Sad news continues.

Sad news continues.

Remember… it is an attack on Tradition and on the Traditional Roman Rite, but even more it is an attack on the people who want them.  They don’t like the people.

Bad news.

France

USA

And you already know about this.

You need to know what is going on.

Pray for all the people who will so badly hurt by these moves.  Pray that they keep up their spirits and they maintain charity at all times.  Pray that their faith not be weakened and they do not lose hope in their disappointment.

Pray for better times.

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Pò sì jiù, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices |
16 Comments

Some light reading for today… or not so light…

CLICK ME

If you are interested in some commentary…

Damian Thompson of perhaps the best audio podcast title ever, Holy Smoke, HERE. He’s brutal.

Gerhard Card. Müller gave an interview to Crisis Magazine about papal authority, HERE  Refreshing clarity.

Also from Crisis….

At The Catholic Thing there is a piece about Card. Fernandez and his “idée fixe”, HERE.  Ouch.

Here is a fine new translation of St. Augustine’s Confessions by Anthony Esolen.  Beautifully printed and bound by the good folks at TAN.  It is a lovely volume.

US HERE – UK HERE

UPDATE:

Very cool… NASA says they successfully bounced light of a cookie-sized reflector on the Indian Moon lander from an orbiting laser 62 miles away. HERE

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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ROME SHOT 915

Please remember me when  shopping online. US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Photo from The Great Roman™.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in two.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

The 86th edition of the “Wimbledon of Chess”, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, is taking place on 13-28 January in Wijk aan Zee.   Round 5 today.   I’m rooting for Women’s World Champ Ju Wenjun against World Champ Rating Farmer Alireza “the Boy” Firouzja.

Ceterum censeo Firoujza esse delendum.

Have some lovely wine from traditional monks of Le Barroux, made from the revived papal vineyards of the Avignon Popes.

The “Federated Computer” post has generated some interest, so I am told. This is a terrific idea that could save people a lot of money while protecting their data. If I were a diocesan bishop, I would move away from the costly big corporate “SaaS” to Federated like a shot. If I had anything going online and had any concern about getting cancelled because of content… Federated!

Check it out HERE

And I like their groovy retro look.

UPDATE:

Since this is #915, I should give honorable mention to canon 915 from the 1983 Code of Canon Law:

Click me.
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4 Comments

CQ CQ CQ: #ZedNet – Provocative idea – FSSP… SSPX… INSTITUTE… ETC. … you would do well to do this.

Today I’m chatting with the fellow who runs Federated (see HERE) who has also obtained his Extra license and is doing fun SotA things and QRP with a very cool transceiver… I want one.  If anyone out there is not using their Xiegu or LAB599…

So, we are chatting about using Federated to build a live video, audio and chat platform (kinda like YouTube) for streaming and archiving live Masses.  We are talking about chess online and Twitch, etc.  We are talking about subsets of Catholics involved in all these different activities.  The topic turned to prepping and how many Mormon churches had satellite dishes.

I opined that every Catholic diocese should have a shack (in ham terminology, the room where you have your radios, transceivers, etc.).    In fact, I thought every parish should have one.  There would be hams in every parish, for sure.  Lots of them out there.

I then mused that every seminarian should be given classes to obtain an amateur radio license (and Morse for CW).   Every priest should be offered classes.   Religious should make it part of their formation.  

FSSP… SSPX… INSTITUTE… ETC. … you would do well to do this.

There may… heh, will… come a day.

It was spectacularly short sighted for the Holy See to roll back their radio capabilities.  I think they will never be able to put it back together.  But that’s the Vatican for you… now.

Meanwhile, this new year is underway. I hope WB0YLE will be abl to get all the components of Zednet working again.  I’ll try to remember to keep my AllStarLink on and sometimes Echolink when I am just hanging around.

  • Echolink  WB0YLE-R
  • AllStar Node 28868

73

UPDATE: Why wait?

ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5th Edition Complete Study Guide with Question Pool to Pass the Technician Class Amateur Radio Exam

This is for the first level exam and it has information for the question pool which will be in use to 2026.   BE CAREFUL.  Older (used, etc.) editions will have different question pools.

Posted in Ham Radio, Si vis pacem para bellum!, TEOTWAWKI, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
17 Comments

Have a Catholic site or concern to build or maintain? ANY business Catholic or not? Make a bee line to… FEDERATED COMPUTER

Have a Catholic site or concern to build or maintain? I’d make a bee line for this service.

Safer. Cheaper. Better support. Can’t be “cancelled”.

Today with the way “Big Tech” is openly hostile to customers like us, why – other than habit or false convenience – anyone continues to use Google, Zoom, Dropbox, Office365, or Apple software services to run a team or business.

Each of these companies supports really horrible social policies, they throw folks off their system if they support the “wrong” causes, they use our data for training their AI stomping on our privacy. The lists goes on and on.

It is common to hear: “What’s the alternative!”

I have one.

Federated Computer, a service from a long-time supporter of this blog.

What is Federated Computer?

Here is some material Federated sent me that I’ve simplified…

Federated Computer is like Google or Office 365, it gives you all the software you need to work on the internet today but without the lack of privacy, the high prices, or the corporate enthusiasm for very questionable policies.

Services like Dropbox and Zoom are now mining all the data to feed A.I.  Sound good to you?

In fancier terms, Federated breaks the chains of expensive and dominating “SaaS… Software as a Service”.    And, your data is YOUR data.

With Federated Computer you get:

  • An email service that works, includes anti-spam, and is secure;
  • Groupware for calendar, scheduling, project and task management, contact management, word processing and spreadsheets (think Google workplace);
  • File storage (like Dropbox); Photo storage;
  • Password management (like 1password);
  • Video conferencing (Zoom replacement) and group chat (Slack replacement);
  • WordPress for publishing your website.
  • Much more including stuff I don’t understand but some of you will.

Check it out HERE

You can use Federated in a web browser or using desktop or mobile applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Everything is backed up, encrypted (secure).

How they treat customers:

Your data is sovereign. Federated Computer can’t see your data, can’t use your data to train advertising or AI systems. And if you want to leave, for whatever reason, they hand you the keys and wish you well!

They offer human support. You can call them on the phone, talk to them over chat, or use the normal support-ticket system. They get back to you and solve your problem quickly.

They don’t gouge customers on price.

Most systems like this would cost a business or team of only five people hundreds of dollars a month. With Federated Computer you can start at $8 a month up to $59 a month (depending on how much functionality you want).

You’ll use your domain name so everything looks like your business, your team.

How do they do all this?

The people behind Federated Computer are experts in this industry. They founded and ran one of the biggest cloud services that now runs all of Samsung’s mobile devices. They now how to run things efficiently and pass the savings on to the customer.

Best of all, the founder of Federated Computer has been a LONG time supporter of this blog. When you sign up for their service, you continue to support this blog and my work too.

There’s much more to learn here at their website: HERE 

If you decide to try them, please use my link.

If you have any questions, please reach out to David Young and tell him Fr. Z sent you!  

David Young
david@federated.computer

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PS: Dioceses, parishes, schools… which all have teams that increase the cost of “Saas” … you name it, could save huge money and have all their data safe and secure.  And they wouldn’t be using services that hate what the Church stands for.  Just sayin’.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged
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ROME SHOT 914

Please remember me when  shopping online. US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.

Sant’Antonio Abatte.  Decoration around the side chapel of my beloved adoptive Roman parish where St. Giovanni Battista de Rossi’s altar is and tomb was before his body was translated to a new church built in his honor.

Here’s a shot of the chapel, on the Feast of St. Giovanni, in action.  The decorations on wall are cut off on the left.

News about Christmas cards – now trailing off – and how to send. HERE

Meanwhile, in chessy news, The “Wimbeldon of Chess” is going on, Tata Steel in Wijk aan Zee.  Young Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (Prag – 18 yrs – 2748.3) defeated world champ Ding Liren (2776.4) and, by doing so, surpassed former long-time world champ Viswanathan Anand (Vishy – 2748.0) as India’s top ranked. Anish Giri (2759.6), far more likeable than “the Boy” (2765.4* – boooo!), is now in sole 1st with a victory over Gukesh Dommaraju (2721.3).

Ceterum censeo puerum Firouzja esse delendum.

In my own process of destruction and revival and destruction, yesterday in OTB I won all my games but the last, a protracted battle of 39 moves over about 45 minutes.   I had handily beaten one opponent, who usually plays better and then had a long fight with The Oldest Member™ (one of the strongest) and then moved on to The President™.  We had a little miniature as an amuse bouche: he threw the Fried Liver at me and I threw it right back.

My 5. … Nd5 was a mistake that he could have exploited with 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qf3+ to blast my structure to bits. 5. … Na5 to attack the bishop on c4 was better. His 6. Qf3 wasn’t best. Instead, he should have taken Nxf7. His 7. Qxd5 was suboptimal. He should have taken with Bxd5. As it went, I could play 7. … Be3. 10. Qe4+ he threw in the Liver.

Meanwhile, something far more challenging.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

I’ve had notes asking about what I have been cooking.  Not a lot.  I did get a little ambitious the other day and made gyoza, fried dumplings (pork, garlic, ginger, green onion.  The pork was ground, but it needed to be ground more finely.  Lesson learned.

Black vinegar, ginger, hot chili oil.

PS: There are only 8 monthly donors today, making it one of the leanest days of the month.  Paypal works and Zelle works better.  Wise is great for international transfers.

 

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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ROME (NOT!) SHOT 914 – The Terminator v. The Hulk

Please remember me when  shopping online. US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

We are in Venice, today.  I’m thinking of St. Jude, Patron of the “Impossible”.  My friend Fr. Carlos Martins has a major relic of the Apostle which he is bringing to parishes around these USA.  Also, Sts. Simon and Jude’s Feast is my birthday.  Also, I have an intention in their queue for my mother.  This is Santi Simone e Giuda Apostoli, or “San Simone Piccolo” on the Grand Canal, probably the first thing that catches your eye when you get off the train and leave through the front of the station.

WELCOME REGISTRANT:
Robbie the Pict

Meanwhile, its white’s move.  Mate in 2.

Click!

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

The “Wimbeldon of Chess” is going on, Tata Steel in Wijk aan Zee.   After Round Three Anish has caught up to “the Boy” at 2.5.   Nepo and Ding and Nodirbek 2.0.  The female champ Ju Wenjun is struggling with .5 but there’s a lot of chess to be played.  Ding handled Gukesh with relative ease, if anything at this level can be considered easy.

At my level, however, yesterday at OTB I had a mixed day.  I played like a  blockhead for two games, one with a truly stupid blunder which I made because I was way ahead and forgot one of my first principles in my complacency: “Ask yourself if this move makes sense.”  In the second game, against a strong player, I tried a new opening.  Ohhhh boy was that a disaster!   It turned into a hilariously irritating miniature.  I took that page from my score book and put it on my bathroom mirror.  It might migrate the door of the microwave during the day.  However, in my final game of the morning, I reverted to a tried and tested (no, not e4) approach and swiftly overwhelmed my opponent with aggressive play on all three “sides”.

Meanwhile, speaking of overwhelming, The Terminator v. The Hulk…

Chess is enjoying an explosion of popularity in the whole world.

Will the Catholic Church’s entities be – once again – behind the curve?

Fathers! Bishops! Start youth chess clubs and intergenerational clubs in your parishes and schools! I’ll bet you that strong and dependable adults will come out of the woodwork to teach the young. There are many older people who would like to have an activity and maybe contact with young people. This is really a THING.

Ceterum censeo Firoujza esse delendum.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

STATEMENT from priests of the Cathedral of San Francisco about “FS” and “blessings”

This is worth notice.  Priests of the Cathedral in San Francisco have issued their own statement about FS…

Conscience First (English and Spanish)

 

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Sin That Cries To Heaven | Tagged ,
13 Comments

VIDEO: Robert Royal and Larry Chapp on “Theology from Below” (Theology Upside Down)

In this video with Robert Royal, Larry Chapp knocks it out of the park!   He describes the present theological trend, a “theology from below” especially in relation to moral theology.  The starting point becomes one’s subjective experience rather than the objective loci of revelation.  What this winds up in is relegating to what the Church has taught in its moral theology as the virtuous, moral commandments, as an “ideal” which not everyone can or should attain, thus resulting in an attempt to dumb down the law.  It contradicts Veritatis splendor  They also talk about theology from below in relation to Liberation Theology, the experience of the poor being the starting point that winds up being pitted again the better off.

This is one of the best, brief descriptions of what is going on today in theology that I have heard.

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Posted in The Coming Storm, The Drill, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged , ,
3 Comments

ROME SHOT 913

Please remember me when  shopping online. US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

The flood is coming.

HEY!  sr********@gmail.com – my thank you note to you got kicked back.  New email?

WELCOME REGISTRANT:
urielangeli

White to play and mate in 2.

Click!

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

The “Wimbeldon of Chess” is going on, Tata Steel in Wijk aan Zee.   After Round Two “the Boy” is in the sole lead, 2/2.   Gukesh, Nepo and Anish are 1.5.  Ding in down the ranks as is the female champ Ju Wenjun.  There is a lot of chess to be played.  At the beginning of Round 3 (which is on as I type) there were some odd openings.  Jovanka and Danya are commenting today.  Robert Hess is off.  One writer says that there isn’t a great press of viewers around the hall, as last year, when Magnus is involved.

Meanwhile, yesterday 14 January which is the Feast of the Ass, Magnus issued a video on Twitter saying that he is on vacation and he will soon be back to “beat all of your asses”, which is confusing.  It seems that Magnus is into those old medieval observances but… I mean… you are supposed to be nice to the asses on Festum Asinorum.  I suggest rather that he find a Jesuit to beat.  It summons quite an image, the “goat beating an ass”.   Hmmm… a Jesuit might like that.  I just don’t understand high level chess trash talk.

Yesterday Nepo and Ju had a looong endgame.  She defended very well.  At the end, there was an amusing moment as each waited for the other to offer the draw.  They were trying to suppress laughing. They were at each other for only about 5 hours, after all.

Ceterum censeo Firoujza esse delendum.

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