Two Pictures

The first picture will be familiar to you if you consume anything other than mainstream news sources. The second will be familiar to you if you consume any history. There are some similarities, some differences between the pictures, but I'm not going to tell you why I'm presenting these together. Today, it's your job to tell me the significance of these photos. 

I'm only giving you one hint: these pictures were taken 74 years apart. 

 I don't think I'm being unfair.

Now, we have to go to Turkey

...to see this.

Dangerous Saftey

Fortunately for my generation, the age of enlightenment for ultra-safe playgrounds began after our jungle-gym explorations had come to an end. I still remember falling off the slide backwards and having the wind knocked out of me, puking up my bologna sandwich after an over-zealous merry-go-round session, twisting my ankle after an orbit-entering jump off of the swing, along with various and sundry head bumps, splinters, abrasions, blisters and hyper-extended fingernails. And look at me now! There's not a (twitch....twitch) thing wrong with me.

Mammasita likes to brag about her high school softball team doing a FOD for broken glass in the infield before every practice. I dare you to try today to get a teenage girl to slide into third base with known flesh-rending objects in the ground without receiving any letters from their fathers' attorneys. Ain't gonna happen, Sid.

What kind of football are we going to have to watch when all these kids who never takes risks or get hurt on the playground start making wimpy tackles?........ Ok. That's not a good example. What kind of Marine Corps will we count on if 19 year-old recruits have never had to deal with a decent scrape on their knee? They'll all want to join the Air Force!

This just confirms me in my desire to build a big, dangerous playground to teach my children risk taking and assessment habits...and that their father will always be there to help them when they need it most.

I wonder what sort of liquid this Jesus would weep?

Incidents like this always cause me distress over people's ideas of Christianity. Jesus never promised us that he his image would appear on random media and people go crazy over these things. Tell them that he is present in the sacraments, as he promised he would be, and we Catholics are superstitious, out-dated, idolatrous, and un-biblical.

We interrupt this program...

I've been thinking much about life lately--just can't quite figure out why--and since I'm drawn to anything Russian, I thought this would perhaps not too greatly disturb the steady stream of photographs of pure sweetness and beauty.

Unprecedented Move by the Vatican

This will come as a surprise to everyone who thinks that the Church is opposed to scientific progress.

Can I get a Beeee-ne-de-tto, (clap--clap--clap clap clap)?

This is actually happenning

Blame it on my outdated classical sensibilities, my lack of imagination, or my unhealthy expectation for things like beauty and meaning in all art, but recent creations which purport to be just that and are described as "Neo-expressionist", "Post-modernist" and "Massurrealist" I think belong in the category of another movement of the gastro-intestinal variety.

My fist thought whenever I encounter an especially abstract collection of color is, "Okaaaayyyy, that looks like something a 4 year old would do when his parents have left out the paint and are not paying adequate attention to the curious bundle of energy."

I should know by now not to joke around about these sorts of things.

Parents as Burdens

I really hope I got at least a few few of you with that title.

If you want to know what I really think, check this out.

Finally, Some Good World Population Perspectives

Is the world on track for overpopulation because of Mormons, Catholics and other ignorant demographic groups in Africa and India? Will Social Security implode because of an aging population whose fertility rates are insufficient to replace the outgoing workforce?

Here is a great article outlining the opposing positions, each using the same data as evidence. Which do you think interprets the data correctly?

The Decline and Fall of...

There have been multiple pieces in the last few weeks about "the decline of America," each of which focus solely on economic factors such as government debt, growth of the economy and the value of currency. This, however, is a slightly different perspective which is much more insightful and frightening.

A Few Things You Should Know

While not necessarily helpful or even relevant for this Holy Saturday, if you have some time check out this article that debunks 4 popular crusade myths.

We Need More of These Attitudes

I think we all need to take this approach to the faith. If we were all a little more joyful about our faith and realistic about our faults there would be a lot less silliness within the Church. Our Jewish-Catholic brethren are the perfect antidote to many of the problems most of us only complain about.

I dare you...

to watch this without smiling.

Grab Some Tissues

I should not have read this at work.

Maybe I'm just excited about all the new babies coming these next few months, but this piece hit home the beauty of life and the Body of Christ.

Pants and Skirts

I know, I know. You are thinking, "who does this guy think he is posting about feminine clothing?"

Please just take a look at this piece and let me know what you think.

I wish I could make anti-communist statements simply by making some changes in my wardrobe!