About Funky Dung
Who is Funky Dung?
29-year-old grad student in Intelligent Systems (A.I.) at the University of Pittsburgh. I consider myself to be politically moderate and independent and somewhere between a traditional and neo-traditional Catholic.
I was raised Lutheran, spent a number of years as an agnostic, and joined the Catholic Church at the 2000 Easter Vigil.
Why Funky Dung?
I haven't been asked this question nearly as many times as you or I might expect. Funky Dung is a reference to an obscure Pink Floyd song. On the album Atom Heart Mother, there is a track called Atom Heart Mother Suite. It's broken up into movements, like a symphony, and one of the movements is called Funky Dung. I picked that nickname a long time ago (while I was still in high school I think), shortly after getting an internet connection for the first time. To me it means "cool/neat/groovy/spiffy stuff/crap/shiznit", as in "That's some cool stuff, dude!"
Whence Ales Rarus?
I used to enjoy making people guess what this means, but I've decided to relent and make it known to all. Ales Rarus is a Latin play on words. "Avis rarus" means "a rare bird" and carries similar meaning to "an odd fellow". "Ales" is another Latin word for bird that carries connotations of omens, signs of the times, and/or augery. If you want to get technical, both "avis" and "ales" are feminine (requiring "rara", but they can be made masculine in poetry (which tends to breaks lots of rules). I decided I'd rather have a masculine name in Latin. ;) Yeah, I'm a nerd. So what? :-P
Wherefore blog?
It is my intention to "teach in order to lead others to faith" by being always "on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful" through the "use of the communications media". I also act knowing that I "have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors [my] opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and [I] have a right to make [my] opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward [my and their] pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons." (adapted from CCC 904-907)
Statement of Faith
I have been baptized and confirmed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I, therefore, renounce Satan; I renounce all his works; I renounce all his allurements.
I hold and profess all that is contained in the Apostles' Creed, the Niceno- Constantinopolitan Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
Having been buried with Christ unto death and raised up with him unto a new life, I promise to live no longer for myself or for that world which is the enemy of God but for him who died for me and rose again, serving God, my heavenly Father, faithfully and unto death in the holy Catholic Church.
I am obedient to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. That is, I promote and defend authentic Catholic Teaching and Faith in union with Christ and His Church and in union with the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of St. Peter.
Thanks be unto Thee, O my God, for all Thy infinite goodness, and, especially, for the love Thou hast shown unto me at my Confirmation. I Give Thee thanks that Thou didst then send down Thy Holy Spirit unto my soul with all His gifts and graces.
May He take full possession of me for ever.
May His divine unction cause my face to shine.
May His heavenly wisdom reign in my heart.
May His understanding enlighten my darkness.
May His counsel guide me.
May His knowledge instruct me.
May His piety make me fervent.
May His divine fear keep me from all evil.
Drive from my soul, O Lord, all that may defile it.
Give me grace to be Thy faithful soldier, that having fought the good fight of faith, I may be brought to the crown of everlasting life, through the merits of Thy dearly beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Behind the Curtain: an Interview With Funky Dung (Thursday, March 03, 2005)
I try to avoid most memes that make their way 'round the blogosphere (We really do need a better name, don't
we?), but some are worth participating in. Take for instance the "interview game" that's the talk o'
the 'sphere. I think it's a great way to get to know the people in neighborhood. Who are the people in your
neighborhood? In your neighborhod? In your neigh-bor-hoo-ood...*smack* Sorry, Sesame Street flashback.
Anyhow, I saw Jeff "Curt Jester"
Miller's answers and figured since he's a regular reader of mine he'd be a good interviewer. Without
further ado, here are my answers to his questions.
1. Being that your pseudonym Funky Dung was chosen from a Pink Floyd track on Atom Heart Mother, what is you
favorite Pink Floyd song and why?
Wow. That's a tuffy. It's hard to pick out a single favorite. Pink Floyd isn't really a band known for
singles. They mostly did album rock and my appreciation of them is mostly of a gestalt nature. If I had to
pick one, though, it'd be "Comfortably Numb". I get chills up my spine every time I hear it and if
it's been long enough since the last time, I get midty-eyed. I really don't know why. That's a rather
unsatisfying answer for an interview, so here are the lyrics to a Rush song. It's not their best piece of music,
but the lyrics describe me pretty well.
New World Man
He's a rebel and a runner
He's a signal turning green
He's a restless young romantic
Wants to run the big machine
He's got a problem with his poisons
But you know he'll find a cure
He's cleaning up his systems
To keep his nature pure
Learning to match the beat of the old world man
Learning to catch the heat of the third world man
He's got to make his own mistakes
And learn to mend the mess he makes
He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it ---
He's a new world man...
He's a radio receiver
Tuned to factories and farms
He's a writer and arranger
And a young boy bearing arms
He's got a problem with his power
With weapons on patrol
He's got to walk a fine line
And keep his self-control
Trying to save the day for the old world man
Trying to pave the way for the third world man
He's not concerned with yesterday
He knows constant change is here today
He's noble enough to know what's right
But weak enough not to choose it
He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it ---
He's a new world man...
2. What do you consider your most important turning point from agnosticism to the Catholic Church.
At some point in '99, I started attending RCIA at the Pittsburgh Oratory. I mostly went to ask a lot of
obnoxious Protestant questions. Or at least that's what I told myself. I think deep down I wanted desperately
to have faith again. At that point I think I'd decided that if any variety of Christianity had the Truth, the
Catholic Church did. Protestantism's wholesale rejection of 1500 years of tradition didn't sit well with me,
even as a former Lutheran.
During class one week, Sister Bernadette Young (who runs the program) passed out thin booklet called "
Handbook for Today's Catholic". One paragraph
in that book spoke to me and I nearly cried as I read it.
"A person who is seeking deeper insight into reality may sometimes have doubts, even about God himself.
Such doubts do not necessarily indicate lack of faith. They may be just the opposite - a sign of growing faith.
Faith is alive and dynamic. It seeks, through grace, to penetrate into the very mystery of God. If a
particular doctrine of faith no longer 'makes sense' to a person, the person should go right on seeking. To
know what a doctrine says is one thing. To gain insight into its meaning through the gift of understanding is
something else. When in doubt, 'Seek and you will find.' The person who seeks y reading, discussing,
thinking, or praying eventually sees the light. The person who talks to God even when God is 'not there' is
alive with faith."
At the end of class I told Sr. Bernadette that I wanted to enter the Church at the next Easter vigil.
3. If you were a tree what kind of, oh sorry about that .. what is the PODest thing you have ever
done?
I set up
WikiIndex, a clearinghouse for reviews
of theological books, good, bad, and ugly. It has a long way to go, but it'll be cool when it's finished. :)
4. What is your favorite quote from Venerable John Henry Newman?
"Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt."
5. If you could ban one hymn from existence, what would it be?
That's a tough one. As a member of
the Society for a Moratorium on the Music of
Marty Haugen and David Haas, there are obviously a lot of songs that grate on my nerves. If I had to pick
one, though, I'd probably pick
"Sing
of the Lord's Goodness" by Ernie Sands.
another good source for low glycemic index meal planning is the south beach diet book. i’m not saying that your dad should go on the sb diet, but the book does explain the glycemic index very well. we will also keep your family in our prayers. my dad’s dad also died of diabetes.
splenda is a great sub, but don’t try it in lemonade. yuck!
There is no such thing as “borderline diabetes.” There is something called “Pre-diabetes,” which is different.
The diagnostic criteria for diabetes itself are definitive.
If your father has “pre-diabetes,” the current thinking is that he may not have reached a “point of no return.” With extensive and stringent care, he might be able to avoid progressing to diabetes.
The alternative school of thought is that “pre-diabetes” is merely diabetes caught early enough that the damage can be mitigated to the point that the diabetes will not be noticable.
If he is a diabetic and the doctor is using the outmoded (and rejected by the AMA, ADA, CDA, and others) term “borderline diabetic,” then he will not be taking his diabetes seriously enough and he will simply accelerate the damage.
I will pray for your father and that he will get aggressive and competent help.
Define aggressive.
He’s drastically changed his diet. He switched from 2% milk to skim. He’s given up soda. He’s drinking a lot more water. He significantly cut down on sweets. He hopes to buy a treadmill in the near future. I’m sure there are other changes as well.
Is that aggressive enough? You’re strong concern has me concerned.
1. Glucometer. By keeping track of his blood glucose, he can tell if what he’s doing is effective.
2. An exercise program should be set up in consultation at least with his physician. I wouldn’t wait for the treadmill. In fact, treadmills tend to not get used. TV by the treadmill will help, though.
3. I wish, on my Dx as a diabetic, I had been sent to a specialist. I was sent to a dietician, which was a big help. I learned a lot on my own.
4. Major cause of death for diabetics is not directly diabetes related. Heart is actually the big one, with stroke and other vascular problems close by.
5. Shoes are a BIG thing for diabetics. You know a good shoe store now. Synthetic socks that wick moisture away from the feet are important, too.
6. The changes accompanying diabetes Rx are great and hard to stick to. They really ought to have diabetes coaches out there.
7. Depression is a big risk. Your dad has just been told he has an illness that might well kill him. The changes necessitated by diabetes, esp. around Christmas, are depressing. Loss of sexual function is a big fear. Diabetes itself may either cause depression or be a symptom of depression.
8. The current research clearly indicates (I don’t remember if this made it all the way to a standard of practice yet) that all diabetics should be on medication. There are good reasons to believe that pre-diabetics may benefit from a certain class of drugs as well.
9. West Penn has an excellent diabetes program associated with the Joslin Diabetes folks.
10. Subscription to the basic American Diabetes Association mag would be a good idea, too. Usually available in stores, but worth the membership.
11. If the doctor used the term “borderline diabetes”….
Look, I’m in no position to criticize a physician I have never met and don’t really know what he said. Perhaps the use of the term “borderline diabetes” is a psychological gambit by the physician where, in his best clinical experience, it will help your father deal best with this illness. I’m the last person to criticize someone for spin-doctoring a patient.
The term “borderline diabetes” has a REALLY bad reputation in the diabetic community. It’s usually how the story of an amputation or someone going blind or having a massive MI starts out, and is indicative of Total Physician Incompetence (TPI).
The doctor may have had a good reason. There may be insurance or work concerns that I’m not privy to. Beginning treatment without writing down a diagnosis might be a smart move, though one likely to get the doctor in trouble should a sufficient paper trail be left behind.
But to me, it screams “Get a second opinion.”
An alternative problem is that a physician tells the patient he has beginning diabetes and the patient doesn’t take it seriously enough. That, too, is a problem.
I don’t know what it is. I’m just very concerned. I know what I would do if it were my father, but then again, my Dad died of complications from diabetes.
12. Where does your Dad live? If you were to exercise with him (once he gets an approved exercise program) it would be a big help to him. It won’t do as much good for you physically, but emotionally, it’s great.
Also:
Diabetes is about carbohydrate, not sweets. Pizza can screw up my BG as good as ice cream. Mashed potatoes on an empty stomach hits harder than some candy bars.
Chew a cracker in your mouth for a minute. Notice the sweetness? Starch breaks down rapidly into sugars.
This is all about glycemic index. Feel free to Google.
Cutting out all sweets, by the way, is not a good move. People who plan for a small amount of sweets in their diet do better than people who have no sweets planned.
Usually diabetics are put on a modified cardiac diet that reduces the carbs somewhat.
Buy your dad his first box of Splenda. Best sugar substitute on the market!