Prayer To Your Guardian Angel

Angel of God,
my guardian dear,
To whom God's love
commits me here,
Ever this day,
be at my side,
To light and guard,
Rule and guide.

Amen.





"From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their (the angels) watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united to God."

- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 336.

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The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.

Amen.



"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory for ever. Amen."

- Romans 11:33-36.

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The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Amen.


"The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from this fact: it is 'the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith."

- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 194.

"This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul."

- Saint Ambros

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The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

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Snow Chains Vs. Cables

Tire chains and cables might not be familiar to everyone in the United States, but they are a common part of driving in areas that experience a lot of snow and ice. Some state highway officials can require snow tires or chains/cables on vehicles on icy or snowy highways.

Snow Chains
Chains have been the traditional ice- and snow-gripping solution for vehicles for decades. Originally available only in "ladder" designs that wrapped around tires, they have evolved into crisscrosses and other patterns.

Updates
Snow cables are an update of snow chains. According to Vulcan Tires, cable chains use a high-strength steel aircraft cable surrounded by alloy steel traction coils and offer better traction and a smoother ride for passenger cars and trucks than traditional chains.
Installation
As the newer and lighter traction invention, snow cables are generally easier to install. Cables can come with rubber tighteners that make keeping them properly tightened less of an effort than with chains.
Usage
While snow cables have become popular with passenger cars and trucks, snow chains are still recognized as having superior traction and durability for heavy vehicles like trucks, buses and construction equipment.
Tips
You will often find both snow chains and cables referred to and marketed as "snow chains."

Whether you decide on snow chains or cables, be sure to purchase the right size for your vehicle. It is also a good idea to practice installing the chains or cables on your tires after you buy them--a cold, icy highway is not the ideal place to try to put them on for the first time.

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Difference Between Snow Chains & Snow Cables

It is difficult, and even dangerous, to drive a car in snow without adequate snow equipment. Common options for your car include snow tires, snow chains and snow cables. There is a lot of confusion about the last two, and some think they're one and the same. However, although snow chains and snow cables perform similar work, there are differences between them, enough to effect which one ultimately chooses.


Geography
Snow chains and snow cables are used in areas that experience snowy winters, such as states in the Eastern region and the Midwest. In some areas, such as the steep mountain passes, roads and highways, car owners must have snow chains, snow tires, or snow cables on their tires when driving. A few states are against them for fear of the damage that this equipment can cause to road surfaces.

Identification
Snow chains are made of large and heavy steel links while snow cables are made of steel aircraft cable encased in alloy traction coils. Both have cross-links that can be replaced when worn out.

Types
Snow chains are available in the recognizable ladder pattern, while snow cables are available in the ladder pattern or a "z" chain pattern. The latter is supposed to offer the best traction due to the zigzag pattern across the length of the snow cable. Both snow chains and snow cables are available in a variety of sizes to fit the different sizes of tires for different cars

Benefits
Each type of snow equipment provides its own particular benefit. Due to their makeup, snow cables are lighter in weight than snow chains and are easier to put on and take off. They are also less expensive than snow chains. However, although snow cables are effective, snow chains seem to provide more traction. Snow chains are often used for 2WD vehicles while snow cables are more often used on 4WD vehicles.

Considerations
In the New York State Commercial Driving Manual, the DMV recommends that drivers learn to install their snow chains or cables before they actually need to use it. A practice installation will help you ensure that the chains or cables are the right size for your tires and will also prepare you to use them when needed.

Snow chains and snow cables will last longer when they are used appropriately. When the chains or cables are on the tires, accelerate slowly and then maintain a speed of 30 miles per hour. Manufacturers recommend that owners use this equipment on snow-covered roads only.

Warning
It is possible for snow chains to wrap around a vehicle's axle if they are not properly secured. Snow chains should be checked and tightened after driving a short distance.

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How to Choose Between Two Difficult Options

If you're faced with two difficult options to choose between, you've probably been struggling to make a decision for some time. Use this exercise to help you make the decision that is most right for you and your path in life.

Instructions

Step 1

Place both hands out to your sides, arms bent, like you are a giant scale. Put your palms up, like you are ready to weigh an object in each hand.

Step 2
Starting with your arms level, choose one hand for "yes" and the other for "no."

Step 3
Ask yourself yes/no questions, and feel the chosen hand drop, as if a pile of rocks were placed into that hand.

Step 4
Continue to ask questions to narrow down your answers.

Step 5
If you are choosing between two options, you can also "place" each option into a hand, instead of using the yes/no. Example: "interviewing for X job" could be in your left hand and "interviewing for Y job" could be in your right hand.

Step 6
You will get a feeling of resonance when you tap into your subconscious. If it feels forced or not working, take a few breaths and try again. Be patient with yourself.

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How to Choose Between an iPad and a Kindle

There are several options out there for us bookworms out there looking to go digital. The two major ones right now are the iPad and the Kindle. This article is meant to help you decide between the two.

Instructions

Step 1
Assess your needs. The iPad and the Kindle are both great products, but each offers different features. The iPad is multifunctional allowing you to check email, browse the web, watch movies, view photos, load apps, etc. The Kindle is less versatile. It allows you to read books, magazines, newspapers and pdfs digitally as well as listen to audio books.

Step 2
Check out the screens. One point Macintosh loves to make about the iPad is that it offers the reader a full color experience. The Kindle is viewed in shades of gray and all the photos are viewed in black and white. The advantage seems to go to iPad but it really depends on you. Most bookworms realize that the pages of a book are hardly ever bright white. The softer tones used make reading easier on the eyes. The gray tones of the Kindle may actually be better for the avid reader.

Step 3
Assess your wallet. The base model for the iPad starts at $499 and tops off just under $900. The base model of the Kindle is $259 and the more expensive model is $489. For $140 (base model pricing between Kindle and iPad) you are getting a lot more functionality, but you will also have to enroll in a monthly data plan to take advantage of it. Mac has kept the data plans for the iPad relatively cheap, starting at roughly $15 per month.

Step 4
Price out the books. Any good bargain hunter will insist on this. Once iBooks is up and running, comparison shop the price of books from iBooks and the price of books from Amazon.

Step 5
Read reviews. Amazon currently has over 10,000 reviews for the Kindle. Mac always has a line of buyers ready to purchase new products on the first day of availability, so reviews will quickly follow. Also, if there is a Mac store near you, you can try the iPad for yourself before purchasing.

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