Ablation is not oblation

Sharing time. It's Sunday, June 7, and this item is related to that. I often hear OBLATION and ABLATION mixed up/confused. An OBLATION is a religious term--an act of praise or worship. An ABLATION is a surgical term--like a heart ablation when something is removed or corrected through surgery. You may not need to know this so scroll on, but I just needed to share.

AI data centers in central Ohio

I heard yet another story on Spectrum this morning (local news) about the central Ohio small towns concerned about AI data centers. Hearings, with passion on both (or more) sides. I have a simple answer. The data centers should cover the costs of the water and electricity not only their increase, but cover all the costs for everyone in the city boundaries/limits. Seems fair. If they are going to change the town/environment, then pay for it. If AI is that big a deal and all the venture capitalists are diving in, why not share?

Pope Leo on AI

Last night I looked through ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Full Text of ‘Magnifica Humanitas’: Read Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical| National Catholic Register  I do recommend it whether or not you are Catholic and whether or not you like this Pope. AI is mushrooming/exploding and will affect us no matter what the Pope, President or Prime Minister thinks or does. It's coming at us faster than anyone anticipated. And there are moral and spiritual implications. No other Christian institution has the power and authority to speak to the secular world. And in Christian parlance, "world" is the entity that constantly is opposing God's will, so who better to issue an Encyclical on the topic?

 
At first glance there are too many squishy words like discernment, process and transparency for my taste, and not to be too picky, but when was slavery abolished? There are probably over 50 million slaves in the world now, millions more than in the 18th century, so it seems a bit parochial to claim it was abolished. And I did stop long enough to read three paragraphs which proposed to explain "dignity" and was lulled to sleep. (51-53) The several paragraphs on the role of education made me wonder if Pope Leo knows in the U.S. education system basic biology is still a battle between our political parties.

By paragraph 184 he gets to the "therefore," one of St. Paul's favorite words.

https://youtu.be/vIQDs4enHmM?si=0v0F6MpL0fbZW0WQ

United States refining capacity

Why have no U.S. refineries been built in 50 years? Certainly, it's not Trump's fault. The short answer is extremists attached to the Democrat Party. At least, that's how I interpreted the co-pilot answer.

Co-pilot (AI) "The combination of STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, high capital costs, uncertain future demand, and federal policies FAVORING REDUCED PETROLEUM USE has effectively halted the construction of new major oil refineries in the U.S. for nearly five decades. Existing refineries continue to be upgraded to meet demand, but new greenfield projects remain economically and politically challenging."

 
Between 2000- 2022, "the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into 37 settlements covering 112 refineries across 32 states with companies that control more than 95% of total U.S. refining capacity, according to a database of EPA enforcement actions. ' https://www.insights-global.com/the-us-hasnt-built-a-major-oil-refinery-in-nearly-50-years-heres-why/?

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-gas-prices-epa-waiver.html?

So, the next time a Democrat complains about the price of gasoline, remind her of all those clean air regs and the green new deal.

Psalm 122--Jerusalem and the U.S. during 1937

I enjoy reading "Meditations in the Book of Psalms" by Erling C. Olsen. He had a Sunday afternoon radio broadcast in the 1930s, later transcribed and published in 1939 which then went through several editions. Mine is c1967, 4th printing, 1985. He was not a preacher--just a businessman who studied the Bible and had the gift of talking plainly to people suffering during the Great Depression.

Here's what he said to his radio audience in Feb. 1937 about the current problems in Jerusalem as he commented on Psalm 122 [Pray for the peace of Jerusalem]. Keep in mind, there was no Israel nation at that time, and he was not a dispensationalist.

"If you wish to know how important that city [Jerusalem] is [to the world] consider that even in this present time one has but to read the current magazines and newspapers to discover that it is a city of trouble and disturbance, yet a place to which the eyes of the world are turned for salvation--I mean national salvation . . . " (p. 879)

He then digresses from Jerusalem and turns to the USA, his primary audience.

". . . For nearly ten years, here and there, men have raised their voices, calling attention to the dangers due to the inroads of the philosophy of communism in this country. Some of us have given them only a passive interest--we thought the situation was not serious, thought it never could be serious--it might develop in other countries, but NOT HERE. I am not so sure about that now! I repeat, conditions existing in our own land today are definite causes for deep concern (I think he is referring to FDR's policies, particularly the New Deal pt. 2, and the communists in his administration) and my earnest conviction is that there is only one possibility of our escaping serious trouble and that is by a return to the faith of our fathers, and to an earnest proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unless this country returns to God, I frankly fear for it." (p. 883)

Do you need to move closer to Columbus--or are you already here?

 Roughly 138-147 million people live within 500 miles of Columbus. A 500‑mile radius from Columbus, Ohio covers a vast area — roughly 1.2 million square miles.

Major Cities Within 500 Miles

Some notable cities and towns within this radius include Miles of Me:

Toronto, Canada – ~319 miles
Chicago, IL – ~279 miles
Detroit, MI – ~164 miles
Indianapolis, IN – ~168 miles
Hamilton, Canada – ~281 miles
Mississauga, Canada – ~307 miles
Baltimore, MD – ~341 miles
Charlotte, NC – ~347 miles
Milwaukee, WI – ~336 miles
Washington, DC – ~324 miles
Nashville, TN – ~330 miles
Virginia Beach, VA – ~429 miles

Cleveland, OH – ~127 miles

Toledo, OH – ~120 miles

Cincinnati, OH – ~100 miles

Airports Within 500 Miles

Key airports within this range include Miles of Me:

Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport – ~443 miles

Chicago O’Hare International Airport – ~295 miles

Toronto Pearson International Airport – ~313 miles

Charlotte Douglas International Airport – ~346 miles

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – ~156 miles

Washington Dulles International Airport – ~302 miles

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – ~340 miles

Chicago Midway International Airport – ~282 miles

Nashville International Airport – ~329 miles

Cities within 50 miles of Columbus

32 miles: Newark, OH
44 miles: Marion, OH
27 miles: Lancaster, OH
11 miles: Dublin, OH
12 miles: Westerville, OH
10 miles: Reynoldsburg, OH
7 miles: Gahanna, OH
4 miles: Upper Arlington, OH
24 miles: Delaware, OH
8 miles: Grove City, OH
10 miles: Hilliard, OH
43 miles: Chillicothe, OH
6 miles: Whitehall, OH
40 miles: Mount Vernon, OH
27 miles: Marysville, OH

These are straight line distances in a radius around Columbus, Ohio. There are many towns within the total area, so if you're looking for closer places, try a smaller radius.

The War Letters--Memorial Day

 It's Memorial Day week-end and many of us here at the Estates (and here on FB) remember when it was Decoration Day because it first memorialized the war dead of our Civil War. Now we remember all our war dead, and also while at the cemeteries, we put floral arrangements and remember all.

The 20th century was the most bloody and devastating of any period in history. It's a good time to remember WWI, where 5 or 10 thousand could die in one battle, over a few yards of ground--and thousands of horses and farm animals. The U.S. entered the war late and the president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, promised to keep us out of it. He was a "progressive" the first president to send us down the messy road we're on now where our foundation didn't matter. The Constitution became plastic and changeable and our past became an object of shame.

You can review WWI by listening to The Public Square podcast which yesterday reran it's "The War Letters" by John Beckett (2015). The book itself can be downloaded pdf for free. content.libsyn.com/p/1/4/b/14bf916a1865d16f/TPS_052326_WEB.mp3?c_id=202229075&cs_id=202229075&destination_id=208554&response-content-type=audio%2Fmpeg&Expires=1779570930&Signature=ff0Ser4BoIV9yMF5PTd2fPutAscSZ4LHxuMQ3rXiaTLMW0SIyj~L~McdFQZ-OrfxLNq1vgONbRSQu3SeTf~6Em3n9DgtX8zdgafl5mXJFltXhu66y1kvSuEjAceHJf6TvIKf8dlY-vJSyuqW4NGdvcVRzyyHG0ufHEoRklCSypCHjyJaWymjWhB9A6~bed3A1JxL61Etfifjrb2isIbXIGZtzgP9ayZrjPDxRdi9PkHaeq1R4QUDVuvmftyejwh5uW2ANvKFaLyYvTYXVl7dWJPz39AKuanneaPvNM29KYjtO1KNn-RUkreLKf79m-i5KQFtOU6UKvcLL4DrE9FhVA__&Key-Pair-Id=K1YS7LZGUP96OI The letters are between John Beckett's father who served for Canada and his family. The podcast is about the war (then known as the Great War) but as Beckett talks with Zinotti, it's also about how we're losing our own history because it's not taught in our schools.

My parents were too young to actually serve in WWI but they remembered it, and told us stories. And in the little town where I grew up (Mt. Morris, IL) there was a public program where "In Flanders Fields" a poem by John McCrae, a Canadian soldier, was always presented by a high school senior. (Maybe they still do that?) I personally knew WWI veterans, and both my grandfathers were registered for the draft (although they didn't serve).

This collection of family letters is priceless, and a good teacher.

Link to The War Letters pdf: https://beckettpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-War-Letters.pdf

Link to Battle of the Somme  https://youtu.be/ZaBdBhK4XzQ?si=HqJIKtR67XcqRyKV

Congratulations graduates

We don't have church newsletter/bulletins (a Covid casualty?) anymore, but for special occasions we do have handouts on Sunday--and yesterday was a real blowout. A four page, color announcement of the UALC's high school and college graduates with a photo, brief bio and God's plans. There were 35! What a lovely group. Interesting college and job choices. Names we'd never heard when I was that age like Peyton, Gabriella and Parker. Career choices we women wouldn't have dreamed of like going to the South pole on an ice breaker or drug development. I was happy to see that some of our brightest and best are still choosing teaching. And two are marrying and moving to Cincinnati. A lot of young people drop out of church life when leaving home despite the love, prayers and efforts of their parents and church family. May they all take those years of nurturing and grow in their Christian life.

Three out of four (movies) isn't too bad

Here at the Estates this week-end (if Thursday counts) we had four movies; National Treasure with Nicholas Cage, Ferris Bueler's Day off with Matthew Broderick, Best years of our Lives with Myrna Loy, and Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn. I liked all but Funny Face.

National Treasure (2004) follows historian and code-breaker Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) "as he uncovers clues tied to the legendary Knights Templar treasure, setting him in a high-stakes race against a ruthless rival to protect the Declaration of Independence. This globe-hopping, clue-solving adventure blends American history with fast-paced action, offering plenty of thrills and family-friendly fun. While its plot is improbable, reviewers praise its entertainment value, likening it to a modern-day Indiana Jones." 21 Years Later, Nic Cage's $347 Million Adventure Movie Is a Sleeper Streaming Hit

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) stars Matthew Broderick as "a charming high school senior who fakes illness to spend an unforgettable day exploring Chicago with his best friend and girlfriend, while evading his principal and suspicious sister. . . sharp humor, memorable characters, and moments of heart, making this a light, witty, and culturally iconic coming-of-age comedy that remains a must-watch for its rebellious spirit and timeless charm." Ferris Bueller couldn’t take his day off in 2026 - The Observer

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) follows three WWII veterans from different walks of life as they return to their hometown and face the challenges of reintegrating into civilian society. With themes of post-war trauma, disability, love, and shifting social roles, William Wyler’s moving drama blends realism with heartfelt storytelling. Acclaimed for its performances, human depth, and sensitive direction, it remains a timeless classic and one of cinema’s greatest portrayals of veterans’ experiences.

Best years of our Lives I'd seen before but even with its age it points to problems of veterans we've come to expect--alcoholism, disabilities, PTSD, and family break-ups. The home front is also not without its casualties movie review

Funny Face (1957) "follows a shy Greenwich Village book clerk whose unexpected discovery by a fashion photographer whisks her into the world of haute couture and Parisian romance. With dazzling musical numbers by George and Ira Gershwin, chic Givenchy costumes, and the charm of Audrey Hepburn alongside Fred Astaire, it’s a stylish, lighthearted satire of fashion and beatnik culture. Critics praise its elegance, wit, and visual flair, making it a timeless classic worth watching."

Although it had good reviews, by the end of the movie all of us had left Funny Face before it was over. But the clothes were gorgeous. I don't think it worked as a musical and the 30 year age difference between the stars were really off putting. 

I'm not sure the small reviews are AI generated or Wikipedia, but I didn't write them.

Microchimerism--again

In our Thursday Bible Study today at UALC, we are in chapter 7 of the Gospel of John. 

(NRSV)  7 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish[a] to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival of Booths[b] was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; 4 for no one who wants[c] to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ 5 (For not even his brothers believed in him.) 6 Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the festival yourselves. I am not[d] going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were[e] in secret.

There were the usual comments (in a Protestant study) about Jesus' brothers being half brothers. Now the reason I say Protestant is that most of the Christian world believes Mary had no more children after Jesus and remained a virgin. Tradition holds that these are Joseph's sons from a previous marriage, or refers to a clan culture where close relatives (cousins) are called brothers or sisters,

I'd like to propose that God knew best. Our Creator God knows culture and he knows biology. If Jesus had half brothers and yet was the Messiah who was killed, there would be great demands placed on his brothers to take his place (particularly from those followers who didn't believe in the Resurrection). That would have been common in that culture. It still is today.

 But God also designed microchimerism--the passing of fetal cells between a pregnant woman and her babies.  Most of the studies in the last century have involved male offspring. Children leave behind their fetal cells in their mothers. There is strong biological evidence that these cells (particularly males) protect the mother for the rest of her life.  And those fetal cells can also appear in the bloodstreams of the woman's future children. Because of microchimerism there may also be the grandmother's cells passed to the children which the mother got from her mother.  Do you suppose God didn't have a plan to have only Jesus and not other men have Mary's cells in their blood stream?

Maternal Microchimerism: How A Mother's Cells Stay In Her Child Forever

Microchimerism: Lifelong Biological Connections Impacting Everyone

The Trump and Xi summit

Although I understand the economics of the deal and why Trump is chatting it up with Xi, I haven't forgotten the millions of Chinese citizens that were killed by Xi's party, and the millions of baby girls who were aborted for years in China's one child policy. The various popular Communist ideologies by our own leftists--climate extremism, trans-whatever, racist hate, Covid lockdowns, pro-Palestinian riots, worship of big tech and big pharma, anti-Christian bias, all in the name of chaos, not a better life for Americans. Although we can see through the virtue signaling and complain about it, their leaders too know that it causes long term chaos even when the poorly educated 20 somethings grow up or move on to the next big thing. Some people believe this took off in 2008 with the recession and the election of Obama, but I retired in 2000.  Wokeism and the leftist ideologies were firmly in place in academe even if it was called something else like political correctness or multiculturalism.   

Patron Saint of the Internet, Saint Isidore of Seville

I didn’t know the internet had a patron saint. Did you? He lived in the 7th century, and was known for being the first great Christian encyclopedist. St. Isidore of Seville, Bishop, died in 636. My kind of guy.

 According to Magnificat, Vo. 28, no. 3, May 13, "It was his curiosity about the world around him that made him the greatest scholar of his age. Not only did he write about Catholic theology--he collected information about music, medicine, geography, clothing, war, language, animals, plants, astronomy and physics. He compiled this information and carefully arranged it into textbooks that were used by scholars for generations to come."

I don't care much for Wikipedia, but it's getting harder NOT to use it since AI platforms use it and people grab the first thing that pops up. The phrase, "do your own research" is very hard to do unless you have a personal library pre-internet, and it won't help much with some of the current tech stuff like AI.

I used to have 7 sets of encyclopedias, but I think 3 were for children, so they left the house years ago. Although I own many "cyclopedic" type reference books, I don't call them that. But I do own the 11th, 12th and 13th editions of Encyclopaedia Britannica (inherited from my grandfather) and their history is fascinating although I don't necessarily agree with all that's said about it in the internet article.

The 12th was so focused on WWI (incredible maps) the editors soon had to publish the 13th to bring back some balance to scholarship about the world. Reminds me of the phenomenon we call Trump Derangement Syndrome and the Left/socialists believing the world of blame and evil only revolves around their own myopic viewpoint.

My new old jeans, Laurie Felt

It appears to me that the Laurie Felt brand was on QVC maybe a decade and then closed down sometime in 2023 saying she wanted more time with the family.  I looked through some old websites and found this.

The Laurie Felt jeans fabric is made of rayon, cotton, polyester and spandex and the various styles are extremely comfortable. It has a very nice feel.  They look very traditional, but there is no zipper behind the stitched fly, mine looks like 5 pocket, but in the front there ae no actual pockets (no bulk).  But the waist has a nice stretch for a pull on. Marc's which is an Ohio grocery and remainder store had a few on the rack and among the XXXXL and the XXXXXS I found a plain old L for $5, and it fit perfectly.  I'd never heard of the brand. 

"They pull-on — and stay on. We’re all about using technology to its maximum, creating special fibers that give a firm hold and an amazing recovery every single time. It’s all in the construction. The higher the construction, the tighter the weave, the softer the fabric, the higher the quality. All cars drive, but a Bentley drives better than a Volkswagen… same concept.

“There is so much stretch that just the slightest little shimmy gets you in. Once you’re in, everything looks lifted, shaped and great at the start of the day and when the day ends,” said QVC show host Jennifer Coffey, after rocking a pair of our Silky Slim Pull-On Jeans on air.

ICE agents going to 40 states

According to a USA Today article in the Columbus Dispatch the millions of illegal aliens who crossed the border and were not removed were "people who entered during the Biden administration." Because of tying the hands of ICE less than 1% were removed.

 
"Between January 20, 2021, and September 30, 2023, the Biden Administration removed from the United States only 10,522 illegal aliens who were encountered at the southwest border and who were placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge during that time. In other words, of the at least 3.3 million illegal aliens released into the United States since January 20, 2021, the Biden Administration failed to remove, through immigration court removal proceedings, roughly 99.7 percent of those illegal aliens." GOVPUB-Y4_J89_1-PURL-gpo222127.pdf

The article goes on to say although Trump promised to remove 1 million in a year, he only deported 477,277 from Jan, 20, 2025 to April 4, 2026. Trump has stopped illegal immigration. But USA Today complains that the ICE agents were too extreme and half of all Americans object. (using far left Politico figures) because some weren't "worst of the worst," Biden allowed /encouraged 4 years of open borders, Trump fixes it. Blue cities violated the laws, and USA Today features 2 mentions of 2 people killed in riots in Minnesota. Riots and protests, but no mention of those killed or injured or displaced by the illegals, Thanks for nothing, USA Today/Columbus Dispatch. New wave of ICE deployments to impact 40 or more states  by Trevor Hughes

Why so few babies?

There's an opinion piece in the NYT about "Why so few people are having kids" by Anna Louie Sussman. She writes on gender, economics and reproduction. No shock here, but she doesn't answer the headline question. Low fertility rates are global, and she has one anecdotal example (a well educated financially secure Mexican American citizen who wants to buy a nice home in Minneapolis but is afraid of Trump). Most of her examples are academic research (no citations) on economic insecurity although they don't prove her point as it shows high education, good salaries in countries (mainly Nordic) with pronatalist government social policies don't increase fertility.

One of her claims is that economic insecurity causes a rise in radical-right parties and that anxiety causes infertility. Then comes a great line. People of faith aren't having the problem. She describes people who are not anxious (i.e. who are not wild-eyed rioters in the streets) as tradwife, homeschooling 10 kids. This gal has really swallowed the Kool-aid.

Even with her far leftist education that probably cost her parents $100,000 she has no reference, remembrance or research before 2008 and the "Great Recession." She has no knowledge of how families and marriage have been demonized since the 1960s. Remember "Population Explosion" by Paul Erlich? It had Americans afraid to have babies because the world could end in a decade and it was evil to increase the population. AOC probably used it to create the climate hoax. Although she now has a new enemy--THE RICH. And the pill, and abortion? The War on Poverty which chased men out of the home? Those don't only reduce fertility they demonize it. Remember the women's movement and the rush out of the home and into the government and corporate workplace so more women could pay more taxes? Remember the huge inflation of the 70s so no time to cook? Hire a sitter and go to work and then to the restaurant or carry out. Even the entertainment which the little ones consumed with the TV sitter featured divorced or single moms. No shock to me that maybe women like this writer got the message.

It was the culture, lady.

Read those annual reports of your stocks

I tossed out my stockholders ballot before I read the proxy statement and notice of annual meeting for Netflix. First, but least important, was the salaries. The two co-CEOs earn $53 million each. The so-called "median employee" earns $211,201, a ratio of 255 to 1.

Second, and most important, the shareholders wanted changes and those proposals were all opposed by the leadership. Proposal 5 was on politicized brand misalignment, i.e. gender ideology in children's programming. I was horrified reading through the titles of the garbage being aimed at children. "This promotion of sexualized content, particularly to Netflix' youngest viewers, has alienated customers, employees, and shareholders, and exposed Netflix to litigation and regulatory scrutiny . . . exposed Netflix to significant contingent liability and material legal risk." A $500 billion market value company with CEOs who make $53 million is trafficking children, in my opinion. I'll need to call our broker today. Netflix opposing statement was jibberish.

Mary Jane Zipse, member of MMHS 1957

 I received word today that a classmate of mine from high school, Mary Jane Floto Zipse has passed away. Mary Jane Zipse Obituary May 1, 2026 - Finch Funeral & Crematory

Honoring the church volunteers

Our church, UALC, is having a “combined” service today—the 9 o'clock (traditional) and 11 (modern) are meeting at 10 a.m. and then having a lunch— to honor volunteers, which is really just about everyone. We no longer do anything specifically, but we ran the arts ministry for years, taught Bible school, led a small group for years, and back when we had a church board system, I recall that Bob was on that (one pastor discontinued that system but I think it has been reinstated). In the early 80s before I returned to work I used to run the church library—which was fun because I had a budget and at that time there was a Lutheran Book store downtown. I would take the bus, walk a few blocks, browse and buy books and walk with a heavy bag back to the bus stop which dropped me off about 2 blocks from home. A bag of books with the new book smell—what a treat. Today with those tiny motor bikes people use (to save the planet) and drop off at their destination that wouldn’t be possible. Some things were better in the good old days. Also our friend Edie Cole who lives in Florida is in town. She is part of our current small group--widowed a few years ago, and now joins us by Zoom.  She'll also be with us in church and we plan to all sit together at the volunteer lunch.

80 for Brady, watching football can be fun

Inspired by a true story, this film shown at The Estates (a rom com?) tonight tells of four lifelong friends in their 80s (played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) who travel to Houston to watch Tom Brady and his New England Patriots play in Super Bowl LI in 2017. Seventeen years before the 4 had gathered to help Lily get through her cancer treatment and had a tradition of watching him together. They win tickets (they think) and have hilarious adventures on the trip and at the game. 

Obama's quagmire?

Obama ran on the Iraq war issue--specifically getting out. He said it was a distraction from more important issues. Yet all 8 years of his terms we were at war with him in charge. So now Democrats call this 2 month war a quagmire? Hegseth fires back at 'quagmire' label, tells Garamendi 'shame on you' in House hearing.   And if Obama hadn't given Iraq the money to create this mess, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.