Technology marches on. But should some of it?

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RR spike maul

I interviewed local historian Keith Sommer for a newspaper article recently. He has quite a collection of antique artifacts, including a good number of old RR artifacts — including a RR spike maul, pictured here. And he not only collects the artifacts, but he extensively reads up on them. He’s a virtual walking encyclopedia, actually. He told me that he likes to learn about old technologies, because the new technologies are, more often than not, an actual continuation of the old technologies. But herein, at times, lies the rub. That is, before, say, the Amish adopt a new technology, they go through prayerful discernment about whether the technology will get in the way of their relationship with God, their relationship with their family, their relationship with the community… At an Amish Interpretive Center in Shipshewana, Indiana, during our travels, I learned the Amish haven’t adopted motorized vehicles for several reasons. For one, the increased mobility, inevitably, allows for the splitting up of community. How many of us these days say of our grown children: “Yeah, Mary is now living in Des Moines, Charlie is in San Francisco, George is in Houston…” What’s more, the Amish believe to “kill someone” is a serious thing, accident or not. And driving motorized vehicles, to the Amish, increases the chances of, well, killing someone. You know, we often, as a society, technologically rush madly forward (motorized vehicle, or not) and call it all “progress.” But is it really, in God’s eyes that is?

Through a new ‘looking glass’

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Feb. 2024

I just read (…and took some notes) this particular National Geographic cover article on glass. Of note, the UN categorized glass in 2022 “…as the 100 percent recyclable building block most likely to help countries reach sustainable-development goals by 2030.” And with that, notes the article’s author: “Simply put, we’ve entered a new glass age…” Alicia Duran, an actual “glass professor” at the Spanish Research Council, and president of the International Commission on Glass, was quoted: “The main quality of glass is that it can be produced, re-produced, born and reborn — really in the same, or other, applications — forever.” Conversely, we are currently awash in plastic — which is anything but sustainable. As just one, of many, examples: Common sense says we go back to using re-usable glass bottles across the board. I mean, and I’m going to sound like a dinosaur here: But remember the thick glass milk bottles that were delivered to homes? The seas are filling up with this toxic plastic, the landfills are fulling up with these toxic plastics, the air is filling up with the off gassing from making this toxic plastic… What sane parent would want to leave a world of plastic toxicity for their children? Note: Toward the end of the article, it was noted that the giant Magellan Telescope, on top of a mountain in Chile, and with 27.5 foot glass mirrors, when fully functional in 2029: “…will be able to measure distant planets passing in front of stars to a degree never before achieved, allowing scientists to determine temperatures, and whether they contain gasses like methane and oxygen, possible signs of life.” Note 2: Part of space exploration, a big part, is trying to find out if there is: “Anyone one else out there?” Instead of spending the billions/trillions on space exploration with spaceships, why not let these highly advanced telescopes do the initial exploring — taking the savings to help those in dire straits in the Third World on this planet? More common sense.

Catching up; and: GO FRANCISCAN!

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Greenhorn Restaurant

Catching up on the last few weeks… In between painting this restaurant, I wrote a story about a local couple who regularly goes to The Honduras to help the rural poor there. Concurrently, I reported on a group of local guys who went to western North Carolina with Samaritan’s Purse, to help people in mountain communities there who had been devastated by flooding from Hurrican Helene. I also wrote about a Community Oriented Policing officer here who regularly interfaces with the community in the most creative of ways. Then there was a story about a local home furnishings thrift store that just celebrated it’s one year anniversary and is going a long way toward helping people in these inflationary times. While doing all this, and more, I’ve been following my son Jonathan’s soccer team (Franciscan University) on their march to winning the conference. I’ve watched a number of livestream games, but I am going to cut this short to hop in the car to travel across the state to watch his playoff matches. “GO FRANCISCAN!”

Joe concedes; and a little sanity: PLEASE!

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Joe concedes

Well, that’s right. I have, once again, graciously decided not to ask for a recount — conceding the race. That’s difficult. Not out of misguided hubris, or narcissistic tendencies, or thinking the presidential race was “rigged.” No, it’s hard because I know, really know, that my platform would “Make America Great” — in the eyes of God. And by some measure at that! The “Make America Great Again” paradigm being held out is tremendously shallow, at best. And will, ultimately, continue to be akin to “…rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.” Note: Instead of watching the results coming in last night, I covered a village council meeting. It was reported that the Tree Commission had done a village-wide “tree survey,” and determined 15 trees on village property needed to come down. The fiscal officer released a report indicating the village has been operating “…in the black” for yet another year. And the Police Chief reported his officers had all reached the state mandated yearly criteria of 24 seminar/training hours… Frankly, while not riveting, this was a little touch of ‘subsidiarity sanity’ amidst a world going absolutely off the rails. For more of a touch of sanity, see our: position papers.

Nuclear (energy) Nightmare!

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ticking time bombs

I just watched a PBS Front Line documentary on nuclear power plants. These are “…ticking time bombs.” A number of them, worldwide, are in earth-quake zones, including Japan’s now ill-fated Fukishima Nuclear Power Plant. Not only was there an earthquake close by there, but the resultant tsunami caused the plant, ultimately, to melt down. This sparked massive radiation clouds drifting on the wind, the ‘fall-out’ being catastrophic to humans, as well as nature… In our rush to have an abundance of cheap, abundant energy, we unleashed a ‘Genie,’ with this tremendously unsafe nuclear technology. Our administration would push for the phasing out of all nuclear power plants in America, as Germany is already doing. For more on our Energy Policy, see… Note: And it’s not just earthquake zones. At the time I’m writing this, Zelenski says Putin has designs to attack Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Did we not think nuclear power plants could be weaponized in times of conflict?

Furnishing America, and beyond…

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Bee Home store

I just wrote a story about an Ada, Ohio thrift store that features home decor items. Quality stuff at rock-bottom prices. The store falls under the umbrella of Beatitudes, a non-profit organization in the heart of Ada. Area volunteers collect the donations, clean them up, refurbish some, and so on. One of the volunteers that I interviewed, said that she gets tremendous gratification seeing people “…who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford most of this, be able to afford most of this.” What’s more, in the midst of our current, for the most part, ‘throw-a-way society,’ this is also about: recycling. This Bee Home store is an absolutely excellent model, which could be replicated from town, to town, to town… across America. Also, from a social justice angle, some of these second-hand decor savings could go into outreach funds for Third World home decor. *See my last post.

Joe “Town Hall” topic: immigration

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Juarez, Mexico family home

I did a “Town Hall” style event for some seniors at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton today. Immigration came up, as it is coming up consistently on the national stage. Our campaign done a number of extensive Border Tours, and I told the audience that those travels, at one point, took us to Juarez, Mexico, where we toured the slums there. Some 200,000 people living in cobbled together shacks like this (*see photo), with no running water, no electricity, and the kids are hungry. What’s more, at the time, Juarez was referred to as the “Murder Capital of the World,” the cartel violence was that bad! I said that if I was a parent in that situation, I would be doing everything possible to get my children to a better place. And America, geographically, is right across the border from Juarez. I also said that our administration would work, ardently, to reform our country’s Immigration System. We would make it as user friendly as possible for those trying to come here (…yet maintain a strong vetting system as well) and set up a comprehensive safety net to make the transition to this country as smooth as possible for these people. Likewise, our administration would push to mobilize as much help as possible, into Mexico, Latin America, and so on, to help make those countries as sustainable as possible as well. We have the resources for this, but the political will is currently lacking to a large degree. For an in-depth look at our detailed plan on all this, see…

China’s dwindling demographics

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4/23 edition

I just read an article on China in this edition of National Geographic. That country is in the throes of a “…sharp population drop.” The simplest remedy, according to the author, in the short term at least, is to increase immigration. China currently has one of the lowest immigration rates in the world. However, the country, apparently, wants to keep it that way. Conversely, the article noted that Beijing is pursuing three options: raising the retirement age; raising the birthrate; and raising productivity. The retirement age for women in China is currently 55, and 60 for men. To counteract a dwindling workforce, again according to the article, Beijing is relying on increased education and high technology, including robots eventually stepping in for 240 million workers to counter declining population. What’s more, local governments in China are now pushing for a three-child-policy, and providing incentives for this in the form of tax cuts, housing subsidies, expanded childcare services…

Debate question: Joe’s take

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…babysmata.com photo

The issue of abortion came up during the debate last night… My response: My stance is totally in line with the teaching of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Catechism teaches all abortion is “murder.” The Catholic Church is, for instance, diametrically opposed to IVF, because a number of embryos get killed in that process. The Catholic Church is against abortion, even in the case of rape and incest. It is against abortion from conception, on. Period. Aligning oneself with any of this, is putting your soul in jeopardy, for eternity. Kamala’s stance on this? A ticket to Hell. Trump’s current stance on this? Quite spiritually dicey as well. Note: The following is our position paper on abortion.

Ray Brown Memorial Park

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Ray Brown baseball card photo

I just wrote the fifth of a series of articles about Ray Brown. He graduated from Ohio’s Alger High School, close by here, in the mid-1920’s. He played baseball there. Brown then went on to play for the Pittsburgh Grays in the Negro League for 19 years. And, except for Satchel Paige, Brown was, decidedly, the best pitcher in the league. So good, in fact, that he was one of just 33 Black players who have been inducted into Cooperstown’s Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. *After years of not being publicly recognized in the tiny village of Alger, a local college history professor, David Strittmatter, marshalled a project to get Brown recognized in a big way. Ohio Northern University okayed a grant to have a Ray Brown mural done. It will be installed at the Alger baseball park. A park that will be renamed the “Ray Brown Memorial Park.” The professor also got the okay for an Ohio Historical Marker, featuring Mr. Brown, to go in at the park. Etc., etc., etc… Professor Strittmatter, when he, several years ago, learned that there was no public recognition for Brown, simply said “…that’s not right.” Then he made it right.