Saturday, July 2. 2022
Roman Wall Blues
Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I've lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.
The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I'm a Wall Soldier, I don't know why.
The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl's in Tungria: I sleep alone.
Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don't like his manners, I don't like his face.
Piso's a Christian, he worships a fish;
There'd be no kissing if he got his wish.
She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.
When I'm a veteran with only one eye
I shall do nothing but look at the sky.
Monday, June 27. 2022
 World's Deepest Shipwreck Discovered Four Miles Under The Pacific
The Metaverse Is Already Here. How is virtual reality remaking our world?
Fat studies is the field that teaches students to view obesity as 'oppression'
Law Firm Splits With Lawyers Who Won Major Gun Case At Supreme Court
Illinois: Drive out the rich for Equality
Biden sneaking amnesty through for a million illegal border crossers
Hundreds of migrants seen wandering on side of road in Texas amid illegal immigration surge. The area in the Del Rio sector has seen record illegal crossings
I have very complicated feelings about Donald Trump right now
AOC: Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett committed an impeachable offense
At City Journal:
Precisely because abortion is, in the Dobbs Court’s words, a “profound moral issue”—encompassing women’s bodily autonomy, on the one hand, and the interests of the unborn child, on the other—the political dispute over the issue will endure. The Court’s effort to resolve it for the people in Roe and Casey—like its earlier effort to resolve the issue of slavery in Dred Scott v. Sandford—was, without a political consensus, destined to fail. Today, that failure is official.
Academics throw tantrums over Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade reversal
The Nation: Abortion Involves Killing–and That’s OK! To be pro-choice is to be against forced life.
Guardian: It’s time to say it: the US supreme court has become an illegitimate institution
WHY THE ABORTION HYSTERIA?
Colombia's election: How could the voters be so stupid?
Sunday, June 26. 2022
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.
5:14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
5:15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
5:16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
5:17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
5:21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
5:23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Saturday, June 25. 2022
Lots of hikers here, and plenty of interesting opinions about footwear and foot care.
It depends on whether you are climbing steeps, rock-scrambling as a big part of it, or strolling on a comfy trail. The terrain matters, but most hill-hiking has varied terrain. Still, lots of people prefer various sorts of light-weight, quick-drying sneakers even when taking on the AT to Maine.
I like my heavy-duty (and heavy) Meindls for rocks and rocky steeps, Adidas for mild varied terrain, and running sneakers for ordinary trail hiking. The weight matters - less is better.
Mountaineering boots are a different topic. I am not climbing Ben Nevis, although we did as kids. The easy route, and in summer - not winter.
Links:
Best German hiking stuff (I did not know that Adidas was German)
Best Walking Boots
Thursday, June 23. 2022
Mrs. BD has planned a 9-day hiking trip in Scotland (and in the Eng. Lake District). Fine with me. Probably 10-12 miles/day over hill and dale, but no moutains.
However, I tend to have two hiking issues. One is that I have destroyed one shoulder from skiing and body-surfing accidents, so I can't handle a backpack for much over an hour. Pain whick removes all pleasure. Luckily, she doesn't mind carrying it. But I am also prone to foot blisters. It is not about the right hiking shoes. I have the best for different purposes. Yes, liner socks etc.
A few years ago, I found some amazing analgesic bandaid-like things in a farmacia in Spain. I should have bought 50 packs of them, because they saved our trip for me. My feet were a bloody mess, but painless. Can't find those same things on Amazon.
Do any of our readers have any genius ideas?
Tuesday, June 21. 2022
The Country Club?
Fauci is Back with a Warning for Americans: ‘Wear a Mask’ When You’re Indoors — This Outbreak ‘Isn’t Over Yet’
In a crisis-ridden era, the US Navy focuses on...pronouns
Called It 15 Years Ago – The Use of Race As A Political Weapon “Has Damaged Our Society In Ways We May Not Understand For Years”
Ron vs. Don:
The Ron is young, successful, formidable, and much admired for his courage and practical intelligence. He would make a great president. The Don is aggressive in his demeanor, tends to polarize people, and would rouse opposition to his candidacy, especially from the Fourth and Fifth Estates. All this is true, though few seem to realize that the Ron, should he receive the Republican nomination, would face a media barrage of hostility and disinformation no less virulent. The fact is, I believe, that the debate between the relative merits and strengths of the Ron and the Don is utterly irrelevant and nothing short of a logomachic distraction.
CNN Already Blaming Russians For Mid Term Losses
Russia Demands Lithuania Lift "Openly Hostile" Blockade
Sunday, June 19. 2022
Psalm 42 and 43
42:1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
42:4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help
42:6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
42:7 Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me.
42:8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
42:9 I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?"
42:10 As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
43:2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
43:3 O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
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“The Act of Mourning Itself is a Final, Destitute Version of Love.”
