Dappled Things

Some Changes

2007-12-07T10:33:00.001-05:00

It's been about a month now since I've posted anything, due both to being away for a bit and to having a few new personal projects that I've been working on. So, the personal time that I had been dedicating to the blog has recently been absorbed by other pursuits. In the course of the month, I began to realize that I really didn't miss blogging very much and that most of the particular niches I filled several years ago are now being admirably filled by other, new bloggers.

What did I set out to accomplish? The whole point of Dappled Things, from the beginning, was to give me a creative outlet and an intellectually-engaging pastime to escape a bit from the dull monotony of everyday life and to recreate virtually the mentally-stimulating environment I had grown used to in university and seminary. As I've added other pastimes and outlets and friendships over the years, my personal need for the blog has really evaporated, as the diminishing frequency of the posts probably indicates. The purpose was never ministerial or evangelical, although I suppose it has collaterally served that purpose from time to time. Particularly if the blog's posts have shown a humane, civil, and fundamentally optimistic side of Catholicism and Catholic civilization, grounded in the Person of Jesus Christ and informed by the history and traditions of our ancestors, this religious contribution can be judged a success. At a time when acrimony and and a bellicose spirit often characterize the interactions of religious and non-religious people, I have tried to keep the tone of this blog irenic and to show the worldly folk the riches of Catholic tradition, and the Catholic folk the contributions of the worldly or non-Catholic, and to look at the positive ways in which different people express both their common humanity and their different spiritual visions. Although I've received my fair share of angry emails over the years, I think the number of regular readers from vastly different backgrounds indicates that this spirit of tolerance and shared humanity has also been successful.

So, with the blog's raison d'être basically gone, I've decided to stop posting. For the time being, I'll keep the blog online and available, as I think there are many articles in the archives that will continue to be of interest to people. Eventually, though, I'll probably initiate the auto-destruct sequence. For the time being, I plan to keep the Dappled Photoblog and perhaps to keep adding to it. Email access to me from the blog will be disabled, which isn't a big deal as I rarely respond to email anyway and as I don't need any further ideas for future posts. As long as the blog remains up, the blogrolls will remain active, although I won't be actively maintaining them anymore. All those blogs, particularly the A-Listed ones are recommended to anyone going through blog withdrawal. Also, for as long as the blog remains up, you'll be able to click the Dappled Reads link at the top of the page for ongoing feeds from selected blogs that cover many of the same themes that I have covered -- Catholicism, liturgy, the philosophy and politics of liberty, historical curiosities, and so forth. As before, the content of those feeds is delivered automatically and is exclusively under the control of those bloggers, not me. If you like the Reader, great; if not, stop reading it.

So, as I bid everyone ave atque vale, I'll add that I have enjoyed these five years of blogging. By reading and writing on a number of subjects, I've clarified my own views within my own head and hope to have helped others to do the same. Although any blogger gets the occasional email from nutters, fanatics, and ignorant or hateful people, I have enjoyed the thoughtful contributions of the majority of my readers and have actually gone on to become friends with a few of my contributors. Very frequently, the thoughts and critiques of these readers helped inspire posts and shape them. In that sense, this has been a collaborative project, and I thank them, as I also thank all the silent readers, and wish you all happiness, peace, and rich blessings.

Photogallery of Old Computers

2007-11-06T08:59:00.000-05:00

You've come a long way, baby: Wired has a gallery of photos of vintage computers. It's amazing how far we've come, so fast. As components shrink down to the molecular level, the mind boggles to think what computers will be able to do in 20 years' time.

Ron Paul's Fundraising Blitz

2007-11-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday on Guy Fawkes Day, the Ron Paul Presidential campaign raised more money in a single day than any GOP candidate in this election cycle, making him number three behind Sens. Clinton and Obama for one-day fundraising. I'm happy to know that my own contribution helped Ron Paul raise over $3.8 million yesterday.

New Blood Treatment Under Development

2007-11-06T08:52:00.000-05:00

Purifying blood by smashing all the viruses with a laser.

Shifting the Candlesticks

2007-11-06T08:48:00.000-05:00

I've been patiently waiting for Pope Benedict to do at St Peter's something that he had written about in his books: setting up the altar in the traditional Roman fashion with six tall candles along the breadth of the altar and a central altar cross facing the celebrant. Now that the much-awaited new papal MC is in place, the traditional altar set-up has reappeared, as the NLM blog reports. Notice in the photos that the MC is also wearing a more traditional lace surplice, and the Pope is wearing an alb of fine lace. But it's the altar set-up that is, far and away, the best change.

Portuguese Bone Chapel

2007-11-06T08:47:00.001-05:00

Some interesting photos of a Portuguese bone chapel. Perfect scenery for the Month of the Dead.

Remember, Remember

2007-11-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

Guy Fawkes Day and the plot to return England to the Old Religion by blowing up the Protestant King and his Parliament.

Ron Paul on Jay Leno

2007-11-01T09:39:00.001-04:00

Random iPod Playlist

2007-10-31T21:50:00.000-04:00

1. Smell of Desire, Enigma
2. Like a Stone, Audioslave
3. My Friends, Dar Williams
4. The Blessed Virgin's Expostulations, Henry Purcell
5. I Don't Owe You Anything, The Smiths
6. Adia, Sarah McLachlan
7. The Old Country Baptizin', Bill Monroe
8. Sister I'm a Poet, Morrissey
9. Perfect Blue Buildings, Counting Crows
10. Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of our Hearts, Oxford Camerata

The rules, for bloggers who want to play:

Get your ipod or media-player of choice, select your whole music collection, set the thing to shuffle (i.e., randomized playback), then post the first ten songs that come out. No cheating, no matter how stupid it makes you feel!

Liturgical Music: What the Documents Really Say

2007-10-31T17:30:00.000-04:00

One of the great problems in liturgical practice these past few decades is the fact that those who guide Liturgies misunderstand the guidelines. I've gnashed my teeth for years every time I hear some well-meaning musician or priest solemnly enunciate some liturgical principle that is complete rubbish and not grounded either in the historical tradition of the Roman Liturgy or in the current norms and directives that have been in force since the Second Vatican Council. Cardinal Krol's old question, "Dov'è scritto? -- Where's it written?" doesn't help much, as most of these people have never analytically studied the foundational Roman liturgical books and decrees. If we could somehow flush all the mish-mash from their heads and get them to forget everything they ever heard in liturgical seminars and workshops and "helpful" practical manuals, and get them instead to read three or four basic, official texts, a world of good could be done.

The Church Music Association of America has submitted an excellent, excellent paper to the American Bishops as they revise their 1970's-era music document. The CMAA submission points out some common misunderstandings about liturgical music and offers a number of suggestions for bringing the American document into line with Vatican II's liturgical constitution and the post-conciliar Roman document on liturgical music, Musicam sacram. If you're involved (or even merely interested) in liturgical music or liturgical planning, I can't recommend this paper highly enough.

Along the same lines, Jeffrey Tucker offers this fine post on the top ten unknown truths about sacred music. You'll notice more than a few similar themes in the CMAA piece and Maestro Tucker's post.

Romanism

2007-10-31T17:28:00.000-04:00

Another nice Romanism photopost, including shots from the funeral of Cardinal Muench.

Ron Paul and Cuban Cigars

2007-10-31T16:45:00.000-04:00

Speaking of Ron Paul, Doctor No has an excellent piece up on why the Cuban embargo continues to be useless and a contradiction of American values.

... Let's stop the hysterics about the freedom of Cubans – which is not our government's responsibility – and consider freedom of the American people, which is. Americans want the freedom to travel and trade with their Cuban neighbors, as they are free to travel and trade with Vietnam and China. Those Americans who do not wish to interact with a country whose model of governance they oppose are free to boycott. The point being – it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government....

If Ron Paul Were to Face Off Against Hillary

2007-10-31T16:29:00.000-04:00

A very interesting bit of poll analysis at Hit&Run:

Over at the USA Election Polls site, analyzing what they say is raw Rasmussen data from a 1,200 voter poll conducted in mid-October, they find that what some Ron Paul supporters have crowed seems to be true: Ron Paul can beat Hillary where Fred Thompson, at least, can't. Or at least "beat" in terms of "not get trounced quite as badly."

Sure, overall she is seen beating Ron Paul 48-38--but beating Thompson even more, by 52-37. And in both the 30-39 and 40-49 year old age groups, this poll shows Paul getting higher vote percentages in a one-on-one against Hillary than even Rudy Giuliani.

So there.

Andrew Sullivan is also pointing out that British bookies have recently updated the odds of Ron Paul winning the Presidency, from 66-1 down to 12-1... putting him ahead of John Edwards.

General Grant and the Expulsion of the Jews

2007-10-31T16:07:00.000-04:00

I didn't realize that General Grant attempted to expel the Jews from Southern areas brought back under Union domination. Nor did I realize that President Lincoln personally rescinded Grant's expulsion order (proving the old saying that even a stopped clock is right twice a day). Here's the story, via the Agitator.

We sometimes forget that the Old South was remarkably cosmopolitan for the time and that the Confederacy had Jews, Catholics, immigrants, and Indians among its supporters. I touched on Dixie's forgotten multi-culturalism in this old post.

Iraqi Christians

2007-10-31T16:05:00.000-04:00

The plight of Christians in the new "Free, Democratic Iraq."

Eamon Duffy on Ten Popes

2007-10-31T12:13:00.000-04:00

Professor Eamon Duffy (of Stripping of the Altars fame) is presenting a ten-part BBC radio series on Ten Popes Who Shook History.

Progress at Clear Creek

2007-10-31T12:12:00.001-04:00

Some photos of the progress that the Clear Creek, Oklahoma, monks are making on the construction of their monastery.

Dusting off the High Altars

2007-10-31T12:05:00.000-04:00

News that the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC is experimenting with using the old High Altar for Sunday Masses, rather than the little movable one that they had been using for the past few decades. It's important for locals to let the Powers That Be know that such moves are appreciated.

A Blessed Conscientious Objector

2007-10-31T12:02:00.000-04:00

A bit on Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter, the newly beatified man who was martyred by the Nazis for refusing to be drafted into their army.

Holy Eucharist in the Early Church

2007-10-31T11:56:00.001-04:00

Some interesting Eucharistic quotations from Christianity's first few centuries, showing the centrality of this Sacrament to the Christian life. Any form of Christianity that relegates the Blesed Eucharist to a place of secondary (or less!) importance really has missed the mark of the Christian message, regardless of how often the Bible gets quoted. (Via Serge.)

Holy Clocks

2007-10-19T13:39:00.000-04:00

Part XX of Daniel's photo-series on the Great Clocks of Christendom. My favorite one this time is the Bavarian clock, which seems to incorporate a sundial into the usual clockface and zodiac dial.

Solemn Mass According to the Dominican Rite

2007-10-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

Three more installments in the series on the Dominican Mass: The Preparation of the Chalice, the Gospel, and the Offertory.

Houston's New Cathedral

2007-10-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

We all know that Houston, Texas, will be getting its first Cardinal. I didn't realize that the Archdiocese is also in the midst of building a new cathedral. While there are a few things I don't care for (such as the baptismal font stuck right in the middle of the nave), the building seems noble and beautiful -- and really looks like a cathedral!

Upcoming Chant Workshop in Virginia

2007-10-18T08:46:00.000-04:00

One of our fine local pastors is hosting a special workshop in Gregorian chant at his parish next month. Noted chant instructor Scott Turkington will be leading the two-day workshop aimed at teaching "singers to sing as the Church is asking." Excellent opportunity for all Church musicians in the DC area and beyond.

Revolving Around the Bishop

2007-10-17T08:58:00.000-04:00

Hallowed Ground has a good photopost on bishops with a reminder that in antiquity the local church's life revolved around the bishop and, at least in theory, it still does.

As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do ye anything without the bishop and presbyters. Neither endeavour that anything appear reasonable and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Do ye therefore all run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to one. -- St Ignatius of Antioch, martyred AD 107