Tuesday, September 30, 2008

For Bookworms Interested in Bookworms

George Grant's Grantian Florilegium Sep 30 blog posting, "Spurgeon & Books," is a fascinating bit of history regarding C.H. Spurgeon's love of books and his view of them.

Spurgeon's reading of six books a week and remembering what he read years later reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt's reading and remembering of at least five books a week, even during the most hectic times of his career.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Proteined Taters for Backpackin' & Bikepackin'






Want a quick, hot, cheap, tasty, comforting meal that provides both carbs and protein for your next overnight backpacking or bikepacking trip? Try this great little supper or breakfast idea:

  • Boil 2 cups of water on your alcohol, solid fuel or gas ultralight stove.
  • Remove water from heat & add one package of Hungry Jack Easy Mash'd Potatoes. Five flavors available: Cheesy Homestyle, Hearty Baked, Creamy Butter, Premium Homestyle, & Roasted Garlic. (I buy mine at the local Dollar General Store for $1 a package.)
  • Add 1/4 cup (more or less according to personal preference) of Bob's Red Mill Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP).
  • Cover & let set for a couple of minutes to let the TVP soften.
  • Enjoy!

This will feed one hungry person as a total meal or divide nicely for two folks with other side items.

Lacking Narrative

David Brooks, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, has an interesting article, "Thinking About McCain," highlighting his first-hand observations of Senator McCain and his accomplishments. Brooks, however, reveals how that for all of McCain's experience, successes, positive qualities and leadership ability, he has yet to communicate a central argument as to why he should be POTUS.

Mr. Brooks saves discussing Senator Obama for a later day.

The 1st Debate

"What debate? Political posturing does not statesmanship make!" --George Grant, Sep. 26, 2008

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Two "Americas" & Political Rhetoric

Reggie Jones' September 16 posting "Achievers are Not Robber Barons" on the Booker T. Washington Society website discusses what he calls "class-oriented bigotry" against the rich. He reveals how many politicians don't understand how there can ever really be any win-win situations between the rich and not-so-rich. Just because some rich get richer doesn't mean that the poor have to be getting poorer.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Foreign Policy Experience

It's been less than a year since I started taking an interest in Thomas Sowell's commentary on current affairs, including education and the economy. What I like about him is that while he seems absolutely brilliant, he speaks the language of common folk. Maybe that is in itself a mark of brilliance. He has an interesting website which, though it couldn't be much plainer in design, is, like his books, all substance.

Anyway, in light of the recent Experience Wars being debated between the Republican and Democratic Presidential campaigns, Sowel's September 4, 2008 article, "Foreign Policy 'Experience,'" in the National Jewish Review makes for sound reading. From historical, experiential and observational perspectives, he helps the reader understand how to properly define "experience" and determine who actually has the most.

Banks and Uncle Sam

Working my way through The Christian Almanac, today's accounts included a tidbit from 1788:

At an interest rate of 6 percent from the Bank of New York and the Bank of North America, the United States took out its first loan. The money went to pay the salaries of the president and members of Congress (p. 540).

It didn't take long did it?

Thursday, September 11, 2008

228 Years Before 9.11.01

On September 11, 1773, Benjamin Franklin penned, "There was never a good war or a bad peace." (Source: The Christian Almanac by George Grant & Gregory Wilbur)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Quick, Healthy, Liquid Meal

Want to make a drink that'll substitute for a small meal that has no cholesterol, little sugar, plenty of veggie goodies, healthy fat and protein and tastes good too?

One 12 ounce can of V8 Juice
One and a half Tspns of olive oil
Two Tbsps of Bob's Red Mill Soy Protein Powder.

Pour in about 1/2 of the can of juice into a glass. Add the protein powder and stir until well blended. Add the olive oil and stir. Add the rest of the juice and stir again. Drink.

Guess Who?

You might want to take a look at George Grant's September 9 blog posting at Grantian Florilegium.

Of course, time will tell if there will be any other similarities.

Monday, September 8, 2008

C.S. Lewis on Social Morality

A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat "Do as you would be done by" till I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbor as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward--driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the longest way round is the short way home.--C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

Tuesday, September 2, 2008