King's College Quire, Cambridge

This is an awesome quire (the old Anglican spelling of choir). I just stumbled upon a video of them singing my favorite processional, Parry's "I was Glad" which is based on Psalm 121(122).

The words are as follows:

"I was glad when they said unto me,'we will go into the house of the Lord.' (verse 1)
Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem. (verse 2)
Jerusalem is builded as a city that is at unity in itself. (verse 3)
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee. (verse 6)
Peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces." (verse 7)



Its originally a coronation anthem but would go really well in a wedding, as the text goes very well with the vocation of Fatherhood. Its also good for a Crusade.


This quire is very old, check out this video from the fifties.

HAPPY CANDLEMAS

I apologise to all my readers for not blogging much recently.

I have just started work at Refield College as a teacher and Campion Collge as Master of Students. Once I have sorted out everything I'll be back on the blog.



Until then check out The New Liturgical Movement for the very beautiful sequence for Candlemas day.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

Since it is Australia Day, I have had an idea to do a long series on Australian National Symbols, which I will blog, hopefully, on Mondays. I'll look at interesting facts about the history of the Australian Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem, and whatever other small potatoes take my fancy. Until then, have a look at the picture below which explains the dimensions and meanings of the fully official national Flag.

A New Shark for the media to go into a feeding frenzy about

Apparently some Japanese scientists have recorded the first ever footage of a deep sea shark (called a frilled shark). Im sure it has now become a delicacy.
See the SMH story

A Victory for Truth and Justice

VICTORY

Two Interesting developments

Two pieces of news about sharks interested me today. First is the elevation of Malcom Turnbull to the front bench of the House of Reps.

Sydney Morning Herald- Turnbull

It is becoming very clear (in my opinion) that Turnbull is not only aimimg to become PM, but John Howard is grooming him too. Firstly, the staunchly monarchist (like myself) Howard 'admitted,' near to the time of Turnbull's election to the House of Reps, that "Australia will one day be a republic." Due to Turnbull's high profile republicanism, I fail to see that this was not connected. Howard is singularly destroying his contender, Costello, while placing Abbott in Health, a good decision for sure, but one that also has the added benefit of making Abbott unpopular due to his beliefs.

Meanwhile the cowardly Turnbull, who one senior Australian cleric called a 'terrible ...man" voted for RU486, simply to embarrass Abbott and destroy his credibility.

I think, considering his record, Turnbull is in general bad news for this country- there is nothing that he can do that Abbott couldn't do just as well or better.


Of other interest is this story, about a Great White Shark attack on the South Coast. Shark attacks are on the rise due to conservation. In the past, lifesavers where issued with guns to shoot sharks from the beach as the killers were much more numerous back then.

Though it sounds macabre, I actually envy this guy. I'd love to be attacked by a Great White and survive without serious injury- how cool.

Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas

DARTH MAUL WAS COOL IN EPISODE I


REMEMBER Episode II of STAR WARS (the clone wars) where is it discovered that a Jedi Master named Sifo-Dyas had placed an order for the Clone Army. This little 'mystery' is really frustrating, particularly because it is stupidly never resolved in the next film.

I have done a bit of online research and have found out who he was. It's in a (canonical) Star Wars book called Labyrinth of Evil. I'm still very disappointed that it wasn't resolved on-screen, particularly when they made such a deal about it in Episode II.

Apparently Sifo-Dias was a Jedi Master who was not happy with the the way things were going. Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious secretly sent him to order the clone army, then Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus murdered him and took over.

Anyway here is the link that will clear up the mystery a bit. Ill have to buy the book and give you a better explanation in the future.

Who was Sifo-Dyas?

Explanation on the Sith on Wookiepedia