Rodina-Mat'

Rodina-Mat', originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

The Blockade Cemetery in Leiningrad, June/July 1980.

It seems appropriate to rocess photos from the Soviet era in black and white, and all scratched and grainy.

I found some old slides of mine taken there in the summer of 1980. This is the cemetery where are buried approximately 1 million victims of the siege of Leningrad (блокада Ленинграда) - some 900 days in length. It was so severe, it led to cannibalism.

The statute is of the Rodina-Mat' (Родина-мать), the Motherland.

Mom

Mom, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

My mother in 1979, at the same age as I am now.

I really miss her. She died in November 2008. I am grateful for the years where she lived with me in California. I hope I was a good daughter.

Celebrating Marriage

A very busy day today, all centered around marriage.

I was doing my tithing of talents for the Diocese of Knoxville, shooting the special Mass and reception to honored married couples, this time in Chattanooga.  I enjoy doing so, because (a) it is for my church; (b) it involves photography, and (c) I get to interact with Bishop Richard Stika, as well as hear his homily.  And His Excellency is an excellent homilist.

In speaking about marriage, he raised a point that I had not considered before.  Matrimony, he said, is the one Sacrament that is not celebrated by clergy - rather, once a rpiest or deacon marries a couple, the Sacrament is celebrated daily by the marrid couple.

Now, think about that.  Our exposure to the Sacraments is rather momentary - for many Catholics, it's the weekly shuffle to the front of the church to receive Communion.  Occasionally Penance.  But the two Sacraments of service - Matrimony and Holy Orders - are bestowed and thereafter celebrated - daily, 24/7/365, we never close.  If you are married, then the Sacrament is present always. Take joy in that.

A smart man, my Bishop.  And funny and personable, as he and I joked while I was shooting the portraits of him with the couples who came to be feted.  And caring - I asked him if he could pray for a personal intention of mine.  We ended up talking for a bit, and he gave me comforting counsel and insight as a priest of his years - and indeed, will include my intention personally in his prayers.  "My prayers are no stronger than yours, Stephanie," he told me.  "But together they will work to bring about the good."

I'll have pictures up tomorrow.  Between shooting the event in Chattanooga and then racing back to my parish to shoot our marriage celebration there . . . I'm beat.

Language Geek Humor

If I have to explain it . . . I won't.

We Won't Get Fooled Again

Busy day today, but want to say one thing about Obama's compromise on the heathcare mandate.

It isn't one. In fact, now it has made the situation worse. By mandating that ALL health insurers carry contraceptive drugs - including the morning after pill - now churches and dioceses, which were exempt before, will be paying for these plans. Because there will be no plans without that coverage. The compromise is nothing but a cheap accounting gimmick.

And - Planned Parenthood is applauding it. That says a lot right there.

London 1979

London 1979, a set on Flickr.

I recently found a box that had been lain untouched, likely since the early 1990's. Among the gems in it were two binders of old Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides.

Looking at them, I realized that I had found pictures of, among others, a trip that I took to London, England, in September 1979.

I was 18 years old and there on my own. At the time, I was attending New York University and was about to start my sophomore year. The university did not start its school year until after September 15th, so I used the first two weeks of that month - and its cheaper rates - to head off to London.

I remember staying at a youth hostel in Bloomsbury, a noisy affair. But - it was cheap. As was my plane ticket, flying from New York on the now gone Laker Air (remember Sir Freddy Laker?) to Gatwick, where I caught the train into Victoria Station and went off.  I remember the song that seemed to top the charts then was Don't Bring Me Down, by ELO, and every time I hear that song, I think of this trip.

I am a little disappointed that I did not have the photographic skills or eye that I have today. I would have focused less on structures and more on people. Well, no regrets - for all I know, these pictures may show a London that might not exist ten, twenty years from now. Already the scenes of people feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square show a popular pasttime that is no more.

The quality may not be the best. Over time I will clean up some of the shots. But now, I have them scanned andsaved. I am very protective of my photographs and this set I will eventually make into a book so that - who knows? - my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will see history through my eyes.

Photographs are meant to be shared - enjoy them!

Gerry Thaete, RIP

I just learned the sad news that Gerry Thaete, the wife of Ed Thaete who is the longtime sacristan at my former parish, St. Joseph in Santa Ana, CA, passed away.

She was a lovely and gracious lady, who was the mother of nine children.  I always held her in high esteem and she was the epitome of class.

Eternal rest grant her, oh Lord.  Let perpetual light shine upon her.  May her soul rest in peace in the love of God.  Amen.  (+)

Feeding the Pigeons in Trafalgar Square

Feeding the Pigeons in Trafalgar Square, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

A boy feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square in London, UK - September 1979.

When I am looking at these old slides, I wonder what became of people. This fellow would be in his early 40's. Where is he now and what is he doing?

This photo is part of a series of photographs taken by me in the late 1970's - early 1980's, recently discovered and scanned.

Tramp

Tramp, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Homeless man, lying by the Thames River in London, United Kingdom. September 1979.

No one uses the term "tramp" or "hobo" anymore, to describe such people. Back in 1979 they did.

This photo is part of a series of photographs taken by me in the late 1970's - early 1980's, recently discovered and scanned.

When Permission Becomes Provision - the Evolution of a Privacy Right

The language of the opponents of the Catholic Church in the case of the HHS mandates is telling.  In a recent editorial for the Wall Street Journal, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and two others opine that:

So let’s remember who this controversy is really about—the women of America. Already too many women struggle to pay for birth control. According to the Hart Research survey cited above, more than one-third of women have reported having difficulty affording birth control. It can cost $600 a year for prescription contraceptives. That’s a lot of money for a mother working as a medical technician in a Catholic hospital, or a teacher in a private religious school.

Already too many women truggle to pay for birth control.  But, if I follow this logic, they are entitled to it.  And someone must pay.  Other than themselves.

What I see happening here is an evolution of what is a "privacy right" given to us - and it is moving from being permission to provision.  Such rights used to mean having the freedom to act in such a manner, with some limitations.  Now it is being redefined to mean I deserve to have something.  And as it is a "right", it must come to me without any effort on my part.

Those who have studied Constitutional law as it applies to sex and reproduction are familiar with the seminal US Supreme Court case, Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) 381 U.S. 479.  In Griswold, Connecticut had a law that prohibited the sale of contraceptives.  This case, in a nutshell, held that law to be unconstitutional as it violated a "right to marital privacy."  Married couples should be able to buy contraceptives - not have them provided to them, but to choose to exercise a freedom and stroll into the corner pharmacy for a package of French letters (an antiquated slang term for condoms).  In a subsequent case, Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972) 405 U.S. 438, the Supreme Court held that the same privacy extends to unmarried couples as well.  Even the initial abortion case, the now famous Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113 held that the right to privacy extnded to a woman's choice to seek an abortion - and not to be provided with one.

However, that is simply not good enough for the social progressives.  To them, a right should not be an individual's liberty to act, with that individual's weighing of the consequences - because not every right is absolute, you cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater and be held blameless for any consequential panic that triggers a stanpeded where people are hurt - and understanding the limits of such a right.  Rather, it is a handout to which the individual is entitled.

 
This is what the opponents of the Catholic Church really want - "it's about the choice of the individual," they cry, but they want a private entity - such as Notre Dame University or St. Joseph Hospital - to foot the bill for that individual's decision.  Whether to procreate, how many children to have - yes, those remain protected by privacy rights.  But by shifting the responsibility for the consequences, we see a diminishing individual in favor of another mouth to be fed by government - or, in this case, by a private organization forced to do so by government.  No one would suggest a mother with 15 children should be denied welfare or asked to undergo sterilization as a condition to receive future tax-funded benefits, and in some cases, the attituide adopted is that such government largesse is an entitlement, a "right" that cannot be denied.
 
I wonder how far this evolution will go?  We have seen already in the Occupy movement demands for public space to meet and plan their overthrow of Big Money/Capitalism/Koch Brothers/Wall Street and, when the local municipality fails to provide that by allowing them to take over an abandoned building and supply it with utilities, as has been seen in oakland, the hue and cry goes up that their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech are being denied.

But freedom of religion - well, despite the fact that the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the US Constitution, the State is loathe to say what constitutes the exercise of religion.  It is "above their pay grade."  So their solution seems to be . . . just ignore it.  The churches, temples, meeting houses, mosques are being kept open and no one has told you that you cannot attend your services.

Tell you what - I will stay out of your bedroom, when you stay out of my wallet.

Excommunicate Nancy Pelosi

The Crescat makes a good case for it.

And no, it's not "being mean."  It's not condemning Nancy to eternal damnation - she has to do that on her own.  Mind you, she seems to be working at it . . .

Uncle Billy - Joviality

Uncle Billy - Joviality, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

William "Billy" Martin - July 1979 - Montrose, New York.

This is one of the beautiful things about finding old slides and having the technology - so easy! - to bring them to life!

This was my father's younger brother. I loved my Uncle Billy - always smiling, always laughing. As a child and teen, I can remember visiting his home, which is shared with my Aunt Marie, a fiery Sicilian who was also my godmother, and just laughing and laughing. My father teased his younger brother mercilessly, but Billy took it all in stride.

A memory - my father was one of five loud, gregarious Irish brothers.  Jackie - #3 - was the first to die.  The priest was in the middle of Consecration at Jackie's funeral when Billy started to go, "Psst!  Psst, Father!"  The priest stopped, and looked at him incredulously.  Billy then said, "Father - could you give me and my brothers a general absolution, so's we can receive Communion?"  The priest glared at him, and then said, "I absolve the lot of you!"  Billy sat back, satisfied and smiling.

God rest his soul.

This photo is part of a series of photographs taken by me in the late 1970's - early 1980's, recently discovered and scanned.

Queen's Life Guard at the Palace of St. James

Queens Liufe Guard, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

This photo is part of a series of photographs taken by me in the late 1970's - early 1980's, recently discovered and scanned.

Queen's Life Guard at the Palace of St. James - London, UK - September 1979

I wonder if I will see the end of the British monarchy in my lifetime - and perhaps the rise of a caliphate in the United Kingdom?

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Ciircus, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

"And the foreign student said to me,
Is it really true?
There are elephants, lions, too?
In Piccadilly Circus?"

-- Mother Goose, Jethro Tull

Another slide scanned of a trip I took to the United Kingdom in September 1979. I was all of 18 years of age, bopping around London town all by myself, with an old Nikon . . .

If anyone can send me this scene or something close to it of Piccadilly Circus at another time, I'll post it here to show the change. 

Russians in Paris

Russians in Paris, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Russian ex-pats in Paris, France - 1980

This photo is part of a series of photographs taken by me in the late 1970's - early 1980's, recently discovered and scanned.

Ghosts of the Past

Seine River at sunset - Paris, France - June 1980

Seine at Sunset , originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I recently found several hundred old slides from the early 1980's, taken by me. This is going to be fascinating - revisiting my youth, both here and abroad.

I had better scan them now to save for posterity - and while I can still remember the people and places.

And . . . to preserve the past. Never neglect that. Keep it safe, in all of its warts and glory.

Play Time

These are NOT two dogs fighting.

These are actually two puppies.  Sam, on the left, is seven months old.  Mac, on the right, is three months old.

This is play - in all of his growling, snarling glory.  Sam outweighs Mac by a good fifty pounds.  He could easily hurt - seriously - Mac who is only about 25 pounds.  But he won't - because this is play.  And Sam actually dotes on Mac very much.

I love my dogs.  I don't anthromrphize them - they are NOT humans, theya re dogs.  But sometimes I like to "caninize" humans.  We sometimes snarl and growl at each other - but it may not mean we are locked in battle or truly wish to hurt each other.

Instead, we are letting ourselves forget we are humans.  And maybe for a short time, that is a good thing.  As with my dogs - this play keeps them calm and keeps them united as a pack.

We can learn a lot from dogs.

Buffy the Baby Slayer

It was only a matter of time . . .

In the latest issue of Dark Horse Comics' Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, in stores today, Buffy weighs the life of being the "chosen" Slayer against the life she's about to bring into the world. After some soul-searching with the son of another former Slayer, Buffy decides to have an abortion.

Living in San Francisco with all the magic cut off from the world and zombie vampires lurking in the city, Buffy learns she is pregnant — with the unknown father possibly one of the guests at a wild party at her place — and in the new Issue 6, she confides in the anti-heroic vamp Spike of her decision to have an abortion.

There were two key aspects to discussing the hot-button issue, says the comic's executive producer, Joss Whedon: It had to be portrayed as a difficult decision for Buffy, and it had to be treated with respect on the creative side.

So Buffy can't keep her pants on at a party and decides to take the easy way out.  yeah, yeah, I know - Whedon wants us to see how friggin' difficult it is for the heroine.

In classical literature, a hero is one who, in the face of danger, display courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good.  There is a redemptive quality to a hero, that no matter what flaws earlier might have been revealed, it is overcome for some goal that bestows benefits beyond that of the hero.  A villain can display courage and run into a sniper's nest for his or her own good.  A hero does so for that of someone else.

Buffy is no hero.  Where is the greater good?  The child - possibly a product of her own flaws - must die for the sins of the mother.

This is really, really sad.

Have We Just Given Up?

Students at a public Pennsylvania university can buy the "morning after" pill from a campus vending machine, though the school's minister is working to get the dispenser off of school grounds.

The vending machine at Shippensburg University's Etter Health Center that provides Plan B emergency contraceptive pills for $25 was installed after a survey found that 85 percent of student respondents supported it, according to Peter Gigliotti, the university's executive director for communications and marketing. The machine also dispenses condoms and pregnancy tests.

When I went to college, our vending machines sold Gardetto's snack mix and Doritos.

Evidently, no one cares anymore.  A girl seen buying her "fix" is to be admired for "taking control" - instead of just being considered a tramp.  Or maybe she will be by the men watching her make the purchase.  I wonder how gallant a young beau will seem, as he ushers his date to themachine and buys the supplies for a romantic tryst.  Because nothing says "I respect you" more.

What is Plan B?

Levonorgestrel is used in emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), both in a combined Yuzpe regimen which includes estrogen, and as a levonorgestrel-only method. The levonorgestrel-only method uses levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (as a single dose or as two .75 mg doses 12 hours apart) taken within 3 days of unprotected sex, with one study indicating that beginning as late as 120 hours (5 days) after intercourse could be effective.

Oh, an abortifacient.

Seriously, have we just given up?  Does anyone have any self-respect anymore?  So many of these college students scream about "privacy rights" emanating from the 5th Amendment that provides a "right" to an abortion.

Privacy?!  When your plans for a Saturday night - or its aftermath - is as casual as getting a can of soda?

Psalm 143

Psalm 143, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Praying Compline tonight. The moon was full, so I shot it in my woods before heading in for the night. The dogs were happy, running through the trees in the dark while Momma set up her tripod.

Nights are tough - that is when the demons of regret and despair like to come out to play. I am having problems with a depression borne of loss and sadness. I feel so hated. 

A friend gave me this to accompany my prayer tonight.  Its beauty is a balm for my soul.

Let's Have the State Get Out of the Marriage Business

Copyright 2009 - Stephanie Richer Photography

A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year.

I fully expected the 9th Circuit to do this.  But here is what I would like to see happen.

I would like the Supreme Court of the United States find that the State - and here by the State, I mean any state or federal government entity, and not just California - in defining what has historically and traditionally been a religious institution that is, marriage, has violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Instead, the State may define a civil union, that would carry all of the associations of marriage: property rights, tax status, etc.  Couple of any ilk, gay or straight, would enter into this union at the local State agency. 

But it is not marriage.  Marriage is the under the purview of a religious institution, be it the Roman Catholic Church or the Temple of the Three-Faced Goddess or Reform Judaism.  The happy couple, if they wish their union to be a marriage, can then apply at the religious institution that supports their union and become married.

In short, the State gets out of the marriage business.

This is not a new idea.  Many countries recognize "civil" unions only, requiring couples to go through two ceremonies if they wish to have a church marriage.  This way, the benefits and obligations of "marriage" are open to all, but a marriage occurs within the tenets of a particular faith.

Why don't I like the 9th Circuit's ruling?  Let's look at the California Family Code section 400(a) provides:

Marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is of the age of 18 years or older:

(a) A priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination.

This makes clergy, arguably, representatives of the State, in that they fulfill the State's requirement to solemnize a marriage.  The couple gets a marriage license, but it has no legal effect until their union is solemnized.

What can be done with the Prop 8 ruling?  I could see a test case being brought:  a gay couple goes to a local Catholic church.  "Father, we want to be married."  The priest tells them, "No, sorry, but I cannot do that."  And a lawsuit is brought against St. Whomever, and the Diocese of Wherever, alleging that Father is discriminating against them.  In fact, they may argue, all they are asking is for the good padre to solemnize their marriage as he has been deputized by California to do, and they don't even care if he will not bestow the Sacrament of Matrimony.

But let's consider Family Code section 400(c).  That provides that a marriage can be solmenized by "[a] judge or magistrate who has resigned from office."  Far enough.  However, what if the Honorable Retired Judge finds gay marriage to be contrary to his or her religious beliefs?  Do they get a conscience exemption?  Given the current status of that regarding the Obamacare mandate, I would not place much faith (no pun intended) in seeing that.  Perhaps now that retired judicial officer can be subject to a lawsuit by a gay couple, or even subject to disciplinary action, jeopardizing his or her pension.

Brrrr - did someone open a window in here?  I feel a chilling effect developing.

An appeal to the Supreme Court is promised - of course, SCOTUS wuld first need to grant a writ of certiorari to hear it, but I do not think they would ignore this issue.  I think I will see if I can find a group of like minds to join in an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief to SCOTUS.  And why not?  Like it or not, you are part of history - might as well participate. 

And for the sake of your religious freedom under the 1st Amendment.  Although not explicitly stated, I think this case has a tacit challenge to that. 

For a good read regarding the HHS mandates, look at David French's article, We Are All Catholics Now, in the National Review.

Well, I learned my lesson - but fortunately NOT the hard way!

According to the data recovery service, my drive powered up and started spinning.  The tech said he could see all the data on it.  He remarked, "Wow, you've got a LOT of pictures here!"  I repleid, "They are my LIFE!"

Now they have the new casing and power source that my husband tried to install, and will figure why that did not work.  Maybe they will - maybe, just maybe, this moment of panic as to potential loss of something so near and dear to me was God's way of teaching me a lesson, as follows:

1.  Thou shalt back up thine files weekly.

2.  Thous shalt allow Me to give you answers in My time.  No loss is ever permanent - have faith.

If I can make My message known through a burning bush,

your hard drive is a piece of cake . . .

Oh man, I wish I was in New York today!

"I GOT A RING!"

"WE GOT ONE, TOO!"

How awesome it must have been on that plane taking the G-Men back to New York.  I wish I could be in the city today, in the Canyon of Heroes, to be at the ticker tape parade!

Daddy . . . I know you are smiling . . . no, GRINNING AND CHEERING in Heaven today!  Our Jints did it again!

Karma is a bitch . . .

Fisker Automotive Inc., Anaheim maker of hybrid electric luxury cars, said today that it has laid off 26 people in Delaware, delayed opening a manufacturing plant there and laid off 40 to 45 workers in Anaheim.

Fisker is facing a cash crunch, which it blames on the Department of Energy withholding some of its promised loans for the Nina project.

Fisker recently started delivering its first car, the Karma that will sell for around $100,000. The Nina is to be a lower-priced hybrid car that is to be built at a former General Motors plant in Wilmington, Del.

Fisker has received $193 million of a $529 million low-interest loan from the DOE. Most of the money has been for the Karma, Fisker’s luxury sedan, according to the company’s statement.

Make my head spin!  The government is broke, people are living an economic crisis with may laid off, losing homes, etc. - and the Department of Energy gives $193 million to produce a $100,000 car?!?!

Fisker, after multiple delays, began selling its Karma sports car in November. The delays, however, have cost it some customers with 5% of orders being canceled, Marti Eulberg, Fisker’s vice president of sales and marketing, told Autoweek last month.



Ormisher said that 5% cancellation rate was over three years and the company is getting more orders. It is making 20 to 25 Karmas a day.


Then, came word in December that there was a problem with the Karma’s batteries that forced a recall of the cars and a temporary halt to sales, followed by a second recall last month due to a software glitch.

Solyndra on wheels!  I can make a luxury car that no one can afford, but because it has the word 'hybrid" on it - and perhaps because of political connections - I can get the government to give me $193 million of taxpayer money (of the $529 million already promised).  And then cry "boo hoo!" when I cannot get anymore to make the "economical" version.

"Green" jobs - the last place you want to send your resume!

Something Smells in LAUSD

A public meeting called by L.A. school officials to discuss the arrest of two teachers accused of abusing students at a South Los Angeles elementary school turned ugly as angry parents accused the district of a cover-up.

Some parents said they were outraged that school officials would not allow the news media in the meeting. Some chanted "No press, no justice!"

While I tend to be wary of the mood of a crowd, fueled as they are usually more by emotion than facts, I have to say that I think something is going on here that will hopefully expose the corruption in the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as the local teachers union and the statewide union, the California Teachers Association.  I find it odd that in wake of two teachers now arrested for sexual abuse of minors, they decided to scrap the entire teaching staff.  The bar to media regarding this public meeting is also troublesome. 

 

My feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg and more will be revealed.

Taxonomy of Sin

An easy reference chart when doing an Examination of Conscience.

You do try to do one nightly at Compline . . . don't you?!

Yesterday's Super Bowl commercial with David Beckham qualifies as AD, 'cause I only looked at it . . .

via Indexed.

The DigiDrinker: Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Lager

Time for another review. Again, I don't do this for me - it's all about my nature to give, give, give and if I can keep just one person from drinking bad beer, that's my only reward.

Faced as I am with some legal writing ahead of me, and being that it is already past five o'clock and I haven't had a drink, I figured something lighter was in order.

The DigiHusband ordered a half-keg of Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Lager, and while normally I eschew such "lighter" fare, I thought this would do just the trick to help me find the right language for drafting a judgment.

When he first brought it home, I grew alarmed, fearing he had purchased a - *shudder* - HIPSTER beer.  Not so - Brooklyn Brewery was started in 1984 by a former Associated Press correspondent who learned to brew while based in the Middle East, as one cannot simply pop on down to a package store in Riyadh, alcohol being a no-no in an Islamic state.  So the origins go back to a time before the first bandy-legged Josh settled in Williamsburg from Wisconsin and started making art from organic lint.  Okay . . .

According to the brewery's website, this is a Viennese-style lager.  What does that mean?  Well, for one, it means it has more flavor than what most people drink as lager, Bud Light (and an aside - watching the Super Bowl commercials, I am sorry, but calling Bud Light "platinum" does not make it any better than the piss water that it is, and no, I do not care how much of it you sell).  I don;t know about a "floral hop aroma" as their website claims, but it does have a very dry and bitter "hoppiness" to my taste buds, which is fine.  It is "crisp" and would be a good pairing with a heavier food.  Heck, I might even consider drinking it with a good cheese fondue, notwithstanding the warnings of the Swiss when I lived there that beer + fondue = spontaneous explosion of body cavities.  It is light in color, which may surprise the drinker as you would not expect it to have as much flavor as it does.  Smooth on the back of the mouth as you swallow, with a mild yeastiness.  ABV of 5.2%, - can drink it and still function at a keyboard.

I am not a beer connoisseur and I do not know all the fancy technical terms.  I am a beer drinker who can distinguish flavors.  And this is a flavorful brew.

As my paternal grandfather, Hugh Martin, who ran speakeasies, would have said - Slainte!

Forget Tebowing . . .

I'm a native New Yorker.  Yeah, I got a mean streak when it comes to rivals of my Giants . . .

Defriended

A friend of mine brought this image to my attention.

In my lifetime, I have read George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, many times.  The main character, Winston Smith, works in the governmental Ministry of Truth, whose primary function is to revise the past so as to be in line with the government's current "truth."  Orwell was, of course, referring to the old Soviet Politboro, who were experts at photo retouching long before Photoshop, removing disgraced party members and making them, to use Orwell's phrase, unpersons.

Our social media network allows us to do the same, even if we don't realize how closely we act as Winston Smith and his colleagues.  A few clicks, and people are removed as friends, contacts, or "circle" members.  In fact, such outlets offer someone an even more "aggressive" means of disposing of one's former friends, family, and/or flames with the ultimate kiss of death:  "the block."  Ye shall not even look upon mine name, nay, even to mine avatar or profile picture shall ye be anathema . . .

But this is not to condemn anyone who takes this route.  Rather, it is to remark on a curious phenomenon of our times, namely that we seem to all have "real" friends and "virtual" friends.  I have been "trimming the fat", so to speak, on my social media outlets because I came to realize, many of my "friends" are merely so because in some weird ongoing game of "Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon," they saw my opinions/thoughts/witticisms posted on someone else's wall/blog/account and thought, "Hey, she and I are like-minded . . ."  And suddenly - we're friends.

Added to this is a disconnect as to the definition of a "friend."  I often see a post from someone who is regurgitating the Glurge of the Day that speaks to how much they rely on their Facebook/Google Plus/Foursquare/Reddit/Blogger "family" and how "blessed" they feel.  Really?  I guess, then, it doesn't take much to make you feel all warm and squishy.  I see that and I have to wonder, is it hormones or boundary issues.

This is not to say that true friendships cannot start online.  I have made good friends with fellow members of the Catholic/political blogosphere, all of which started with reading certain blogs and commenting on them.  I define "friend" here to mean someone whom I would take the time to meet in person.  I think that is what sets me apart from other people - many are content to remain simply "virtual" friends, whether it is because of shyness or perhaps even the having the "out" of making them an "unperson" as described above if things just don't work out.  But I can say, I have enjoyed the company of those whom I know by their screen names - and later met "for real."  Today, I had one "blogosphere" friend ask if she and her husband can come visit this summer, from Michigan - no, I have never met them in person but I would be delighted to host them, since through the blogosphere and social media, we have forged a conection that goes beyond just reading each other's posts. 

So I find it fascinating the interplay between our "real" world and the "virtual" world.  Digital friendships become real friendships.  Real friendshps end digitally.  Who are we online and who are we in person?  I have seen cases in my time as Family Law attorney where divorced couples will only communicate through texts and emails regarding their children - really! 

Technology is wonderful.  But I am thinking more about how I use it and whether I may be guilty of the sin of relegating a person who is or was significant to my life to bits and bytes.  A sin?  Yes, maybe - because I think there is a thin line to doing so for the sake of someone who might be unable to handle a more personal contact or protecting oneself (both of which may be quite legitimate) and using it to reduce a person to an electronic entity that can be erased with the click of a mouse. 

And if I cross that line, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa . . .  Even my worst enemies (and seriously, who really has any except Satan?) should retain their humanity.

Oh, Gisele . . .

Gisele's Super Bowl Potty Mouth

I'm thinking, Gisele had better be "busy" during any of-season parties among the teammates, lest a cat fight break out with the other wives . . . especially the receivers' wives . . .

And really, no one wants to hear a Brazilian super model telling them how they should have played the game.

Besides, it's all her fault the Pats lost anyway - maybe she should have been thinking of the rest of the team when she asked for prayers . . .

And I Think Buck Can Wear His Giants Antlers . . .

. . . at least until the G-Men have had their victory parade.

(My teen daughter's handiwork)

My G-Men Pulled It Off!

All I can say is . . . wow. What a friggin' GREAT game! The Giants are the 11 o'clock heroes, pulling it out in the 4th quarter to win. I thought the MVP might have been given to Cruz or Manningham, but then, Eli was completely Mr. Cool - a quiet assassin.

And . . . hope Tammy doesn't spend tonight crying her eyes out. Actually, I think it's a serious question - is this Brady's last season?

And spent with good people from church and photography group. Is there ever a Super Bowl party where there is "just enough" food? Didn't think so . . .

Special thanks to Eddie and Brenda Foley who brought me the new rug seen here for the Dog Hill Tavern.

GO, SISTERS!

Catholic nuns fighting the sex trafficking trade in Indianapolis for Super Bowl!

BTW, this congregation would not be exempt from the HHS mandate, as they serve more than Catholics.  They help all the women caught up in prostitution and for that they get punished and denied 1st Amendment rights.

Meanwhile, I am wondering how Madonna will be "bringing gay to the Super Bowl" as one of her dancers claim.

And we're the "bad " guys, we Catholics . . .

Bishop Stika Speaks Out Against Obama's Health Insurance Mandate

There is no weasel language here.  I am so very proud of my Bishop!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you having just returned from my Ad Limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI who shared deeply the concerns that I and all the U.S. bishops have regarding a matter that calls for our steadfast prayer, solidarity and action. On January 20th, the federal government cast aside the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and essentially stripped Catholics and citizens of any faith of our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom — our religious liberty.

In a decision that the Obama Administration calls “fair and balanced,” the mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services forces almost all employers, including Catholic employers, to include sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception in their employees’ health services. Additionally, almost all health insurers will be forced to include these “services” in their health policies. And regardless of a person’s conscience, almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of this Administration’s polices.

This ruling will have dire consequences upon Catholics nationwide and the millions who are ministered to and served through our Catholic schools, higher education institutions, hospitals and charities. It is these that bear the name “Catholic,” founded as expressions of our Christian witness as disciples of Christ, that the Administration now deems to be secular in nature and subject to their manipulation. In so ruling, Catholics are compelled to either violate their consciences or to drop health coverage for employees and to suffer the penalties for doing so.

Let us not be deceived. What we are witnessing, as Pope Benedict XVI stated, is the drastic shift from “religious freedom to a mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.” This shift is but a thinly disguised way of silencing the moral witness of Catholics in protecting the sanctity and dignity of every human life, in defending marriage and family from attacks upon it, and from sowing the seeds of our faith through our works of mercy. It is an attempt to put a bushel basket over the light of our Catholic faith (Luke 11:33) and to keep it a private matter to be expressed only inside a church, and even then with limits.

And so I join with my brother bishops throughout our nation in emphatically stating that we cannot and will not comply with this unjust law! It is time for Catholics to act.

But no call to action is first without a call to prayer. And so I ask you to join me in prayer and fasting to ask God for the strength and the wisdom to fight this unjust law. I ask you to also contact Congress and ask them to reverse this decision and enact legislation that protects the rights of conscience. You can do so through the U.S. bishops webpage at www.usccb.org/conscience.

With my blessings and prayers for all of you and your loved ones.

Sincerely in Christ,

The Most Reverend Richard F. Stika, Bishop of Knoxville.

Like a boss, Your Excellency!
 
I will be seeing him this Saturday.  If you'd like me to pass along anything, please let it be known here.

PUMP IT UP, PEOPLE!

Listen to this to pump yourself up for the victory later today against Tammy and the Patricias.

Yeah, I went there. 

LIKE A BOSS, ELI, LIKE A BOSS!

TODAY IS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

(If you can't be shit-talking on Super Bowl Sunday when your team is playing . . . then you ain't livin' in America.)

Who's ready for some football?

Meanwhile . . .

Tiquan Underwood, the guy who loved being a Patriot so much that he did that to his hair, was released by the team on Saturday, just hours before the Super Bowl.

It's callous and it's cold-blooded, but that's football, and that's Bill Belichick. I'm sure that Underwood is emotionally devastated, but that's a head coach's job. If he feels like another player might help a little more on Sunday, even if it's just for one play, then it's the coach's job to make that decision. Feelings aren't a part of it.

Excuse me, but . . . what an ass.  Hey, Belichick, do you think that this might also affect other players who feel this sucks?

Oh, wait . . . yeah, that's right, Tammy and the Patricias - your coach could not give a rat's ass about you.  Y'all are just a bunch of laying hens and the minute you stop producing eggs and touchdowns, you're in the stew pot.  Remember that as you're playing.

Underwood should just be glad he didn't get a tattoo. 

What a crappy franchise.

LET'S GO G-MEN!  BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW!  JINTS, JINTS, JINTS!!!