Mammal expert Martua Sinaga holds a 3-pound (1.4-kilogram) rat that may be a species new to science. The rat was found in the remote Foja Mountains of western New Guinea, Indonesia.

"The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., said in a press statement. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."

As I walked down the busy sidewalk, knowing I was late for Mass, my eye fell upon one of those unfortunate, homeless vagabonds that are found in every city these days. Some people turned to stare. Others quickly looked away as if the sight would somehow contaminate them.

Recalling my old pastor, Father Mike, who always admonished me to 'care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked,' I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person.

Wearing what can only be described as rags, carrying e very worldly possession in two plastic bags, my heart was touched by this person's condition.

Yes, where some people saw only rags, I saw a true, hidden beauty.A small voice inside my head called out, 'Reach out, reach out and touch this person!'



So I did.......



I won't be at Mass this week.

Here's the scoop on a Thai style Chicken BBQ cooked outside in 10-15 minutes, using an old can, empty beer bottle and some hay. There's even a video and a PDF file!


- More cool how to projects

A chicken is scored down to the bone. Marinated with crushed coriander (cilantro) root, fresh turmeric, chillies, palm sugar and fish sauce. Lemongrass is stuffed into the cavity and it is all perched on a beer bottle.

An oil drum is put over the top and the whole thing is covered in straw. Set light and wait for 10-15 minutes for a perfect BBQ chicken.