Farandaville, Christmas morning 2015

Brigid and I were talking a few days ago about how Christmas isn’t the same without young children in the house. And it really isn’t. But the two gorillas in the house were still pretty interested in opening presents early this morning! Even Brigid – who got a snowblower (not pictured). Thank you Santa!  

Christmas Eve, 1955 was warmer than today

In the 60's in NY today but see this – Christmas Eve 1955 was much warmer. Three fourths of the country was over 60 degrees, and Ashland Kansas, Geary Oklahoma and Encinal Texas were all over 90 degrees. Fort Lauderdale was 85 degrees. All of the stations below were over 60 degrees on Christmas Eve, … Read more

A Faranda christening

My nephew Paul and his wife Laura had their son Ethan baptized yesterday. Big gathering of friends and family – a few pictures below.  That’s Uncle Tony half in the picture on the left. The seeming 13 year old doing the baptism is actually a 27 year old Deacon who will be ordained in May … Read more

SciAm: “Nuclear Power Must Make a Comeback for Climate’s Sake”

From Scientific America as they reprint an article from Climatewire. "Nuclear, especially next-generation nuclear, has tremendous potential to be part of the solution to climate change," Hansen said during a panel discussion yesterday. "The dangers of fossil fuels are staring us in the face. So for us to say we won't use all the tools … Read more

Big Jesuit feastday today; St. Edmund Campion

Martyred on December 1st, 1581. Hung, drawn and quartered, as well as having his “privy parts” cut off. Nasty … Here’s some stuff about him. Ignatianspirituality.com – Edmund Campion Edmund Campion could have been the brightest star in Elizabethan England. He impressed Elizabeth with his welcoming oration when she visited Oxford University in 1569. Under … Read more