Prime Reading

Book Review of Numbers Up by Kevin Clark


Impulse buying at the C.H.A.P.L.E.T. homeschooling conference led me to buy this novel which is clearly a Catholic response to the work of the infamous Dan Brown. The murder victim even wrote the name "DAN" in his own blood, instead of writing an intricate serious of impossible clues like in The DaVinci code. The two victims characterize the difference between the books. Numbers Up is straightforward, plausible, and concise whereas The DaVinci Code is obtuse, incredulous and verbose. Following the detective work of Paul Ondracek, into the murder of a famous mathematician, was a thrilling yet all to brief adventure involving many of the intellectual challenges of the modern era. At the end, I only wished for another hundred pages.

Big surprise

Well, Arlen Specter has finally announced that he is a Democrat. I am soooooo surprised. I do appreciate his work on the Senate Judiciary Committee but I don't know of any other accomplishment that was actually helpful to advancing culture. Of course, I take great affront with him putting down Rick Santorum who saved his bacon in the primary against Toomey. But he has been in the Senate since I was an embryo, I would be tempted to vote against him just because incumbents are annoying.

The guy looks worse than Strom Thurman ever did; he looks like the undead or a ghost.

....or maybe a spectre! (rimshot)

Too Long

Wow! I can't believe that I haven't written in so long. Thanks to all my trusty followers who have been checking in to look for something new, especially if you use Google Reader. My dearest has found a spectacular article at First Things which neatly summarizes the point of this blog.

As a wise woman once sang, "Children are our future." The first world has a rapidly declining population of children with a consequential lack of labor. In short, there are too many savers competing for too few investments so the returns are dropping like stones. Read the whole thing.

I offer a shower of thanks to Robert Kiyosaki for teaching me that my house is not an investment. I am also grateful to have chosen a home-based business which will help the elderly, instead of choosing real estate as my primary investment.

On the other side of the tomb

Lent was especially beneficial and a rather easy spiritual practice this year. I toned my Lenten practices down this year, to the dismay of my more dedicated friends, because I wanted to actually carry them through the entire Lenten season and make a gift of myself to the Lord instead of failing miserably after two weeks. It was very rewarding and humbling to pass on my small gift to the Lord whereas my past failures are only humbling. Perhaps I haven't learned the humility lesson yet, as I blog about my exploits, but it was a great gift from God to learn a different lesson for a change even if it ultimately turned out to be a painful one.

The lesson this time around was, "Easy Lent, hard Easter". The Octave of Easter was exceedingly difficult because joy would not come. My job was torturous, life was hectic, my civil leaders were ignorant if not downright malicious and I was a regular Mr. Grumpypants. My understanding of joy has deepened to the realization that joy should be present at all times. No matter if the situation is a happy one or a sad one, whether it is a beautiful Vigil Mass at my parish or watching the government destroy the future of my children and grandchildren, joy should be lived because the Lord of All has conquered death and He welcomes us into His eternal abode.

Working on an Easter post...

Until then, read my humble Magyar.

I am a Free Press

Since the major media outlets have not picked up on the protests surrounding tomorrow's tax deadline, I will report them here.

The TEA parties are actual grassroots protesters who detest the wasteful government spending in recent memory. Like me, they are frustrated with the massive bailout that was hurriedly passed by this Democratic House and President. Like me, they are also frustrated with the gigantic bailout passed by the previous presidential administration which opened the floodgates to the socialization of the banking system. In short, we know that we can spend our money better than the government. For example, I am trying to start my own business and potentially invest in real estate, while keeping my 401k growing. Any money the government gives me, goes to these ends. Instead, the government doesn't even trust me with an $800 stimulus all in one shot so they disburse it throughout the year.

So much for middle class support that was repeatedly promised in the campaign.

Rejoice, He is Risen!

What a blessed Triduum! We made it to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. I'm lovin' our parish even if the liturgies still couldn't adhere to all of the rubrics (Is it so hard to find 12 men to get their feet washed?). Due to our participation as teachers in RCIA, I had a small connection to the newly baptized and confirmed. The reborn always fill me with hope and give me a chance to repeatedly quote Chesterton. "Here comes everybody."

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Perfect Weather

Stunningly, the weather forecast was correct and it is a rainy, dreary Holy Saturday. Fortunately, I think that is the best way to commemorate this day in the tomb with Christ. I had a moderately successful Lent, although I picked rather small sacrifices; I gained more spiritual insight than the Lents where I tried to do everything. I believe I offered Christ the best I could and it was humbling to realize how little I can offer. I know the Lord appreciates any gifts, just like I appreciate my girls' clearing of the dinner table, no matter how much of their drinks they spill on the way into the kitchen.

My weather forecast for tomorrow....Sonrise! (rimshot)

I know, its a terrible joke but who can resist?

No Pics here!

The Joy of Catholicism
A book review of "Holy Sex - A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing Infallible Loving"
by Dr. Gregory Popcak

I was intensely curious about this book, not only because of the edgy title, but because of a sincere desire to help devoted Catholics have excellent marital relations. Dr. Popcak covers the subject well, answering most reasonable questions and concerns about moral, marital intimacy along with some outliers. He gives a few examples of conflicts and how they can influence a couple's attitudes and feelings in regard to the most intimate aspect of their relationship. That is when the book is at its best, sharing real stories of practicing Catholics. The "Catechism" side, if you will. Unfortunately, the "Joy of Sex" side is a bit too explicit for my taste, though I imagine it is vastly more modest than anything in the Relationship section of my local Barnes & Noble. For a difficult subject, Dr. Popcak did a good job but this still isn't quite the book I was hoping to find. However, I gained enough valuable insight to have no doubt that his next book will make it to my shelf.

Contract with Catholicism

Always glad to cheer for someone who just finished the toughest swim in the world. The Tiber is a difficult river to swim; there are rapids, rocks, and a dizzying array of voices encouraging you in both directions. However, given the general decline of Christianity in America, it's good to see transfusions of new blood into the Body of Christ.

My Heroes

Although Heroes has been somewhat disappointing in its predictable plot lines (X-Men, anyone?), I still find myself hooked. Partially this is due to the fact that the Heroes often have some questions about God and argue about the issues a bit. Also, lines like this will keep me watching:

"You're not a hero, you're just a politician."

In an era when people seem to be getting more and more prone to idolatry of the government or certain leaders, it's great for a prime time show to rip the mask off this lunacy.

Reporting on Ourselves

Since the media feel free to ignore massive national protests, we have to record and distribute ourselves. Check out Thine Eyes for a promo of a DVD on the March for Life. Tell me if you see me, I'm the one in the fedora.

Prediction: Media are Fools

I'm writing this at 8:30AM to contain my prediction that the news media have been fooled by a "virus" that is supposed to shut down the Internet today. I wish they would do research and learn what a "prank" is. I couldn't believe their coverage last night. But kudos to whoever thought that this type of juvenile joke would still garner attention. Sometimes, I just love pranksters for point out society's idiocy.

Another YouTube discovery

It's amazing what I get the hankering to unearth on the Internet. I recently had Final Fantasy VI pop into my head and remembered that I only saw Saban's desperation attack or limit break in later jargon. A quick YouTube search revealed a nice little video of all the character's desperation attacks.

Aloha free TV!

I have been sold. I just watched my first Hulu show, The Colbert Report. I do thoroughly enjoy that man. I only had to endure a few commercials, but it was definitely worth the investment. I never watched a whole episode before (terrible, I know). I love how Colbert uses The Word to point out how important subtext is in the current media environment. He rocks.

Tell everyone

Because I think the American Health Care system is about as good as it can ever get.

Birth and NFP

After chatting with a wonderful lady recently, I was reminded that birth is a critical part of NFP and found myself recommending The Bradley Method before it even fit the conversation. Though it often brands me as a nutcase amongst my friends, I think that natural fertility awareness fits perfectly with a natural birth. Giving birth is not a disease anymore than fertility is. Unfortunately, both require a significant investment in study to understand since current medical practice is to treat both as conditions which require intervention before trying to understand the basic operations. I believe this directly supports the pro-life movement since natural birth is awe-inspiring as compared to C-section. I pray that more children will enter this world through their God-given passage.

Doing my homework

My apologies to anyone who visited my site recently. I have removed AdSense pending my ability to correctly adjust it to prevent evil content from appearing. Lest there be any confusion, abortion is evil and I in no way support it or draw revenue from advertising for it.

Homesteading

Since everyone is trying to save money, Get Rich Slowly pulled out some great links to a homesteading magazine. If you want to be more financially secure, why not do it yourself? Even the Obamas have gotten around to gardening.

Fatherhood by the Movies

What else matters, anyway?

If only I didn't have 2 dozen T-shirts

Because I love making people think a little bit.

CHT to Ironic Catholic

Not about St. Patrick

I suppose that I should write about St. Patrick for today, but since apparently everyone believes him to be the patron of getting drunk and corned beef, I don't think I have the strength to correct hordes of inebriated gluttons. Instead, I'll point out an awesome connection from the most recent episode of CSI:NY. Gary Sinise quoted Michael Kelly when he advised one of the CSI crew that marriage and family helps you become, "the best version of yourself."

I suppose that watching some more television can be OK. Although I'm still torn that our new digitally-ready TV allows us to get 2 dozen crystal clear channels for free. I sorta miss the old days of 5 fuzzy networks with the rabbit ears.

Now I really want to watch Albino Alligator.

A Resounding Response

As a former embryo, I oppose the murder of my compatriots. But I particularly like this response at the Weekly Standard.

CHT to CMR.

More is not More

Here is an interesting article on the current state of food in the U.S. I have only recently learned about the agri-business farming practices through the great book "The Omnivore's Dilemma." Boy, do I want to be more like the Yeoman Farmer. At least I'm selling the type of nutritional supplements which can help compensate for these issues.

Dawn Appears in Philly

The chastity conference by the PNFPN was excellent once I found the parish. I think it would be great if churches had some type of large tower which was visible above the adjacent roofs. Maybe some type of universal symbol could be placed on top to distinguish it even further. That was my only gripe, and I am glad to get it out of the way.

Generation Life provided some great speakers, including a good friend. The King's Men had Mark Houck give a talk on male chastity which was spectacular. Of course, Dawn Eden stole the show. It is amazing that she can speak so engagingly when I have read her book and lurked on her blog for years. The woman sitting next to me actually leaned over at the end of Dawn's first talk and asked if I knew Dawn personally. That was quite a compliment. Dawn was charming and autographed my copy of "Thrill of the Chaste." She now joins my autograph collection: Dr. Greg Popcak, Ellen Hrkach, Donald Trump, Josephine Taylor, Weird Al, Trout Fishing in America, and Blackthorn.

It was a great day of networking too. It is always invigorating to have some pleasant conversation with people who get it. I even received compliments which confused me: "You're so young to be involved in this." If I'm not doing it, then who will?

Going Green Since Humanae Vitae

A great post from Feminine Genius which reports on women ditching the pill to be healthier. Clearly, they are not concerned with their moral health, but choosing the right path, even for a minor good is still spiritually beneficial. Hopefully, these women will continue to reject the unhealthy contraceptive culture and embrace the narrow road of holiness.

Natural Healing

Part of living my natural family life is maintaining the scientific position that the body heals itself and medicine should either help or get out of the way. This jibes excellently with the practice of many chiropractors. I am honored to know some great practitioners and have them help my wife be at her peak to birth our kids. I also adhere to the scientific position that our bodies are amazing and we know very little about how they really work.

Facebook or Small Town USA

Through various conversations with friends, I have been contemplating the place that Facebook should have in a Christian life. Although I admit I have no experience of Small Town, USA. I imagine that in a small town with less mobile societies, relationships with friends as well as enemies often last decades. I imagine walking to the market and bumping into an old flame and a high school buddy before getting past the milk case. I presume that such a lifestyle would be very beneficial for practicing the love of neighbors, especially enemies, since you couldn't get away from them. I also imagine a great benefit to bumping into old friends and having chats more frequently than in modern days, when old friends cover four different states and hundreds of miles.

Facebook captures some of this second benefit, since status updates are somewhat equivalent to bumping into someone at the store and chatting about life. But Facebook cannot capture that bumping into enemies effect, since I choose who I want to bump into. In short, Facebook "friends" are not people who force me to grow in the most challenging Christian path of loving my enemies. At least I can keep up with my friends.

Another Reason to Love CCL

Family Foundations recently had a great article about home-based businesses, reinforcing my opinion that these businesses are beneficial to families and can be run in a Christian manner. I have been coming to this opinion over the course of the last year since I interact, as a business owner, with primarily stay-at-home moms (SAHM) and pastor's wives who also do this business. This explains why there are tons of cosmetics, jewelry, and make-up businesses yet none for power tools or video games. The article profiles a few women who run their business while taking care of their little ones. They remind me of farmer's wives who have to run the homestead so that their husbands can be successful, except in this disjointed age the businesses are separate instead of unified. I'm thrilled that CCL took the time to offer support to these wonderful women who are working to support their families while being true to their vocation as mothers.

I pray that I may reverse this disjoining trend and return to the homestead to work my business and be with my family.

P.S.- The article was in the November/December 2008 issue, I believe, but you will need to join CCL to read the whole thing.

I think I'd rather have "Love Shack"

Your 80s Song is "Sweet Child O' Mine"

If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about rock and roll. You love the free wheeling, wild atmosphere of the 80s - even if there were consequences later on. You think of the 80s as a time of partying hard and letting loose. Even if you find a lot of the 80s nostalgia to be a bit lame, you truly believe there was no better decade.

What's Your 80s Karaoke Song?

Two Marketeers

After a brief and confusing debacle between Kennedy/Glazer and Kiyosaki, I wasn't sure who to trust. Thankfully, I have found an outside source who has actual experience with Dan Kennedy and his followers. I might have to check out some of his books.

HT: My Truck Buddy

Signs of Actual Hope

I totally hope that I can raise a child with this type of public speaking ability, as well as with this level of compassion and concern for the less fortunate. As always, the children will lead us.

In related news, a North Dakotan is a person, no matter how small.

A Good Attempt

My darling dearest sent me this article for me to read and post. I think Juris Mater does a good job at writing the Theology of the Body in natural terms. There are a couple of rough spots but I really enjoy the work she did. Teaching NFP in the context of the Theology of the Body can be difficult, since most students need to learn the grammar of love (NFP) before they can learn the language of love (TOTB). I don't know how I could have grasped the TOTB without having practiced NFP for years. I pray all our students may get the picture faster than I.

When in Doubt

Since I haven't written on my favorite topic in a while, I was thrilled to see that Danielle Been did it for me. I particularly love that her reason for co-sleeping and not co-sleeping are the same!

What a Couple!

I opened my Catholic Standard & Times to discover a great article about a wonderful couple who live the Church's teachings and spread the good news. I am so thankful for the many good examples of the faith which I have met in my work to share the glory of the Church's teaching.

Trash to Treasure

As part of being a good steward of my resources which is my main goal in living a natural family life, I have been searching for ways to save money on recurring expenses besides dropping the quality of my food. It seems to me that eliminating waste is part of the job of a good steward. For example, the replacing of cable with Netflix resulted in a net savings of approximately $40 per month. My next mission success in eliminating waste was in waste elimination (I'm so nerdy).

I have switched from Allied Waste Services to G&C Waste Services for a savings of approximately $10 per month. We will see if my quality of service stays the same but I have been eager to ditch AWS since the "Fuel Recovery Fee" was instituted. If AWS was a good steward they would manage their own costs instead of forcing the burden on to me.

Good Economic News

My business has made the paper as an industry likely to weather the economic crisis. I'm hoping to be able to help people with their finances, as well as with their health. It's good to know that my support network is as healthy as I feel on these products.

Freedom of Irony

Obviously, I'm strongly opinionated about a lot of things which is why this blog has gone rapidly astray from my original intent. However, this story is so ironic that I laughed out loud even as I checked to see if my civil liberties were intact. It's refreshing to see the AFA continue to push back, even though it would be easy to crawl into a hole after the countless attacks that they have endured. And I feel sympathy for the TV station, since it should be able to choose to air or not air whatever it wants.

If only people were more tolerant or something.

God, Family, Business

I have been contemplating the difference between the corporate world and entrepreneurship. Corporate guy drops into office to go through e-mail before Sunday school. Corporate guy works 50-60 hours per week and commutes another 4-8 hours for maybe 60 waking hours with the kids. If he climbs the ladder, he earns the privilege of working more hours and traveling further from home.

Home-based network marketer lists God, Family, business as priorities. He gets home after doing his paid job in 40 -45 hours per week and reduces his commute to 1 hour per week with smart house buying and works his business from home for 1-2 hours per week, for maybe 75 waking hours with the kids. If he works his business, he earns the privilege of working from home all the time.

As I frequently pray, may God bless my business and all home-based businesses.

Calling Dr. Frankenstein

Two interesting articles, one referencing the Austrian creator of the pill and other which is his response. Although Mr. Djerassi has complaints about associating the population problem with the pill, he seems to have no complaints with his final quote in the first article. This quote is, "...natural methods of regulating fertility are the ones that are effective and that respect the nature of the person..." He also makes no retraction of his statement that the pill is a horrendously damaging environmental pollutant. It seems to me that many scientists now live to see their inventions abused and to see the damage that immoral technology can wreak. I have a much better appreciation of Frankenstein's Monster, now.

Incidentally, the comments on the first article are great, and the comments on the second article verge on the incomprehensible.

Whining for Authority

In a surreal moment last month, I was asking my Mom not to give in to my daughter because she was going through the usual histrionics. I said something to the effect of, "But Mom, you can't give in to her just because she's whining." So I whined to my mother in an attempt to convince her that parents should ignore the whining of their children.

Catch-22.

Margaret Sanger's Minions

Finally, a chance to write about NFP and the news. It seems our President has decided that the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives should busy itself with family planning. I was dumbfounded to hear this news since every blurb about this office before January 20, 2009 also included the words "separation of church and state." Apparently the ACLU is okay with this office as long as its mandate is to reduce the unwanted poor children. This is exactly the tactic which Margaret Sanger, foundress of Planned Parenthood, advocated to eliminate the poor and minorities. In light of the Speaker of the House saying that contraception provides financial stimulus through reducing the number of kids on government health insurance, it seems that Margaret Sanger is required at the DNC.

I pray that one day this illusion of "caring for the poor" by preventing their births will be publicly mocked and ridiculed so that we can get back to the scriptural command of feeding the poor (personally, instead of through a giant bureaucracy).

In Case You Still Need a Reason to be Pro-life

From a good friend comes this horrendous story. A warning that the immense evil will probably make you queasy. How come a "clinic" that cares for women would charge a woman $1200 when she doesn't have the means to even support a child? $1200 would easily pay for a child's expense to the age of 6 months. I love the maturity line as well since it reflects society so well and it is completely backwards. To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton, the best thing about children is that they make adults.

At least there are organizations that help people for free. You could almost say that they actually care about women.

Almost Aesop

A book review of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling

I am surprised by how well the fairy tales of this book stand on their own, not just as small bits in the massive Harry Potter universe. I was expecting a lot of inside jokes and lore pertaining to the world of the boy with the lightning scar but each story made a satisfactory fable all by itself. Since no one other than Dumbledore himself writes the analysis of each fable, all the Potter trivia is still in the book, just not in the stories. This construct works amazingly well with the only hiccup being the forward, where the author has the annoying habit of writing as if she and her charity live in the world of Harry Potter and converse with the characters. Fortunately this small error, like the typo of an unmatched parenthesis on p. 85, are easy to overlook and I only found myself hoping that the book could continue beyond the far too brief hundred pages.

We Bad, We Bad!

Check out our council, all the way at the bottom of this page.

False Idols and Network Marketing

I feel that I've blogged on this before and it seems like quite the stumbling block to people who are otherwise interested in home-based business that I must comment on it.

Basically, the faith spreads like network marketing. Even though there have been some recent, excellent advertising campaigns about the Church and the faith. They are basically a rearguard effort where people who have fallen away return to the Church, which is glorious, but they don't seem to win new converts. The converts that I know either sell themselves into the Church by reading or they meet exceedingly kind and knowledgeable Catholics who listen and answer questions.

It is my sincere hope that network marketing will teach me how to listen to people and answer their questions so that I can transfer that skill to my faith life. Of course, I hope that it can do this without becoming a false idol or I will have to jettison it faster than a lifeboat on the Titanic. I have read accounts of people and even met some who acted as though their business was their God. I firmly believe that this is such a turn-off that these businesses will fail and businesses which know their proper place behind God and family will quietly grow and outlast the misguided ones. That is how good triumphs, a firm foundation and steady growth.

May the Church and my business be so blessed.

PNFPN Conference

Philadelphia Natural Family Planning Network

&

Philadelphia Catholic Medical Association

&

St. Mary Medical Center

Present

THE THRILL OF THE CHASTE

DO ABSTINENCE PROGRAMS REALLY WORK?

Saturday MARCH 7, 2009

8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL TRINITY PARISH CENTER

611 KNOWLES AVE

SOUTHAMPTON, PA 18966

Additional information available at www.pnfpn.org

Dear Jon

I admit that I liked the idea of the Daily Show but it seemed to immediately degenerate into the same ol' political humor. I'm glad that humor is still in.

Free Wisdom

I was going to pay for Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder letters and here they are, free and reproduced with permission. Posting may be light for the next year, while I try to read all this good stuff.

Week of Irony

God bless my pastor for calling last week the most ironic week ever in American history. "The dream was fulfilled" and a black man became president the day after a national holiday honoring the founder of the civil rights cause. Consequently, that newly elected president reversed the Mexico City policy and doomed millions of foreign children to death at an abortionist's hands on the day after such barbarism was made the law of the land in this country. In other words, when the oppressed take charge, the first thing they do is find someone else to oppress.

Continuing my tradition from last year, I gathered photos of the various faiths who joined us in the March for Life. In honor of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King:

Jews

Gentiles

Protestants

Catholics
will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

And I will keep marching until justice is served and equality is extended to all members of the human family. I will be a voice for the voiceless.

Because I Hate Bad Science

I forward a brilliant compilation of the various and voluminous refutations of man-made global warming.

No doubt, our educated and erudite government will take these voices into account before issuing destructive carbon emission rules for vehicles.

Direct Growth

Here is a FOX Business segment on direct selling. I think the vice president of the DSA does a good job of dispelling myths and explaining things in the 3 minutes that she has. I was also amazingly relieved to find that the hosts were not presenting bias against the idea in their questions.

But who is the Fuller Brush Salesman?

Rise of the Female Engineers

Tinkerbell is a female engineer heroine. So the first competent Disney engineer is a fairy. I'm glad that Disney has finally honored us engineers with a lead character considering that up until now, Disney engineers were abysmal. We had Belle's father, "crazy, old Maurice" whose wood-chopper nearly decapitates his daughter with flying logs. For civil engineers, there was the beaver in "Lady and the Tramp" who seems competent, since he nearly finishes a dam, but is vulnerable to charlatans who pass off a muzzle as a log-hauler and is so uncoordinated that he almost brains himself in his own backyard. Not a sterling selection.

Actually, I did forget one competent engineer though he has no lines and dies in the first ten minutes of the movie, Tarzan's dad is an engineer to admire. He builds a treehouse with pieces of a shipwrecked boat and keep his family alive for weeks in a hostile land, ultimately giving his life to save his son. We need more engineers like that.

Natural, Naturally

I've been thinking that I should actually define some of my terms, namely, "natural," "family," and, "life." It seems that many of the arguments held in the public square often ignore this first step and consequently, no one learns anything. This is the power of the media when they define something a "right" or a "choice" but refuse to explain the term. So here is my dictionary:

Natural - I'm not a trained philosopher, but I believe I use this term in the correct philosophical sense of the nature of an object. This is amazingly similar to the Object Oriented software use of the term object. That is to say, an object has certain attributes and should behave in a certain way.

Family - By this term, I refer to the usual nuclear family of husband, wife, and children who came from their union. As John Paul II has stated, the family is the building block of society so I believe that all learning and decisions should revolve around this nucleus.

Life - By this word, I am trying to indicate an integration of everything. My intellect, my will, my emotions, my conscience, my enjoyment of video game, my love of books should all result in a more rounded person. If something is out of proportion, the whole edifice can collapse. In short, an integration of myself with the universe and, ultimately, God. You could call it small "c" catholicism.

Glory and Wonderment

The day has finally arrived! Check out this great news! I love this organization and I am thrilled that this has come to pass. Attend the PNFPN conference and meet Dawn Eden! More information to follow.

What Will You Tell Your Children?

I am so honored to have the chance to participate in the greatest civil rights movement in the history of the United States. I love the feel of leaving my family for the day, safe in the home that I provide, and marching on D.C. to provide witness to the millions who have died on the altar of abortion. I'm blessed to live in a country where I can protest the political establishment and come home to my job, my house, my freedom, and my family.

God bless the U.S.A.

What are you trying to catch?

Should any woman wear fishnet stockings to work? Apparently, fishnets are the latest attempt by fashion designers to take something 'edgy' and mainstream it. Within a week of picking up a magazine for women who are professionals (not to be confused with professional women) and reading that fishnets are a fashion necessity, I saw a co-worker wearing them at work. The magazine set the 'standard' as holes smaller than half an inch so that the stockings are still classy and my co-worker's stockings meet this standard. Now, I greatly appreciate when women dress like women in any situation, but modesty would seem a necessity at work. I'm hoping that my co-workers don't see the recent campaign by Bebe and start showing up to work with handcuffs.

I Love These Guys

I know I should have watched this by now, but I had to post it before I forgot about it. I love this apostolate and I hope to see it grow and succeed beyond its founders dreams. I'm proud that these guys are part of my generation.

And I'll watch it soon. I swear.

I Can't Say it Enough

Those fellows at Creative Minority Report have repeated my favorite news story. They have also re-designed the entire website. Check them out.

Have Babies!

I know this has been floating around for a billion years, but I finally watched it at the urging of a good friend. It is a great compilation of some of the things I've been thinking for years. This rapid population implosion is disastrous for society on every level, and things are only beginning to get worse.

Most interestingly, it backs the conclusion that a strict Darwinist is forced to admit that Religion and Faith are proven to be evolutionarily selected. Darwinism states that traits which are better adapted for survival will lead to more offspring from those members of the species who contain those traits. Therefore, since more offspring come from people of faith, faith is better adapted to survival than secular humanism or atheism or any other worldview.

I think I read something like that in a book. Something like, "The meek shall inherit the earth."

Better Friends through NFP

I had the great fortune recently to join up with the Knights of Columbus and meet many men who are trying to live out the faith. It is always a blessing to start new friendships and grow closer to those who help us on our narrow road.

It is especially a blessing to discover real Catholics who try to adhere to all of the Lord's teachings, like NFP. Not only is it great to have conversations about mucus, or about the spiritual benefits of love-making beyond the fertile years, but there is a palpable sense of understanding and mutual connection that is deeper than the words exchanged. An intimacy that could only be wrought of materials far beyond my comprehension.

NFP - Health, Love, and Friendship.

Searching for Sasha

I have not entered the Mall in a long time, consequently, I had mostly enjoyable shopping experiences this Advent. The greatest shopping experience was definitely related to the true meaning of Christmas. As we were finishing dinner in the Food Court, I noticed a dad walking, carrying one kiddie, with two trailing along behind. As we left the Food Court, I saw the dad frantically run up to a clerk and ask, "Do you know where my keys are?" I saw myself doing the same thing, but as we started to move along the concourse, I was stopped by the man's frantic running up and down the entrance to the Food Court, that's when I realized that he had lost something far more precious than his keys. Of course, he was also constantly repeating his daughter's name, Sasha.

By the grace of God I had seen them together so I had some idea of what Sasha looked like. Since he had canvassed the area around the court thoroughly, I went to look where he hadn't. Upon entering the nearby stores, I found a little girl touching everything that she could. I asked Jen to watch over her and I flagged down the frantic dad. Guiding him to the store, he picked up Sasha immediately and then called for his son, who emerged from behind another rack of touchable items. He started reprimanding them both in a foreign language, perhaps German.

And there is the lesson of the Incarnation, the mystery of our place as Children of God. God so loves us that He will keep searching for us, as He would search for His only begotten Son. (And once He has us, He will teach us the error of our ways)

Colds that Reproduce

I love my humble magyar. There are so few men who would take the time to report on the state of their mucus. Wouldn't it be a better world if we could all self-diagnose through monitoring our various secretions?

Great Jimmys Think Alike

Jimmy Akin has a great post on nutrition. He discusses many of the issues which I see surrounding nutrition. I would love to see a company do double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on excellent nutritional products without having to be goaded by the government to do so. Oh wait, Reliv has done that on its newest product, as well as a few others, without spending millions of taxpayer dollars for the FDA to watch over them.

Eschatological Cake

Song: Cool Blue Reason
Band: Cake
Lyric: "...I'm just talking to myself. I'm just rearranging Hell..."

I suppose Cake has been a guilty pleasure for years. Isn't that always the case? Ever since their hit, "Going the Distance," I've been intrigued by their lyrics. The above lyric struck me upon my most recent listening as a particular apt description of Hell in two sentences. Although the whole Fire and Brimstone imagery is still common in the arts, the recent elaborations of Hell have focused on the idea of singularity. That is to say, Hell is being completely and totally self-absorbed much like the image from "The Passion" where Satan is on a floating rock in a vast dark emptiness, screaming. The Cake Eschaton has a nice fussiness to it. When a consummate consumerist goes to Hell, I imagine him spending a lot of time rearranging it; moving things around in a knowingly futile attempt to make things better and looking at all his things as they eternally condemn him, like a millstone around his neck.

I imagine Hellish furniture to be expensive and modern, whereas Heavenly furniture is from Ikea.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I had another great thanksgiving, including my best week ever as a blogger (79 unique hits and 149 total page views). For that I am grateful. Speaking of my natural family life, family life is truly great for the peaceful times to play some strategy board games as well as for the hectic times of trying to get my daughter to eat some turkey before she eats the turkey-shaped cookies. I love that a natural life is orchestrated to balance the small requirements for personal time with the large necessities of self-sacrifice to grow a family.

And I have time to blog about it. God bless the U.S.A.

Heisenberg Well Visit

I tend to generally distrust doctors, though my opinion is increasing as I realize the amazing stress they are under with uninformed patients, outrageous insurance premiums, heavy drug marketing, and lawyer sharks constantly circling.

But I detest well child visits. What is the point of taking all the healthy kids and having them sit in the same room, breath the same air, and play with the same toys that all the sicks kids touch? The dark and cynical part says that the point is to stay in business; the kind part says that they can see more patients if the patients come to them, than if they go to the patients.

In the end, I've decided that the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle applies. You can not measure the health of the child without affecting the result.

What the Free Market teaches about the Faith

My dear Magyar has a post recording an excellent homily which he recently heard at Mass. A suggested interpretation of the parable of the three servants who were responsible for the Master's talents while He was away. In brief, we aren't merely to use the talents we are given; we are to trade those talents that we have to get newer, more valuable ones. This type of trading is the basis of the free market system, as the humble Magyar points out.

Suddenly I feel much better about risking advancement in my corporate career to start a new business. I pray the Lord deems these talents more valuable.

This is a test....

Me to pregnant belly: "This is a test of the intrauterine broadcast system. This is only a test. 'Hello? Swim! Do cartwheels! Dance on the bladder!'... Had this been an actually emergency, you would have heard, 'Get me an epidural! You did this to me!'"

What a Play for the Knights, and what a Night for a Play.

I have just recently received my Third Degree as a Knight of Columbus and I am doing what every good Knight does. No, I am not hosting a pancake breakfast, not running a Bingo Night, not organizing a fifty-fifty, but advertising for the theatrical efforts of Todd Cardin, a fellow Knight and playwright.

MDP will be hosting a Christmas Play written exclusively for MDP on December 12, 13, and 14. This will be your only chance to see this play as executed by the uniquely talented thespians of MDP along with special performances by local actors. The Athletic Association and the MDP Knights are hosting the event so ticket competition should be fierce, get yours today!

See how the buzz is already spreading:

"Is the show heartwarming or quirky? Is it sentimental or goofy? I was going to wait for the reviews to find out...Please put two tickets on the side for me." - Brother Knight via e-mail

"Good prevails, evil is vanquished." - A recently minted Third Degree Knight, rumored to have a significant inside track

See you at the show!

If you don't get the title, see here.

Help Yourself

I have discovered a trait which ties us network marketers together and begins to explain the seemingly endless supply or pastor's wives that I have run into while learning the business. In one of our recent conference calls, the speaker was discussing the current economic situation and he said that the most dreaded words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm hear to help." Us network marketers know that we have to do it ourselves. The government or a corporation can't replace our need to work for what is best.

Personal responsibility, gotta love it.

Absolutely sickening

I really try to keep it light here. I know there are heavy, important issues which weigh on the minds of all well-intentioned people. I also know that too much brooding on the darkness in this world can lead one to a place that is difficult to come back from.

But this is evil.

I praise the Lord for the solace that he provides in trying times. "Jesus wept."

Super Nerdism

Pregnant wife: "ACHOOOO!"

Me: "You're Bajoran!"

Click here if you are a normal person and want to get the joke.

Wrestling as a Christian

My dad recently got a chance to meet a professional wrestler who he watched intently as a youth, much to his delight. At the dinner, the wrestler gave a speech decrying the current state of professional wrestling with drugs, scantily-clad women, and no positive role models. This gave me the chance to remember the wrestling of my youth, especially when I knew it was "real."

I loved watching wrestling on the weekends, though I could never have said why. In retrospect, I think I loved the morality play which it represented. The bad guys like Nikoli Volkoff and the Iron Sheik, always lost the match. The good guys, like Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior, always won. The only exception was treachery, when the bad guys would sneak in brass knuckles or some other weapon, like a bazooka, without the referee noticing. I never understood why they didn't hire referees with better eyesight. The morality play even included redemption stories, with Rowdy Roddy Piper and Macho Man Randy Savage switching from mortal enemy to tag team partner united against evil. The egotists were always ridiculed, even when they had a perfect record, like Mr. Perfect. If only WWF (sorry, WWE) wrestling could get back to its roots, it could participate in the formation of real men who fight external and internal evils, and who know that goodness ultimately wins.

Not a Complete Idiot, but Tending that Way

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History" by Alan Axelrod

I have been wanting to bone up on my American history and since I have had such great luck with the "... for Dummies" series of books, I thought I would try the "Idiot's Guide to ..." series. My brother credits this Idiot's Guide to getting him through high school history so I grabbed it when he was tossing it.

The layout of the book was very like a textbook and had none of the interesting attributes of the "... for Dummies" books which I have read. The topics jumped around more than I would have liked, but this did make each section a good read individually. The author mostly kept the book entertaining and even succeeded in explaining the Native American issue with balance and tact. Unfortunately, the research and balance seemed to drop off as the modern era was approached especially anything since the New Deal. From FDR onward, there are blind assertions that socialist policies are good, while free market policies are bad. Clearly, it is difficult to write history while history is being written but that only underscores the need to provide good research to back up claims. All in all, I would recommend this book be treated like my American History class. I paid attention and learned good stuff but we ran out of time and stopped abruptly after the Industrial Revolution.

Big Announcement

This weekend will be a new product launch for Reliv. I'm really interested in what they come up with. Watch the news! Call me to find out more! I'm really glad they waited until after the election.

Now in a New Package!

As I have worked to develop my own small business, I have discovered that I really enjoy supporting other small businesses. Since I briefly considered marketing as an occupation during college, I suppose that I should not be surprised. Supporting small businesses naturally acts against the mass marketing approach which I now despise so I'm happy to help out a fledgling business in a targeted manner.

Dear reader, if you love the Church as much as I do and you own every Weird Al CD, like me. You will thoroughly enjoy Nick Alexander. Check out his new website. Also, if you want to buy me a present to celebrate Christ's birth, I'll take any of his CDs. For right now, you can check out some samples here.

The Next Big Tobacco

If there was a product that was unnecessary and completely avoidable, that caused blood clots and death in young people, the FDA would surely stop its release. Clearly, the government would never let an agenda color its opinions of a drug that was designed to damage a healthy, functioning body system. And doctors would always hold to the Hippocratic Oath and, "Do no harm."

Too many auto-dialers

Me (Picking up phone when Call Id shows unknown, expecting another recorded message from the party telling me to vote for the party): "Stop Calling Me!"

Lance Rogers: "uh... Hi... I'm Lance Rogers. I'm calling to talk to members of this district. I'm tired of those calls too. Are there any issues which I can talk to you about? Any questions you'd like to ask me?"

Me: (Aside to Jen) "It's actually Lance Rogers."

Me: "I'm sorry. I thought you would be another auto-dialer."

Well, Lance Rogers seemed like a nice guy. I'm not thrilled with him but he certainly did comport himself well, even with a belligerent caller like me. We didn't agree on everything, unfortunately, but it was refreshing to speak to a person.

My Friend ROI

I just recently calculated the return on investment (ROI) for my home-based business and I was stunned to find it was 21%! I imagine that it would have taken me far more work to get that kind of ROI on a real-estate deal. Yet another bonus for network marketing, small start-up costs yield better ROIs! Imagine how my ROI would look if I'd invested in the stock market in March.

It makes me thankful that I received a nice tax credit this year, so that I could direct the funds to a small business.

Note: This is not a promise that anyone can achieve results like this, I am merely telling my story.

David wins again

As always, when the Bible is proven to be true, no one seems to notice. Only when certain people with agendas try to prove that it is false by misinterpreting it, does the event make the news. The AFA (David) has defeated McDonald's (Goliath) in only a few short weeks with a boycott. Something you won't hear from major media outlets. However, when environmentalists boycotted McDonald's in the 80s because of polystyrene packaging, not even grade schoolers could escape the news.

Go Phils!

I hate to look to secular causes for hope, since I know true hope comes only from the Lord. But man, if the Phils can win the big one, anything is possible.

Buy-Buy-Buy!

You may hate me, but it ain't no lie, baby. Buy! Buy! Buy!

If there is anything I have learned in my investing studies so far, now is probably the best opportunity to buy American equities that will ever exist in my lifetime. I just wish I had started learning about investing, and socking away my cash, about a year earlier than I did. Now is the time to up your 401k payments, now is the time to fully fund your Roth IRA!

And the real estate market looks ripe for the buying too...

The Plunge

As you can see, I have taken the crazy plunge into... AdSense! With the loving support of my wife, I'm going to see if I can generate a little revenue from this publication. I'm planning to keep up the frequency of posting and maybe open an Amazon shop. Please consider clicking on the Ads if they offer something worthwhile and let me know if they offer offensive or inappropriate items. I'll eliminate the Ads if needed, but I'm hoping to learn how AdSense works and filter the content as needed.

Oh yeah, I've also taken the plunge into fatherhood again, too. I'm taking more plunges than the stock market.

I'm not very good at the subdued announcement.

H...I...J...Y!

I just noticed in my Men's blogroll that I had only reached the tenth letter of the alphabet, fortunately I have just added Yeoman Farmer to remedy that situation. I think he may be my hero: farmer, small businessman, author, and blogger. I guess one out of four is a good start.

I'm an Editorial

I find it highly ironic that I am thrilled to be listed as an editorial review of Passport. I usually detest editors as highly biased and overly educated but here I am, unpaid, among their ranks. As to bias, I swear to serve the Truth which is a bias in only the most reductionist sense of the word. I freely admit to the over-education which modern society has deemed necessary to get a J.O.B. At least I hope to break that shackle soon with my entrepreneurial ventures into actually learning how the world really is. Until that glorious day, I shall revel in small accomplishments.

This Way Seems Compatable with His Way

Book review of The Warren Buffett Way

As I have been exploring economics from a variety of perspectives, it seemed only natural to read a book about one of the greatest investors of our time. I was pleasantly surprised by this book to learn that investing well was a rational and intelligent process and not just random chance.

Obviously, there are those who dispute that statement but I believe that the weight of Mr. Buffett's success is a powerful argument against them. I also believe that his value investing strategy is highly compatible with the Christian life. As his recent buying spree proves, value investing helps out companies, and consequently keeps thousands of people employed, when they are down and it punishes investors that artificially raise stock prices by selling companies that get too expensive. This process of buying at undervalued points and selling at overvalued points moderates the growth of a company, consequently reducing instability and maintaining a rational environment for the securities market. Given the recent market plummet, I'd rather let billionaires keep the market afloat than my tax dollars.

Network Marketing and Subsidiarity

As I embark on this brave network marketing journey, I encounter repeated arguments against it but very few arguments in favor of it. I want to write some of my thoughts on these issues, both arguments in favor of network marketing and responses to some common arguments.

My first argument in favor of network marketing is that it meets the principle of subsidiarity as I understand it. The bulk of profits goes to the people who do the bulk of the work, people at the lowest level. There is a tremendous culture of support of those at the lowest level since each person up the chain depends upon the success of the newbies. There is a small contingent of people "at the top" and they can be a problem if the compensation package is not structured properly, just like Enron or Fannie Mae. I particularly appreciate the minimal overhead, such as the lack of a gigantic marketing group that generates "buzz" by flooding the media with pictures of scantily-clad women and/or celebrities getting paid millions of dollars to pretend they use the product in question. Paid endorsements just give more money to rich people. I much prefer an organization that lets normal people work for a normal profit.

Why I want small government

I really don't want this to become a political blog. So I will do my darndest to keep to economics which is the topic that makes me interested in the current financial hullabaloo. Here is a great article from 10 years ago that describes exactly how we got into this subprime fiasco. In short, when you lower the requirements to get a mortgage, you get more bad loans. I think it is atrocious that the government forced this situation through well-intended legislation. Lenders have every right to discriminate against people with poor credit scores.

Passport to Truth

I am always flattered when someone asks for my opinion and I was particularly flattered to receive an autographed copy of Passport by Christopher Blunt at the CCL Convention.

Christopher Blunt has written a novel demonstrating nearly the entirety of the Church's teachings on marriage and sexuality. I am stunned by how well everything hangs together without being forced. The plot involves fornication, abortion, contraception, personalism, NFP, annulments, and marital chastity. The story is gripping and believable with a main character, Stan, who appeals to me, a Simpsons-loving entrepreneur. Stan is also a Catholic like me, who takes the Truth for granted and needs to re-learn the Faith constantly.

As Stan re-learns the Faith, a variety of events occur in his life which succeed in being surprising while not being unexpected. Stan's life is not a common one, yet it appeals to the common man. His is a truly Catholic life, where small things can teach great lessons and where an average man is prepared for great gifts.

New content soon

Here is another good link which I have been reading while I get back into the saddle.

Out of Commission

Dear reader, I have been barely upright for the last two days so I apologize for the light posting until this sinus infection and/or nasal detoxification passes. I hope to write another post tonight but staring at the computer is not beneficial to my predicament.

Until then, give this blog a try.

Jack of All Trades

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Harlequin

You are a mystery, a jack-of-all-trades. You have the king's ear, but also listen to murmurings of the common folk. You believe in the value of force and also literature. Truly you are the puzzlement of the age.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

Investigating Life

Here is an interesting article on nutrition from the Washington Post. It captures many of my concerns with current state of nutritional research. First and foremost is the lack of a starting point. After all, how do we know what the human body looks like when it has complete nutrition if we don't know what complete nutrition is? Secondly, research funding invariably causes biases. The government has its own biases just like corporations. And finally, though not mentioned in the article, how do you determine the amount of nutrients in our food when it is so affected by soil quality and farming practices?

Visitors Welcome

I am completely awed by my SiteMeter stats. This blog has had 4800 unique visits and just broke the 10,000 mark for page views. Dear reader, I hope you get a little joy from visiting here, if not some humor and wit.

Running for Life

And its not an election post!

A Baby's Breath is having a Run for Life on Sunday September 14. They have a great, Catholic crisis pregnancy center (with an amazingly competent director) and this is their main fundraiser for their Main Line office. Please support them if you are free and need a good 5K run or a simple one mile walk. The race marshals are especially courteous and well-trained!

Oh! And please support the businesses who support the unborn!

Linkfest

Some great links:

The pill is an environmental pollutant, so the Left is against them, right?

Catholic doctors, being Catholic!

Babies in Guyland

Here is an interesting take on the post-college, "I won't grow up" life. I'm glad Jen puts up with me. She just might have saved my life.

VP Pick

Since everyone is talking about the Vice Presidential pick, I thought I would give my two cents. I like the governor of Alaska as McCain's veep. All the other candidates pale-in comparison!

A Tastefully Simple Fundraiser

As part of my recent, low budget birthday extravaganza, I hosted a Tastefully Simple party as a fundraiser for the PNFPN. It was a blast. Elena Perri was a wonderful hostess and the food was delicious, especially the beer bread and the spinach dip. It was great to help someone else succeed with their business and I pray that her customer base may grow faster and deeper than mine.