Further evidence that there is more sign of spring and less of winter
there is this chorus in the evening.
They’ve been singing for almost a
couple weeks now unless the overnight temps drop to freezing. If I step
out on the porch, rap on a pillar and in my deepest director voice
announce: ‘AHEM!’ The chorus stops immediately.
It resumes in short order so clearly sway over my subjects is limited; consequently I’ll not let my authority go to my head.
I recorded this last Sunday evening - so turn-up the volume for some chorus frogs.
(The flashing hazard lights emit from towers on Brussels Hill)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth just prayed over the Iran war; and he used a fictional Bible verse.
From the previously unknown Book of Pulp Fiction.
At the Pentagon's monthly worship service on Wednesday, April 15, the Secretary of
Defense stood up, told military leaders what they hear in worship should 'inform' their war decisions and then read a prayer calling for 'great
vengeance and furious anger' on Iran. He said the prayer was called 'CSAR 2517,' which stands for Combat Search And Rescue, and was based on
Ezekiel 25:17.
Only it wasn't.
It was from Pulp Fiction. Specifically, it was the speech Samuel L.
Jackson's character recites before executing an unarmed man.
The
actual Ezekiel 25:17 has one sentence. The rest, including 'the path of
the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish
and the tyranny of evil men,' was invented for Tarantino's 1994 film.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities
of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the
name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of
darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost
children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and
furious anger. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my
vengeance upon thee.
- Quentin Tarantino
The Secretary of Defense read a fictional hit man's execution speech to bless an actual war.
And then he said this: 'Fifteen minutes ago I was talking about
blockades with Admiral Cooper, and now we're going to study the Lord's
word. May what we talk about, how we worship today, inform the remainder
of our day and the remainder of our week.'
The man coordinating a naval blockade and potential strikes on Iran is
citing Bible verses that don't exist.
From Hollywood.
To bless a war that
has killed men and women in service to our country, thousands of Iranians and threatens order, security and the entire global economy.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Pope Leo responded to Hegseth's earlier violent prayers on Palm Sunday.
The Pope quoted actual scripture, Isaiah 1:15:' Even though you make
many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.'
Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich called Hegseth's sermons 'shameless
blasphemy.
This is the man in charge of American military. You know; the good guys.
The Crusader-tattooed former Fox News host who prayed for 'overwhelming
violence' at his confirmation. Who has fired Army leadership out of
paranoia. Who invoked a movie as scripture to justify killing more civilians.
Too be clear, I have no sympathy for the Iranian Mullahs. But this mash-up of God, guns and country implies Hegseth belongs back in rehab.
We witnessed a nasty blizzard four weeks ago leaving something on the order of 36 inches of snow on the level. And we're not in the clear either as we had a couple years where spring now storms basically cancelled my spring turkey hunt which is next week. Anyway, I learned from that storm that more birds than expected will avail themselves of peanuts for the fat and protein they offer including redwing blackbirds. Who knew?
It won't be long before I'll have to remove the peanut and suet bird feeders. Not because the birds want me to; rather as a consequence of seasonality. With warming conditions and rain instead of snow leaving peanuts out invites mold and mildew. And leaving suet out invites rancidity. Both of which would be bad for my feathered friends.
Nevertheless and coincidentally this will mark the arrival of the orioles so new feeders featuring an oranges and grape jell will be deployed.
Meanwhile here are some recent photos of some of the peanut eaters...
There is nothing more graceful than a running deer. Actually, they leap more than run and are capable of vaulting over obstacles up to 8 feet from a standing position. With a running start, they are capable of soaring over fences as high as 10 to 12 feet; although 8-foot fences are generally an effective deterrence. They are also capable of horizontal leaps (forward motion) spanning up to 30 feet. Which is quite remarkable.
When I uploaded this photo from a trail camera recently a couple of things occurred to me. If a hunter was in the stand pictured would the deer run towards the hunter? And would the hunter be able to get-off a shot and knock one down? The animal furthest away is roughly 40 yards distant and hauling ass.
I have personally been witness to the unpredictability of the direction startled deer will move and as a general rule they do not run towards hunters; unless, the wind in in the hunter's favor. If upwind it is possible a hunter will remain undetected; the deer will not smell or 'wind' him.
Although in the image here a deer running head-on at the hunter (likely caught unaware) and and closing the distance rapidly it is a leap of faith and the deer has the advantage.
For the hunter this is a low probability shot situation and also would be a leap of faith to take a shot with a high probability of wounding.
I would pass; and await for a broadside shot at an unsuspecting whitetail standing or strolling.
One of our favorite meals happens to be venison tacos. Naturally, there will be leftovers.
Which are resurrected in the form of custom nachos.
Layer chips in a pan and top in this order: reheated frijoles and venison taco meat. Top with shredded cheddar and bake at 300F until cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and top with chopped onion, lettuce, tomato and queso cheese.
'Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to counter them. We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people.'
-Pope Leo XIV
In the abstract these words might apply to any number of the world's leaders, including Iran's Mullahs. Nevertheless, I suspect that the Pope was taking a shot at Donald Trump. Why do I think so you ask?
Because of the response. In relatively short order Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Holy See's ambassador to the US, was summoned to the Pentagon and given a lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants and that the church had better get on board with American foreign policy. Yup, like hoodlums shaking-down a neighborhood shopkeeper.
Catholic leadership is attempting to frame the conflict in Iran in terms of Augustinian just war theory including civilian protection and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has infused the war with Christian nationalist rhetoric and a maximal lethality approach.
Is it just me, or does the the notion of going to war with a blood-soaked collection of nutty clerics who believe God is on their side all the while invoking God is on our side seem a bit nutty? The irony is not lost on me. It's the same God after-all.
What I know is this. President Trump is losing support among Catholics - even white, non-Hispanic Catholics who supported him only a short couple of years ago. Furthermore, The Pope's favorability rating overshadows that of the President's.
Just between you and me I wouldn't pick a fight with the Vatican. This blogger ain't dying on that hill. And I'm not gonna embrace any God is only on my side bullshit dogma either.
Just like Pope Leo is a Sox fan, Jesus was a peacemaker. These are known facts.
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