Moo Moo was a beautiful Jersey mix yearling steer. Sweet steer was he, now to table he goes.
Moo Moo weighed in at 540 lbs hanging weight and yielded about 275 lbs of Ground Beef, 28 T-Bone steaks (Which is the New York strip), 20 Club Steaks, 24 Tenderloin (Where the Filet Mignon resides), 6 big roasts, 28 ribs, 2 huge Brisquits, and much more. All in total, about 520 lbs of meat.. that's 18 square feet of freezer at the Ranchita.
Special note about this beef, it is all natural non-hormone Grass fed beef. Very tender as well.
I guess I am a sixth generation Texas Rancher in a small way, and I guess I did learn something about beef from my Dad, God bless him!
Monday, May 02, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Benedict XVI
Well, I never have gotten around to finishing out my post on JPII yet, but I am really astonished at the speed of the Conclave! It's a wonderful thing!
Couple of interesting things on the name:
1. St. Malachi's prophecy of "Glory of the Olives" (he Benedictine's are also known as Olivetians )?
2. St. Benedict prophecy that the last Pope would be a "Benedictine."
The name has, for me, connotations of the story of Benedict, namely for the caves.
The Catholic Encyclopedia has a nice little biography. Choice quotes:
The path continues to ascend, and the side of the ravine, on which it runs, becomes steeper, until we reach a cave above which the mountain now rises almost perpendicularly; while on the right hand it strikes in a rapid descent down to where, in St. Benedict's day, five hundred feet below, lay the blue waters of the lake. The cave has a large triangular-shaped opening and is about ten feet deep. On his way from Enfide, Benedict met a monk, Romanus, whose monastery was on the mountain above the cliff overhanging the cave. Romanus had discussed with Benedict the purpose which had brought him to Subiaco, and had given him the monk's habit. By his advice Benedict became a hermit and for three years, unknown to men, lived in this cave above the lake.
"For God's sake he deliberately chose the hardships of life and the weariness of labour"
... the community came to him and begged him to become its abbot. Benedict was acquainted with the life and discipline of the monastery, and knew that "their manners were diverse from his and therefore that they would never agree together: yet, at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent" The experiment failed; the monks tried to poison him, and he returned to his cave.
Supposedly, on EWTN they were expecting him to take the name Boniface.
What in the world prompted him to take Benedict?
Couple of interesting things on the name:
1. St. Malachi's prophecy of "Glory of the Olives" (he Benedictine's are also known as Olivetians )?
2. St. Benedict prophecy that the last Pope would be a "Benedictine."
The name has, for me, connotations of the story of Benedict, namely for the caves.
The Catholic Encyclopedia has a nice little biography. Choice quotes:
Supposedly, on EWTN they were expecting him to take the name Boniface.
What in the world prompted him to take Benedict?
Friday, April 08, 2005
Fatima, the Pope, and Revelations Chapter 12
One of the most interesting things I remember about the Pope is his proclamation that Our Lady of Fatima, is in fact the woman of Revelation Chapter 12, v 1. And he also said, if I remember correctly, that we are in the midst of v3 and 4. (Speech on May 13th, 2000 in Fatima)
Trying to locate a link to the speech, but until I do.. there's something interesting about this (NAB, usccb.org).
3 Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
More on this later..
Trying to locate a link to the speech, but until I do.. there's something interesting about this (NAB, usccb.org).
3 Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Justice served Cold
I'm certainly not the first to moan about Justice, certainly not the last. Our American form of Justice is encoded through a unique combination of inalienable rights and Christian morality.
Now, in the moribund 200+ years since our Constitution was set in motion.. some elements of our Government and the few, lonely depraved challengers are cleaning the house of Christian morality. Fair viewpoint.
On the other hand, perhaps it's simply a growing non-Christain group which obligates us to include and modify our laws to accomidate them. Also a valid argument and viewpoint.
But, just like in any complicated design, if you start changing base elements of the design - then you have to add "hacks". A hack meaning a clever though hastily designed solution that "makes it work" - at least for the time being. Duct tape, bailing wire, and Microsoft all come time mind.
The problem is, that our Code of law is being hacked.. and the Design document (Constitution and Bill of Rights) is still the same. The old software addage, "it's a feature not a bug" comes to mind as you read the code of law. We aren't writting good code, and sooner or later it will fail to execute correctly in some unknown edge case.
Example: I'm truly mortified at the outcome of the Schindler-Schiavo case ending in the soon-inevitable death, but I am not surprised. The Florida legislative bill which allowed the death by dehydration and starvation was introduced at the proding of the same lawyer which argued for her death - George Felos.
American justice and due process has, in actuality, occured. The evidence was admitted, a judge allowed or disallowed evidence, a series of motions were made, and a judgement according to the evidence before the court was executed. Even the Supreme court has said, indeed Justice is served. Hot or cold, fair or unfair.
We've been warned time and time again. Outspoken critics lambast our changing system of Justice on a daily, hourly basis. A TV sitcom makes a funny show about it and we all feel vindicated that it's really not THAT SERIOUS. It's just a stupid law, and it'll never apply to me anyway. The chorus of voices is just chatter.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU.
Justice is not the servant of Logic. Truth is not the servant of Logic. In order to have True justice, there must be Truth, which is Logical. Why is Truth logical? Because it is the very nature of Logic that it is based on Truth. Otherwise it makes no sense.
No brainer for the vast majority of common sense humanity. But when the aim of Justice becomes the substitute for God, the punishment becomes harsh. Because, Logically, a crime or sin deserves Death - Truth demands it. Only through God can we obtain penance and forgiveness - not a penitentiary. Because True Justice has no mercy.
Proof: An auto mechanic Bob does a shody $50 repair job which results in the death of Mary. Should Bob pay the family of Mary $50 - or should he be put to death in exchange for her death? Shouldn't we kill Bob then?
How many of us are culpable for the death or misery of our neighbors? We buy shoes made by political prisoners or children. Our neighbor lost their job at the Shoe factory because they can't match slave labor wages?
How much injustice can a single American perform in a single day just by eating, shopping, and going to sleep? Some of you agree - even some Athiest - that a great injustice is occuring here. Just because we're ignorant of the misery and death resulting from our choices in shopping doesn't exempt us from Justice. And if Justice it to be metted out in equal portions - then don't we all deserve death?
Therefore, all of Mankind that perpitrates injustice through his own hands or actions, either from ignorance or malveolance is subject to the equal punishmment of Justice.
I submit that the true cost of throwing out God from our Code of Law, is the death of Man. Because without the weight of God through Mercy tipping the scale in Justice, we all do deserve the equitable punishment.
Now, in the moribund 200+ years since our Constitution was set in motion.. some elements of our Government and the few, lonely depraved challengers are cleaning the house of Christian morality. Fair viewpoint.
On the other hand, perhaps it's simply a growing non-Christain group which obligates us to include and modify our laws to accomidate them. Also a valid argument and viewpoint.
But, just like in any complicated design, if you start changing base elements of the design - then you have to add "hacks". A hack meaning a clever though hastily designed solution that "makes it work" - at least for the time being. Duct tape, bailing wire, and Microsoft all come time mind.
The problem is, that our Code of law is being hacked.. and the Design document (Constitution and Bill of Rights) is still the same. The old software addage, "it's a feature not a bug" comes to mind as you read the code of law. We aren't writting good code, and sooner or later it will fail to execute correctly in some unknown edge case.
Example: I'm truly mortified at the outcome of the Schindler-Schiavo case ending in the soon-inevitable death, but I am not surprised. The Florida legislative bill which allowed the death by dehydration and starvation was introduced at the proding of the same lawyer which argued for her death - George Felos.
American justice and due process has, in actuality, occured. The evidence was admitted, a judge allowed or disallowed evidence, a series of motions were made, and a judgement according to the evidence before the court was executed. Even the Supreme court has said, indeed Justice is served. Hot or cold, fair or unfair.
We've been warned time and time again. Outspoken critics lambast our changing system of Justice on a daily, hourly basis. A TV sitcom makes a funny show about it and we all feel vindicated that it's really not THAT SERIOUS. It's just a stupid law, and it'll never apply to me anyway. The chorus of voices is just chatter.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU.
- How many of your friends and relatives end up in Divorce Court?
- How many people do you know who got busted for Drugs?
- How much does it cost to get real Justice, and how much more to people pay to subvert it?
- Why does money matter in Justice, as only the Truth is the actual currency of Justice?
- What percentage of our population must go to Jail before we recognize that we have no true Justice?
- How many of you have dealt with the Death of a loved one - especially in a hospital?
Justice is not the servant of Logic. Truth is not the servant of Logic. In order to have True justice, there must be Truth, which is Logical. Why is Truth logical? Because it is the very nature of Logic that it is based on Truth. Otherwise it makes no sense.
No brainer for the vast majority of common sense humanity. But when the aim of Justice becomes the substitute for God, the punishment becomes harsh. Because, Logically, a crime or sin deserves Death - Truth demands it. Only through God can we obtain penance and forgiveness - not a penitentiary. Because True Justice has no mercy.
Proof: An auto mechanic Bob does a shody $50 repair job which results in the death of Mary. Should Bob pay the family of Mary $50 - or should he be put to death in exchange for her death? Shouldn't we kill Bob then?
How many of us are culpable for the death or misery of our neighbors? We buy shoes made by political prisoners or children. Our neighbor lost their job at the Shoe factory because they can't match slave labor wages?
How much injustice can a single American perform in a single day just by eating, shopping, and going to sleep? Some of you agree - even some Athiest - that a great injustice is occuring here. Just because we're ignorant of the misery and death resulting from our choices in shopping doesn't exempt us from Justice. And if Justice it to be metted out in equal portions - then don't we all deserve death?
Therefore, all of Mankind that perpitrates injustice through his own hands or actions, either from ignorance or malveolance is subject to the equal punishmment of Justice.
I submit that the true cost of throwing out God from our Code of Law, is the death of Man. Because without the weight of God through Mercy tipping the scale in Justice, we all do deserve the equitable punishment.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Pressing Issues
I have resisted writing about this.. but I am somehow duty-bound to write it anyway: The Schiavo conflict.
Wait wait, don't run - because I'm not going to convince you using rhetoric. Nor logic. Nope, I'm just going to quote the press... ready?
Schiavo recovery impossible, experts agree
Choice quotes:
"Terri Schiavo, at the center of an emotional and political storm over whether she should be allowed to die"
“Survival beyond 10 years is unusual. The chance for survival of greater than 15 years is approximately 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 75,000,” (Ed. Note: Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990)
"Dr. Ronald Cranford, a neurologist and bioethicist at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said reflexes can fool non-specialists."
This is because in such patients, the cerebral cortex has been destroyed, said Dr. Lawrence Schneiderman, a physician and bioethicist at the University of California, San Diego.
“The rest of your brain, particularly the brain stem, can survive for fifteen or twenty minutes without oxygen,” added Schneiderman, who signed a friend of the court brief in July of last year supporting Michael Schiavo.
Ok, fair enough. Those two people are the only Doctors mentioned in the article. So, two experts agree. A quick google for "Dr Lawrence Schneidermann Euthanasia" on google reveals...
So there you have it.. two experts make it unanimous among the medical profession. Obviously, Reuters is doing a fine, fine job in balanced Journalism. Make your own decisions.
Wait wait, don't run - because I'm not going to convince you using rhetoric. Nor logic. Nope, I'm just going to quote the press... ready?
Schiavo recovery impossible, experts agree
Choice quotes:
"Terri Schiavo, at the center of an emotional and political storm over whether she should be allowed to die"
“Survival beyond 10 years is unusual. The chance for survival of greater than 15 years is approximately 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 75,000,” (Ed. Note: Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990)
"Dr. Ronald Cranford, a neurologist and bioethicist at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said reflexes can fool non-specialists."
This is because in such patients, the cerebral cortex has been destroyed, said Dr. Lawrence Schneiderman, a physician and bioethicist at the University of California, San Diego.
“The rest of your brain, particularly the brain stem, can survive for fifteen or twenty minutes without oxygen,” added Schneiderman, who signed a friend of the court brief in July of last year supporting Michael Schiavo.
Ok, fair enough. Those two people are the only Doctors mentioned in the article. So, two experts agree. A quick google for "Dr Lawrence Schneidermann Euthanasia" on google reveals...
- Dr. Ronald Cranford was a member of the board of the former Euthanasia Society of America, which eventually merged with Partnership for Caring
- Dr. Ronald Cranford, the euthanasia advocate who hopes to help Pete Busalacchi
take care of Christine when she is brought to Minnesota - Cranford calls himself, "Dr. Humane Death."
- Dr. Lawrence Schneiderman of UC San Diego at La Jolla writes that one of the "unexpected yet undeniable" consequences of Oregon's assisted-dying law is that state's leadership in excellent and compassionate palliative care.
- "Medical Futility" (video)
So there you have it.. two experts make it unanimous among the medical profession. Obviously, Reuters is doing a fine, fine job in balanced Journalism. Make your own decisions.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
That old time Tradition
Thinking about anonymous tipster tonight. I can't really fault what he/she said.. but it kindof ties into what went wrong after the Second Vatican Council.
Notice I did not say what is wrong with it. I happen to like the council - otherwise I wouldn't have become a Catholic.
See, if the Holy Church has not changed.. then why arn't we still watching the backs of Priests. Why is there stadium seating at some churches, and alter rails at others?
It's tradition! Time to think about Fiddler on the Roof here. Remember, each of his daughters broke the tradition. Quite offended old Dad.
Turns out, if you ask someone about their religion.. the thing that sinks in the deepest and which we identify the most with is tradition. They think Easter flowers, processions, and all kinds of little acts that we perform in reverence.
Along came this Second Vatican Council. Now we've got this in the Catechism:
Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church's Magisterium. (Catechism 83)
Pretty easy to spot what happened here. People suddenly realized that their idea of "local tradition" didn't quite line up with what everyone else thought of. Suddenly there was this giant revolution where everyone suddenly thought the church had changed.
Not so, only the window dressing so to speak.
But don't confuse tradition with essential elements of the Mass, and Tenents of the Church. Don't tell the first communion kids that group confession is valid, or that reverence is just pride. If you're not going to believe in the transubstantiaion - then follow your heart and go Protestant or something. If you want to be a married priest, then go Eastern Rite man!!
To me it seems very clear what is necessary to have a valid Mass. Why even go to church if it's not valid, anyway? Why, if you don't believe in the true Tenants of the Church - do you still call yourself Catholic? As if it's like being a New Yorker or something?
Funny, eh? Ohh well, maybe it's just me. Just let me keep our old-timey mass. You can do the liturgical dance and I'd like to kneel. Isn't that all ok?
In the famous words of a friend of ours: "Isn't it great that the Church is so diverse?" We'd just told her we were going to a Latin Mass.. at the time I thought she was being sarcastic. May be, but her words do ring true. The church is diverse, and that's a Good Thing.
Notice I did not say what is wrong with it. I happen to like the council - otherwise I wouldn't have become a Catholic.
See, if the Holy Church has not changed.. then why arn't we still watching the backs of Priests. Why is there stadium seating at some churches, and alter rails at others?
It's tradition! Time to think about Fiddler on the Roof here. Remember, each of his daughters broke the tradition. Quite offended old Dad.
Turns out, if you ask someone about their religion.. the thing that sinks in the deepest and which we identify the most with is tradition. They think Easter flowers, processions, and all kinds of little acts that we perform in reverence.
Along came this Second Vatican Council. Now we've got this in the Catechism:
Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church's Magisterium. (Catechism 83)
Pretty easy to spot what happened here. People suddenly realized that their idea of "local tradition" didn't quite line up with what everyone else thought of. Suddenly there was this giant revolution where everyone suddenly thought the church had changed.
Not so, only the window dressing so to speak.
But don't confuse tradition with essential elements of the Mass, and Tenents of the Church. Don't tell the first communion kids that group confession is valid, or that reverence is just pride. If you're not going to believe in the transubstantiaion - then follow your heart and go Protestant or something. If you want to be a married priest, then go Eastern Rite man!!
To me it seems very clear what is necessary to have a valid Mass. Why even go to church if it's not valid, anyway? Why, if you don't believe in the true Tenants of the Church - do you still call yourself Catholic? As if it's like being a New Yorker or something?
Funny, eh? Ohh well, maybe it's just me. Just let me keep our old-timey mass. You can do the liturgical dance and I'd like to kneel. Isn't that all ok?
In the famous words of a friend of ours: "Isn't it great that the Church is so diverse?" We'd just told her we were going to a Latin Mass.. at the time I thought she was being sarcastic. May be, but her words do ring true. The church is diverse, and that's a Good Thing.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Books...
So it's getting close to Christmas.. and I want to fill my 7 year old daughter's book list for a couple of days, LOL. So far she's enjoyed Naria, Tolkein, Brothers Grimm, Stevenson, Nancy Drew.. looking for (LONG) enjoyable books that will cultivate, any ideas? I say long because she tends to read a couple of hundred pages an hour.
I'm looking at maybe:
The Railway Children, E. Nesbit
A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas
Any ideas here? I read science journals for fun.
I'm looking at maybe:
The Railway Children, E. Nesbit
A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas
Any ideas here? I read science journals for fun.
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