The historical context and acting is interesting, and the wooden long ships are the balls.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Vikings did not wear helmets with horns sticking out of them.
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Vikings
I've become a fan of The Vikings series currently being aired on the History Channel.
The historical context and acting is interesting, and the wooden long ships are the balls.
The historical context and acting is interesting, and the wooden long ships are the balls.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Spring Projects
Spring is here. I don't care about the temperature, I'm done with winter and the cold weather as well. And I've also rolled out my list of spring projects, few of which I can afford nor have the time to accomplish.
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Unfortunately, most of the stuff has to do with maintenance and remodeling, as well as getting the boats up to par. The Aquaponics project is as the end of the list, and the Marblehead Gunning Dory can't even fit, so there is no real sex appeal.
~
But if I can get in a good push, maybe those will see some life before summer is over.
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Unfortunately, most of the stuff has to do with maintenance and remodeling, as well as getting the boats up to par. The Aquaponics project is as the end of the list, and the Marblehead Gunning Dory can't even fit, so there is no real sex appeal.
~
But if I can get in a good push, maybe those will see some life before summer is over.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Dory Power Alternative
Torqeedo Electric Outboard motors.This might be the way to go with the Marblehead Gunning Dory. They have a solar charge option and are equipped with GPS which measures the distance that you can cover with the remaining charge.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Luck of the Irish
Happy St. Patrick's Day, or Lá Fhéile Pádraig if you are conversant in Gaelic.
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This is probably the most popular unofficial American holiday, and I'm told that it is more popular here than in Ireland.
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Fully 24% of Americans claim they have some Irish descent in them, with another bump claiming the heritage on this day. The fact that this day is so popular would have been enigmatic in the earlier days of this country when the Irish were vilified and discriminated against.
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Every Boston kid with an Irish name knows what "No Irish Need Apply" means as the Yankees sought to subjugate and hold back the surging Irish Immigrant population. I remember my mother clearly teaching me this fact at a young age. And if you look at the history of the Irish, the phrase "Luck of the Irish" is enigmatic to say the least.
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The brutalizaton of the Irish and attempted genocide by the British over the past three centuries, causing widespread immigration to America, Latin America and Australia was a bit high on the unlucky scale. (And for the record, the potato famine of the mid 1800's could have easily been abated by the British, who stood by and watched millions suffer without offering aid).
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Maybe the Irish are looked at as "Lucky" because they persevered over egregious treatment by the British and then the American Yankees. All the while, keeping their spirit, music, and culture alive and vibrant.
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I guess if you have that stamina and persistence, you are indeed lucky.
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The Americans and their friends who lift a brew and toast the patron Saint of Ireland today are the prodigy and embodiment of a people who could be bent but could't be broken.
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This is probably the most popular unofficial American holiday, and I'm told that it is more popular here than in Ireland.
~
Fully 24% of Americans claim they have some Irish descent in them, with another bump claiming the heritage on this day. The fact that this day is so popular would have been enigmatic in the earlier days of this country when the Irish were vilified and discriminated against.
~
Every Boston kid with an Irish name knows what "No Irish Need Apply" means as the Yankees sought to subjugate and hold back the surging Irish Immigrant population. I remember my mother clearly teaching me this fact at a young age. And if you look at the history of the Irish, the phrase "Luck of the Irish" is enigmatic to say the least.
~
The brutalizaton of the Irish and attempted genocide by the British over the past three centuries, causing widespread immigration to America, Latin America and Australia was a bit high on the unlucky scale. (And for the record, the potato famine of the mid 1800's could have easily been abated by the British, who stood by and watched millions suffer without offering aid).
~
Maybe the Irish are looked at as "Lucky" because they persevered over egregious treatment by the British and then the American Yankees. All the while, keeping their spirit, music, and culture alive and vibrant.
~
I guess if you have that stamina and persistence, you are indeed lucky.
~
The Americans and their friends who lift a brew and toast the patron Saint of Ireland today are the prodigy and embodiment of a people who could be bent but could't be broken.
Erin Go Bragh!
Ireland Forever!
Weighing In
Lately, Peeps, everytime I run into one of you, I get asked about the status of my weight loss program. Which has it's own immitable message to me. Obviously it doesn't look like I've dropped anything substantial.
~
But that's ok... I started at a pretty hefty size, and this is a marathon, not a sprint. I've allocated a considerable block to time.... up to Katelyn's September wedding date... to acheive my weight loss goal.
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The first three weeks or so, I was a bit manic....watching every morsel consumed, counting calories and weighing myself constantly. That was good to convince myself that weight loss was attainable. And it gave me a more indepth insight into the amount of calories that we can pack in without even knowing it. But it also brought on an unacceptable level of self awareness and guilt. Who wants to judge every bite that you take, then measure and fret that it might upset your daily goal?
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The most important thing is balance. Watch what you eat, but don't obsess. Enjoy in moderation, and above all, exercise. It is the exercise that is the key to easing the manic issues of counting calories. Plus the exercise makes you feel good immediately... despite the discomfort and pain of the actual effort.
~
At this point, I don't know how much I've lost because I'm resolved not to let the scale set my state of mind. I will weigh in when I can fit into my old jeans comfortably. And I hope that is in a month or so of eating and drinking in moderation and daily gym sessions.
~
But that's ok... I started at a pretty hefty size, and this is a marathon, not a sprint. I've allocated a considerable block to time.... up to Katelyn's September wedding date... to acheive my weight loss goal.
~
The first three weeks or so, I was a bit manic....watching every morsel consumed, counting calories and weighing myself constantly. That was good to convince myself that weight loss was attainable. And it gave me a more indepth insight into the amount of calories that we can pack in without even knowing it. But it also brought on an unacceptable level of self awareness and guilt. Who wants to judge every bite that you take, then measure and fret that it might upset your daily goal?
~
The most important thing is balance. Watch what you eat, but don't obsess. Enjoy in moderation, and above all, exercise. It is the exercise that is the key to easing the manic issues of counting calories. Plus the exercise makes you feel good immediately... despite the discomfort and pain of the actual effort.
~
At this point, I don't know how much I've lost because I'm resolved not to let the scale set my state of mind. I will weigh in when I can fit into my old jeans comfortably. And I hope that is in a month or so of eating and drinking in moderation and daily gym sessions.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Ice Out on Hawthorne Pond
Ice Out, Ducks in.
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I went down to check out the possiblities of catching some Bluegill or Goldfish from Hawthorne Pond which is off of West Shore Drive.
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Maybe they could be introduced to the Aquaponics operation this summer.
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Maybe they could be introduced to the Aquaponics operation this summer.
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We brought the kids down there when they were little and the pond was filled with overgrown Goldfish or Koi.
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It is alot more overgrown now.
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Tomorrow I'll hike through Steer Swamp at the Beacon Street entrance and see what Black Joe's Pond has to offer. \\
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Between, Black Joe's, Hawthorne and Redd's Pond, the aquaponics fish component should be adequately stocked this summer.
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Tomorrow I'll hike through Steer Swamp at the Beacon Street entrance and see what Black Joe's Pond has to offer. \\
~
Between, Black Joe's, Hawthorne and Redd's Pond, the aquaponics fish component should be adequately stocked this summer.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Papal Poetry
No Matter how much we Hope,
If its Black Smoke that means Nope,
But you really shouldn't Mope,
None of the Cardinals is a Dope.
They will shortly scale this Slope.
And choose a Brand New Pope.
If its Black Smoke that means Nope,
But you really shouldn't Mope,
None of the Cardinals is a Dope.
They will shortly scale this Slope.
And choose a Brand New Pope.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Vote for the Pope
Peeps.... so many of you keep asking me who I support for the next Pope. It's a tough call since the Pontiff enjoys a status of infallibility, unlike that of the MOAM, who admittedly makes a mistake from time to time.
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As a young Catholic, I actually bought into that infallibility claim, until as a Freshman at UMASS with basically no money to buy food on the weekends, I took a course in European History and found that the Popes were rather political and given to stuff like fathering illegitimate children, murdering rivals, and a host of other rather worldly pursuits.
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And while I was taking this course, learning this historical perspective, the priests at the Newman Center were regaling me at Sunday Mass for donations, when I was basically waiting for Monday morning when the Dining Commons opened.
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Not a good combination for maintaining a kinship to the Catholic Church. So I drifted away and rarely looked back.
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As God's representative of Earth, the Pope doesn't pull it off for me. Plus the medieval rituals, funny hats, ostentatious surroundings, secrecy, etc. seems a bit out of step.
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I see where there are some CatholicsComeHome.org ads on the TV, so I checked out the website and found more of the same. If I was not going to Church, they were willing to let be come back, and forgive me. But what about me forgiving them????
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I believe in the divinity of Christ and view myself as a Christian, although with a firm belief that this is only one path to God..... certainly not the only one and the one true way.
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But I would come back to the church on these conditions.
1. Allow women to be Priests. Does God really restrict leadership roles to men?2. Allow Priests to marry. Enough of this stupid celibacy which was only voted on because of church property inheritance issues in medieval times. Plus, it would attract people to the priesthood, who didn't need to prey on little boys and girls.
3. End this Papal Infallibility Bullshit. Il Papa is not infallible. He's just the guy in charge of a huge international operation, and should be recognized as such.
4. Send Cardinal Bernard Law back to Massachusetts where he should stand trial for facilitating the abuse of hundreds of Catholic children at the hands of perverted priests in his Archdiocese.
.
~That's all I need. Then maybe I would drop a dollar in the collection basket every few Sundays or so.
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As for the new Pope. I kind of like Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria.
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I actually have no freaking idea who he is but the Irish bookies are taking odds on him, along with Cardinal O'Malley from Boston. Really the only time you read about the Church in Boston these days is when they close a local parish church in complete disregard to the neighborhood communicants who have worshiped there.... so I don't know what O'Malley brings to the table.
But Seriously ....Who it is doesn't affect me in the least, and I highly doubt that he will accept my conditions. So I have no recommendations to the Papal Conclave at this time.
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