What we can expect to hear all day every day from the American news media for the next four years

 

My boys chuckled and said that in four days, they have heard more negative press coverage, more stories invoking scandal and controversy, more unfavorable analysis of what is actually happening with the incoming administration, than the total of the last four years combined.  

Not only that, but we caught a segment on one of the news shows pondering if Trump can live up to his campaigning and fix the economy as he promised.  We immediately asked fix what?  For three years the press insisted it's a mother beautiful economy.  Even on election night, on the ABC round table, they questioned why Americans just couldn't feel the awesomeness of our strong and robust economy.  Most likely something to do with many Americans not being able to afford shelter, fuel and groceries was our guess. 

But it's so nakedly obvious.  All pretense of not being ministries of lies and propaganda for leftwing globalism has long been tossed out the window by the media. Though it didn't work this time, just like it didn't work in 2016.   And my oldest son, no fan of Trump that he is, maintains that Trump's loss in 2020 was not some universal mandate for the Left.  He believes had Trump not told his supporters to sit on it and reject early voting, he might have won then.  

So the idea that the media and leftwing establishment has the power it had, even in 2014  - when BLM could change the appraisal of our history, leading to Talibanish purges of our historical monuments and memorials unhindered, and experts were trotted out to explain that Islamic terror attacks in America is the new normal, and that obviously boys should use girls bathrooms or the Fed will pull your funding - might even less true today than 2016.  

Though there is a positive, if you think on it.  Years and years ago, at the defunct Catholic and Enjoying It, Mark linked to another blogger who addressed the issue of Catholics voting.  At the time, Mark was moving toward his 'pox on both houses' position.  But the blogger stated that there was one unarguable reason to vote Republican.  Because as soon as Republicans are anywhere close to the majority, and certainly when they hold the White House, the press gets busy and begins telling us just how terrible things are in America and the world.  Mark agreed then, and I agree today, with the caveat that now the press isn't content with reporting the bad, but it will report that everything is bad whether true or not.

A couple old reflections for this Veteran's Day

Let's fight to keep what they served to protect

One here, remembering my family members who have gone before from an All Souls Day post, that includes some veterans on the list.  

And here, where I unpacked more my favorite veteran - my late dad, as well as others.  

Also here is a less pleasant one, a post dealing with Catholic BLM activist Gloria Purvis.  In it she claimed a celebrated war hero from WWII was never honored - I'll let you guess why she implies he was never honored.  Yet as readers of the comments section will note, and something I later verified myself, in a war that saw war heroes lifted up and celebrated for any reason possible, he was actually quite honored and celebrated in the day.  Far more than many heroes of the time. 

Whether partisan driven laziness or willful ignorance or whatever on Purvis's part, I don't know.  I'll take a charitable assumption and guess she just wasn't driven to find out the facts ahead of time (which was discoverable on none other than Wikipedia). And those who reposted her post back then with tears and sorrows for our racist nation assumed that she had done the required research.  

But given Veteran's Day as a day to remember those who served, and given that we saw such a repudiation of those like Purvis and their style of leftwing activism that seeks to tear down and besmirch what those veterans served for, it seems a fitting thing to link to on this day of remembrance. 

And just in case we need a reminder for those striving for goodness and virtue against the Left's alternatives:  

L to R: Not a Hero, Hero

Telling

That's deacon, teacher of theology and Catholic film critic Steven Greydanus. You catch that?  First, note the use of the euphemistic leftwing media endorsed term 'gender affirming care.'  That is, more honestly stated, sex change procedures, in the case of this discussion being used on minors. But you can't say that because the overwhelming majority of Americans don't approve of turning underage boys into girls and vice versa.  We won't even discuss how fringe the unpopular idea is that parents should be barred from being part of such life altering procedures.  

But note, he appears to have no problem with laws that would keep parents out of the loop as long as actual surgery isn't involved. That opens the door for all of those preliminary procedures involving puberty blockers and messing with their hormones and physical development in the name of transgender activism.  Which, from what I read, he is more than happy to support as well as keeping parents out of the loop in those cases.  That's hardcore left beyond what even some on the left will tolerate.  And, in a dose of irony, contrary to Pope Francis's opinions about the subject. 

Basically, Greydanus continues to demonstrate that he will completely follow the Left, embrace it entirely and defend it whenever possible.  If impossible to defend something, then briefly acknowledge it, downplay it, and attack anyone trying to make it an issue. I'm thinking of those who tried to get him to forcefully call out the leftists and non-white activists who were openly cheering Hamas and the worst single day slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. We tried, but it got us nowhere.  

This shows that the leftwing bubble our corporate oligarchy has formed continues to preach to itself in the mirror, despite a growing number of anyone under the sun questioning some of its agendas.  As my son said, the problem Democrats have is that they will never be radical leftwing enough to appease the zealotry of the coastal leftwing fringes.  In trying to do so, however, they are becoming far more leftwing radical than most Americans of any stripe will tolerate.  

And what of the Greydanuses of the world, who appear willing to follow the left wherever it goes?  Again, thralls of the leftwing bubble, but increasingly out of touch thralls who have sworn themselves to a movement a growing number of people are beginning to doubt, suspect and even fear.  

Now that's funny

 I have to give him credit, this made me laugh:

And if the Democrats lose to him, it more than serves them right. 

UPDATE:  On the other hand, the daily award for the most duplicitous headline about this story has to go here:

I didn't get to see all of the morning news outlets cover this, but the ones I did see mentioned only that Trump did this in response to some vague, unnamed statement by Biden.  No mention of what exactly Biden said.  Unlike the constant repeating of the comedian's statement about Puerto Rico, which was repeated endlessly for days.  One local network had on the ticker what Biden said, but the story itself wasn't covered. 

One of the great evils of our age is that we can't know what is going on in the world because the agencies with the ability to convey the information have long ago thrown integrity and truth out the window for the sake of their interests, no matter who or what is hurt as a result. 

Yes another Birthday post

And the last of the year.  As I said, we have to modify our approach to 'our half of the year', since our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter both have May birthdays.  But we typically end the big celebrations with our oldest, and last of the calendar.  After all, by my age birthdays aren't what they used to be, and for my mom (in January), every birthday is a celebration, albeit one in the middle of our Christmastide festivities.  

With divergent schedules and obligations, the boys moving on and getting older, and the changes in family dynamics and obligations, we obviously don't do everything we used to.  But goodness knows we still try.  Sometimes it's still a few old traditions, even if not everyone is available.  With planning, luck and some scheduling elbow-grease, we can get together.

This year, owing to this year, it was confined to mostly the gang coming over with their daughter and picking out pumpkins (one day), and carving them (the next week).  Some of us did manage to get up to my old stomping grounds and get some fresh pressed cider (nothing better).  

We had a fine birthday dinner for our oldest, at his request.  We went to a 'Der Dutchman' (I call it McAmish), which is a chain restaurant based on those Amish eating houses that are plentiful in the northwestern parts of the state.  In those, if you've not experienced them, the popular approach is called 'Family Style.'  That is, they bring out platters of meats and sides and breads and such and you help yourself, as they replenish the empty platters until everyone is full.  Or, in this case, they have a buffet option, which is more economical for our size family.  It's not easy getting out with my mom at this point, but with effort and teamwork it's still possible.  

Then our oldest asked to break from the current pastime of World in Flames and dive into the old Flames of War game.  We dusted off those old containers of miniatures.  Really.  They were dusty, it's been so long.  We then spent some time setting things up.  We haven't played yet, again owing to time and such.  But when we can and everyone is in proper place, then we'll have a go at it, and I may unpack that and how we tie it into that larger, hobby game of World in Flames.

Otherwise, it's been a season.  Things have been more sedated, but then we notice that seems to be the trend.  I can't imagine why there are so few Halloween decorations this year.  The economy is as strong as ever, thus says the American news media.  Why people aren't spending more on Halloween decor is, therefore, beyond me.  But we seem hardly alone in playing it simple.  We'll see.  That will be for a later post.   For now, the birthday.  

Before the whole family gathered, three of the boys went to a local park and farmstead.  Only to discover you couldn't get to the farmstead from the park.  Heh. 

As if mom is a queen entering the court, the kids and grandchild part ways for her at the local farm market and pumpkin patch. 

Her first trip to a pumpkin patch. She seemed to enjoy it, at least if we translate baby correctly.

Birthday boy with a rather large pumpkin for himself.  Each has their own, but my wife and I double up with one pumpkin, to save a little cash. 

The gang.  Mom is looking at something, but the rest were actually looking forward and smiling at the same time, which is a rarity where pictures are concerned!

Up at the orchard, the location of my very first field trip in kindergarten, you can smell the apples before you enter the shop. Plus local maple syrup, and local honey.  Which we can also get where we get the pumpkins. 

The first eating out with our granddaughter.  She seems pleased with the possibility of starting to eat solid foods in the not too distant. 

Waiting for the gifts to be opened and the cake to be had.  Just a fun candid picture.

Flames of War to the fore!  It won't be these forces, they were only used to gauge distances during the setup.  But if it was the game, it looks like that British Cromwell has the advantage on the Panther, with US infantry standing back.

Her oldest uncle and his niece.

Some old reflections on Columbus Day

Here, here, here and here.  It's barely mentioned now.  In fact, here in Buckeye land, this is the time when different outlets point out the effort by some to change the name of our state's capital.  One network - our local CBS affiliate - now refers to the city and city news as 'C-Bus.'  In fact its morning news magazine that was Wake up Columbus is now Wake Up C-Bus.  That's long been an informal nickname in these parts, but usually not for official use.  

Today Columbus is all but gone, and increasingly if the day is mentioned at all, it's Indigenous Peoples Day, or similar.  Of course now we're seeing challenges against everything from Washington and Jefferson, to the Constitution itself (earlier editorial from the New Yorker).

Things are happening fast.  Vichy Conservatives have long hidden behind the idea that bellyaching about such trivial things is just sissy stuff.  They'll wait until the gulags or the gas chambers are in full swing, then they'll start to worry.  Never a great strategy.  And looking at where things are and where they are going, and how quickly they are getting there, should be all the evidence you need for that appraisal. 

As for the Left venerating cultures who did what Columbus is accused of doing or worse?  Need I prattle on about that?  I think by now the reasons for that strange hypocrisy should be clear. 

Friday Frivolity: Once more unto the breach

Don't weep for France yet, the game favors defenders
We'll see how things look in a turn or two.

So I wrote about the string of ill fortune to hit us over the last year. True, as the dust has settled and clouds have passed, we consider ourselves quite blessed.  In some cases, things ended up better than they were (my wife's promotion).  In the health department, for all that happened, we've emerged relatively unscathed - all things considered.  For the economic hits and problems and urgent needs, we've been able to address them.  Given what we've seen around the world and in the south, we'll take the win and call ourselves more than blessed.

That doesn't mean when these things were happening it was easy.  And as often happens in life, when one trouble or two happens, it seemed to cause a domino effect with things big and small tripping us up along the way.  So even the most trivial annoyance could add to the stress.

I'll put into that trivial category the game World in Flames that we were playing.  We play most of our games in the basement, where several tables are spread about allowing a variety of matches for different people and contests.  This was done during the Covid years, and we've kept it - since there isn't much else for our basement other than our library and a little media space back when the boys wanted a 'Bro Cave' back in the day.  

World in Flames was on our ping pong table, which we've used for everything but ping pong over the years.  It needs that large of a table (9' x 5') to hold even the basic game boards and materials.  For some stupid, annoying reason, a water pipe over the table leaked.  This was when things were pretty intense in the family, and the last thing we cared about was playing boardgames. We had set that aside and hadn't gotten to it for some time. 

When we finally went down to try our hand at a game my 'boardgame afficionado' son got for his birthday, I looked over at the old World in Flames game and noticed something.  The game boards (which are mounted boards, not just paper), seemed to have hills and valleys.  And some of the other materials appeared the same.  I went over, and realized the leak had gotten into them and warped them, ruining two of the four map boards.  

Fortunately none of the playing pieces (those famous 'chits' of strategy wargame fame) were damaged or ruined. The boards appeared to soak up all the water.  As I always keep a spare of most things like that, once things began to settle and slow down, I went through, picked things up, and got the new boards out.  With things slowing for the time being, and a lull before the next round of crazy in their lives and vocations, the boys and I thought we would try again. 

This time, our oldest asked if we could go back and play the early tutorials, particularly the very first one.  For some strange reason, he understood the more convoluted parts of the game but struggled with the 'land' aspects.  Which is weird, because that is the most straightforward and simplest part, at least IMO.  That part is just Axis and Allies on steroids.  Nothing too complicated and pretty straight forward.  But he struggled with it when he jumped into the big campaign game.  So we're pausing from going back to the biggie to breeze through the first scenario, which is only a few turns long.

Times being what they are, this will be a once a week event - if that.  Their schedules and obligations are always such that time isn't what it used to be.  Which is fine.  But as long as they're around, we will spend a little time playing out what might have been in history.  If things go well enough, we might even be able to get another game going for our second oldest to join - when he needs a dose of fiction after being in the real world of fatherhood.   We will have to see.  But otherwise, the hobby is afoot.  Tune in next time for, well, not sure but I'm sure it will be interesting no matter what! 

Oh yeah, that happened

Today is the one year anniversary of the worst single day slaughter of Jews since World War II.  It's easy to forget, since that thing we used to call the news media has done yeoman's work hiding that story under a bushel over the last year. 

Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and others have the West's number of course.  For various reasons, we in the West have for generations gone out of our way to tear down, criticize, and condemn the heroes and good guys, while bending over backwards to make excuses for the bad guys.  This tendency has fed into the dreams of those Arabic and Muslim factions who desire the eradication of Israel and, if need be, the slaughter of any Jews who get in the way.

They know full well that they can attack Israel, then sit back and wait for the condemnation of Israel as soon as it retaliates.  True, because of the initial shock and horror of October 7th and its scope, that response took a few days.  But it wasn't more than a few days before the West/UN began noting Israel's atrocities, whether accused or verified, and letting that be the emphasis.   

This makes the Hamas tendency of using civilians as human shields a brilliant maneuver.  Because no matter how flagrantly it does this, or - super unspoken secret - however many Palestinians and others willingly allow themselves to be so used in order to topple Israel - they know the West/UN will simply condemn Israel.  If we in the West acknowledge this tactic, that is about all we do.  Then it's back to full condemnation of Israel as our only response. And everyone knows it. 

This isn't to say Israel has done nothing wrong.  It is war.  Horrible things happen in every war ever fought.  And the innocent are often the biggest victims.  But for most of human history - including the Christian world - it was understood that the greater good of fighting evil and protecting the overall wellbeing of the innocent necessitated the risk, and sometimes the sorry tragedies.  

Not today.  Today we will gladly let evil reign as long as it doesn't impact us.  Anything less than perfection, and we'll rip those fallible good guys and give all but a blank check to the baddies.  It's almost like condemning the heroes for failing to win perfectly has become an excuse for not bothering to be one.  That what passes for the virtuous demands for nothing less than perfection in executing the righteous cause is simply cowardice with a Jesus mask.  

This doesn't count the motives of trashing Israel because it is seen as an extension of the West, and therefore the oppressor, and therefore it deserves to go, along with the whole of the Western Tradition.  That's a different ballgame.  This is merely observing that cultural tendency we've developed of having an almost Pavlovian aversion to the ones trying to be the heroes, while excusing and almost supporting those who traditionally would be seen as the villains. 

A special day

Today is the Feast of St. Francis, my patron saint.  I've written about him many times over the years. He was one of those 'anchor' figures for me.  Even in my secular, agnostic, trying to be an atheist days, I conceded St. Francis was quite the fellow.  Though it's worth noting I was never an unbeliever who tried to insist all believers were stupid or in some way wretched and evil.  For instance, I didn't care for the type to insist Mother Theresa was really a racist con.  But then I've always rejected our modern age's tendency to find any way to tear down the good guys while bending over backwards to find excuses for the bad guys so we don't have to confront them.

Because of that, as a non-believer I could still admire St. Francis.  And as a Protestant, including pastor, I had no problem referencing him, mentioning him in sermons, or even having those famous prayers attributed to him hanging in my office. 

So when I entered the Church, it took me all of half a second to figure out who my patron saint would be.  No matter how crazy it has been since we became Catholic, I admit going back to Saint Francis, sometimes more than anything else, is a small place of refuge for me.  Becoming Catholic having made the relationship more than merely gazing at a framed prayer on a wall.  

As a bonus, it's also Ship in a Bottle day! Like you didn't know that.  For those envious of perhaps the most difficult hobby in the history of hobbies, here's an envy inducing little video for your viewing pleasure:

RIP Pete Rose

Never run home when you can dive - a Rose trademark

Every now and then someone whose name was practically etched into your cultural brain comes along, and Rose was one of them.  When I was a kid, and the Big Red Machine was smashing records, every third kid in my school wanted to be Pete Rose. 

I recall my mom and dad driving to Cincinnati to watch them during those crazy, wild days when the Reds were a juggernaut in the sports world.  I even went down a couple times with my dad and the family.  Once my dad and his best friend from the railroad, along with his friend's son, took me all the way down, through torrential rain squalls, to see them play.  It was a little beyond me, since I was never a huge sports fan.  History was my interest even then.  

Yet I knew there was something especial about everything happening. I knew there was something memorable about using my dad's binoculars to see fairly up close (very good binoculars) these players who were household names - Ken Griffey Sr., Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo and - standing high above them all - Pete Rose.  I can still remember in third grade, we had to give a presentation to the class about someone we admired.  I can't even remember mine.  But I remember Cindy C., standing in her Reds jersey and proudly announcing that her hero was none other than Pete Rose.

The all time Hit Champ in baseball history (the most hits of any pro ball player ever), his reputation became marred by the scandal involving his betting on the game. In those days, there was still a residue of the old 'if you do the crime, you do the time.'   And he did it.  Even many fans in the Cincinnati area had to concede that he violated major rules and laws, and that's what happens.  It was sad, it didn't take away from his accomplishments, but he was going to pay a steep price for his violations.

The problem, of course, was continuing to punish him into the modern era, where players may or may not be punished for assault, or cheating, or getting tattoos.  Perhaps someone who sent an off color email twenty years ago will be canned, but another accused by multiple women of assaulting them might go up in the league.  And now, that sports betting is legal and college kids are becoming millionaires as amateur athletes, is this the age that can still hold ol'Pete to the fire?  

Nonetheless, before that conversation could be brought back up, time did what time does, and Pete Rose has died.  Opinions were strong with him, but his fan base and his legacy were strong.  For me, he occupies a place in my memories and my childhood.  So massive his fame that I can't recall the world without him.  But I will have to now.  And pray that he finds some peace that he lost in this life, as well as peace for his loved ones and millions of fans who are left behind. 

The Big Red Machine

Friday Frivolity: The Autumn wind

Ah autumn.  I've written a lot on my love for this time of the year.  To many times to link to.  Truth be told, things like that seem less important in recent years.  That doesn't mean I don't care about it anymore.  It just means things change.

This year has been a bit strange.  Of course it must be global warming.  Everything is. In fact, my sons were talking a few weeks ago and they asked if the news was always this way.  That is, everything is apocalyptic, everything is the first, historic, unprecedented, in any way possible the worst, or what have you.  I said the press has always wanted that headline grabber, but I do think we're at a new level where everything is the most of anything all the time.  So it's tough to sift through what is and isn't unusual on some significant level.

This year, the weather has been wonky.  They say it's Ohio's worst drought since we've been keeping records.  Meanwhile, toward the end of August, it got very 'Fall-ish.'  Temperatures dropped in those dog days of summer, the sky was overcast, and it had a genuine feeling of fall.

I think that made the next several weeks through September seem all the more intolerant as they shifted and the heat swept in, with day after day near or above 90, while no rain, no rain, and no rain again.  So this last week, despite it still being a bit warm for this time of year, things seemed truly fall like after the heat had one last hurrah. 

Because of schedules and changes for the boys, their school and jobs and visiting CEOs and my wife's own work events of the last week or two, we had the chance for three of the boys and me to go out like old times.  I wish our fourth had been with us, but just getting out and about with the three of them requires the planets aligning in ways that verges on the miraculous, so I can't be picky.  

On that last day of sweltering heat, we visited a travelling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  I visited the real McCoy years ago, and our oldest - still in public school at the time - went to Washington DC and also experienced it.  This was a chance for the others to take it all in.  Not just the memorial, but when the memorial was built from a different age and time, when reconciling and putting past grievances behind us was a dominant cultural mandate of the day.   

Then came the weather change, and it was to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Columbus, then eating out for lunch, and finally a jaunt around Columbus to find some historic sites for furthered education and broadening of minds.  This was accomplished by looking for those remnants of the Mound Builders, a pithy designation for American Indians who - guess what - built earthen mounds.  They must have been plentiful in these parts, because there seems no shortage of reminders of their ancient presence. 

Then it was back home, and getting back into things.  My wife was home that day, which allowed my mom to be taken care of while the rest of us explored.  Again, it isn't easy getting even a couple together.  So when we do, it's cherish the moment and the memories, and hopefully what lessons from old memorials ancient and new we can learn. 

One of several displays at the Memorial from the period, no doubt
a blast from  the past for those who served.

Without anyone in the family who fell (though two served), we looked up
the one veteran from my home town who was killed in action.

The boys contemplate the wall and come away with their usual
insightful observations and musings. I was taken by the old emphasis
on 'we must reconcile and put the past behind us.'  Another world.

The Harvest Moon was bright - even a man who is pure in 
heart they say. 

With leaves down and blowing through the air, it looked 
more autumn-like than the warm temps would suggest

We went to Mass at the Columbus Cathedral, then ate out together
Then decided to look for some Indian Mounds scattered about the city

Details of Mound #1

It doesn't look like much, but if you ponder that we're looking
at something that has stood for thousands of years - not bad.

The historical information marker for Mound #2    

The second mound had a little more around it, including a surrounding
 stone fence that looked like it was lifted from the Irish countryside.

I've often said their best pictures are taken while they're getting
ready for the picture to be taken.  Though what my youngest
was doing is beyond me

The long sleeves, the clouds, perfect fall.  Our fourth son's absence was felt,
but beggars and choosers.  Just getting out with the three of them at this
time is almost herculean in the logistics involved.

Returning from our outing to a nice fall scene. Many of the leaves are actually
just dead from the drought, but it does strike a nice autumnal feel.

Gratuitous daughter-in-law and little angel eyes pic!

What siding with the bad guys looks like

 Exhibit A:

That's' deacon and Catholic film critic Stephen Greydanus.  Stifle it and an end to the conversation was his final explanation. I wish he had just said whites are evil and racist and you can tell everything you need to know by their skin color since that's what the majority expert consensus says.  It would be honest and reflect just what our modernist establishment is teaching.  Instead, we have what appears to me a level of doublespeak and denial of reality that would make Orwell blush.  

I was going to write a lengthy tirade about how so many Christians, including Conservatives and their leaders, are becoming court prophets dedicated to excusing, defending, endorsing or ignoring whatever evils are emerging from our post-Christian era, especially from the left of center.  But I thought this stood well enough on its own without any extensive commentary on my part.

Time to remember

 Time to reflect comes later:

My granddaughter was born almost as far away from 9/11 as I was Pearl Harbor.  I thought that was noteworthy.  For now, remember those who fell victim to the attacks and all the suffering that came after. 

RIP James Earl Jones

As must happen to everyone, the great James Earl Jones has passed away.   To my generation, he will forever be the voice of Darth Vader.  To be brutally honest, that honor wasn't bestowed on him for me and many of my peers until closer to The Empire Strikes Back.  Until then, our younger eyes only saw 'David Prowse - whoever he was - as Darth Vader' on the snippets of credits that we saw.  Even a year later, Star Wars was still generating around the block lines.  The theaters we went to rushed us out the doors to make way for the next batch.  And before VCRs, there wasn't much of a chance to read the credits.  Or desire for that matter. 

So it came as a shock, sometime near the end of the 70s, getting ready for the new SW sequel, that we discovered Darth Vader wasn't entirely Prowse at all, but also someone named James Earl Jones.  Perhaps once or twice I glanced the name, purely by accident, but my young mind likely didn't process it.  But by Empire, I was heading into middle school.  A little smarter and more aware.  

When he did Conan the Barbarian, for many I know that was our first glance at him.  And what a glance. I know today his hairpiece gets quite a ribbing by folks.  But back then, I don't believe I had ever seen him before.  We had nothing to go by.  I was sure it wasn't his real hair, but for all I knew, it wasn't far off.  Not that I saw the movie - too young - but I saw plenty of articles and photos.  

It would be over the subsequent years, as I grew up, that I was introduced to Mr. Jones's impressive body of work.  And his impressive presence.  George Lucas stupidly apologized for saying Jones was chosen for Vader's voice because Lucas was looking for a darker, more sinister voice.  Because darker, black, you know.  It's today.  

But sane people in a sane age get what he meant.  With a voice that would make George Sanders green with envy, he couldn't help but play parts of authority and commanding respect.  Wise, sage like, solid, dependable - these became the stock of characteristics he always seemed to convey.  Even in comedy, you could count on him to the solid as a rock person in a room full of crazy.   Just look at him.  

I know little about his private life, and to be honest, I'm happy with that.  All too often disappointment can follow when you pry into the lives of those you know on screen.  As it is, the gist I had was that he commanded the same respect off screen that his characters did on screen.   Which isn't bad.   

He remains a major part of my cultural awareness.  He was that solid character that perhaps Peck or Gable filled for generations before.  You knew when you saw him that he would bring at least a full letter grade improvement to any film or project.  Despite it all, he will still be Vader with that voice that sent chills down my elementary school spine all those years ago.  RIP Mr. Jones.  And thanks for the lifetime of memories. 

UPDATE:  I wasn't aware of this, but apparently in the original theatrical releases, his name wasn't in the credits.  That came later.  And it was at his initial request.  In a later interview, he explained that he believed he wasn't really 'acting', but was more part of the special effects.  He compared it to the controversy over Mercedes McCambridge and her role in the Exorcist as the dubbed over voice for Linda Blair.  It wasn't until later that, due to a growing awareness of his role in voicing Vader, that he acquiesced and Lucas then added his name, and retroactively added it to future releasees of the original.  Hence why I wouldn't have known in those early years, Star Wars mania though it was.  Fun stuff sometimes, the internet. 

The birthdays continue

Several years ago, I quipped about 'Our time of the year.'  We used to go from our third son's birthday because it was close to the six month mark to Christmas.  Now with our daughter-in-law and the world's cutest baby having birthdays before that, not to mention their anniversary, I have to modify that template.  

But no matter, starting in May now, we have month after month of birthdays.  This is our final summer birthday, and the one that is our own 'autumnal season' marker.  Largely because of my son's requests, we keep any and all references to, and indulging in, fall pastimes until after his August birthday.  So it's with great expectations that we look forward to his birthday.  But in fairness, we look forward to it because it's his birthday, and another chance to look at the sunny side of life, as they say. Especially now that he has his family to share it with.  

As families go, his has had a full, rich, crazy time.  They opened no less than a brick and mortar book store coming right off the chaos and catastrophe that was the Covid era lockdowns.  And that was before they were married.  Then, God decided the family needed a special blessing to get us through these moments of darkness, and they brought our granddaughter into the world.  

Gratuitous candid shot:

Now, I remember being just married all those years ago.  You have your honeymoon.  You have your honeymoon time.  Then life comes along and it's the whole new adventure.   For them, the adventures of life hit soon, and have been on a level that's tough to imagine.  Not just the Covid era courtship and post lockdown wedding, but what they have taken upon themselves to accomplish.  

It hasn't been easy.  The arrival of their daughter, while joy and happiness unimaginable, was in suboptimal conditions.  Sitting in a neonatal ICU unit is never anything that a positive spin can help.  

Yet they've proven amazingly resilient.  They probably handled it better than I would have at that stage in my life. Fortunately not only us, but her family lives in the area as well.  I'd like to think having both families nearby helped, and I know her mom did yeoman's work being there during the delivery and helping them get at least a couple feet back on the ground.

Now, looking at the grandbaby, it's easy to forget the chaos and upheaval and stress of the last year.  I know.  St. Paul says be anxious for nothing.  Call me a Christian in training, but the anxious was easy to fall into, with the nature of her early arrival and the rest of the blitz that hit us over the last year.  Soon we'll be at the anniversary of when everything went bonkers last fall.  This is especially notable as it's Employee Appreciation Week, and we all know what that means. Increasingly that, like Christmas, is when companies today cut jobs and hand out pink slips.  Our prayer is that we've paid our dues for a season, and the better side of blessings will continue to move us forward as God quiets the storms and stills the waves of life. 

One way to embrace the hope is to rejoice in the finer blessings, like another year with our son, his wife and their adorable child.  To share time with the other brothers who we're blessed to have here to gather together, and be thankful for the opportunities to help mom, each other, and by extension, hopefully move on in whatever crazy path God has set out for us.   

So a happy and blessed birthday to our second oldest.  I get now those greeting cards for children that speak of memories of them as little ones, but the pride in seeing the adults and parents they've become. 

As a sidenote, as my vision problems correct themselves and I look forward to new lenses that may seal the deal and get my eyesight back on track, I have to say the blessings still outweigh the problems, and for that, I am thankful to the Almighty. 

The family - an amazing year and a half

Mn mom overlooking the festivities

Don't mind saying he makes us proud

Five feet high the cake and three may eat abreast   

Another birthday in a year of crazy

Just when you thought it was safe to wake up in the morning, 2024 continued.  I won't go into details, but among the ongoing torpedoes from life has been one reason among several that I've not been blogging.  Long and short, my eyesight has been impacted and it's devilishly difficult to see right now.  It should get better, and I'm slated to get things checked out in a couple weeks.  But for now it's tough to type or read, without a separate pair of temp glasses, which themselves are subpar.  That's one thing.  There were other fun trip-ups.  One thing on the less than serious side, but not the least of annoyances, was the end to our little World in Flames game.  Turns out something had a leak in our house, and the water dropped straight down onto the game board, soaking and ruining the game boards and pretty much causing things to be upended and removed.  Yeah, it's been that kind of a year. 

But the light still shines, and this time - in addition to shamelessly coddling our adorable granddaughter:

The  cuteness is strong with this one

the July light was our youngest's birthday.  Hard to believe he's already halfway through his teen years.  The year he was born was the fortieth anniversary of the moon landing hoax, and so we always try to bring something moon-like into the celebration.  If nothing else, chocolate Moon Pies - a guilty pleasure.  This year it was the 55th anniversary year, and a full moon to boot!  Hey, you take the good news how you can.

For his part, our youngest is our tech guru.  He's not sold on a career in tech, but we keep trying to nudge him.  After all, you could do worse than a career with technology or engineering nowadays.  And he is as passionate about tech and its history and workings as you get.

Anything dealing with technology, we hand to him.  His hobby is finding old, vintage technology and making it work.  For his birthday, his brothers pulled together and got him an old, used original Gameboy game.  The original.  It was clearly well used in its day. 

Unfortunately, as soon as he got it out and put in one of the games they got, it didn't work.  Our advice was to take it back and see if they could fix it.  Sadly, in most such transactions, it's caveat emptor.  They promise it works when they put it on the shelf and that is all.  After that, it's on the customer.  But they might be able to fix it.  At first he agreed, then he said wait a minute.  He got up, grabbed a screwdriver set, ducked into his bedroom, and in about ten minutes or so he came out and said he got it working.  And that's not the first time.  It's what he does. Pick almost anything and he can get it to work. So yeah, a tech vocation wouldn't do him badly.

Otherwise, it was a nice birthday time, and despite the crazy, hopefully was a blessing for him.  The dinner was a crab and crawfish boil with the fixins, and then some down home sparkler displays like the olden days.  As always, we pray for him this year and for blessings and grace upon his endeavors and future pilgrimage.  His has not been the easiest life of the boys, and he certainly has his ways, but what he brings, and his stunningly mature perspective on things despite his age, has always been an extra layer to the family that nobody else brings in quite the same way. 

Our equipment is lacking, but trust me it looked awesome

Had to adjust a few things, but he demonstrates his usual quirky

To account for multiple diet restrictions, he picked well 
with a crab and crawfish boil (baby and mommy being off camera)

And more firelights displays - it's still July

The boys, minus our 2nd oldest, setting the fun

Yep

 

I would add that Trump is not widely expected to win.  The latest batch of polling shows Trump barely ahead of Biden, and not much different than it has been for much of the year.  A squeak-by advantage well within the margin of error. 

Perhaps that is good news, and shows social and Christian conservatives saying enough.  Maybe Christians and others who value the Life movement are saying , they have debased themselves and held their noses for eight years.  But they will not simply act like sheep and push the appropriate button as Trump moves to diminish opposition to one of the most critical moral crises in modern history. 

Trump was never a conservative by any stretch.  The Left portrayed him, as it does all enemies, as a far right neo-Nazi misogynistic racist.  But in honesty, Trump in many things has been left of center, especially regarding animal pleasures.  Why the sudden party platform shift, I don't know.  I do know I've heard little push-back from conservatives - social, Christian, Catholic or otherwise.  And nothing will play up to the 'lie of the pro-life movement' more than standing by as that movement is chipped away at by the GOP while handing over votes in due order.  

It might just be time that we accept the end of the Christian era and a new phase in the history of the Faithful.  It's not time to compromise the Faith to stay loyal to a party that has never really wanted us in the first place, and increasingly is making that clear under the leadership of Donald Trump.