It just breaks your heart

Rod Dreher, who I know can be both hit and miss, takes time to muse on the difficulties we have processing such tragedies.  Crimes, wars, abuses, murders - these we can chalk up to the evil that  men do.  And sometimes, as suggested by the testimony of that nurse at Camp Mystic, it can be the fact that we are flawed people.  The goes for some of those in charge of the alerts that were delayed.  Or just the decision to build a camp in low lying areas known as 'Flash Flood Alley.'  We make mistakes. That is not to condemn these or others for decisions made.  It happens.  We're an imperfect brood in a fallen world, and sometimes those imperfections can cause endless pain and suffering.  I don't envy them the guilt they may live with in the coming years. 

But there are still times when you do want to go out and shake your fist at God. The Psalmists knew this all too well.  Though I've never known why this was supposed to be some slam dunk against the existence of God that atheists seem to imagine.  Dreher suggests Dostoevsky's Ivan Karamazov had better arguments than the often puffed up Voltaire. Perhaps. Nonetheless, the most such arguments could do would be to cast some doubt at the proclamation that God is Love, all Powerful, and yet such things happen (see Harold Kushner).  They have nothing to say about a God existing one way or another.  

And it isn't like Atheism's answer is any better.  Which is basically conceding that suffering happens  because it happens, like atoms and gravity.  Besides all notions of meaning are subjective illusions anyway.  You suffer, so do birds and caterpillars and honey badgers.  Sucks to be you I guess. In the end you matter no more than a donkey burp.  Which is about all atheism can honestly offer.  Would we suggest, therefore, that this proves atheism is wrong?  

Anyway, it's a deeper subject to delve into than this little blog can handle.  And, as we used to say in ministry, it's not like getting an answer would take away the pain.  It's not as if Job would be comforted if he found out his suffering was due to a wager between God and Satan.  Yet my son did notice something.  Recently there has been newstalk about younger Americans not wanting kids.  Apparently some celebrity came out and said kids are the pits, and everyone she knows who has kids is a miserable schmuck.  Which, of course, is an extension of our abortion era mindset about kids as a disease to be cured, only to be blessings if and when convenient to certain people.  

Nonetheless, when something like this happens, it seems everyone is shaken.  Not that we don't care when tragedy strikes adults or older people or anyone really.  But when children are impacted, no matter how our pop culture might suggest the best kids are no kids, it's just not in our DNA to really believe it. Like so many dogmas that our post-God era promotes.  So often reality is the first line of defense against what we are taught nowadays.  Which, in its own weird way, gives hope.  No matter how much our best and brightest appear to want us to toss the real and embrace the mortal sins of the world, there's just too much of that Divine spark in us for it to last against overwhelming common sense and common virtue.  Which might be why, no matter how the Psalmist laments the question of why God has forsaken him, he inevitably ends up proclaiming that the same Lord is his shepherd.  

Prayers for the families in Texas

By now you've probably heard.  Tragic, and that camps for children were so prominently impacted, a parent's worst nightmare.  Right now, prayers are all that we can do.  Prayers and thankfulness for those out there, even risking their lives, to help save others.  

UPDATE: We should avoid like the plague any idea of blame here.  Already, as if on que, you have the blame game going on.  Fact is, I saw interviewed on ABC this morning a nurse at Camp Mystic.  By her own admission, she received the first Flood Warning alert.  She said it was raining but not bad, so she took no other action.  An hour later another camp counselor notified her that water was already coming into the cabins.  Then she said she notified camp staff and, rather than move the children, they simply toured the camp to see the state of things.  And based on everything stated by those who saw the floods rise, that was the fatal error.  Instead of immediately getting the girls to higher ground and then surveying the camp to see what was happening, by her own admission they didn't do that.  We call that human error.  She didn't appear to realize the implication of what she was saying in the interview.  I'm not sure why she said it.  I sat in stunned silence as she unpacked the chain of events.  I won't point fingers, because you never know what else was happening.  But no matter what led them to feel leaving the girls sleep as waters were pouring into some of the cabins, that has to be a factor behind the disastrous loss of innocent life that happened.  Again, I won't condemn.  Unless there is some big part of the story she didn't mention, however, when the gravity of how things went down hits her, I'm sure it will be something that will plague her the rest of her life.  

Of course it's fine to ask questions.  For those in the broader area who died, perhaps changing things around might be a good idea.  Having different warning signals.  Perhaps not having camps in low lying areas known as Flash Flood Alley.  I don't know.  But right there we have an added layer of that human tragedy that can be overlooked if we rush out to make political hay from such human suffering.  A woman who probably is in shock and will be hit hard by the decisions made.  That's why prayers, rather than politics, are the right thing to do for all involved, especially as the tragedy continues to unfold.  

Some great news and then there is the news

 So why is she smiling?

Because she's going to be an older sister, that's why!  Yes, it's confirmed that the kiddos are going to be parents times two.  Due date sometime in November.  The first ultrasound confirms the happy news.  So blessings all around this Easter season!

Then we have a pope named Bob who is - I can hardly bring myself to say it - a White Sox fan.   I hear he also plays a mean tennis.  That he took the name of Leo, any Leo, to me is a bonus point.  I know, everyone is scared or thrilled or, in some cases, happy they have a new pope shaped cudgel with which to beat those reprehensible reprobates who pollute the beautiful Church because they didn't realize how close to God Pope Francis walked.  For now, I'm putting my thoughts together.  Since at least one reader seemed only concerned with me trashing Pope Francis, and wasn't interested in anything else I had to say, I might hold off with any 'Pope Francis: The Rebuttal' posts.  Instead, I might reflect on things over the last decade or two and where I think we might go from here.

But then the other news, which is why it might be a bit.  My mom, God bless her, is in the hospital owing to an injury from turning wrong in her chair, and a potentially tough diagnosis they're working through (she is in her 90s after all).  I was all night at two different ERs, and will likely be back and forth with long commutes for a few while they help her through things. Because if it is anything major, typically patients are sent to one of the big hospitals in Columbus proper. 

Prayers in both of these developments would be appreciated.

Until then, I appreciate those following things here, and will be back when I can.  Until then, a photo that is near and dear to my heart right now:

Our oldest and youngest.

Habemas Papam

By now the news is spreading.  My oldest said there was the white smoke.  He was right.  We'll have to see what happens next.  Prayers all around.  

Rest in Peace Pope Francis

Pope Francis has died.  Prayers for him and peace.  

December 17, 1936, - April 21, 2025

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. Rev. 21.4

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. 

Hmmmm

I remember seeing this:  

Then suddenly, I see this:

Makes you wonder.  Don't think I don't.  

That train derailment story you've heard about

Happy belated b'day - Dad as I like to remember him

Here in the Buckeye State, we've been hearing about the train derailment in East Palestine for weeks now.  Long and short, someone goofed.  It is a story because following the derailment, it was stated that no hazardous chemicals were present.  So they came in an initiated a burn to eliminate the spillage. Problem?  Obviously there were hazardous materials, and now they're - everywhere. 

I'll let the lawyers and the politicians work it out.  For me, I can't figure out how they got it so wrong.  As you all know, my dad was a railroad engineer.  I used to know quite a lot about about trains since they're trains.  And every kid (and many adults) loves trains.  Even if he didn't 'live the train culture' (it was merely a job to him), he would always tell me what I wanted to know about the railroad.  And I listened when he talked to mom.  A few times over the years he let me ride with him on the engine (and once on a caboose - fun stuff!  Think an RV on rails).  When I was in college, he even let me try my hand with running one, albeit in a small local train yard at about 5mph and no cars attached.  

Now, trains are actually a delicate thing.  Yes, they're big and scary.  But the whole thing is a masterclass in physics.  For instance, the balance of wheels on rails is a precarious one.  Almost no train in the history of trains ever derailed because it hit something like a car or truck.  The actual collision is not the problem.  The reason why you'll see a derailment connected to a crossing accident is that a piece of the torn up vehicle became wedged between the wheels and rail, bending the rail out, and leading to the cars or engines jumping the track. 

Like flying, starting and stopping is the most dangerous part.  Start the train wrong, and you could tear a car in half.  Stop it wrong and some of the cars may not get the memo in time, resulting in a pile up.  And of course, derailments are always a concern, from start to finish and in between.  

I've heard on the news about some overheated bearings causing the derailment.  That could be.  Though how they missed it I don't know.  That's called a hot box, and railroads have 'hot box detectors' up and down the lines.  That was one of the more irksome parts of the job IIRC.  It wasn't unusual for a detector to trip even if there was nothing there.  Nonetheless, each time it did, the train had to stop and someone (the engineer being the boss of the train crew, it usually wasn't my dad) had to walk the length of the train to see what happened.  

That's often how things on the railroad work, by the way.  If there is a problem with the detector, it triggers.  Like railroad crossing lights, they're set to go off if there are any problems.  So even if there was a problem with this detector, it should have triggered.  I'd think the technology is even more advanced now then back in the day.

So no clue how that could cause the derailment unless someone messed up royally somewhere.  

As for the lack of knowledge about the cargo, that's unbelievable.  Each train car my dad hauled was on a list containing all the needed specs.  Some trains were special trains made up for specific cargos.  The ones with anything more dangerous than sponges had special information attached.  On the lines through Ohio my dad worked on, one of the trains was affectionally called 'The Bomb.'  About 100 of 150 cars or so of explosive and hazardous liquids. Not only were the materials an issue, but hauling them wasn't easy.  Tank cars in general were tough to control.  If you've ever carried a large container of liquid that began sloshing back and forth, you know why.  Imagine a 30 ton car with tens of thousands of gallons that begin sloshing back and forth if not controlled.  Then imagine dozens of such cars sloshing at different rates.  

That's why the safety protocols around such loads were Himalayan in scope.  And not just the train crew, but the various railroad yards and stations, and all locations the train would travel through were made aware.

How with all of that the response was 'Gee, we didn't think there were hazardous chemicals' just doesn't sound real. What actually happened and why I don't know.  But that's why this is becoming a news story even on international news.  Mixed with continuing 'nothing to see here folks' in the face of citizens developing all manner of ailments, the whole thing stinks to high heaven. 

Oh, and one shout out.  Do engineers and train crews a favor and don't try to beat trains at railroad crossings.  It's stressful for them since there's little they can do but watch.  Even though my dad had learned how to mitigate damage at crossings, if someone darted in front of him at the last, he couldn't do anything.  Remember, rule of thumb: It usually takes the length of the train to stop, and some trains can be over a mile long.  All accidents were stressful, even though he was seldom in danger (gasoline tank trucks being an exception, and the bogeyman of railroad engine crews).  When the accidents were fatalities, it always weighed on him.   The worst I recall was a car with four women leaving a party who at the last minute darted around the crossing gates. All four were killed instantly.  It was the only time I remember Dad having to take time off from work.  So next time, just wait a couple minutes.  Nothing is so important as to not make it to where you're going. 

Results are almost always the same

BTW, just for fun, the worst cargo to haul per my dad?  Plastic pellets.  That's because there was no air between those things and it was 100% dead weight, to the tune of hundreds of tons.  That's a car that needed TLC or you could have those torn up derailed trains pretty fast. 

It's very simple

Apparently Nancy Pelosi's house was broken into and her husband assaulted.  We don't know the motives, though the attacker has been arrested.  Perhaps it was politically motivated.  It certainly wouldn't be the first in recent years.  Politicians being confronted, mobbed and even attacked has become more common over the last few years.  Meanwhile protests and violent threats against the SCOTUS since the Roe decision leak have also become a common story.

This all speaks to an unraveling society. It's wrong, of course.  Whether R or D, or SCOTUS or POTUS, there is no reason for violence, threat or intimidation at this stage.  That's why it should always be condemned, not just when it impacts our own party.  Do it only when it's against your own side, and you might as well join the next mob and hie to the attack.  

Hopefully her husband is OK and not injured too badly.  As long as we are consistent in our ethic, that is all we should concern ourselves with. 

So this is happening

China is joining a right fine group of countries in Russia for some uneventful troop exercises. Nothing to see here.  I'm sure most who hear of this will dismiss it as no big deal.  Or they will bet the farm that if it is a big deal, it will become so only after they have passed on from this life to the next. 

Really?

CNN appears quite shocked that Dept. of Health guidance in Florida suggests the Covid-19 vaccine might not benefit healthy 5 to 17 year olds.  Read it here.

If we were honest, it might do some good. It might even foster some good will among those reluctant to follow various Covid guidelines, including the Covid shots.  If we admitted that the vaccines clearly have underperformed, that their effectiveness tends to ebb and flow based on the latest virus variants, and that obviously if we've missed those marks, we can't be sure if there are long term side effects, at least that would be honest. 

But like most things today, especially if they are glommed onto by our mass corporate media industries, it's a case of shouting down and name calling.  Or, if possible, bringing in the crushing hand of government - or worse, corporate - retaliation against any who would question the latest dogma. 

Covid has been a mess, make no mistake. Admitting that might be the first step in a long walk to bring people back to some semblance of trust in the institutions that have repeatedly dropped the ball.  If, in fact, that is what we want to happen.

I'm shocked

According to this story, one of the accused associates of Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead in his prison cell from suicide.   May God have mercy on his soul. 

I'm still wondering why the only person I've seen the press really go after in the whole Epstein drama is Prince Andrew.  They've been all over him like a bad suit.   But he's been it.  I've seen nothing else about any of Mr. Epstein's other big name pals and buddies and associates.  I hadn't heard of this fellow until now.  

Why do I get the feeling that if most of his associates were big name conservatives and Republicans and MAGA types, we would be hearing more.  Maybe I'm being judgmental, but it's the hunch I have. 

A minor correction

 

If a team took four overtimes to win a game, it didn't trounce anyone by any definition of the word trounce. 

Prayers for the victims in WIsconsin

I don't always rush out and post a prayer for victims of tragedy or violence unless it is particularly egregious.  If I tried I would get nothing done but posting about such sad stories that happen all too often. But sometimes when a tragedy like this takes place, in the setting and context of merry makers just wanting to escape the lunacy of the age, it hits particularly hard.

We don't know the facts yet.  We may never know.  If the facts can be used by the media then they will be plastered on every headline and signpost in America. If not, we'll have to dig through the grocery ads to find out anything.  

What we do know is that people who gathered to indulge in some old fashioned Americana enjoyment of the Christmas season were hurt and killed.  People who simply thought they would go and let loose, watch the little ones soak up what is left of traditional forms of enjoyment, and relax in an age of stress are now gone.   

For them, those they leave behind, and all those hurt and injured I now pray.  I pray God give those who lost loved ones strength in the upcoming days and months. I pray God receive those who died into his loving arms.  And I pray that God cover the minds and hearts of all who are impacted by this with the peace of Christ. 

Because freedom of expression is important

The Nobel Peace Prize this year has been awarded to two journalists for their tireless work for safeguarding freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia.  No commentary.  Just thought it was interesting given the state of affairs in our country right now. 

For the record I do not approve

The George Floyd memorial statue in New York has been vandalized again.  

For the record, I don't think there should be a memorial to Floyd.  I've pointed out before that they've moved the bar quite a distance since it was about police killing unarmed, innocent black Americans.  Now you can be a black American in the process of trying to kill the police, wanted for sexual assault or other felonies or even trying to kill a citizen and still be lauded, praised and even turned into a millionaire.  Hence the spike in crime over the last year. 

This is where the BLM mentality has gotten us.  A mentality only made possible by the news media developing its ability to be entirely false without ever lying.  Blacks killed by police? Sure.  Americans across the board are killed by police in a given year.  But just ignore all the others, and make any case involving a black American into round the clock headline news, and it's a false narrative without being entirely false. 

Despite all this, someone decided to put up a statue to Floyd in the modern genuflecting before group identity and group guilt and anti-Americanism.  Because of that, have a discussion, a debate, or something if you don't like it.  Don't tear it down, vandalize it, or in any way try to destroy it.  That's wrong.  That's the stuff of barbarians and savages to be honest.  It was always presented as such when I was growing up, even when it was colonists tearing down a statue of King George. I've seen nothing over the last few years to suggest that appraisal was wrong. 

So no, I don't approve of this at all.  

Is Ken Weyler barking mad?

 Or is this just partisan bilge: 

I've looked under Ken Weyler and anything to do with a 52 page document, and apart from the statement by a liberal democrat Mary Jane Wallner, I've seen no news stories about it.  I've looked.  Perhaps this story could help.  It's a local rag and does speak of the blowup between the Dems and Welyer.  

But no mention of 52 page anything. That story was dated Sept. 23, 2021.  Much of the  news I've found centers more on Weyler being a key block to Democrat budget agendas.  Given how quickly darlings of the Left are now being vilified for standing in Biden's way, I have to wonder.

Nonetheless, I've found nothing at all about a 52 page document sent by Weyler.  I went to stories about  Wallner and found nothing saying she made the claim at all.  Perhaps she did.  Perhaps he did.  Maybe the above Twitter post is spot on.

I've just found nothing at all about any of it, other than Weyler is in hot water for bucking the dominant narratives about vaccines and Dems are trying to get rid of him.   No document.  No tentacle monster claims.  Just that the scuff over his claims about percentages of vaccinated in hospitals and problems with the vaccines.  I wonder if anyone else has found anything.

I should add I'm not saying that the Twitter post itself is a false story and there was no such thing.  Or that the Wallner never made such a claim.  Or that Weyler - an MIT grad - never actually sent any such document, and the above image is a lie.  Heaven forfend.

I'd just like to find some actual information, a copy of the actual document (all 52 pages if possible), and see exactly what was written and hear the parties involved actually corroborate that it all happened as the Twitter post says. 

But that's just me. 

A question from a statistics amatuer

So the news exploded today that the unvaccinated are 11 x more likely to die of Covid than the vaccinated.  It was met with multiple stories of medical pros beseeching everyone to become vaccinated.

Yet I remember a few months ago, and they said that between 97% and 98% of all who died of Covid were unvaccinated.  

Now I can do arithmetic in my head as well as anyone.  I'm actually quite good at it.  But my math and stats skills drop from there.  To my amateur eyes, however, that seems to be a big difference.  It seems as if the effectiveness has dropped. 

From my vantage point, the earlier stats that would be like saying only about 1 or 2 out of every 100 people who die of Covid are vaccinated.  But now, for every 11 unvaccinated who die, there is 1 vaccinated who dies. Which is a lot more than the old 1 or 2% who are vaccinated who are dying.  It's more like around 9 or 10 vaccinated who die for every 100.  Which, if I'm not missing something, is significant. 

Am I reading this right?  Am I reading the numbers correctly?  Are they presenting them in such a way that isn't the best way and that's why I'm confused?  Or am I just a Charlie Brown when it comes to this? Any help from numbers-pros is appreciated. 

My immediate thoughts on the news about Pope Francis and the Latin Mass

More to follow 

In follow up news to the military readiness to attack Trump supporters

I see the Surgeon General of the United States is calling Covid misinformation an 'urgent threat'.  Ever notice how many things nowadays is categorized under the heading 'urgent threat' or similar?  It's as if they're saying they fully support our rights and freedoms as long as those do not pose an urgent threat.  Out of dumb blind luck, however, almost anything that questions a leftwing narrative is an urgent threat.

Of course the joke here is that you can't have misinformation when the last thing that has defined the Covid era has been consistency of messaging.  If there was some consistent narrative at all, I could then figure what was and wasn't misinformation.  

For instance, my sons predicted weeks ago that within a week or so of July 4th - when President Biden promised we would be liberated from Covid - you'd see news reports of Covid spikes and the beginning of talks about returning to restrictions and even lockdowns.  Given that's what dominated the news this morning, I'd say they're not too far off. 

We all know that Covid, like climate, health, opioids, or anything today, is about one part science, and five parts politics.  I couldn't tell you what to think of Covid unless I just said whatever they say today is now gospel truth and I obey.  If I think more than that about what has been said over the last year or more, almost none of it makes sense. 

In fact, if I begin asking questions like why was my mom not tested for Covid when we had to take her to the ER with chest pains, shortness of breath, and general weakness, I begin to wonder why the Covid rates are really down.  Heck, they didn't even ask if she was vaccinated.  But then, that could be misinformation because I noticed things.  And we all know that misinformation is an urgent threat.