A new coal mine opened and a town grew up next to it. The town had two churches, one Catholic and the other Protestant. After several years it became obvious that the Catholic church was attracting far more congregants than the Protestant church, and the Protestant elders decided they had to investigate and discover why. A delegation of deacons quietly went over to the Catholic church for Mass one Sunday, and excitedly came hurrying back to their own church, exclaiming "We found out! We found out!" and the elders said "Tell us!" The spokesman of the deacons said "We carefully slipped into the church behind the Catholics, being sure not to attract attention, and stood at the back. We didn't anoint ourselves with the holy water, oh no. Nor cross ourselves; we just stood at the back where we could see, hear, and leave quickly without being noticed. After a little while the Catholic priest entered and stood at the front of the church in his glorious robes embroidered with gold, folded his arms and sang out 'I CAN PLAY DOM-IN-OES BET-TER THAN YOUUU CAN.' Then a parishioner stands up and sings back 'OOH NOO YOU CAA-N'T.' And all the time men are going up and down the pews with baskets on poles taking side bets on it!"
It has recently occurred to me that christianity is just commerce with a deity directing. Which suggests that the selling of indulgences was not peculiar but integral. The military going on missions is not anomalous, either.
The *administration* of Christianity has often had a commerce side to it, but the Deity was not the one directing it. Christianity itself is to follow the person and teachings of Christ. To the extent that those who call themselves Christians, especially the ones who claim leadership of the faithful, actually follow the person and teachings of Christ, it does not resemble commerce and it co-creates with the Deity.
Trump's real-estate empire pays the price for poisonous politics [Click] “Revenues from some of his high-end properties have declined, vacancies in office buildings have increased and his lenders are warning that the company’s revenues may not be sufficient to cover his debt payments. . .”
Relying on bankers to decide who's a reliable borrower of money is a bad idea. I've known that since 1968 when the local banker conditioned a loan to purchase and restore a house build in 1740 on our acwuiring an electric saw to assist the restoration. Handing the distribution of currency over to the bankers in 1913 was a big mistake.
On NHK News just now there was a segment about a therapod dinosaur addressing COP26, to general applause, even standing ovation. I will go looking to see if I can find it online.
Actually, the dinosaur addressed the UN ahead of COP 26. See it here:
Dinosaur speaks to UN ahead of COP 26 [Click] “Listen up, people, I know a thing or two about extinction, and let me tell you ... going extinct is a bad thing.”
‘The stench of death’: California city plagued by extraordinary odor [Click] It always surprises me that the newspapers don’t emphasize how poisonous hydrogen suphide is—more poisonous than hydrogen cyanide. But it seems one can’t expect basic scientific knowledge among newspaper reporters or “editors.” Ditto knowledge of history; they often seem to struggle even with geography.
Journalism programs have long been the default for failing English majors.At public meetings the students showed up with check lists and fill-in-the-blank questionairs and the end of a meeting they would ask someone to ecplain what had happened.
Stepped outside and there is a smell (stink, actually) of wildfire smoke. Not bad, but definite. I have no idea where it is coming from, but the air is still.
Vermont's entire population is 70.9% vaccinated and, of eligible Vermonters, 89.6% have received at least one dose. Yet, we are seeing the highest number of daily cases and ~ remembering that the entire population of the state is 628,989 ~ we currently have 60 people in hospital, including 12 in the ICU. 4 more deaths reported today, making at least 10 this week, and a total of 364. It's just skyrocketing, but our Governor won't reinstate the mask mandate. Even the Vermont Legislature has begged for it, but he just says it's up to "personal responsibility."
My hunch is that he's thinking Leahy won't run again (decision imminent), and if so, Peter Welch will run for the Senate, so Gov. Scott will run for the House. I sincerely hope someone non-Republican bests him, but he's been highly regarded here. It's unsettling.
I have seen reports in the past couple of days that even people who are vaccinated can be colonized with the coronavirus and spread it to others with whom they live. Tomorrow we go sketching at a shopping/entertainment district, and I will definitely wear an N95 mask.
I am making fair progress with reading Life on the Mississippi.
One of our heating-air conditioning units has decided not to heat (like a year ago), and it isn't practical to repair it, even if parts can be found somewhere. It has lasted 27 years, which is pretty good. But it sure will be expensive to replace. Had a fellow come around today to give us a second bid.
Alan, I finally caught up with your posts on the thread before last.
ReplyDeleteDO tell!
A new coal mine opened and a town grew up next to it. The town had two churches, one Catholic and the other Protestant. After several years it became obvious that the Catholic church was attracting far more congregants than the Protestant church, and the Protestant elders decided they had to investigate and discover why. A delegation of deacons quietly went over to the Catholic church for Mass one Sunday, and excitedly came hurrying back to their own church, exclaiming "We found out! We found out!" and the elders said "Tell us!" The spokesman of the deacons said "We carefully slipped into the church behind the Catholics, being sure not to attract attention, and stood at the back. We didn't anoint ourselves with the holy water, oh no. Nor cross ourselves; we just stood at the back where we could see, hear, and leave quickly without being noticed. After a little while the Catholic priest entered and stood at the front of the church in his glorious robes embroidered with gold, folded his arms and sang out 'I CAN PLAY DOM-IN-OES BET-TER THAN YOUUU CAN.' Then a parishioner stands up and sings back 'OOH NOO YOU CAA-N'T.' And all the time men are going up and down the pews with baskets on poles taking side bets on it!"
DeleteThat's a goodie.
DeleteOf course, one would leave when they heard:
"BENNY'S GOT ALL THE DOMINOES!"
It has recently occurred to me that christianity is just commerce with a deity directing. Which suggests that the selling of indulgences was not peculiar but integral. The military going on missions is not anomalous, either.
DeleteThe *administration* of Christianity has often had a commerce side to it, but the Deity was not the one directing it. Christianity itself is to follow the person and teachings of Christ. To the extent that those who call themselves Christians, especially the ones who claim leadership of the faithful, actually follow the person and teachings of Christ, it does not resemble commerce and it co-creates with the Deity.
DeleteBig reservoir [Millerton] upstream of us is at 58% of capacity, and 134% of historical average for this time of year. [Click]
ReplyDeleteTrump's real-estate empire pays the price for poisonous politics [Click] “Revenues from some of his high-end properties have declined, vacancies in office buildings have increased and his lenders are warning that the company’s revenues may not be sufficient to cover his debt payments. . .”
ReplyDeleteRelying on bankers to decide who's a reliable borrower of money is a bad idea. I've known that since 1968 when the local banker conditioned a loan to purchase and restore a house build in 1740 on our acwuiring an electric saw to assist the restoration. Handing the distribution of currency over to the bankers in 1913 was a big mistake.
DeleteOn NHK News just now there was a segment about a therapod dinosaur addressing COP26, to general applause, even standing ovation. I will go looking to see if I can find it online.
ReplyDeleteActually, the dinosaur addressed the UN ahead of COP 26. See it here:
DeleteDinosaur speaks to UN ahead of COP 26 [Click] “Listen up, people, I know a thing or two about extinction, and let me tell you ... going extinct is a bad thing.”
‘The stench of death’: California city plagued by extraordinary odor [Click] It always surprises me that the newspapers don’t emphasize how poisonous hydrogen suphide is—more poisonous than hydrogen cyanide. But it seems one can’t expect basic scientific knowledge among newspaper reporters or “editors.” Ditto knowledge of history; they often seem to struggle even with geography.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't be so bad if they could just spell and make use of correct grammar. I see more and more errors as time passes.
DeleteIs our children learning?
Journalism programs have long been the default for failing English majors.At public meetings the students showed up with check lists and fill-in-the-blank questionairs and the end of a meeting they would ask someone to ecplain what had happened.
DeleteStepped outside and there is a smell (stink, actually) of wildfire smoke. Not bad, but definite. I have no idea where it is coming from, but the air is still.
ReplyDelete😟
DeleteFresno ranks second in state for number of COVID related hospitalizations [Click] Oh, joy. Kaweah Delta Hospital is in the next county to the south.
ReplyDeleteIt's scary.
DeleteVermont's entire population is 70.9% vaccinated and, of eligible Vermonters, 89.6% have received at least one dose. Yet, we are seeing the highest number of daily cases and ~ remembering that the entire population of the state is 628,989 ~ we currently have 60 people in hospital, including 12 in the ICU. 4 more deaths reported today, making at least 10 this week, and a total of 364. It's just skyrocketing, but our Governor won't reinstate the mask mandate. Even the Vermont Legislature has begged for it, but he just says it's up to "personal responsibility."
My hunch is that he's thinking Leahy won't run again (decision imminent), and if so, Peter Welch will run for the Senate, so Gov. Scott will run for the House. I sincerely hope someone non-Republican bests him, but he's been highly regarded here. It's unsettling.
I have seen reports in the past couple of days that even people who are vaccinated can be colonized with the coronavirus and spread it to others with whom they live. Tomorrow we go sketching at a shopping/entertainment district, and I will definitely wear an N95 mask.
DeleteKrugman: Cowards, Not Crazies, Are Destroying America [Click]
ReplyDeleteI am making fair progress with reading Life on the Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteOne of our heating-air conditioning units has decided not to heat (like a year ago), and it isn't practical to repair it, even if parts can be found somewhere. It has lasted 27 years, which is pretty good. But it sure will be expensive to replace. Had a fellow come around today to give us a second bid.
President Biden and Pope Francis met today. I really enjoyed this article.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.wcax.com/2021/10/29/biden-pope-talk-virus-climate-poverty-vatican/
GOSH! I really thought we'd hear from Cat today, what with the President meeting with the Pope and all.
ReplyDelete=Sigh= Miss her!