Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Fudge on every face:
Yes, fudge production is back into full swing for the first time in the last couple of years. The goal this year is 40 pounds, give or take.
This was the first year that Lilo was able to assist with the manufacturing process (as opposed to just the spoon licking process).
Brings back memories.
My Broken Trike
After a relatively short version of my ride down to La Costa (18 miles vs. the usual 24 - which will turn out to probably have been a good thing), I heard an unusual creaking noise as I was backing the trike into the garage. As it turns out, my trike had succumbed to what is apparently a chronic problem with 2005 Sun Tadpoles - a cracked frame.
I'm told by those who know better that the reason for the break above the weld is that the welding torch was likely run to hot, turning the metal in the main tube to a crystalline state. Unfortunately, the only repair at that point is to replace the frame. A fresh weld with some gussets added in might help, but its unclear.
My understanding from other folks is that Sun has replaced frames when this has happened. I hope that this will be the case now, as well. The trike is currently at the shop (again), and I'm waiting to hear from them and the folks at Sun regarding its future.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A California Thanksgiving
A Happy Thanksgiving to all. In the spirit of being a little bit different, we've opted to rotisserie the Turkey this year.
I'll post later once I see how it turned out.
Tale of the Turkey
Well, the turkey turned out well enough. The only difficulty was that it was done in 2 1/2 hours, as opposed to the 4-5 hours the internet led me to believe. However, we were able to keep it warm without drying out, so all was well. Great dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Burgin, and Auntie Dee and Uncle Father.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving Encyclical from our Metropolitan
THANKSGIVING ENCYCLICAL 2008
To the Reverend Clergy, Parish Councils, Youth Organizations, Philoptochos Society, and the faithful members of the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco
Beloved in the Lord,
Once again Thanksgiving Day approaches, giving us the opportunity to spread festive joy in our homes, experience the happiness that appears when family members come together for the holiday dinner, and exchange good wishes and warm embraces with loved ones.
It is a time when our hands, our hearts, and our very souls rise up to the Creator, the giver of “every perfect gift”, in a celebration of true thanksgiving. This expression of thanks includes the blessings which we take for granted such as temperate weather, greeting a stranger, and the smile of a traveler who passes by. Yet, not only do we overlook the obvious, but we tend to neglect the more immediate blessings we receive from above: our health, our employment, our place in society, our profession, our fluency, the development of our children, our family unity, our parish, our churches, our schools, our philanthropic institutions, and so many other blessings which we enjoy.
Have we ever stopped to realize that all these blessings are gifts from God? Have we ever reflected back to our parents, our relatives, and all those individuals who made it possible for us to be in the enviable position we find ourselves today? They are the ones who gave us our life, our name, our highly honored legacy, and the privilege of being Orthodox Christians. As we reflect on these things, our desire, indeed, is to express special thanks to Almighty God on Thanksgiving Day. It is proper to do so; for He is a gracious God Who shows no partiality and Who showers His blessings upon sinners and the virtuous, upon the righteous and the unrighteous. In return, God wants only one thing from us: to do good in imitation of His goodness. In this way God will be pleased with us; for we will be expressing goodness and concern toward those who hope for it.
It is especially important to remember the many people in California who have endured the devastating fires, and witnessed the destruction of their earthly possessions. When we gather on this Thanksgiving holiday, let us remember in prayer those whose lives have been affected by this tragedy, asking the Lord for His special blessings upon them and their loved ones, and giving thanks to God for their safekeeping.
Our Lord’s command, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) and St. Paul’s words to His disciple Titus, “This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8), are both exhortations written for us. Let us then use our resources to express fellowship with one another, as God does with all His creation. This would certainly cast beauty upon Thanksgiving Day and would fortify our sincerity in expressing thanks to God.
In the final analysis, such good works are most needed by a vast number of people, and are surely expected by God. The sick, the poor, the needy, the lonely, the hungry, the rejected, the homeless, the disabled, those in prison, the victims of injustices, the oppressed; all await our good works. Our thoughts, and especially our tangible concern for them, transformed into action on Thanksgiving Day and every other day, would make each day truly a day of thanksgiving filled with every blessing.
This is the kind of Thanksgiving Day, a day replete with joy, blessings, and peace, I wish you, my beloved people, to experience with your loved ones and your invited guests on November 27.
With warmest thanks for the love and joy which you have given to our Church and to your beloved parishes, I embrace you.
With Love in Christ,
XGERASIMOS
Metropolitan of San Francisco
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Little Advance on the Nativity
From the Nativity Kontakia, by St. Romanos the Melodist and translated by Archimandrite Ephrem Lash:
Bethlehem has opened Eden, come, let us see;
we have found delight in secret, come, let us receive
the joys of Paradise within the cave.
There the unwatered root whose blossom is forgiveness has appeared.
There has been found the undug well
from which David once longed to drink.
There a virgin has borne a babe
and has quenched at once Adam’s and David’s thirst.
For this, let us hasten to this place where there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Preparing for the Let Down
Excellent commentary in the London Times. Here's how it begins:
When half of mankind seems lifted by hope, nothing looks meaner than to disparage the dream. But what is this Obama mania? The world did not change for ever on Tuesday. No messiah has come among us. Miracles have not become possible. There is no new dawn. Calm down dear, it's only a US presidential election.
Perhaps we'll all be better off in four years, and there won't have been that much of a letdown, but I have my doubts. Here is what I expect, on the economic front, which is a large part of why I didn't vote for Obama, but not the main reason:
1. Due to the increase in spending required with his programs, and in order to address the bailout (you know, the bailout in response to the mess the Democrats made), taxes will increase far beyond the $250,000/year cutoff.
2. Taxes on Capital gains will rise to levels not seen in nearly a century. The resulting loss of investment capital within the U.S. will mean that people's 401K's will not recover from the Market crash of 2008. Average retirement age will move significantly toward that of the early 20th century (when it was about 74).
3. Increased government regulation in an effort to stop anthropogenic global warming (that is, human caused), establish universal healthcare, and support other big government programs will force a significant rise in layoffs. This will exacerbate an employment situation made bad by the reduced availability of disposable income because of the rising taxes (remember if people don't buy Acme's products, then Acme's earnings go down. The way most companies raise earnings in the short term is by lowering expenses. The easiest target is payroll).
4. The Obama proposal of allowing all Americans to enter into a single Insurance program, like what Federal employees do, will result in the elimination of healthcare benefits for all employees in the U.S. The motivation will be the reduction of overhead. The single healthcare program will either be another GSE (Government Sponsored Enterprise) like Fannie Mae was, or entirely owned by Big Bro... um... the Government. This will make us another country with nationalized healthcare. Michael Moore will be spotted flying to Switzerland to see his doctor.
Of course, the biggest reason I didn't vote for Obama, as if you couldn't guess by reading this blog, is his stance on abortion. For me, the problem is that abortion isn't merely wrong, it is really, really wrong. Beyond the moral dimension, though, what can we expect from someone who feels that babies are a punishment and if they survive an abortion, should be left to die at the discretion of the doctor performing the abortion? How does that set of views square with someone who claims to care about the weakest members of our society? Honestly, I think he only cares about the weakest members that can register to vote.
His campaign, as the election approached, adopted the theme of some pro-choice groups by claiming that the proper way to lower abortion rates is through changing the culture. In this case, by establishing comprehensive family planning, reducing poverty, enhanced pre-natal care, etc. I'll agree that in an ideal world, the only way to completely eliminate abortion is by everyone becoming a devout Christian (I believe that Orthodox Jews and Muslims would also be fully against abortion, too). That isn't going to happen, so will prosperity help? I'm not so sure that it will. Of course, I don't think prosperity is going to be something that will come in the next 4 years. What about birth control? Well, its pretty much widely available now, universally so in this country. Girls can get it in school, and in some places, without Mom and Dad's knowledge. However, it doesn't seem to help.
Remember that abortion was supposed to reduce the number of single parent households, many years ago. That would result in a reduction in poverty overall. It didn't happen. Quite the opposite did. Basically, the availability of an apparent solution to an unwanted pregnancy, or the availability of an apparent preventative measure, promotes the behavior that results in the pregnancy. Oops.
Similarly, I don't think pre-natal care or the lack of availability of it, has much to do with abortion. Neither does adoption. Given the prices people are willing to pay, there are plenty of adoption opportunities out there. No, the underlying issue is that abortion is quick. For women who can go through with it (many, thankfully, will not when faced with the choice), it is a much more efficient approach than going through an entire pregnancy with the knowledge that the baby will be leaving when its over. That is why one hears frequently of women in the old USSR that had 5 or more abortions. Very efficient.
In fact, the only actual analysis I've seen, indicates that pro-life legislation is the only thing that has been effective in lowering abortion rates.
So, I think in four years, we'll be poorer, less well cared for, with the blood of many millions of more babies on our hands. I hope not, I pray not, but I don't see how it will work out otherwise.