Since all of our models are just that , Models. A better one will come along.

The response to it was best vocalised when I mentioned it to Patrick Moore , at an event we attended, he said “poppycock” lovely bloke. Not that he was A mathematical brain. He just bought into orthodoxy.

As for your dating comments you need to study metrology, analyse the myriad of assumptiomns, the uncertainty of start conditions, massive extrapolation and the fact you don’t know what went on in between. Neutron bombardments change radio dates. You need understabd the difference between precision and accuracy, it’s called systematic modelling error.

Trump's own Truth Social stock symbol DJT is going into betting markets. Anything for a dollar I guess. I just posted an article on Trump's son's who have plans with "stable crypto coins."

Richard T said:

Yes, the apostles wrote many of the scriptures. The teaching office is found in Ephesians 4:11
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Most believe that at least some of the gifts are still in operation like evangelist, pastors and teachers. Very few if any would believe we have reached the goal laid out in v13 of unity in the faith and the fullness of Christ. So teachers help achieve v13 in the body of Christ.

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Those apostles and teachers found in your scripture are the ones who wrote scripture. It didn't say that God sent the Catholics, the Orthodox, the baptist, Joel Osteen, or anyone else.

Maine Progressive said:

urrggh. I wish there was an edit function. I apologize for the possessive on Jonah. Careless. I need to take a breath between writing and posting. Next time I'll use the preview button.

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There is an edit for your post. Push those three dots at the bottom of the post

Jan001 said:

This is called "striving to enter into eternal life through the narrow gate." Luke 13:23-27, Luke 9:23

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People may think its all fun and prosperity but Jesus said it was difficult.

It's all instinctual and that's part of the appeal. But I use it differently and it's less about how-to than synthesizing what I know and delegation with a noticeable air of partnership.

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That sounds very grand. I like to have the power lead within yanking distance just in case.


That's what concerns me with AI - when it becomes instinctual, if you mean people tending to turn to it first, before pursuing other avenues of study or research. I think it can give some people a false sense of expertise, or knowledge.

We need to remember real learning, really takes a process for it to become something we have incorporated so to speak. Reading a book is not enough. Teachers have to explain the material. We have to revise it. Finally we get tested on it. And that is just the academic element. We then have to learn how to apply some of aspect of what we have learned in real world scenarios and under real world conditions.

When I did my Computer Studies at school we were taught to think of the separate functions and aspects of a computer system : Screen, Printer (output). Keyboard (Input), Tape Recorder (Input / Output) etc. and not just to bung things in without some understanding of what was going on.

It's possible to become blasé about some technologies after a while.

I remember the Commodore 64, it was popular in the UK too. I had a ZX Spectrum though.

Hebrews 13:9
New King James Version
9 Do not be carried [a]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

dms1972 said:

matters of the heart and of society need to be addressed

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The heart includes character. And I find that character has a lot to do with what each person is able to believe and do.

So, yes science can be used well, by a person of good character.

timf said:

Many would object to saying that all psychology was wrong.

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Well, in the hands of someone with the right character . . . how it is used can be good.

As a guest, I agree.

Linda426 said:

No, devils are not ppl, but Jesus noted
The devil ie Satan is the father of
Lies, and people can do demonic things
When the devil is their Master, likewise,
Those in Christ can not do evil, from the same source of their Will choosing Not to,
It depends on who is our Master, that is
Who we follow.

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No one chooses themselves sinless.

Jesus told us all quite clearly multiple times in the Gospels that evil thoughts come from within and defiles us.

There are zero exceptions, before or after salvation.

mindlight said:

These people had the opportunity and wealth to do things many others in that same generation would have also done had they had the same. Of course people should be held to account for proven crimes but this process could be more discreet and less hypocritical.

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Clearly we need a separate justice system for those of certain social status or wealth that remains totally out of the public eye. We must not shake the faith of the public in their betters just because they have such trifling personal failings as raping children or selling out their country.

mindlight said:

The main problem with Western culture has to do with straying from biblical understandings of sex, gender and morality. Redefining morality in terms of a fools notion of consent rather in terms of obedience to God is the key issue here. When one set of immoral people denounce another the whole toxic mess is merely magnified.

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I know! Bring back selling daughters! Enough with this nonsense about womens consent being of any import! New fangled ideas I tell ya.

At once, a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. (Mark 5: 2-5)

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Nobody ever reads this part of the Gospel and says, “That guy! I want to be like that guy!”

Yet there I was. Stark naked on a stranger’s front lawn in the middle the night. Pounding my head into the ground to wake up Mother Earth, just like the voices told me. Thankfully, a quieter voice told me to do it on the grass instead of in the middle of the street so I wouldn’t hurt my forehead.

After I finished sucking the evil magic off my fiancé’s diamond engagement ring, I planted it in the ground, believing that an enormous bush covered with beautiful engagement rings would sprout from the spot. The quiet voice suggested that I put my clothes back on before I returned to my apartment.

Does this sound crazy? My fiancé thought so, too. When I woke her up to tell her that I had planted her ring as a seed of our love and she could find it if she followed the yellow brick road, she was not amused. She broke up with me via a restraining order.

I ended up in the hospital, and the doctors put me on sedatives that knocked me out for three days. They hoped to undo some of the damage that nine days without sleep had done to my mind, but despaired of my recovery. They thought my mind would never recover from a psychotic break so severe. Minds that broken don’t, and they were experts.

They were also wrong. Medical science couldn’t cure me because I had a problem that it doesn’t admit exists. I was not simply a madman. I was a demoniac.

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I don't believe games of chance or indeterminacy are inherently sinful but gambling itself can be sinful in many contexts. It's more about the logic behind much of gambling working against virtues of patience, thrift, and a rational appreciation of cause and effect. Gambling also is often part of extractive logic that seeks to profit off another person's time or money, and might be a sin against the greater commandment, to love our neighbor. So I think regulation of gambling is consistent with Christian social principles, whether one is Catholic or Protestant. A church bingo night is one thing, a slot machine is another, and the context matters in discernment.

Tuur said:

Uh-uh. It can be solved by having all the candidates on stage at the same time. And that alone would be comedy gold.

Something interesting that came to my attention is that the issue is that Talarico is in a primary with Crockett and Hassan. So the issue isn't granting equal time to the Republican candidate, as I initially thought, but to other candidates of the same party. Talarico is in a close race with Crockett, to the point that Hassan seems to be mostly ignored. And something that isn't mentioned much in this context is that Crockett happens to be a black woman. Odd how very few want to point that out.

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How is Crockett's race relevant to the topic of this thread? [It's not.]
Rep. Crockett has been on The Late Show....though it make have occurred prior to the candidates declaring their candidacy .

In any case, I submit a late night talk show is not the right forum for having a candidate's debate. Expecting talk show host to provide neutral interviews to all candidates is not realistic. Is it fair that candidates such as Hassan don't have the opportunity to appear on the The Late Show? Yea.

In any case, the FCC's providing equal time argument is only a smoke screen for going after Talarico. It's quite obvioius the Trump administration does not want Talrico on the general ballot come November. Ironically, their ham-fisted effort to keep him off broadcast talk shows has backfired in spectacular fashion. The Youtube video is now over 8 million views. The typical audience for the Late Show is 1.9 to 2.4 million viewers.

Robin Ward, a patristics scholar who formed generations of clergy at St. Stephen’s House in Oxford, says he now ‘rejoices without regret or hesitation’ in the Catholic Church.

OXFORD, England — An Anglican canon who until recently headed one of the Church of England’s main theological colleges has become the latest high-profile member of the Church of England to be received into the Catholic Church.

Canon Robin Ward, who served as principal of St. Stephen’s House in Oxford for 19 years until stepping down last year, announced on social media Feb. 14 that he had been received into the Church at St. Michael’s Benedictine Abbey, Farnborough, by its abbot, Benedictine Dom Cuthbert Brogan.

“Signo te signo crucis, et confirmo te chrismate salutis — with nine words, I received the seal of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation and the seal to complete a journey I began some 40 years ago in the city of Oxford, where I have spent most of my adult life,” Ward told the Register Feb. 18.

“I have been tremendously encouraged by the kindness of so many,” he said, “not least those who for many years have been praying for me, and I rejoice without regret or hesitation to find myself in this place.”

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Saturday, February 21



Isaiah 58:9b-14

The Lord says, “Remove the yoke from among you, the accusing finger, and malicious speech.”



Let us change our words from negative to positive, let us entrust to God what we believe to be wrong in others, and the burden on us and on others will disappear.



Luke 5:27-32

“Jesus said to Levi, ‘Follow me.’ Leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.”



Now, Jesus invites us to enter his mission of love for humanity. I receive God’s love, joy, and peace at this moment.



Thank you, Lord, for the surge of love within me.

As the purple-veiled doors of Lent swing open, the Church invites us to journey deeper into the heart of Christ. For many, these forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter are marked not simply by giving up coffee or sweets, but by a longing for something far greater: a spiritual renewal born of prayer, sacrifice, and reflection. At Journeys of Faith, our mission—rooted in the evangelizing zeal of Bob and Penny Lord and shaped by the Augustinian tradition—is to guide fellow Catholics toward a more intimate encounter with Jesus, especially through devotion to the Eucharist.

Whether you are a seasoned pilgrim or just beginning to seek the riches of Catholic tradition, these Lenten days present a unique opportunity. In a world full of distractions, choosing the right spiritual reading can transform ordinary sacrifice into extraordinary growth. That is why we have curated Lenten Reading Recommendations to help you deepen your faith, ignite your missionary spirit, and prepare your heart for the joy of Alleluia. As we embark on this spiritual pilgrimage together—one heart, one mind, one spirit, with one vision—let us allow the wisdom of the saints, the teachings of the Church, and the testimonies of Eucharistic miracles to shape the most fruitful Lent of our lives.

Why Choose a Lenten Reading Plan​

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London-based photographer Peter Liconsiders the cathedrals, basilicas, and historic spaces he captures to be “living vessels of light, symmetry, and time.” Soaring ceilings, gilded filigree, and saintly stained glass windows both reflect religious traditions and create a sanctuary for such practices. Whether in the luminous Gothic style or awe-inspiring Baroque, these spaces are also often architectural marvels, which Li documents through an almost portrait-like approach.

Many of his panoromas span 180 degrees and offer a symmetric, reflective view of the space through a meticulous stitching process. This perspective accentuates the dramatic, all-consuming effect of standing beneath ascendant rib vaults and majestic columns.

More recently, though, Li has begun to capture these spaces more directly, meticulously planning for distinct light and removing modern items to revel in their timeless qualities. The two photos of York Minster reflect this shift and showcase a cathedral hazy with incense during Holy Week. Having wanted to capture this particular site for seven years, Li was able to secure early access and visit at 6 a.m., before any guests were allowed in. He adds:

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Tuur said:

Ah...

in defunding, I assume you mean through government shutdown. Note that Trump has the goal of getting rid of FEMA. Also note, as I've typed on CF until I'm blue in the fingers, that what FEMA does isn't what people think FEMA does. FEMA isn't like the old Civil Defense, and that's by design. What FEMA mostly does is come around with a checkbook after a major disaster and fund efforts already completed or underway before they get there. That's not an insult; that's what it does.

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Remember under Biden they skipped houses if they had a Trump sign in the yard.

JacquelineDeane55 said:

I personally don't, I think a lot of you Republicans get caught up in ridiculous sounding stuff like this.

If any of you have any hard evidence proving a conspiracy theory, I might believe it.

But until then: Nope.

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I hear you. I see people saying the craziest things here and act as if it’s a requirement of the faith. I question mental health of some. Do I believe any of it? Not in the slightest. It could be a fun topic if discussed with reason. Unfortunately, that quality is lacking in most that latch on to these things.

RaymondG said:

One can be spiritual and religious at the same time and likewise, one can be religious and not spiritual at all. However, most people who use the phrase in the OP mean that they believe in God but do not follow all the rules of religion and, most likely, do not go to the Church often, if at all. In Truth, those who walk after the spirit, do not concern themselves with these labels. They do not label themselves or others and are not concern with the labels given to them.

For those who have an ear.... One becomes spiritual when they start to walk after and concern themselves mainly with the things that are unseen, knowing it is on earth.....as it is in Heaven. When this is understood, nothing else exists and nothing else matters.

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I agree about not using labels but when others make the OP statement I ask myself what do they mean?

tdidymas said:

Just a word of encouragement: many of us go through what is known as a "wilderness experience," alluding to the book of Numbers, where the Israelites trekked for 40 years in the wilderness before entering the promised land. I'm not suggesting it lasts that long. But God tests our faith this way, not for His benefit, but for ours. When we keep trusting Jesus for our deliverance, He guides us through it to a place of joy and peace.

Incidentally, I was taking a med prescribed by my doctor, but stopped because it was making me drowsy. We are all responsible for our own health, and reasons to take meds (or to stop taking it) must be carefully weighed.

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Thank you.