"A man of conscience, is one who never acquires tolerance, well- being, success, public standing, and approval on the part of prevailing opinion, at the expense of truth." Pope Benedict XVI

the politics of babies...

So, I'm trying to type this out as my 19 month-old is dumping the few remaining clothes we have left here (everything else is packed up to move) and jumping on me, so I might miss a key.

But I'm thinking about the election for President of the Stati Uniti, and how I would like to vote for Obama. I'd really like to vote for him, because he inspires this crazy hope in people, and it feels like we need that now. I like a lot of his policies.

But he seems to have unwavering support for that amorphous choice. After a great deal of thinking and praying, I can't vote for him, but I can't vote against him, either. And I know that conservative president don't always make conservative Court appointments (hello Nixon!), and that even if Roe was overturned, abortion would be legal in the states (such as California) that are liberal.

Nothing will change unless we change people's minds.

The only really pro-life thing I do is try to be a good mama, and make parenthood look as good as possible. So I don't complain about the normal stuff that happens when little ones are around. I just offer it up.

But that doesn't seem to be enough.

So I though of this idea, that is basically making a shrine and inside are these really beautiful icons of aborted babies (they are little saints, right?)... where it isn't put in people's faces unles they enter the shrine. But we can "see through this window into Heaven" and see these babies, and pray for them, just be with them... It seems like a start.

Who will help me with this project?

Engineering books for homeschool

Engineering the City
The Art of Construction
Zaccaro's books from ChallengeMath.com
the Make it Work science series (I've linked only one)
Engineering for Every Kid

Tarquin Books in Britain

"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers." ~Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

On the Media

Whenever I have a chance to listen to this show, I am constantly awed. If you ever doubt the value of public media, this show is evidence that public radio is ... well, going to go in-depth and actually inform you of something.

Do you wonder why oil is so expensive? The typical line is supply blah blah and demand. Well, have a listen here to Supply and Command and you may actually begin to grasp what is going on:

http://www.onthemedia.org/

Policy does matter...

it effects all of our lives. Listen to this.

mathematics.

Living Math.
Mathematical Gnomes and Gnumbers.

A (bath)Room with a View.

A happy houseplant, and woolies drying in the one bathroom of our house.

Ciné.

I was very pleased to hear that the work of G. Melies, the inspiration for The Invention of Hugo Cabret is now released on DVD. I was thinking about this and mused that surealism, dream-like realities, and more primary (native?) to film then the realism of Passolini, or the modern usage of film. Where somehow the realism seems to have less in common with a human reality. Reality v. appearance.

And then I was thinking about all the ways in which technology changes art--the camera making realism in painting obsolete, and paint in tubes making expressionism possible. One could easily paint outside. And use a lot of paint.

a love song

A Love Song
by William Carlos Williams

What have I to say to you
When we shall meet?
Yet—
I lie here thinking of you.

The stain of love
Is upon the world.
Yellow, yellow, yellow,
It eats into the leaves,
Smears with saffron
The horned branches that lean
Heavily
Against a smooth purple sky.

There is no light—
Only a honey-thick stain
That drips from leaf to leaf
And limb to limb
Spoiling the colours
Of the whole world.

I am alone.
The weight of love
Has buoyed me up
Till my head
Knocks against the sky.

See me!
My hair is dripping with nectar—
Starlings carry it
On their black wings.
See, at last
My arms and my hands
Are lying idle.

How can I tell
If I shall ever love you again
As I do now?

Elephants painting.

My kids really enjoyed watching this--there are some cuts so it is difficult to know if there is some coaching from the others species present, or not. But it is really cool.


For more information about elephants painting, please click here.

Christ is Risen!

He is Truly Risen!

Via Crucis

from the work of Inos Biffi and Franco Vignazia, by Eerdmans press.

pray for us, now ...

Have a Blessed, Mysterious, and Holy week!

It's Always Now

Michael Pollan on KQED's Forum

I really enjoy this show--and today's show was quite good. Hear the pod cast here.

Lent is from the German for Spring, Lentz.

So I haven't yet finished my eggnog and here Ash Wednesday is upon us. I really love the season of Lent, and Easter. It rivals my love for the Christmas season (I'm a Christmas baby and so have always loved this season, but as an adult Lent and Easter become really what life is all about.)

I will probably not be blogging much through Lent unless it relates directly to something truly significant, i.e. living as a Catholic.

Saint Joseph, pray for us!

my baby entered the One, Holy and Apostolic Church today.

Awhile ago I was thinking...

A picture from 2002. I think it was September. I am surveying all of Oakland, CA.

but made their bodies carrion

Why do I always end up going back to the beginning and find myself with the Greeks? Again, here with home school for oldest son (6.5 years-old) I find us talking/reading/ thinking about the Greeks.

The older I get, the closer Lent seems to creep to Christmas--anyone else with me here on this one?

I need to write a letter to my Godfather. I want to include a picture of my baby girl's Baptism. My Godfather is now a Cistercian Monk.

I made crackers today. It rained, a lot.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick

Picture a room full of librarians, cheering wildly. That is what this book does to people.
I couldn't wait any longer--I had to go rush out and purchase this book today.

There are so many really lovely and enjoyable books to read these days. Books that even ten years ago would have been very expensive to purchase. At 533 pages, this book is a feast for the eyes and the soul. It is a fine picture book.

But read it. It is an important book. It is a lovely book. So switch off this computer and open the book.

My heroes have always been cowboys.

So where the heck have I been these low many days?

I got a bit lost in the Jazz, Folk and country section of ameaba records in Berkeley. I'll have to scan some of the covers of the records I found. Amazing, and only a dollar.

Then, Oldest son had his last days of Parish school before we pulled him out and have been enjoying 'home schoolin.' Although, we don't really do that many more different things--we just hang out, read books, watch films and drink tea. That's right--films, not movies.

Youngest son loves his Spanish/English Montessori school.

The baby loves being a toddler.

We love her.

Mr. Bibliotecaria might be getting a job in Portland, OR (watch out!)

I begin librarian school this month.