Jilted Ex-Boyfriend's Abortion Billboard Ignites Free Speech Debate

You can read the whole story at the following : Link

So, what do you think? I understand where this guy is coming from, and it is a breath of fresh air that he is speaking out on loss father hood from a man's perspective. The pro death people always seem to forget that a guy is part of this whole process of creating life and should have a say also. But because he doesn't have to actually carry the baby and "ruin" his body to do so, then he should not have a say. Wrong thinking, but us pro lifers know this don't we? 

His argument is a little weak. I agree with what his defense is saying about Westboro Baptist church and their anti-gay sayings. I get that part. However, they are not putting specific names to people. Even though this gentleman did not, his face is on the billboard and people can associate him with this girl. 

I do question his motive somewhat. Is he really this upset about an abortion that he had no say in, or is he just trying to "lash out" as a jilted lover? I hope it is the former and not the latter. If anything, this story brings the abortion debate front and center again. 

 

Catholic apps for the Android

One of the first things that I went to check out and the Android market was some Catholic apps. I wasn't sure how many I would find, and if they were any good. The first one I found was quite a gem. The program is called Catholic One, and it is very handy. It is also free, which is a huge plus. The program has prayers in both English and Latin. It has a bible, daily Mass readings, Liturgy of the Hours, rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Stations of the Cross. There is also audio for the Rosary prayers. The program will also let you bookmark your favorite prayers and add a prayer. This has been updated a few times in the last couple of months, and it keeps getting better. The developers are planning on putting The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary plus some other really nice things. This is probably one of my favorite apps. Price is Free

Cofession: A Roman Catholic App is now out for the Android. It was released during Lent. We have all heard of this app for the i-Phone. This is the same app. The support is great. The devs were very responsive to my request. When it came out I was not able to download and run the program because it was only for Android version 2.2 and above. At the time, I only had version 2.1. I asked them if there was anyway they could change it, and within a day they did. This app is designed to make confession easier. It will go through each commandment and list the sins associated with it. The app allows users to password protect their data. When you go through the list, you touch the box and it will put a number 1 in the box. Touch it again, and a two will appear. These will appear in your list of sins to tell the priest when you go to confession.

The application will allow you to delete and add sins. What is the purpose of this you say? Well, if you would never, ever encourage someone to get an abortion, you can get rid of that sin so it will not show up in the list. You can add sins also. This is nice to add venial sins to the list (which I have done). After the first use, the program will keep track of how long it has been since your last confession. It will walk you through confession: what to say and what the priest will say. This app would be really beneficial for those who have been away from the sacrament for awhile. I like it, because I can do an examination of conscious at any time and it will be with me when I go to confession. Price is $1.99

Divine Office is one of the newer apps I have downloaded and the most expensieve one. I like this app because it has audio that is downloaded whenever there is an internet connection. The audio is not stored on your hard drives, thus saving precious space in internal memory and on your external storage. These are the same as the podcasts that can be downloaded from the website. There is no audio for afternoon prayer. I want that feature because I like to go and walk at lunch time and it would be nice to listen to. With the music and readings, each hours is about 17 to 21 minutes. If you can afford it, I would get it. Yes, Catholic One has the Liturgy of the Hours from Universalis, buy you have to read it. I love to read it, and will get out my Christian Book of prayer or read from the app. But the night prayer I do enjoy listening to while going to sleep and the morning prayer I do enjoy listening to after my morning prayers and readings.  Price is $14.99

i-Padre has some very good topics presented by Father Jay Finnelii. Father Finnelli is well known around Facebook, Twitter and Plurk. He proudly is part of SQPN. You can download any of his podcasts for listening later. He covers such topics as Our Lady of Akita, marriage and family, same sex marriage, the Eucharist, and so many others. I really enjoy listening to him. I learn something new everytime. He also shares some great music from Catholic musicians. This is a must have app. Price is $1.99

AMR Radio is Ave Maria Radio out of Michigan. It is an EWTN network. Great Catholic radio station. Price is Free

 

There are many other programs out there, and I will write about them as time permits. I encourage you to check these out if you have an Android phone. 

 

 

New Technology to me

A couple of months ago we (meaning wife and I) decided to upgrade our phones for various reasons. Our contract was up with Altell and my wife had lost her phone and didn't have one anymore. I was really wanting an I-phone. I went to the local Verizon Store and started looking around. It would have cost me $350.00 bucks to get into one. I told my wife, and she asked if I could wait until the next payday and we would be able to do this. I said okay. We went to Wal-mart, and they had all kinds of Android phones. I got into one for $45.00 with a new two year contract. I picked the Samsung Fascinate. I wanted the Droid 2 but they were out, so I decided to go with the Samsung. It would do everything I wanted it to. Only problem with that is it had Android 2.1 and it did not look like it was ever going to get an update. My work gives us a discount with Verizon, so my data plan is free. My wife picked up a smart phone also, and her data plan is half off. How could I resist that?

Now, I knew a little bit about the Android phone. I knew it was from Google, and I knew it was overpowering Apple. Now that I have had one for a couple of months, I can understand why Apple is losing market share. Apple does not allow tweaking of home screen, and you can not apply themes and such. With the Android, you can do this. You can customize by using ROM's and themes. It was my hobby for awhile hacking into it. The phone is so much better once you are able to root it (allow system level access). Makes the phone faster and more user friendly. I installed a hacked version of Android 2.2 (FROYO), even before Samsung and Verizon announced that they would give an over the air update. I had a lot of fun hacking it, changing themes and ROM's. Some worked, so did not. I finally got it where I want it, and haven't messed with it in three weeks. I am sure I will hack it again, but for now I am happy with my custom start up/shutdown screen instead of that annoying Verizon one. 

I use my phone for much more than calls. In fact, I hardly use the phone at all for that purpose. I watch movies, check email, calorie count, post on twitter and plurk. I also upload and download files from my google docs account. I can even print from my phone using Google's cloud print. I can also add tasks and to do's with ease. Or if I am at my computer, I can add a task and have it instatly on my phone. 

The phone is buggy. It will shut down sometimes for no apparent reason. Doesn't really bother me much, but there has been a couple of times where it really ticked me off. I love my phone! it has helped me to stay organized with calendars and to do lists that I can set with alarms. It really keeps me from procrastinating about doing something as long as I set the alarms up. All the programs that I use synch up with my google account so I am always organized (or so I would like to think).

What I really like is some of the Catholic apps that I have found. Many are free. Some are not. In my next post I will tell you all about some of the great apps available for the Android. It is nice to carry my faith with me. 

 

 

eye need a spel chequer

Eye have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plain lee marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

 

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write.
It shows me strait a weigh.

 

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
and eye can put the error rite.
Its rare lea ever wrong.

 

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

 

Sauce unknown

Hello!

Hello everyone! It has been quite awhile since I have been on this blog. I am really sorry about that. Life has definitely gotten in the way. In February my wife got really sick. She went to urgent care and was admitted to the hospital that day with an emergency surgery that very evening. She had a hernia that her colon and intestine were inside and they were getting choked off. If she hadn't have come in when she did, shw would have lost part of her colon. This would explain why she was not feeling well since around Thanksgiving. She was in the hospital for seven days. She has recovered, but still not allowed to lift or vacuum for a few months still. Lifting is hard with three kids, as you can imagine. 

So with that, and other things, I have neglected the blog. I have a lot to write about. I promise that I will be writing more. I got a smart phone a couple of months ago, and I will be blogging about that, and some of the great Catholic apps that I have discovered. I promise that I will write about that within the next couple of days.