Dies Irae

 

This seems appropriate, right about now. Dies Irae? Day of wrath and doom impending. David's word with Sibyl's blending, Heaven and earth in ashes ending.

Note "Sibyl's blending." Classicism aside (you've read the Sibyline Oracles, right? Trick question, they were burned in the 5thC A.D., thanks Stilicho, dammit), it ends:

Low I kneel, with heart's submission, See, like ashes, my contrition, Help me in my last condition. Ah! that day of tears and mourning, From the dust of earth returning Man for judgement must prepare him, Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.

Kyrie Eleison. That's us, in Lent.

God Bless,

LSP

Ash Wednesday

 

From the Prayer Book:

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.

And at the imposition of ashes:

Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris. Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.  

Remember too that the dust is cruciform, and therein lies victory over the grave.

God bless,

LSP 

Who Are You?

 

Maybe this needs a little explanation. Here it is, explained:

While we're reflecting on this knotty conundrum, here's the Who. Please ignore Daltry's weird get up:

So, who are you? One of the 8 or none of the above?

Cheers,

LSP

A Bit Chilly

 

It's a bit chilly in Texas right now and that's too bad, because Global Warming froze all the wind turbines and broke them, causing rolling power blackouts. Who became richer than they already were through that green chicanery?

Green energy crooks aside, I went for a stroll down the glacier after Evening Prayer, in search of adventure. There wasn't much, apart from a snowman opposite the iced over Meth Shack, but what am I saying? The whole thing is an adventure - Texas, magically transmuted into Alberta thanks to the mystic alchemy of climate change. 

But maybe you think I'm exaggerating in that typical Lone Star way. No, not at all. Here's a photo of one of the crew relaxing after breaking ice on the stock tank. Looks like Alberta, right? No, Texas, here and now.

So be careful out there, and if the power goes out light massive fires to stay warm and keep the torch of freedom burning as we face off, resolute, against our old enemy, The Weather.

Glacies,

LSP

Monday Night Jukebox

Here we are, watching the snow fall as our wind turbines seize up in a fit of green new deal genius. So what to do? Fire up the jukebox and shoot a few games of pinball while the power lasts. And hey, we play requests. Here they are:

Check out Montana, for the solo. Nice work, Mr. Zappa.

  

And what's wrong with Junior Brown? Nothing at all. Thanks, WSF. But Adrienne wants Janis. Who can blame her? On she goes.

And a great call from Jim, the Dead South. I like that song, spin it up.

Wild Wild West wants some Little Feat. Hey, gets my vote.

And I'll close out this selection of jukebox greatness with Waylon. Because it's awesome.

Have a great night and keep 'em coming. But when the power goes out? Easy, throw last year's broken furniture on the fire.

Cheers,

LSP

Texas Snowstorm

Yesterday's gentle dusting of global warming turned into a full on, no holds barred storm. Maybe a once in a lifetime event in this part of Texas.

So I stood on the porch like a Climate Czar, to capture the moment this once prosperous farming community turned into a glacier.

It's sunny now, but for how much longer? More ice, snow and driving wind is predicted tomorrow. That's what happens when the planet gets warmer because people didn't pay enough tax, yes, it gets colder.

Smart investors are going all in on $DOGSLED.

Stay warm,

LSP

Happy Valentine's From The Ice

 

Global Warming slammed North Central Texas this morning like a T34 opening fire on the Unter Den Linden or maybe the Tiergarten. Not that it looked like much to start with, just a light dusting of snow; Calgary in April sort of thing. But not so fast, scorners. Beneath the snow lay ice.

Blue Kodiak was eager to get out and off we stepped, skidding across the frozen tundra that was once a furnacelike temperate Texan town. Undaunted by biting, subzero wind we made it to the Shamrock, an Irish filling station owned by Nepalese and staffed by Mexicans. I like it because it's near, has an owl deity idol and good coffee, perhaps the best of its kind in town.

Shamrock complete, back into the icy blast and deserted streets of a farming settlement  blasted by the scourge of Climate Change. It was colder, if that were possible, on the way back to the Compound, but we powered through, thank Gaia.

After Morning Prayer I called on an elderly member of the flock to see if she needed anything. Yes, ground beef, beef broth, an onion and a bottle of wine. She was fixing to make soup. A short and very slow drive to the supermarket later, she had her supplies. Without charity, you see, everything else is but a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.

SovCom Armor in Berlin

Priests, and everyone else, take note. It's very easy and very enjoyable to get behind a cause, to pick up Martel's warhammer and lay waste to heretics, malfeasants and apostates. And quite right too, it's a target rich environment and the Faith needs defending. But the exercise becomes a hollow, white-washed sepulcher of a  pharisaical sham  unless grounded in divine love.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the warhammer, especially against the Bolshevik devil. But remember, the substance of the Faith is God Himself, and He is love. Evil cannot withstand its, His, inexhaustible fire, I am that I am. Of course I preach to myself.

Happy Valentines!

LSP

Ethnomath - Dismantling Racism in Maths Instruction

 

Is all well with US public school mathematics? Hardly, our kids crossed the finish line in 38th place among developed countries in 2018. Not good at all, but help's on the way, at least in Oregon where the Department of Education's addressing the heart of the problem, racism.

That's right, racism, which is why the Beaver State's teachers are being encouraged to take a course entitled, "A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction: Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction." Yes indeed, no wonder our kids' test scores are almost on a par with Zimbabwe's, it's all because of "white supremacy." But don't take my word for it, here's the course description:

"White supremacy culture infiltrates math classrooms in everyday teacher actions. Coupled with the beliefs that underlie these actions, they perpetuate educational harm on Black, Latinx, and multilingual students, denying them full access to the world of mathematics."

Leaving aside "Latinx," which no one south of the border actually uses, the defenders of "ethnomath" continue. Thanks to "white supremacy" educators fallaciously impose objective standards of right and wrong on their oppressed charges:

"This reinforces the idea that there is only one right way to do math. The history of mathematics, its colonization, and what is deemed as 'acceptable' knowledge is rich and complex, therefore, the way that mathematics is taught in the United States needs to be interrogated because it currently centers Western, Eurocentric ways of processing and knowing information."

Only one right way to do math? Thanks a lot, Cecil "Rhodes." No, there is no such thing as objective truth in mathematics, such racism:

"The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so... Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict."

Objectivity's unequivocally false, says the subjectivist making an incoherent universal truth claim. No matter, we make the rules now and you'd better buckle under or taste the stainless steel blade of liberal Fascism, or would that be Bolshevik tyranny? Regardless, as our man on the ground in Georgia comments, "Hopefully they'll use ethnomathematics for bridge building and such."

You'll note that Satan is the Father of Lies and a murderer from the beginning. Not least of our children's education.

This post is dedicated to ZZ, a fearless teacher in the face of tumbleweave adversity.

Your Constant Pal,

LSP

Texas Goes Ice Age

 

It's not easy living in North Central Texas. Why? Because it's now an ice sheet with more to come. Look, here's the weather report:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
249 PM CST Fri Feb 12 2021...HISTORIC WINTER STORM POISED TO IMPACT THE REGION SUNDAY AND
MONDAY...

freezing drizzle developing late tonight into Saturday morning,
Impacts will begin as early as Saturday morning with patchy
brief break in precipitation on Saturday, conditions will begin
which will lead to a light glaze of ice in some locations. After a
to deteriorate late Saturday evening, with precipitation
Sunday. The heaviest snow can be expected on Sunday and Monday.
transitioning from a sleet and freezing rain mix to all snow by
High winds will lead to blowing and drifting snow with wind chills
duration of extremely cold temperatures will likely lead to major
falling to below zero by late Sunday. Snow will come to an end
during the day Monday, but extremely cold temperatures will
persist through mid-week. The heavy snow and forecast long
for several days... stress on the region`s infrastructure as well as crippling travel

Impact and cripple. Yes, that's what our Old Enemy does unless you pay the Tax. Come on now, all those seaside mansions in Martha's Vineyard don't come cheap, and let's face it, Climate Czar Kerry's private jet isn't cheap either. So pay up, serfs, while you buy your made in China masks to make our overlords even richer than they already are. In fact, wear two, because China's giving 'em away for free.

Lake Whitney

And while you're at it, get two shots of the vaccine because Pfizer obviously doesn't want to double its profits. Because it's a charity, just like the government which is here to help themselves grow richer.

In the meanwhile, a new Ice Age descends upon the Republic of Texas. We'll see what remains of this once prosperous farming community when the ice melts. If it ever does.

Your Old Friend,

LSP

Juke Box Requests

  

Yes, we play requests. Like the awesome Headless Thompson Gunner or "Wanna Rock 'n Roll" by Ray Wylie Hubbard. He may be an appalling old hippy, but he's our hippy.

Then there's Thomist Bluegrass. Thanks, RHT.

Whoa, Kid, Tommy can play guitar, no doubt about it.

And let's not forget the Dead. Because awesome. Thanks, Infidel.

Just a short selection of great songs, sent in by you, the reader. Keep 'em coming and off we'll go, to the Moon.

Your Pal,

LSP

Ice Age

 

No sooner had we rejoined the Paris Climate Accords than the climate changed. Yes, it became much colder, with freezing mist and drizzle. 

This quickly turned to ice, and I wasn't surprised, we hadn't paid our weather tax. So, as ye reap, so shall ye sow. Still, tax logic and our rainbow IRS notwithstanding, it was chilly.

It is now, as Blue heads out into the frozen tundra of what was once Texas, and I thank God for a down vest. Yes, it's not easy, but remember, diamonds are created under pressure.

Your Frozen Pal,

LSP

Prayer & Transfiguration

 

When Christ goes up the holy mountain with Peter, James and John he goes to pray and this, prayer, is quite literally a matter of life and death, of union with God or not. Here's Benedict XVI via Catholic Exchange:

Thus, for the three apostles, going up the mountain meant being involved in the prayer of Jesus, who frequently withdrew in prayer, especially at dawn and after sunset, and sometimes all night. However, this was the only time, on the mountain, that he chose to reveal to his friends the inner light that filled him when he prayed: his face, we read in the gospel, shone and his clothes were radiant with the splendor of the divine Person of the incarnate Word (see Luke 9:29).

 

Radiant with the splendor of the incarnate Word. Beautiful, and this:

Dear brothers and sisters, prayer is not an accessory or “optional,” but a question of life or death. In fact, only those who pray—in other words, who entrust themselves to God with filial love—can enter eternal life, which is God himself.

 

A terrifying warning but also a remarkable, unfathomable promise of transfiguring glory. So listen up, you heathen, and get in the business of climbing that mountain.

Oremus,

LSP