Niroze

Plurk, I has it!

Christopher — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:58:14 +0000

Let’s link up, at Plurk!.

TrueCrypt Screenshot Tour

Christopher — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:03:23 +0000

You can find the program and everything about it on their website: truecrypt.org. It is powerful encryption that is free and works on Windows, Mac and Linux. Check it out!

Main screen.

Select “Create Volume” and this is the create wizard start screen.

Select standard type of file container. You can read on the website about the hidden volume.

Select the “Select File” button and then a file dialog comes.

It doesn’t matter what you name the file, just needs to be a file. Note the warning on the previous screen, if you pick an existing file it will be deleted and replaced.

Select “Next >”, again be sure to read the text on this screen.

Select the type of encryption algorithm(s) and the hash. You can read more about encryption algorithms and hash algorithms.

Select the size of the file. This will be a static size, if you have all that used up with files or not, so create what you’ll need.

Create a password that will be needed to mount the volume on the filesystem. You’ll want to always remember this password.

If you select the “Display password” checkbox, you’ll be able to see what you typed.

Select what filesystem type you want to format the volume as. One the Mac, it is just FAT (which is great).

This is the part where you format the volume and generate the encryption keys.

Formatting…

Dialog window pops up letting you know formatting is complete.

Click “Exit” unless you want to create another volume.

On the main screen, select the “Select File” button and an open file dialog comes up. Select the volume you just created.

Choose an empty spot at the top of the main screen. Also ensure you have a directory created on the filesystem to mount the encrypted volume.

Select “Mount” and enter your password. Select the “Options” button and enter the mount point at the bottom. Select the “Ok” button to mount the encrypted volume on the filesystem.

With the volume now mounted, select the slot on the main window and select the “Volume Properties” button. This dialog window will show giving you details about it.

There are some interesting features not shown here like hiding keys in keyfiles that can be any file like an mp3 or picture. There is also the feature of having the volume being hidden and unable to be identified (says their documentation). You can even install an operating system on top of the encrypted volume (how cool is that?!).

You can find out more by reading their documentation (that’s well done).

Catholic Books

Christopher — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:29:10 +0000

Here is a list of books that either I own or wish to read in the future. This seems to be a nice solid list of Catholic faith and education. If you have others to offer or change, please let me know. Note that all links are to books on Amazon.com.

Jesus

Mary

Apostles

“The Apostles” by Pope Benedict XVI

Saints

Books about and/or by Saints.

Bibles and Bible study

Books that are either bibles or those that focus on bible study.

The Mass and Fundamentals of Catholicism

Praying

Theology of the Body

Latin

On learning the language.

Misc

Other interesting books that don’t easily fit into other categories.

Catholics on the Internet

Christopher — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:12:45 +0000

Just a little portal post about Catholic resources on the internet that I find interesting and frequent, many ran by priests. This is just a list, without any particular order. Check them out, add the podcasts to iTunes… Add the blogs to your RSS feed reader… link up with other Catholics in social networking.

Podcasts

(web) (rss) Daily Breakfast with Fr. Roderick
(web) (rss) Rosary Army Catholic Podcast
(web) (rss) Catholic Answers LIVE - This Week
(web) (rss) Catholic:Under The Hood
(web) (rss) LifeTeen.com presents Sunday Sunday Sunday
(web) (rss) Catholic Movie Reviews
(web) (rss) The SaintCast - Catholic Saints on Call
(web) (rss) What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Video

Blogs

(web) (rss) Bro Chris Gama’s Facebook Notes
(web) (rss) Catholic Saints
(web) (rss) FatherRoderick.com
(web) (rss) Franciscan Focus
(web) (rss) Jesus Goes to Disney World
(web) (rss) Life as a Catholic
(web) (rss) LifeSiteNews.com Headlines
(web) (rss) Rise and Pray
(web) (rss) The New Liturgical Movement
(web) (rss) What Does The Prayer Really Say?
(web) (rss) Whispers in the Loggia

Social Networking

To not make this annoyingly long, just limiting to clergy and those that live the religious life by vows on mostly Facebook. You can branch out from there easily.

Active on last.fm

Christopher — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:15:15 +0000

http://www.last.fm/user/niroze/

Peace One Day

Christopher — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:38:19 +0000

Peace One Day, go check out the website. Offer up one day.

Was on Vacation

Christopher — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 09:20:53 +0000

I was on vacation to St. Louis for about 9 days. Was wonderful in vocation discernment and spiritually. Was a vacation not to get away or escape my life, yet to realize God’s role in it and turning things over.

Will blog more about it later in the coming days when time allows. Still backlogged on sleep.

Sunday Mass Readings: May 25, 2008

Christopher — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:12:51 +0000

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, The Holy Eucharist.

Going over the readings of Sunday this week, as noted on http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/readings/052508.shtml. You can read all the scriptures there and below are just my notes and thoughts on each. This most likely includes how they are relevant to me this week and not Theology analysis of the readings. It’s what they mean to me right now.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
How much does God have to show us before we do not lose sight of Him? Do not lose sight of God, notice and pray on all He has blessed you with. All you need is God, have faith in Him and you will be taken care of.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Speaking on how the Church is all bound through the same union, the same Christ, the gift and sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is truly amazing.
Also, maybe more an issue now-a-days is also the saving of the liturgy as it also helps ensure that we are one Church and in doing the same thing in Mass, we are stronger in one body. Save the liturgy, save the world?

John 6:51-58
Jesus directly speaking on the Eucharist. He explains it’s purpose and significance. Unlike most Protestant sects, Catholics take it literally, in that they actually eat and drink the body and blood of Christ. It isn’t symbolism or a metaphor, it is really Christ that Catholics are eating and drinking. Through Jesus we have eternal life and know Him.

For people like me that want to become Catholic and be able to partake of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, it is painful to not be able to. You can feel His presence.
Just a bit longer, as I have to go through RCIA. At Easter of next year I’ll be able to and it will be a wonderful day!

Pope and the Rosary

Christopher — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:35:46 +0000

Picture from Fr. Roderick’s blog, unsure of image credit at this time. It’s interesting to see the the Holy Father pray the Rosary in public. I like seeing this picture. Walk strong in faith! (he also looks cool in shades)

What is “Fasting” All About?!

Christopher — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:12:05 +0000

It is about the blessing of suffering. Why is it a blessing?! It is a blessing for a couple of reasons. First, it allows us to have a more real connection with the suffering that Christ took during the passion (as detailed [at least] in the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary). Second, for whatever we’re fasting for it brings the topic to be more direct as it will allow you to focus more deeply.

One thing I decided to commit to is the pledge to fast, at least once a month of water and bread only for 24 hours, for the purpose as detailed at e5men.org.

Fasting is not as “crazy” or “outlandish” as some may think. It is actually part of Catholicism and Christianity that seems to be ignored except for Lent. It is a healthy spiritual practice for stronger prayer and penance, which brings us closer to God and helps pay for your sins now on earth instead of in purgatory.

To quote the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 2043:

The fourth precept (”You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

Here are some interesting quotes from http://www.scripturecatholic.com/fasting.html:

Psalm 35:13 - David says, “I afflicted myself with fasting.” David recognized that fasting drew him closer to God. Fasting makes us aware of our dependency on God.

Esther 4:3,16 - people fasted for days to atone for sin. Although Jesus remits the eternal penalty of our sin, we can atone for temporal penalties due to our sin.

Tobit 12:8 - prayer is good when accompanied by fasting. Throughout salvation history, God has encouraged fasting to be coupled with prayer.

Acts 13:2-3; 14:23 - the apostles engaged in prayer and fasting in connection with ordaining leaders of the Church. Prayer and fasting have always been the practice of the Church.

Luke 2:37 - Anna the widow worshiped God with fasting and prayer night and day. The Church has always taught that, by virtue of our priesthood conferred in baptism, our fasting participates in the priesthood of Christ by atoning for the temporal punishments due to our and other people’s sins.

It is very helpful for me. I will be fasting of just water and tuna (bread is not horrible to me as I’m have a low-carb eating lifestyle), just keeping tuna down is difficult.

If you are like me and are struggling with sin or just want to come closer to God, give fasting a try. If you are married or not, check out e5men.org.

Suffering is a blessing, not meant to cause you harm. It is not pleasant, yet make the most of your time here on Earth. All it takes it one try… just be sure to pray, even more than normal during this time.

For review, here are the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary:

Tuesdays and Fridays. Also Sundays in Lent.

1. The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden. Reading: Luke 22: 39-46.

2. The Scourging of Our Lord at the Pillar. Reading: Mark 15: 6-15.

3. The Crowning of Our Lord with Thorns. Reading: John 19: 1-8.

4. The Carrying of the Cross. Reading: John 19: 16-22.

5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord. Reading: John 19: 25-30.