Dear Lent Madness Faithful,
Early this morning, at about 8:20 am EST, the Lent Madness website went down. You probably heard the collective weeping and 
gnashing of teeth that rang out all over the globe. Or you may have noticed the uptick in purple votive candle sales that impacted the international markets.
After a lot of hard work, we are pleased to announce that the saintly smackdown is back up and running. Scott and Celebrity Blogger David Sibley (hard core technophiles) were able to remedy the presenting issue. This was particularly impressive since Scott is currently in Rwanda on a pilgrimage with Episcopal Migration Ministries. Also, when it comes to technical fixes, Tim is useless.
Our (soon to be former) hosting company 1and1 shut the site down due to high volume without giving us any notice. The good news is that we are provisionally back up and running and you can now go vote in today’s matchup between Balthazar and Cecilia. . The bad news is that we will need to shut the site down again to switch servers (hopefully on Sunday so it won’t affect voting). We’ll keep you posted.
Update 11:13 PM EST: Because of the high server load, things continue to be quite slow and a bit dicey – but voting is open, and votes are being recorded. Our advice: keep trying to vote!
In order to give both Balthazar and Cecilia their due. We are extending the voting period until tomorrow (Saturday) at 2:00 pm EST. Then the polls will close and all will be right with the world. For the time being.
Now, to assign blame. That’s the Christian thing to do, right? We have several working theories:
1. Hildegard of Bingen, furious at losing such a close battle to Egeria, pulled the plug out of holy spite.
2. Cuthbert’s otters got loose and gnawed through the wires.
3. The Celebrity Bloggers failed in their coup attempt to unseat the SEC.
4. Feral cats, irate that there is no Official Cat of Lent Madness, scratched the server to death.
5. The collective price paid for those who have faltered in their Lenten disciplines.
6. Al Gore.
7. The Wrath of the Archbishops.
8. Those who skip Lent altogether and gorge themselves on Easter Peeps. On Good Friday.
9. The scapegoat from Leviticus 16:10.
10. Needless to say, Scott blames Tim and Tim blames Scott.
Thank you for your forbearance during this brief glimpse into a life devoid of Lent Madness. It was indeed a harrowing vision of Dante-esque proportions.
Tim & Scott
Supreme Executive Committee
I’m with #4 (mine chew wires, yarn, books, whatever), though #7 is also a possibility. They have the technosavvy, right? I miss them but glad you’re back.
Treacherous seals
I vote for Cuthbert’s otters, because they’re cute.
Cats. It’s always the cats.
Never the cats! Seals but only if they’re ravenous. Perhaps snails slimmed it up — with purple slime of course .
Eewwwwww!
snails are like that — that’s why I find them suspect
Eewwwww!
I prefer to think of the continuing 404 problem as a part of my Lenten penance.
Such a relief. I woke up this morning and couldn’t get on the site, couldn’t even read the rest of the post about Balthazar and Cecilia. It was awful! I thought I’d never be able to vote. But finally I got on and was able to vote and I can continue with my Friday.
#4 has my vote — AND I love your sense of humor. Thank you for all you do.
I think it was the spirit of Balthazar—a mythical “saint” messing with a[n almost] mythical hosting company!
Ravenous seals
Or not. I still can’t read the full Cecilia/Balthazar post. I’m still getting an internal server error on that one. Hmmm.
You can try getting to the post for Ceclia/Balthazar by clicking here: https://www.lentmadness.org/2015/03/balthazar-vs-cecilia/ This morning I had trouble getting to it when I tried to read it by clicking on “read more.”
Thanks for your link. I couldn’t get to the post, either. But then I clicked on your link and went right to it. Thank you.
Hey, Emmetri! Never know who you’ll meet here!!
Could not be #7. At least not in Olympia. — Okay: so we’re not an ARCHdio. But the whole point of Lent Madness, I gather, is to be a bit, or more than a bit, zany.
My bishop is tech savy; can’t account for the others.
A tip of the biretta to Bishop Greg for putting this in his Lenten resources list. Without him, I’d be clueless.
Thanks for the extension for those who aren’t retired and at the computer long enough to wait out the glitch.
Site is back down again…
i think it had to be the irate archbishops who are unable to engage in their color commentary of this years’ competition.
I think it was Number Three. Or Daylight Savings Time. Or both.
Or perhaps it was Bede pulling his venerable strings in the afterlife in an attempt to “make history” again–his Plan B now that his first attempt at the Golden Halo has been thwarted by an upstart with a couple of holy otters. (Next time, couldn’t we assign The VB a cute little bookworm or something?
Moving on, now that we have spread the blame around, shouldn’t we offer the hosting company the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that is, prvided the Never Ever Ever bring us down again without asking first?
Moving on, now that we have spread the blame around, shouldn’t we offer the hosting company the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that is, provided they Never Ever Ever bring us down again without asking first?
My cats told me #4 but they don’t always tell the truth. Though they are good at lurking. Still can’t get to the matchup.
I tried several times earlier this morning and figured it was all my fault…I’m not very techie. Then after my morning hour long walk I tried again and was able to get on and vote…whew! Glad you all fixed things up!!!
Thank goodness. Thought I would have to call my son, the webmaster at the Maryland diocesan center.
Thank you for the periodic updates. Web problems can be soooooooo frustrating. Praying the switch over goes smoothly.
Whew! I’m so glad the problem was fixed. Yes, I like Lent Madness, but I didn’t realize how much I look forward to it every day until….it’s not there…no matter what I try. Thanks so much for all you do to instruct and amuse us by this means. FYI I’m one of the Lutheran followers of Lent Madness. I truly appreciate it. Me, I like number 8 above, best.
As a book lover it’s nice to see the printed page prevailing over the computer…I have the booklet with all bios… However it was frustrating not to be able to cast my vote this morning. But finally this chorister voted for Cecilia!
It seemed to me when I voted early this morning, that all was copacetic–is this mistaken? Am I supposed to vote again? Inquiring minds want to know!
Good for Hildegard! You go gurl! You was robbed!
I don’t think it was Hildegard. She wouldn’t do such a dreadful thing. I think it was the otters. (Or the Others).
11. Corrosion from all the salt in Margery Kempe’s tears (which would have happened anyways, of course, win or lose).
Glad you’re back. Question the wisdom of dissing current service provider while they’re still (sort of) providing it, but empathize with Schenck, grateful to Sibley, nominate Gunn as miracle worker.
My vote goes to either 1, 2, or 4. Or Solomon, our beloved cat, was reincarnated as we’re not sure who just yet. When he was alive, my mother-in-law said he was Jimmy Hoffa reincarnated.
So why ISN’T there an official Lent Madness cat? There are many deserving cats in shelters who would happily and purrily serve.
Maple Anglican, for sure.
You guys are great. This is my first year and I am thoroughly enjoying it!! Glitches happen when Satan tries to intervene, but higher powers have prevailed! Thank you for creating such a fun way to learn new things.
I’m with Christina Lee: gotta be ravenous seals.
Well, now you’ve done it. I’m still LOL so long and hard after your comments of this morning that I’ll be doing penance for the remainder of Lent due to a shameful lack of sobriety. Or is it for an addiction I didn’t even know I had? (But secretly…thank you for your efforts and for resuming the madness!)
The irate cats got into the peeps (makes sense, right?) and then gummed up the wires.
P.S. I find nothing unholy about gorging on peeps on any day of the season, as long as they are original yellow chicks. I have no use for pink or blue chicks – what is that?! – or bunnies of any color including white. Also no use for those chocolate dipped peeps – gilding the lily. “God put peeps before us, along with wine, as sure proof that He loves us and wants us to be happy.” [apologies to Saint Ben Franklin]
Whatever the cause, thank you for the heroic efforts in getting the site up and running again!
I laughed at the theories to assign blame. I think that the SEC would have laughed (and been gratified) to see how many times this loyal follower clicked the link as I was working this morning, just checking if I would be able to read about Balthazar and Cecelia and vote yet!
Thanks for all of the lifting of spirits and the pleasure that Lent Madness brings.
My first ever LENT MADNESS is just a joy!! Thanks all staff for providing fascinating readings and meditations, and to all commentators too! This morning’s glitch gave me pause too, but glad to see all’s well again. Blessings all!
He/she who sings prays twice. In honor of choirs everywhere
It might have been the curiae their not happy with the Holy Father , anger is so for some children,
Am I the only one who thinks that picture is an incredibly clever takeoff on Da Vinci’s “Creation of Adam”?
Dan Vinci or Michelangelo, Anthony?
I just flunked Art History 101, didn’t I?
Anthony, you’re a hoot!
Yup.
Well if we can’t vote for the saints we can at least vote on the cause of the crash. Lent Madness folks will vote no matter what you put up! I vote for the seals!
I agree that Hildegard was wrongly snubbed … but unlikely she had anything to do with the glitCh – angry cats sound more likely
..
I’m thinking it’s the 20,000+ comments, and a heathen hosting site!
Cats and otters and scapegoats! Oh, my! I’m so thankful it wasn’t my computer (as I feared) though I’ll never gain back the time I spent trying to troubleshoot. When I saw that one of my friends had already posted on Facebook that she had voted, I was quite certain that it was moi! So glad it wasn’t and so happy I finally got to vote, since I’ve really looked forward to this matchup!
I too am glad your back. Thank you. I think it was #2, #4 or all the snow.
I feared that the server had given up Lent Madness for Lent. Glad to hear it was only seals. Or cats.
Doesn’t Heidi Shott have a rabbit? And I don’t see Heidi as a Celebrity Blogger this year. And I didn’t see any Official Rabbit for Lent Madness, which would be totally appropriate given, you know: Easter. Hester did it!
How did the ferrets avoid the list??
This almost merits using the “A” word during Lent!
What a relief. Home with the flu and unable to do more than FB and wait for the site to get back up. I think Maple Anglicans had a role in this. Maybe the clairvoitron (? sp.) acted up.
I think it was the Archbishops, because it has to be ok to eat purple peeps on Good Friday.
I go with the feral cat theory so the only way out of that is to designate an Official Cat of Lent Magness. We had a cat who would qualify as a saint as she saved my husband from a copperhead snake. Husband was able to kill the snake not the cat, but her act was saintly nonetheless. Glad Lentmadness is back on the air. Premature withdrawal set in this morning.
I’ve been amazed pleasantly by how many people are participating in LM this year, and this is a light’s out example of having the good problem of popularity.
Yesterday was a true match. Then this am so glad to have “Saintly Scorecard” at hand.
At least it wasn’t My Dog Ate The Website!
I am pre-voting for Barbara because that’s my name. I’m willing to take on any opponent.
Ravenous seals pushed over the edge of sanity by Margery’s incessant sobbing and weeping.
I’m going with Cuthbert’s otters….
Utter nonsense. They’re too laid back. If Cuthbert could trust them with his exposed ankle veins, I’m quite sure we can cross them off the list.
And, yes, put those ferrets in their place.
That was a typo, right? You meant to say “otter nonsense”? ☺️
Of course he did. It’s UTTER nonsense about the ferrets being responsible.
I clicked the ‘Read More’ link as soon as this morning’s email hit my inbox. When I got the message that the site was down, I naturally assumed that hundreds of thousands of other Lent Madness junkies had done the same and brought the server to its knees. Or that maybe some North Korean hackers had recognized a much greater threat to their way of life than Sony pictures, and were staging a cyber attack. Either scenario could have happened. You never know…
Who chews wires? DUH!!! Rabbits…who – collectively as a species – are also miffed that Forward Movement refuses to publish an Episco-bun calendar. I could give you 12 adorable bunny photos JUST LIKE THAT. (All of the same rabbit, though.)
Thank you for all the hard work and energy put in to keeping this running as smoothly as it has so far.
Keep up the great work!!!
Tim,
I’m impressed that you could sit down (maybe you were standing) and write such a clever and amusing piece in the middle of this techno-crisis!
REVENGE OF THE ARCHBISHOPS!
I love you guys! You make me laugh out loud even when no one is listening!
Obama’s fault, obviously.
Isn’t everything?
I still can’t vote! I am a lurker but I vote daily.
It’s those ravening ravenous seals I tell ya! They probably had a go at Cecelia too before the final end.
Um, really? Really?
To hear some tell it.
i think youre lying about Simon and the Andrews Sisters, but to your credit, carefully hidden lies to test whether we read every word. Good for you all/both, or whatever.
Perhaps the Pilgrim of Rwanda will be in next year’s bracket for his selfless service in absentia to all of the lost LM voters. Could we initiate a calendar of Slightly Less than Lesser Saints to accommodate such devotion?
I am all in favor of Marcia I’s idea. i give my proxy to her in all issues connected to this idea.
i was able to vote, but couldn’t see the totals to that time.
Not to worry about today’s contest–I’ll bet Cecilia wins in a canter, but i thought you should know this.
Niel A. Renton
Egeria vs Hildegard sank the site with their outrageous struggle. Too many comments.
How about that good old standard…..the devil did it.
Another reason. Swithun was sent back to the swamps….
I confess. I may have spoken too vehemently at Feral Cat Feeding Station #127. These slights tend to get out of paw sometimes.
Another poll!! Which these “theories” are worthy of blame? Choose 3 (seems like a good number)
Amused that it could be the Otters #2
love the cats too much to think it was the Ferals #4 since they have enough to worry about (seeking a home, food & shelter!)
Definitely could see the Peeps! #8
Thanks to David & amazed at technology that Scott assisted from Rwanda!!!
These are amazing times!
**gasp** Hildegard lost?? My mandolin practice session will be more subdued.
#6. He who brought the Internet into this world can take it out.
Did you all let the Commission on Ministry see this side of you BEFORE ordination?
The ravenous seals are winning, hurray!
And yes, thank you so much for providing Lent Madness although it seems somehow wrong to look forward to Lent every year. Should we repent for enjoying Lent so much? Should we give up Lenten Madness for Lent? No, that seems more Calvinist than Episcopal.
And here I thought I was getting an error message for being in Hawaii!!
Tom, Scott, et al., my heart is full. Thanks so much for the gift of guffaws! I have been in sore need of laughter of late.
It’s4:48pm pat here in california. We are still unable to access voting site.
My theory for all problems on the Internet Highway is that Albreich (the malevolent dwarf from the Wagner Ring Cycle – who stole the Rhinegold, killed his brother etc etc etc) and who currently lives on the Internet Highway and in the Cloud — he who is pure evil must have been bored and decided to wreck havoc on LM for fun.
It was the ravenous seals, looking for another tasty saint.
I’m with the otters… cute but potentially damaging. I have some experience with flying squirrels.. also very cute, but not good tenants.
In addition to the Benjamin Britten anthem mentioned earlier today, Herbert Howells also wrote a beautiful anthem, Hymn to St. Cecelia, around a text by Ursula Vaughn Williams.
In terms of website hosting may I recommend Dragon Networks, which runs Episcopal Church Web Hosting, which provides free website hosting to small Episcopal parishes. If Forward Movement is going to pay for website hosting for Lent Madness, then they should pay an organization that is helping small parishes move forward into the Internet age.
My 2¢, your exchange rate may vary.
I think the real real reason the site was down was that the Archbishops are mad that Maple Anglican gave up using the Clairvoyatron for Lent 2015 and they have no way of commincating their thoughts on this year’s voting to us! Maybe if we start a social media campaign with the hashtag #BringBackTheArchbishops we might be allowed to hear from their Graces again.
It really was Kaspar who entranced Amahl with his box.Balthazar was the “sad dark king”. I am loving all the comments about Amahl, one of my favorite stories since forever. Go, Balthazar!
Could NEVER EVER HAVE BEEN WORK OF FERAL S
I was sooo punctual in my voting Friday I managed to cast my ballot before the compouter meltdown. I noticed I was the 41st person to vote. I wonder if those first few votes were recorded. I send this comment with fear and trepidation scince I may have been the final vote…. the straw so to speak.
or ferrets either
My choice for scapegoat: #8. And Peeps are not even worth it. Chocolate bunnies, on the other hand …
I was so sorry to see (after I voted for him) that Baltazar was being trounced, because I was excited to learn that there is more credibility to his story than I ever expected…ok, a miniscule more. But still. Cecilia will (probably) get my vote next time she comes around.
I think this whole thing is obviously a giant publicity stunt!
Now I know why we should all have a copy “Saintly Scoeboard”
How fortuitous the system went down just as our server went down here. I live in a remote area so I would not have had the opportunity to vote at all if your system didn’t go down too. So fun spending Saturday morning catching up on all the rukus as wl as the seriously intended commentary.
I’m sorry I missed this vote when I was never able to get into Friday’s site, but at least now I know that it was the gremlins again and not the fault of my computer ! Does this mean I get to vote twice the next time ?
I thought I had accidentally been cast out into the Lent Madness darkness
Did you vote twice or something?
Another theory . . . the Patron Saint of the Internet, Isadore of Seville, is miffed at not being in the running this year.