Backpacking Log

So, son Thomas and I went backpacking/camping this weekend up to Jones Gap State Park. I hadn't been there in over 12-14 years. Thomas had never been there.

 

We left here early on Friday and returned Saturday afternoon. We got to Jones Gap at 11:00 AM and headed into the woods at 11:45 AM .

 

We arrived at the campsite at 12:15 PM. After setting up camp, including a new 1-man tent for Thomas, in which we both were determined to sleep, we left for a hike.

 

Jones Gap trail (5.3 miles) runs along the Middle Saluda River. There are several falls along the trail or on spurs. We had already backpacked in 1.1 miles, so we decide to walk the rest of the trail and back.

 



Thomas at Jones Gap Falls



We went up to see Jones Gap Falls on a spur. The we stopped for 30 minutes or so at a rock formation in the river. We soaked our feet (coooooooold water); Thomas waded around.

 



Then we took off again. Just shy of the 4 mile mark I took a spill. Not hurt, but somehow this spill started a blister on one of my toes. Instead of chancing it, we turned around at 4 miles and got back to camp. (3:45 PM)

 

We gathered some firewood and got a fire going. For supper I wrapped a potato in foil and tossed it in the coals. I grilled some fish fillets. When the fillets were 80% done and I figured the potato was about done also, I removed both from the heat. I cut up the potato, the fish, and added okra in a saucepan. With a bit of water, salt and pepper, I put the mixture back on the fire til it boiled for a bit.

 

Then we ate.

Me at Jones Gap Falls

 

It is good that we were very hungry! Not even the amount of salt and pepper I put on could make it good. But it was hearty and we ate it all.

 

After supper we played cards, prayed the rosary, and talked. Retired at 9:30.

 

We both squeezed into the tent. It rained cats and dogs from 2:00 to 2:30 AM.  When we rose, we decided that instead of coaxing a fire with all the wet would and kindling (which we COULD do if we had a mind to), we would break camp and find some breakfast back in civilization.

 

Just part of the scenary!

 We were in the car heading out by 9:00 AM. Great trip.

Oremus pro invicem!

Exclusion

I have been planning an upcoming backpacking trip with my son at a state park. In order to make a campsite reservation, (unless making it for less than 24 hours in advance) I had to make the reservation online with a credit card.

It occurred to me that this is an entry barrier to some (many?) who either don’t have internet access or, more likely, a credit card.

Now, there may be a way around this (I didn’t spend the time to explore all avenues), but on the face of it, here is a case of government efficiency (is there such a thing?) excluding a class of citizens.

**************************

Thinking of exclusionary policies, I have been musing a bit on immigration policy. I don’t contest the right of a nation from protecting and/or controlling its borders for at least some reasons.

On the other hand, we have historically contested the right of the American Indians to protect their borders. Because we were more numerous and had better technology, we consistently drove them off their land, made treaties giving them other land, and repeatedly broke those treaties to take their land again.

I am not so naïve to think the situations heretofore mentioned have don’t have nuances, especially regarding lands of plenty and justice, but in generality, this is something to ponder when considering immigration policy today.

Might makes right? Or is it Manifest Destiny-or these days: American Exceptionalism - that we don’t have to respect borders, lands and treaties because we are God’s people? But others (I guess those who aren't God's people?) need to respect our borders, lands and treaties?

We are able (potentially at least) to stop immigration from Latin America with our technology, but how is the Latin immigrant seeking a better life and/or freedom (at least to the limited extent the USA offers) different from the earlier settlers and pioneers?

No doubt we have a right and duty to our citizens to exclude violent invaders, criminals, and terrorists. This goes to controlling our borders. How about the others? Have we really run out of room and resources?

An economic situation where food and jobs are scarce enough for US citizens may justify limits to immigration, but is this even real? Note that in the recent poor economic downturn the net flow of peoples was to Mexico, rather than to the US.

I have written as if all these things are simple, yet I understand they are not. Not everything is considered in my analysis. It is just something to consider among all the other factors.

Oremus pro invicem!

Some years ago, my then 90+ year old neighbor, told me how the generation after his became enamored of "things" and so left the farm for the city.

I read similar sentiments in Marcus Grodi's Life From Our Land:

As long as they (the rural family - JC) lived untouched by the obsession of the outside world for lesser material goods, the simple contented farm family lived happily, content with their food, drink, clothing, shelter, and the spiritual enrichment of their local parish.

 

However, when the simplicity of the rural farm family was shattered by the lure of the city, when farm children were lured away to work in factories, or to train in college for leadership roles in factories, trading houses or investment firms, not for the procurement of more bodily goods or spiritual enrichment, but for "wealth and what it will buy" their lives became limitlessly driven.

 

There is a lot in here. But first, I remind myself of my post below where Pope Benedict (in Spes Salvi) notes that technology and progress are good with virtuous guidance.

Secondly, rural life can be hard. There is no sugar-coating this.

But, I will say this: the satisfaction I gain from a day or a week of hard work on the farm is totally different than the satisfaction I get when I complete a patent case and submit an invoice. I am not sure, but I think the difference is that on the farm the thing I have worked for is direct. In other words, I planted a vegetable garden and that food will be on my table. (as opposed to, I wrote a patent and got money so we could go to the store and buy food to put on the table.)

The connection between the work and the result is definite (as opposed to: the money could be spent on anything).

 

I think this may be something worth exploring more.

 

It is not simply instant gratification as the work you do may take months to harvest.

 

It may be that man was meant both for intellectual labor and manual labor, yet most of us get so little of the manual these days.

 

It may be that our work, whether intellectual labor or manual is meant to have a definite connection with the fruits of the labor and not an indirect or remote connection.

 

Something to ponder on. Maybe someone will write a book on it, and I can find out what the answers are....

 

Oremus pro invicem!

 

Homestead update

Corn is up! Peas and radishes have been up.

Unexpected rain Monday night.

Still waiting for the Swiss chard, spinach and broccoli to come up.

Spinach plants not looking so hot.

Broccoli plants doing okay.

More corn to plant as well as other things. Seems like not enough time, but we'll make it.

Oremus pro invicem!

Who wrote these lines?

I hesitate to post this, but it struck me. I am not taking sides, as I am not on a side. I am no theologian. I don't usually go around trying to explain what this Pope "really said" or "really meant". I can be upset at times. Sometimes I am confused.

 

All that being said, sometimes this Pope says some good things too. Very good things. But some can't separate the confusing from the good. I usually don't try to parse these things publically.

 

And sometimes I read things in other places. For example, I have heard choruses of criticism of Pope Francis for making statements very much like the following:

 

Jesus identifies himself with those in need, with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40). Love of God and love of neighbour have become one: in the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God.

 

.....

 

Love of God and love of neighbour are thus inseparable, they form a single commandment.

However, both of these are from Deus Caritas Est (Pope Benedict XVI).

Oremus pro invicem!

Just had a great week with "my" seminarian and 3 others. Here are 3 of the 4 here, just before departing. We need many young men like these who are open to God's will.

 

 

Godspeed to them on their trip back to seminary and in their larger (and longer) journey!

 

Oremus pro invicem!

I've heard the story before (heard it again last night in a new light): on October 2, 1928, while in prayer St. Josemaria Escriva "saw" Opus Dei.

I have always wondered if this was a mystical experience, a visionary experience, or simply an idea or inspiration which came in prayer.

The last has always seemed impossible to me-but now I am not so sure.

Action should always be rooted in prayer (I read point in The Way not too long ago making this very point.)

So if you do spend this time with our Lord daily and inspiration comes, you need to act upon it. I did that once .... I did that once...

That is the (one of many) difference(s) between myself and the saint. I recall some inspirations from prayer, but my response has been, "I am not the man to do this!"; "I can't do this by myself."; "This is a good idea for someone else to try."

But I forget: God did communicate to someone else-He talked to me! And wants a leap of faith. He wants us to rely on Him-He doesn't leave us out in the cold on our own.

It is good it is Lent ....

*****************************

 

I did take a leap of faith in one thing: I planted sweet corn this week. I planted this early once before and was richly rewarded.

 

Corn can take a light frost, but not a heavy frost. The problem with waiting until April is that the rain here usually quits around the first of June, which leaves the critical weeks for corn dry. Year after year we lose much of the crop to lack of rain.

 

However, if you plant early and there is no hard frost, you may get the best looking and tasting, and bountiful sweet corn.

 

************************

Finally, finished The Deerslayer. Such an enjoyable saga.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

"God's First Book"

If you have every spent much time looking at  Wyoming Catholic College you might be familiar with the phrase and concept of "studying God's first book".

 

I think I have found what should be their cornerstone book with regard to this saying.

 

Here's a short excerpt from The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper:

 

My edication has been altogether in the woods; the only book I read, or care about reading, is the one which God has opened afore all his creatur's in the noble forests, broad lakes, rolling rivers, blue skies, and the winds and tempests, and sunshine, and other glorious marvels of the land! This book I can read, and I find it full of wisdom and knowledge. (Hawkeye to Judith in The Deerslayer, Chapter 24)

Now Hawkeye is surely no Catholic, but just as surely identifies himself as a Christian and exhibits many Christian virtues.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

 

 

Pick the guy who doesn't care ...

So I have seen parts of some of the debates. I have read the literature in the mail. I have seen cuts of speeches by various candidates here and there.

 

Here is my (long sought and highly paid for) impressions. To almost every candidate running, the most important issue is themselves-whether they can be elected or not.

 

The exception would seem to be Bernie Sanders. I don't think he cares whether he is elected or not as long as the problems are fixed.

 

Bernie Sanders also seems to be the only candidate that has a clue to what our problems are as a nation. Of course his solutions are not nearly mine, but he should get some points for recognizing some of the problems which are so hidden from the minds of all the others.

 

That being said, his stands on life issues and marriage are so abhorrent, one couldn't vote for him in a general election, even if one could hold their nose on the socialism.

 

We are in a sorry state when the only guy running worthy of the presidency is a Socialist from Vermont. (Nothing against Vermont, I have very fond memories of summers in Vermont at Opus Dei camps during my high school years.)

 

Oremus pro invicem!

 

 

Reading and working

I am just about finished Les Miserables (actually reading it.) (Ho, hum).

 

I am listening to The Deerslayer (James Fenimore Cooper). Makes me want to get into the woods.

 

For Christmas, another book I received was Life From Our Land by Marcus Grodi. So far, pretty interesting, but not what I expected and not the book I would have written.

 

I am re-reading Pope Benedict's Encyclical Deus Caritas Est. I read it some years ago, but I am older now and may get more out of it.

 

Yesterday we planted broccoli, early peas, spinach, Swiss chard, and radishes. A good start ....

 

We also finally sold Red, our old boar. He is going to 3 sows, so should be happy and busy.

Oremus pro invicem!

Saturday

It has been too long since I had such a full day of physical labor (not withstanding my blog's masthead). I shoveled manure into the pickup; spread it on the garden area; trimmed some fruit trees; tilled most of the early spring garden; broke for lunch. After the midday, Thomas and I went over to the neighbors and cut and split wood for a few hours. We hustled back to the house just in time to pick up the girls to go to confession.

Full day, but full of blessings. I was sore Sunday morning, but in a good way.

Oremus pro invicem!

Note a new link on the sidebar: Northeast Catholic College blog . I think there are a couple posts by a relative of mine.....

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Life and party

Here's piece well worth your time to contemplate during this political season: pro-life or anti-abortion .

Here's a question: I unexpectedly missed the Republican primary in SC last week because I went on retreat. The Democratic primary is tomorrow. Other than not wanting to be seen locally in line at a Democratic primary, is there any reason I shouldn't go and vote against HC?

Oremus pro invicem!

Spes Salvi & progress

I came across the following statement in an article in the February IEEE Spectrum Magazine. The article was on setting (technology) targets, but the context matters not:

Terrorism, chaotic climates, cyberweapons, mysterious diseases, vanishing species: The list of fixable perils grows longer with each year. Technologies of abundance altered our existence but came at a cost that is only now being more accurately counted. This tension-between the glories of our engineered lives and the price to be paid for them-is the essential drama of our times.

Now I might add to the list of terrors (note some listed are man-made, others are not), and I might dispute that “the tension …  is the essential drama of our times”. The essential drama of our times, as in all times, is that between man and God.

But this statement from an engineering magazine reminded me of some things I read and meditated on in Spes Salvi.

Pope Benedict notes about Karl Marx: “His real error is materialism: man is not merely the product of economic conditions.” And commenting on Bacon, Benedict writes: “Man can never be redeemed simply from the outside.” (both from PP 21)

Both statements make a lie that any particular lifestyle (other than one that is intrinsically evil) or particular possessions (or lack thereof) make a man intrinsically closer or farther from God.

Pope Benedict goes on to note that a pessimist (I forget his name) defined progress as simply “the slingshot to the atom bomb.”

Benedict notes (now I am paraphrasing) that progress and technology build on itself from generation to generation. The right use of development of technology and progress is dependent on these being guided by virtuous men. The problem is when it is not guided by the virtuous. (I recall that one of the Founding Fathers noted that our Constitution would only work for a virtuous people – a warning for us to be sure.)

However, virtue is not like technology. Virtue does not build (necessarily) from generation to generation. Sure, we have the shoulders of Augustine, Aquinas, and all the Church Fathers, saints, and holy men and women to stand on, but the virtue is chosen (or not) to be acquired anew with each man.

One of our problems (paraphrasing from Pope Benedict again) is that temporal hopes are fulfilled (targets met in the engineer’s realm) and leave us wanting-so the search goes on-progress marches, not counting the cost.

But our world, which reverences science and technology, has not yet learned the lesson. Technology and progress not guided by the virtuous and for the common good-the common good in one sense being that man can concentrate on salvation of souls - truly leaves use to pay the price for the glories of our “progress.”

Note, that the solution is not simply to go back to the slingshot or to a Luddite farm as “Man can never be redeemed simply from the outside”, but to acquire virtue and sanctity in whatever our circumstances are and to live the gospel with our lives and speech.

Oremus pro invicem!

Lonesome Pines and Robert Hugh Benson

Listened to The Trail of the Lonesome Pine last week by John Fox. I had seen the 1936 movie with Fred McMurray and Henry Fonda. The movie only resembled the book in spirit-not so much in content.

 

Am now listening to The Dawn of All by Robert Hugh Benson. If one recalls, Robert Hugh Benson wrote The Lord of the World which is a favorite of Pope Francis. Many years ago, it was recommended to me and I read it. I said "eh". Just a few years ago I was prompted to read it again due to some strong recommendations. I did and said, "eh".

 

RHB writes The Dawn of All as some thought The Lord of the World too depressing or pessimistic. The Dawn of All gives an alternate future (set in 1973!)

 

I am about halfway through. At this point I am saying, "eh".

 

Now, RHB also wrote (as I mentioned somewhere below) The Friendship of Christ. This one I would highly recommend. I finished it during this past weekend's retreat. (My one negative comment on the book has nothing to do however, with content. Content is most important, but presentation does effect the reader also. I would say, the publisher needs a good layout man.)

 

It is hard to give some sample quotes: it is the whole context and insight which the author has to the spiritual life and its problems and progress.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Retreat

So I went on a 3-day Opus Dei silent retreat in GA this past weekend. My first silent retreat in some 14 years and my first Opus Dei retreat in probably 36 years.

It was very needed and inspiring. I am hoping I can keep my resolutions and there will be some fruits.

But to the humor .....

My roommate was a young guy. The 2nd day of the retreat he came up to me and whispered: "I forgot to bring shampoo. Would you have any?"

Now, I don't often post hatless pictures of myself, but generally the sides of my head are either shaved or very closely cropped to match my very bald skull.

I looked at this young man and tried very hard not to smile too hard and just shook my head, no.

The funniest part of it all was that I had forgotten to bring a bar of soap. I was using my shaving cream for soap in the shower. I told him of my own forgetfulness and mentioned he was free to borrow my shaving cream! (He declined.)

Oremus pro invicem!

48

From Spes Salvi (48) on praying for the faithful departed:

And for that there is no need to convert earthly time into God's time: in the communion of souls simple terrestrial time is superseded. It is never too late to touch the heart of another, nor is it ever in vain.

SC Republican Primary

So the SC primary is on Saturday. The robo-calls and pollsters constantly calling (it is really harassment!) will be over in a couple of days.

Our mailbox has been bombarded with these huge color postcards which alternately detail the virtues and proposed polices of the candidates or are directed at showing the hypocrisy of another candidate – of course behind the anonymous wall of a PAC.

Just as one example of the messages one candidate is championing is the flat tax. Now, the flat tax may be a nice thing, but it has been on the lips of presidential candidates since Jack Kemp ran (if not before) many years ago. It has never gained any traction in the US Congress.

My question is this: the real power for changing tax law is in the US Congress. If these members of the US Congress who are running for president haven’t been able to pass a flat tax (just to pick on one of the proposals) while they were/are in Congress, why would I think they can do it as President?

Sure, the presidency has the bully pulpit, but really …..?

Oremus pro invicem!

Presidential politics

The SC GOP primary is coming up, so I guess it is time to pay attention. Previously, I didn't know who would be left, so I didn't get invested with anyone.

Today, Ted Cruz is speaking in Camden (20 miles down the road). Ben Carson will be in Lancaster (30 miles in the other direction.)

Trump has been in Rock Hill where I teach, numerous times over the past weeks. I won't see any of them. The only times I went to see presidential candidates was Alan Keyes and Pat Buchanan - way back.

Leaving aside Carson (who I believe is fading fast), I am not sure there is more than a toothpick's difference between Bush, Cruz, Rubio, and Kasich.

So, what to do?

Here's what I think the best scenario for the country is:

Trump and Sanders both with the most delegates, but not enough to clinch the nomination. In both conventions, the party regulars nominate the establishment candidate (Rubio v Clinton?). People are angry get angry at the parties ignoring their will, and real political upheaval takes place.

I don't know the outcome, but it couldn't be much worse than the two parties we have now.

That all being said, no way I can ever vote for Trump. Which of the others will get my support?-who knows at this point, but I am not sure it matters.

Oremus pro invicem!

Antonin Scalia - May he rest in peace!

Update: I saw this today among his "most quotable" and can't help myself from posting it:

"What is a 'moderate' interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?"

At his best, proclaiming the truth from the folly of others: From Obergefell dissent:

I write separately to call attention to this Court’s threat to American democracy. The substance of today’s decree is not of immense personal importance to me. The law can recognize as marriage whatever sexual attachments and living arrangements it wishes, and can accord them favorable civil consequences, from tax treatment to rights of inheritance.

 

Those civil consequences—and the public approval that conferring the name of marriage evidences—can perhaps have adverse social effects, but no more adverse than the effects of many other controversial laws. So it is not of special importance to me what the law says about marriage. It is of overwhelming importance, however, who it is that rules me. Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The opinion in these cases is the furthest extension in fact— and the furthest extension one can even imagine—of the Court’s claimed power to create “liberties” that the Constitution and its Amendments neglect to mention. This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves.  ......

 

This is a naked judicial claim to legislative—indeed, super-legislative—power; a claim fundamentally at odds with our system of government. Except as limited by a constitutional prohibition agreed to by the People, the States are free to adopt whatever laws they like, even those that offend the esteemed Justices’ “reasoned judgment.” A system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy.

 

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen. — Eternal rest grant to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Harper Lee

I wasn't ever the greatest fan of To Kill a Mocking Bird, but I read it in school and thought Gregory Peck had to be the best casting choice for Atticus possible.

 

When I heard that Go Set a Watchman was being published, I figured I should read it. Then the reviews came. So much disappointment-that colorblind, progressive Atticus Finch may have some racism in him. The disappointment with the character translated into panning the entire book.

 

I note that the book was actually written years ago, so I would expect the culture and attitudes of the time to be portrayed and not be rewritten with today's attitudes.

 

So, I had to read it (or listen to it.) Which I did this week. I wasn't pleased with the few instances of blaspheming in the final sections. I too was surprised-at least at first- in the 'real' Atticus Finch, but on reflection I don't think it is inconsistent with the Atticus Finch of To Kill. 

 

The narrator is Scout, but I think the real hero of the novel is her Uncle Jack, who tries to reconcile the attitudes of Atticus with the history. Uncle Jack could possibly be the real voice of Harper Lee in the novel.

 

Without further comment of my own (as this has been explored on this site before), I will say that Uncle Jack makes the comment and tries to make the case that race was only incidental to the war between the states and the civil rights upheavals of the 50's and 60's. The real issue in both cases was liberty, the right of community to govern itself, states rights, and the rest.

 

It was interesting and well-written, and effective at getting one to think in terms outside of today's culture and attitudes. One may not like characters or the political voice, but that is outside the scope whether it is decent literature.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Listening to a Fr. Francis Finn S.J. book from Librivox.org this morning on my way to a remote work site. Here are the two things I heard and need to meditate on:

“and the rich He sends away empty” Luke 1:53

 And from St. Ignatius:

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.

Oremus pro invicem!

Mrs. Curley and I went to a rare movie the other night. Even more rare, the movie we wanted to see was only showing in 3D. However, we bought the tickets and enjoyed the show (more on that later.) I thought they were undercharging based on the board, but didn't mention it. However, the kids looked at the movie stub as it was going in the waste when we got home and noticed we were given the Senior discount. I really don't mind saving money, the kids thought it hilarious. The box office didn't ask us, so I have no guilt.

 

The movie, The Finest Hours, was based on a 1952 Coast Guard rescue off the coast of New England. It was done well; suspenseful and entertaining. It wasn't the best movie I ever saw, and would have rather seen it at the $2.50 theater in Hartsville, but we had a good time and ate a lot of popcorn (only REAL reason to go to a movie in the theater!)

 

As far as the 3D went, I don't think any experience was enhanced by having it in 3D- just a pain to wear glasses over glasses.

This is it, as Lent is just around the corner.

Oremus pro invicem!

Slavery is with us today - what is it?

Anthony Esolen answers the question here.

Oremus pro invicem!

Practical Distributism

I found this site: Practical Distributism and share it with you now (and on the sidebar). Some good articles here especially if you are interested in how Distributism is different from Capitalism and Socialism, and how it may work in practice-both small and large scale. Enjoy!

Oremus pro invicem!

The Blockade Runners

Just finished listening to The Blockade Runners by Jules Verne courtesy of www.Librivox.org. First, a hat tip to the reader. I have listened to him on several other novels, most recently one by Louis L’Amour, and, by chance, he is from Simpsonville, SC.

About the book: it is short and takes place around 1862 (written in 1864). The basic plot concerns a ship which plans to run the Federal blockade of Charleston, SC in order to deliver arms and return with much-needed cotton to the British Isles.

What most fascinated me was the attitude about the conflict (the war between the states, the war of Northern aggression, or the Civil War-depending on your persuasion.) The main protagonist, the ship’s captain, believed the war was about slavery-though, at least initially, he was partial to the Confederate cause, but not a fan of slavery . Recall the author was French and the protagonist was British.

It is always interesting to get outside perspectives on this. Recall that a year or two ago I read Chesterton’s (Cecil’s) America (my commentary here) . Of course Chesterton's view was more nuanced and presented a history of the country leading to the conflict. Things are always more complicated than they seem.

****************

Here’s an observation for those who listen to books frequently. Why is it that women readers can easily give voice to a male character in the book without sounding ridiculous, but a man reader cannot do the same for a female character in the book.

In the present book I am listening to (a Max Brand western), the male reader does the sensible thing. When reading the dialogue of a female character, he doesn’t try to sound female; he simply changes his inflection slightly as he does with each character.

(BTW – in my view Max Brand westerns don’t hold much of a candle to Louis L’Amour.)

Oremus pro invicem!

Swarms

It won’t happened overnight, but the day is coming when you will simply say to a swarm of robots, ‘Okay, go and perform this mission’. … “Think about standing in a swarm of a million mosquito-sized robots and getting them to go somewhere or to execute a particular task ……”

This isn’t a conversation from Marvel’s Ant-Man movie. This comes from Horizons the Georgia Tech Research quarterly publication.

Another article in the same issue describes complex objects that fold or assemble themselves. They are manufactured of layers with different temperature sensitivities. Generally they would be “printed” flat. When heat is applied they change shape and assemble themselves. Manufacturing needs workers less and less, just like the jobless recovery from the present recession.

Oremus pro invicem!

Coming late to the party ...

I am finally reading Pope Benedict’s Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi. This passage jumped out at me yesterday:

This is precisely the point made, for example, by Saint Ambrose, one of the Church Fathers, in the funeral discourse for his deceased brother Satyrus: “Death was not part of nature; it became part of nature. God did not decree death from the beginning; he prescribed it as a remedy. Human life, because of sin ... began to experience the burden of wretchedness in unremitting labour and unbearable sorrow. There had to be a limit to its evils; death had to restore what life had forfeited. Without the assistance of grace, immortality is more of a burden than a blessing”. A little earlier, Ambrose had said: “Death is, then, no cause for mourning, for it is the cause of mankind's salvation”.

I have never thought of death like this before. I am glad I am reading it now (in the 2^nd half of my life) instead of reading it and forgetting about it (in my youth.)

Also, I didn’t know St. Augustine wrote an extended letter on prayer. I have to get this.

Finally, just received a late Christmas present (shipped to the wrong address): Robert Hugh Benson’s The Friendship of Christ. Will start on it soon.

Oremus pro invicem!

Gem in an unlikely place

Listening, found this:

"Cities are for money; mountains are for the soul." - Galloway Sacket in Louis L'Amour's Galloway

Oremus pro invicem!

Reading and things

Update: Decided to read Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Arundel by Kenneth Roberts – another book that was neglected in my youth, to my loss. I picked it up a few weeks ago and have been engrossed. At the beginning it reminded me of the favorite of my youth, Treasure Island. Arundel didn’t continue in such a high esteem, but never-the-less is well worth the read.

I do a lot of commuting these days between the technical college I adjunct at and other work I pick up. I am always looking for good books on CD from the library. I have found that most mysteries and westerns available are just not worth it. The language is usually too crude to my taste and often there is subject matter which is described in such detail that a man shouldn’t be listening to (or anyone else for that matter.) Louis L’Amour westerns are an exception. They hold my attention (so I don’t fall asleep on the road) and are generally very clean. (Just finished Mustang Man on CD from the library.)

Libravox.com has many worthwhile books. My problem is that if you download them and put them on CD, you are constantly using CD. If you play them straight from the computer in the car, you have to hit a new track after every chapter-which is not safe. From Libravox.com I have listened to some of Chesterton’s fiction, Zane Grey, and a few others. (My youngest son complains that Zane Grey's are simply romances dressed up as westerns - I guess he's pretty on the mark for the most part, although Lone Star Ranger was an exception.)

I have listened to Lighthouse CD’s when I have new ones available.

My next handheld fiction foray (as I usually have something non-fiction in the works also at any time) my be to return to Kenneth Roberts (maybe Rabble in Arms or Oliver Wiswell, or I heard he wrote about Cowpens also, which is in SC and deserving a visit from the Curley’s in the near future. Or possibly I will return to James Fennimore Cooper. I have both read and listened to The Last of the Mohicans and read The Prairie.

As you can guess, my fiction interests tend towards 1-2 centuries ago and the outdoors!

Christmas season is officially over (although some celebrate til the Presentation), but our Christmas tree is still up and beautiful-although I think its days are numbered this weekend. Much work has been done on the homestead this past month as we built a new horse pen, slaughtered a couple hogs, several chickens, started cutting and splitting wood for next winter, and burned much yard debris. Our Fall square dance was held on January 2^nd this year and a success (by our counts anyway.)

The freezer is full; the boys back at college; and the schedule is full. Life is good-although we miss the boys.

Oremus pro invicem!

Merry Christmas!

Oremus pro invicem!

Just happened to notice one of my old pieces is getting new life, here .

But something even better to read (not by me) would be this.

Oremus pro invicem!

So our vet preg-checked our heifer and our older milk cow back in July. Both, he said, were pregnant; the heifer being much further along. In fact, the heifer calved the next day! In due course, we sold her and the calf.

Come September, we dried off our older milk cow in preparation for her calving. You want her last couple months devoted totally to growing the calf and not producing milk.

We didn't have a solid date for the calving, but did know that we killed the bull on February 28th, so the gestation tables told us December 7th was the "due date".

Alas, December 7th came and went with no calf, and her bags just didn't seem to be filling up.

I called the vet this morning and asked "how late can she be?". I was told 2 things. 1st, that full gestation is 290 days. (This could be good news, this gives us December 15th - tomorrow!)

2nd, I was told the full moon was December 26th, so she would definitely calf by then. I asked the vet assistant to repeat this last piece of information. It was duly repeated.

I was afraid to ask what the full moon had to do with it.....

Oremus pro invicem!

What to do when the only thing left from the Thanksgiving feast is a pumpkin? The contest which happened here .... We all took turns. It turned pretty raucous at times.

Oremus pro invicem!

getting ready ....

for Thanksgiving dinner.

Oremus pro invicem!

Palmer Method

Now, there are certainly more important things going on in the world, but back to ordinary complaining ....

When I was taught to write in cursive, this is the alphabet I was taught: (although I think the T had a little more flourish at my school.)

Twice my daughter has written a letter to a friend who lives on a street beginning with "Q". Twice the letter has been returned because the postmaster didn't realize the "Q" was a "Q" and not a 2 on envelope's address.

 

Several times my kids have been asked if they can read and write cursive handwriting-because few can these days-apparently including a postal worker near us.

What is the world coming to!

Oremus pro invicem!

Peanuts

No, we are not growing them.

Took my wife and teenagers to see the movie last night. Never a huge Peanuts fan myself, it was still heartening to hear my teenage son's laughter ripple over the crowd at some of this innocent humor. I think we all enjoyed the movie.

Not to get mathematical, but I would say that Peanuts is to Toy Story (or UP) as Ant Man is to Captain America. All enjoyable, but clearly different classes in the type.

I don't always agree with Steven D. Greydanus movie reviews, but I think he hit it squarely with this one.

Now the previews for other children's movies (all animated) due out soon, show no promise at all.

Oremus pro invicem!

November 9

We finally fired up the woodstove for the first time this morning. It 63 F in here this morning. Not too cold and we will probably let the fire die before noon.

This is the 16th anniversary of my father's passing (Here pictured in 1942). May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace!

Oremus pro invicem!

I shouldn't rant ...

but I am self-employed and get my health insurance from the marketplace. I have probably ranted before ....

Here's what you have to deal with: You put in your monthly income-specifying it as monthly income. They ask to confirm it. Then they multiply by 12 and ask if this is your yearly income. Then they divide it by twelve and ask if this is your monthly income.

They ask if you are a US citizen. Then 45 questions later they ask if you are an illegal alien even if you already indicated you are a US citizen.

At some points in the application, the program will invariably lock up. At that point, hold on to your hair, because the only option is to x-out of the website and then re-login. The problem is that even though you think all the previous responses have been saved (after all there is a green check mark next to all "saved" answers), when you log back in, those answers are not saved and you start from scratch or (if you get extremely lucky) from the beginning of one of the sections.

It is not any better if you call in. In the past two years I have applied over the phone. The same thing happens-the program locks up and you call back 24 hours later and start from scratch.

Can I charge the government for my wasted time trying to fill this thing out?

You would think by now the bugs in the program would have been fixed, the redundancy eliminated, and well ..... it is a government thing.

All Soul's day

Praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory was the special apostolate of the late Requiem Press. Every order included a free copy of our booklet "Daily Prayers for the Church Suffering". Do remember the holy souls today and all during November. A plenary indulgence is available for the holy souls by your prayers-praying for them at a cemetery during the next 9 days (under the usual conditions).

1 Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord;  2 Master, listen to my voice; let but thy ears be attentive to the voice that calls on thee for pardon. 3 If thou, Lord, wilt keep record of our iniquities, Master, who has strength to bear it? 4 Ah, but with thee there is forgiveness; be thy name ever revered. 5 I wait for the Lord, for his word of promise my soul waits; 6 patient my soul waits, as ever watchman that looked for the day. Patient as watchman at dawn, 7 for the Lord Israel waits, the Lord with whom there is mercy, with whom is abundant power to ransom. 8 He it is that will ransom Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalm 130)

 

 

Update: Attended Divine Liturgy at St. Peter's in Cheraw, SC for All Soul's Day. Father used black vestments-as is appropriate, and faced the tabernacle during the consecration (as is appropriate).

Oremus pro invicem!

The New Guy in Town!

Our first boar here was a Hampshire we named Tarzan (1st pic). He was prolific. We've had a few other boars here for a short time, but none measured to Tarzan. Most recently we have been using Red (2nd pic), who is a product of the best of our own herd. However, it has come time to let his daughters enter the herd, so I needed a new boar.

I called Kewannee Farms in Georgia where Tarzan came from and yesterday arrived home with a new young boar-Thor (next 2 pictures). He is 325 pounds and just ready to come into service.

It was pouring rain yesterday and so I had to stop and rig up a roof for him. He joined his first gilt this morning.

Welcome ... Thor!

Oremus pro invicem!

The Pilgrimage of Mercy

This is how I spent my day:

at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte. The Pilgrimage of Mercy-veneration of the relics of St. Maria Goretti, preceded by the Divine Liturgy in the Extraordinary Form.

Oremus pro invicem!

Introducing our new chimney sweep...

 

Although we've had a frost the past two nights, I haven't quite got the wood stove ready to fire up. But we are a step closer now as our newest edition of chimney sweep has done his job.

Oremus pro invicem!

Yes! I agree with This .

Read what this Romanian lady has to say to the Synod!

We have our martyrs (although few) in North America also. Yesterday was the feast of the North American martyrs. I posted about our trip to Auriesville, NY 11 years ago here.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

For those worried about the Synod ....

Here are two clips (snipped off Rod Dreher's blog in the past few days) which hopefully put things into perspective for us (at least for me):

 

********************

In the early part of the last decade, a priest friend in New York grew weary of listening to me and another Catholic pal griping about the failures of the institutional Church. He said, in effect:

“Everything you say is true, and if you two sit around waiting for the institutional Church to get its act together, you’re sunk. But you don’t have to do that. You have the Catechism. You can go on Amazon.com tonight and order a library that would have made Aquinas envious, and have it at your home in a few days. You in the laity can do this on your own. What are you waiting for?”

And:

********************

 

Excerpt from a 2008 interview with the Cardinal of Bologna, about an exchange he had with Sister Lucia, the last surviving Fatima visionary:

Q. There is a prophecy by Sister Lucia dos Santos, of Fatima, which concerns “the final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan”. The battlefield is the family. Life and the family. We know that you were given charge by John Paul II to plan and establish the Pontifical Institute for the Studies on Marriage and the Family.

 

Yes, I was. At the start of this work entrusted to me by the Servant of God John Paul II, I wrote to Sister Lucia of Fatima through her Bishop as I couldn’t do so directly. Unexplainably however, since I didn’t expect an answer, seeing that I had only asked for prayers, I received a very long letter with her signature – now in the Institute’s archives. In it we find written: the final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid, she added, because anyone who operates for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. And then she concluded: however, Our Lady has already crushed its head.

(My emphasis in the last quote.)

Oremus pro invicem! 

Nunc Dimittis

I am seeing more and more things in the light of the Eucharist. For example, Nunc dimittis, which after praying every night for some time, I see as Eucharistic. We have seen God made man in the Eucharist. He gives himself to us in the Eucharist. What more do we need. He, in the Eucharist is the light to Israel and all mankind.

Lord, now dost thou let thy servant go in peace, according to thy word; 

for my own eyes have seen that saving power of thine 

which thou hast prepared in the sight of all nations. 

This is the light which shall give revelation to the Gentiles,

this is the glory of thy people Israel.  (Luke 2:29-33)

Oremus pro invicem!

Why?

-have I been posting so much more than normal this last week?

Mrs. Curley and daughter went to Florida over a week ago for a surprise birthday party for Mrs. Curley's Grandmother. Due to the road and bridge closures in SC they decided to stay a few extra days.

With a little more time on my hands, I have put a small portion of it to posting here. But it all ends (thankfully!!!!) today. They are due home this afternoon.

I do enjoy cooking (this week we had picnic shoulder-slow cooked of course, fried chicken, fried okra, garlic sausage casserole, and many others) however, I enjoy it more when I am not doing it!

 I miss our morning coffee conversations which are a regular feature and one of the highlights of every day.

So things will be back to normal very soon. I like normal!

*******************

 

 

Without weighing in on the "Benedict Option", I read this today:

 

Overheard today by me in one of those conversations:

 

“So many of the families in our church just want their kids to be happy and successful.”

 

Well, doesn’t every parent? Yes. But that’s not the point here. In context, the speaker meant that      this is their telos, that they want nothing more for their kids than that they be happy and successful, and that the mothers and fathers are not prepared to hear anything contrary to this gospel of worldly success.(emphasis in original)

  --

For many that I have known over the years this "happiness" has to do with worldly happiness and financial security. This is a reason for the shortage of men and women responding to their religious vocations (imo).

 

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Domesticated life

I was trying to relax my class before the big test yesterday, so I told them I was in a happy frame of mind: I was a new "father". "My son called as I was walking in the building and told me our sow had piglets!" It got a great laugh (I don't know if it helped them on the test!)

Well, here they are:

While I am at it, here are the turkeys we are raising. They are "Rio Grande" turkeys - although they come from a line which has been domesticated for over 20 years.

Finally, does this man ever write anything not worth reading? Anthony Esolen again.

Oremus pro invicem!

Federalist or Anti-Federalist

I had occasion again to review the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers when I drove Matthew to Texas this summer. We listened to a selection during the drive via librivox.com. It had been some years since my last acquaintance with these authors.

I admit to having a fondness for the Anti-Federalists, not so much because I think the Federalists' plan as written was so bad, but because the predictions of where the Constitution would lead have proved so true. We don't live under the Constitution which was ratified, and haven't for many years.

Without getting further into my observations, I submit to you Anthony Esolen's observations.

If in a republic the government fears the people, in a tyranny the people fear the government. And in America we do indeed fear the government, not simply because, as Jefferson said, the power to tax is the power to destroy. We have reversed the relationship that Cleveland – giving up an opportunity to be a political hero – urged us to maintain. We have allowed the government to support us, and have paid dearly for that support, in money and in real political power. We complain that our representatives do not do as we bid them, but we should recognize the difficulty. Our representatives are almost powerless. They do not pass laws that are succinct and clear and easy to obey. They have legislated into existence a vast system of bureaucracies, leaving all of the messy details of governance to many thousands of unelected and therefore unrepresentative and unappealable officials.

Read the whole thing.

Oremus pro invicem!