D-backs vs. Reds Game

Grandma & Grandpa were kind enough to buy us all (very good) D-backs tickets last week (photo at left is from our seats).  JoJo has more patience than her sister and enjoyed herself more.  I ended up taking them to the kids' area during the 5th and 6th innings, the biggest for the D-backs, scoring 4 runs in each, which I had to watch on the TV.  In the sixth, Goldy (Katie's favorite player) blasted a 2-run monster homer to center field.  My boy Willie Bloomquist also had a good night.  We took the light rail there and back, which the girls enjoy.

Katie shot a funny video of JoJo flexing for the Muscle Milk cam.
http://youtu.be/Xrpf0pBFrrM

10 minutes after the final out there was a cool science-fiction-themed fireworks show.  We didn't get home till 11pm but it was worth it.

In San Diego for Abbey

Back at the beginning of June Bobbins and the girls drove out to San Diego with Bobbins' dad for cousin Abbey's first Communion. They got some good playing and horsing around in.  (http://youtu.be/8xk59QEbLgM)

 

Decorating Class

Bobbins had the last of her cake decorating classes this week.  Another feather in her creative cap.

 

Well, Here We Go

"Gay marriage" is just about equality, love, ending discrimination, all that great stuff.  Riiiiight...

Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, stated a clear understanding of what redefinition was all about in her article “Since when is Marriage a Path to Liberation?”:

…being queer is more than setting up house, sleeping with a person of the same gender, and seeking state approval for doing so…Being queer means pushing the parameters of sex, sexuality, and family, and in the process, transforming the very fabric of society…We must keep our eyes on the goal…of radically reordering society’s view of reality.

In similar form gay activist and talk radio host Michelangelo Signorile argued that the best plan

“might be to fight for same-sex marriage and its benefits and then, once granted, [to] redefine the institution of marriage completely”; that is, “to demand the right to marry not as a way of adhering to society’s moral codes, but rather to debunk a myth and radically alter an archaic institution that as it now stands keeps us down.”

Some of the articles I read tonight pointed out that defenders of traditional marriage have to move on, to retreat from the marriage battle (being lost in the culture anyway) and move toward defending religious liberty, as churches will come under attack for discrimination on a number of fronts.  Makes sense.

I also wonder what the next big civil rights struggle is going to be.  Now that the Left got gay marriage, what are they going to agitate for next?  What class of people need the sympathy and action of the do-gooders?  The disabled?  Probably not, since the Left is digging in (and losing ground) on abortion and is moving toward euthanasia.  I'm not sure who.  Maybe animals.  Guess it wouldn't have to be a class of people.  The cult of environmentalism might stage a come-back.  I don't really see them going after guns that much but you never know.  Whatever it is, I'm sure the traditional, Founders' notion of liberty won't be involved.

Splash Pad

The girls had a fun day at the splash pad at Altadena Park the other day, with their friends, including Bash.

Man of Steel

Last week, on its opening day, Zach, my dad, and I went to see Man of Steel.  In just a few words, it's a great movie, well worth seeing in the theater.  I thought it especially appropriate that it opened on Fathers Day weekend, as the father-son theme is dominant throughout.  Kal-El comes to know (and embody, by taking on General Zod) his true father, Jor-El, while struggling with the life lessons given him by his human foster father, Jonathan Kent.  As with any Christopher Nolan-influenced film, there's some real nice messages throughout:  honor and respect your father, help others, take responsibility, choose the man you want to be.  That's simplifying it a bit but really what it boils down to.  It's the stereotypical Kansas (hometown American) values extolled.

The action is top notch but not too violent (a la Zack Snyder's first film, 300).  There really isn't any sex, and the "love story" between Superman and Lois Lane is more of a side-story that's treated lightly than the 'complicated' relationship (with illegitimate child) of Superman Returns.  There's some nice reflections to the old westerns and to New York on 9/11 that strike just the right tone.  The villains are appropriately menacing and complex without being stupid and one-dimensional.  I thought Henry Cavill knocked it out of the park in the title role. At age 38, Amy Adams is a bit mis-cast, as she seems a lot older than Cavill (a young 30).  Still, she is a great actress and shines in this movie.

Someone pointed out to me the clear parallel to the Moses story, which had never occurred to me but is apparent in this film.  There's also a nice visit to a church that is reverent and not at all mocking.  One shot of Cavill in front of stained glass window of Jesus takes it a little far, but it can be forgiven.  Lastly, I should say that the back-story of the fall of Krypton, while a tad long, is fascinating and visually stunning on its own.  There's a nice dig at dithering legislators (and of course to climate change disasters) and the sanctity of life is emphasized.  The use of frequent flashbacks rather than a traditional narrative is also welcoming.

Lourdes Flooded

Flooding has forced Church officials to close the Marian shrine at Lourdes, France, for the 2nd time in less than a year.
The grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous was closed to the public on June 18, as the water level continued to rise and public officials sought to minimize damage with sandbags and other barriers.
Flooding had forced the evacuation of the Lourdes shrine in October 2012, and caused serious damage before the waters receded. Another bout of heavy rain brought on the new flooding.  Story here.

Satire: Good Way to Tackle the Problem

People don't want to look their best for the most important day of the week, where Heaven meets Earth, okay.  Maybe some clever satire will help - suggested parish bulletin announcements:

BRITNEY SPEARS CONCERT CANCELLED! Unfortunately, our efforts to get pop sensation Britney Spears to perform a benefit fundraiser for the parish have proven unsuccessful. Her calendar is full. Therefore, those who have been arriving at Mass every Sunday dressed for a Britney Spears concert should know that they don't have to do that anymore. Modest church-going attire will do nicely. We will notify you if the situation changes.

PLANS FOR PARISH SWIMMING POOL SCRAPPED! After much study, our finance committee has determined it would not be feasible to construct an indoor swimming pool in our church. Among other things, they report, it would interfere with the valuable work now being performed each Sunday by our ushers, who have enough difficulty navigating the aisles without doing it in flippers and a life vest. As a result, we can now announce with certainty that those who have been arriving for Mass as if dressed for the pool need not do so. Also, we hope to keep the air conditioning cranking all summer long. So you do not need to wear shorts, halter tops or bikinis to Mass.

FAULTY ALARM CLOCKS POSE DANGER! An exclusive parish investigation has uncovered a new danger facing our parishioners: people who enter the church 15 minutes after Mass has started, and attempt to find a seat by climbing over the rope strung across the aisle. This can result in falls or - in some cases - embarrassing displays of underwear. Experts recommend that all Catholics check their alarm clocks every night to make sure they are working, so that they can arrive at Mass on time.

CELL PHONES CAUSE HEAD INJURIES! New research indicates that people who bring cell phones to church are more likely to suffer serious head trauma, usually caused by the priest throwing the lectionary at them. Such people are also more likely to be wounded by hurled umbrellas and rolled up missals. We care about our parishioners. As a public service, then, we are advising all to leave cell phones at home or, failing that, to flick the switch to "vibrate." Medical experts say it will lead to a longer, healthier life. There is also anecdotal evidence that such precautions will keep your neighbors in the pews from digging their nails into your hand during the "sign of peace."

MUNCHIES AT MASS? Rampant rumors persist that the parish is planning to institute a mid-Mass picnic every Sunday. This has led some parishioners to arrive at church with water bottles, yogurt, animal crackers, sandwiches and the occasional box of candy. Rest assured: the only food we will be serving will be of the spiritual kind, at the usual time, at the usual place - by the altar rail during communion. Don't worry about bringing anything else. We have all you'll need right here. Just BYOS. Bring Your Own Soul.

Snowden is a Traitor

Obviously the title of this post reveals my position on the NSA leaker Edward Snowden, who in my estimation betrayed incredible trust put in him, violated many agreements he signed, and broke the law.  He is NOT a whistleblower, as there are established channels for reporting wrongdoings without exposing classified (Top Secret nonetheless, which means grave damage) information.

David Brooks' column on Snowden is pretty interesting looking at how the young man's actions are emblematic of similarly-aged guys of his generation:

From what we know so far, Edward Snowden appears to be the ultimate unmediated man. Though obviously terrifically bright, he could not successfully work his way through the institution of high school. Then he failed to navigate his way through community college.  ...

Though thoughtful, morally engaged and deeply committed to his beliefs, he appears to be a product of one of the more unfortunate trends of the age: the atomization of society, the loosening of social bonds, the apparently growing share of young men in their 20s who are living technological existences in the fuzzy land between their childhood institutions and adult family commitments.

What a Career

Quite a story:

MADRID (AP) -- A nun believed to hold the world record of 86 years cloistered in a monastery has died in Spain.

Sister Maria Romero, abbess of the Buenafuente del Sistal monastery northeast of Madrid said Wednesday that Sister Teresita Barajuen had died overnight. She was 105.

She entered the Cistercian monastery when she was 19, the abbess said.  ...

 
In 2011, Barajuen left the monastery for the first time in 40 years to meet retired Benedict XVI during a papal visit to Madrid. She had entered the monastery on the same day he was born.

3rd Annual Knights Tournament

My two buddies from work Sean and Dennis, my Uncle Jack, and I played for the third time in the St. Bernadette's Knights Council charity golf tournament at Stonecreek a couple Saturdays ago.  The previous two years, led by Sean, we finished in the top 3, and this year was the same.  We actually had our best score this year but finished second because of the handicapping (which has something to do with your score on the easiest holes and which I don't fully understand).  We beat the third place team in a scorecard playoff.  Our gross was 9 under (63), handicap 12 under (59).  The winners' were 56 and 54, respectively, which is pretty darn good.  But they also had the full bevy of help, with four free putts and probably at least 3 or 6 mulligans each.  We only had two free putts (and used the second on an easily make-able 5' putt on our 18th hole) and 18 mulligans.  No eagle chances this year but we had about 12 birdie tries.  Our nemesis hole, #3, a long par three abutting the driving range, nearly sunk us again, but we managed to eke out a par.  Looking forward to next year.

Ballerina

Last week MM had her first ballet class, in a City summer program that's once a week for eight weeks.  She was quite excited beforehand and watched several classic ballets to practice.

 

 

 

short video of her dancing    (http://youtu.be/yrGpolfp2Sk)

She was pretty pooped afterward and ended up napping for a couple hours after the short snooze on the ride home.  She clearly had a ton of fun.

MM's 4th Baptism Day

MM recently renewed her baptismal vows on her 4th baptism day, which she chose to have some family friends over for. Her mom made her a delicious dairy-free cake for the occasion.

Memorial Day at the Biltmore-y

Wasn't even JoJo's floaty.  Someone snagged our golf ball and one pool toy.

The Internet Is a Surveillance State

Some pretty good points in this column by Ross Douthat:

The motto “nothing to hide, nothing to fear” — or, alternatively, “abandon all privacy, ye who enter here” — might as well be stamped on every smartphone and emblazoned on every social media log-in page. As the security expert Bruce Schneier wrote recently, it isn’t that the Internet has been penetrated by the surveillance state; it’s that the Internet, in effect, is a surveillance state....

And every looming technological breakthrough, from Google Glass to driverless cars, promises to make our every move and download a little easier to track. Already, Silicon Valley big shots tend to talk about privacy in roughly the same paternalist language favored by government spokesmen. “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know,” Google’s Eric Schmidt told an interviewer in 2009, “maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”

The problem is that we have only one major point of reference when we debate what these trends might mean: the 20th-century totalitarian police state, whose every intrusion on privacy was in the service of tyrannical one-party rule. That model is useful for teasing out how authoritarian regimes will try to harness the Internet’s surveillance capabilities, but America isn’t about to turn into East Germany with Facebook pages.

For us, the age of surveillance is more likely to drift toward what Alexis de Tocqueville described as “soft despotism” or what the Forbes columnist James Poulos has dubbed “the pink police state.” Our government will enjoy extraordinary, potentially tyrannical powers, but most citizens will be monitored without feeling persecuted or coerced.

 
As I tell people all the time, you should much more worry about what facebook, google, and Apple -- all of whom competently put the information to good use -- collect on you than what the incompetent government does.

Green Pepper

First big harvest out of our garden this year, other than the kale, of which Bobbins has harvested several times this year for very fresh organic salads.  That plant has actually done quite well and paid for itself.  Bobbins plucked off this nice little green pepper a couple weeks ago.  Will go quite well with our eggs and hash browns on Sunday morning.

Dinner at St. Bernadette's

Last month our friends the Logues invited us out for a fundraiser dinner at their church, St. Bernadette.  The food, by Sharko's (who also catered our rehearsal dinner back in the day), was delicious, and they had a casino night on, with real dealers and tables.  I enjoyed playing blackjack while Bobbins was most thrilled with craps.  We made out fairly well and had a number of chips to exchange for raffle tickets before we had to leave early because of the babysitter.  We didn't win any prizes but still had a great time.

And, Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

Tag-a-long Bike

MM does so well on her little bike with training wheels that we thought she might like a tag-a-long bike.  She took to it okay at first with me, but got scared with her mom.  She's warming up.  She does just barely fit it.

MM Tries Them Out

The Saturday after I made her new clubs and re-gripped my own, the two of us went out to Palo Verde with Uncle Zach to try them out.  MM didn't enjoy hitting the main clubs at the driving range, unfortunately.  I think they're too heavy for her.  The re-gripping must've been too traumatic for my five iron, as the head cracked off the shaft during a swing, and went flying out into the middle of the range.  I recovered it but it's beyond repair.  Zach and I played the nine holes and had only a couple pars between us.  MM did join us on each green to putt.  She seemed to enjoy that.  That'll be the key to getting her interested in the larger game and to a college scholarship someday...

"New" Golf Clubs

Last fall I recovered some old golf clubs from a foreclosed house in the neighborhood.  The plan was to cut them down and re-grip them for the girls.  I also needed to re-grip my own clubs, which had never been done since I received them for Christmas twenty years ago.  I finally got a vise installed on my workbench outside, then ordered a bunch of grips, a bottle of grip solvent, and club holder (for the vise) from Hireko Golf via Amazon. You know me, I went toward the cheaper end, but I don't play enough golf to warrant much more.  Looking back, I should've got the mid-priced grips, but even the cheap ones are still an improvement over the old ones.  That's MM next to the recovered clubs in original form.