From Popular Science: Baguette Dropped From Bird’s Beak Shuts Down the Large Hadron Collider (Really)

Renactment - not actual footage of Baguette

Popular Science reports that a French bird - let's call him Jean Luc Mallard - has taken out the Large Hadron Collider with a piece of bread:

The bird dropped some bread on a section of outdoor machinery, eventually leading to significant over heating in parts of the accelerator. The LHC was not operational at the time of the incident, but the spike produced so much heat that had the beam been on, automatic failsafes would have shut down the machine.

The article concludes with the sentence:

With freak accident after freak accident piling up over at CERN, the idea of time traveling particles returning from the future to prevent their own discovery is beginning to seem less and less far fetched.

I'm thinking that a simpler explanation is that God is toying with physicists...and you! 'Particles from the future?' HA! HA! Good one, scientists! Where is Occam's Razor when you need it?

But in the comments to the PopSci post was this:

The bird's briefing:

The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.

Geek scripture...

UPDATE: Packers GM Ted Thompson denies that ignominious decisions from the future are coming back in time to the 2009 Packers offensive line to make egregious errors in order to justify said future ignominious decisions...but that's about the only explanation for Sunday's performance...that, or the power of the dreamsicle...

The Divine Mercy Chaplet Podcast

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer dictated by Our Lord to Sister Faustina Kowalska in the 1930's. He said:

Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you ... Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death ... When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between my Father and the dying person, not as the Just Judge but as the Merciful Savior ... Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy ... Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.

The Chaplet is prayed using a standard Rosary. It begins with the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostle's Creed.

Then, on each large bead we pray:

Eternal Father,
I offer you the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity,
of Your Dearly Beloved Son,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world.

And on each small bead in a decade, we pray:

For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world

And after all five decades are completed, we say the following prayer three times:

Holy God,
Holy Mighty One,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us
and on the whole world

I was inspired to create this audio version of the Chaplet by Elizabeth Scalia's wonderful podcasts of the Rosary:

The Joyful Mysteries
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Glorious Mysteries
The Luminous Mysteries

I have personally witnessed the miraculous power of the Chaplet, and hope you will pray it with me.

There Is No Joy In Cheeseville, Mighty Capey Has Struck Out

In the off season, the Packers brought in defensive coordinator Dom Capers to shore up a defense that couldn't stop anyone when it counted in 2008. Guess what. The Packers still can't stop anyone when it really counts.

Even though it's only Week 8, the Packers conceded the NFC North title to the Vikings with their loss today. Sure, they're ONLY three games back in the standings, but they have yet to make a statement win against a quality opponent. But they DO have two statement embarrassing losses at home. And they barely escaped a third statement embarassing loss to Chicago at home in Week One.

At what point does the coaching staff decide not to allow a dozen sacks in a single game? Troy Aikmen told a story this week about how Jimmy Johnson said he'd rather take a dozen holding penalties and throw a dozen balls away rather than take sacks. Apparently Mike McCarthy would rather take sacks. And Aaron Rodgers should be given a spot on the Seinfeld show, because he NEVER LEARNS to get rid of the ball on time! As long-suffering Cubs fans would say: maybe next year...

Ted Thompson's record post-Favre is a losing one. The Packers may end up with a winning record this season, but they'll be watching the playoffs from home this January. Again. Wait - where did Thompson come from? Oh yeah, Da Bears...suddenly I don't feel so good!

Perhaps the wrath of the football gods has dictated that the Packers will not win while Bob Harlan is still around, but I don't want to watch a repeat of the long drought of the 70's and 80's...

St. Vincent, pray for us!